Clearing Snow Off An Open Station

[Jstpssng]

I have also, yet they do help.

I've seen floorboards rusted through under carpet

 

[PlasterProspector]

OK, so I thought I'd come back and share my precautions and experiences so far:

I've been using something like a 16'x12' tarp and blowing the snow off while fresh with a shopvac to great success. Those of us in the northeast just had a big storm though. A forecast 21" for me ended up as a pretty horrendous ice storm. I had nearly an inch of ice shrinkwrapping my FEL which still hasn't fully thawed.

Next Winter I'm doing two things: taking off my damn canopy and finding a way to actually store this thing.

Thanks again for all your help, gentlemen.

Edit: in spite of using diesel treatment my fuel filter ended up looking like a candle, even after blockheating religiously. Call it a consequence of double digit negative nights a week in a row. I thawed it out by holding thermoses full of hot water up so the filter got submerged in them. Worked like a charm. Got more aggressive with my treatment and no problems since. I think the station I got my diesel from might just not sell a lot and I got a mix of blends. Going to stick to very active diesel stations from now on.

 

[Buggs67]

WOW. Glad it's not that cold or snowy here.

Thanks for the follow-up.

 

[Jstpssng]

Your experience is one reason I use on-road and pay the taxes... as many trucks as we have on the road I know that it's fresh. I only burn about 100 gallons/year, so the paying that tax won't break me.

 

[alexpops]

How good are you (or your wife) at sewing? You could make up your own soft cab using sunbrella and clear vinyl like boats do. Alternatively, there are probably some boat canvas places relatively near you that might be in off season now & have the expertise/equipment/time to get you something relatively quick. At worst, it would take installing snaps or turn buttons to hold it, and maybe an additional rectangular piece with bungees to cover the hydraulics.

 

[crashz]

Plaster - I suggest even with a good fuel from a station that has a lot of turn-over, you still want to treat it with anti-gel and lubricant. Howes, Stanadyne, Power Service whatever. Over treatment is fine.

I have to say, even though the canopy is nice in certain situations, I feel like it was the worst money I spent. After I realized the tractor can't fit in the tractor shed or the garage with it on and the ROPS up, I have taken it off and haven't put it back on since.

 

[PlasterProspector]

How good are you (or your wife) at sewing? You could make up your own soft cab using sunbrella and clear vinyl like boats do. Alternatively, there are probably some boat canvas places relatively near you that might be in off season now & have the expertise/equipment/time to get you something relatively quick. At worst, it would take installing snaps or turn buttons to hold it, and maybe an additional rectangular piece with bungees to cover the hydraulics.

My mother made me a great big cover for my German Shepherd's crate, snaps and all. I bet she'd be delighted to have a project like that. Thanks.

Plaster - I suggest even with a good fuel from a station that has a lot of turn-over, you still want to treat it with anti-gel and lubricant. Howes, Stanadyne, Power Service whatever. Over treatment is fine.

I have to say, even though the canopy is nice in certain situations, I feel like it was the worst money I spent. After I realized the tractor can't fit in the tractor shed or the garage with it on and the ROPS up, I have taken it off and haven't put it back on since.

Yeah, I use the K100 to treat, even in the warmer weather.

And yeah, I got the fibreglass canopy with the bracket system. It was expensive and it's honestly annoying in the winter. I'm very fair skinned though so I'll need it in the summer. I'll just need to futz around with my lights.

 

[hornett22]

When I lived briefly in Corrupticut, I used a tarp.

 

[CalG]

Runnings, over in Hinesdale has cotton duck tarps for reasonable money.

The poly tarps are Dirt cheap!

 

[PlasterProspector]

Runnings, over in Hinesdale has cotton duck tarps for reasonable money.

The poly tarps are Dirt cheap!

My wife's family lives near Brattleboro. I'll go look at em next time I'm over there. Thanks!

 

[bdhsfz6]

Before I built my pole barn, I covered my open station MX5800 with a piece of plywood. I cut notches for the ROPS posts and just rested it on the seat back and hood. I padded the surfaces first to prevent damage. With a heavy snowfall, I cleaned off the plywood with a shovel before sliding it off.

I left enough overhang to keep most of the snow off the deck but some would occasionally blow in. It was easy to clear with a broom though. I never had any trouble with cylinder icing but I suppose it may have been just good luck.

 

[PlasterProspector]

Before I built my pole barn, I covered my open station MX5800 with a piece of plywood. I cut notches for the ROPS posts and just rested it on the seat back and hood. I padded the surfaces first to prevent damage. With a heavy snowfall, I cleaned off the plywood with a shovel before sliding it off.

I left enough overhang to keep most of the snow off the deck but some would occasionally blow in. It was easy to clear with a broom though. I never had any trouble with cylinder icing but I suppose it may have been just good luck.

Huh, that sounds interesting. Got a pic by any chance?

 

[bdhsfz6]

Huh, that sounds interesting. Got a pic by any chance?

Unfortunately, I don't have any pics but the idea is very simple. A piece of plywood is much easier to manage than a snow covered tarp.

I forgot to mention in my post that I also put C clamps on the ROPS posts and rested the plywood on them. This takes the weight off the seat back and better stabilizes the rig.

 

[Raul-02]

I covered the station with a tarp

for now that's probbly your best option. Fortunately for you the ROPS has a lovely roof. BUT if you have a place to hang something from, over the tractor ( like a stout tree) you could build a little A frame box and mount it by a cable on a pulley. Lift it up and drive away.

 

[PlasterProspector]

for now that's probbly your best option. Fortunately for you the ROPS has a lovely roof. BUT if you have a place to hang something from, over the tractor ( like a stout tree) you could build a little A frame box and mount it by a cable on a pulley. Lift it up and drive away.

That's an idea I hadn't considered. I'll definitely play around with it. Thanks!