Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Clearing snow with FEL

[RalphVa]

We had 56 inches last year here. Most of it came in 2 dumps.

Don't wait until you get more than about 6 inches. You can handle up to this amount with just the back blade. You can push lots of snow up onto a side bank with the back blade by going in reverse and going sideways a bit when you get the snow piled up. Then raise the blade as you run the tractor backwards and sideways to shove the snow up and over the bank.

If you wait until 6+ inches fall, you're stuck with fill-the-FEL, raise, turn to side and dump. SLOW.

I've had no trouble with just putting my FEL on float and making sure it is level. Can't see raising the front a bit like others suggest. It'll just rise up higher and higher and also pack the snow down. You can slit a heat hose and attach it to the front lip if you're worried about it catching on some bits of asphalt. Goop it in place. Go slow, in case you catch something off to the side.

Oh, and my little 4010 with turf tires did just fine.

Ralph

 

[RoyJackson]

Thought I'd add a little more, since the OP (mdelmarcelle) is in Wisconsin...

I was in Appleton WI last year on a supplier visit. One stop I had to make was in Antigo (about 100 miles NW of Appleton (for other readers, it's about 100 miles NNW of Milwaukee)).
Anyway, during my drive to Antigo, I observed smaller farm tractors (seemed like most old Fords) and some CUTs on virtually every parking lot. Most had rear blades rigged to them and were obviously for snow removal. Can't say I saw one snow blower rigged (since this was Apr or May 2009, those implements may have been stored).
So, looks like most smaller lots (convenience stores and such) use a rear blades for pushing snow.

 

[jimmyj]

Initially I drive on it until the crushed stone forms a good solid frozen base. Then I reverse the back blade and wing the snow off to the side. Parking areas and turnarounds get cleared the same way. Once the resulting piles get to be too high and well compacted I use the snow bucket on the FEL to carry them to my dumpsites(over the edge of a vartious hills).

Very good advice. Pack the snow until the gravel freezes and then you won't scrape it all over the place. The rear blade in reverse does this well as does back blading the FEL in float position. Nice and smooth and hard for easy plowing later. Nothing is worse than tearing up the lawn, drive, yard, etc when it's not quite frozen.

 

[beenthere]

Thought I'd add a little more, since the OP (mdelmarcelle) is in Wisconsin...

I was in Appleton WI last year on a supplier visit. One stop I had to make was in Antigo (about 100 miles NW of Appleton (for other readers, it's about 100 miles NNW of Milwaukee)).
Anyway, during my drive to Antigo, I observed smaller farm tractors (seemed like most old Fords) and some CUTs on virtually every parking lot. Most had rear blades rigged to them and were obviously for snow removal. Can't say I saw one snow blower rigged (since this was Apr or May 2009, those implements may have been stored).
So, looks like most smaller lots (convenience stores and such) use a rear blades for pushing snow.

Roy.
I don't think that is a very clear snapshot of what happens these days in WI.
I drive a lot and lived 50 yrs in WI and don't observe anything close to what you saw.
But am not doubting what you saw, just the conclusion from a late Spring visit.

 

[RoyJackson]

Roy.
I don't think that is a very clear snapshot of what happens these days in WI.
I drive a lot and lived 50 yrs in WI and don't observe anything close to what you saw.
But am not doubting what you saw, just the conclusion from a late Spring visit.

Somebody living in in WI would know a lot more then a 3-4 day visitor. However, I did see a number of smaller tractors (with blades on the 3PH) on the lots I described previously. As those lots were paved (for the most part), snow removal was the the most likely reason for them being there. They surely weren't there for grading.
Anyway, just my observation on a trip...

 

[Haywire]

Well I learned something this morning. We got 6-8 last night and if I do this much, I will be investing in a set of chains for the front tires. I had plenty of traction for the pushing, but steering was another thing altogether. I'm sporting the industrial R4 tires. Had the box scraper on the back.

Ian

 

[fredhargis]

Well I learned something this morning. We got 6-8 last night and if I do this much, I will be investing in a set of chains for the front tires. I had plenty of traction for the pushing, but steering was another thing altogether. I'm sporting the industrial R4 tires. Had the box scraper on the back.

Ian

That kinda mirrors my inaugural experience this morning. The only time I had steering problems was when i was using my FEL, I thought maybe the weight of the snowthrower on the back was causing it. I keep the blower up about 2" off the gravel, and then tried to clean it up a little with the FEL. I guess I'll look for a set of chains for the front.

 

[logan97]

Put the rear blade in reverse and drag the snow on angle to each side (change blade to left / right angle each pass). This way the blade will not be as aggressive to digging in and will most likely "Jump" over obstacles.

jw5875

and if you have a (pin) in the center of the rear blade remove it, the R Blade will also float side to side and not gouge. One more thing that really helped us get some T-bars or large enough stakes pounded in the ground near where you are plowing as guides for your road location. MHO & 2 cents.

 

[pitt_md]

I have used the FEL to move snow before but it is about the slowest method i have tried when the storms hit. Then again it beats shoveling! Run what ya brung.

 

[PA hayseed]

I agree, it's definitely a learning curve(i'm still practicing).

But one tip(and I've been preaching this to my son), know where everything is. Make mental notes, driveway is 6 feet from this corner, 8 feet from this corner, flowers 10 inches from drive at this point, mailbox here...........etc.
It can and will save a lot of heartache later on.

good advice. After last year I painted a few sticks and put themn in the ground at key locations of things I did not want to hit. What appeats to be blatantly obvious location for an item may not look the same after 12" of snow and some drifting occurs. I know my driveway verywell, I built it and maintain it. I still hit the edge of my rock wall. Plowing/moving snow in the dark, with snow drifts and snow blwoing in your face, makes it difficult. The markers seems to be useful so far. Now if we get 3' with drifts, I'm done, they are only about 2.5 ft high.

Don't worry about frozen ground, your fel will likely push whatever you want into the ground. I just added another 50' of snow fence and had the old lady operate the bucket while I held the posts.