Grading Could really use advise re: snowblower vs. front blade

[JDeerekid]

I am going to add to what I said on a previous post. I am still going to go with my same recommendation which is front blade and rear snowblower.
My main reason is even with alot of snow at once the blade will be faster at opening up your driveway and road. You can plow everything to either side of road then make on pass up and back with the blower and blow the snow away as to not have tall banks on each side.
Another reason I would go with this setup is with your size tractor you are limited to the size blower on the front which is 47". Yes you can put wings on it but you are still limited to the speed you can go.
The factory front blade for your tractor is 54" and you could put wings on your blade and make it at least 1-2ft wider. If you are handy at welding you could even buy a used plow blade and mount one yourself for less money(this is what I plan on doing).
The rear snow blower you can go a little wider than the front blower but dont go to wide as you will still be limited to the speed you can go. Rear snowblower are also usually priced half the amount or so of the front blower. I would recommend a 60" blower price around $1400-$2000 new.

 

[GBeck]

so the general concensus is a blower either front or back..who makes a good one for the bx1850

 

[ragkar]

I don't think that the blower is the general consensus. It all depends on the snowfall and temperatures that you expect.
And a blower is only good for snow whereas a plow can be used for pushing soil in the spring. The JD 54" plow is an easy on/off and has both lift and swivel hydraulics. Nice

One thing that I forgot to mention is the plow cutting edge. You have your choice of the standard removable steel edge, rubber edge or you can buy polyeurethane edge else where.

The steel edge will do the snow plowing and you could use it for moving soil in the spring. It doesn't do as good a job of cleaning the snow off the asphalt as a rubber edge. And if your asphalt has cracks, the steel edge might cause damage. I wouldn't want to use a steel edge on a gravel driveway. A steel cutting edge doesn't handle slush very well. It'll leave a light layer of water and slush which will freeze on you.

The rubber edge doesn't handle ice well at all. So you have to be prompt and do a good job plowing the very first chance and not let the snow melt and refreeze. But it works well on slush and standing water. It squeegee's the slush/water. It won't push soil.

A cheaper alternative to a rubber edge, I haven't tried it, is a strip from a horse stall blanket. TSC sells 'em.

The very best edge is a polyeurethane. I found out about it on a popular forum dedicated to snowplowing. Polyeurethane is that really hard yellow plastic that you might have seen. It is slow wearing, unlike rubber, and won't damage asphalt cracks. You can even plow the lawn without damaging it, or so they say. The gotcha is cost. I looked around and the minimum order is a ten foot length that sells for $300. Ouch.

I got the plow with the steel edge which I promptly replaced with a rubber edge. It's a six bolt replacement and a pain to do in freezing weather. So I stay with the rubber edge all winter.

My neighbor is using a steel edge and we eyeballed each others driveway each snow last winter. We found that what I wrote above about snow/slush/ice problems is true.

If you opt for a plow you will have to decide on whether to use a ballast in the back. The ballast will give you much better traction, but it will tend to lift the front end making steering difficult at times. Also a light front end will cause the plow to ride upwards when plowing heavy snow. I leave my ballast off.

Your choice.

 

[irvingj]

bxowner-- I've got a Massey-Ferguson GC2310 (bakhoe, FEL) that I ordered with the front-mounted blower. The main reason I got the tractor was for snow removal-- I have about 200' of relatively steep driveway plus a large 40' x 35' turning area, plus a path around the house....

I wouldn't trade my front-mounted blower for anything! I have no problem with banks that gradually get taller --and more restrictive, relative to driveway width-- and can easily clear buildups from town plows at the top of drive.

This blower throws 40 to 60 feet, no exaggeration. The downside, as was mentioned, is that the front-mount set-up had to include a front quick-hitch attachment frame and driveshaft extension from the mid-PTO, so it's pricey. I paid $3900 for it as an option on this tractor, so a rear-mounted blower will definitely cost less.

On the other hand, with the length of driveway I've got, I can face forward. I do remove the FEL for blowing in the winter, but the blower attaches & detaches VERY easily - the front quick-hitch sub-frame & driveshaft extension stay on - and the FEL's not that bad to take off & put back on when needed. For deep snow, the blower clears its own "road" as it goes, so I've been fine with the turf tires the tractor came with- haven't needed the chains I bought yet.

After umpteen years of doing my snow removal with an 8-HP walk-behind, I feel I'm finally ready for the snow now!

 

[jaybrad]

I also have a Massey GC2310 and went a slightly different route. I bought a rear mount 54" snowblower so I can keep the bucket on the front. I've used this same configuration for many years and it has worked very well for me.

Our driveway is probably ~ 80' long and has a 30' x 30' parking area to one side. I also clear around the side and back of the house so that we can get oil & propane deliveries.

The snowblower easily tosses the snow well into the woods, but we do get some impressive snowbanks at the end of the driveway and around the mailbox - and that's where the bucket comes in very handy.

So that's my opinion.

A neighbor of mine has a different setup with a front mount snowblower and a rear blade that works very well for him. He has a longer driveway and also clears around the side and back of his house.

He has an orange tractor, mine is red.

I guess the bottom line is that we each figure out what works best for our equipment and our projects, regardless of what someone else says and does.



Good luck!

Jay

 

[cast_and_blast]

I have the front mount 47" 2-stage deere blower on my 2305 and it works quite well. I thought about a blade but with the snow we get here in MN the blower just works better for me.

I operate in some restrictive spaces where plowing really isn't an option - road on one side and 6 foot retaining wall on the other - gotta MOVE the snow. Plus, it's a collection spot for all the snow the snowplow moves off the adjacent road.

Works well for big or small snows - I plow on concrete and adjust the scraper bar on the bottom of the plow accordingly - clears nicely.

Downside - it's about $3300 for the hitch, shaft, hydraulics, blower, etc. Upside - you can the blower used and just buy the hitch (sometimes).

Good luck with your decision - I would recommend that you go blower.

Scott

 

[bxowner]

So, can anyone give me an idea of total time to switch from snowblower to FEL? Does the front quick-hitch have to come off?

 

[cast_and_blast]

So, can anyone give me an idea of total time to switch from snowblower to FEL? Does the front quick-hitch have to come off?

The blower drops off the hitch with the release of 2 pins and unhooking 2 hydro lines (control the directional chute). The quick hitch drops off with the release of 1 circle pin, removal of the hardened ~3/4" pin that supports one side of the hitch - the hitch then drops and can be unhooked from the other side. Hitch also has 2 hydro lines (control the up/down of the hitch and attachment).

Summertime, this could be done in 10 minutes or less. Wintertime I'd double it.

Scott

 

[bxowner]

So, in theory, I can go between snowblower and loader for smaller storms.

Man, am I torn.

Now there's a 5' Curtis plow assembly for sale locally, used on a 24 hp. Kubota. That tractor weighs 200lbs less than mine... but everyone's already indicated that the 6' Frontier version isn't going to work well on my 2320. Can one foot of width make that big a difference?

The simple fact of the matter is that I'm facing sticker shock. No matter what choice, I'm looking at $1700-3300 for a snow removal attachment and an additional $2600 for a mid-mount mower come spring-time. That's the price of a new X300 series with a mower deck and a snowblower. Or, $20,000 worth of 2320!

 

[kennyd]

Now there's a 5' Curtis plow assembly for sale locally, used on a 24 hp. Kubota. That tractor weighs 200lbs less than mine...

Call the seller and ask WHY he is selling it...I'd guess because it's not working well for him.