Snow Finally, some snow!

[proudestmonkey]

Just when I was about to give up on using my BX 2230 with standard-build (size and weight) backblade for snow removal, I figured out what to do (sort of).

Sunday night we got between 6 and 7" inches of light fluffy snow. Perfect amount and texture to have a go at using the back blade. As noted in earlier posts, the problem with the standard-build (non BX-sized) back blade is that it hangs out pretty far from the 3-pt hitch, which means the only way to get good lift on it, is to have the top-link pretty short. The shorter the top-lift, though, the more angled (from side to side) the blade becomes when engaged with the ground, which in turn means that it digs on one side while missing snow on the other. The first few runs gouged the gravel in the driveway on one side of the blade, while leaving a couple inches of snow on the other. I was ready to throw in the towel, and bring out my hand-pushed snow blower.

But, I didn't give up. I got my wrenches out and started playing with various parts of the 3 pt. hitch (and yes, it was COLD). Anyway, after tinkering with the right-side arm of the 3-pt hitch, lowering it to compensate for the angle of the blade, and getting the top-link short enough to lift above the snow (just barely--about 6" off the ground at full "up" position), I managed to get the blade to be almost straight from side to side. Going in reverse up one side of the driveway, and down the other, I managed to clear a path 10 feet wide with only minor digging. Its not a perfect solution, but it certainly beat shoveling, or pushing the snowblower (and think what the neighbors might have thought if they saw me with my expensive tractor up the driveway, and then reduced to putitng it away in favor of the snowblower).

The good news is that, while imperfect, the backblade may end up being "good enough." for most snowfalls we get (up to about 8" max). For the once a year 12" snows we get, I can concede the need to use the snowblower, and avoid the expense of a tractor mounted snowblower.

 

[AceDeuce]

For the same reasons you cited, I usually use my back blade without any angle at all. First I take one swath right down the middle. Then one down up left side and another down the right. When doing the left and right passes I periodically swing the rear of the tractor to the outside, then pull forward to empty out the blade. The deeper the snow is, the more often you have to repeat the operation but I've found that it works well on a 9' wide gravel driveway.

To combat the limitations of the low 3pt hitch on my BX, I replaced the left-hand lifting rod with an adjustable version like the one on the right. I don't necessarily use it to create an angle, rather to raise both of the lift arms higher to accomodate "regular" sized implements.

Have some extra fun with your snow for us. We still don't have any down here.

 

[Stoweski]

Sunday night we got between 6 and 7" inches of light fluffy snow.

Now I'm absolutely jealous! As as skier and winter outdoorsman I live for snow. Besides the obvious reasons it give me a chance to play on the tractor!

We've had two dusting "storms" and a 1/2" of freezing rain that knocked a few trees down in the woods. Thankfully we still have power. Guess the tractor will be useful for something.

As I tell my ski club... "Think Snow"!!

Keith
Kubota B7610

 

[WayneB]

Yea Keith and you want to use that snow blower too, Right? Here in New Hampshire we have had about the same as you guys.

Yesterday we had about 1/4" of ice on all of the vehicles. No snow! Actually, this is the first week we have had ice on the lakes and ponds.

Wayne

 

[_RaT_]

Now I'm absolutely jealous! As as skier and winter outdoorsman I live for snow. Besides the obvious reasons it give me a chance to play on the tractor!

We've had two dusting "storms" and a 1/2" of freezing rain that knocked a few trees down in the woods. Thankfully we still have power. Guess the tractor will be useful for something.

As I tell my ski club... "Think Snow"!!

Keith
Kubota B7610

We must have stole some of that East and Mid West weather. We have a tiny bit of ice in the pool. It is cold here, down in the 20's. We get that every now and then. Pipes are freezing, ponds are frozen about 1/2" thick and things are drying out. Just up the hill at Lake Tahoe we are having temps in the -2 range. The citrus, avacados and strawberries are taking a real hit. I am sure the price of those products will be going up. About 70% of the citrus froze which is about a 1 billion dollar loss for the growers. It happens...

 

[638]

Pmonkey'

To elimimate the problem of an angled back blade digging in on one side or the other, make up a set of lift links out of chain. This will allow the blade to float side to side and follow the contour of your driveway or parking lot. If you make them with a hook so that they are adjustable, you can even lift the blade more evenly.

ron

 

[proudestmonkey]

Pmonkey'
To elimimate the problem of an angled back blade digging in on one side or the other, make up a set of lift links out of chain. This will allow the blade to float side to side and follow the contour of your driveway or parking lot. If you make them with a hook so that they are adjustable, you can even lift the blade more evenly.
ron

Ron, maybe I should have called myself "dumbestmonkey," but I am not sure I follow. Sounds promising, though. Can you give this newbie a little more detail on your idea?

 

[proudestmonkey]

Now I'm absolutely jealous! As as skier and winter outdoorsman I live for snow. Besides the obvious reasons it give me a chance to play on the tractor!

We've had two dusting "storms" and a 1/2" of freezing rain that knocked a few trees down in the woods. Thankfully we still have power. Guess the tractor will be useful for something.

As I tell my ski club... "Think Snow"!!

Keith
Kubota B7610

Keith, the snow we got is really light, sounds great for skiing, I suppose, but its not much of a base, kind of like cotton candy. I "groomed" some trails in my yard for cross-country skiing. The snow compacted down to so far, the tread in the tire pulled up dirt into the snow. Its not much. The height was mostly good for me to learn how to use my tractor for moving snow, without having to worry much if I did a poor job of it, knowing our trucks would compact anything left behind down into the gravel.

I feel your pain though. We want enough for good groomed trails. This is the second year here of little snow, and we just bought 5 acres in the country, with a large 60-80 acre valley that remains completely undeveloped--yet still not enough snow to really go anywhere. We also have a beautiful State park 4 miles from here that typically has over 30 miles of groomed trails, and I haven't been there yet because of a lack of snow for long enough to matter.

 

[Charliebrn]

Here in NW Ohio we've had no snow at all. I'm 44 and can't ever remember getting into late january without any snow at all. I saw some snowflakes in late October coming down, and a few more last week, but not even a dusting on the ground. *sigh* I may have to put my BX on a trailer to try her in snow!

 

[Northland]

I have used my new KK 72" rear blade (14" high) on my new B7800 a few times and found similar issues as you. Fortunately I was able to keep the blade fairly flat even when angled by adjusting the right link on the 3pt hitch. I shortened my top link last night and found I had the same result as what you had so I left it longer.

I am really happy I bought the $250 KK rear blade at TSC and not a $600 one as the KK works very well for moving snow. Like you I doubt I will ever buy a rear 3 pt snow blower. I am very close to the far east side of Lake Superior, in a mountaineous area (ski hill 3 miles down the road) so we get a lot of snow but I do believe the FEL/rear blade combo will work well for me.