Snow Finally, some snow!

[proudestmonkey]

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.

Northland, you reminded me of something I did while tweaking the dynamics of the 3 pt setup in between runs with the blade. It even made my call out for help from wifey. I was adjusting the right arm extention, to try to get the blade more flat. You know that old saying, "if a little is good, maybe more is better." Well, I kept lowering it, and then "clunk!" I had loosened it so much, the long nut disengaged from the bottom of the arm. Whoops. I lifted the blade while Wifey screwed it in a few turns. No harm, just stupid, and kind of funny.

I think next time it snows, I am going to leave the top link short to get some lift over the fallen snow, I'll have to leave the blade straight (not angled either way--just perpendicular to the tractor) then drag the blade across the middle of the driveway to clear a path so I can then lengthen the top link for my next run, so when I lower the blade at an angle, both bottom edges are fairly flat across the ground, then do one side one way, and the other side in the other direction (so I don't have to mess with a bunch of 3 pt. readjustments in between runs). This may end up being a nice compromise, requiring only the easy adjustment of the top link (which is fairly lubed up so it is easy to adjust) after the first run.

 

[Northland]

I'll have to leave the blade straight (not angled either way--just perpendicular to the tractor) then drag the blade across the middle of the driveway to clear a path

I tried that last night based on your orginal post and the reply from from Ace Duece and it worked out well. Once I finshed the middle run I angled my blad to finish off both sides. On my prior snow clearing attempts I was taking way too many runs to do the job when I left the blade angled from the start.

I do need to order some chains as I got my B7800 stuck up against two trees when cleraing the driveway last week. I was along the edge of the driveway enbankment and when I reversed my rear wheels slipped down a bit (slippery snow) and after a few forwards and reverses I had the whole tractor hung up. Fortunately my neighbour (the guy who use to plow my driveway) happened by and we pulled it out with my truck and my big chain. While I was pretty stupid to get into that predicament it would not have happened if I had chains on the back tires. My neighbour has an excavation business with a very big JCB backhoe loader and he told me the same thing will happen with it if he is on ice/snow.

 

[proudestmonkey]

Lucky you, for having such a helpful neighbor.

 

[fishpick]

Blade... I just set the FEL to float and drive - big row of snow at the end... then push that with the FEL to a pile next to the driveway...

Worked for the whopping "honey I'm plowing the driveway with the new tractor - 4.5" we got!

Man did she look confused - cause before the Bota came to live with us... anything uder 6" was drive over snow...

 

[Northland]

Lucky you, for having such a helpful neighbor.

Yes, agreed. Although I did owe him $20 for the plow he did prior to me getting my new B7800. I also gave him another $40 as this is somewhat what he does for a living. That and I was screwed without his help. Finally anything that costs me money insures I learn my lesson well

 

[Stargazer]

Ok I am a little confused about this ridge thing. Maybe because I only plow flat concrete not gravel Have a wood 5' rear blad that I angle full left or right and when on concrete looks pretty vertical via top link. The only place where I leave little snow is right at end of drive where it slopes about 1' down to street. Ok so what am I missing my blade dosen't have adj other than up or down but does hang at angle in air but both ends on concrete when down?

Thanx Pat R

 

[Northland]

Ok I am a little confused about this ridge thing. Maybe because I only plow flat concrete not gravel Have a wood 5' rear blad that I angle full left or right and when on concrete looks pretty vertical via top link. The only place where I leave little snow is right at end of drive where it slopes about 1' down to street. Ok so what am I missing my blade dosen't have adj other than up or down but does hang at angle in air but both ends on concrete when down?

Thanx Pat R

Pat- when you angle a rear blade either to the left or right it seems that the blade is no longer level across it's bottom. When it is left straight it is level...assuming the operator has already levelled the swing arms on the 3 pt hitch. If yours is operating well I'd suggest leaving it

 

[proudestmonkey]

Ok I am a little confused about this ridge thing. Maybe because I only plow flat concrete not gravel Have a wood 5' rear blad that I angle full left or right and when on concrete looks pretty vertical via top link. The only place where I leave little snow is right at end of drive where it slopes about 1' down to street. Ok so what am I missing my blade dosen't have adj other than up or down but does hang at angle in air but both ends on concrete when down?

Thanx Pat R

It may also depend on which Woods 5' blade you have. Woods makes a blade specifically for the BX-type tractor (with lower ground clearance, meaning lower lift). That blade doesn't stick out as far as a standard blade (I have a standard King Kutter blade), so the angle issue isn't pronounced. Also, if you are not on flat ground, or you are on soft ground (as in gravel), even though you may be straight across the bottom when stationary, once you move, the side which is up misses snow, and the side which is down tends to dig in a little (but not much). The reason it straightens out on flat concrete is that the 3 pt. hitch is basically in float mode when it is in the full-down position (it only lifts, but does not apply downward pressure, allowing the weight of the attachment to pull itself down).

Hope that helps.

 

[proudestmonkey]

Yes, agreed. Although I did owe him $20 for the plow he did prior to me getting my new B7800. I also gave him another $40 as this is somewhat what he does for a living. That and I was screwed without his help. Finally anything that costs me money insures I learn my lesson well

Besides, if you pay him this time, he's more likely to be there if you ever need him again.

 

[Stoweski]

Woo-hoo. 1/2" of snow this morning when I woke up! It's a miracle.

Unfortunately 1. 99% of it melted before I got home from work today and 2. I STILL can't get out and play on the tractor.

It stinks. Everyone around me has snow now. I see/hear that the lake effect machine is picking up so now they'll have even more snow than me. I guess I live in the wrong part of the state.

Pray for snow (for me, please)
Keith

With a still idle
Kubota B7610
and a shiny new snowblower