First snow for tractor use

[gstrom99]

I retired in Oct 2020 and moved to Iowa permanently in June of this year. We finally got our first real snow today (~3"), so I was able to use a tractor to clear snow for the first time. Used a back blade (angled and reversed) and it was fun and worked just fine. Granted, it was 28 degrees and no wind, so we'll see how this works in/after a blizzard...

I have the tractor on a battery tender, in a non-heated pole barn. It started a little rough, so I may have to plug in the block heater next time. This JD 855 has a "glow plate", no glow plugs.

Lab loves the snow, too.

 

[seville009]

Moving snow can be fun.....until you're in blizzard conditions and freezing......

not sure where you lived before and if you have prior snow experience, but one thing you want to do is push snow far enough away from the driveway to prevent frequent drifting, and also to leave you room to push snow if you do get a storm. Then when the weather gets nice after the storm, go push the new snow banks back again so you have room for the possible next storm.

 

[Thomas]

Using back blade during winter good practice for the other 3 season use,also helps to beat cabin fever.

 

[gstrom99]

I grew up near Chicago, so I'm used to snow events. Having a 300 foot gravel drive to clear is the new part. No cab on this JD 855. Yes, I know to push the snow as far away now, to make room for more later.

 

[grsthegreat]

i just spent an hour yesterday blowing the mounds the neighbor left cause he didnt open a wide enough area with plow. but you can only push so much. my plow leaves huge round balls all over the place. the blower makes nice path. weve received 24" so far thats sticking, more if you count what had fallen earlier and melted off.

 

[trueg50]

So far so good!

How far is the barn? I picked up an amazon Alexa smart plug and leave my tractors block heater plugged in at all times. The plug is joined to the wifi (at the house). With the plug I can control the on/off with my phone either manually or I can schedule it (if I know I'll need to plow in the morning). The tractor starts fine without it, but it's a much easier start if it had been warmed a little first.

 

[gstrom99]

The barn is only like 50 feet from the house. My phone loses the wi-fi signal from the house out there, so the remote control option is out, I think.

 

[grsthegreat]

I could use a smart outlet…by why bother. I just plug my trucks and tractor into a standard plug in timer. I set the timer for daily start at 6am and it runs for 3 hours. If i use vehicles thats great. If i dont, its a waste but during winter i generally use the units daily.

 

[SylvainG]

If you don't have a cabin, make yourself the smallest one available using a balaclava and ski goggles when the wind is strong.

 

[RoyJackson]

I have the tractor on a battery tender, in a non-heated pole barn. It started a little rough, so I may have to plug in the block heater next time. This JD 855 has a "glow plate", no glow plugs.

I suggest you plan on plugging in the block heater for an hour or so when the ambient temperature is 32 degrees or lower. You won't need more then an hour or so. Yanmar engines (which is what your 855 has under the hood) are pretty good at starting in cold weather, but a warm block really helps.
I always plug mine in below 32 degrees...I leave the cord plugged in to the tractor, but not plugged in to the outlet.