Snow GC2300 to move snow (Update)

loulblades · Dec 23, 2004

Got some snow in western PA last week (looks like a bunch more is on the way). I bolted a 1" piece of oak behind the front edge of the FEL bucket to keep it from tearing up the blacktop.

It works OK but would work better if I could angle it. Several people mentioned using the rear blade and I am looking into it.

What I am now looking for is a PET or ABS (plastic) blade edge to replace the steel one. I have seen the threads on using a horse blanket but... So if anyone knows of a source, I would appreciate it.

Hope everyone has Happy Holidays.

44trxfun · Dec 23, 2004

loublades, I'm pretty sure I saw someone on this board describe this (complete w/ picture) sometime about two weeks ago. You might find it pretty easily with the search feature. Good luck!

Inspector507 · Dec 23, 2004

A horse blanket......?? or a horse stall mat. That is a rubber mat that they cut in strips and bolt onto the FEL.

Birdhunter1 · Dec 25, 2004

I understand teh idea here about a rub strip, but won't the strip wear down eventually and then the bolts will tear up the blacktop?
I don't know how uneven your blacktop is but we just cleared about 4 acres of parking lot at our church with a 40 hp MF and a 70 HP JD. We took our fel's and placed them right on the pavement and took off. In and hour and a half we were done with no damage to the pavement. Can't you just do the same?

loulblades · Jan 19, 2005

Did some snow moving the other day. I used the FEL first but the windrows had to be dealt with no matter how small a bite I took. Several times on the same area deals with it. So I put the rear blade on to give it a shot since I can angle it. Started diggin into the pavement right off so I turned it around and that worked pretty good.

I would still prefer the blower, but I think I did well talkin the acct. into buying the tractor. Laying out another $2500 for the blower is a bit much to ask. Maybe next year.

I think I will really get to test the snow moving tonight. It snowed most of last night and looks like it will keep up all day.

What a blast.

BTW I was referring to a horse stall mat instead of a horse blanket in an earlier post to use as a blade edge.

Nasty135 · Jan 21, 2005

Lou, I was thinking about your post and was wondering when you angled your blade did your adjust the lift arms to level the blade for the driveway... because if you just angled the blade and it was adjusted to be level with the blade straight which ever way you angle it the front edge closet to the tractor will be the lower edge to the driveway causing the gouging,This also depends on the toplinks adjustment, But being backwards the blade when relaxed on pavement would tend to scrape across without the gouge, See what happens when you think too much /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

I'm sure you enjoyed your seat time just the same... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

loulblades · Jan 24, 2005

Got to do some serious snow movin this weekend. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I did play with the adjustments and put the top link out as far as it would go so the bottom of the blade was tilted back some. I had also compensated for level. Seems to be working fine right now.

But I have a couple questions for you tractor experts. I noticed 2 things in this cold weather. When first starting up, I cannot tilt the bucket on the FEL. I can't even move the stick to the right. It only started working after I moved the bucket up and down several times(warming the hyd. fluid!?). I always leave the tractor run for 5-10 minutes(or more) after starting before doing anything.

The second question is when I am going down the driveway with the FEL in float and the rear blade down, when I pick up the rear blade and it hits the top, the FEL also starts to lift. This doesn't seem to happen all the time but I don't currently know what other conditions are involved.

BTW the tractor is stored in an unheated garage.

Is this normal? TIA for any advise/comments.

44trxfun · Jan 24, 2005

lou, the only thing I can think of (with my limited experience) RE: your non-responsive FEL is to try letting it warm up longer. In this cold weather, I warm up for 15-20 minutes (at least) before I do anything. I keep mine in an unheated garage also. I put my front blower on about a week ago but up til then I was using my FEL and didn't encounter what you've described.

As for the second question, I can't help you. Come to think of it, I haven't used FEL and rear blade simultaneously. Good luck!

Nasty135 · Jan 25, 2005

Lou, Probably whats happening is the cold hydraulic fluid and pump bypass is reacting as fast as it can for the conditions that it is experiencing...When the blade hits the top of its travel with the lever still engaged the pump is still applying pressure to the line and the subsequent reaction is diverted to the FEL before the bypass valve has time to react....

Probably nothing to worry about... It's too cold to work on anyhow /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

As long as its not jerky and theres no water in the system,
Then you could worry,But it doesn't sound like thats the issue
Just a little more warm-up time perhaps...