New BX2200 w/FEL, Brand new Blacktop & Snow-Help!!

[rixtory]

Hi,
We just moved to a house with 4.5 acres and a 440 foot long Driveway. I also just bought a BX2200 with 298 hours and a FEL (#211) with a 60" MMM.

Our new asphalt driveway was put in last week and I figured I'd use the FEL for plowing snow and gave our old snowblower to close friends.

Well, we have 3 inches of new snow and I pulled the MMM off, put the ballast box on and went to town.
I scratched the driveway in a few spots getting used to it, but
I played around with the float position and tilting the bucket just enough so it didn't dig into the driveway, and it did a pretty good job of clearing the snow, but it took a while.

I am wondering what others do (I have also been reading the forums). I was thinking of a back blade off the 3Pt hitch, but when I spoke to Tractor Supply, they said even though my Kubota manual says Class 1 hitch, I really have a Class 0 hitch and I must buy a more expensive ($400) 48" back blade rather than the $222 60" King Kutter blade.
Also there are no skid shoes for the blade and I am really worried of tearing up the driveway with it.
I'd really appreciate comments and advice here.
Thanks in advance
Rick

 

[PAexcavator]

The Cat 1 vs. 0 is probably not so much based on the lift capacity as what the dimensions are where the lower arms attach, your arms may not spread enough to reach the lower pins.

Any local welding shop (or friend) should be able to add some skids if you want them.

Whether or not the back blade digs in is greatly influenced by the angle of attack on the blade (set by length of the toplink).

You may just need more seat time to get a better feel for the FEL bucket, that's all I use for snow removal with my L3010. My BX1500 is just for mowing.

 

[ericbx1500]

You have to get an implement that’s designed for sub compacts. If you want a good back blade go with the woods rb60. This is a 60” blade and you can purchase optional skid shoes for it. I pad $350.00 for mine and love it. It’s made very well.

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

Rick,

Give TSC a call and get a quote on the King Kutter's XB Rear Blade MODEL: TRB-60-XB they are designed for our sub-compact tractors.

web page

You may want to add a wear plate to the FEl this is what I did.

web page

You may want to really think about a snowblower, front or rear as another option. Too late to buy one this year, next spring is a good time to look for one and not pay a huge mark up. I picked up a 54" Puma for $1K a few years ago in May. BUT got tired of backing up and went for the front snowblower and a Sims Cab. Now that is the best snow machine BUT will cost you about $4500. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Volfandt]

Your BX is definitly a Cat 1 not a Cat 0 but it is considered a limited Cat 1 because of the BX's rear tires not being tall enough to allow the 3PH to lift std Cat 1 implements. The spread of the 3PH is not as wide either as a std Cat1 but the pins are Cat1.

King Kutter as well as Woods and other manufacturers makes a full line of Cat 1 implements for SubCuts.

As for snow removal, whats that? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
(we don't get much down here and either my boxblade or FEL handles it when it does....)

Volfandt

 

[djg]

I just bought a back blade for my B6200. I have plowed my blacktop drive three times. I have not noticed any damage. Plowing backwards is a little awkward but not really hard. This is a plain Kubota 48" blade, no skids. I have read many posts here pro and con using a back blade for plowing. For my fairly short, flat blacktop drive it works great, and was the cheapest route.

 

[DannyD]

I have had a 2200 and now have a 23. I have NEVER had to buy "limited" or any other special implements. Mine are Cat 1. One hint is that if you get the Pat's Easy Change, it wont make a difference as you can now "hook" your implements rather than fight with the "too narrow spread". Yes I had all my implements on before my Pats, but would not do with it now.

From way back when I was buying, JD dealer told me his was limited cat 1 and ONLY he had implements for it.........at a price that made the purchase of green, out of line. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Sorry Green, he did it to himself.

I have a KK 48 tiller, the dealer I got it from did not know limited from cat 1, and he sells the same to others.

 

[DannyD]

As for your drive, I put the bucket down, and go for it. If you get the edge against the base, and float it, long as it stays on the base, you will have black where there was white. I dont dump snow, once I get the angle set, it is pretty much up and down, the bucket stays put at the angle.

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

Rick,

What some folks have done is to add a rubber edge to the back blade to prevent damage. A horse mat cut a few inches wide and bolted to the back blade work well I understand.

 

[44trxfun]

Hi rixtory; welcome to the board. I have a similarly sized MF GC2300 and I DON'T have a blacktop drive. But I DO have a straight Cat. 1 Leinbach Line 3pt-hitch 5-foot rear blade. This year I've rotated it 180 degrees so I'm pulling it into the snow with the convex side (therefore, blade is not digging in). In heavier wetter snow, I'll add some weight to the post a welding shop welded on for me (see pic). This has been working pretty well for me even though our winter is only a few weeks old (but it's coming in with a fury). I don't know if you'd want to try this on your blacktop. There's some good alternate suggestions here, but it gives you another option to consider. One more might be to adjust your top link so the blade isn't digging in. In any event, good luck!