Snow plowing snow with a FEL

[astor]

Hi guys,
I am new at this tractor owning thing and I have a bx2230 with a FEL and backblade on the way. Anyone have tips on moving snow with a FEL from a blacktop drive?? And using the backblade??

Thanks /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Charliebrn]

One thing to be careful of...don't tilt the bucket on the FEL back because the sides of the bucket will gouge your blacktop. I fixed that by welding skid plates to the bottom of my bucket. (check my web site below for pics of this) I also but on gauge wheels on my blade to keep from causing scrape marks on the blacktop.

I plow with the FEL on float and level with the drive. I set the Rear blade facing forward at an angle to clean off the spillover from the FEL. Works nice. Others just use the rear blade facing backwards and drive backwards, pushing it to one side. I hate driving backwards for any length of time, though. I think that works better with heavier tractors or lighter snows, as this tends to build up a lot of weight pushing you sideways otherwise.

TresCrows and others here have bolted on nylon or rubber cutting edges that work real nice...I'd like to do that but my blade is a bit tougher to do that withbecause of a welded-on cutting edge.

Good luck, try out all the techniques and see what works best for you. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[JDgreen227]

Don't bother to use the FEL for anything less than 6 inches deep, the RB is faster. I use mine set backwards at a shallow angle and then drive in reverse gear and scrape the blacktop off. The only drawback is you get a sore neck really fast.

If you end up with snow piles that are higher than the RB use the FEL to push them back. As I live on top of a hill in a windy area I always push the snow back further than I need to. When the old snow freezes over or drifts and you have new snow to remove the extra space is handy.

 

[Rowski]

You might try bolting on a poly (plastic) cutting edge (from a snow plow) to the under side of your bucket. Will help keep from scratching your asphalt drive.

There have been some discussions about poly cutting edges in the past.

 

[Deerlope]

If you plan on having a tractor for a long time and when your budget will allow it get a front mount snowblower. you will be glad you did and you will never look back.

 

[RalphVa]

There's a bunch of information on folks plowing with FELs. Do a search on "snow plow" or similar using the search tool on TBN. Their experience convinced me to get my first tractor with an FEL instead of a snow plow blade, as a more practical, overall tool. This is my plan for my April tractor.

I've my Gravely with 48" snow plow and 26" snow thrower as backup while I'm learning on the new tractor, probably a BX1500 or 1800.

Ralph

 

[frank_f15]

I AM A PROPONENT of using the fel, the snow we had yesterday about 8 in of wet heavy snow with ice underneathe would have been impossible to clear with the rear blade, with the fel i had to pick it up and dump to the side till i got the first pass out, now mind u i am plowing on concret, not black top. so my way of doing it will be different than yours.

 

[MikePA]

<font color="blue"> I AM A PROPONENT of using the fel </font>
I agree with Frank and I have a rear blade /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif. I have a blacktop driveway at the house and barn and I also remove snow from areas that are gravel. My situation might be different from others in that I can not keep the rear blade on the tractor and still park it in the garage. So, for me to use the rear blade would mean attaching it each time. The rear blade is at the barn, outside, in the snow. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Just have not discovered anything I could not do with the FEL that would make it worthwhile to attach the RB.

 

[LateBloomer]

Agree with Frank mostly because I don't have an RB. I began using my FEL this winter for the first time and I get better each time. One advantage I can offer is the management of berm build up with the FEL. I have 3-4 ft berms on parts of my 300 ft asphalt drive. The RB would have problems with new snow and I would end up moving it anyway with the FEL. As already stated the best way is to put the blade of the FEL parallel or just a degree or two down and use the float position. Of course I can see wear on the edge of the bucket already and may reget this technique some day.

 

[frank_f15]

i do have a RB and i leave it on, use to move light snow, and clean up, also is good for weight. but does anyone think u could clear this with just a RB ? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif