Scraping Ice

[Hooked_on_HP]

Last night we got about an 1 1/2 of ice. It sure is pretty but dangerous. I got the tractor out this morning and tried plowing it. Temp is around 30deg. I tried the front snowplow and got a little of it. Then I tried the rear blade and got some more but still have about an inch left. I put on the BB on lowered the rippers and tilted the box forward. I thought the rippers would loosen the ice and then I could push it with the front blade. All it did was cut 5 groves in the ice. Has any one had any success breaking up ice. The weather man is calling for 3in on snow tomorrow night and temps dropping to 0. Snow on top of ice is a nightmare to move.
Bill

 

[Negligence]

Angle your bucket down, drive, and eventually t will start chipping away.

Worst case scenario sometimes if you can't break up the ice, by scrapping the top it will become rough and not slippery.

 

[LBrown59]

You didn't try a tiller or a Back Hoe.

Last night we got about an 1 1/2 of ice. It sure is pretty but dangerous. I got the tractor out this morning and tried plowing it. Temp is around 30deg. I tried the front snowplow and got a little of it. Then I tried the rear blade and got some more but still have about an inch left. I put on the BB on lowered the rippers and tilted the box forward. I thought the rippers would loosen the ice and then I could push it with the front blade. All it did was cut 5 groves in the ice. Has any one had any success breaking up ice. The weather man is calling for 3in on snow tomorrow night and temps dropping to 0. Snow on top of ice is a nightmare to move.
Bill

 

[studor]

Whats underneath? -- If gravel just keep going with the box blade and it will eventually give. Otherwise sand and salt are about the only solution.When that hppened to me last year I used the box blade to really rough it up -- the only problem then was the blower launched gravel the next time I cleared the lane

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

I didn't think about the tiller or I might have tried it. Part of what I am plowing is asphalt and some is gravel.
Bill

 

[studor]

I'm thinking salt and sand -- otherwise that tarmac will be pretty ugly when you are finished

 

[yankeerider]

... Has any one had any success breaking up ice. The weather man is calling for 3in on snow tomorrow night and temps dropping to 0. Snow on top of ice is a nightmare to move.
Bill

It depends. I've been successful using the FEL by getting the edge under it and curling the bucket to "pop" the ice up off the gravel or blacktop. Sometimes, though, it just ain't happening and there's nothing you can do but spread sand/salt and wait for Mother Nature to break it up.

I think I have had some success with a small front blade when the temp was right, but haven't had one of them (until this year) for nearly 20 years.

 

[capi75rs]

You and I are in the same boat. I threw out some salt and gave it a few hours and was able to get most of the ice off my drive. My drive is gravel and I had no luck trying to scrape off the ice until I put down salt and gave it a few hours. Good luck and watch your step!

 

[johan3400]

I used my loader today, otherwise I think we are just up the old creek. The storms seem to just keep coming at us. Good luck. This next storm is to have wind also. Snow on top of ice should be fun to see where it sticks. At least it gives us some seat time.

 

[Frostyford]

Careful,
I used the front loader to scrape the ice/snow off my concrete driveway, and it pulled up some of the concrete with it. Now my driveway looks like CR$&#.

Frostyford

 

[Deadman]

Salt the driveway lightely. Wait 2 hours, and the salt will soften the ice. Then you can peel it right off with the FEL.

 

[lungdoc]

On gravel a layer of packed snow/ice is actually desirable to protect the gravel. If layer gets thick wait for warm temp (or use salt but I'd personally avoid as hate salt due to rust etc.) and scrape then with bucket, blade or whatever. If truly hard ice I don't think you'll do much very easily and I'd just sand it and wait for warmer temps and/or some snow to stick to it. Imagine a box bleade with scarifiers would go through it but be very careful re not ripping up drive underneath. V-bar type chains may help to rough it up for traction as well.