Snow shoveling snow with a 4110/FEL

[Cliff_Johns]

We got more than a foot of snow, so I decided to pull the 4110 around from the back and try doing the drive way with the FEL. I learned a few things.

1) Beats shoveling.
2) It's kind of fun.
3) It gets cold after a while.
4) I left the backhoe on and had no traction problems at all on my slight incline. I run R4s.
5) It would have helped if I had put tall markers at the edges of the driveway, because after a foot of snow, it's really hard to tell where to stop.
6) The biggest problem was setting the bucket so it wouldn't scrape the concrete too badly, yet it would still remove most of the snow.

I wasn't really expecting to use the tractor for snow removal. Our house is close to the street. But for this snow, it was definately worth it.

Cliff

 

[thcri]

Cliff, I always set my loader using the float. I have not ever done any damage to my concrete.

murph

 

[RoyJackson]

I really enjoy pushing snow!

We only got 6" to 8" this time...darn!

I got so enthusiastic, I did by neighbor's too (much longer drive then mine).

I normally use the back blade to plow, but when I do use the bucket, I curl it up slightly, then use float. My drive isn't paved (some kind of hard packed gravel), so this method eliminates any digging in by the bucket.

 

[tillboy2001]

I've found that floating the bucket works very well, without being too rough on the driveway. Also, I tilt the bucket up just a hair so it won't catch on the seams. It's tough to keep it just right on hills where the angle constantly changes, but if you take your time it works very well /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif We have a pretty steep driveway. In 4x4 and with 440 lbs of wheel weights, it does an excellent job and doesn't slide or slip one bit! Snow will never be a problem again here /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Cliff_Johns]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I've found that floating the bucket works very well, without being too rough on the driveway. Also, I tilt the bucket up just a hair so it won't catch on the seams. It's tough to keep it just right on hills where the angle constantly changes, but if you take your time it works very well )</font>

That's what I tried to do. Takes some learning and listening for grind when the angle of the driveway changes, then you have to touch it back to where it was when the tractor catches up with the angle change, if that makes any sense.

Cliff

 

[RalphVa]

I posted under general/owner operating about using the FEL on my 4010. Worked great. No problem even using some downforce on asphalt. Lose some steering though. Had to use the brakes to steer. Glad I didn't get a 2210.

Left my soil ripper on the back. Main problem is remembering it's back there when backing up. Almost ran it into my carriage house. Wife yelled before I did.

Ralph

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

The end of my paved drive is missing...a little to aggressive the first snow I tried to use the FEL on a few years ago! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Bob_K]

In the past i used my simplity garden tractor with a 42 inch plow, took me almost 45 minutes to clear the drive way. Now i use my FEL on my New Holland TC24DA and it takes me only 20 minutes. What a great toy OH I mean tool.
So now I go and due the neibhors and his area is twice as much as mine. So with in a hour I do mine and His and make a few bux's to boot. Pay for fuel and a few beers. But best of all it gives me some more seat time.

 

[jwnge]

Hi Bob. what part of Wi. are you from?? John

 

[JDgreen227]

Using a snow shovel is fun...for about five minutes. I live about 8 miles north of Lansing and the storm dumped 10-12 inches in this area, along with 30 mph winds that have drifted the snow waist deep in places. I got out my 4210 early this morning and cleared our drive, then went down to do four of my neighbors driveways.

Since adding the rubber (stall mat) edge to my 72 inch RB last fall, it's my preferred attachment for clearing snow. My driveway and two of my closest neighbor's driveways are asphalt, and theirs are not even a year old. Not wanting to scrape up theirs with the FEL edge, I used the RB in reverse to plow all the snow into a huge pile at the end of the drive,
then I would turn around and use the FEL to scoop up the compacted pile and dump it into the culverts on each side.

With a hill about 200' away, I didn't feel safe pushing the snow across the road (limited visibility) and that's illegal in our area anyhow. I'm amazed at the traction my non-loaded turf tires provide with the MFWD...I was able to back up the 15 degree slope into my barn while pushing a 3 foot high wall of snow with the RB down...and I didn't even have to engage the diff lock.

Oh yes, I have drive markers, and while I am familiar with the neighbors drive next door from frequent plowing, I asked the other 3 guys to track out the approximate edges of their drives and tell me if there were any obstructions in the area I was going to clear. Better safe than sorry !!