Snow-How much can I do w/o more $

[gerard]

I plowed for years without chains and got by OK.
Put chains front and rear on my tractor a couple years ago.
The differance is HUGE. I can push more, push it back farther and go so much better.
I should have added chains years ago.

And there you have it. Guess it's the difference between "getting by" or not for a $200 investment? Those who question chanins have never used them. I don't know anyone who used them , then said, Oh, I have too much traction now, I liked it better when I slipped around a little...........)

 

[JonKioti]

Mark_in_NH said "I think I have maybe $500 into my modified Fisher truck plow. That includes buying the used plow, the quicktach plate and paying the local welder to create the end result."

I envy your opportunity to get such a thing made up. I believe you might have a larger machine than my CK-20, though.

At the time, I checked around locally and found my local dealer couldn't get me the power angle option for the blade they would supply; their suggestion was one that replaced the bucket and used the loader arms. Their cost was very close to my landed cost of the MIE solution.

This MIE model has a complete subframe that runs to the back axel, which makes up some of the cost. Thus, I am not worried about possibly damaging the tractor with a lateral force on the loader arms. Also, the CK-20 doesn't come with the QA loader....

While sometimes I'm inclined to get something made up, my time for such efforts was limited in this case. Also, there are a lot of "handy" people in this province, so the chances of finding a decent used plow to modify are pretty slim.

Can you post some pictures of what you got made up?

Cheers,

Jon

 

[Mark_in_NH]

Mark_in_NH said "I think I have maybe $500 into my modified Fisher truck plow. That includes buying the used plow, the quicktach plate and paying the local welder to create the end result."

I envy your opportunity to get such a thing made up. I believe you might have a larger machine than my CK-20, though.

At the time, I checked around locally and found my local dealer couldn't get me the power angle option for the blade they would supply; their suggestion was one that replaced the bucket and used the loader arms. Their cost was very close to my landed cost of the MIE solution.

This MIE model has a complete subframe that runs to the back axel, which makes up some of the cost. Thus, I am not worried about possibly damaging the tractor with a lateral force on the loader arms. Also, the CK-20 doesn't come with the QA loader....

While sometimes I'm inclined to get something made up, my time for such efforts was limited in this case. Also, there are a lot of "handy" people in this province, so the chances of finding a decent used plow to modify are pretty slim.

Can you post some pictures of what you got made up?

Cheers,

Jon

Jon, I fully understand. Sometimes it is more realistic in the long run to bite the big bullet. Here is a link to the thread of my snowplow build.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/31311-how-sweeeet.html

 

[mrutkaus]

I have R1 Ag Tires.

I was too lazy to take off the backhoe on my ck30hst during the last snow and used the FEL in various ways to clear steep in places 1/3 mi long driveway. It worked OK, no chains but 900 lb of backhoe for traction.

It is a lot neater/easier with my 6' rear blade, zip zip zip and you're done.

I also have chains and with chains and the back blade i really can move high snow. Couple years ago after plowing the driveway and a neighbor's, was plowing the little gravel road i live on with the chains and about 20" of snow in places. I started having some difficulty on a hill and realized I'd been in 2WD for a couple of hours!

Mike

 

[rd_macgregor]

Does bring up a good question on what is the max RPM out of a diesel piston motor?

Joel

I know this isn't what you had in mind, but here is a diesel engine with plenty of RPMs: YouTube - PAW 2.49 CC RC MODEL AIRPLANE DIESEL ENGINE RUNS ON HOME MADE FUEL

(or Google "diesel model airplane engine")

BOB

 

[MWB1564]

Well, so much for the $200 tire chains. I could have got some for that price but I decided to go with their V-bar ladder type with 2 link spacing. I think I'll have a real tank with these things on. With shipping, tensioners, and binder it was $503.22. OUCH! I justified it by saying I can make a little money digging my neighbors out if we get a big snow. Well at least I'm looking forward to snow now instead of dreading it.

 

[VictorW]

With other things to do, I didn't put the chains on my CK30hst. It pushes 6 inch snows with no problem. We have been hit with 24 inches of snow over the last few days and wind made drifts over a foot between plowing each day. The R4 tires just couldn't bite in enough and I was spinning to move this much with my 6ft back blade or the fel bucket in fwd and diff lock. I had enough and put the 3/8 inch two link ladder chains on the rear and 1/4 inch twi link ladder chains on the front. My little bulldozer is back like I remember from last year. It will move as much as the blade or bucket can grab. With chains, 2wd is better than 4wd without chains. So as others mentioned, chains are worth it if you get pretty good snows or have hilly driveways to plow. No slipping or sliding, good steering, and get done faster.