Snow Snow Plowing with front blade

[BizDoc]

I had in the past always plowed with a rear blade with my New Holland. However, This year when purchasing the B3030 I also purchased a front end hydrolic blade for snow plowing .

The dealer showed me how to raise and lower the blade to the ground with the posts and shoes on each side of the tractor. he said these keep the front blade from digging into the pavement. I put the blade on today and tried the blade with the posts/shoes resting on the ground and the blade up about an eighth of an inch off the pavement. So the blade does not leave any marks on the pavement, but the Shoes leave white streaks everywhere I push the blade . Is this normal or is there something I'm missing here?

 

[Ductape]

Normal. The metal shoes are going to leave marks, less one everything is good and frozen for the winter. If you lower it to the point the cutting edge is on the pavement, the shoes won't leave much of a mark, but the cutting edge sure will! I suppose an alternative would be to add a squeegee under the cutting edge, or perhaps a nylon cutting edge, and leave the shoes up higher.... or even off.

 

[easygo]

There was a recent post on someone adding heavy rubber squeegee to the front blade on a BX. They were very happy with it.

 

[BizDoc]

I did see the squeegee post about a week ago and have been considering it, but wasn't sure of the impact the rubber piece would have. Now I understand. We're to get some snow Thursday and this weekend. I'll see what happens. If I take the unit to the dealer this winter for the 50 hr checkup I may have the rubber put on then.

Thank you both.

 

[rpoage]

I'm the guy with the squeegee equipped front blade.

In regards to seeing marks from the skid shoes? Was the asphalt wet and was the blade in float position? I have had no marking from the skid shoes on a wet driveway even over sealer?

Looks like we are set for a additional test on the squeegee equipped front blade this weekend.

 

[BizDoc]

I hadn't thought about that, but I was not in the float position. That would place more downward pressure on the front.

Do you continue to use the skid shoes with the squeegee? Did you install the squeegee yourself or have the dealer install it?

 

[rpoage]

Yup that "no float" most likely didn't help. Yes I use the skid shoes with the squeegee. The squeegee is set to ride just 1/8th" over the driveway as my drive is very level.
Squeegee is most likely over kill but considering sealing the driveway is not my favorite thing to do and that the first 100 feet of my driveway is shared and a happy neighbor makes for a better neighborhood.

Squeegee just bolts on to the bottom of the BX2763a blade in the holes that are for the replacable blade edge. Dealer was going to bring me the blade in pieces but I guess he had time on his hands as when it came it was together. Nice dealer!

 

[BizDoc]

I'm sure not using float didn't help, and I guess running it against the dry asphalt didn't help either. I would suppose it would be different if the driveway were wet and would therefore just slide instead of scrape.

Snow's comming tomorrow so I'll be able to check it out then. Funny, my wife gets all concerned about this snow thing, and because I don't share in her snow pessimistic view she gets ouchy when I say Let it snow, I'm ready.

Thank you.

 

[rpoage]

I'm also in PA and I hear 2 to 4 inches and my personal favorite "freezing rain". I've lived in Colorado, Connecticut and now Pennsylvania so my view of weather is it doing whatever I look outside and see it doing.
I think you will find the skid shoe marks will not be there on a weather lubricated driveway.
Enjoy the snow but remember that freezing rain is nature's way of thinning the herd.

 

[amigauser]

I have the same tractor (B3030) with the Kubota front blade and it does not leave any marks on my asphalt driveway when plowing snow. I always plow in float mode unless I am back dragging snow away from say the garage door etc were I want some down pressure. I don't think a rubber edge is needed although I have thought about adding a rubber edge (snow deflector) at the top of the blade like a lot of truck plows have to keep snow from coming over the top .

They are forcasting 6 - 10 inches here in Connecticut tomorrow (Thursday) and then a Nor'Easter storm this coming Saturday into Sunday. Looks like I am going to have some tractor fun in the next few days .

Norm

 

[LBrown59]

Dealer was going to bring me the blade in pieces but I guess he had time on his hands as when it came it was together. Nice dealer!

My blade is just like yours and came with a BX1500 all ready on it.

 

[AMR]

My first time plowing with my B3030 with front blade was last week's whopping 2" snow, but I had to try it.

Traction was awesome with just my loaded turfs, I did not bother to put the BH on.

My shoes left white marks on the driveway as well. My BX23 did the same thing occasionally.

I find that it varies snowfall to snowfall and with the amount of wetness on the pavement, but they disappear readily and will not be an issue.

I did find with my B3030 that it the blade is much heavier and dug in ever so slightly at the shim in my driveway to my walkway. My BX23 went right up over it but my 3030 wants to chew into it. I am going to excercise a little more caution now in that spot.

 

[bandit67]

Did any of you guys consider getting a QA snow plow to attach to your B3030 FEL? I think I want to go with a front blade on my next machine, but am thinking that a snow plow mounted on the FEL might allow me to move the snow piles a little better, and redistribute snow up onto the higher banks of ground along parts of my driveway.

Last year, I used an FEL and rear blade, and with a lot of snow, being able to move, the big piles with the FEL was really handy. Right now, I'm using an ATV with a plow, and I can tell already that snow distribution is going to become an issue as the winter goes on at our new property. Aside from really, really big snows, I don't think a front mounted snowblower is going to be worth the cost, so I'm leaning more towards the plows.

The other thing I've been thinking about is that it should be a pretty quick change to swap out the snow blade with the loader bucket if I need to do a bunch of snow pile redistribution, as opposed to swapping the entire plow mount with the complete FEL mount.

Did any of you guys go through similar thought processes before making your decision?

How high does the regular front blade raise up off the ground on the B3030?

Thanks.

 

[Lockport]

If the shoes are anything like the BX2750 snoblower, if memory serves correct and since I am not home, are not the back edges smoothly curved a 90 degree to face forward and I wonder if it is possible to turn them around so that smooth, curved edge faces front? I suppose the leading edge is the ideal, but it is only 2-3" inches we are talking about. I remember looking at mine and thinking that would seem to make more sense as they looked like they would scap into certain surfaces, but I have mostly gravel and a small concrete pad so don't care either way.

Just a thought.

 

[amigauser]

Did any of you guys consider getting a QA snow plow to attach to your B3030 FEL? I think I want to go with a front blade on my next machine, but am thinking that a snow plow mounted on the FEL might allow me to move the snow piles a little better, and redistribute snow up onto the higher banks of ground along parts of my driveway.

Did any of you guys go through similar thought processes before making your decision?

How high does the regular front blade raise up off the ground on the B3030?

Thanks.

I did consider purchasing a an older truck type snow plow (as they seem to be a dime a dozen on Craig's list and are dirt cheap) and adapting it to the skid steer type q/a on my B3030 but I decided against it. I think the plow would probably drive the tractor instead of the other way around. Even with my quick hitch attached front blade I can recall the tractor almost going sideways last year during snow season. With a q/a attached front blade it would be way farther out in front of the tractor and with the leverage more likely to push the tractor around. The B3030 is a very light tractor. The FEL frame is designed to have force applied in one direction and putting a front blade instead of a bucket would create side ways forces on the frame, not good. Now if I had a heavier tractor and heavier FEL such as a Grand L series or M series I might give it a try .

I think the front blade is about a foot off the ground when fully raised (from memory). I know if does not get very high off the ground.

Norm

 

[rpoage]

If the shoes are anything like the BX2750 snoblower, if memory serves correct and since I am not home, are not the back edges smoothly curved a 90 degree to face forward and I wonder if it is possible to turn them around so that smooth, curved edge faces front? I suppose the leading edge is the ideal, but it is only 2-3" inches we are talking about. I remember looking at mine and thinking that would seem to make more sense as they looked like they would scap into certain surfaces, but I have mostly gravel and a small concrete pad so don't care either way.
Just a thought.

On the BX2763A they are like big mushrooms, when in use they rotate. The are almost the identical to the ones I had on a Meyer snow plow a bunch of years ago. I think the "mark the driveway" thing is not really a problem, it's just some of us guys playing with our new toys in the dry before the snow falls.

Did any of you guys consider getting a QA snow plow to attach to your B3030 FEL? I think I want to go with a front blade on my next machine, but am thinking that a snow plow mounted on the FEL might allow me to move the snow piles a little better, and redistribute snow up onto the higher banks of ground along parts of my driveway.
Did any of you guys go through similar thought processes before making your decision?

How high does the regular front blade raise up off the ground on the B3030?

Thanks.

I read a lot of guys posts who rigged something like that up but it never really made sense to me. I prefer to slap the plow on and just "Get R Done" I plowed with a truck a long time ago and never had to give a lot of thought about running out of snow room as we get enough melting around here to keep the snow piles manageable. The blade will rise about 8 to 10 inched on my BX2350.

 

[LBrown59]

Did any of , and redistribute snow up onto the higher banks of ground along parts of my driveway.is going to be worth the cost, so I'm leaning more towards the plows.

1*Did any of you guys consider getting a QA snow plow to attach to your B3030 FEL?
2*The other thing I've been thinking about is that it should be a pretty quick change to swap out the snow blade with the loader bucket

Did any of you guys go through similar thought processes before making your decision?
How high does the regular front blade raise up off the ground on the B3030?
Thanks.

1*The problem with this is you will always have the wrong appliance on the tractor.
2*No where near as quick as my method !
== L B ==

 

[LBrown59]

On the BX2763A they are like big mushrooms, when in use they rotate. The are almost the identical to the ones I had on a Meyer snow plow a bunch of years ago. I think the "mark the driveway" thing is not really a problem, it's just some of us guys playing with our new toys in the dry before the snow falls.

1*I read a lot of guys posts who rigged something like that up but it never really made sense to me.
2*The blade will rise about 8 to 10 inchs on my BX2350.

I read a lot of guys posts who rigged something like that up but it never really made sense to me. I prefer to slap the plow on and just "Get R Done" I my BX2350.

1*It's a lot easier to switch tractors than blade.
So I'm not to fond of the SWITCH BLADE method.
2*I'm guessing 8'' to 12'' on my BX1500.

 

[BizDoc]

I did very very seriously consider a QA blade for the loader. First problem was that the B3030 did not come equipped with a QA front end loader. so I changed to a ATI QA frame to the Kubota arms and a QA bucket. I spoke with dealers from Deere and Kubota, and both stated to stay away from a plow on the arms of the FEL. They said that the arms are not meant for the sideways pressure of a tilted blade and heavy snow. So that's why I went with the subframe and plow. The plow raises about 6 inches when pulled the entire way up.

I also have my old rear blade so I also put it on, mostly for additional weight on the rear with the filled tires. But I found it useful since I keep the front plow about an eighth of an inch off the ground and push the majority of the snow with it, and I let the rear blade rest on the pavement and catch the residual snow with it. I've never had an issue with the rear blade hurting the pavement. It's also handy when plowing infront of the garage. I just back up so the rear blade will catch the front of the garage pavement, lower both blades, push the majority with the front blade and let the back blade get everything behind me.

 

[bandit67]

Thanks BizDoc. So I guess I'll need to decide between a rear blade & FEL combo or a snowblower. I think I have to nix the front blade idea, because there will typically be a lot of snow to move and not a lot of places that a non-FEL mounted blade can move all that snow to - I'll find out for sure this winter with the ATV plow. I have a feeling I'll be breaking out the track drive walk-behind snowblower as the winter wears on to keep from piling too much snow on or along the drive with the plow.

I think maybe I should start with the rear blade & FEL combo, and then eventually go with a front mount snowblower if I get tired of moving that much snow with the rear blade. After using a manual adjusting rear blade for a couple of winters, I definitely want a hydraulic angle setup on the next one.

Oh, and by the way, plowing with an ATV really stinks compared to clearing snow with a tractor with FEL and rear blade. Man do I miss my hydraulics - can't wait to get another tractor. Trying to wait until late spring to see what the new B series are all about, but the constant snowstorms are making the wait more and more difficult.