Snow SNOW REMOVAL IN THE EASTERN UNITED STATES

ethiojazz · Dec 9, 2003

Got about 8" in the Annapolis MD area... Finally we had paved the driveway.... with the Front end down and the box blade in the back, got the 200+ driveway cleaned out in about 45 minutes... Now if we get the 30+ dump again, I figured I will have it cleaned out in about an hour, instead of the 2.5 hours last year..

perrycounty · Dec 9, 2003

Like Roy said, we got about 10-12 inches of snow here.
Was getting ready to go to work around 2:30A.M. Sat morning as I was heading to the truck to leave and I just couldn't stand it. I jumped on the 2410 and started to clear the drive way.
I had been waiting all summer for this opportunity. Just couldn't wait anymore..
Took about one hour with the rear blade and FEL .
The lane is about 700ft long(gravel).
It was great!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

RoyJackson · Dec 9, 2003

"I feel for all you snow guys......You need a cab and maybe a bigger tractor too."

Not really... Just need to take breaks as required (we're not getting paid to do this...and the boss (wifey) ain't got the horsepower to push us around...too much!

As far as a bigger machine..I looked at a 4300 Deere last year (on Machinerylink.com) for just over $14K. Boy! I was drooling...didn't get it though.
A few months ago, I got on one at one of the local Deere dealers... What the Hey would I have done on ~ 3 acres with a tractor that size!!??

I'd like a few more ponys under my 670's hood...and an independent PTO. But, for the little machine it is, it sure does what I need the machine to do.

Pretty satisfied here, I reckon.

rbarker · Dec 9, 2003

I've been collecting my thoughts about this for the last day or two and here's what I can add. I live on the North Shore of Mass (Rowley) and we received around 20 - 25" over a period of Friday night until Sunday evening at about 7PM. This was my first big storm with my BX2200, FEL, and 60" bb. My previous snow removal involved a 20 hp Wheelhorse tractor with a 44" 2 stage snow blower which never let me down.

Saturday morning I moved about 6" with the back blade and used the FEL to clean the driveway ends etc. It takes some time to get used to it. I moved another 5 or 6" in the afternoon and decided to call it a day. The next morning I was facing 12 to 15" and the back blade was awash. Over to the FEL to clear the drive. Took about three hours to clear it up due to my lack of experience etc. Even after getting a path cleared up the middle the bb still was ineffective. The snow was just too deep and needed to be moved with the bucket.

After clearing the drive completely we got another 5 or so inches of powder which I cleared with the bb quite easily on Sunday evening.

All in all, the tractor performed better than I could have hoped. Turf tires and no chains installed did not pose any issues for me as I drove through deep snow. Operation was a cinch with the power steering and a three hour stint in the cold was no problem becuae of my heated cab. I am now left with really high snow banks that could be an issue later since they are as high as can be reached with the 211 loader and I liked snow blowing better than FEL work to remove snow. But the old tractor had no cab and was no match for the BX2200 in many other ways.

Well, I rambled on long enough. Here's a picture.

NY_Yankees_Fan · Dec 9, 2003

The Kubota BX 2200 got a work out with 10 inches of heavy wet snow, with 4 WD and turf tires had no problems. The 54 inch Puma rear 3 point snowblower made quick work of my 200 foot driveway and 6 others 200 foot plus driveways for the neighbors. Used the front loader to get close to the garage doors. Pulled the snow back and then used the snowblower to move the snow. The front end loader and rear snowblower is a great combination for snow removal. The home made snow cab worked great too. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gifLooks like this winter is shaping up to be like last winter here in New Jersey....more seat time /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

skycopatc · Dec 9, 2003

I probably ended up with about 12 inches here in the Maryland mountains near Camp David...I put on my 60" blower, but switched back to the front hydralic blade when I broke the shear bolts...the blade worked fine and the dealer is sending some new bolts...live and learn!

chim · Dec 9, 2003

How about you and Roy lettin' more snow over the hills and into Lancaster County the next time? We had a bit less here. There was enough to get out and play for a while.

Worst part of this snow was making the trip to Bethlehem on Friday night to catch the youngest boy's first college track meet. There were several cars off the road along the way, and at one point we were directed off the main road into unfamiliar territory due to an accident ahead. Don't care to repeat that trip anytime soon................chim

rcaretti · Dec 9, 2003

I ended up with about 12". I probably live a little further east than you Tom. I used the rear blade on Friday with about 7 inches or so and cleaned up on Saturday. It was nice to practice using the FEL on something forgiving like snow. I have about a 700 foot gravel driveway, and had a little trouble adjusting the blade between leaving a little too much snow and scraping a little gravel. The road is a little less than a year old, so I'm hoping it'll pack down as times goes on - making my job a little easier.

I did have a one spot where the tractor spun in place, even with the 4WD, and I had to back off and try again. It wasn't much of a problem though.

I also used the rear blade on our driveway, as the #4@&!% snowblower wouldn't start on Friday, but I was able to clean throttle enough to get it running on Saturday. Any advice concerning whether to use the blade on the driveway? I did scratch the driveway a little here and there, but am due for a top coat next summer, so I'm not concerned. I kept thinking a little too much downward pressure on the blade and there goes an inch or so of the driveway. Luckily, I didn't find out whether that would actually happen. Overall only about 45 minutes of work each time, and to be honest I enjoyed it.

BIGUN · Dec 10, 2003

Hey, we got about an inch here in Tulsa this evening. My wife is excited and has been running to the door to look out at it. Our Weiner dog made a circle out through it, a first for him. He doesn’t know what to make of it. We don’t even have a snow shovel. Where we came from in South Texas I don’t recall ever seeing one for sale. I did see some for sale here at Sam’s today. If we need to shovel snow this winter, it will be a new experience for us.

perrycounty · Dec 10, 2003

I can identify with you questions about using the rear blade on the driveway. Our lane is also about 700ft and it is gravel.
This was my first experience at moving snow with the rear blade too. I drop the blade to till it hit bottm and then raised it about an inch or so and began to clear the snow.. I angled the blade and pulled it. This seemed to work O.K. and only had a few spots where I hit the gravel and lifted some of it off the roadway. Trying to keep what little bit of crown there is left on the lane in place.
I'm sure that with more practice this will become easier.
So bring on the snow!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif