Snow SNOW REMOVAL IN THE EASTERN UNITED STATES

[PhilNH5]

Tom,
I was hoping you would reply. I knew there was a BX owner with a 3PT Hitch Puma snow blower. I just couldn't remember who.
Where did you get your blower. I know you got a good deal.
I have visited the puma website but there is no dealer locator. I have never seen them around here. I may have to email them.

The FEL and rear blower sounds like an ideal setup to me.

Phil

 

[MadReferee]

Phil,

Chappell tractor in Milford and Brentwood is a Pronovost Puma dealer and they still have some in stock. I got a 64 inch Puma with hydraulic rotator from them this year.

 

[PhilNH5]

Mad,
Funny, I got my BX from Chappell in Milford. I didn't see any Puma products. I think my eyes must have been glazed over from all the Kubotas outside and all the Stihl chainsaws inside. I'll give them a call.

Thanks,
Phil

 

[MadReferee]

Mine came from Milford. When I got mine back in October, I went down back to one of their storage areas and saw 40-50 new Pumas of varying sizes that just arrived. Mine is in the shop right now having the hydraulic rotator installed as it was back ordered at the time.

 

[Boondox]

Bigun -- For small amounts like that a leaf blower will work just fine.

Pete

 

[hazmat]

Bob,

We're practically neighbors. I'm in West Newbury. I was out 5 times. Sat Morning, Sat Evening, Sun Morning (10-12 inches), Sun afternoon & Sun Night.

This is my second winter with the TC18. Having also used a walk behind snowblower (dad's), I have reached these conclusions regarding snow removal.

1. Smaller tractors do NOT have enough weight to cast snow to the side of the drive like a plow truck. The rear blade acts like a rudder and steers the tractor off to the side.

2. For >6" of snow, the rear blade is very ineffecient. Plowing time is exponential (square) compared to snow depth. Ie 8" takes 4 times as long as 4", and 16" takes 4 times as long as 8".... I have to keep going back over what casts off the sides.

3. If you have a steep driveway, chains are a must

4. The FEL is the SLOWEST method for clearing snow, but very handy for stacking.

5. A paved drive is much easier to clear than a gravel drive.

6. My neck is sore after using the rear blade. (I have an ongoing project to build a hydraulically angled front blade.)

7. With a snowblower, you "plow" once, unless your wife needs to get out of the driveway

8. I want a snowblower. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

9. My tractor thanks me for installing the block heater. Temp is at 1/4 mark before I even start the machine.

Here's my pile after last weekend's storm. I pushed it all into my parking area - trying to minimize the amount of gravel that ends up in the lawn....

 

[chocolatehauler]

Tip of Mitt Michigan here. not much snow yet. but with the rain today our road and drive is glare ice. found a new use for the fel and bucket teeth. makes nice groves in the ice and gives you traction to get out and go. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[chocolatehauler]

if you get that snowblower you probley won't need those chains. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif and your time will be to short. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[rbarker]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( 1. Smaller tractors do NOT have enough weight to cast snow to the side of the drive like a plow truck. The rear blade acts like a rudder and steers the tractor off to the side.)</font>

Oh yeah! I know all about that now! I was plowing with the tractor at a good 20 degree angle for a while.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( 2. For >6" of snow, the rear blade is very ineffecient. Plowing time is exponential (square) compared to snow depth. Ie 8" takes 4 times as long as 4", and 16" takes 4 times as long as 8".... I have to keep going back over what casts off the sides.)</font>

I completely agree with you here, also! And the closer you get to the sides of your drive if it's at all wide the less effective your blade gets because of the windrows.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( 3. If you have a steep driveway, chains are a must
)</font> I bought a set for the rears but haven't put them on. I really didn't find anywhere that I needed them yet.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( 4. The FEL is the SLOWEST method for clearing snow, but very handy for stacking.

5. A paved drive is much easier to clear than a gravel drive.)</font>

Yup and Yup! My tractor is out back in a Cover-it so I have to go over 60 or 70 feet of lawn to get to my drive. Can't use the bb all the way down and even still I did up small chunks of lawn when going over bumps etc. It's not going to be pretty in the spring! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( 7. With a snowblower, you "plow" once, unless your wife needs to get out of the driveway)</font> Ahh she can stay home. It's me that would need to get out.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( 8. I want a snowblower. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif)</font> Me too but I'm committed to trying this for the first year. I've proven it can handle anything mother nature can throw at us but storms like that are the exception here, not the rule.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( 9. My tractor thanks me for installing the block heater. Temp is at 1/4 mark before I even start the machine.)</font> I'm considering adding one of those as well, plus the high output alternator to run all my accessories! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

If we lived just a little closer maybe we could split a 3ph mounted blower! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[8561]

Mad - would you mind posting (or sending me a private email) saying what the total $ was with the hydraulic rotator. I'm interested in that set-up as well and need to draft a formal proposal to the CFO.