Snow Snow removal learnings

[escavader]

LIKE OTHERS NOTHING BEATS THE OLD73 F-IOO WITH THE FISHER PLOW.KEEP IT TINKERED UP AND WITH THE CHAINS ON THE BACK SHE NEVER FAILS ME,WITH THESE MAINE WINTERS.YEARS PAST,WHEN YOU RUN OUT OF ROOM,AND THINGS START CLOSEN IN ON YOU,I WAS FORCED TO WALK BEHIND THE COLD MTD SNOWBLOWER.NOT THIS YEAR...THATPRETTY LITTLE BOTA I JUST BOUGHT MAKES SHORT WORK OF PUSHING UP AND BACK THOSE BANKINGS.I TO CLEANED UP ONE SMALL STORM WITH THE FEL,TAKES TWICE AS LONG.7 ANDAHALF FOOT PLOW BEATS 4 FOOT BUCKET ANY DAY,BUT BOTA HAS ITS PLACE.
ESCAVADER

WIFE CALLS ME HIGH MAINTENANCE

 

[frank_f15]

I will also vote for the FEL, the snow and cond. here in WESTER NY i would imagine are far different than in MD.

 

[jfdlaw]

I spent last year chasing snow with a FEL. It was ok for the short runs; lousy on long runs. Once the bucket fills it overflows to each side and you end up either stopping to dump, or coming back a second time to try to pick up the overflow (i.e chasing snow). Without the ability to angle, and direct the overflow to one side, you end up working harder than you should.

We have a 400' driveway, 10' wide, ending in a 30' x 60' parking area. The FEL was ok (not great) in the parking area, where the bucket wouldn't overflow and spill to the side, but on the long runs up and down the drive it was painful. It wasn't that much faster than my 21" single stage toro.

This year I bought a 63" front snowblower and a rear blade. The combination is awesome. Snowblower is wide enough where I make one run down the drive and one run back and its done. I use the rear blade to pull snow away from the garage doors, when the snow is too soft or slushy to blow, and for that final scrape to clean up anything the blower missed.

If I didn't have the snowblower, I would opt for a front blade, preferably with hydraulic angling.

The process is now so quick I've adopted two of my neighbor's driveways, just for fun. I hate putting the 'bota back in the garage before its really warmed up.

 

[lmiller]

After a bit of trial and error and some help here (thanks JJT) I was able to snowblow 400' of gravel drive in under 25 Min, including the plow mound and 3 parking spaces. I tried the FEL the first time on the plow mound and that took well over 1/2 hr itself.

I'd suspect excavader has another good approach - use the truck mounted plow most of the time and the FEL to push back the accumulation. Sound good but I'd rather spend the $1500 (truck mounted plow) on another implement for the tractor, if I had it /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Lou
Lou

 

[bugstruck]

There is a concensus of sorts running through this thread. If you have to pile it and can't just snow plow it, seems the FEL is the general choice. Makes sense. For those of us in areas like Maryland which only get the really big snows every 5 or so years, live where the snow actually has a chance to melt, or have the ability to push it back from the travel path as needed, seems the snow plow is generally favored. Makes sense too. A few years back we got 28" here on top of about 6" from a recent storm that didn't melt. I used the little JD325 after about 8" into the big snow. The forecasters kept raising the storm totals so after I got that cleared I went into a plow back mode to make room. Now that's a frame mount plow on a rather light mower. It raises all of 4". Granted, I had to stay in the saddle every 6" or so to keep up, worked it hard but it did suprisingly well. Now if I take and put a FEL mounted front blade on the 3130 around here, I can't imagine 4 or 5' of snow, given my layout, being unmanageable, assuming I got on it soon enough. That said, if I had to transport it then it would be FEL time. No other sensible way.

It's noteworthy that those especially vulnerable to drifting and/or with a need to transport it prefer or require the FEL bucket. Guess those piles get too big to handle, even with a FEL mounted blade. Perhaps it takes longer... or works the equipment harder to push it into piles with a blade?? I wouldn't know on that. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Several of the up North responses still perfered the plow though, so their situtation must be a little different. However, there doesn't seem to be much argument on which is faster if either will work. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Now I'm getting the picture across region, terrain, etc.

Thanks guys! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Av8r3400]

I've used the FEL, blade and snowblower to move snow. By far with NO COMPARISON the snowblower wins.

There is no need to worry about piling or impacts with the blade. My BX has handled 20+ inches of heavy snow without worry or even breaking a sweat. My setup of choice is front blower and rear boxblade for counterweight or to scrape.

Now all I need is that hardsided, heated Curtis cab ... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[bugstruck]

Now your talkin!! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif Wish those blowers and the mid PTO were a few $$ less though. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif If I was up in winter wonderland that setup might just have to be.

 

[Mora]

Bugstruck, Glad we are here in the 'warm' Maryland climate ! I have to chime in here just a little. I've used a rear blade for snow removal on paved and unpaved drives for about 40 yrs now and a couple of years ago the ole shoulder got to buggin' me having to twist around all the time in the cold and wet. So, that caused the purchase of a BX 22 w/cab and front mounted snowblower. Works nice , most of the time, ...I have a 1/2 mile unpaved lane and it is somewhat of a problem if not graded well, compacted and frozen prior to the snow removal exercise. The rear blade did the trick for years and was helped with a CJ-2A and a front plow for awhile. When we got the 'big' snow (and drifting) in the late 80/early 90's the front end loader on the Ford 4000 was the only way out of the lane since I have a high bank on one side and a farmers fence on the other. (It is still on standby if needed) All I could do was bucket the snow over the fence and it took the better of 2 days to gain the state road. Mostly all up hill going too, with chains. The blower sort of 'levels' the playing field, so to speak. Farmer gets all the snow for his field. I will be interested to see (but don't look forward to) a big snow where the blower is put to the test ...say 18" or more. I used to plow the snow at night and all of that stuff too, but now just try to wait until it's all over. The blower should help, as it can handle 18" in a pass and who knows what it's upper limit capability is ?? Besides the cab has heat and the little sucker only burns 2 qts an hour, at max rpms. Don't let me lead you to believe that the blower is the 'perfect solution'... it's not and I even use a rear blade on the BX around the house and vehicles so as not to 'stone' them. It seems that each persons situation as to snow removal is just as different as each person. What a wonderful life... Have a good one , Mora

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

I had just a FEL, then a rear 3 pt blower Puma 54", then this set up, hands down the best. If you have nothing better to do with your $$ this is the way to go. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[errandboy]

I have a 700' driveway with 1 turnaround and 1 pull-out. So far, the startegy that works best for me is to use the 6' back blade for as long as possible during the winter. When it gets to the point where I am spending more time pushing back the banks than I am clearling the driveway, I switch to my 5' rear snow-blower. Now I love this snow-blower, but this AM at 0 degrees with a 20-30 MPH wind, the snow blower becomes less lovable. No matter how you angle the chute, your going to get covered with snow! But, with the blower, you don't have to push back any banks and that saves a lot of time.

Although I have a FEL on my L225, I could not imagine using it to clear snow. I only occasionaly use it to push back the banks, preferring the 6' back blade for this job. The FEL is just way too slow!