Snow Snow removal learnings

bugstruck · Mar 6, 2005

Discovered one important thing this winter. A front blade beats a FEL bucket and/or rear blade hands down at moderate storm snow removal. Bought my L3130 in December. No major snows this year but a few in the 6 to 8" range. Used the 3130 with the rear blade and the 72" loader bucket on the largest storm. Forgetting the time to drop the BH and mount the rear blade, the 3130 with rear blade is slower and less efficient than my chained and well ballasted JD 325 mower with a 48" snow blade at moving light to moderate snowfall on 400' of 9' wide asphalt. From now on the little JD 325 comes out for anything under 8" until the 3130 has a front blade on it. I'm amazed at the number of people discussing snow removal with a FEL bucket this winter in various forums as if this is a normal process. Especially given the knowledge up here. FEL buckets flat out ***** at snow displacement. Ok, I suppose, if you want to pile it. I just want to move it. The rear blade does a fair job, but with my need to keep it up about 1/2" on my undulating asphalt I still need to pull the 325 out for a final scrape an clean up on my slopes. I spent 1 hour clearing 400' of asphalt with the 3130 using both the FEL and rear blade and it still wasn't clean. The 325 would have done in 45 minutes, right.

My point is each piece of equipment and it's attachments have strong and weak points. Anyone telling me a FEL bucket is efficient at moving snow is pounding (or piling) sand. Now I know, the 3130 needs exactly what the 325 has, a front blade. I suppose my common sense evaded me, this is one I already knew and still had to learn. Seems a frame mount blalde for most circumstances is the best (perhaps to 2' on mine with the right blade) and if you need to pile it, a FEL mounted blade. But under no sensible circumstances a FEL bucket. I will say the rear blade is decent at what I call plow back (moving prevoiusly plowed snow further from the travel path).

Thought this might help the next guy on setup. Hey, are there any women who ever post here? We do make room to comment on them from time to time. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif On second thought, I don't much care. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

DLMaine01 · Mar 7, 2005

I could not agree more Chris. My old Jeep plow truck finally gave up the ghost about mid winter(may it rest in peace) and I have been using my FEL to clear snow from my 200'+ drive and large parking area. What an exercise in frustration. I will be installing my Myers Power Angle snow plow this summer. The FEL gets the job done but it takes twice as long and not as clean. But it beats the heck out of shoveling or paying the neighbor with a plow to do an even worse job /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
Dave

ByronBob · Mar 7, 2005

I get considerable drifting in my driveway because it's 600'+ and it's wide open. The loader for me serves 2 purposes. Allows me to push the snow off the driveway into the yard and I can pile it high to help break the wind so it doesn't drift right over again in 10 minutes.
My perfect set-up is going to be a RSB with the FEL. So although you have good points it's not really fair to say the FEL stinks. Each situation calls for something different maybe. But I agree with you that shoveling is not an option.

ronjhall · Mar 7, 2005

My point is each piece of equipment and it's attachments have strong and weak points. Anyone telling me a FEL bucket is efficient at moving snow is pounding (or piling) sand 
Chris
Over the years I have used all the options except a snow blower. Now that I have one. I can see the good points of them also.
I would recommend the FEL blade. Being able to raise the blade above the 12 to 15" that front mount blades allows will give an added advantage. I use mine to knock down the high mounds that collect with large amounts of snow. I had a 7' front mount blade on my previous tractor.
I don't know if you have seen the pictures of my front blade. Here is a link to it. Click Here.

radair · Mar 7, 2005

( ....So although you have good points it's not really fair to say the FEL stinks. Each situation calls for something different maybe. But I agree with you that shoveling is not an option. )

I agree with ByronBob. My driveway is only ~150' long, and if given the choice between a FEL and a front blade, I would take the FEL every time. Why? Because we get lots of snow here in the White Mtns, and a blade is not going to move it far enough off the driveway. The FEL allows you to make rooom for the next 12" that's coming in a few days.

A front blade may be ideal in Maryland, but that's not going to be the case for everyone. I agree that a snowblower would be great, but I can't justify the expense for a driveway this small.

Freds · Mar 7, 2005

I'm not sure how guys actually plow with the FEL like what I've read. I can't seem to find that fine line between leaving the gravel on my drive intact and not floating up on top of the snow you are trying to push. Maybe you need a perfectly flat drive with no crown where you don't need to float the loader...

At any rate, I'm quite happy leaving it on to move snow and using a rear blade. Lately I've been taking the guage wheels off and pulling the blade using the backside to move snow off the drive. It gets nice and close and leaves the gravel where it's supposed to be. I use the rear blade or the FEL to backdrag around the building, then throw the ga wheels back on and push the snow into piles on either side. If the piles are growing outward too much I use the FEL to lift the snow over the fence on either side of my drive. I guess it's all what you get used to and the makeup of your drive.

My neighbor up the road just has a rear snow blower. It does a great job on his drive because he doesn't have a garage. He does my employee's house and can only get within a couple feet of their garage. Last time I looked the snow was over 3 feet deep in front of their garage. He really needs something to backdrag that snow away and run the blower into it. They would have a very hard driveway to strictly plow because there's a bank on either side and rr ties. Technically you aren't supposed to move snow across the road onto someone else's property here.

You need to give some thought as to what will work well on your particular driveway.

Casco1 · Mar 7, 2005

I've got to disagree with you on FEL snow removal. I have an F250 with a plow which is faster but with the snow we received this year 70" + It was the 'bota with the FEL that saved my bacon. after the first 12" fall froze we got hit with 28", this had to be picked up and piled along with the rest of the winter treats including the 2" to 4" that's supposed to hit tommorrow. Got to go now I guess I have a lot of sand to pound.

slowzuki · Mar 7, 2005

Not a fan of using fel for snow removal. If it is under 12" the meyers plow on the Tracker does the work really fast! Over 12" the blower comes out. Only use the FEL when I need to bust a bank back from lack of foresight plowing.
Ken

gduff · Mar 7, 2005

My driveway is 1000'. Last year I did it with the FEl on a couple of medium snowfalls. (12" +/-) I would have to agree that using the FEL for snow removal takes alot of time. This year I bought a 75" snowblower - Much better!

Will_C · Mar 7, 2005

I use a FEL to plow snow. Like Bob and other posters, I deal with drifting snow on a 300' driveway. The FEL helps in pushing snow back from the drive. The FEL is also useful all year round. The price of a front blade on my BX 2200 was close to the cost of the FEL, and I oan't imagine using the front blade for anything besides moving snow. If I lived 50 miles further north, I would buy a snowblower. For my circumstances, the FEL is a cost-effective snow removal tool.
Will