Snow Snow removal with a BX 25

[techman]

I have a BX22 and a 1/2 mile driveway. The Kubota snowblower is a great piece and has never let me down. I had the standard, but upgraded the chute angle and height to remote electric. Got both on Ebay for a good price. I am a strong believer in a cab. Got a vinyl one from sears for about $100. Without some sort of shield, a bit of wind and you look like a Popsicle. Again as for the blower, a bit expensive, but a real piece of machinery. Never had any failures except for shear bolts. Here it is relatively new in 2002.

paul

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

Many posts on this topic, use the search feature to find many hours of reading.

Here is one

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/111374-moving-snow-bx.html

The FEL and rear blade will work on most snow falls, it is a really a matter of time and how much time you have and what it is worth to you. Just a FEL is a lot of backing up and dumping. If you get a lot of snow like Escavader does that stays during the winter, then the snow starts to build up. The snow gets higher and higher until you have no place to move it too. If you do not leave enough room on the sides of your driveway on the initial snowfall before you know it you will have no place to put the snow.

The advantage of a snowblower rear or front is you can move that snow far away on the initial pass and it does not build up. Down side is $$. In my view I think the snow removal options based on $$ are as follows:

1. Front snowblower with a cab, $$$$$$$, I think this is the best snow machine
2. Front snowblower with no cab, $$$$$$
3. Rear snowblower with a cab, $$$$$
4. Rear snowblower with no cab, $$$$
5. Front hydraulic blade $$$$
6. Fel and Rear blade, $$$
7. Fel only $$
8. Rear blade only $

Based on time I think they follow the $$$ list above, that being the more $$ you spend the faster and warmer you will be. I guess the best is to just let someone do it for you, BUT that will reduce seat time.

 

[LBrown59]

Winter is fast approaching and I wanted a some opinions. How is the snow blower for the BX 25? If it isn't any good is it worth getting the front blade instead? Finally should I just use the FEL? *I've seen a guy that used his to plow and the bucket was all bent out of shape.[/quote]*That don't mean that's what bent it all up.

I'm answering partly because I'm also in Mass, and am guessing we get similar snow depths and types.A snowblower is a "good thing". I removed snow for three years with my BX1500 with a back blade and the FEL. It worked - quite well actually.
Two years ago, I bought a rear blower, and it has been a huge improvement.*The advanatge of the rear blower is that you can keep the FEL on, and use the two implements together - like when blowing out to the road, I can then use the FEL to take a couple of scoops around the mailbox, then go back to using the blower.
*I have a blade on the front of a BX1500 and a Fel on the BX23. The disadvantage of the rear blower is that, well, it's on the rear. This means sitting sideways for a long period. I don't find this too difficult. Others find it quite painful.Rear blowers are cheaper than front ones, but they aren't cheap.You'll want at least rear work lights - it's always dark when you're clearing snow.And have spare shear pins on hand.think about various hats, goggles, etc. Some people use heated snowmobile helmets.

*I have a blade on the front of a BX1500 and a Fel on the BX23.

I have been using the blade with Hydraulic angle for years and feel that it is the best way to go for me, I have a large area to clear with many turn outs. Very fast and efficient. I have always wanted to also have the snow blower for the real deep ones, but the extra funds never seem to be there.
*I seem to get by when I have to deal with excessive snow by putting the loader back on and move the offending snow bank. As a point of interest, the snow blade has a replaceable edge that the loader doesn't. My snow blade shows alot of wear that I wouldn't want to see on my FEL.

I dont have to do that with arrangment.*
*I don't have to do that with this arrangement.

 

[TheFlatlander]

*I have a blade on the front of a BX1500 and a Fel on the BX23.
I dont have to do that with arrangment.*
*I don't have to do that with this arrangement.
[/QUOTE]

You keep posting like this and almost everyone knows of your financial decision to purchase 3 BX's. Are you bragging again or recomending this to the OP?

Most people don't have multiple "same" tractors and leave the attachments on them. I thought the attachments were designed to be quick change & interchangeable. I would of been more impressed if you had two different models, you spent enough. I think JOHNTHOMAS got it right! Attachments could still be interchangeable.

For the money spent I think you could of had any snow equipment you wanted.

 

[ehchvac]

Well,...
Also being from massachusetts, I will say this about that.
Last winter, "which is supposed to be the same as this winter" was good for a storm about once a week.
And my machine wont take a front blower that I'm aware of, but every time I went out I was quick to remind myself at least its better than a shovel.
Had a plow mounted in the bucket of one of my past kubotas and that was a good setup until you wanted to move snow and you had to take it apart.
I am too cheap to build a mount front mount blower with a stand alone engine like they have for pickup trucks.
And a rear blower is only as good as the spinal cord driving it and mine is long since used up.
I am real good backing up anything with mirrors but dont want to try to plow backwards all day.
So all that being said I will continue to shove it into a pile and bucket it out one scoop at time all the while reminding myself, at least its better that a shovel.

 

[MacTractor]

I have a BX25 and last winter I just used the bucket to clear my driveway. My driveway is about 110' long and is not paved. I am seriously considering a rear blower as it takes me about 45 minutes to an hour to clear it now. It is not efficient at all as the bucket is small. It also took me some time to perfect clearing it without making a huge mess with the gravel.

If you have the $$, I would go for the blower on the rear. I would choose the rear blower over the front so that you can still have the loader to move snow as needed.

I will say that if my driveway was paved, I think it would make clearing it with the bucket much easier.

Cheers,

 

[AMR]

NY_Yankees_Fan got the $ just right in my mind, that is a good summary

I live up in the hills a little bit in NW CT and we get some snow now and again

I use my B3030 with front blade and love it 90% of the time, I would say that up to 10" or so it rocks, above that and I want a blower

Most of the time snow here is just a nuisance, 3, 4, 5, 6 inches so most of the time the blade is perfect

I am pretty much out of room in my garage for another implement, not to mention $

If I win lotto I will get a snowblower probably but till then my front blade does a great job

FWIW I had a BX23 with a blade and that did great too

 

[bstrom]

I made it through 18 inches last winter on my 300 foot drive with my B2620 and just the front loader. It took forever but it was the first storm we had and I didn't know any better! I was pushing mountains of snow in front of a little tractor. Then I got a rear blade, that helped. Then I got the tires loaded and chains - that helped even more especially if you push snow going backwards on an iced up driveway from snow being rained on. This winter I may get a larger bucket just for snow and light materials but keep the same setup on the back. The loader is invaluable if you don't have alot of room to just push snow into.

 

[Drumlne07]

Well, according to my dad I think we've settled on getting the rear mounting blower with work lights. I wanted a blade so I could do some grading around the house to fix some drainage issues but hey I can't complain. I like the idea of having the FEL and snow blower on at the same time.

 

[smfcpacfp]

If you get a lot of snow there is only one way to go - a front blower. I can't imagine why you would think you would need a FEL for snow removal. I would have no need for a FEL in the winter and we get 20+ feet of snow a year. Plus it would make my snow removal rig several feet longer and that much more awkward to use. Here is my rig, midwinter: