Snow Snow Removal

[DCWhitley]

Back in November there was a discussion about the capability of PT's snowblower on a 425. I have now used it 2 times in the past 3 days in snow ranging from 6 to 10 inches and it works great. It does take some getting used to pivoting on the wheels so it doesn't dig in too much, especially on dirt, but now that I have a little experience, it is working great. On pavement, it is very easy to use and does a great job of throwing the snow. I have even used it to cut a path across the yard to the propane tank so to make it easier for the deliveries just by letting it roll on the wheels pivoted back a little. The one change I would make, and this especially applies to the blade attachment, would be to leave more play in the attachments. There is not enough movement left or right. When the pitch changes on the road, instead of the blade or blower following the road, a corner tends to dig in. My plow in my old CAT skidsteer had about 6 to 8 inches of play and could easily follow the contour of the road or driveway as it dropped away left or right. I know tight is good for moving dirt, but now so good for snow. Also looks like I'll be getting so more experience tomorrow, another 6 to 12 is predicted for Sunday night up here in NH. What fun!!

 

[3238dpw]

WE NEED PICTURES!!!!

 

[toolz_not_toyz]

We've just suddenly gotten dumped on out here in the PacWest. In the past three years this is the first time we've gotten anything but more than a couple of inches (that stick) where we are. Not so this time around.

The season started off with a couple of very light snowfalls. The PT425 cleared our drive and straight up our steepish hill without a problem. Heck, I had so much fun I even cleared 800 or 1000ft of our community road using nothing but the big bucket--since it never really snows here I didn't bother with getting a blade but that would be the right thing and would make a PT425 quite a snow plowing machine. Except for one thing: traction.

On snow that packs really well, the PT425 with bar tires starts to slip quite readily. Despite it's quasi-4WD system, one wheel will spin away happily on its own. I guess chains would stop this to some extent but as soon as there's one wheel with less friction than the others the PT425 will always struggle. If this thing only had some sort of limited slip it would be so much more awesome.

Even with these shortcomings the machine made it up at least half of our drive before starting to lose grip. I actually couldn't go up forward, I had to go up backwards up. I figure that's because the weight of engine helps out quite a bit (the other part of the problem is the PT is such a lightweight). Sadly, if it's not traction on its own that gets you, it's the fact that the PT threatens to stall on the way up as it furiously spins its wheels. Sigh.

Just so you know what I'm dealing with...we had about 8" on the ground when I started to plow. It's still snowing.

On reasonably flat ground I would heartily agree that the PT425 has lots of snow clearing ability. Get chains. Get a blade. After that, you've pretty much maxed out this system and should consider something more capable.

 

[MossRoad]

A lot of it depend on a lot of things.

For instance, I can move 12" of light to medium weight snow with no problem with the plow. Yesterday, I had a tough time with 1.5 inches of frozen slushy stuff. It was really, really wet and tended to push the tractor to the opposite way the plow was angled. I have turf tires. On the flat pavement, they work great. Get them on a side slope and they are not so good.

I agree that chains would be the way to go for serious snow removal on non-level terrain.

 

[catsco]

Here's a photo from fall of 2007 when I first got tire chains for my 425; since then, I've discovered that with chains I can move a LOT more snow without "crabbing" or sliding.

Previously, I couldn't get up the steep part of our driveway (800' long) with the plow up. With chains, I can plow uphill!

Too cold so far this year to take any snow removal pictures, but I will do so if we have another 3' or more snow or two in a row.

Mark H.

 

[cqaigy2]

This week i used the blade for the first time. I have a 422 and it worked pretty good. I had some problems going up hill in some of the places but down hill was a snap. The ability to tilt and angle the blade made it real easy to plow on the camber of the road, is that the right term? We got probably two feet of snow. On the second day, i found i had a problem with the snow that was pushed up on the sides of the road. It had gotten up to four feet and i wasn't moving any snow to the side anymore only pushing it along the road, so i had to go along the road and push it all further out. I found if i tilted the blade back, the snow kinda rolled along and i was able to move a surprising amount of heavy wet snow.

 

[SpringHollow]

Chains make a big difference in preventing your tractor from being shifted to the side.

Ken

 

[toolz_not_toyz]

... I've discovered that with chains...

Do you remember which chains you got for the 425? Also, are you using the PT blade there?

I finally managed to clear my driveway all the way to the top. Then I threw 3/4 minus on the steepest bits and dirt on the rest. Got the Ridgeline up to the top without any slippage whatsoever. Then it snowed another couple of inches the very next day! And then another four inches this a.m. 'Course I left the truck at the top once I got it there.

Funny how the amount of snow and the steepness of the driveway aren't reflected that well in a photo.

 

[woodlandfarms]

We are at 350 feet, and maybe we get 3 or 4 inches of snow that will last for maybe a few days. We have a foot and a half. Our driveway is probably 15 to 22 degrees slope. Snow has been on the ground for nearly two weeks.. Pulled the 1850 out. And something is acting up again in the accumlator, but that is another story. I do not have chains, went trudging down the hill. I think that with my bucket, I did more damage than good. Maybe I am impatient. I have a pile of snow and rock and I know my road is going to be rough in the spring...

Anyway. Long story short is that because of the angle of our driveway i started to slide although the PT went places I was sure it would not. Now debating the value of the chains. Wondering ifi t makes sense to keep them on all year.

 

[toolz_not_toyz]

Anyway. Long story short is that because of the angle of our driveway i started to slide although the PT went places I was sure it would not. Now debating the value of the chains. Wondering ifi t makes sense to keep them on all year.

I will definitely get chains for next year. All four wheels of course. The PT 425 is a definite workhorse. I was just out there for another 3 hours clearing the 1/2 foot of slushy snow off half of the road (someone else has been doing the other half). It was slow going with that heavy stuff, not made any easier by my leaking valve box (another story all together). My goal was to get most of the stuff off the road so the drizzle and warm air (it's about 40F now) could do its thing and take care of the rest.

I've got to say though, there are other folks with larger CUTs (Kabota and John Deere) on this road but I sure as heck didn't see them pitching in. My immediate neighbor even has some old farm tractor thing with a backhoe and front bucket...never saw him out there once either. In fact, I cleared his driveway for him 3 times during this storm. I don't know what any of this means but despite its technical shortcomings, my 425 didn't let me down (well, 'cept for the part about sliding down my driveway backwards a few times with all four wheels locked up).

Since a blade with rubber lip are only going for 650, I'll probably put an order in for those next summer/fall. Sure would make the work speed up the next time around....although I don't think a blade would do any better on my steep driveway.