snowplow and rear weight

Deerlope · Oct 21, 2003

When you are plowing the blade will probably be in the float mode, so the rear weight will add some extra traction. It is when you raise the blade that the rear looses traction so thus a counter weight, Yes, the scoop is a very good ideal, You can experiment then.
Fred

OkieG · Oct 21, 2003

RWB,
Depending on how deep and heavy the snow is, you might find that lots of rear weight will allow the front end of the tractor to raise off the ground while the blade is in float.

I am not a winter person, but I'm looking forward to moving some snow this year. Using the FEL (as I have in years past) is very slow and tedious. This spring I got a front blade and expect to clear the roadway much faster...a mini-snowplow...YES!!

I could be way off on this, but I think the place (for me) to start is with no rear ballast and hope for no wheelies. Then, add some weight if traction is a problem... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

OkieG

SacandagaBrad · Oct 21, 2003

Wow - local folks! I live on the next lake over to the west from Lake George, less than an hour, fish the Queen (local name for Lake George) often. Also went to college in Potsdam, great town. I miss living up there, just not enough snow once in the valley unless you can get a year of good lake effect.

Just surfing and thought I would chime in.

Brad

Trev · Oct 21, 2003

( RWB,
Depending on how deep and heavy the snow is, you might find that lots of rear weight will allow the front end of the tractor to raise off the ground while the blade is in float.

I am not a winter person, but I'm looking forward to moving some snow this year. Using the FEL (as I have in years past) is very slow and tedious. This spring I got a front blade and expect to clear the roadway much faster...a mini-snowplow...YES!!

I could be way off on this, but I think the place (for me) to start is with no rear ballast and hope for no wheelies. Then, add some weight if traction is a problem... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

OkieG
)

Sounds good to me. You'll love the front plow! As long as you have a spring trip on it in case you hit something under the snow, don't be afraid to move right along. Inertia helps when plowing, I've found.

And yes, no reason to add rear weight unless you find you need it. Keep in mind, though, that the front blade itself weights quite a bit, and that you might want enough rear weight to at least offset that.

I keep finding myself recommending that people experiment with weight until they find the sweet spot. What I did was use a rear dirt scoop, and a bunch of those sand tubes people use in the back of trucks or cars. I kept adding them until I hit the ideal... given my tractor, my tires, my driveway, and so on.

I may still find that it needs fine-tuning, if the ice is different this year than the last couple, etc.

Wheelies look cool, but aren't effective for moving snow in my limited experience! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Bob

OkieG · Oct 21, 2003

Wheelies look cool, but aren't effective for moving snow in my limited experience! 
Steering is tough, too. If the front blade is angled, I could do some nice pinwheels in the snow!

Trev,
What kind of cutting edge do you use. My front blade comes with a steel cutting edge and has skid shoes. I can't decide whether to go with the steel or shop for a urethane edge for moving snow. Any suggestions?

For a while I was kinda excited about using a strip of one of those rubber horse mats for an edge, but I haven't heard much feedback on how well it works...and my "feeling" now is it may not be stiff enough??, but I don't know.

OkieG

Trev · Oct 21, 2003

( Wheelies look cool, but aren't effective for moving snow in my limited experience! 
Steering is tough, too. If the front blade is angled, I could do some nice pinwheels in the snow!

Trev,
What kind of cutting edge do you use. My front blade comes with a steel cutting edge and has skid shoes. I can't decide whether to go with the steel or shop for a urethane edge for moving snow. Any suggestions?

For a while I was kinda excited about using a strip of one of those rubber horse mats for an edge, but I haven't heard much feedback on how well it works...and my "feeling" now is it may not be stiff enough??, but I don't know.

OkieG )

Hi Okie!

I didn't mean to come off as an expert on this.. sorry if I did!

As for the blade, mine came with the normal steel edge and the steel shoes, and that's what I've always used. Our driveways are gravel, so I'm not concerned with cleaning the snow off completely. Actually, my bigger worry is with plowing away the gravel! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif So, with the first snow, I'm cautious trying to make sure I'm not plowing up our driveway along with the snow. Once everything has frozen solid, then the shoes keep the blade at about the right height, and I just let the blade float and don't worry about it.

I've heard others speak highly of soft (plastic) blades for paved driveways.. perhaps someone else can address that issue. I don't face such a problem, unfortunately. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Best...........Bob

OkieG · Oct 21, 2003

I didn't mean to come off as an expert on this 
Hey, that's OK. But I thought anyone who had plowed snow in NY, even for just one season, was an expert! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Thanks,

OkieG

Junkman · Oct 21, 2003

I have been plowing the drive for 20 years now with a 8 1/2' Fischer snow plow mounted on a 79 Ford 250 4wd. It is part paved and part gravel. I have used the blade for so long without the shoes, that I don't even know where they are now. The truck doesn't have down pressure, so it does leave a little snow on the pavement and it does clean the gravel road and grades it at the same time. I try to keep the blade up a little for the first few snow storms until the ground freezes. After that, it is full speed ahead in the full down position. Keep up the momentum to you will be casting the snow off the blade. Spray the blade with PAM or WD 40 and it will help somewhat. I have neighbors that used the plastic blade edge and they wear them out every 2 or 3 years and they are expensive to replace. My cutting edge has been flipped once and is due for replacing now. $100 for a new 8 1/2' metal edge or $250 for a 6' plastic..... this is what I call a no brainer....
To finish up what the truck leaves behind, I do some clean up work with a old Bolens with a 54" blade with a metal edge. This year, I will have the BX 22 loader to help pile the snow. If we are lucky, we will not get as much as we did last year...

RWB · Oct 21, 2003

My plow has an urethane edge. I got the plow given to me so I'm going to change it to a steel blade asap and and feet. It is a 7' plow and it is now mounted on a 204C Nortrac 4x4 I'm hoping I spent all this money for nothing. (yeah right) /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Anyway I'm almost ready still waiting for the valves to get here. I'm gonna add weight as I go.

Deerlope · Oct 21, 2003

SacandagaBrad
Which college did you attend Potsdam? I am retired from SUNY Potsdam. Going on 2 years now and having a ball with my New Kubota L 3830. Just waiting for snow so I can try out the front mount blower.