snowplow for a bx ideas

[amigauser]

Not cheap indeed!
Curtis - Tractor Cabs, Canopies, Sunshades, Equipment covers, Snow & Ice Control Equipment

Wow, for that kind of $$ you might as well get the factory Kubota quick hitch with front blade.

Norm

 

[bxowner]

I don't mean to sound skeptical... but I am...

The BX doesn't have a quick-disconnect bucket. In fact, I bet it's a real pain to remove. It doesn't make sense for Curtis to offer something for the BX unless it's got a quick-disconnect feature.

The prices for the Curtis stuff at that link don't seem out of line when you compare them against pickup plow assemblies - which have similar blade/frame set-ups. Take a look - their stuff isn't cheesy. The blades are beefy and have the spring-forward feature. The frames are substantial as well. Not suggesting they don't seem expensive at first glance - but I guess I've become accustomed to expecting "real" plows to be pricey after outfitting pickups with Fisher and SnowWay products.

You pay a lot for convenience - and if I had a larger tractor that could handle the weight of the quick-disconnect, it would be a no-brainer. Then I could rent any Bobcat attachment and have a really versatile machine.

As for the PaynesForks, at least the price includes shipping! I've been budgeting $1000 for a used Kubota plow kit for my BX1500 if one came along. Rare indeed. But this just might fit the bill - in fact, the attachment point is exactly the design I've had in mind. Now, I just need to consider the potential for loader-arm damage that has been suggested by others. At least if I were to run into an immovable object with the Kubota kit, the force would be transmitted directly against the frame. On the other hand, I have no business zipping around fast. I haven't damaged my loader yet plowing with the bucket in 'float' and running it into frozen snow banks. Still, it's something to consider as a detraction from the design of the removable blade. I hadn't even thought of the potential for damage - thanks to others for mentioning something so obvious.

Why are we talking about plowing anyway?! I'm not ready for winter!!!

 

[MikePA]

I would like to leave the FEL on to stack snow, but the 4 foot wide bucket is too small to plow with, it would just fill up to fast. I was thinking about a 60" atv plow??

I have been using my 5 foot FEL bucket to plow snow for the past 6 years without problems. Once the bucket fills up, you begin pushing snow. At that point, I either continue pushing the snow off the driveway, or push it to a place where I can use the bucket to add it to a pile of snow. Yes, it takes longer to clear an area, kinda like walking back and forth with a pusher snow shovel, but it still beats doing it by hand.

I thought about using my back blade and about getting a snow plow for the front. With either solution, you're still just pushing the snow. Yes, if you can angle the blade, you gain some capability, but you're still just pushing snow and with the front mounted blade, you've lost the ability to lift and dump the snow.

IMO, the front mounted blades add more cost than they add capablility.

 

[Spudgunner]

I use the Kubota front blade and front blower and like them both alot. In fact, I've just about worn-out the thrower. The thrower, IMO, gives a whole new meaning to "stacking snow".

While the idea of a skidsteer-like attachment for a BX may sound appealing, yas gotta remember (among other factors) the weight (or lack thereof) of the BX as well as hydraulic capacity (or lack thereof) when considering the use of skidsteer stuff.

My experience with Curtis is that yes they are pricey but I really like the quality of my cab. Despite this, I really have to question the capability of a BX behind anything wider than 5'-6'. Just because of lack of tractor weight. In fact I leave my hoe on all winter just to act as ballast. YMMV.

Despite the above, I really do like the idea of "homebrew" equipment and am interested in what you eventually choose....so please let us know.

Good luck and happy plowing/throwing!

 

[Jabroni]

I have been using my 5 foot FEL bucket to plow snow for the past 6 years without problems.....

But Mike, how do you keep the bucket from gouging the asphalt driveway? Do you float the bucket with the edge turned slightly upwards?

 

[hdbikercouple]

here is what i did . took a lawn and garden tracter blade with trip springs and made it 68 in.wide.then made it to hook up the same way as the bucket. remove the three pins and off with the bucket. drive to the blade slide three pins in and on with the blade. I can do everything the front blade and bucket can do. but when i push the snow banks back i'm doing 68 in wide and higher then the bucket can.

 

[Musclford]

Hi!

Does anyone have any ideas for a slide in the FEL type snowplow design?? For a BX 24.

I would like to leave the FEL on to stack snow, but the 4 foot wide bucket is too small to plow with, it would just fill up to fast. I was thinking about a 60" atv plow??

Thanks.

I know it looks a bit goofy with green wood, but I made this in minutes and it worked GREAT

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/94321-60-fel-bucket-saver.html

Phil

 

[StrangeRanger]

I've skimmed the posts so if someone mentioned this I'm sorry for repeating, but I have not seen anyone mention the fact that with a plow on your tractor you are moving pretty slow compared to a plow truck. And if you live in a snowy area (like me), moving that slowly will cause you headaches later on. Why? Because you're basically just pushing the snow a little bit out of the way. You're going to end up w/ decent sized banks, which will then freeze up and you're screwed because you can't move them or push more snow up and over them. So you'll end up having to use your FEL to get the white crap up and over the frozen banks you created.
Of course you could just push the snow waaaayyyyy back to begin with, but then you run more risk of skankin' your lawn up. Or, if you have a gravel drive you end up w/ rocks all over the dang place.
Just something to consider when looking at plows.
j

 

[bigdad]

StrangeRanger,

I don't believe I have heard the term "Skankin'" in the reference you used before. You know...... I LIKE IT! I sure have skanked my share of lawn grass with a blade pushing snow. Never really shows until spring and then I think...."Who did that?"

Skankin' Big Dad

 

[StrangeRanger]

bigdad,
You need to visit northern VT then to experience "Verbonics" in all its glory!
j

StrangeRanger,

I don't believe I have heard the term "Skankin'" in the reference you used before. You know...... I LIKE IT! I sure have skanked my share of lawn grass with a blade pushing snow. Never really shows until spring and then I think...."Who did that?"

Skankin' Big Dad