So I picked up a newe FEL Plow last Spring...

[Lunk]

I've always used a large bucket on my tractor for snow removal with good results - Just a bit irritating to always have a windrow of snow to clean up.

Last Spring I pulled the trigger on an brand new 84" FEL Plow with twin hydraulic rams and universal QA Plate for 1500 bucks. Iron Horse brand, made in MN. Dealer was "Blowing them out."

Paved driveway is 300' long with a large parking area up by the house.

I've spent a lot of time plowing with a 4WD truck, tractor with both rear-blade, and FEL.

Any surprises that I should expect from a FEL-mounted blade vs. a loader?

Tractor's well-ballasted, and I'm running un-chained R-4's (Please let's not make this about tire choice. I've not had an issue with snow traction as of yet, and do not expect that to change).

Thx

Lunk

 

[JB4310]

If you are just doing your own drive/ parking area. you'll have no problems.

May not be able to push a full 7 foot plow blade under all conditions due to traction issues but that doesn't matter for just your own driveway. I'm not referring to tread type but lack of chains.

You still loose snow (windrow) out the high side of any plow, but it will be much faster now that you have a plow compared to bucket.

Just push the piles back as far as possible the first few snows, so you have enough room for later storms.

JB.

 

[tcartwri]

Does it have a trip mechanism.

 

[Lunk]

Does it have a trip mechanism.

Four trip springs (same as Western Plow), and two skid shoes (also Western).

My tractor scales around 6k (bare tractor - 3800#, plus filled rears - 700#, loader w/blade - 1000+#, and a 600# box-blade). Traction's not been a problem, but a highly angled blade will definitely toss the front-end around in the wet, heavy stuff, per my experience with truck plowing...

I think it's going to be fun...I sure hope so!

Thx

Lunk

 

[foggy1111]

I've always used a large bucket on my tractor for snow removal with good results - Just a bit irritating to always have a windrow of snow to clean up.

Last Spring I pulled the trigger on an brand new 84" FEL Plow with twin hydraulic rams and universal QA Plate for 1500 bucks. Iron Horse brand, made in MN. Dealer was "Blowing them out."

Paved driveway is 300' long with a large parking area up by the house.

I've spent a lot of time plowing with a 4WD truck, tractor with both rear-blade, and FEL.

Any surprises that I should expect from a FEL-mounted blade vs. a loader?

Tractor's well-ballasted, and I'm running un-chained R-4's (Please let's not make this about tire choice. I've not had an issue with snow traction as of yet, and do not expect that to change).

Thx

Lunk

I'd like to see some pics of your set up.....did that include the mount to the loader?? If so....sounds like a fantastic deal!! :thumbsup:

 

[Lunk]

I'd like to see some pics of your set up.....did that include the mount to the loader?? If so....sounds like a fantastic deal!! :thumbsup:

I wish I could post pics. It did include the loader mount. I figured that I couldn't buy a decent truck plow (around here they go for 5-800 bucks for the blade alone), and fab a mount for it and have anything as nice for the money...

 

[Builder]

$1,500? That's a very good deal.

 

[grsthegreat]

I just cleared 2-1/2 miles of our associations roads with my 84" plow on a DK45HST tractor.... worked slick.

One this i noticed though, without chains on the tractor i bogged down and the front end got pushed around when i angled the plow too much.

I added 4 sets of 2 link ladder chains....now no bogging down and no side pushing.

This thing cleared 2-1/2 miles of road 22-24' wide in 3 hours. Next time it should take 2 hours, and now i have side mounds to know where the darn road is :laughing:

 

[Ford850]

You'll find there is a sweet spot regarding travel speed, that gives you the best results. I've found that a medium to medium/high speed works best for me. It rolls the snow well off to the side without stressing the FEL frame and I still maintain excellent traction. slow/medium is most difficult as it doesn't roll the snow as easy so it tends to put more sideways pressure on the front. Very slow works fine as far as traction and stability but it doesn't roll the snow off to the side very far, and it also takes twice as long. So I end up starting in very slow to 'open' the drive and work close to the garage. Then I kick up the speed and cruise the length of the drive pushing the snow to the downwind side. I make a few passes, continuing to push it all to the same side to reduce drifting.
Sometimes when the drive is ice covered under heavy wet snow, I keep the blade an inch or two off the drive and that really helps stabilize and adds traction (weight of FEL on front tires). Then I scrape it clean after the heavy stuff is removed. A heavy rear ballast is a must on my setup.

 

[Lunk]

Thanks for all the replies / opinions / thoughts.

I'm looking forward to the first snow!

Lunk