Snow Using a FEL to plow snow?

[drcollie]

As I'm approching my first winter with the BX22, I'm curious if any of you can shed some light on any snow removal techniques on the driveway using the Front End Loader. I'm also a bit hesitant to use it on my 2-year old blacktop driveway as I'm concerned it may gouge the asphalt. Is this an unjustified concern? (I've got a small Ariens snowblower I can use, but the tractor looks like it would be way more fun and faster). All tips and tricks appreciated!

-Duane C.

P.S. Just did my 50 hour service on the BX22 this afternoon. VERY EASY to do, you only need a 1/2" Rachet, 24mm/14mm/17mm sockets, and either an 76mm or 80 mm end-fitting oil filter removal wrench (depending on which size filter you have on the engine), and a bit of hose at the end of a funnel to install the hydraulic fluid.

 

[ronjhall]

Duane
Here is a thread on using your FEL to move snow. <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=genoperating&Number=97213&page=&view=&sb=&o=&fpart=all&vc=1>Click Here.</A> It’s does get off topic but you should find what your looking for.

 

[r0GuE]

This is my second year pushing snow with the loader. It works great and with the proper angle, you can even peel off small layers (or big ones for that matter) of ice.
I set to float and play the angle until I am picking off all the snow. On the road (not my driveway) I set slight up angle to float over rough surfaces. I then push the snow all the way accross the street. A snow blower attachment would be better, but the loader is paid for. The only down side is that it is soooo much easier than shoveling, that I end up feeling guilty and I go clean my neighbors. Still easy, but you do get cold!
BTW - My driveway is blacktop with joint cracks (located where the old concrete driveways joint cracks were), with only slight down angle, I have never caught a crack.

 

[Thomas]

Do you have shoes or any type of skids for the plow??..I adjust my shoes 1/2" or so for plowing.

At one time I use the rear blade..little neck ache & not very comfortable in the seat & couldn't make very high snow banks..w/a front plow VERY high snow banks and cut the snow removal time down better than half..and now its kinda fun /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif if the windchill factor not to bad. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

 

[JohnMiller3]

<font color=blue>… any snow removal techniques on the driveway using the Front End Loader…</font color=blue>

Well, we all know the ideal way with a front loader would be removing the bucket and mounting a front blade… but sometimes the astronomical prices of those prevent that…/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif (notice any large scale shopping center snow crew with those massive loaders will always have a 12-15’ ¾ – ton front blade in place of or chain mounted to the front bucket assembly…)

So then you opt for a cheap rear blade… you can pick up most anywhere like a 6 or 7’ @ TSC for under $200… and depending how deep the snow is, how much tractor grunt you have, etc. etc…. you drive forward with your front bucket a few inches above the ground (sometimes float will peel up blacktop layers like a banana…/w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif), grabbing some snow with the bucket and the bulk of it with your 3-point mounted rear blade…

Before you tackle the job… set up a game plan and get your “plow/travel pattern” down, so you get the most snow with the least effort and little duplication of going over the same terrain… with the rear blade angled for proper disbursement…

 

[Charliebrn]

I use both the FEL and the rear blade, both have their place. If the snow isn't too deep, I drive forward pushing with the FEL, andy that spills over the sides gets cleaned up by the rear blade.

Keep in mind the construction of the bucket, though. It has a lip on the sides that will gouge your driveway. The metal at the bottom back of the bucket can be worn through after a few years of use as well. I strongly recommend having skid plates welded to the bottom of the bucket, both along the sides and across the back. This keeps it from gouging the blacktop and strengthens the bottom. I did this and have been using it regularly. If I remember right, my dealer used 3/16x2" bar stock, welded one against each side and up the center and then one across the entire back of the bottom of the bucket. Cost was less than $50 if I remember right...

 

[frank_f15]

see my post under this forum B2400 WORK HORSE. will give u an idea of what u can move with a fel and rear blade. although did not use rear blade today to damm much snow/w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Why not just use a snow plow? That is if it's affordable at the time. Something like this one....

Blake

This is the link: http://carverequipment.com/implements.htm
It's a really cool place.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

yet another one, this is a clever design. This is from a guy on the kubota owners group at yahoo groups.

If you click on this link and then click on heavy equipment, you can scroll until you see this really nice picture of the b21 with the snow plow. Much nice quality than the other pic. I gave. http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/bswallow25/lst?.dir=/&.view=t&.src=ph&.done=

Let me know if that doesn't work.

Blake

 

[frank_f15]

BLAKE: i just don't want to give up the fel, to many times i want to actually move snow from one place to another, too much snow at time at the edge of driveway, can't see when pulling out, so when it gets like that i need to pick it up and dump it elsewhere.