Winter coming

[K man]

Hi everyone I would like to know how it is to remove snow with the FEL. I have a front mount snow blower but it is such a job for me alone to take the FEL off and installing the blower. For the amount of snow we have been getting is worth the hassle to put the blower on.
What I want to know is when removing snow with the loader how do you do this without digging into the driveway etc. Do most of you use the floating system when doing this or not. I use this system when I blow snow and it works fine but not sure with the FEL.
Any hints or help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Gilles

 

[murphy1244]

Use your rear blade buy turning it backwards as to not dig up your gravel.

 

[davesl708]

Keep the FEL flat on the gravel to keep it from digging in. You will need a slight tip forward to keep the bucket from riding up on the snow but not dig in.
A little practice will get it down. I do about 250ft. of drive with the FEL

 

[DK35vince]

Does your loader have the skid steer type quick attach ?
If it does a power angle snow plow on the front goes on/off in minutes and works great.

 

[oldpilgrim]

Keep the FEL flat on the gravel to keep it from digging in. You will need a slight tip forward to keep the bucket from riding up on the snow but not dig in.
A little practice will get it down. I do about 250ft. of drive with the FEL

yup, I do a driveway much bigger then that with no issues. I did make a bucket level indicator for mine after last winter and that should make it easier but it wasn't at all difficult without it.

Floating it will most likely make it rise up over the snow.....

I added a back blade last year. love it for snow.

 

[K man]

Yes it does have the skid steer type with the 2 spring loaded bars that release the bucket from the arms. Not sure if I want to invest in a power angle snow plow. For now I will try it with the FEL.
Thanks
Gilles

 

[K man]

Thanks everyone I will have to experiment with using the FEL and the back blade. If I don't like it then I will put on the front mount blower.

 

[ksbrdmkr]

You might try the split pipe method, saw a slot in a couple of 1 1/2 -2 inch pipe about 6 inches long and put on the edge of the bucket. I use this method on my rear blade to keep from moving to much gravel. Needs to fit tight or lightly tacked with weld.

 

[Msamt]

I used my FEL for the past two winters with no problems. Paved asphalt for last year. I added the clamp on edge protector fromm ratchet rake to protect the new pavement and it worked perfect. Right now thinking about a plow for the ranger 570 to take on the majority of snow clearing, and the tractor just to move snow banks back. (The ranger is a little more maneuverable).

 

[oosik]

I've tried the FEL and its OK for tight areas. Otherwise, I exclusively use the rear blade on my mile long gravel driveway. Reverse the rear blade until the driveway freezes hard then turn it, angle it and go like the wind.

 

[ecruzin]

I use a length of 2X6 trex or composite flooring. Do an angle cut across the length of the board and drill holes to match the holes in the bucket. Then countersink the holes on the bottom side and attach to bucket with deck bolts. The composite lumber does not damage my asphalt driveway. Easy and cheap to make another one when chewed up.

 

[farmer2009]

I just use the rear blade. Set my 3pt stop so it just leaves a thin layer of snow on top of rock. ~1/8" or less. It'll melt with a little sun. Works great and can plow at 5-6 mph until I get over 8" of snow. Then must slow down. 50hp 2wd. Large parking lots turn blade around and plow in reverse. I don't back blade snow, I use cutting edge. Last winter we got 22" one night I had to use loader to push off top 12+ inches then back up and plow the rest. Too much snow and would just pull a pile up to the tractor.

 

[Thomas]

I curl bucket back just a tad use the float,but if snow wet heavy I don't use the float for the bucket could start riding upon snow than it packs.

Rear blade will come in handy for snow removal.

 

[TJP89]

I use a rear blade with the loader. Rear blade for most everything, loader for piling, when I'm too lazy to turn around, or really really deep snow. With the loader I'm either floating over the top or digging into the driveway.

 

[comancheflight]

There is another lengthy thread on this where people were using ABS plastic pipe with a saw kerf to hold it snugly to the end loader and blade so not to dig gravel drives. They said ABS holds up to the cold much better than PVC. Another theory was people used stall mats (rural king) cut and sandwiched between the blade and cutting edge. It drops around 2" below the blade and folds under to give a riding surface so the blade doesn't dig in. This will be my first year with my tractor and after reading the forums on this I opted for the stall mat for my blade (ready to install now) and may get ABS for the loader. So obviously I don't know how well they work but will see.

 

[comancheflight]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...194021-snow-plowing-gravel-drive-problem.html