Snow Snow Removal

[DCWhitley]

Back in November there was a discussion about the capability of PT's snowblower on a 425. I have now used it 2 times in the past 3 days in snow ranging from 6 to 10 inches and it works great. It does take some getting used to pivoting on the wheels so it doesn't dig in too much, especially on dirt, but now that I have a little experience, it is working great. On pavement, it is very easy to use and does a great job of throwing the snow. I have even used it to cut a path across the yard to the propane tank so to make it easier for the deliveries just by letting it roll on the wheels pivoted back a little. The one change I would make, and this especially applies to the blade attachment, would be to leave more play in the attachments. There is not enough movement left or right. When the pitch changes on the road, instead of the blade or blower following the road, a corner tends to dig in. My plow in my old CAT skidsteer had about 6 to 8 inches of play and could easily follow the contour of the road or driveway as it dropped away left or right. I know tight is good for moving dirt, but now so good for snow. Also looks like I'll be getting so more experience tomorrow, another 6 to 12 is predicted for Sunday night up here in NH. What fun!!

 

[3238dpw]

WE NEED PICTURES!!!!

 

[toolz_not_toyz]

We've just suddenly gotten dumped on out here in the PacWest. In the past three years this is the first time we've gotten anything but more than a couple of inches (that stick) where we are. Not so this time around.

The season started off with a couple of very light snowfalls. The PT425 cleared our drive and straight up our steepish hill without a problem. Heck, I had so much fun I even cleared 800 or 1000ft of our community road using nothing but the big bucket--since it never really snows here I didn't bother with getting a blade but that would be the right thing and would make a PT425 quite a snow plowing machine. Except for one thing: traction.

On snow that packs really well, the PT425 with bar tires starts to slip quite readily. Despite it's quasi-4WD system, one wheel will spin away happily on its own. I guess chains would stop this to some extent but as soon as there's one wheel with less friction than the others the PT425 will always struggle. If this thing only had some sort of limited slip it would be so much more awesome.

Even with these shortcomings the machine made it up at least half of our drive before starting to lose grip. I actually couldn't go up forward, I had to go up backwards up. I figure that's because the weight of engine helps out quite a bit (the other part of the problem is the PT is such a lightweight). Sadly, if it's not traction on its own that gets you, it's the fact that the PT threatens to stall on the way up as it furiously spins its wheels. Sigh.

Just so you know what I'm dealing with...we had about 8" on the ground when I started to plow. It's still snowing.

On reasonably flat ground I would heartily agree that the PT425 has lots of snow clearing ability. Get chains. Get a blade. After that, you've pretty much maxed out this system and should consider something more capable.

 

[MossRoad]

A lot of it depend on a lot of things.

For instance, I can move 12" of light to medium weight snow with no problem with the plow. Yesterday, I had a tough time with 1.5 inches of frozen slushy stuff. It was really, really wet and tended to push the tractor to the opposite way the plow was angled. I have turf tires. On the flat pavement, they work great. Get them on a side slope and they are not so good.

I agree that chains would be the way to go for serious snow removal on non-level terrain.

 

[catsco]

Here's a photo from fall of 2007 when I first got tire chains for my 425; since then, I've discovered that with chains I can move a LOT more snow without "crabbing" or sliding.

Previously, I couldn't get up the steep part of our driveway (800' long) with the plow up. With chains, I can plow uphill!

Too cold so far this year to take any snow removal pictures, but I will do so if we have another 3' or more snow or two in a row.

Mark H.

 

[cqaigy2]

This week i used the blade for the first time. I have a 422 and it worked pretty good. I had some problems going up hill in some of the places but down hill was a snap. The ability to tilt and angle the blade made it real easy to plow on the camber of the road, is that the right term? We got probably two feet of snow. On the second day, i found i had a problem with the snow that was pushed up on the sides of the road. It had gotten up to four feet and i wasn't moving any snow to the side anymore only pushing it along the road, so i had to go along the road and push it all further out. I found if i tilted the blade back, the snow kinda rolled along and i was able to move a surprising amount of heavy wet snow.

 

[SpringHollow]

Chains make a big difference in preventing your tractor from being shifted to the side.

Ken

 

[toolz_not_toyz]

... I've discovered that with chains...

Do you remember which chains you got for the 425? Also, are you using the PT blade there?

I finally managed to clear my driveway all the way to the top. Then I threw 3/4 minus on the steepest bits and dirt on the rest. Got the Ridgeline up to the top without any slippage whatsoever. Then it snowed another couple of inches the very next day! And then another four inches this a.m. 'Course I left the truck at the top once I got it there.

Funny how the amount of snow and the steepness of the driveway aren't reflected that well in a photo.

 

[woodlandfarms]

We are at 350 feet, and maybe we get 3 or 4 inches of snow that will last for maybe a few days. We have a foot and a half. Our driveway is probably 15 to 22 degrees slope. Snow has been on the ground for nearly two weeks.. Pulled the 1850 out. And something is acting up again in the accumlator, but that is another story. I do not have chains, went trudging down the hill. I think that with my bucket, I did more damage than good. Maybe I am impatient. I have a pile of snow and rock and I know my road is going to be rough in the spring...

Anyway. Long story short is that because of the angle of our driveway i started to slide although the PT went places I was sure it would not. Now debating the value of the chains. Wondering ifi t makes sense to keep them on all year.

 

[toolz_not_toyz]

Anyway. Long story short is that because of the angle of our driveway i started to slide although the PT went places I was sure it would not. Now debating the value of the chains. Wondering ifi t makes sense to keep them on all year.

I will definitely get chains for next year. All four wheels of course. The PT 425 is a definite workhorse. I was just out there for another 3 hours clearing the 1/2 foot of slushy snow off half of the road (someone else has been doing the other half). It was slow going with that heavy stuff, not made any easier by my leaking valve box (another story all together). My goal was to get most of the stuff off the road so the drizzle and warm air (it's about 40F now) could do its thing and take care of the rest.

I've got to say though, there are other folks with larger CUTs (Kabota and John Deere) on this road but I sure as heck didn't see them pitching in. My immediate neighbor even has some old farm tractor thing with a backhoe and front bucket...never saw him out there once either. In fact, I cleared his driveway for him 3 times during this storm. I don't know what any of this means but despite its technical shortcomings, my 425 didn't let me down (well, 'cept for the part about sliding down my driveway backwards a few times with all four wheels locked up).

Since a blade with rubber lip are only going for 650, I'll probably put an order in for those next summer/fall. Sure would make the work speed up the next time around....although I don't think a blade would do any better on my steep driveway.

 

[kmaz]

I will definitely get chains for next year. All four wheels of course. The PT 425 is a definite workhorse. I was just out there for another 3 hours clearing the 1/2 foot of slushy snow off half of the road (someone else has been doing the other half). It was slow going with that heavy stuff, not made any easier by my leaking valve box (another story all together). My goal was to get most of the stuff off the road so the drizzle and warm air (it's about 40F now) could do its thing and take care of the rest.

I've got to say though, there are other folks with larger CUTs (Kabota and John Deere) on this road but I sure as heck didn't see them pitching in. My immediate neighbor even has some old farm tractor thing with a backhoe and front bucket...never saw him out there once either. In fact, I cleared his driveway for him 3 times during this storm. I don't know what any of this means but despite its technical shortcomings, my 425 didn't let me down (well, 'cept for the part about sliding down my driveway backwards a few times with all four wheels locked up).

Since a blade with rubber lip are only going for 650, I'll probably put an order in for those next summer/fall. Sure would make the work speed up the next time around....although I don't think a blade would do any better on my steep driveway.

Hey Toolz, I called kristi at power trac to order the plow kit about 2 months ago.. the killer for me was the shipping quoted at $400. Idecided to hold off. I dont mind doing it with the bucket but it would be lot easier with the plow.

Kris

 

[woodlandfarms]

I think finding a plow locally or craigs list is going to be the solution. Lots of people will buy now and then next year with no snow will sell... Shipping is too much for my blood as well.

 

[J_J]

I think finding a plow locally or craigs list is going to be the solution. Lots of people will buy now and then next year with no snow will sell... Shipping is too much for my blood as well.

Carl,

Don't you think you could fabricate a snow blade out of 1/4 steel, with replaceable bottom flange, and some heavy rubber bumper stock, and some pucks? ? You might have someone bend you a piece of 3/8 in steel , about 24 in by 96 in , add rubber lip and pucks, and weld a QA on it.

 

[woodlandfarms]

For the amount of snow we usually get driving across it is enough. But this year was an exception. Yeah. Your idea sounds like a good plan for the light amount of snow we got on our side of the coast.

Carl

 

[KentT]

For the amount of snow we usually get driving across it is enough. But this year was an exception. Yeah. Your idea sounds like a good plan for the light amount of snow we got on our side of the coast.

Carl

Another alternative is to get either a used pickup truck snowblade or a rear blade from a normal tractor and adapt it. The cost of adaptation would likley be less than the cost of shipping a PT attachment to the west coast...

 

[SpringHollow]

Used truck snow blades are so inexpensive that they really make sense.

Ken

 

[catsco]

Do you remember which chains you got for the 425? Also, are you using the PT blade there?

Sorry to take so long to reply - too much travel and too much snow!

These are the chains:

23-10.50-12 Tire Chains

I got the "4 link" which means cross chains are every four links along the perimeter. I though about getting the "2 link" that has twice the cross chains but a much higher price, but ended up with the "4 link" for all four wheels. Mine are the ones with the the V bar, which give much better traction on ice. Be sure to NOT drive on asphalt or a nice concrete drive if you have one as it really would make a mess of either.

Tensioners are on the same page.

I've used these for a little over two years, total of about 32 feet of snow (not all at once!) and they've worked really well. They're easy to install, especially on the front tires as you can easily raise the tires off the ground. Rear chains are installed by laying them out and driving on to them, hooking the inside perimeter chain, then the outside, attaching the tensioners, moving 10' or so, then retensioning. Then clean the blood off your hands and remember to wear gloves the next time to install the tensioners with their finely sharpened spring hooks.

You can't tell from my photo, but after the original tires wore out, I replaced them with Carlisle Tru-Powers as they are the same nominal size, but a little higher and about 1/2" narrower which means the tire chains don't remove so much paint from the tractor when the unused link on the inside comes around every time. I think that's unavoidable unless wheels are reversed (which has been discussed at great length!) which I will not do.

Here is the link to a side-by-side comparison of those tires:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...s-revisited-caution-alternative-reversed.html

The blade is Power-Trac's blade. At first, I used a tire tread (cut out sidewalls, cut tread and bolt to blade) for a rubber lip to be able to plow on dirt and gravel, and bought their rubber edge for this season. That edge is pretty expensive and seems like it will only last a season or so. The homemade tire edges are ugly, but work well and are free.

Here is the link to that edge:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/power-trac/115427-rubber-lip-pt-425-plow.html


Hope this helps!

Mark H.

 

[RegL]

catsco,
Did you get the v-bar chains? I tried a set without the v-bars on the front tires and they didn't help much, or at all.

 

[catsco]

I did get the V bars. I was probably adding that to my post while you were replying!

I've used regular and V bar chains on vehicles and find that the V bars are a LOT better.

The drawback is that on hard ground or ice instead of in snow, you feel like you're constantly driving over #4 rebar!

Thanks!

 

[Bob999]

You can't tell from my photo, but after the original tires wore out, I replaced them with Carlisle Tru-Powers as they are the same nominal size, but a little higher and about 1/2" narrower which means the tire chains don't remove so much paint from the tractor when the unused link on the inside comes around every time. I think that's unavoidable unless wheels are reversed (which has been discussed at great length!) which I will not do.

Why don't you simply remove the extra link to avoid the noise and damage?