Snow snow removal.

[NH-Rob]

We plow the farm with skid steers and a cat loader and I hate it. we used to have a 12' blade on a case 2470 4wd tractor and that was sweet. The only good thing about skid steers is that you can spin around and plow the opposite direction with ease. This year we have not really even plowed yet, got lots of ice build up though.
Rob

 

[crazyal]

I wouldn't look too closely at records of where people live and trying to tie it into how much snow they get. For me they measure the snow in the center of town and at the top of the mountain. Often times I will get over a foot more than the town 3 miles away but hundreds feet lower and not up against the side of a mountain during a good dumping. The top of the mountain is anyone's guess. If the wind is blowing they try their best. But they measure it only a couple of miles from me and it's hit or miss as to if they get more or less.

 

[roygage]

I would like to just get this out there. For me the FEL is less than an option for snow removal!!! I have had three plowing sessions this year total of about 36 inches of snow (normally we get 250 to 300 inches) and have used the front blade the first time then the front mt snow blower and now my FEL which I bought in August last year. By far the snow blower is the best snow removal tool I own followed by the blade. In the future if anything happens to either of these two I will put the box blade on and use the FEL as last resort! I know there are a lot of guys out there who will take offense at this, but I mean to offend no one. It is just my opinion! If you use your FEL for snow removal and like it .....more power to you!

I am catching on to snow removal with a FEL. I find myself doing more and more back dragging with the bucket. My work and couple of the houses I do it works best to back drag into a pile and then shove the pile. My work has a large cement parking lot which goes right out to main street.

Pain to back out on to the street, drop the bucket, try to get the angle right so it wont catch the lips when pushing. Much easier to drive the tractor half way out onto the street, drop the bucket and tilt it and back drag it into the lot.

 

[Mark Page]

Rear blowers are a pain, but they do one helluva job. I'd go for a front mount but I have no mid-mount pto to drive it. Up to 12 inches I use a 7ft rear blade, after that I go to the blower.

 

[duroc]

Anyone who moves a lot of snow (20 to 30 episodes each winter) knows this is the preferred way to go (fast, efficient and warm):

Nice machine! I've seen your video before, but it's always nice to see it pop up again. I do have a question tho - what is the purpose of the wire bracket inside the blower chute?

 

[Chilly807]

I use a 7' rear blade and my FEL. 99% of the time I pull the blade forward and can plow in mid range so its faster than a blower, plus I have too many blower killing rocks in my driveway. We only average about 5-6' of snow and this year is been maybe 1.5' so far. I use the FEL for clearing the parking and turnaround area and it works fine for that, but I can see why they make snow buckets.
I run as much offset as I can on the 3pth so I can move the banks back a foot or so but if I bought another rear blade, I'd probably get a sliding one for more offset or an 8'

This is pretty much the same set-up I have, with the addition of hydraulic angle on the blade. I've been thinking about cutting the main beam of the blade and making it into an offset-able type for snow plowing. Cheaper than buying a new blade, the 6 foot one I have already pushes the tractor sideways if the snow is heavy and the ground under it is icy.

I added a removable mesh screen on the top of my bucket for more snow capacity, it works quite well for that and horse manure.

Sean

 

[GregbkH]

I have a 7' blade with hydraulic operation. It can offset 30" on either side. I put on skid shoes as well as a pipe across the cutting edge and it worked great on my gravel drive this winter. It allowed me to push the snow well off of the road in order to make room for more snow.

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u85/GregBKH/HPIM1742.jpg


http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u85/GregBKH/HPIM1745.jpg

 

[Jay4200]

I would like to just get this out there. For me the FEL is less than an option for snow removal!!! I have had three plowing sessions this year total of about 36 inches of snow (normally we get 250 to 300 inches) and have used the front blade the first time then the front mt snow blower and now my FEL which I bought in August last year. By far the snow blower is the best snow removal tool I own followed by the blade. In the future if anything happens to either of these two I will put the box blade on and use the FEL as last resort! I know there are a lot of guys out there who will take offense at this, but I mean to offend no one. It is just my opinion! If you use your FEL for snow removal and like it .....more power to you!

I tried to use my FEL once. I ultimately gave up and just used it to smoosh the snow down flat. For snow removal, an FEL is better than using a snow shovel by hand, but only slightly. Those folks that defend their FEL as a viable snow removal tool either never tried anything else, or are completely insane.

JayC

 

[RoyJackson]

I tried to use my FEL once. I ultimately gave up and just used it to smoosh the snow down flat. For snow removal, an FEL is better than using a snow shovel by hand, but only slightly. Those folks that defend their FEL as a viable snow removal tool either never tried anything else, or are completely insane.

JayC

I use the FEL to remove snow....works quite good if you know what you're doing. Granted, it's not as efficient as a plow would be, but quite acceptable.
Your last sentence indicates you don't know what you're doing...

 

[Jay4200]

I use the FEL to remove snow....works quite good if you know what you're doing. Granted, it's not as efficient as a plow would be, but quite acceptable.
Your last sentence indicates you don't know what you're doing...

Oh, I know - see above pic. I should clarify - if I were clearing a small area, like a couple of parking spots, the loader would be fine. But forget it on a long drive...and I have 1000 feet of it.

JayC

 

[RoyJackson]

Oh, I know - see above pic. I should clarify - if I were clearing a small area, like a couple of parking spots, the loader would be fine. But forget it on a long drive...and I have 1000 feet of it.

JayC

Ahhhhhhh!! A caveat!!
Yeah...loader would work, but it would be a PITA.

 

[20 20]

.

Here's a list of the 101 cities that get the most snow:
Top 101 cities with the highest average snowfall in a year (population 50,000+)
and Pennsylvania:
Average Annual Snowfall Totals in Pennsylvania - Current Results
(Union City, PA is about halfway down the page and averages 25" per season).
Even Erie, with it's lake effect snow, averages only 101".

Thanks RoyJackson, this is why I made the 1st post I did. I live in one of the highest areas for snow and have lived in places with higher averages. When someone say's they're getting 250-300" average snow fall, I really have to wonder. I don't think some know how much 250-300" of snow really is, heck I can remember the last great blizard of 77 when NY got pounded. A few years back around the 14 of feb we got our last big snow fall it was 48" in one blast. I also can understand drifts and such but that does not change how much snow fell.

 

[RoyJackson]

Thanks RoyJackson, this is why I made the 1st post I did. I live in one of the highest areas for snow and have lived in places with higher averages. When someone say's they're getting 250-300" average snow fall, I really have to wonder. I don't think some know how much 250-300" of snow really is, heck I can remember the last great blizard of 77 when NY got pounded. A few years back around the 14 of feb we got our last big snow fall it was 48" in one blast. I also can understand drifts and such but that does not change how much snow fell.

I remember Buffalo getting 7' (yep, 7 FEET) in one week several years ago...but that was definitely not a typical Buffalo winter.

 

[LarryD]

I tried to use my FEL once. I ultimately gave up and just used it to smoosh the snow down flat. For snow removal, an FEL is better than using a snow shovel by hand, but only slightly. Those folks that defend their FEL as a viable snow removal tool either never tried anything else, or are completely insane.

JayC

Well I've been called worse!

I guess it really depends on how often you (me) have to do snow removal. I also have a 1000' driveway but in 11 years of living here I have only had to do snow removal twice. The most snow was in '08 (see attached) with a total of 17" during one event over a couple days. That was gone a week later and haven't pushed snow again until this year with our 12" accumulation. That too was gone a week later.

My point is, if moving snow was an annual excercise for me I would absolutely have a better arsenal of weapons but I just can't justify that expense for my limited need.

So I'll just sit here in my rocker and talk to myself.

 

[herefromthere]

Well I've been called worse!

I guess it really depends on how often you (me) have to do snow removal. I also have a 1000' driveway but in 11 years of living here I have only had to do snow removal twice. The most snow was in '08 (see attached) with a total of 17" during one event over a couple days. That was gone a week later and haven't pushed snow again until this year with our 12" accumulation. That too was gone a week later.

My point is, if moving snow was an annual excercise for me I would absolutely have a better arsenal of weapons but I just can't justify that expense for my limited need.

So I'll just sit here in my rocker and talk to myself.

Ready, set, clear driveway! Ok, so mine doesn't do that good of a job either.

 

[smfcpacfp]

Nice machine! I've seen your video before, but it's always nice to see it pop up again. I do have a question tho - what is the purpose of the wire bracket inside the blower chute?

I think it must be a safety issue. It would be harder to stick your hand down into the chute with the wire bracket in the way.

 

[duroc]

Thanks! I was thinking that maybe it was for breaking up any chunks that come up the chute. I like your answer better. You getting any snow in your area?

 

[20 20]

The most snow was in '08 (see attached) with a total of 17" during one event over a couple days. That was gone a week later

Why even bother plowing at all, just drive over it and pack it down :laughing:

 

[20 20]

The most snow was in '08 (see attached) with a total of 17" during one event over a couple days. That was gone a week later

Why even bother plowing at all, just drive over it and pack it down :laughing:

 

[Don87]

I think it must be a safety issue. It would be harder to stick your hand down into the chute with the wire bracket in the way.

It's listed as a 'rock deflector' on mine, but ya definetely cannot put you hand down the chute with it on there.

Mine is on top of my tool box......chute plugged with heavy wet snow........and the guard installed.