B2650 snow removal options

[Coyote machine]

This will be my third winter with my b2650 with the qa blade on the fel. I live in northeast ohio and we get a lot of snow. I think it does a great job. I like the blade on the fel because I can switch back to the bucket if needed and I can stack the snow with blade. I bought chains last year for all four tires (r4 no spacers needed). I don't think they are needed unless you are dealing with hills or ice in your driveway. The only time I have trouble with the blade is when the snow gets deep on the sides of the drive. Then I'm not able to throw the snow to the side. But this will happen with any blade when the banks on the side of the drive get higher than the blade.

The Aquiline MPC chains are a low profile chain design, and you can find out if they will fit your specific wheel on your model tractor from chain charts/fitment guides. From a glance at a pic of your model in this thread I don't think it would require spacers, but I don't know for sure. Usually the issue is enough space under the fenders...

Yah, high side banks require special treatment: I just raise the blade, say to 18" off the ground, and plow off the top of the banks, then take a second lower pass- that buys me some snow room. Not being able to have a cab means no snowblower for me, and I don't think I would want one, anyway, since the blade works so well for a reasonable investment, with very little upkeep required.

Another good point, snowplow blades require minimal maintenance vs. blowers.


:confused3:

 

[bumperm]

Varmint,

Kubota sells a blower, plow, sweeper and what all for the frame mount QA (as opposed to the SSQA) for the B2650/B3350. While the SSQA has the obvious advantage of being able to lift and pile snow high, it could also put a fair amount of side loading on the loader frame. Just in normal use with the loader, it's obvious that the loader is not exceedingly strong when it comes to lateral forces (side loading) - it deflects sideways with mild force (at least "mild" when it comes to shoving things with a tractor). I doubt the loader would be damaged in normal plow ops, but if the blade was angled and hit an obstruction - I'm not so sure. The QA, on the other hand, is attached directly to the tractor front frame - exceedingly strong and close coupled, so lateral forces on the plow or other attachments will have less ability to deflect the tractor front end than would be the case with the loader mount. And since the QA only uses one set of hoses, you can use the other loaded function to operate the hydraulic angle cyclinders for the plow if you don't have 3rd function.

 

[Coyote machine]

And a 'crossover valve' between the plow hoses on the plow frame dampens shocks, lateral and otherwise, to the loader, or subframe, depending on how one mounts their plow.

Here's a link to what they offer. There are US distributors on Google too, not just a buy in Canada thing.
Their brochure is pretty impressive. I have their series 2000 72" plow, and it's bulletproof. Last winter I was climbing snow piles and pushing snow over the top at anywhere from 6-7+' high.
Since I had my backhoe on I could only go so high before the tractor would have been standing on it's back hoe bucket!

Link:http://www.horstwelding.com/brochures/HLA Snow Brochure.pdf

 

[David97]

This will be my third winter with my b2650 with the qa blade on the fel. I live in northeast ohio and we get a lot of snow. I think it does a great job. I like the blade on the fel because I can switch back to the bucket if needed and I can stack the snow with blade. I bought chains last year for all four tires (r4 no spacers needed). I don't think they are needed unless you are dealing with hills or ice in your driveway. The only time I have trouble with the blade is when the snow gets deep on the sides of the drive. Then I'm not able to throw the snow to the side. But this will happen with any blade when the banks on the side of the drive get higher than the blade.

Thanks for the info. What concerns me with the plow on the FEL is what if i hit something. I will be new to using it.

 

[varmint]

With a larger than ideal width HLA 1000 blade on my L3400, I also liked the idea of impact protection, especially when I was plowing depressed gravel lanes, so after speaking with HLA's guys, I ordered a $75 crossover relief valve from Surplus Center, and made a small pressure adjustment after installing it and using the plow. Now, if one side strikes something, the plow seems to release. Note that I don't usually have it fully angled, which logic tells me would defeat the crossover's ability to work. Mine is likely the same arrangement that is used on the single cylinder 2000 series plows.

 

[Rustyferrious]

Thanks for the info. What concerns me with the plow on the FEL is what if i hit something. I will be new to using it.

Things to keep in mind: if you are plowing concrete with joints or cracks, or paver bricks, slabs lift & shift as the ground freezes. A 1/2" high joint can feel like a brick wall when you hit it straight on. Angling across the joint/crack can help minimize the shock. Sometimes slabs may not lift until late in the winter so just because it wasn't a problem in December doesn't mean it won't knock your teeth out in March. Ditto for any type of metal access cover that might be in the plow area. Hitting a raised man-hole cover can mess up even that largest highway plows.

 

[beckmurph]

Newtattoobob
Can or would you post some photos of your qa blade. Is it spring loaded?

 

[newtattoobob]

Yes its spring loaded, its the kubota one. I'm not sure of the model but I will find out and post some pics.

 

[beckmurph]

Yes its spring loaded, its the kubota one. I'm not sure of the model but I will find out and post some pics.

Thank you. That would be much appreciated.

Sent from my iPhone using TractorByNet

 

[newtattoobob]

Here is a couple pics of the plow when I first got it.

 

[varmint]

N T Bob- that's a very clean looking rig you have... do you have a third function for the plow angle? I am getting serious cab-envy, but it wouldn't work when I go fire wood gathering, or post holing, so maybe I need a second tractor?

 

[GPintheMitten]

Second tractor!

 

[newtattoobob]

Those pics are when it was brand new. Not quite so clean now! It does have the factory third function kit.

 

[David97]

I just bought a new B2650!!

60" mmm, FEL with QA bucket and a 72" QA front blade, R4 tires rear are filled. Spent more than i wanted to of course but should have it in a week or two dealer had to order the mmm and 72" QA blade.

Now i worry about being to light in the front end when pushing snow.

 

[varmint]

No problem! Just hang a couple hundred pounds of weights on the front end somewhere? If and when you get snow, you'll have to report back after using it- I think you may be right about a lack of heft- but in light snow situations, you probably won't notice it. 20" of wet snow, you probably will.

 

[check]

Varmint, Kubota sells a blower, plow, sweeper and what all for the frame mount QA (as opposed to the SSQA) for the B2650/B3350. While the SSQA has the obvious advantage of being able to lift and pile snow high, it could also put a fair amount of side loading on the loader frame. Just in normal use with the loader, it's obvious that the loader is not exceedingly strong when it comes to lateral forces (side loading) - it deflects sideways with mild force (at least "mild" when it comes to shoving things with a tractor). I doubt the loader would be damaged in normal plow ops, but if the blade was angled and hit an obstruction - I'm not so sure. The QA, on the other hand, is attached directly to the tractor front frame - exceedingly strong and close coupled, so lateral forces on the plow or other attachments will have less ability to deflect the tractor front end than would be the case with the loader mount. And since the QA only uses one set of hoses, you can use the other loaded function to operate the hydraulic angle cyclinders for the plow if you don't have 3rd function.

Wow! Excellent points. Never considered the side loading issue. If I ever do get a front blade, I will now make sure that it is framed mounted rather than mounted on the FEL arms.

 

[varmint]

I would argue that careful plowing with a SSQA plow on a normal strength loader frame is within reason. You aren't going to be zooming along at 15 mph as you would with a truck, and even in hitting frozen junk at the side of our lane, the blade just pivots or trips... I have never felt like I was in danger of bending anything. Of course, I am plowing at a good walking speed.

 

[check]

I would argue that careful plowing with a SSQA plow on a normal strength loader frame is within reason. You aren't going to be zooming along at 15 mph as you would with a truck, and even in hitting frozen junk at the side of our lane, the blade just pivots or trips... I have never felt like I was in danger of bending anything. Of course, I am plowing at a good walking speed.

I'm not so sure. I am always slamming into things with my ATV pull out.

 

[check]

I'm not so sure. I am always slamming into things with my ATV pull out.

I mean ATB Paladino. Bad Siri!

 

[check]

I mean ATB Paladino. Bad Siri!

ATV plow.