Snow Attachments some thoughts on my snow removal options

[Redfox2]

I've been looking into getting a 60" plow blade for the 1023E tractor in order to deal with very wet, heavy snow that won't go thru the 54" sno-blower.

The attraction for a plow blade is two-fold: 1) when the snow is too wet and heavy ; and 2) when the sno-blower ' breaks ' and I have nothing to move / remove snow with.
The snow blade I'm looking at, 60QH, mounts on the same tractor mount as the sno-blower, raises and lowers and swivels from left and right with the same hydraulics which raise/lower the sno-blower and rotates the chute. The blade has skids which can be adjusted and a spring-loaded ' trip ' feature if one encounters a large rock or something else frozen to the ground . . . all this just like a Fisher plow.

So far, so good . . . . but I have no place to store either if I'm using the other implement. And swapping these heavy gadgets in the snow ( if they can be located where they are hiding under the snow ) is something of a PITA . . . YEH, Yeh,yeh . . . I need a barn . . . but wife and I been thru all that and it just ain't going to happen.

The crazy thing is that having 2 tractors, each with dedicated implements would probably be about the same price as a barn, more than likely cheaper! Especially if I were to buy a second-hand 1023 . . . There are a LOT of em out there!

I sold the Fisher plow that I used with the P/U truck because 1) I got tired of removing great quantities of gravel from the lawn around the house, and 2) for whatever reason, the hydraulics got very grumpy and wouldn't operate the blade in sub-freezing temp ( even tho I had it serviced a couple years ago ). I still have the mount on the truck as well as the electricals . . . in the unlikely event that I decide to put a plow back on the truck . . .

 

[HEC]

I've been looking into getting a 60" plow blade for the 1023E tractor in order to deal with very wet, heavy snow that won't go thru the 54" sno-blower.

The attraction for a plow blade is two-fold: 1) when the snow is too wet and heavy ; and 2) when the sno-blower ' breaks ' and I have nothing to move / remove snow with.
The snow blade I'm looking at, 60QH, mounts on the same tractor mount as the sno-blower, raises and lowers and swivels from left and right with the same hydraulics which raise/lower the sno-blower and rotates the chute. The blade has skids which can be adjusted and a spring-loaded ' trip ' feature if one encounters a large rock or something else frozen to the ground . . . all this just like a Fisher plow.

So far, so good . . . . but I have no place to store either if I'm using the other implement. And swapping these heavy gadgets in the snow ( if they can be located where they are hiding under the snow ) is something of a PITA . . . YEH, Yeh,yeh . . . I need a barn . . . but wife and I been thru all that and it just ain't going to happen.

The crazy thing is that having 2 tractors, each with dedicated implements would probably be about the same price as a barn, more than likely cheaper! Especially if I were to buy a second-hand 1023 . . . There are a LOT of em out there!

I sold the Fisher plow that I used with the P/U truck because 1) I got tired of removing great quantities of gravel from the lawn around the house, and 2) for whatever reason, the hydraulics got very grumpy and wouldn't operate the blade in sub-freezing temp ( even tho I had it serviced a couple years ago ). I still have the mount on the truck as well as the electricals . . . in the unlikely event that I decide to put a plow back on the truck . . .

I have the b2650 with blower on front and a rear blade on back and the wet snow can be a problem for sure . This year so far I have been able to go out and blow the snow before it got real wet with the rain etc. . I do use the rear blade a lot for both pulling and pushing snow . I have 2 tractors and the other has a bucket on front . If I only had 1 tractor I would have the front end loader and a rear snow blower which isn't great but would get the job done . I am able to keep both under cover . I am not sure a front snow blade on your size tractor will be of much good in heavy wet snow do to the weight issue . I guess much would depend on the area you have to take care of . I have about 500 ft. of drive and two small parking areas .

 

[CobyRupert]

I see the 1023 is listed at about 1400lbs.
I've only plowed snow with my ~700 pound ATV with a 4' blade, but only in dry snow.

Maybe others can chime in on how well a 1400lb tractor can push wet snow with a 5' blade, but that seems light.

Is your snow blower single stage? My previous one was single stage and was bad at plugging, and throwing snow in general. Luckily when I bought my current Deere riding mower/tractor , the dealer recommended a 2 stage blower (Berco/Bercomac (- Canadian company, good products)). In 12 years I've plugged it maybe twice. Even in the sloppiest of mashed potato snow. And it throws!!

 

[Redfox2]

I too have a scraper blade on the rear of my 1023 which I have used to keep my 750' steep gravel road touched up from time to time . . . but this past first storm of the year that blade was not very effective. I had scraped the gook the evening before, but the continued snow and rain left enough on the road that the rear blade was in over its head the following morning. A local guy with a 2-ton truck blasted away the snow ' boulders ' that I had created. I'm in the process of finally getting the chains put on ( for the first time ), so you can thank me now for scaring away any more really nasty snow storms!

 

[Redfox2]

My snow blower is the 54", two stage, front-mounted JD model. Yes, it has done fairly well in moderately wet snow, even tho what comes out of the chute is more like toothpaste. I'm convinced that the majority of my problems with the sno-blower can be traced back to a sloppy installation job by the dealer I bought the rig from. ( I bought it new )

 

[AVIVIII]

I have a neighbor that uses this: 6 Way Deluxe Scrape Blade for Compact Tractors type of blade offset to the side in conjuction with his front mount snowblower. If the snowblower isn't usable, he centers the blade, rotates the moldboard around backwards and pushes the snow in reverse.

 

[Redfox2]

Yes . . . I have a very similar rear blade on my 1023E. The side-to-side offset is a bit of a pain to arrive at but it can be done. Yes, I have used the blade turned around to push sometimes . . . but I refuse to do my entire 750 ft road while twisted/contorted and trying to see where I'm going in reverse.

 

[MaineGuy1]

Just a question because I'm a little perplexed I see a lot of talk about snowblowers on tractors plugging up, not throwing snow, etc. I have a simple Ariens snowblower that has never had an issue blowing any kinds of snow. Yes, when the snow is heavy and wet it does not throw as far but it has never plugged up on me. Why would a snowblower on a tractor have more issues than an Ariens push blower? I want a snowblower for my tractor but this talk scare me, lol.

 

[KennyG]

I have a snowplow on my 2320 which is a few hundred pounds heavier than your tractor. It works so well I have almost quit using my 3 point snowblower. It's much quicker unless the snow really piles up. A few comments:

My plow is a 64 inch wide unit that, I think, was made for zero turn mowers. I have adapted it to the front subframe where a snowblower or JD blade would attach and added cylinders for raise and angle. I keep everything in the barn but I could easily attach the blade outside because it just sits in the subframe hooks and attaches with pins like my mid mount mower.

If I use the front plow, I also put on the box blade for traction and to pull snow away from buildings. If I use the 3 point blower, I have the loader attached to drag snow. My experience says you need something on both ends to clear snow.

 

[CobyRupert]

Just a question because I'm a little perplexed I see a lot of talk about snowblowers on tractors plugging up, not throwing snow, etc. I have a simple Ariens snowblower that has never had an issue blowing any kinds of snow. Yes, when the snow is heavy and wet it does not throw as far but it has never plugged up on me. Why would a snowblower on a tractor have more issues than an Ariens push blower? I want a snowblower for my tractor but this talk scare me, lol.

I don't think one should have more or less issues. Just guessing but maybe tractor drivers vary rpm's and ground speed more and get themselves out of the ideal rpm/speed more than walkers?

I think the factors that effect plugging are:
- Obviously density (moisture) of snow (powder vs. mash potatoes)
- Slip resistance / friction of the chute, paddles, etc... If chute is smooth, painted, waxed (or one has applied a lubricant (Pam cooking oil, silicone, etc..), snow flows much better.
- How much gap is between snowblower's impeller paddles and it's housing can effect how well the snow is captured and thrown.
- And the big one is: Feed rate vs rpms. Too fast and it will plug. Also if there's too little snow passing through to keep the chute "cleaned out", I think packed snow can build up. Then when you start snow blowing again: If you gradually add more, and there's still enough "unplugged" space for the new snow to flow, it may clean the chute out, but if you add new snow too fast it will plug the remainder.

Wet snow varies greatly from nice white "snowman making snow" to straight up slush that's been mixed with road salt at the edge of the driveway and sitting in a puddle.

Don't be scared, around me wet snow usually occurs under 2 conditions:
1. When it's borderline freezing, it WAS cold enough to snow, but it's getting warmer and melting, or rain follows snow, or ground was warm. Solution: Do nothing. Wait for rising temps to melt it.
2 When it's borderline freezing, it WAS warm, but temps are dropping just enough to make rain/snow drop out of air. Solution: Do nothing. Wait for temps to keep dropping so snow "freezes harder"/crystalizes and you can blow it then instead of blowing mush.

^Unfortunately neither my wife or tenants believe in my "do nothing" method and somehow feel the need to make 10 trips in/out of the driveway during this time period. :mur: So I can't just leave it or I'll have more of a mess if I don't snowblow.