Snow Attachments some thoughts on my snow removal options

[atitus74]

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 have never had any problems with my toro walk behind either. Here in Mass we've only had one real snowstorm to speak of. We got 8 inches, I went out and did it before it got super wet. I have the BX18 and I had no trouble with 50 front blower; no clogging or anything. I think the reason you see problems is that on these machines the auger-box is larger and the impeller is larger but the chute diameter really isn't that much wider in comparison. A lot of folks have recommended spraying the chute, impeller (and generally everything) with fluid film to keep snow from sticking. I did that, now just waiting for snow to try it out. :licking:

 

[Redfox2]

There may be a ' technical ' reason . . for instance, think about the width of your auger box ( how big a bite the machine takes as you walk behind it ) and the length and diameter of its chute . . versus the width of my 54" tractor-mounted sno-blower's auger box, and its chute diameter which looks to be around 4 1/2" ( and perhaps the tendency to over-feed the contraption since I'm riding, not walking ). Also, I have a tendency to not allow enough time for the auger box and chute to clear wet snow which jams right up unless I do allow enough time. ARE you using a silicon spray with your walk-behind to pass snow easier?

 

[Redfox2]

Before I got the tractor/sno-blower I was shoving snow around with an 8' Fisher plow. That is NOT a precision instrument! I usually wound up shoveling a LOT of snow from some of the areas around the garage door and the front porch. With the sno-blower I can reach into those corners and edges, and my shoveling was reduced about 85%.

 

[Reb954]

One other thing that affects how far the snow blower will throw the snow and how much it plugs up is the blade angle on the impeller.

A few impeller designs I have seen have the blades angled so the impeller partially captures the snow rather than slinging the snow outward. The only reason I can come up with for the manufacturer doing this is if a person is picking up a lot of gravel it might save wear on the housing around the impeller.

A few years ago a neighbor bought one of the smaller articulating Cat loaders with a Cat blower. He kept complaining about the blower plugging up a lot and pushing a lot of snow in front of the blower so one day I took a look at it. It was a well built blower but a very poor design. I mentioned to him that someone in Florida must have designed it and they knew nothing about snow. The blades on the impeller were angled forward so it was capturing snow rather than providing centrifugal force to blow the snow clear of the shoot. What snow it did throw was more slobbered out rather than thrown out. The impeller was also too small in diameter for the amount of snow going through the blower which is why the snow built up in front of the blower.

I took the blower for a couple days. I cut and welded new blades onto the existing blades but I set them up so they had about an 1" of outward angle to them. When the neighbor tried the blower he said it improved it a lot but didn't totally solve the problems. As I told him, the impeller is too small for the amount of snow being put through it so either slow down so it can digest the snow or buy a new, properly designed blower. He slowed down a bit and it worked fine.

 

[shooterdon]

I think you will regret getting rid of the plow on the truck. I mounted a very thick wall pipe on the blade of my truck plow to reduce tearing up the gravel. On the cement pad in from of the garage and the walks around the house, I use an Ariens snowblower with electric start if the snow is heavy or deep but most of the time a backpack leaf blower does those areas. The leaf blower will handle 3-4" of snow.

I cannot see a blade on a light tractor being better than a blade on a pick up. My truck is a 2001 Ram 1500 and I have never had a problem moving snow with it. BTW, if the angle hydraulics on a plow truck act up, it is normally water in the system that freezes up. Using a propane torch will get it working and replacing the fluid regularly reduces the amount of water in the system.

If you cannot afford a barn, put up a steel carport. Delivered and installed they cost about $1500 and you can close them in later when funds are available.

 

[atitus74]

ARE you using a silicon spray with your walk-behind to pass snow easier?

Nope never did. But then if the snow was heavy it would slow forward movement on its own. The wheels would spin. It pretty much forced you to go about as fast as it was capable. I have no problem with that. I suspect you are correct that with tractors its much more likely for someone to try and go too fast.

 

[LittleBill21]

guess im on the opposite of this.

I have a blade and rather have blowers, which i did purchase.

i plow with a atv, but it doesn't matter plows have a limit to how much they can push, wet snow even less. its all a weight issue. a blower maybe slower but with 22" on the ground. my plow didn't even get out of the garage.

and this doesn't change with bigger vehicles, the same 22" storm a 2500 ram with a vplow, couldn't plow either.

a blower is slow, but regardless of the amount of snow it will eventually remove it. plows are faster but are limit by snow height and weight.

you have to decide if you rather go plow with the storm 3 times to keep up with the 22 inches, or 1 time and slower with a blower.

sometimes u can't get outside 3 times, or didn't know it was suppose to drop 22" over night.

 

[radios1]

it's a real shame you can't afford a barn, it keeps the equipment clean and dry, rather than rusting out!.. perhaps you can set up a gofundme page, many people have successfully gotten enough donations for what they needed!.. try here. GoFundMe: #1 In Free Fundraising & Crowdfunding Online

 

[oosik]

View attachment 581836I use a heavy duty rear blade that will offset, angle & tilt. Does a GREAT job of snow plowing.

 

[ruffdog]

For a temporary plow that can be used on any vehicle (with a hitch), and is easy to store, the Snowsport is pretty good. It is solid and is extremely simple. The part that inserts into the receiver is SOLID 2" steel and is not wimpy.

SnowSport plow with Chrysler 3C - YouTube

Snow Plows | Snow Removal Equipment from SnowSport (R)| Agri-Cover

Redi-Plow (snow plow for atvs, suvs, trucks) | DR Power Equipment

I had a 2" receiver on the front of my tractor and RTV900 I could use it in. Also, if you have a 3pt attachment with a receiver, use it on the back. When my dad's drive was overwhelmed with snow, I put it on the truck and did his drive. It has a 1" thick rubber bottom edge so it doesn't dig into the grass too.