Blade for snow on a 2 wheel tractor?

farmerboybill · Mar 24, 2008

Hey all,

Does anyone on here have a blade for their two wheel tractor? I have a 715 BCS and am toying with buying a blade for snows less than 4 inches and for heavy, wet snows. The blower is awesome for large accumulations or colder snows when the snow isn't so heavy but it tends to push the snow when it's really heavy and less than 4 inches.

How do you have to equip the tractor? How much weight is needed at the wheels? I just ordered a set of chains for the 715, so I'll have those. I've bladed snow quite a bit with a skid steer and a little with a pickup, but I'm sure those machines would be quite different than blading with a 2 wheel tractor.

I'm sure the physics are the same whether it's a david bradley, simplicity, gravely, or BCS. Any experience with anything walk behind with a blade would be great.

WarrenF · Mar 24, 2008

farmerboybill said:
Hey all,

Does anyone on here have a blade for their two wheel tractor? I have a 715 BCS and am toying with buying a blade for snows less than 4 inches and for heavy, wet snows. The blower is awesome for large accumulations or colder snows when the snow isn't so heavy but it tends to push the snow when it's really heavy and less than 4 inches.

How do you have to equip the tractor? How much weight is needed at the wheels? I just ordered a set of chains for the 715, so I'll have those. I've bladed snow quite a bit with a skid steer and a little with a pickup, but I'm sure those machines would be quite different than blading with a 2 wheel tractor.

I'm sure the physics are the same whether it's a david bradley, simplicity, gravely, or BCS. Any experience with anything walk behind with a blade would be great.

I have NEVER had four wheel drive tractor to plow snow. Granted the snow here is light and fluffy compared to what you are plowing back there. Both tires are filled with calcium chloride and I don't use chains. Just keep your speed up and use your individual brakes if one tire starts to spin. Does just fine. When I did not have a tractor and had a hydrostatic drive 18 hp mower with hydraulic lift for the front plow....I put chains on it and did not have the tires filled....it did just fine!! Once again just keep your speed up and let'er rip.

js5020 · Mar 24, 2008

I have a blade for the Gravely, but have never used it. Been tempted a few times to toss it on just to try it out, but what would I do with the CUT in the winter?? The 2 wheeler is stuck on blower duty for the winter,,,, now IF I get my behind in gear and get the other Gravely running THEN I would have 2 and one will have the blower and the other will get the blade, duals, and chains. I would think it would work great in 4" or less snows properly equipped.

farmerboybill · Mar 25, 2008

Hey JS,

Do you think duals would be necessary? We put duals on our 4640 and 4840 all the time for traction, but they're 18000 lbs. we're talking about a 150 lb walk behind machine here. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I kinda thought duals on a walk behind were more for flotation and stability, not traction. Were you planning on chaining all four tires? Do you use the duals for any other application on the gravely? A dualled up walk behind does look pretty neat. I'd almost do it for the looks.

My biggest concern is whether I would be pushing the snow or the snow would be pushing me when I have it at 45 degrees. I kinda thought I'd buy or make those weight brackets that take 10 lb free weights and stick as many as I could on each side. Maybe that would only be a concern if I'm pushing a big amount. I'd have the blower on for anything over 4 inches.

Hey Warren,

I appreciate your response, but I think you're talking about a ride-on tractor. I was going for info on a walk behind machine. My FIL has a 125hp Deere 4430 with a 10ft Degelman front blade on it. That'll push some snow!

js5020 · Mar 25, 2008

I'm sure the duals would not be necessary, some say better traction with them, some say good enough with singles and chains I have the duals and another set of tires and chains so I'm covered, as I said I have never had the blade on for snow. Chains I believe would be a must, although some have been using screws in the bars of the tires and claim they do well on a machine this small. The use of the duals is limited to the attachment width, I can only use them with the 40" deck, 42" sickle bar or the blade, everything else I have is to narrow and does not cover the tire track. The duals also work well on steep slopes and rough ground. Do I use the duals much, no I don't, I had them on once just to try them out. With only 4" of snow I don't think it's gonna give you a bunch of problems. There is a big difference in weight between a BCS and a Gravely, your BSC you say is 150 lbs, my Gravely is 490 lbs so if you can get weights on the more the better. Does you BCS have the locking differental, if so that's a plus. In any case I don't think 4" of snow, unless it totally slop is gonna give you problems at all.

oldmech · Mar 25, 2008

Hi! Everybody! I use this winter My Gravely-Diesel with my special Snowblower as Blade for snow. We need good chains and for weights more you have best it is. Also for the blade a good pair of skid Because if the blade scrap or grind the ground you lost half capacity of pushing (My driveways is Rough) . A curved blade with a guard on a side No a flat one You transfer some snow weight on the tractor. For using I like it. I use the high speed and I am pushing until wheels beging spin then go reverse. Work very well on Wet ( Heavy) snow Save a lot of hands Work. Good luck ! Oldmech

Solo · Mar 25, 2008

I have a blade for my Gravely. I have used it to push snow with several times. The deepest being about six inches. I do have duals on with no chains. The chains would help! You have to just keep pushing everything off to the side every few feet. A pair of skid shoes would be a great investment if you are on gravel. I don't have the shoes for mine and you have to keep the blade from digging in to the driveway if it's not frozen, it will wear you out.

Solo

cm2ncfsu2 · Mar 27, 2008

We got something like 2.5 feet in a week here in sunny southern California. My Gravely Pro 8 has duals. I put chains on the outer wheels and it did fine, except I ran out of places to put snow. In four inches of snow, I'd imagine you can put the blade 45 degrees to the side and not get thrown around. I didn't have chains on it for the first several inches of snow.