Snow Equipment Owning/Operating How to do a better job with this Kubota???

[ror105]

I have a question for all of you experienced gentlemen. So a year ago I bought my Kubota B2320, and love it for everything except clearing snow! My old Cub Cadet 1811 seemed to be more effective with its 42 inch plow than the Kubota is with the 60 inch B2765 plow. the setup I am using now is the R-4 tires with 4 link chains and the BH65 backhoe still installed. The problem I am having is I am trying too hard not to scrape the gravel and then I am leaving too much snow behind. Now I have around a solid 1 inch pack of snow and when I am trying to maneuver around at the end of the drive with the blade down hard, I can't steer at all and the distance is too short to try it with cruise and split brakes. It is also hilly which compounds the problem.

I bought some 1 inch PVC pipe to split and put on the cutting edge and see if that will help. The real dilemma with this situation is I am going to be on travel and the wife has not even attempted to get on the tractor in fair weather. Now she says "If it snows do you want me to plow while you are gone?". I would like to tell her yes but I think I am still learning the right way myself. With the Cub it was like point and shoot. It didn't have enough downforce on the plow to move too much shale and with the down force on the Kubota I can put most of my driveway in my newly established lawn.

In short, is there something else I can do to get more of the snow off, steer where I want to go and keep my 2B stone on the 300' drive and 80' parking area?

We got a total of around 14 inches here in the past week and it has been fun learning but I am going to have to give the wife a short course very soon.

Thanks to all of you and have a Happy New Year!

 

[avc8130]

Do you have shoes on the plow?

 

[ror105]

Shoes are on the plow and the best I can do is have it riding about 3/4" above the surface. Next adjustment is all the way down.

 

[Thomas]

Take your time,try differeant ways,have fun and don't over think it,before you know it becomes second nature.

Far as your bride,pick comfortable weather day let her do the best she can.

 

[oldballs]

rr 105..... My Case 448 with plow (and shoes) and chains did a nice job like your Cadet. It also would dig into the gravel however. So I got used to raking the gravel back in the spring. Where I live you don't get a solid freeze all winter, so the gravel is a constant issue. I still have my trusty Case but want to use the new (had a BX2660) Kubota B2620 with FEL, rear blade and 2 link ladder chains. There was no snow last winter and today is our first real snow. My plan is.... just don't grade or push the snow all the way off the drive and parking area. Heck, the driveway is 35 feet wide. That FEL is really great when, in 2009, the large and drifting snow needed to be piled up for me and the neighbors. I'd take that back hoe off and get a rear blade. And I'd never ask my wife to do something that I couldn't do very well myself. Besides, she'd probably tell me where to stick it anyway. In your area a snow blower might be the ticket, but gravel is still an issue. ... Happy New Year along with your travels. Mike

 

[Carl_NH]

ror105

I with Mike too, get a back blade to take the last bit of snow off. I have an 1811 too with chains and blade I used for many years - those 1811's are no fun to start in the winter are they?

I use my B21 with the FEL and rear blade now and it works fine - of course I dont have gravel. I think your idea with the PVC might work - hoe do you intend to attach this? I also see some of the 2765 with a rubber edge - cow stall rubber matting I think in place of the blade set just above the skid shoes.

As far as youir wife running the tractor, I travel too, but have a neighbor with a Cat skidsteer and front plow that does the drive on the occasion I am not home (usually 1-2 times a winter) so I would suggest either a neighbor or have a plow guy on call for those times. I know its not ideal, as you will likely have more stone to clean up, but for peace of mind in these times may be the best solution.

Carl

 

[KWentling]

I think you'll have better steering if you take the backhoe off so the front wheels have more weight on them. It might also make for a more stable blade height.

Kim

 

[Dr Dave]

Let the wife try, maybe she will show you how its done

 

[Don87]

I have a question for all of you experienced gentlemen. So a year ago I bought my Kubota B2320, and love it for everything except clearing snow! My old Cub Cadet 1811 seemed to be more effective with its 42 inch plow than the Kubota is with the 60 inch B2765 plow. the setup I am using now is the R-4 tires with 4 link chains and the BH65 backhoe still installed. The problem I am having is I am trying too hard not to scrape the gravel and then I am leaving too much snow behind. Now I have around a solid 1 inch pack of snow and when I am trying to maneuver around at the end of the drive with the blade down hard, I can't steer at all and the distance is too short to try it with cruise and split brakes. It is also hilly which compounds the problem.

I bought some 1 inch PVC pipe to split and put on the cutting edge and see if that will help. The real dilemma with this situation is I am going to be on travel and the wife has not even attempted to get on the tractor in fair weather. Now she says "If it snows do you want me to plow while you are gone?". I would like to tell her yes but I think I am still learning the right way myself. With the Cub it was like point and shoot. It didn't have enough downforce on the plow to move too much shale and with the down force on the Kubota I can put most of my driveway in my newly established lawn.

In short, is there something else I can do to get more of the snow off, steer where I want to go and keep my 2B stone on the 300' drive and 80' parking area?

We got a total of around 14 inches here in the past week and it has been fun learning but I am going to have to give the wife a short course very soon.

Thanks to all of you and have a Happy New Year!

Try using the 'float' fucntion.

 

[94BULLITT]

First of all do like Don said and use float. Push the loader joystick all the way forward.

I am having the same problem. You will only have this problem when the ground is not frozen. The ground was froze pretty good in spots today and I tried my plow and it did not cut in. I am trying to figure out the best way to remedy it.

Here is my thread if you want to look at it.

 

[unbidden]

I agree, frozen ground is a plus, use float and a poly blade edge will help.

 

[JJZ 109]

Try using the 'float' fucntion.

That would have been my answer also. When I don't really have enough snow to warrant coming out with a 73" blower on my gravel drive, I drop the blower & pick up the bucket. Pretty much level it to start, put it in the float position and go. You can slightly adjust the curl as needed so that you aren't scraping up gravel but also aren't leaving too much of a snow buildup.
It's always harder to do snow removal when the ground isn't frozen and you don't have a hardpacked snow base. Once you get that base, you can adjust the curl to scrape a little more.
Fortunately for me I have a skid steer, so I've got a great view of the bucket's leading edge. I realize that it isn't quite so easy with a tractor loader bucket.

 

[ror105]

Happy New Year all!


I managed to split a 1 inch PVC pipe lengthwise and pound it across the blade edge. Did not want to go on very well but it stayed on the few passes I made. Seems to have helped a little.

And the wife got on and got her first lesson. I think she will be able to at least make a few passes down the lane with no troubles. Her 4Runner will get out of the driveway but I am concerned with her packing new snow into more ice.

Thanks for the tips guys!

 

[unbidden]

Happy New Year all!


I managed to split a 1 inch PVC pipe lengthwise and pound it across the blade edge. Did not want to go on very well but it stayed on the few passes I made. Seems to have helped a little.

And the wife got on and got her first lesson. I think she will be able to at least make a few passes down the lane with no troubles. Her 4Runner will get out of the driveway but I am concerned with her packing new snow into more ice.

Thanks for the tips guys!

The pvc works well but you will go through a few of them; the pvc will break if you hit a stubborn rock embeded in the road.

I have a wife that loves the tractor, you'll be setting up a schedule for seat time I think!

 

[ror105]

Happy New Year all!


I managed to split a 1 inch PVC pipe lengthwise and pound it across the blade edge. Did not want to go on very well but it stayed on the few passes I made. Seems to have helped a little.

And the wife got on and got her first lesson. I think she will be able to at least make a few passes down the lane with no troubles. Her 4Runner will get out of the driveway but I am concerned with her packing new snow into more ice.

Thanks for the tips guys!

 

[ror105]

Sorry for the double post, iPhone sat there thinking and I'd just saw it resent.

 

[ror105]

Carl-the 1811 starting in the winter was the turning point for buying the Kubota. I sat in the garage one day and killed two batteries while the snow kept piling up outside. Finally jump started it from the 4runner and a lot of ether. The thing is the most cold blooded machine I ever owned!

 

[Carl_NH]

Carl-the 1811 starting in the winter was the turning point for buying the Kubota. I sat in the garage one day and killed two batteries while the snow kept piling up outside. Finally jump started it from the 4runner and a lot of ether. The thing is the most cold blooded machine I ever owned!

Yes indeed, what I have learned with mine is prime the fuel pump (I blow in the fuel fill) and have a good battery and they will start fairly quickly. This summer I replaced the fuel pump (second time in 20 yrs) and its running good now.

Glad you are getting the the plowing down and wife is tenatively enjoying the process!

Carl