Kubota B3200 clearing snow!

[SPMMD]

Christmas week came our first real snow! Last year was such a disappointment! Now, with the front mount Kubota snowblower, and the box blade on the rear, our first real snows have been little challenge. With the blower skids on the highest setting, I still occasionally throw gravel, but once the underlying snowpack and ice hardened, the blower really shines. I have about 300" of gravel driveway, that I have learned to slowblow, then back drag with the box blade and plow on reverse to clear the last snow remnants. Last year with barely any snow I went through three shear pins, this year clearing 10 inches, then 3 and then another 6 inches within a week couldn't be sweeter!

My b3200 lives outdoors, and has taught me 3 lessons: the ignition will freeze! The safety ignition switch will ice over/freeze despite the location under the seat! And lastly, when the HST just doesn't seem to provide the speed and response it used to, you have to clear the snow and ice from around the pedals that limits the pedal travel!

Of course, those of you with enclosures to store your tractors, or cabins/enclosures on your tractors may not have learned these tricks!

Boy, do I need a barn!!!!!

 

[94BULLITT]

Moving snow is fun with a good piece of equipment. I am having the same problem with my blade cutting in on ground that is not frozen. We had some frozen ground today and I tried it and it did not cut in.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Sounds like a good setup for your lake effect snow country. We have already had more snow this year than last I think. I keep my tractor in the garage and my p/u out doors. My wife thinks I am nuts but I use the tractor more than the truck and I am able to avoid all those frozen things for the most part. Using a blower must make it worse with all that snow blowing around warm tractor parts, getting in all the cracks then freezing. Not to mention cleaning snow off the seat and floor because you keep it out doors.

 

[SPMMD]

A foot of lake effect snow was little effort for my B3200 with front mount blower and box blade! But I will say, those of you with cabs/ enclosures are missing out on that hot shower experience after clearing the drive, the street and the driveways of my neighbors!!!! Two hours on the Kubota in my carhart winter coat with hood and jeans just doesn't cut it if your trying to stay warm in 13 degrees while moving snow! But then again, when your having fun, who feels the cold anyway!

 

[case245]

SPMMD i hear you on the frozen tractor parts my loader cables froze i hit the lever a bit hard the thing broke and there covered by plastic

 

[AStanton]

Nice pics; looks like you got the right equipment and dog for all that snow. You can keep your hot shower; I'm a whimp and like the cab during this time of year. They are forecasting 6" plus of snow for us this Friday. Can't wait.

 

[radair]

I cleared my 1/4 mile long driveway with an open station BX for a couple winters. I'm no wimp when it comes to cold temps and snow but a few times i was on the verge of hypothermia. I LOVE my cab these days. Now if we would just get some significant snow!

 

[pizzaguy]

You guys are lucky. I bought a new Grand L 3240 in November and we haven't had any snow yet this winter.

 

[SPMMD]

Since I've owned my B3200 it has lived outdoors. While I initially kept I covered with a tarp, the winds coming off Lake Ontario made the tarp dangerous! She has always started despite the cold, but I did once have the ignition switch freeze during my first winter season. I learned that simply tipping the seat forward covered and protected the ignition switch and haven't suffered a starting problem since. The added benefit pod not sitting on a wet seat or worse ice are also reminders to flip up the seat when parking the Kubota. Probably most important lesson learned: don't snowblow against the wind!!!! I have yet to experience a more uncomfortable or colder activity including having once fallen info a snow and ice covered unknown firepond when I used to live in NH!!!!

 

[94BULLITT]

You guys are lucky. I bought a new Grand L 3240 in November and we haven't had any snow yet this winter.
View attachment 301517

We have not had anything to speak of either:thumbsdown:

 

[roostersmasher]

The b3200 at the time was a little bit more Machine than I thought I needed. Turns out to fit my needs perfectly. I use to plow snow for a living(15 years), F-350 Power Stroker. Good truck for plowing. I then use to plow my road, the guy next door and a huge Hockey rink with my Quad, as well as nice long paths all around the lake. The Quad worked good.

My B3200 has a FEL with a regular back blade. I opted out for the snow blower. But this machine is very manuverable and can create some nice size piles. The HST is the only way to go for me. I can get a lot done in a short amount of time. Did not think I would like plowing with the back blade, but I have grown to love it and it works great

So far this year we have had a couple decent snow falls. As I write this we are in the middle of getting a decent snow fall. 6" has fallen since midnight. Got the truck loaded with the tow behind flip over type shanty, Snowmobile loaded and all my gear etc.. Heading to Saginaw Bay, we have enough ice to get out to the fish, 9 to 12 miles out. Just waiting for the snow to let up so I can plow the driveway and the road so she can get to work :cool2:

 

[Brimfield]

We here in Western Mass are looking at 24"+ Anybody who wants this can take it. I have 1/4 mile narrow drive down hill curves and ditches. This will be my 1st big storm to use my L 300 with a loader. I have my 3/4 ton Silverado ext cab Duramax fitted with v bar chains I put on yesterday and 800 lbs ballast. I don't dare plow at 2am due to no visibility warnings and ditches that eat trucks. No commercial guys will touch my drive. Just got the L 3800 this late fall and in the spring I plan to put rock in the ditches and take out some burms to make a place for more snow.

 

[SPMMD]

After plowing/ blowing out the 6 inches of snow that fell Friday night here in Oswego, I tried making a sledding course down the side of the driveway, then down the hill past the side of my house for my kids. I used the Kubota to reduce the standing 18" of snow to a couple of inches to improve the sledding. My kids complained the sledding was too slow!!! I decided to pack down the snow to improve the sledding. My R4s cut too deeply, so I used my GMC Sierra crew cab 4X4 to help pack the snow, and what a great job it did!!! That is, it was going so well that I kept extending the snow pack down the hill untill, the Sierra was terribly stuck , and couldn't make any headway up the hill back too the driveway!!!!

Enter my B3200 to further clear the path, then with the transmission selected on low, with 4wd and the box blade on but pulling with 20' chain from the drawbar I was able to recover/ rescue the truck with the truck idling in low gear reverse back out up the hill!! 20 degree grade!

 

[SPMMD]

Hey Brimfield, did you get any real snow? How well did it go clearing the snow? With the drive you describe I would be ready to clear downed trees or limbs as well! I found the drawbar very useful, with the box blade lifted on the 3-point this gave great additional weight for traction while the chain attached to the drawbar had a clear path for unobstructed towing/ pulling

 

[Tobyone]

roostersmasher,

It sounds like you really like your Kubota B3200. I am a new member and I am in the process of purchasing a used 2012 B3200HSD with 28 hr. The tractor has an FEL and mid mount mower deck. The tractor is in mint condition and the price is $4500 less than a 2013 with same options. Are you still pleased with your B3200 and do you have R-4 or Turf treads? Do you use chains in the winter?

Thanks,

Tobyone

 

[SPMMD]

I have owned my B3200 since accepting delivery November 2011. I do not have a garage, and my Kubota lives in the woods of Upstate NY. While my original plan included a mid mount mower deck, I instead went for the front mount snowblower and a bush hog because of of my primarily wooded lot and expected snow.

I have been extremely happy with the B3200, which has started effortlessly when my cars would not on subzero mornings. The snow clearing capability is truly amazing! I have gotten so carried away with snow blowing and plowing that with a big dump, I have been out not only clearing my long gravel driveway, but as well the driveways of three or four neighbors, the road between the homes, and the 5 foot high plow snow banks of hard heavy snow blocking our driveways left by the township plows! These are fast easy tasks with my Kubota. Retrieving my GMC when stuck in the snow down the hill behind my house was amazingly easy with my 32 horse Kubota. The torque is amazing, dragging mature downed trees out of the woods has been easy.

Yes, I am very happy with my B3200. My only regret is the frostbite I got on both my ankles when I got "carried away" one winter morning clearing snow this past winter. My Eccho high snow boots and socks was no match to 2 hrs out in the cold moving snow despite the insulation they claim!

Those heated and air conditioned cabs suddenly became interesting this year!

 

[SPMMD]

Oh yea, I forgot to mention, no block heater or special starting measures, just glow plugs and start with the key! My dealer told me I didn't need a block heater or to pre warm my Kubota, and thus far, he was right!