Shifting gears snow plow instead of blower

[DF5152]

Ok in my other thread I asked about snow blowers, thanks for all who replied. Due to cost I am considering a plow before the snow blower for this season. I like the bxpanded system. Do you think my tractor, GC1720, would have any issues pushing a 72" blade or should I just go with the 60" model.

 

[leonz]

Hello DF5152,

Welcome to the forum. Before we waddle into the snow pile; Are you on the Long Island Sound side or the Atlantic side of Long Island?

Does your mule have a loader? ANY mule will have issues with plowing unless it has traction/adhesion/mass/weight to create the momentum needed to move snow.

The other thing is snow depth and the ability to push it aside as snow chains and loaded tires are a must with the really wet crap like I get and the snow blower on the mule works when it works works alright until I blow a belt AKA JUNK.

I got so fed up with my mule (LA115) I loaded the rears with windshield washer fluid and I will be putting on the V bar link ice chains on it this year as the ladder chains slip too much.

Have you shopped around for an Allied Farm King rear mounted snow blower? they are less expensive and do not require an under frame mounting system or is this plow attached to the loader?

The bercomac motorized snow blowers could be front mounted with a little work.

 

[DF5152]

Hello DF5152,

Welcome to the forum. Before we waddle into the snow pile; Are you on the Long Island Sound side or the Atlantic side of Long Island?

Does your mule have a loader? ANY mule will have issues with plowing unless it has traction/adhesion/mass/weight to create the momentum needed to move snow.

The other thing is snow depth and the ability to push it aside as snow chains and loaded tires are a must with the really wet crap like I get and the snow blower on the mule works when it works works alright until I blow a belt AKA JUNK.

I got so fed up with my mule (LA115) I loaded the rears with windshield washer fluid and I will be putting on the V bar link ice chains on it this year as the ladder chains slip too much.

Have you shopped around for an Allied Farm King rear mounted snow blower? they are less expensive and do not require an under frame mounting system or is this plow attached to the loader?

The bercomac motorized snow blowers could be front mounted with a little work.

I am actually right in the middle of the island. I have looked at the farm king, I like what they have but again they start around 2k as well. The plow I am considering attaches to the loader and is advertise as easy on and off to make use of the loader if needed. I have tried to use the loader bucket to move snow and it does work but I have had some issues. Float mode has been recommended but in that mode the bucket fills with snow and causes the front wheels to come off the ground affecting traction and steering. Not using float mode creates and issue as well. Living in the middle of the island my property is a little hilly which cause the bucks to dig in to the driveway and landscape depending on direction of travel. With the plow blade I would be able to keep the bucket stationary and the blade would float. I am hoping if I went this way that this would work. But I am worried that since we often get heavy wet snow that the 6 foot blade would cause the tractor to bod down and would negate the use of the larger blade: however the smaller blade which is 5 foot isn't much different in size and I suffer from Tim Taylor issues. Although I have 50 hours on the tractor and it has worked well for me I am still not really sure what it is capable of, and buying accessories for it I am tempted to try for the bigger is better route and they can get expensive for something that i chose wrong on.

 

[mike69440]

I am actually right in the middle of the island. I have looked at the farm king, I like what they have but again they start around 2k as well. The plow I am considering attaches to the loader and is advertise as easy on and off to make use of the loader if needed. I have tried to use the loader bucket to move snow and it does work but I have had some issues. Float mode has been recommended but in that mode the bucket fills with snow and causes the front wheels to come off the ground affecting traction and steering. Not using float mode creates and issue as well. Living in the middle of the island my property is a little hilly which cause the bucks to dig in to the driveway and landscape depending on direction of travel. With the plow blade I would be able to keep the bucket stationary and the blade would float. I am hoping if I went this way that this would work. But I am worried that since we often get heavy wet snow that the 6 foot blade would cause the tractor to bod down and would negate the use of the larger blade: however the smaller blade which is 5 foot isn't much different in size and I suffer from Tim Taylor issues. Although I have 50 hours on the tractor and it has worked well for me I am still not really sure what it is capable of, and buying accessories for it I am tempted to try for the bigger is better route and they can get expensive for something that i chose wrong on.

I would be afraid of any blow that attaches to the bucket.

My friend has your exact same tractor with BH and snowblower. He also has fabricated wings on his bucket that bolt on to give him 6' wide "Plow".
Tire Chains are required. He filled his front tires with foam.
The Edge Tamer - YouTube
Edge Tamer - Move Snow With Your Tractor Loader Bucket – R2 Manufacturing
These would be nice i would think?

 

[leonz]

I am actually right in the middle of the island. I have looked at the farm king, I like what they have but again they start around 2k as well. The plow I am considering attaches to the loader and is advertise as easy on and off to make use of the loader if needed. I have tried to use the loader bucket to move snow and it does work but I have had some issues. Float mode has been recommended but in that mode the bucket fills with snow and causes the front wheels to come off the ground affecting traction and steering. Not using float mode creates and issue as well. Living in the middle of the island my property is a little hilly which cause the bucks to dig in to the driveway and landscape depending on direction of travel. With the plow blade I would be able to keep the bucket stationary and the blade would float. I am hoping if I went this way that this would work. But I am worried that since we often get heavy wet snow that the 6 foot blade would cause the tractor to bod down and would negate the use of the larger blade: however the smaller blade which is 5 foot isn't much different in size and I suffer from Tim Taylor issues. Although I have 50 hours on the tractor and it has worked well for me I am still not really sure what it is capable of, and buying accessories for it I am tempted to try for the bigger is better route and they can get expensive for something that i chose wrong on.

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Hello DF5152,

As your still a new mule owner I will tell you the snow blower is really what you need all you need to do is adjust the skids to prevent the snow blower from digging in on your driveway.

The major issue is having room to dispose of the snow as the minute you start building piles they will stay there and then you have to keep pushing snow and if the wind kicks up the berms will hold snow and that makes it much worse.

The biggest problem you have is both poor adhesion and traction and a mule that is too light. If you are serious about this plow, plan on coating it with ski wax or turtle wax and or fluid film. You also need to be sure that this plow has skids on it to prevent digging in.

I mentioned the motorized Bercomac snow blowers as they will give you plenty of power and you can still drive forward with it.

With your topography and your location in the middle of the island I strongly suggest that you should invest in the 5 foot Farm King snow blower and a supply of fluid film in a gallon can and a hand sprayer-you mix the fluid film fifty/fifty with water and spray everything that contacts snow and you will not have plugging and the snow blower will throw the snow much farther. this works on heavy snow too by the way from both my experience and many other folks that use it.




Leon

 

[oldnslo]

I have 6 ft western snow plow frame mounted on my 2400H and in heavy wet snow the front of the tractor slides sideways with the blade angled. mounting the plow on the FEL will make this problem much worse. Suspect you will be disappointed with this setup if you get wet snow in your area.

 

[FatTire]

I have 6 ft western snow plow frame mounted on my 2400H and in heavy wet snow the front of the tractor slides sideways with the blade angled. mounting the plow on the FEL will make this problem much worse. Suspect you will be disappointed with this setup if you get wet snow in your area.

Chains on the front tires eliminates this problem, but not everyone wants to use them.

 

[DK35vince]

Chains on the front tires eliminates this problem, but not everyone wants to use them.

Yes, chains on the front make a huge difference.
I run chains on all 4, and a 9' snow plow on the FEL of a 35 HP tractor with little problem sliding the front of the tractor while angled.

 

[ray66v]

I have a GC2310 with a 6' loader mounted plow. Which is basically the smaller prototype for the GC1710.

I plow 325' of level, turning gravel driveway, with turf tires, no fluid in them, no chains, with no problem.

The tractor moving sideways, is operator error. Angling the plow all the way, puts extreme turning forces on the machine. Reduce the amount of angle, and the turning forces reduce too. The problem goes away if you only use half the angle. You will find it plows just as well.

 

[wawajake]

You mentioned you are worried about damage to driveway and landscape.........I have used a blade and a snowblower, ........if you think a blade , even in float, won't do damage to grass you will be disappointed, the corners of the blade will at times dig in if minor difference in where your wheels are planted at the time, and the shoes that the blade float on will dig in to grass especially before the frost has hardened that lawn.
Now your driveway if it is gravel will have same issues apply, nothing serious , but until you get to know every section of your yard that has unlevel sections that blade or shoes can catch, you will do minor repairs. (where did that piece of sod in the snowbank come from
Similar issues will occur with snow blower , but for the small cost more than what you are considering, you can get a snow blower that has you no longer worried about snow banks , and better traction (not being pushed to the side by the blade the odd time)