Snow Attachments Snow Blower Q & A

[RAllen]

As a recent immigrant from Georgia to NW Montana, this is my first winter season. Never plowed snow in my life. I have a 1/4 mile drive and must help with clearing a 1/2 mile private road. All gravel with hills, dips, ruts etc. I am using a Kubota 2910 with a 60" Kubota Blower. Its been a real learning experience.
The rig works well on the level or down grade. I am going to have to pick up some chains because more than two inches of snow start the wheels a spinning up my hills. I have tried to build a snow base to prevent blowing my gravel all over the place. Have been hampered somewhat by the lack of a freeze/thaw cycle. Its been cold and the powder snow does pack but its not real hard yet. I am forced not to use float control as I dig up too much rock. I have "discovered" on trick that seems to work well. I place the front mounted blower in float then BACK up. This compacts some of the snow and pulls the rest. I do this around my turn-around and parking areas around the house. The feet on the blower are set to "high". This produces a smooth compacted surface. I then use the blower in the conventional forward way to blow the piled up snow.

This minimizes the gravel ejected and seems to help build up a base. This may be "oldhat" to you more experienced folks but I thought I would pass it along to those newbies like me.

Rick

 

[RobS]

Rick, sounds fun to me. Chains will certainly help but I think you need a bunch of weight on the rear as well. When you raise the blower you are reducing the weight on the back of your tractor. No doubt that blower is pretty heavy too. When you clear the paved section, do you float it? If so, does the traction improve?

Rob

 

[RAllen]

Rob
I have calcium chloride in my rear tires. I have a back blade I can hitch up but the tractor does not seem front heavy.
I wish I had some pavement. Its all gravel. The grades are not constant either- alot of dips. My neighbors use blades and I do use the float position on the private road with sucess. Their scraping seems to help build up a base. Even using the float position, I start slipping when going up a grade. Actually, I do better going up hill when I lift the blower up an inch or two. So I do not think adding more weight to the rear will help. I am curious as to what type of chains everyone uses. I have R-4 tires and it seems conventional chains could slip down between lugs and not do much good.

Rick

 

[Thomas]

RAllen,
As just about everyone knows I'm a firm believer in chains.
Have you consider chains w/ ice cheats?
Your locate dealer should beable to get them,but they cost $$$ and well worth.

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[TomG]

I'm in my second year of using a 3ph blower for a gravel drive that does have a grade. I have turf tires, and there hasn't been a traction problem. I wonder what's going on here? The way I think about it is that if the auger is clearing the snow and the blower is in float, then the blower shouldn't need much more traction then the tractor alone.

I think I'd try tilting the blower up a bit so it floats easier (I guess it would be obvious if it actually wasn't floating. I'd also run the engine at PTO speed if you aren't already, and cut down your ground speed. The one thing about blowers is they don't make their passes very fast (maybe 2mph compared to near 10 with a plow in good conditions). Of course, the whole job may still get done faster with a blower, since much less time for pushing and stacking is needed. I guess you're aware that an implement in float puts very little weight on the tractor. The effect of ballast mostly disappears.

 

[Thomas]

TomG,
I agree keep at a even speed and don't spin the tires,but tire chains also gives that extra bite for ice as you know can play surprises.

After a good size snow storm some poeple still try and take a full blower every pass even going up hill,if they would try 3/4 or so of a blower maybe that would help.

Hope the winter has been a easy one for you.

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[TomG]

Yep, no question. Chains definitely solve traction problems. I keep thinking about getting some to help with the loader work I can't avoid and also to improve steering. It's one of the things I haven't gotten around to, because I really don't have much of a traction problem. Well, I have been surprised by catching ice chunks the blower wouldn't move or float over.

Winter's OK so far. There's enough snow to be interesting. My wife and I just bought 'modern' snow shoes so we can get around in the bush without having to drive everywhere. The worst part of winter so far was four hours of rain on top of the snow base--a real mess.

 

[art]

To lift the blower a few inches in effect puts weight on the front end of the tractor so it increases the front tire traction. Chains don't normally fall totally between the lugs of a ag tire but yes you do lose some surface area but by doing that it increases the pounds per square inch of weight so it in effect has more traction on ice and a better chance to grab on to it.

 

[Anderson]

This is my first year with a similar setup. I have an L3600 with a 60" blower, 7' rear blade, and ag tires. I purchased a set of chains at tirechains.com - field type chains for the rear tires, and garden tractor type for the front.

The rear chains are GREAT. The front chains don'd do much though - they mostly fell down between the treads.

Initially I wasn't planning on using the rear blade at all for snow, but I was throwing so much gravel with the blower that I hooked it back up. I'm not sure why, but the blade doesn't pick up as much gravel as the blower. It's the angle of the scraper bar or the shear weight of the blower. I'm thinking about having a less aggressive scraper bar made up for the blower next year.

What I've done the last couple times is to make a nice snow furrow with the rear blade then go back, and put the blower most of the way down, and the back blade down. The blower remover the previous forrow, and the blade makes the next one.

 

[RAllen]

Thanks for all the help. I think chains are in my 2910's future. I have seen the chains with cleats and yes they are $$$. One difference for my property may be the definition of "hill" or "grade". I live in the mountains and my drive gains about 70 feet in about 1200 feet but grade is not constant with most of the gain coming in two steep places.

Do most of you use chains on the front [4x4]? Seems it would help with steering as much as pulling traction.

Another thing I have noticed is traction is best if temps are lower than 25 degrees f. At higher temps, the snow cakes on the lugs making things sliippery. At lower temps. there seems to be less caking.

Now if someone would invent a blower shute that always throws down-wind....

Rick

 

[Thomas]

Anderson,
By the sounds you got a great combo there. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

There very few of use that use chains on the front,and if you continue just keep them tight.

Maybe w/ the rear blade angle and useing the float,the blade only making contact on the surface here and there.

Does your blower have skids you can adjust for height?

Not to put a damper on things,I hope you don't have to rake the area this spring where you have been blowing the snow. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

Have fun and keep those banks back. /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[RobS]

Rick, I think the guy working on the blower chute is busy with his no-mow grass invention right now!

Rob

 

[Thomas]

RAllen,
I for one don't use chains on the front,for turning seems a little harder and I don't have power steering /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gifalso you got to keep them tight more often than the back tire chains.....but that again I'm from the old school of 2wd tractors. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Yep nothing like a refreshing face full of snow when the wind is blowning. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

Take care and enjoy.


Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[Anderson]

I used tensioners on the chains - both front and rear. so no problem keeping them tight.

The floats are already extended all the way down. I wish the floats could be extended a couple more inches. I don't yet know if it will be cheaper to have custom floats, or custom scraper bar made up.

Luckily I don't have to rake in the spring. Unlickily I get to mow the area in the spring.

I'm sooooo glad I went with the cab - turn on the heat, Put a CD in the radio, and bring on the snow!!!!!

 

[Thomas]

Nate,
You got to be kidding me about the heat..cd...right. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

Now thats what I call made for comfort not speed. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Have a pleasant day out there.

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[Anderson]

I just need somewhere to put the TV

My dealer used it as a demo for a year, so I picked it up this spring with 80 hours on it. I couldn't have justified spending the money on the cab if I purchased it new.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Hi All!

As far as the traction issue goes, just a quick thought and probably so obvious that you've checked this already, but are the tires over-inflated? Perhaps you're not riding on as much rubber as you should be. You wish to let some air pressure out. Also, I'm sure you're in 4WD mode too, right? Sorry if this sounds basic and I don't wish to insult anyone's intelligence, but as an educator, I've often found it's the simple things that are overlooked.

I can't really speak from experience, I'm still waiting for enough snow in Western MA so I can introduce my B2910 with loader and backhoe to it's first "winter dig", so to speak.

Good Luck,

Rick

 

[Thomas]

RickJay,
True lot of the times its the little things we over look. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

I'm sure mother nature will pay you a visit more than a couple of times this winter down there, /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif and by the sounds you have the right tool for the right job even if we should get a noreaster. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif/w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Where about in Mass do you live?

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[RAllen]

Just got off the phone with my dealer. They have always given me the straight poop before..... They advised AGAINST chains in the front of a Kubota 2910. They claimed the extra rolling resistance could foul up the front dif.

They also told me to be careful "some Kubota models do not have clearance for chains on the back" I know I have to keep em tight but I am surprised. I have 12.4X 16 R-4 tires. Is there anyone out there with a 2910 or 2710 with same set up using chains?

Thanks again for the help. And yes, I am in 4x4!

Rick

 

[Rick Jay]

Hi Thomas,

I live in Feeding Hills, MA which is right outside of Springfield. Actually, we're part of Agawam...home of "Six Flags New England".

I apologize for the previous "unregistered" post, but I did that from work and couldn't remember enough of my personal info to log in.

As far as snow storms, we've had two so far and neither had much in the way of accumulation. I was able to clear the drive with my trusty 13 hp Honda lawn tractor & plow. I was tempted to fire up the Kubota, but using that would be like using a 5 lb. sledge to drive a 4 penny nail. A bit of overkill, I would say. So, I'll patiently wait for that nor'easter.

For those of you who remember me from earlier this summer (I was the winner of the hp/acre award, I believe.) and gave me great advice on my purchase, I again would like to thank you and wish you a Merry Christmas.

I've been really busy since summer, and, unfortunately, not always with my tractor. But I have managed to log 30 hours on it. (Hey...that's a lot of time on 2/3 acre!!!) Once this semester comes to an end, I'll post some pics and descriptions of the projects I used my Kubota for. Although I haven't posted in quite some time, rest assured I've been reading the posts here every couple of days. Hopefully I'll be a bit more active during our semester break.

Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone here.

Rick