Snow Snow removal learnings

bugstruck · Mar 6, 2005

Discovered one important thing this winter. A front blade beats a FEL bucket and/or rear blade hands down at moderate storm snow removal. Bought my L3130 in December. No major snows this year but a few in the 6 to 8" range. Used the 3130 with the rear blade and the 72" loader bucket on the largest storm. Forgetting the time to drop the BH and mount the rear blade, the 3130 with rear blade is slower and less efficient than my chained and well ballasted JD 325 mower with a 48" snow blade at moving light to moderate snowfall on 400' of 9' wide asphalt. From now on the little JD 325 comes out for anything under 8" until the 3130 has a front blade on it. I'm amazed at the number of people discussing snow removal with a FEL bucket this winter in various forums as if this is a normal process. Especially given the knowledge up here. FEL buckets flat out ***** at snow displacement. Ok, I suppose, if you want to pile it. I just want to move it. The rear blade does a fair job, but with my need to keep it up about 1/2" on my undulating asphalt I still need to pull the 325 out for a final scrape an clean up on my slopes. I spent 1 hour clearing 400' of asphalt with the 3130 using both the FEL and rear blade and it still wasn't clean. The 325 would have done in 45 minutes, right.

My point is each piece of equipment and it's attachments have strong and weak points. Anyone telling me a FEL bucket is efficient at moving snow is pounding (or piling) sand. Now I know, the 3130 needs exactly what the 325 has, a front blade. I suppose my common sense evaded me, this is one I already knew and still had to learn. Seems a frame mount blalde for most circumstances is the best (perhaps to 2' on mine with the right blade) and if you need to pile it, a FEL mounted blade. But under no sensible circumstances a FEL bucket. I will say the rear blade is decent at what I call plow back (moving prevoiusly plowed snow further from the travel path).

Thought this might help the next guy on setup. Hey, are there any women who ever post here? We do make room to comment on them from time to time. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif On second thought, I don't much care. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

DLMaine01 · Mar 7, 2005

I could not agree more Chris. My old Jeep plow truck finally gave up the ghost about mid winter(may it rest in peace) and I have been using my FEL to clear snow from my 200'+ drive and large parking area. What an exercise in frustration. I will be installing my Myers Power Angle snow plow this summer. The FEL gets the job done but it takes twice as long and not as clean. But it beats the heck out of shoveling or paying the neighbor with a plow to do an even worse job /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
Dave

ByronBob · Mar 7, 2005

I get considerable drifting in my driveway because it's 600'+ and it's wide open. The loader for me serves 2 purposes. Allows me to push the snow off the driveway into the yard and I can pile it high to help break the wind so it doesn't drift right over again in 10 minutes.
My perfect set-up is going to be a RSB with the FEL. So although you have good points it's not really fair to say the FEL stinks. Each situation calls for something different maybe. But I agree with you that shoveling is not an option.

ronjhall · Mar 7, 2005

My point is each piece of equipment and it's attachments have strong and weak points. Anyone telling me a FEL bucket is efficient at moving snow is pounding (or piling) sand 
Chris
Over the years I have used all the options except a snow blower. Now that I have one. I can see the good points of them also.
I would recommend the FEL blade. Being able to raise the blade above the 12 to 15" that front mount blades allows will give an added advantage. I use mine to knock down the high mounds that collect with large amounts of snow. I had a 7' front mount blade on my previous tractor.
I don't know if you have seen the pictures of my front blade. Here is a link to it. Click Here.

radair · Mar 7, 2005

( ....So although you have good points it's not really fair to say the FEL stinks. Each situation calls for something different maybe. But I agree with you that shoveling is not an option. )

I agree with ByronBob. My driveway is only ~150' long, and if given the choice between a FEL and a front blade, I would take the FEL every time. Why? Because we get lots of snow here in the White Mtns, and a blade is not going to move it far enough off the driveway. The FEL allows you to make rooom for the next 12" that's coming in a few days.

A front blade may be ideal in Maryland, but that's not going to be the case for everyone. I agree that a snowblower would be great, but I can't justify the expense for a driveway this small.

Freds · Mar 7, 2005

I'm not sure how guys actually plow with the FEL like what I've read. I can't seem to find that fine line between leaving the gravel on my drive intact and not floating up on top of the snow you are trying to push. Maybe you need a perfectly flat drive with no crown where you don't need to float the loader...

At any rate, I'm quite happy leaving it on to move snow and using a rear blade. Lately I've been taking the guage wheels off and pulling the blade using the backside to move snow off the drive. It gets nice and close and leaves the gravel where it's supposed to be. I use the rear blade or the FEL to backdrag around the building, then throw the ga wheels back on and push the snow into piles on either side. If the piles are growing outward too much I use the FEL to lift the snow over the fence on either side of my drive. I guess it's all what you get used to and the makeup of your drive.

My neighbor up the road just has a rear snow blower. It does a great job on his drive because he doesn't have a garage. He does my employee's house and can only get within a couple feet of their garage. Last time I looked the snow was over 3 feet deep in front of their garage. He really needs something to backdrag that snow away and run the blower into it. They would have a very hard driveway to strictly plow because there's a bank on either side and rr ties. Technically you aren't supposed to move snow across the road onto someone else's property here.

You need to give some thought as to what will work well on your particular driveway.

Casco1 · Mar 7, 2005

I've got to disagree with you on FEL snow removal. I have an F250 with a plow which is faster but with the snow we received this year 70" + It was the 'bota with the FEL that saved my bacon. after the first 12" fall froze we got hit with 28", this had to be picked up and piled along with the rest of the winter treats including the 2" to 4" that's supposed to hit tommorrow. Got to go now I guess I have a lot of sand to pound.

slowzuki · Mar 7, 2005

Not a fan of using fel for snow removal. If it is under 12" the meyers plow on the Tracker does the work really fast! Over 12" the blower comes out. Only use the FEL when I need to bust a bank back from lack of foresight plowing.
Ken

gduff · Mar 7, 2005

My driveway is 1000'. Last year I did it with the FEl on a couple of medium snowfalls. (12" +/-) I would have to agree that using the FEL for snow removal takes alot of time. This year I bought a 75" snowblower - Much better!

Will_C · Mar 7, 2005

I use a FEL to plow snow. Like Bob and other posters, I deal with drifting snow on a 300' driveway. The FEL helps in pushing snow back from the drive. The FEL is also useful all year round. The price of a front blade on my BX 2200 was close to the cost of the FEL, and I oan't imagine using the front blade for anything besides moving snow. If I lived 50 miles further north, I would buy a snowblower. For my circumstances, the FEL is a cost-effective snow removal tool.
Will

escavader · Mar 7, 2005

LIKE OTHERS NOTHING BEATS THE OLD73 F-IOO WITH THE FISHER PLOW.KEEP IT TINKERED UP AND WITH THE CHAINS ON THE BACK SHE NEVER FAILS ME,WITH THESE MAINE WINTERS.YEARS PAST,WHEN YOU RUN OUT OF ROOM,AND THINGS START CLOSEN IN ON YOU,I WAS FORCED TO WALK BEHIND THE COLD MTD SNOWBLOWER.NOT THIS YEAR...THATPRETTY LITTLE BOTA I JUST BOUGHT MAKES SHORT WORK OF PUSHING UP AND BACK THOSE BANKINGS.I TO CLEANED UP ONE SMALL STORM WITH THE FEL,TAKES TWICE AS LONG.7 ANDAHALF FOOT PLOW BEATS 4 FOOT BUCKET ANY DAY,BUT BOTA HAS ITS PLACE.
ESCAVADER

WIFE CALLS ME HIGH MAINTENANCE

frank_f15 · Mar 7, 2005

I will also vote for the FEL, the snow and cond. here in WESTER NY i would imagine are far different than in MD.

jfdlaw · Mar 7, 2005

I spent last year chasing snow with a FEL. It was ok for the short runs; lousy on long runs. Once the bucket fills it overflows to each side and you end up either stopping to dump, or coming back a second time to try to pick up the overflow (i.e chasing snow). Without the ability to angle, and direct the overflow to one side, you end up working harder than you should.

We have a 400' driveway, 10' wide, ending in a 30' x 60' parking area. The FEL was ok (not great) in the parking area, where the bucket wouldn't overflow and spill to the side, but on the long runs up and down the drive it was painful. It wasn't that much faster than my 21" single stage toro.

This year I bought a 63" front snowblower and a rear blade. The combination is awesome. Snowblower is wide enough where I make one run down the drive and one run back and its done. I use the rear blade to pull snow away from the garage doors, when the snow is too soft or slushy to blow, and for that final scrape to clean up anything the blower missed.

If I didn't have the snowblower, I would opt for a front blade, preferably with hydraulic angling.

The process is now so quick I've adopted two of my neighbor's driveways, just for fun. I hate putting the 'bota back in the garage before its really warmed up.

lmiller · Mar 7, 2005

After a bit of trial and error and some help here (thanks JJT) I was able to snowblow 400' of gravel drive in under 25 Min, including the plow mound and 3 parking spaces. I tried the FEL the first time on the plow mound and that took well over 1/2 hr itself.

I'd suspect excavader has another good approach - use the truck mounted plow most of the time and the FEL to push back the accumulation. Sound good but I'd rather spend the $1500 (truck mounted plow) on another implement for the tractor, if I had it /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Lou
Lou

bugstruck · Mar 8, 2005

There is a concensus of sorts running through this thread. If you have to pile it and can't just snow plow it, seems the FEL is the general choice. Makes sense. For those of us in areas like Maryland which only get the really big snows every 5 or so years, live where the snow actually has a chance to melt, or have the ability to push it back from the travel path as needed, seems the snow plow is generally favored. Makes sense too. A few years back we got 28" here on top of about 6" from a recent storm that didn't melt. I used the little JD325 after about 8" into the big snow. The forecasters kept raising the storm totals so after I got that cleared I went into a plow back mode to make room. Now that's a frame mount plow on a rather light mower. It raises all of 4". Granted, I had to stay in the saddle every 6" or so to keep up, worked it hard but it did suprisingly well. Now if I take and put a FEL mounted front blade on the 3130 around here, I can't imagine 4 or 5' of snow, given my layout, being unmanageable, assuming I got on it soon enough. That said, if I had to transport it then it would be FEL time. No other sensible way.

It's noteworthy that those especially vulnerable to drifting and/or with a need to transport it prefer or require the FEL bucket. Guess those piles get too big to handle, even with a FEL mounted blade. Perhaps it takes longer... or works the equipment harder to push it into piles with a blade?? I wouldn't know on that. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Several of the up North responses still perfered the plow though, so their situtation must be a little different. However, there doesn't seem to be much argument on which is faster if either will work. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Now I'm getting the picture across region, terrain, etc.

Thanks guys! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Av8r3400 · Mar 8, 2005

I've used the FEL, blade and snowblower to move snow. By far with NO COMPARISON the snowblower wins.

There is no need to worry about piling or impacts with the blade. My BX has handled 20+ inches of heavy snow without worry or even breaking a sweat. My setup of choice is front blower and rear boxblade for counterweight or to scrape.

Now all I need is that hardsided, heated Curtis cab ... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

bugstruck · Mar 8, 2005

Now your talkin!! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif Wish those blowers and the mid PTO were a few $$ less though. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif If I was up in winter wonderland that setup might just have to be.

Mora · Mar 9, 2005

Bugstruck, Glad we are here in the 'warm' Maryland climate ! I have to chime in here just a little. I've used a rear blade for snow removal on paved and unpaved drives for about 40 yrs now and a couple of years ago the ole shoulder got to buggin' me having to twist around all the time in the cold and wet. So, that caused the purchase of a BX 22 w/cab and front mounted snowblower. Works nice , most of the time, ...I have a 1/2 mile unpaved lane and it is somewhat of a problem if not graded well, compacted and frozen prior to the snow removal exercise. The rear blade did the trick for years and was helped with a CJ-2A and a front plow for awhile. When we got the 'big' snow (and drifting) in the late 80/early 90's the front end loader on the Ford 4000 was the only way out of the lane since I have a high bank on one side and a farmers fence on the other. (It is still on standby if needed) All I could do was bucket the snow over the fence and it took the better of 2 days to gain the state road. Mostly all up hill going too, with chains. The blower sort of 'levels' the playing field, so to speak. Farmer gets all the snow for his field. I will be interested to see (but don't look forward to) a big snow where the blower is put to the test ...say 18" or more. I used to plow the snow at night and all of that stuff too, but now just try to wait until it's all over. The blower should help, as it can handle 18" in a pass and who knows what it's upper limit capability is ?? Besides the cab has heat and the little sucker only burns 2 qts an hour, at max rpms. Don't let me lead you to believe that the blower is the 'perfect solution'... it's not and I even use a rear blade on the BX around the house and vehicles so as not to 'stone' them. It seems that each persons situation as to snow removal is just as different as each person. What a wonderful life... Have a good one , Mora

NY_Yankees_Fan · Mar 9, 2005

I had just a FEL, then a rear 3 pt blower Puma 54", then this set up, hands down the best. If you have nothing better to do with your $$ this is the way to go. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

errandboy · Mar 9, 2005

I have a 700' driveway with 1 turnaround and 1 pull-out. So far, the startegy that works best for me is to use the 6' back blade for as long as possible during the winter. When it gets to the point where I am spending more time pushing back the banks than I am clearling the driveway, I switch to my 5' rear snow-blower. Now I love this snow-blower, but this AM at 0 degrees with a 20-30 MPH wind, the snow blower becomes less lovable. No matter how you angle the chute, your going to get covered with snow! But, with the blower, you don't have to push back any banks and that saves a lot of time.

Although I have a FEL on my L225, I could not imagine using it to clear snow. I only occasionaly use it to push back the banks, preferring the 6' back blade for this job. The FEL is just way too slow!