snow removal options

[Looking4new]

Why not just drive on the snow to pack it down and give you a base?
I turn my back blade around so that the convex side {this way (} is going forward and drag it to help pack down the snow. IF I happen to drag a bunch out to the end of the road I lift and push the pile into the ditch.

 

[Drtumolo]

I also didnt mention that my driveway is steep and in on the north side of the hill so leaving a few inches of snow behind isnt an option. If I do that it becomes solid ice

 

[Dutch445]

as mentioned before the driveway material can make a difference. i was one to bring in loads of "driveway mix" which
consisted of 1 and 1a stones with stone dust, level and pack down before winter. this wasn't a problem for the blower
when it went thru, although sometimes when the ground isn't frozen i'd occasionally get down into the gravel base
with larger stones and then i'd shear bolts more often. 1300 ft is long and that would be long project unless you had a
truck deliver with a spreader box.

as far as the blowers, there aren't any single stage units made for your tractor by deere, and i'm not aware of who else
makes them that would mount up. the 2 stage 47 or 54 blowers are good units and there are tons of us that have them
with good service. they work well and are fairly durable, and shear bolts are only about a 2 minute changeover depending on
whether you have the wrenches and spares with you or not. (1300 ft would be a long drive back up to the garage!)

as with any of these blowers, front or rear, early season snow with thawed ground can be frustrating and as the
ground freezes up the performance and traction get better. once frozen it's pretty easy to maintain and the stones
are usually not a problem.

 

[Dutch445]

another idea that worked for me was to have a pile of the small stones on hand to broadcast on icy spots,
works well to help get some traction where sometimes salt makes more ice as the water runs..

 

[lungdoc]

another idea that worked for me was to have a pile of the small stones on hand to broadcast on icy spots,
works well to help get some traction where sometimes salt makes more ice as the water runs..

Good idea - I have some garbage pails with lids with some crushed granite in them on the hilly spots. The crushed stone is much less susceptible to freezing solid than sand, which has to be kept perfectly dry or warm. Chains on the tractor, especially the Vbar, help to rough up ice and improve grip for other vehicles.

 

[Drtumolo]

The driveway is 2RC stone. As for anti skid I built a tow behind cinder spreader a few years ago. It broadcast coal cinders and really helps with the ice. I was thinking a John Deere 46" single stage blower would fit but could be mistaken.

 

[Dutch445]

the 46 may fit, but not many of them around , and not sure of the blower driveshaft length being
compatible with the 2305 hitch. either way, most would agree the 2 stage blowers are much better
in that heavier snow you get

 

[Looking4new]

The driveway is 2RC stone. As for anti skid I built a tow behind cinder spreader a few years ago. It broadcast coal cinders and really helps with the ice. I was thinking a John Deere 46" single stage blower would fit but could be mistaken.

I was gonna mention if you burned coal or wood that the ash would make for good traction. You beat me to it.

 

[buickanddeere]

Two stage blower. Ploughing just building banks, ridges and berms that make drifting even worse.

 

[LD1]

Wood ash is about as best as it gets for traction on ice or hard pack snow

 

[lungdoc]

Wood ash is about as best as it gets for traction on ice or hard pack snow

It's good, but beware using it close to the house. Easy to track in a mess and can eat away at rubber soles if left on them (can make lye from ash, quite alkaline).

 

[bigtiller]

The driveway is 2RC stone. As for anti skid I built a tow behind cinder spreader a few years ago. It broadcast coal cinders and really helps with the ice. I was thinking a John Deere 46" single stage blower would fit but could be mistaken.

The 46" will fit, don't worry about it, it was an option when the 2305's were selling new.

 

[Drtumolo]

ok I guess most everyone agrees the two stage is better then the single stage on a stone drive.

 

[gladehound]

Previously I voted for a front angle plow not knowing your drifting problem. Given the drifting, snow blower makes sense for those sections of drive. The two stage blowers seem to be a more effective design esp. if you don't have a lot to push it.

You may want to put a snow fence up for the short stretch where your drifting is a problem. Could save you some time.

I never thought I needed a blower but now have the opportunity to try one for free. My cousin picked up a 72" twin auger two stage beast of a blower for the price of scrap metal ($300). It is as heavy duty a blower as I've seen. His tractor can't lift it so he's not using it. Hope we get a snow big enough to put it to the test!

 

[gladehound]

Previously I voted for a front angle plow not knowing your drifting problem. Given the drifting, snow blower makes sense for those sections of drive. The two stage blowers seem to be a more effective design esp. if you don't have a lot to push it.

You may want to put a snow fence up for the short stretch where your drifting is a problem. Could save you some time.

I never thought I needed a blower but now have the opportunity to try one for free. My cousin picked up a 72" twin auger two stage beast of a blower for the price of scrap metal ($300). It is as heavy duty a blower as I've seen. His tractor can't lift it so he's not using it. Hope we get a snow big enough to put it to the test!

 

[Drtumolo]

Gladehound, I do put up 200 ft of snowfence. It helps but doesnt cure the problem.

 

[2ndhalf]

Gladehound, I do put up 200 ft of snowfence. It helps but doesnt cure the problem.

Yes, agree the fence only helps.. for me it just means I don't have a 4 ft. drift to get through in the morning, rather only a few inches of snow/drifting, which I still have to clean but when I get home from work is better than before work. It also means less snow to deal with overall.

 

[lungdoc]

I've had a gravel driveway for 40+ years and have used single and dual-stage walk-behinds and more recently a tractor mounted 2-stage.

They ALL will fling gravel at high speed! If not careful. the two stage will gather gravel and rocks, feed them into the second stage impeller and fire them out the chute at high speed.

I would go so far as to say 2-stage blowers will throw gravel FARTHER than a single-stage.

I was thinking of the smaller walk behind single stage units where the rotor sweeps the ground directly (and clears nicely to bare pavement) but will fling gravel more. As shown here Snow Blower Buying Guide - How to Pick the Perfect Snow Thrower

 

[lungdoc]

I've had a gravel driveway for 40+ years and have used single and dual-stage walk-behinds and more recently a tractor mounted 2-stage.

They ALL will fling gravel at high speed! If not careful. the two stage will gather gravel and rocks, feed them into the second stage impeller and fire them out the chute at high speed.

I would go so far as to say 2-stage blowers will throw gravel FARTHER than a single-stage.

I was thinking of the smaller walk behind single stage units where the rotor sweeps the ground directly (and clears nicely to bare pavement) but will fling gravel more. As shown here Snow Blower Buying Guide - How to Pick the Perfect Snow Thrower

 

[jgayman]

I was thinking of the smaller walk behind single stage units where the rotor sweeps the ground directly (and clears nicely to bare pavement) but will fling gravel more. As shown here Snow Blower Buying Guide - How to Pick the Perfect Snow Thrower

I think the main reason why those aren't suitable for gravel is not because of the single stage design, but rather because most of those do not have adjustable skid shoes. Most normal walk-behinds have skid shoes which can be adjusted to set the height of the cutting edge. If using on pavement you can lower the skids and have the cutting edge scrape the pavement bare. With gravel you want to adjust the cutting edge an inch or more above the gravel to avoid gathering stones.

On my old MTD walk-behind I had the skid shoes set at around 2-inches.