Snow Snow removal question

[Don87]

Can you provide pictures and the source of the swiveling wheels?

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/183393-snowthrowers-again.html


TSC carries all sorts of wheels.

 

[PHILIP8N]

For snow removal, I went from a Ford 8N, R1 loaded tires, 2wd, tire chains, 7' rear blade (moving in reverse, to a Kubota L3940, turf tires, 4wd, 7' front blade. With 4wd and turfs, I no longer needed chains to do the same exact job, black top driveway about 1/8 mile long. I would try without chains 1st. The blower is nice for heavy snowfalls, but the blade cleans up better. Philip.

 

[dennisgw]

Can you provide pictures and the source of the swiveling wheels?

I posted this a while back. Still haven't taken pictures.

"Wheels are behind blower. Large angle iron mounted to skid plate holes (3 1/2 wide, 6" sides, 3/8" wall). 5" diameter polypropylene caster wheels (Grainger ~$9 each, 280lb rating) set back on the angle iron allowing complete swivel. There have been other posts with wheels having more reinforcement. This was just simpler but adequate I think. Will have to take pictures and post. Blower has been getting a workout these past 2 days. "

 

[psdx]

How has the relatively long angle iron bearing this weight affected the metal sides of the blower housing? I like the idea of using the skid shoe mounting holes but wondering about a long "lever" stressing the metal near the mounting holes. Has this been ok?

 

[dennisgw]

I have not noticed any "bending"/"stressing" in the mounting area. I will take pictures soon and post. Polypropylene wheels are wearing over the years. Might be tempted to change to rubber ones...... they were just more $$ at the time.

 

[dennisgw]

@psdx........... finally took a picture. If you look at the area where the angle iron is bolted to the blower, I don't see any bending. The angle iron is standing proud (and parallel) all along the back plane of the blower. I used spacers to adjust wheels so that blower edge is just above by driveway surface. Blower is currently sitting on wood block so that I don't get a rust line on the garage floor after everything melts. Wheel and blower is in the air slightly in this picture.

 

[psdx]

This looks like a very good solution for someone without a welder like me.... I put some LandPride finish mower wheels on my Woods RB72 blade and the parts were crazy expensive, then some fabrication was required to make the yoke into something that could be bolted onto the blade. I think I have $250-300 in that arrangement. It's nice and sturdy and the height is easily adjustable, but I don't expect a snowblower to be exposed to the same stresses as a blade like that so something like this should work out nicely. I think I'll select some wheels from Grainger today and find a local source for a couple of short pieces of large angle material. Thanks for the picture and the explanation.

 

[GlennaR]

My two cents:

My high school years were at the end of a 1,ooo' un paved driveway, 2-3 foot banks on either side with lotsO trees on a steep hill in snow country. A Gravely snow blower was the only snow removal machine that could do the job.

If I cloud pick n choose, I would have both a snow blower and snow plow. Both have there advantages but owning both allows the best of both worlds (however, quick releases and a wallet fat enough to own both are mandatory).......

 

[psdx]

@psdx........... finally took a picture. If you look at the area where the angle iron is bolted to the blower, I don't see any bending. The angle iron is standing proud (and parallel) all along the back plane of the blower. I used spacers to adjust wheels so that blower edge is just above by driveway surface. Blower is currently sitting on wood block so that I don't get a rust line on the garage floor after everything melts. Wheel and blower is in the air slightly in this picture.

Question....where did you acquire that metal bracket? It looks like a 2" length of 6x6 angle iron, but that stuff doesn't come in short lengths, and it's quite expensive. Can you tell me what that is and where you got it? Thanks!!

 

[Professor Marvel]

My driveway is asphalt, about a 1/10 of a mile, up hill all the way.

Any observations on this method of snow removal? I haver not considered a blower because I have trees and banks on both sides of my driveway.

Thanks!

Unless I am missing something if your driveway is uphill all the way, it must also be downhill all the way, unless MC Escher built your driveway. Could you go downhill and use gravity to help you?