Snow Snow removal question

[deputydog21]

I've been using a Wheel Horse 312-8 with chains and front blade for snow removal and it has done well until last year when my driveway was sealed. The sealer had no aggregate in it and I had a really hard time getting up my driveway as it would freeze and turn into a sheet of ice.

With this, and the fact my Wheel Horse is 22 years old, I am getting a Kubota BX 1860 with a 60" front blade that I can operate from the seat. I will also put chains on it and liquid in the tires.

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!

 

[JerryK]

If you have 'people' do your driveway, they usually don't get the 'gritty' sealer, they use the bulk cheap stuff. You can always recoat the drive with the good gritty stuff. [ not really an answer to your question, but it is a SLOW rainy day up here in Michigan.... ]

 

[leonz]

I've been using a Wheel Horse 312-8 with chains and front blade for snow removal and it has done well until last year when my driveway was sealed. The sealer had no aggregate in it and I had a really hard time getting up my driveway as it would freeze and turn into a sheet of ice.

With this, and the fact my Wheel Horse is 22 years old, I am getting a Kubota BX 1860 with a 60" front blade that I can operate from the seat. I will also put chains on it and liquid in the tires.

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!

You can always cast the snow forward to the point where you can cast it off to the side if desired.


What is done in most cases is sand is spread on the sealer when it is spread but you can spread sand during the winter if desired.


You may want to use a leaf blower or lawn sweeper to clean it up in the spring if desired or simply let the rain wash it away.


The use of a snow caster will eliminate build up of snow banks. The snow casters have plenty of power to cast the snow through the trees and over the banks.

 

[Singlemalt]

Regardless of your driveway restrictions, you won't regret a blower.

With a blade you are pushing everything that is in front of you.

 

[NevadaMOGuy]

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!

Seems that to make traction your friend with a tractor, is weight.

Is it in your budget to add weight to the back, rear blade or a nice heavy box blade?

 

[RaydaKub]

I have 25 feet of concrete and then 140 feet of asphalt. I used chains on my little snow blower once, but have been afraid to any more than that. I worry that the chains will tear up the pavement. I will be using my BX2230 this winter w/ just the turf tires. I know there are a lot of guys that use chains here, but how many of them are on pavement?

 

[dennisgw]

Just a bit north of you Rayda. You don't need chains with turf tires. I have BX2200 with 2750 blower. Have done 8 years on pavement and this year will be on concrete. 1st year I tried FEL only.......... too long, pain to move and pile, scratched up pavement so got the blower the next year. ONE change that I did however was to replace the 2750 skid plates with a pair of swiveling wheel (5" dia) so that I wouldn't gouge the pavement. Works well. Will see what happens on new concrete. Blower is the only way to go. Points the right direction, tosses it way away and there are no piles to block vision. I usually do things in 2 wheel drive and if I start slipping (usually uphill on the driveway) I just kick it into 4 wheel and on I ago. We got 50+ inches last winter. Might be more fun for the folks that get freezing rain, etc that could mess up the base. But with dry Minnesota snow, no issues with turfs.

 

[LBrown59]

I am getting a Kubota BX 1860 with a 60" front blade that I can operate from the seat.
*I will also put chains on it and liquid in the tires.I don't need chains or liquid in the tires.

I don't need chains or liquid in the tires on this.
~~~

BX1500 with 60 inch Hyd lift and angle front blade.

 

[techman]

Here is the setup I have. I have 1/2 mile+ driveway, mostly level, but a blade is impractical. You will never regret a blower, although a bit expensive, but nothing stops it. I bought chains when I got the tractor in '02, but have never used them - still new in the bag. With 4WD only glaze ice would stop me.

paul

 

[psdx]

so got the blower the next year. ONE change that I did however was to replace the 2750 skid plates with a pair of swiveling wheel (5" dia) so that I wouldn't gouge the pavement. Works well. rain, etc that could mess up the base.

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

 

[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?