snow removal

[dieseler]

Hey all-

Contemplating buying a GC-2600 series with FEL and backhoe.
One of the things i want to use the machine for is snow removal.
At this point looking a turf tires.

How easy is it to move snow with the bucket. I am trying to avoid the $'s of the blower or a blade but don't want to be cursing myself this winter.

Live in southern New York State.

Anyone have experience using the bucket? Does it take forever?

Thanks

 

[bp fick]

A back blade is cheap and they work OK. A FEL is good for moving around piles, but isn't a snow plow.

The front, hydraulic controlled snow plows are just about as good as it gets, although pricey. The snow blower, is of course, at the top of the heap in getting snow the heck out of the way. Yes, the blowers also come with the highest price tag.

If money is tough, start the year with back blade and FEL. Try it. If you get to the place where it doesn't work for you anymore, or you find being cranked around in your seat a pain in the back and neck, then you'll have to give some thought to a more expensive implement. Of course, if you do spring for a front snow blade or blower, you almost can be sure, it won't snow.

 

[Thomas]

Welcome to TBN.

How long driveway/area?

Flat/hilly pushing?

Do you get lot of snow?

You can get good deal on second hand plow w/hyd.,more so if you don't mind manuel plow setup,than just fab frame etc. to bucket etc.

Try search for ideas.

 

[Sergei]

I've found using the FEL to be more of a pain in the A*** to use by its self. I have a box blade that I modified with a pair of wings to help move the snow into piles and then use the FEL to finish moving it to bigger piles. The nice thing about the box is you can go either direction without having to get off and change anything it works great in both directions. As you can see from the picture how it works in reverse and when going forward you can haul it to another area and unload it. I think it works better than a blade as you can see in an earlier picture before all my modification how well it moves snow.

 

[LBrown59]

Hey all-

Contemplating buying a GC-2600 series with FEL and backhoe.
One of the things i want to use the machine for is snow removal.
At this point looking a turf tires.

How easy is it to move snow with the bucket. I am trying to avoid the $'s of the blower or a blade but don't want to be cursing myself this winter.

Live in southern New York State.

Anyone have experience using the bucket? Does it take forever?

Thanks

I used 2 of these last winter.

 

[NEFirewood]

I don't know what your drieway looks like, but after doing mine for a few seasons with the loader, I decided to buy the back blade, I can do the driveway in 1/3 of the time I can with the loader. The loader is handy for moving snow piles around though.

 

[mbohuntr]

I live in the "Up to your waist deep overnight" area. I use a 2615 with a FEL, and a 5' Puma blower on the back. If you learn to set the bucket so that the cutting edge is slightly higher than the back, it won't dig in, and you can plow straight foward and then bank it back. The back blades wont work as we get too much snow and it kicks the rear end around. Turf tires will not give much traction when moving snow, and I'm getting some chains for the rear R4's. Try going cheap at first and put a rear blade on with the FEL. The loader is great for pulling snow out of garage doors, and walkways where a blade will be harder.

 

[Gizmo2]

I used 2 of these last winter.

Too bad you need two!

 

[bobm6996]

I have a 2615 w/FEL and a 6ft rear blade. Last year I took the blade to a local welding shop and had two round feet added to the blade so I don't dig up the gravel in my driveway. They are adjustable so I can set the blade lower when plowing family and friends drives that are asphalt or concrete. The feet and labor was $75 bucks and now snow removal is much easier and faster. The feet are the same heavy duty type used on truck snow plows.

 

[Rob-D]

I find if I don't have the front blower right on the ground I get ice build up on the driveway. Trouble is you pick up stones and blow shear pins once and awhile.

Rob

 

[George2615]

I also have a 2615 HST and use the loader for moving our Upstate snow. A back blade on the 3 pt. will work but you have to get at it before the snow gets too deep. In our part of the country when you get 1-2" per hour it's hard to keep up with a back blade. I had a snow blower but wasn't much good on my gravel driveway. I spent more time changing shear pins than blowing snow. If your driveway is paved a snowblower works great. For the loader I just drop the bucket and curl it up a little and push the snow to the end of my drive then lift and dump. I also due several neighbors drives that are blacktop and scrap them bare when plowing. Very easy to get used to.

 

[Rob-D]

I also have a 2615 HST and use the loader for moving our Upstate snow. A back blade on the 3 pt. will work but you have to get at it before the snow gets too deep. In our part of the country when you get 1-2" per hour it's hard to keep up with a back blade. I had a snow blower but wasn't much good on my gravel driveway. I spent more time changing shear pins than blowing snow. If your driveway is paved a snowblower works great. For the loader I just drop the bucket and curl it up a little and push the snow to the end of my drive then lift and dump. I also due several neighbors drives that are blacktop and scrap them bare when plowing. Very easy to get used to.

George,
I find if I lift the blower an inch or two the first couple of times I blow the driveway the ground freezes and I'm good for most of the winter. I shear a pin once a year if that.

Rob

 

[George2615]

George,
I find if I lift the blower an inch or two the first couple of times I blow the driveway the ground freezes and I'm good for most of the winter. I shear a pin once a year if that.

Rob

Rob,
I had the shoes set so I had ground clearance plus tried picking it up but during our first few snowfalls the ground isn't frozen yet and still picks up loose stones that sticks to the snow. I had no plan to pave my drive so I sold the blower to another member here.
I also have arthritis and neck pain so using a 3 pt. blower or any 3pt attachment where I have to sit sideways facing back is hard on me plus I can plow faster with the loader.

 

[HEC]

I have kubota 5700 and found an old 8FT pick up snow plow that swings by hand and you put a pin in to hold the angle you want for $100 . I made a 3 pt. hitch and welded that onto it and it works great for the small storms. If we have lots of snow I use a 7 ft snow blower. I have about 450 ft. of drive and did it with just a bucket the first year and that was very time consuming.

 

[SHORT KID]

I tried a back blade for a while,but my neck took a beating, I also used the bucket for a while until one day I found a power angle blade from a small pick up very cheap. I took bucket off and welded up a hitch to go on the fel arms. I got two hydraulic hoses and hooked to the joy stick and now plowing is a pleasure. I can raise the blade high enough to walk under it and can pile snow 7-8 feet high.

 

[jpm]

a plow with q/a is the way to go. but if you want to go bucket a 4n1 is the way.a regular bucket gets packed with snow and is a pain to clean out