Snow, Snow, & more Snow!!!

[RobS]

Bill, even though we've had 34 inches so far, I'm still full of juvenile excitement... check back in February though. Hope you get enough of the white stuff to have some fun!

Rob

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Rob, I'm about 1/2 way between Indy & Cincy. Think I will register. Really enjoy Tractorbynet and the stories people post here. Don't have a pic of the 4300 but if you wanna see one just stop at any JD dealer. Sure they would be happy to show one and even more happy to sell Ya one! hahaha

Got 3 more inches of the white stuff last night. This seems to be death by a 1,000 drops that Mother Nature is giving us. Every other day a little more snow....another drop on the head. It's going to be a long winter. I regret taunting Mother Nature in my previous post...I know what She can do and a mere tractor of any kind can not match Her when She really gets POed. One should never tug on Superman's cape, spit into the wind or taunt Mother Nature! hahahaha

Keep on enjoying the Lake Effect Zone and keep the Zone as far north as possible.

Chuck in IN

 

[goble]

I've been lurking, being educated , by this sight for over a year now. Since seeing fellow Hoosiers, and lack of green, of late finally decided to register. Only 22-24 inches of snow hear, not quite as far into snowbelt as RobS. Still have had my share of fun time on tractor - but must admit the negative degree wind chill this morning forced a warm up break in the fun. Have only had the 1070 2 years, but sure beats the old 9N it replaced. Yep no comparison - again the right tools for the job.

 

[RobS]

Welcome Goble, good to have more Hoosiers and even better to have more <font color=green>Green</font color=green> on the board. It seems we're all having our share of fun in the snow this year!

Rob

 

[rekees]

goble - Welcome fellow Hoosier. I also registered officially today. The snow belt must be moving south. Looking outside the sky is blue but snowing anyway! Bad habits are hard to break.

Neighbor had an 9N when I was a kid a few decades ago. Like a Timex...it took a lickin' but kept on a tickin'

Chuck in IN

 

[Thomas]

Bob,
I took my FEL off my B7100 once to do some mowing,but when it came time to install the FEL, /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif for its almost a two man job /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif and to this day I have no plan on removing the FEL.

A quick disconnect FEL the way to go for sure. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[Thomas]

WVBill,
Oh you may call it fun but I don't think you have any idea what lays ahead when its time to clean up after a snow storm..its work. /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif
For your facing the nice refreshing air..doing something that you shall enjoy..becoming one with your B6100DT..day dreaming..etc...
Yep your darn right its fun /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif and you can't wait until it snows again. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Have a grand time and stay safe.

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[Mike H]

OK, this is getting ridiculous. I just got in from another 2 hrs of plowing. I'm in SW MI and we've already had over 70" of snow here. A record Dec.: more snow already than half the past 50 winters. Tractor's working great but I just had to plow a path to our propane tank so it could be filled! It's about 0F right now - interesting since the low is supposed to be 10F. In a Meijer parking lot (that's like Walmart) today they had piles over 12' - I saw dump trucks carting snow away (I presume to a river) - I've never seen that around here! I might actually need a blower if this keeps up (and the long range forecasts say it will let up in March!). On the bright side, the tractor's great for clearing this stuff.

Hey JimB, you having fun with this?!?!?!?

 

[RobS]

Mike H, where in SW Michigan? We only had another two inches last night here in South Bend. I think I'll spend this evening pushing back and tidying up as we're supposed to get more tonight. We've already surpassed the average for December and well on the way to a record (though not quite as much as you've had). Have fun!

Rob

 

[Mike H]

I live roughly equidistant from Grand Rapids, Battle Creek, and Grand Rapids. Usually lake effect snow is confined to within 20 miles of Lake Michigan, but not this year. It's been much colder than normal (hasn't been a day above 40F this Dec. and I'm told that's not happened as long as they've kept records). Since cold airs been blowing East and it's only Dec. so the lake is relatively warm, snow, snow, snow, snow . . . .

 

[RobS]

I bet the ski resorts up your way are loving this! I don't remember this much continuous snow since I moved up here in '82. Back then I just couldn't get over the fact that it snowed pretty much every day. Also had to get used to perpetual clouds though. We did see a glimpse of the sun yesterday and I've forgotten what color my truck is supposed to be. Life's a blast!

Rob

 

[WVBill]

Wow! What a difference plowing snow with my Kubota this year compared to my Craftsman last year! It was great!

We had about 6" and I finished my 350' gravel driveway and my neighbor's 100' gravel driveway so quickly that I went ahead and did the 3/4 mile (private) road for our subdivision.

The B6100DT is 4wd and I have turfs in the back and Ags in the front. No chains, all four tires loaded w/ methanol.

I adapted the 4' snow blade from my Craftsman to hook up to the FEL and it worked like a champ. Will post pictures of that in the "enhancements" area as soon as I get them back and scanned in.

I've been reading the posts on lights and thought I didn't need additional lights since I didn't plan on working at night. Well, I started plowing at 3:30 yesterday and had to quit when it got dark at about 4:45. If I'd had better lights, I would have done a better job on the "clean-up". Sooo - maybe install lights this weekend.

WVBill

 

[Thomas]

WVBill,
Kinda puts a grin on your face having that much fun, /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gifand you really can't call it work now. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Be careful out there plowing,for your highway department become/w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif.

Better get some diesel could be a long winter. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[WVBill]

Thomas:

My wife said nearly the same thing: "What are you doing out there plowing the subdivision road - the Homeowner's Association is supposed to take care of that."

My reply - "Yeah, well... {grin}..."

I also thought about diesel about half way through the plowing and 1/2 mile from the house: "What If I run this thing out of fuel...!" Stopped, got off and checked the tank - still half full. But I do need to get some more 'cause my fuel can is empty.

WVBill

 

[Thomas]

WVBill,
Like Jim's motto "Boys with our toys"
You gotta let lose sometimes an enjoy.

You know Bill if you keep extending your plow route,you may want to consider also a wing plow. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Be careful out there.

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[rekees]

Yeah my JD4300 with front blade is light years ahead of the 25 year old 12HP Massey Furgeson I used in previous years. The right equipment for the job sure makes a big difference.

It just keeps getting better. Last night couldn't get up our gravel driveway with a 4X4 SUV after 3 tries! Only had couple inches of snow but ice under it. End of drive is around 30 degree slope and no room to get a run at it. Parked the SUV then walked the 900' drive. Even though it was -20 wind chill and getting dark I was hot about the SUV not being able to make it! Fired up the 4300 and using the headlights for the first time, scraped off as much snow and ice from the lane as I could. Grabbed a flashlight and trudged back down the 900' lane. Seemed like 900 miles. Started the SUV for a 4th try and it almost made it but had to back down for a 5th try. The tires hit a couple bare gravel spots and finally made it and pulled into the garage. I thought something was really strange cause the SUV had made it in worst conditions before. Upon inspection discovered that the 4x4 light was on but the lever wasn't pulled back all the way so it was really in 4X2 mode! Stupid is as stupid does.

Friday will be a new challenge since my wife has to use the SUV to go to work and that leaves me with the Nissan pickup for work. It's a 4X2 and has trouble making it up the lane even in the summer!! Got 800 lbs of Quikrete in the back and it will be interesting to see if that gives enough traction. Might have to pull the truck up the lane with the 4300. Have chain will travel.

Chuck in IN

 

[Wingnut]

sorry Bob ... but with the amount of snow that's fallen in mid-Michigan (sounds like a flake or two less than your place) ... I'd surely jump at the chance to have a front snowblower (1st choice), rear snowblower (2nd choice) or a front mount snow blade (3rd choice)on my L3710. Using the bucket is fine on my drive since it's asphalt and scrapes nicely ... but the 350 yards or so back to the barn? Well, that's mostly packed and grassed with some remaining gravel spots ... and not at all flat ... I'm either floating the bucket over the snow or digging in and gouging out turf. And ... pushing snow with a buckets that narrower than the tractor (as most seem to be) means that you have to make a mess dropping loads off on the side ... which is a) unsightly and b) a magnet for drifts.
If Santa would just drop a front-mount PTO snowblower down the chimney, I'd be happy to repair the damage to the flue!!

too bad that common sense ain't