Snow Attachments some thoughts on my snow removal options

[Redfox2]

I've been looking into getting a 60" plow blade for the 1023E tractor in order to deal with very wet, heavy snow that won't go thru the 54" sno-blower.

The attraction for a plow blade is two-fold: 1) when the snow is too wet and heavy ; and 2) when the sno-blower ' breaks ' and I have nothing to move / remove snow with.
The snow blade I'm looking at, 60QH, mounts on the same tractor mount as the sno-blower, raises and lowers and swivels from left and right with the same hydraulics which raise/lower the sno-blower and rotates the chute. The blade has skids which can be adjusted and a spring-loaded ' trip ' feature if one encounters a large rock or something else frozen to the ground . . . all this just like a Fisher plow.

So far, so good . . . . but I have no place to store either if I'm using the other implement. And swapping these heavy gadgets in the snow ( if they can be located where they are hiding under the snow ) is something of a PITA . . . YEH, Yeh,yeh . . . I need a barn . . . but wife and I been thru all that and it just ain't going to happen.

The crazy thing is that having 2 tractors, each with dedicated implements would probably be about the same price as a barn, more than likely cheaper! Especially if I were to buy a second-hand 1023 . . . There are a LOT of em out there!

I sold the Fisher plow that I used with the P/U truck because 1) I got tired of removing great quantities of gravel from the lawn around the house, and 2) for whatever reason, the hydraulics got very grumpy and wouldn't operate the blade in sub-freezing temp ( even tho I had it serviced a couple years ago ). I still have the mount on the truck as well as the electricals . . . in the unlikely event that I decide to put a plow back on the truck . . .

 

[HEC]

I've been looking into getting a 60" plow blade for the 1023E tractor in order to deal with very wet, heavy snow that won't go thru the 54" sno-blower.

The attraction for a plow blade is two-fold: 1) when the snow is too wet and heavy ; and 2) when the sno-blower ' breaks ' and I have nothing to move / remove snow with.
The snow blade I'm looking at, 60QH, mounts on the same tractor mount as the sno-blower, raises and lowers and swivels from left and right with the same hydraulics which raise/lower the sno-blower and rotates the chute. The blade has skids which can be adjusted and a spring-loaded ' trip ' feature if one encounters a large rock or something else frozen to the ground . . . all this just like a Fisher plow.

So far, so good . . . . but I have no place to store either if I'm using the other implement. And swapping these heavy gadgets in the snow ( if they can be located where they are hiding under the snow ) is something of a PITA . . . YEH, Yeh,yeh . . . I need a barn . . . but wife and I been thru all that and it just ain't going to happen.

The crazy thing is that having 2 tractors, each with dedicated implements would probably be about the same price as a barn, more than likely cheaper! Especially if I were to buy a second-hand 1023 . . . There are a LOT of em out there!

I sold the Fisher plow that I used with the P/U truck because 1) I got tired of removing great quantities of gravel from the lawn around the house, and 2) for whatever reason, the hydraulics got very grumpy and wouldn't operate the blade in sub-freezing temp ( even tho I had it serviced a couple years ago ). I still have the mount on the truck as well as the electricals . . . in the unlikely event that I decide to put a plow back on the truck . . .

I have the b2650 with blower on front and a rear blade on back and the wet snow can be a problem for sure . This year so far I have been able to go out and blow the snow before it got real wet with the rain etc. . I do use the rear blade a lot for both pulling and pushing snow . I have 2 tractors and the other has a bucket on front . If I only had 1 tractor I would have the front end loader and a rear snow blower which isn't great but would get the job done . I am able to keep both under cover . I am not sure a front snow blade on your size tractor will be of much good in heavy wet snow do to the weight issue . I guess much would depend on the area you have to take care of . I have about 500 ft. of drive and two small parking areas .

 

[CobyRupert]

I see the 1023 is listed at about 1400lbs.
I've only plowed snow with my ~700 pound ATV with a 4' blade, but only in dry snow.

Maybe others can chime in on how well a 1400lb tractor can push wet snow with a 5' blade, but that seems light.

Is your snow blower single stage? My previous one was single stage and was bad at plugging, and throwing snow in general. Luckily when I bought my current Deere riding mower/tractor , the dealer recommended a 2 stage blower (Berco/Bercomac (- Canadian company, good products)). In 12 years I've plugged it maybe twice. Even in the sloppiest of mashed potato snow. And it throws!!

 

[Redfox2]

I too have a scraper blade on the rear of my 1023 which I have used to keep my 750' steep gravel road touched up from time to time . . . but this past first storm of the year that blade was not very effective. I had scraped the gook the evening before, but the continued snow and rain left enough on the road that the rear blade was in over its head the following morning. A local guy with a 2-ton truck blasted away the snow ' boulders ' that I had created. I'm in the process of finally getting the chains put on ( for the first time ), so you can thank me now for scaring away any more really nasty snow storms!

 

[Redfox2]

My snow blower is the 54", two stage, front-mounted JD model. Yes, it has done fairly well in moderately wet snow, even tho what comes out of the chute is more like toothpaste. I'm convinced that the majority of my problems with the sno-blower can be traced back to a sloppy installation job by the dealer I bought the rig from. ( I bought it new )

 

[AVIVIII]

I have a neighbor that uses this: 6 Way Deluxe Scrape Blade for Compact Tractors type of blade offset to the side in conjuction with his front mount snowblower. If the snowblower isn't usable, he centers the blade, rotates the moldboard around backwards and pushes the snow in reverse.

 

[Redfox2]

Yes . . . I have a very similar rear blade on my 1023E. The side-to-side offset is a bit of a pain to arrive at but it can be done. Yes, I have used the blade turned around to push sometimes . . . but I refuse to do my entire 750 ft road while twisted/contorted and trying to see where I'm going in reverse.

 

[MaineGuy1]

Just a question because I'm a little perplexed I see a lot of talk about snowblowers on tractors plugging up, not throwing snow, etc. I have a simple Ariens snowblower that has never had an issue blowing any kinds of snow. Yes, when the snow is heavy and wet it does not throw as far but it has never plugged up on me. Why would a snowblower on a tractor have more issues than an Ariens push blower? I want a snowblower for my tractor but this talk scare me, lol.

 

[KennyG]

I have a snowplow on my 2320 which is a few hundred pounds heavier than your tractor. It works so well I have almost quit using my 3 point snowblower. It's much quicker unless the snow really piles up. A few comments:

My plow is a 64 inch wide unit that, I think, was made for zero turn mowers. I have adapted it to the front subframe where a snowblower or JD blade would attach and added cylinders for raise and angle. I keep everything in the barn but I could easily attach the blade outside because it just sits in the subframe hooks and attaches with pins like my mid mount mower.

If I use the front plow, I also put on the box blade for traction and to pull snow away from buildings. If I use the 3 point blower, I have the loader attached to drag snow. My experience says you need something on both ends to clear snow.

 

[CobyRupert]

Just a question because I'm a little perplexed I see a lot of talk about snowblowers on tractors plugging up, not throwing snow, etc. I have a simple Ariens snowblower that has never had an issue blowing any kinds of snow. Yes, when the snow is heavy and wet it does not throw as far but it has never plugged up on me. Why would a snowblower on a tractor have more issues than an Ariens push blower? I want a snowblower for my tractor but this talk scare me, lol.

I don't think one should have more or less issues. Just guessing but maybe tractor drivers vary rpm's and ground speed more and get themselves out of the ideal rpm/speed more than walkers?

I think the factors that effect plugging are:
- Obviously density (moisture) of snow (powder vs. mash potatoes)
- Slip resistance / friction of the chute, paddles, etc... If chute is smooth, painted, waxed (or one has applied a lubricant (Pam cooking oil, silicone, etc..), snow flows much better.
- How much gap is between snowblower's impeller paddles and it's housing can effect how well the snow is captured and thrown.
- And the big one is: Feed rate vs rpms. Too fast and it will plug. Also if there's too little snow passing through to keep the chute "cleaned out", I think packed snow can build up. Then when you start snow blowing again: If you gradually add more, and there's still enough "unplugged" space for the new snow to flow, it may clean the chute out, but if you add new snow too fast it will plug the remainder.

Wet snow varies greatly from nice white "snowman making snow" to straight up slush that's been mixed with road salt at the edge of the driveway and sitting in a puddle.

Don't be scared, around me wet snow usually occurs under 2 conditions:
1. When it's borderline freezing, it WAS cold enough to snow, but it's getting warmer and melting, or rain follows snow, or ground was warm. Solution: Do nothing. Wait for rising temps to melt it.
2 When it's borderline freezing, it WAS warm, but temps are dropping just enough to make rain/snow drop out of air. Solution: Do nothing. Wait for temps to keep dropping so snow "freezes harder"/crystalizes and you can blow it then instead of blowing mush.

^Unfortunately neither my wife or tenants believe in my "do nothing" method and somehow feel the need to make 10 trips in/out of the driveway during this time period. :mur: So I can't just leave it or I'll have more of a mess if I don't snowblow.

 

[atitus74]

Just a question because I'm a little perplexed I see a lot of talk about snowblowers on tractors plugging up, not throwing snow, etc. I have a simple Ariens snowblower that has never had an issue blowing any kinds of snow. Yes, when the snow is heavy and wet it does not throw as far but it has never plugged up on me. Why would a snowblower on a tractor have more issues than an Ariens push blower? I want a snowblower for my tractor but this talk scare me, lol.

I have never had any problems with my toro walk behind either. Here in Mass we've only had one real snowstorm to speak of. We got 8 inches, I went out and did it before it got super wet. I have the BX18 and I had no trouble with 50 front blower; no clogging or anything. I think the reason you see problems is that on these machines the auger-box is larger and the impeller is larger but the chute diameter really isn't that much wider in comparison. A lot of folks have recommended spraying the chute, impeller (and generally everything) with fluid film to keep snow from sticking. I did that, now just waiting for snow to try it out. :licking:

 

[Redfox2]

There may be a ' technical ' reason . . for instance, think about the width of your auger box ( how big a bite the machine takes as you walk behind it ) and the length and diameter of its chute . . versus the width of my 54" tractor-mounted sno-blower's auger box, and its chute diameter which looks to be around 4 1/2" ( and perhaps the tendency to over-feed the contraption since I'm riding, not walking ). Also, I have a tendency to not allow enough time for the auger box and chute to clear wet snow which jams right up unless I do allow enough time. ARE you using a silicon spray with your walk-behind to pass snow easier?

 

[Redfox2]

Before I got the tractor/sno-blower I was shoving snow around with an 8' Fisher plow. That is NOT a precision instrument! I usually wound up shoveling a LOT of snow from some of the areas around the garage door and the front porch. With the sno-blower I can reach into those corners and edges, and my shoveling was reduced about 85%.

 

[Reb954]

One other thing that affects how far the snow blower will throw the snow and how much it plugs up is the blade angle on the impeller.

A few impeller designs I have seen have the blades angled so the impeller partially captures the snow rather than slinging the snow outward. The only reason I can come up with for the manufacturer doing this is if a person is picking up a lot of gravel it might save wear on the housing around the impeller.

A few years ago a neighbor bought one of the smaller articulating Cat loaders with a Cat blower. He kept complaining about the blower plugging up a lot and pushing a lot of snow in front of the blower so one day I took a look at it. It was a well built blower but a very poor design. I mentioned to him that someone in Florida must have designed it and they knew nothing about snow. The blades on the impeller were angled forward so it was capturing snow rather than providing centrifugal force to blow the snow clear of the shoot. What snow it did throw was more slobbered out rather than thrown out. The impeller was also too small in diameter for the amount of snow going through the blower which is why the snow built up in front of the blower.

I took the blower for a couple days. I cut and welded new blades onto the existing blades but I set them up so they had about an 1" of outward angle to them. When the neighbor tried the blower he said it improved it a lot but didn't totally solve the problems. As I told him, the impeller is too small for the amount of snow being put through it so either slow down so it can digest the snow or buy a new, properly designed blower. He slowed down a bit and it worked fine.

 

[shooterdon]

I think you will regret getting rid of the plow on the truck. I mounted a very thick wall pipe on the blade of my truck plow to reduce tearing up the gravel. On the cement pad in from of the garage and the walks around the house, I use an Ariens snowblower with electric start if the snow is heavy or deep but most of the time a backpack leaf blower does those areas. The leaf blower will handle 3-4" of snow.

I cannot see a blade on a light tractor being better than a blade on a pick up. My truck is a 2001 Ram 1500 and I have never had a problem moving snow with it. BTW, if the angle hydraulics on a plow truck act up, it is normally water in the system that freezes up. Using a propane torch will get it working and replacing the fluid regularly reduces the amount of water in the system.

If you cannot afford a barn, put up a steel carport. Delivered and installed they cost about $1500 and you can close them in later when funds are available.

 

[atitus74]

ARE you using a silicon spray with your walk-behind to pass snow easier?

Nope never did. But then if the snow was heavy it would slow forward movement on its own. The wheels would spin. It pretty much forced you to go about as fast as it was capable. I have no problem with that. I suspect you are correct that with tractors its much more likely for someone to try and go too fast.

 

[LittleBill21]

guess im on the opposite of this.

I have a blade and rather have blowers, which i did purchase.

i plow with a atv, but it doesn't matter plows have a limit to how much they can push, wet snow even less. its all a weight issue. a blower maybe slower but with 22" on the ground. my plow didn't even get out of the garage.

and this doesn't change with bigger vehicles, the same 22" storm a 2500 ram with a vplow, couldn't plow either.

a blower is slow, but regardless of the amount of snow it will eventually remove it. plows are faster but are limit by snow height and weight.

you have to decide if you rather go plow with the storm 3 times to keep up with the 22 inches, or 1 time and slower with a blower.

sometimes u can't get outside 3 times, or didn't know it was suppose to drop 22" over night.

 

[radios1]

it's a real shame you can't afford a barn, it keeps the equipment clean and dry, rather than rusting out!.. perhaps you can set up a gofundme page, many people have successfully gotten enough donations for what they needed!.. try here. GoFundMe: #1 In Free Fundraising & Crowdfunding Online

 

[oosik]

View attachment 581836I use a heavy duty rear blade that will offset, angle & tilt. Does a GREAT job of snow plowing.

 

[ruffdog]

For a temporary plow that can be used on any vehicle (with a hitch), and is easy to store, the Snowsport is pretty good. It is solid and is extremely simple. The part that inserts into the receiver is SOLID 2" steel and is not wimpy.

SnowSport plow with Chrysler 3C - YouTube

Snow Plows | Snow Removal Equipment from SnowSport (R)| Agri-Cover

Redi-Plow (snow plow for atvs, suvs, trucks) | DR Power Equipment

I had a 2" receiver on the front of my tractor and RTV900 I could use it in. Also, if you have a 3pt attachment with a receiver, use it on the back. When my dad's drive was overwhelmed with snow, I put it on the truck and did his drive. It has a 1" thick rubber bottom edge so it doesn't dig into the grass too.