Winter Tractor Tips – How Do You Handle Snow, Storage, and Maintenance?

[bdhsfz6]

My method of plowing & maintaining my 1.25 mile private road was to buy a Kubota L6060 with cab and FEL plow, which I keep in the barn. I added a 3pt self loading spreader so I can plow & reload the anti skid spreader without getting out of the heated cab. The only uncomfortable part is walking from the house to the barn & back.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I might be committing a TBN felony but as a disillusioned Redditor I can’t help but spot the AI adjacent main post.

Note the perfect formatting, the chirpy positivity, weird usage of implements (small and large buckets?), saying they’re essentially using all storage options (who does that?), being off on winter timing, etc.

Most notably is that the guy signed up for an account at 9:20 am on Saturday, posted on 9:35 am and was never seen again. This is usually the second best clue.

Please tar and feather me if I’m wrong (hopefully I am) but also be prepared for the insidiousness of what is happening with AI on the internet and how it can easily penetrate even communities like this.

AI or not, it still prompted an interesting exchange of ideas on winter preparedness.

 

[ZiggyD]

AI or not, it still prompted an interesting exchange of ideas on winter preparedness.

Ok? But I’m not sure a community discourse that’s unknowingly boosted by AI or marketing interests is something to look forward to.

 

[bdhsfz6]

If it's offensive or contains advertising, someone will report it and the post will be taken down.

 

[tundraman01]

What's a self-loading spreader? I shovel sand into my sander by hand. I'm getting too old for that. Was almost considering paying someone to sand my driveway. Usually only need it a 3 or 4 times a year. But I like to be self-sufficient. Especially when you have ice and want to get down the driveway.

 

[RjCorazza]

Could be wrong, but I think the TBN administration discourages posting AI generated material. I personally prefer not to read AI here, as it's frequently incorrect or too generalized to be worthwhile.
Posting an AI generated response or comment with a clear statement that it's AI is certainly preferable, but I generally skip over any of it.

 

[ZiggyD]

Was that first post another AI generated compilation of weird advice?

Glad you noticed too. It’s insidious and I was worried that too many in the community are falling for it. Posted the same and also why I think it was done.

 

[bdhsfz6]

What's a self-loading spreader? I shovel sand into my sander by hand. I'm getting too old for that. Was almost considering paying someone to sand my driveway. Usually only need it a 3 or 4 times a year. But I like to be self-sufficient. Especially when you have ice and want to get down the driveway.

The self loading spreader I have is an HLA Snow Scattershot:

HLA Snow | ScatterShot Broadcast Spreader

For the last 20 years HLA Snow has been committed to providing our customers with innovative equipment. With a comprehensive line up of snow and ice management tools HLA Snow has the right blade, bucket, or spreader for your team.

hlasnow.com

It has 2 hyd. cylinders that allow the hopper to tilt down to ground level. It has a cutting edge that lets you back into a pile of material and scoop it like a FEL bucket. The hydraulic spreader motor allows it to go on the FEL with an SSQA adapter & 3rd function valve, or on the 3pt using two hyd. remotes

Google Search

 

[USN2TN]

My small tractor is under a carport but the cold temps make it a hard starter. I installed a 120vac radiator hose inline heater (350W) that does a great job of heating the entire engine and makes it start easily. As a precaution for when I'm working out in the woods I bought a 500W Li-Ion power supply to heat it up for restarting if it sits too long & gets too cold. I tested it out and it did a good job heating up from below freezing to warm head in less than 30 minutes.

 

[camshawn]

I also have a 1” piece of high density packing foam from a shipping box that I throw on the seat. Little things make plowing more comfortable.

 

[grsthegreat]

Had to unhook the plow and hook up the snowblower today to clear the snow that shed off of barn roof. I cant believe it, but i simply could not get one of the 3/4” flat face couplers to release the male end. The female end is fully opening, but no luck releasing hose.

I tried hammer, screwdriver prying fitting, everything. Im stumped. I mean its just some ball bearings.

I ended up ordering a new set of them off amazon to be delivered tomorrow……then im tearing this damn thing apart to see what happened. Ive never had a connector do this before….ever.

Ive had ones pop out the retainer clip internally years ago, but that wasnt a connected fitting. There’s absolutely no pressure on the line.

 

[Camofurever1]

One post wonder newbie!

I only start my tractor(s) if I'm gonna use them ...

I also have the dual drain plug shaped Kubota oil pan that the front driveshaft goes up between ...

"One post wonder newbie!"

There is always one in every crowd......

 

[NH TC25D]

What I've more or less done for the past 24 winters.

1. Synthetic hydraulic fluid.
2. Autumn oil and filter change.
3. Autumn coolant change if needed or scheduled.
4. Winter fuel with anti-gel/cetane booster.
5. Block heater plugged in for an adequate time before starting.
6. Warm up the motor at idle rpm.
7. Check the tension on the chains.
8. Do not start the tractor unless needed.
9. Battery maintainer. And replace the battery if load tester notes it is time before the onset of real cold.

Storage is in the garage.

Snow removal. Usually first snowfall just the FEL bucket and rear blade. Gravel driveway. Usually leave at least couple inches that gets packed down by driving the truck and tractor over. Reverse the back blade and drag the driveway surface smooth. Then remove it and attach the 3pt snow blower. Worse case event is a significant (>1ft) Lake Effect snowfall over ground that has not frozen. Then it is the snowblower on day one, but lifted a few inches.

 

[DarkBlack]

The tractor will start without being plugged in with one cycle of the glow plugs, even at -40 F. But it has to sit and warm up for 20-30 minutes before I can use it, and I really don't like doing that unless I have no choice (for instance if we got "pounded" with snow while I was at work and I need to clear the driveway when I get home - so timer has been off all day).

If it was me, in that -40F situation, I think I’d manually plug in the electric heaters, and let let them do their job for 30 minutes, rather than cold start at -40 and wait 30 minutes for it to try to warm itself, which really won’t happen, idling at -40f
I mean, you have to wait half an hour either way, and electric block heating is less wear on your engine than a -40f cold start.
Just my 2 cent opinion