WoodMax SB-60 Rear PTO Snow Blower on Gravel Report

[nyone]

I replaced skids with 6 inch hard rubber tires from Tractor Supply. Worked good for me. Leaves about 2-2.5 inches from the ground

That sounds ideal. Have any pictures of this?

 

[Cycledude]

For lubing the chain I use used motor oil and apply it plenty thick with old paint brush.

 

[alexinPA]

That sounds ideal. Have any pictures of this?

 

[Mahindra26XL]

alexinPA, Last year I bought the WoodMaxx SB-48 and intended to adapt some casters to replace the skids. I was glad to see your reply above. Would you be willing to attach a photo or two showing how you modified the Tractor Supply rubber tires? This sounds like just what I had in mind. Thanks.

 

[Mahindra26XL]

Oops...sorry. I didn't see that you already attached photos on your 2nd page. Thank you.

 

[MiserableOldFart]

Interesting. I have a 60" Allied Plain old 3 pt. blower and I plow a little over a quarter mile or so. I never use the blower unless I have to, prefer to use the rear blade going forward in all but the heaviest snows. Haven't used the blower with the current NH Workmaster 40, but I never had a problem with it digging in with the older, smaller tractor. Do you change the length of the upper link at all? First thing I would try if digging in would be to shorten up on that and see how it goes.
When I first moved to the Catskills full time, we got a four foot snow that made the rear blade useless, and I had to dig out with the little 54" loader, on a limited supply of fuel. Not only did it feel like I was clearing a blizzard with a teaspoon, but the depth of the snow made it necessary for me to back up, sometimes 100 feet or more with each bucket so I could find a place to dump it. I got about halfway down to the road and the fuel was so low I decided to just leave the tractor there, call my cousin for a ride and take my 2 empty diesel cans down to the road, walking half of it in snow that was over my waist. Got the 10 gallons, left one at the bottom and lugged the other to the tractor, dumped 'er in and proceeded to clear a tractor width path to the bottom to get the other can. About a day and a half later I had enough cleared to get my truck down and proceed to go to town and fill the cans again.
That's when I swore to get a blower. I still use the rear blade about 90% of storms and try to get out and clear it every 4-8 inches or so. I can shoot up and down with the rear blade a couple times in about a half hour. With the blower, I could wait until the storm is over, but it would still take forever. I don't know how the blower will work with this tractor because it doesn't quite cover the rear wheels, which could be a problem, though I would have the slope working with me most of the way. Time will tell. Rear blade with shoes works great as long as it's not over 8" or so. I only wish that with the bigger tractor I had an 8 footer instead of 6. Maybe someday..

 

[leonz]

You would benefit by go ing to a metal fabrication shop and ask about buying some angle iron to make wings wide enough to pull in more
snow while clearing If they have the ability to bend the steel to a 45 degree angle for you it would help you a great deal.

You could have them drill 4 holes in each one and then attach it to your snow blower with vice grips and drill holes in the side weldments to
mount the angle iron using by fine thread nylock nuts and washers.

 

[Stonehaller]

Do you change the length of the upper link at all? First thing I would try if digging in would be to shorten up on that and see how it goes.

I used to have a place in northern Michigan where I used a 3-point blower on a gravel driveway. I have a hydraulic top link so I could adjust it as required to angle the blower skids to keep them from digging in. Worked well for me.

 

[Everhard]

A hydraulic top link transforms a rear blower. first few times I clear the driveway I tilt the blower back until the driveway (crushed asphalt in my case) is frozen, blower never digs in. then once the ground is frozen hard I can tilt it back down. I also clear a trail where the ground is undulating - I can tilt the blower up and down as needed to follow the ground.
A hydraulic top link is so useful for pretty much anything that hangs off the back I always recommend it as one of the first things to get if it doesn't come with the tractor.

E.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Like several others here, I leave the blower in the barn and use the FEL plow until the ground is frozen. Yeah, the FEL plow grabs the gravel too but it stays along the berm and is easier to rake back in the spring.