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Snow Removal with back blade

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kwolfe
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 18
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2006-09-21          135338

This has been discussed mainly regarding gravel driveways, however I have a 150' long paved driveway and would like to use the FEL and 5' back blade combo for snow removal. Should I be concerned with the bucket or blade digging into the driveway. If so, is there an easy/cheap fix for this problem. I might add that I have a little Sub CUT, so the blade only weighs 200-250 lbs.

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Snow Removal with back blade

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wingwiper
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 676
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2006-09-21          135339

Do it in reverse, using the back of the blade to push, that way the blade will NOT dig in and does a Great job, scraping the Snow away. Then you can use the FEL to stack the Snow or relocate the banks.
I have a lot of driveway as well and we usually get hammered with a lot of Snow and this is the way I have found works the Best. Oh! and in the early season, it doesn't rip your grass all to Hell either, will scrape right down to the Grass and leaves the grass in place. I have a 6' Frontier and it has worked extremey well,even in 30 plus inch Snow storms, have been able to move it, just fine. I have R4 tires, Turf will only spin on Snow and frozen ground.
If the above is not what you want to do and you are still concerned about tearing up the pavement, then replace the Steel Cutting Edge with a Rubber One. ....

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Snow Removal with back blade

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s chrand
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 77 Mid-Michigan
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2006-09-21          135345

I have exactly that combination, a BX w/ FEL and 5' blade, that I use for snow on my 750' paved drive. The blade will catch on the breaks in the concrete, and scrape off the sealer on the blacktop. To fix that, I added a rubber edge (tire re-tread from the side of the highway) to the blade. Works great. For deep snow, I have to turn the blade backward and go in reverse. Running the blade forward / tractor in reverse didn't work very well for me. The blade lifted, and snow wouldn't roll off the end very well. The FEL works great for pushing back the banks. You do have to be carefull not to catch the edge though. Just go slow.
The real answer is a front snow blower. I just can't justify the cost though.
Good Luck,
David ....

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Snow Removal with back blade

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earthwrks
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 3853 Home Office in Flat Rock, Michigan
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2006-09-22          135383

Another option (I like to tinker so not everyone has the wherewithall to experiment) but mounting a pivoting plow from a tractor one size larger than yours (to be sure the loader bucket is covered on the ends), or even a small 6' Jeep-type plow to the FEL----you could always cut down a fullsize snow plow too. My buddy did this with his small skid steer with an 8' truck snow plow I gave him. All he did was slide the entire plow carriage inside the bucket and bolt it down with (4) 3/4" bolts. Later he welded metal tabs inside the ucket for quicker on/off. As he pointed out he could pile snow 6-8' quickly. There's plenty of down pressure with the weight of the plow too. If you're handy with fabricating you could use hitch pins instead of bolts and make it a quick-change.
Modern plows have hydraulic pivot control which could be connected to the CUT too--older ones you have to manually adjust pivot.

And the plow setup might come in handy for grading year 'round.

Back home I do commercial snow plowing. The key to truck plowing is speed--35mph on streets is optimal for the type and depth of snow we get.

Another option is a front or rear mounted rotary brush, which is good for sidewalks and driveways both. Sometimes you can find them cheap. Municipalities and institutions favored them until snow blowers and ATV's with plows came about.
....

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Snow Removal with back blade

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bloggins
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 104 Kingston, Ontario
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2006-09-23          135394

Great timing on this subject, as I too am in the market to buy a 60" rear scaper blade and use the FEL also. What I've gleaned from this website is to stay with Turf tires and add additional lights to the ROPS (one back, one forward). I'm hoping that the float position on the FEL will allow it to slide along the ashphalt without having to continuously adjust the bucket. And...after the last grass cutting of the year, I'm going to spray the bottom and all fixtures with a good rust proofing spray. ....

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Snow Removal with back blade

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earthwrks
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 3853 Home Office in Flat Rock, Michigan
TractorPoint Premium Member -- 5 Tractors = Very Frequent Poster  View my Photos  Pics

2006-09-23          135395

Good point about moisture when plowing. I'v adressed my feelings and experiences on it here. Another thing that comes to mind and it's not as far fetched as it sounds is to slather grease on the machine anywhere corrosion could be a problem. A neighbor was into show-quality custom cars. Every Fall he would park them in the barn and anything that had chrome or plating of any kind would be slathered with grease. Come Spring or a show he'd juyst wash it off.

I'm pretty sure some greases like lithium soap-based greases actually absorb water or are water soluable, so if you do this be sure they are marine-quality to start so they won't wash off easily and have excellent sticking characterstics. Aerosol "chain lube" may be the ticket too. ....

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Snow Removal with back blade

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Kodthree
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 1 Coeurd'Alene, Idaho
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2006-11-17          137046

1.) back-blade the snow into windrows (turn your blade so the curved portion is facing forward)and drive the tractor forward. Move or otherwise stack said windrows with FEL. Stack 'em high so your or the neigborhood kids have a "safe" place to make forts or tobogan chutes. Instant hero!

2.) Buy a second, winter-only cutting edge for your FEL or back blade (works better on back blade). Plasma slice a lengthwise cut into a piece of pipe exactly as long as this cutting edge. Weld pipe onto edge. Bolt edge/pipe combo onto FEL bucket or blade, or make one for each! I've found 3" OD pipe works great. Never catch sealant, cracks, or grass with bucket or blade again! Show off new "invention" to your wife. Tell her you thought of this: Prepare to snuggle. Call me with resul....On second thought, keep this info to yourself. :P ....

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Snow Removal with back blade

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DennisCTB
Join Date: Nov 1998
Posts: 2707 NorthWest NJ
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2006-11-17          137048

I have the Front loader and the Woods RB72 grader blade on a Kubota B7610, and I have used this combination when we have an early snow or I have been too lazy to get my butt out in the garage to put the blower on ;).

I have a 1000 foot drive and for up to 3 inches this is sorta Ok. But if deeper not good at all, wet forget it.

Put that blower on with the grader on the back, awesome combination. Slush = grader blade, dress up =grader blade, bulk snow front blower.

If my drive was only 150 I would use the loader and grader blade, at least you will have a little more play time, 1000 feet no go on that combo. ....

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