1st Tractor, New Owner Help!

[Russell King]

You should search @mcmxi posts. He has quite the snow fighting equipment collection.

 

[Dchemphill1]

YES! I did reference the owners manual but because the owners manual is also for the 5400 (which I think does come in 2WD) I says "if equipped" with the 4WD stuff.

I have a 1/5th mile STEEP gravel driveway at Whiskey Ridge (my property) and I was trying to plow snow with the bucket for the first time last night after dark. I was worried I wasn't going to make it back up the hill in 2WD. I was looking for the 4WD lever in the dark and freezing cold and didn't see it but was only looking right next to the range gear selector. Barndo doesn't yet have electric and didn't have the generator on for light when I put the tractor away either.

Plowing snow with the bucket wasn't as easy as I imagined either. hard to get the bucket angle right along with the right downforce. But I'll figure it out. View attachment 144709 View attachment 144710 View attachment 144711

So glad I found OTT. The experts are always on these forums.

You should try some of these on your bucket for pushing snow with the bucket. These keep from digging in to deep and will save from removing as much gravel. https://r2manufacturing.com/product...eiSoZsIxBbpk6vnEYAvcGIHq6YX2ieWIaAtj9EALw_wcB

 

[jyoutz]

You should try some of these on your bucket for pushing snow with the bucket. These keep from digging in to deep and will save from removing as much gravel. https://r2manufacturing.com/product...eiSoZsIxBbpk6vnEYAvcGIHq6YX2ieWIaAtj9EALw_wcB

Yep. I have some homemade ones those work well except when the gravel is soft..

 

[jyoutz]

Courtney of Good Works Tractor Co. has an interesting video comparing a bucket to a snow pusher. A bucket is absolutely the last implement I'd use for snow but I understand that many don't want to invest in specialist equipment and get by with what they have. Nothing wrong with that.

For a paved surface, the snow pusher would be awesome. On gravel both the snow pusher and bucket have the same limitations: they have to be held up several inches above the ground to avoid scraping gravel. So they both simply push the bulk of the heavy snow and the rear blade does the real work of clearing the driveway. IDK how a box blade would work instead of a rear blade. I think it will scrape the gravel off the road. The advantage of a rear blade is that it can be angled and the mold board reversed to avoid scraping gravel off the road.

 

[bird dogger]

YES! I did reference the owners manual but because the owners manual is also for the 5400 (which I think does come in 2WD) I says "if equipped" with the 4WD stuff.

I have a 1/5th mile STEEP gravel driveway at Whiskey Ridge (my property) and I was trying to plow snow with the bucket for the first time last night after dark. I was worried I wasn't going to make it back up the hill in 2WD. I was looking for the 4WD lever in the dark and freezing cold and didn't see it but was only looking right next to the range gear selector. Barndo doesn't yet have electric and didn't have the generator on for light when I put the tractor away either.

Plowing snow with the bucket wasn't as easy as I imagined either. hard to get the bucket angle right along with the right downforce. But I'll figure it out. View attachment 144709 View attachment 144710 View attachment 144711

So glad I found OTT. The experts are always on these forums.

That's a beautiful spot you have there!! We used to vacation just outside of Hayward, Wi.

Since your tractor is fairly new still and no one else has mentioned....Bring a new thumb drive/zip drive to your dealer that you bought the tractor from and ask if they'll load the WSMs (Woprkshop Service Manual) on that zip drive. That will come in handy when you want/need very specific info for trouble shooting, repairs down the road, maintenance diagrams, etc. etc. You can easily print off the pages that you need for any particular service needs.

 

[Niki_10-32]

SNOWSPORT Pro Utility Blade | Tractor and Skidsteer Snow Removal System

Take a stand against winter weather! SNOWSPORT Pro Utility Blades are manufactured for compact tractors, skid steers and subcompact tractors to make winter cleanup fun again.

www.buysnowsportplows.com

This looks like a nice little pusher with the rubber bottom to go easy on a gravel driveway. And very light and easy to move around when off the tractor.

That said, for the price its hard to pull the trigger on a little aluminum and rubber implement when you could get a full size steel pusher for just a little more.

(some used ones very cheap on craigslist)

Anyone have one of these?