hints for grading and snow plowing?

[sheepfarmer]

Hi Ray, thank you so much for the hints, I don't have a box blade, still trying to get the rear blade set up correctly, but there were several hints that do apply, esp last one. I enjoyed seeing the photo of the grader, wow what a contraption!
I will post pictures as soon as I figure out how. I think I need to be logged on from a real computer and not this here tablet. The photo file sizes are too big.
Re: set up of 3 pt hitch for rear blade by my calculation (retired teacher here) there are at least 27 possible combinations of pin placements on my Kubota, and the uses are not real obvious. I want to raise the quick hitch up higher, get it vertical, and not run out of thread on the top link. Have photographed the rig, so will try to start a new thread soon.

 

[sheepfarmer]

Resurrected this thread, it is certainly the right weather for it, to give an update, and ask another snow plowing question.

Update: I ended up for most things pulling with the back blade convex side forward. If I drag it through a gateway straight it does a good job, and is not too jarring if I hit piles of frozen down horse manure. If I have a long stretch to clear I can offset the blade which also angles it at the same time. Big snow piles and drifts can be picked up with the loader bucket, and the bucket in float, either backward or forward, works well to clear other spots. Only minor panic if the tip of the bucket catches on a bit of frozen mud and comes to a halt. Frozen ruts in one of the horse gates. One of those pipe blade protectors would come in handy! Much to learn, better not quit my day job as they say.

The question: I saw a post that said something about using the loader to get unstuck if the tractor is stuck. How?


Any other techniques for getting unstuck in deep snow besides diff lock? (Quite the spring on that lever!)

 

[OldeEnglish]

Using the bucket to get unstuck takes a little practice. Had to do it a few days ago with the 2910. Roll your bucket all the way forward, stab it into the ground. Curl the bucket back while going in reverse. Vice versa if you need to go forward. Took me a good 10 tries to get me out! I didnt think I was getting out being on a icy hill stuffed into 3' snow . Put the backhoe on after that ordeal. Much easier to get unstuck

 

[OldeEnglish]

Oppss! Pushed the wrong button

 

[sheepfarmer]

Thanks Olde English! Yes, the question came to mind this afternoon when I realized the snow had filled in a depression in front of one of my mulch heaps and if I got in it I would have to back out uphill. I got off and waded into it to see just how deep, and thought, nah I'll just dump this bucket load someplace else.

Hope you guys don't get more...

 

[Cal270]

Dear SF

I have skid shoes on my rear blade. They work great.
When cleaning cement approachs, I set them above the blade and when on gravel, or ground set them to 1" or so below the blade. Only takes a couple minutes to the height of the shoe's.

Bottom of skid shoes look like a hockey puck and keeps blade off the ground.

Yesterday I angle blade about a mile of trails back in the woods. Set skid shoes 1.5" off ground, put blade in float position, driving forward, & all went well.
About 8" of snow on the ground.

Ordered rear blade with skid shoes. I think they cost less than $100.

They work great on my gravel driveway. Keeps the gravel in place!

Still hoping for a good Michigan snow storm before winter ends!

I would attach a photo BUT haven't figured hoe to do it yet...

Good luck!

PS -----ran tractor at 2250 rpm while plowing, PM screen % stayed at 69 % the entire time...

 

[skeets]

Hey Cal could you post pictures of those skids on your blade. Ok I see your a puter geek like I am,,lol maybe somebody else can post some pictures of those kinds of skids

 

[res]

I built my own skid shoes. Had a bit of angle left from a project and made the brackets and with a couple of large bolts, welded a bit of angle and I had skid shoes. Works great on my drive way. Mine is paved but it is very narrow so I can scrap back several feet onto the front lawn without damage to keep the snow back.