New member intro seeking input on implements

[ABC003]

Hello all....Purchased a B2650 this summer and I love this thing...got rid of an old 8n I had been keeping on life support...love this forum too....been lurking some...anyway , I am looking ahead to the Winter up here in the foot hills of the Adirondack Mnts. I was looking at Snow Pushers for snow removal but then a light came on and I changed my mind and now am considering the Woodmaxx SB60 3 pt blower....I know this blower can handle anything we get here for snow and seeings how I have the 60" loader bucket I am thinking a pusher would be a waste of money... 18 acres of land here and driveway about 50 yards long...my question is ...am I doing the right thing by going with a blower? or ????

 

[Tractor Dell]

I am assuming that where you are at, you get a lot of snow. IMHO, the only problem with blades and plows is that eventually you run out of places to push it, or the piles get too high. If you have a blower, you can just blow it back as far as you can.

Since you have a mid PTO on the B2650, have you considered a front blower? I personally don't have a blower on my BX (I have a walk behind snow blower), I do read how a lot of folks get sore necks looking over their shoulder while blowing. Just a thought.

 

[ABC003]

Yes we do get our fair share of snow....I guess I was thinking that with the 3 pt blower I could still utilize the loader if need be....never thought about a sore neck LOL..thanks for the reply Dell....point taken

 

[Cfrazer]

I’ve only had my bx 1 year and I had the same thoughts as you but my wife talked me into the front blower as I do have back problems and couldn’t take turning around all the time. So I opted for front snowblower and added a rear blade which is quite handy. I’m in between Rochester and Syracuse and last year we had a couple big storms that the BX handled easily with no sore neck. There was only one time I wished I had the loader on to clean around my mailbox, but I managed with the blower/rear blade combo, and if I really needed the loader, it doesnt take long to switch over. My driveway is around 200’.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[RCW]

Snowblower can be a challenge on a stone driveway.
Personally I prefer front mount, but they are significantly more $$ than 3PH.
I’m upstate New York also. This was 34” dump we got March 2017.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[majorwager]

Best advice, read the posts contained in this SISTER Thread, enlightening,
even mine.


http://www.orangetractortalks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37637

 

[mickeyd]

Welcome to the OTT forum ABC. Glad that you finally joined up.

I sure am glad that I don't live where there is a lot of snow anymore.

We had 12" one time and I used my 60" bucket to push it down my gravel driveway and across the county road to the ditch on the other side. Most years we only get very light snow that isn't even worth doing anything about it.

 

[majorwager]

Mickeyd,

Generally every area has some type of weather event

Extreme heat
Tornadoes
Floods
Hurricanes
Drought

 

[Missouribound]

Snow? What's that?
I moved to southern Missouri in the fall of 2005.
I haven't had to shovel since then. Yes, we have had snow. But down here we are very rural and snow removal is a maybe at best.
But if we did get a lot of snow a blower would be my choice. You gotta put it somewhere and you can only push it so far. I learned that from my too many years in Illinois where a little flurry at night can leave 18" by the next morning.
And then it drops to 10 deg. and you can't break it up with a shovel.
A blade is fine for a couple of inches or more if you can keep up with it.

 

[mickeyd]

Mickeyd,

Generally every area has some type of weather event

Extreme heat
Tornadoes
Floods
Hurricanes
Drought

Yes, we have heat, droughts and tornadoes in the summer.

I like what they did in Alaska with snow, you drive on it and pack it down. They would put cinders from the power plant on it to give traction. You would think that you were driving on blacktop until late spring during "Breakup." Then the holes would get big enough that they would have to bring out a grader to smooth it out some. The joke used to be that the holes were big enough to swallow small cars.

Of course at the house we had to move it out of the driveway and off the steps. Most everyone used a snowblower since there was too much to just push around.

 

[PHPaul]

Just an alternate point of view:

I'm about to be 68 years old and have used a rear-mount blower for 10 years or more.

While it's true that it's less comfortable than I imagine a front mount to be, I think the issue of looking back to blow snow is overdone. I turn about 1/4 turn to my right in the seat and look over my right shoulder without problems.

Especially when I consider the price of a front mount...

 

[skeets]

The bottom line comes down to which one you are most comfortable with. Some guys with FEL's would never have a front blower. Other guys wouldnt trade their front blowers for love nor money. If you can, try and see if your dealer has one of each and if they might put them on and then try driving around with each one, OR if you can find someone that has one ask if you can drive it around and see how you like it. My self, I have a blade, I have used a blade for more years than I care to count. But I do think about a front blower,, ahhh dreams,,lol

 

[ABC003]

Thanks guys for the welcomes and input....some things to think about for sure...it's just crazy to think with everything I want to get for this thing I could have as much into implements as I paid for the tractor...LOL

 

[rjcorazza]

With a short driveway a walk behind blower is also something to consider for larger snows. I have about 500’ of driveway, and can clear off lighter snows in about 30 minutes with a 30” walk behind.
I plow a dozen or so residential drives, so the walk behind is not really a viable option for time and comfort considerations.
I run a 72” rear mount blower and front ssqa plow for larger snows, which works well for me.
The front mount vs. rear mount debate comes up frequently. What it always comes down to for me is that I do not want to be without a front end loader in a big storm.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[D2Cat]

Thanks guys for the welcomes and input....some things to think about for sure...it's just crazy to think with everything I want to get for this thing I could have as much into implements as I paid for the tractor...LOL

It's like any major purchase, be it a house, vehicle, side x side, you can "trick" them out beyond belief. Advertisers know most folks have little discipline once they start spending money. Emotion overcomes logic, be careful.

 

[RCW]

Cat is absolutely right.
While I had a bunch of goodies I wanted, really a mower, snowblower, toothbar for the bucket and box blade get me through 95% of my jobs.
Some other accessories like lighting and quick hitch make life more enjoyable.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mudog88]

Your story is similar to my Dad's. After running an 8N on his 20 acres for almost 22 years, he bought himself a B2630. He still has the 8N, although right now it won't run (ignition).

What is your driveway surface? If it's gravel, I personally would lean away from a blower. My drive is also about 50 yards long in gravel, and I do just fine with my backblade on the B7100. I doubt I get nearly as much snow here in central Indiana as you, but I push the snow off the drive about 20 feet so it gives me room to add to it if needed.

Now if I had blacktop or concrete, then I'd do a blower without question. The next question then comes down to front or rear mount. For me, I don't have a front loader (build plans are in-work though), so I would prefer front mount, with my backblade as counter-weight and additional snow-pushing abilitly. If you don't want to deal with the hassle of removing the loader, installing the blower, then reversing the process every year, then rear mount is the way to go and you would still have the loader for counter-weight and additional snow moving ability. Just my $0.02 FWIW.

 

[ABC003]

Your story is similar to my Dad's. After running an 8N on his 20 acres for almost 22 years, he bought himself a B2630. He still has the 8N, although right now it won't run (ignition).

What is your driveway surface? If it's gravel, I personally would lean away from a blower. My drive is also about 50 yards long in gravel, and I do just fine with my backblade on the B7100. I doubt I get nearly as much snow here in central Indiana as you, but I push the snow off the drive about 20 feet so it gives me room to add to it if needed.

Now if I had blacktop or concrete, then I'd do a blower without question. The next question then comes down to front or rear mount. For me, I don't have a front loader (build plans are in-work though), so I would prefer front mount, with my backblade as counter-weight and additional snow-pushing abilitly. If you don't want to deal with the hassle of removing the loader, installing the blower, then reversing the process every year, then rear mount is the way to go and you would still have the loader for counter-weight and additional snow moving ability. Just my $0.02 FWIW.

Blacktop driveway here......have to redo it next year actually...going with blower for sure.....and I hear you guys about being careful throwing out money for attachments....I am one of those impulse buyers...bad habit for sure....but I am getting alot of use out of the Stump Bucket I bought

 

[Freerun19]

I to, am an orange tractor rookie, and facing the same challenge as ABC003. My recently purchased BX2200 came with an FEL and a backhoe. I picked up a nice used MMM already. But now I need to sell the backhoe to finance a blower. I am leaning toward a rear mount blower because I really want to leave the loader on the front in the winter.

I have a 320' driveway and large turn around pad, all gravel, so my questions is this.

Why do I see a general preference away from a blower for gravel? I thought a good blower would be a better option than a blade, because I'm concerned about the size of the pile that may result from clearing that big 80'x60' pad.

Any insight would be appreciated. This forum has been a great resource for this rookie!

 

[RCW]

Why do I see a general preference away from a blower for gravel?

A blower is apt to pick up your stone and throw it. Can vary by the blower, it's skid shoes, and the stone you have down. Also depends on if the driveway is frozen down, etc.

I've used a blower on stone for 27 years, first a walk-behind and last 16 tractor mounted (front).

I use a blower because I have little room to push piles up. I can essentially throw it once and done.

Most challenging is fall and spring with thaws, etc. I've also modified my blower's shoes to help them from digging in.

I've learned to deal with it, and it's seldom a big deal. Sometimes I'll just lengthen my top link out and drag the box blade to pack in 3 or 4" of snow. Makes a good base.