I recently switch from a BX2360 with BX2750D Snowblower to a B2601 with a BX2822 Snowblower with turf tires on both. BX was stock, but on the B and added 2" wheel spacers and filled the tires with ballast. The B is very stable on the driveways and slopes down to the lake, even more so than the BX. However, snow-blowing my driveway, on the first snowfall of the year was a bit sketchy today. The driveway is backtop and 10-12 degrees with a couple degrees of camber. The BX used to climb the hill w/o issue, every so often I might lose traction, but it just halted forward progress and i would back down. The B today lost traction, and I went immediately to skating down the hill backwards out of control and then sideways until it flattened out. the snow was of a medium wet consistency but similar to what the BX has done many many times before. I thought the Bigger tires of the B would help with better traction over the BX. I am wondering if the weight from the filled tires is contributing to the loos of traction. Thoughts on how to improve this w/o going to chains. Maybe going to a B was a mistake.
Tire Ballast Hurt or help on Snowy Hills?
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85Hokie
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BX-25D ,PTB. Under Armor, '90&'92-B7100HST's, '06 BX1850 FEL
Ballast helps grip - the more you have the better the traction.
Get chains that are NOT metal, as I am sure you are worried about harming your driveway.
Get chains that are NOT metal, as I am sure you are worried about harming your driveway.
What air pressure are you running vs. what the tire pressure is listed on the side wall? Less pressure the bigger the foot print...
Larger tires of the same profile will have a larger contact patch. A larger contact patch means you will spread the weight out more. That's not what you want on snow over asphalt. You want to bite in. That's why chains or studs work. They concentrate the weight on small points to bite in.
10% slope? Turf tires? I'd be using chains.
Snow and hills on a machine is a poker game. We have cold weather, clay
soil, many hills and in the winter months you can count on some snow every night.
Depending on how deep and wet the snow is, the current temperature,
freeze and thaw cycles and the particular tires will all affect your traction.
I have R14's and mostly they provide enough traction in the snow. However there are times where they completely fail due to the condition of the snow and the surface underneath.
Be careful and learn the best routes to get the job done and use chains
if necessary.
First time I used my small excavator in the snow I assumed because it had tracks I was good to go in the snow. I was wrong.
soil, many hills and in the winter months you can count on some snow every night.
Depending on how deep and wet the snow is, the current temperature,
freeze and thaw cycles and the particular tires will all affect your traction.
I have R14's and mostly they provide enough traction in the snow. However there are times where they completely fail due to the condition of the snow and the surface underneath.
Be careful and learn the best routes to get the job done and use chains
if necessary.
First time I used my small excavator in the snow I assumed because it had tracks I was good to go in the snow. I was wrong.
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I didn't like sliding sideways (my driveway has a slant, too) and almost went off the driveway. Now I use chains on all 4. I can still slide but not nearly as much.
The odd part is I has the 2360 for 14 years and never had this happen. I am wonder part of the change is most impacted this response? I will check tire pressure perhaps dropping it a bit will help. I put some tera grips on a 2 wheel drive deer for my dad that worked well, They were rubber strips across the tire, but they dont come in big enough size. Does anyone have a recommendation for something similar that will fit the B series tire? Non metal type chain.
Thanks for all the responses
Thanks for all the responses