Ready for snow?

[Racinbob 12,552]

We don't get near the lake effect here as we did just northeast of here but it does happen. The bulk of the system snow stayed south but the lake effect hit overnight. By this morning it was just east of us so I got some playtime. Maybe 6" and very light. The county pulled the plows off the roads last night but got them out there this morning. I got most of the drive done but the plow hasn't made a pass yet. I didn't bother doing much at the end of the drive. I came in to unfreeze my fingers and will wait on the plow before I go back out. I thought about getting some of those one use heat thingys to slip in my mittens and I'm thinking about it again. But I still don't have any. 

 

[ML3 2,096]

Still snowing here since early Sunday morning.  Cleared driveway & already 2" accumulated.  Gave the 702 quite a workout. Snow was pretty light yet still almost a foot deep so it did a pretty good job. 

 

Took today off so I had time to play on tractor instead of using Toro 2stage walk behind.....thats not as fun🤪

[kpinnc 16,774]

3 hours ago, Bar Nuthin said:

Probably not up to code but works great for us

 

That is awesome! 

[nylyon-(Admin) 8,687]

We got about 18” with drifts 2-3’.  I’ve had the blower attachment for years, but most of our storms are ink the 6” range so never really had to use it.  The beginning of this season however, I said what the heck, and put it on the 416-8.  Well I am sure glad I did, that single stage on a 16hp Onan throws the snow unbelievably far.  I probably could have done everything with the blade, but my driveway would have been 33% narrower.  Had so much fun, I helped my neighbor too.

[Ed Kennell 44,314]

I woke up this morning to the sound of my neighbor firing up his Kubota.    All the driveways were packed tight with 3-4 feet of snow from PENNDOTS plowing.

He used the Kubota with the FEL to remove the packed snow so I could get in with the 520H to plow the driveways.    We just finished all seven driveways.

We had about 10 inches of snow then several hours of sleet creating one of the heaviest snows I had to plow. 

 

 

 

[Sodaking27 1,093]

416H with the blower not so good. The clip and washer under the blower that holds it to the lift rod came off. As I was backing it into the garage the right side chain came off and I also noticed the battery was not charging. Discovered the 30 amp fuse was very loose in its connection. Looks like I need to spend some time on it when it warms up. Blower was working great up until that. Finished up with the blade on the 315 without any further issues. Great time while it lasted.

[Blue Chips 613]

Finally got the driveway cleared. The backpack leaf blower experiment was a failure. It cleared newly fallen snow pretty well, but if the snow was allowed to sit for a couple of hours, the snow flakes seemed to sort of cake together and wouldn't blow away, despite the snow being cold, dry, and light.

 

I measured 14 inches in several places on the driveway. Might get some more snow tonight...maybe.

 

Ended up using Mr. Case to clear the drive, which is sort of like using a wrench to fix a watch, but it worked.

 

 

 

 

 

[cleat 8,546]

 

 

Too much snow for my 520HC with the plow so I got out the big girl.

First time it has been started since last fall an parked in an unheated coverall building and we just had a very cold weekend.

But the diesel engine roared to life almost instantly.

 

[ebinmaine 76,863]

10 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

Nowhere near the original forecast here. 

 

We're currently setting with 11" of very fluffy snow on the side deck. Driveway likely has a touch more. 

It appears that we won't see much more. 

 

 

 

At last check we had some areas of the yard with 13" - 15"

Still snowing much of the night but very light. 

 

 

[rjg854 12,750]

I ended up with 9-10" depending on where I measured. It was a dry snow and blew nicely. The only problem I had was, in I lost one of the roller chains, but the blower found it.  Locked the auger up and shut the 16 Auto down. Took some effort but all is well, except for that roller chain.  

[squonk 45,167]

Got between 8 and 10" Did most of it with the 953 but it had already started to compact itself so the Village and State boys leftovers were a challenge. Got out the Ariens and was hitting the top of the trees but it only made it about 10 ft and it stopped blowing. I had to adjust the auger belt all the way out. Got new belts ordered. I think they are original 1990 vintage. Pushed all the piles back with Elvis. The hydraulic system did not like this cold weather! 

[Handy Don 15,682]

Well, my spouse and I took a short vacay with a planned return on Sunday, the 25th, to New York.

By Friday it was clear we needed a new plan and traveled on Saturday instead (our original flight was later cancelled. Whew!)

By this morning we had 14” which needed a session last evening after the first 8 or so inches and then again this morning for the rest. Two neighbors had their snowblowers break down so I got a lot of extra seat time being a Good Samaritan. Two and a half tanks of fuel on the sipper K181. 

 

Today’s learning? I’d retired my walk behind blower to storage after the blade did such a great job last year and up to now this year on spaced out snowfalls of up to 5”, including the wet stuff. Well, the blower will get un-retired this week. We don’t have enough places where the 854+blade can park a heavy snow so extra pushing past 18” high banks took a lot of time. A pass down each side with the blower could’ve knocked down those banks to make room. Forecasts tell me what we have isn’t gonna melt soon and more is coming!

[MainelyWheelhorse 2,300]

We got close to 12” of sand like snow and have been off and on getting more all day. The 308 didn’t break a sweat.

 

[Wayne0 1,458]

We got a good 15" and the 520H with the deuce stood up to the task. The 3 foot berm at the street had to be taken down in layers.

Even with weights and chains, I did get stuck a couple times due to ice under the snow.

I need to load the tires. Also noticed the auger bearings are junk.

Edited Monday at 10:47 PM by Wayne0

[WHX?? 54,096]

15 minutes ago, Wayne0 said:

Also noticed the auger bearings are junk.

Posted in your other thread Wayne. I can send you my old bushings to get ya by. 

Best thing to try when you get hung up drop the blower to get weight off the front and back on the rear. Back out carefully in the same tracks dragging the blower. Lift the blower back up when clear. 

Edited Monday at 11:05 PM by WHX??

[Bar Nuthin 2,152]

Didn't realize the wife was recording from inside her warm kitchen.

Like I said earlier, I love Hydros!

 

[kick 80]

I’m glad to have two horses set up for snow duty.  Had a chain come off my D160 so i finished up with my 417.  We have another storm potentially brewing here NJ. Possibly a NorEaster.  

Edited yesterday at 04:01 AM by kick

[Wayne0 1,458]

14 hours ago, WHX?? said:

Posted in your other thread Wayne. I can send you my old bushings to get ya by. 

Best thing to try when you get hung up drop the blower to get weight off the front and back on the rear. Back out carefully in the same tracks dragging the blower. Lift the blower back up when clear. 

Thanks for the offer, WHX??. I think I can get by for now with the blade on 'Ol Rusty.

Edited 23 hours ago by Wayne0

[OutdoorEnvy 1,803]

Well a little bit of thawing seemed to really help.  Wet concrete grips better than frozen.  So got a couple driveways done.  Then my friend and I got a Wheel Horse Man Date in as we plowed the parking lot for small school.  Mine is the 416-8 and his is the 417-A. We were plowing after dark for a few hours.  First time I needed the headlights for work.  Was glad I had them though.  Parking lot lights were out.  But we got it cleared off pretty good.  

 

 

 

 

[kick 80]

3 hours ago, OutdoorEnvy said:

Well a little bit of thawing seemed to really help.  Wet concrete grips better than frozen.  So got a couple driveways done.  Then my friend and I got a Wheel Horse Man Date in as we plowed the parking lot for small school.  Mine is the 416-8 and his is the 417-A. We were plowing after dark for a few hours.  First time I needed the headlights for work.  Was glad I had them though.  Parking lot lights were out.  But we got it cleared off pretty good.  

 

 

 

 

I’m surprised you guys get traction with no chains.  I’m running turf tires/chains. But if I had agriculture tires with all the ice. I think my Horses would be stuck 99% of the time. 

[OutdoorEnvy 1,803]

5 minutes ago, kick said:

I’m surprised you guys get traction with no chains.  I’m running turf tires/chains. But if I had agriculture tires with all the ice. I think my Horses would be stuck 99% of the time. 

 

You should see my earlier post on the previous page from a couple days ago...it was a major problem 

 

Chains are in the near future.  I have an extra set of rims and old turf tires perfect to be a dedicated set with chains on them.

[AlexR 2,385]

I cheated today... Used my neighbors skidsteer. With the wind, we are getting bad drifting still. (Large empty field across the road from my property where the wind is blowing from) Lot of snow piled up around the mailbox and the ends of my driveway. It's drifting in the road a bunch and the plows keep pushing it towards the mailbox and the mailman was having difficulty getting to the mailbox. And lots of other drifts I had to clear out, and the skidsteer does what these Wheelhorse's can't really do unless you have a loader and that is stack snow piles

 

[Handy Don 15,682]

1 hour ago, AlexR said:

does what these Wheelhorse's can't really do

ALWAYS important to use the right tool for the job! 

[WHX?? 54,096]

3 hours ago, AlexR said:

unless you have a loader

Should we start looking for you??? Pullstart has one that is a basket ...  nevermind 

[AlexR 2,385]

9 hours ago, WHX?? said:

Should we start looking for you??? Pullstart has one that is a basket ...  nevermind 

Don't tempt me! Haha

I do plan on either building or getting a loader some day, but not yet.