Moving Snow...the easy way ???

[johnnymag3 2,633]

Well......    I now have a beautiful 308-8 that has been a snow mover for an ORIGINAL owner, It has a nice 48 inch blade and well serviced........   I always plow with my Z-71 1989 Silverado, as it is my 35 year snow mover... I usually don't plow 3 inches or less with the Truck, so....I have started to use the 308. It is an incredible snow mover, never loses grip, always in control . Here is my question......

      What have you guys found to be the best pattern to move the snow without constantly changing directions?...whether with the blade or the tractor???  I have been angling left or right , then pushing 50 70 feet ,then swinging a circle and plowing back on the other side, windrowing to the appropriate piles / rows. I have a C-160 I can toss the blade on if you guys think its faster. I am just used to BIG CHEVROLET and being done in 5-10 Minutes. I am now Retired so I want to play a wee bit longer outdoors. I do have a plow route for the 3" and up people, I acquired them in 1985.  I just cant justify plowing a driveway for 2 inches and charging them .............This is a picture of the original owner as he now live in NON snow land. The 308 is well cared for

 

JOHN   

Edited Thursday at 06:55 PM by johnnymag3

[ebinmaine 75,631]

You go look on the YouTube channels for me or Trina. Over the past three or four years you'll find several videos of either one of us plowing snow.

I'm not sure I could honestly say that you're going to find a specific direction that works any better than one another because the wind blow alone is going to change your entire work pattern for that storm.

 

If you want to speed things up a little bit I would suggest maybe building some scoops. Side wings.

 

 

[johnnymag3 2,633]

47 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

You go look on the YouTube channels for me or Trina. Over the past three or four years you'll find several videos of either one of us plowing snow.

I'm not sure I could honestly say that you're going to find a specific direction that works any better than one another because the wind blow alone is going to change your entire work pattern for that storm.

 

If you want to speed things up a little bit I would suggest maybe building some scoops. Side wings.

 

 

Just looking for patterns to avoid the constant blade change left / right .....turn around.....etc.etc.

[pfrederi 19,203]

I plow a large area.. For the main driveway start out down the middle casting to the right turn around out in the road an go back still casting right ..Repeat until you have cleared your driveway.

[ebinmaine 75,631]

1 minute ago, johnnymag3 said:

Just looking for patterns to avoid the constant blade change left / right .....turn around.....etc.etc.

 

That can be a little difficult to determine because of Bunches of variables like snow density and overall Terrain and weight of the tractor front and rear.

 

Is there any way you can sort of draw out where your snow piles need to go? And the overall size?

[Handy Don 15,101]

1 hour ago, johnnymag3 said:

best pattern to move the snow without constantly changing directions?

A lot depends on wetness and quantity. More depends on where you want to put the snow. 

I don’t like having piles near the garage so I tend back up into the open garage for each pass to push away. I mostly cast to the right ‘cause that side has the fewest obstructions to piling snow. 

If I had a long, open driveway, I’d do it just like @pfrederi

Edited Thursday at 07:59 PM by Handy Don

[Ed Kennell 43,702]

1 hour ago, pfrederi said:

I plow a large area.. For the main driveway start out down the middle casting to the right turn around out in the road an go back still casting right ..Repeat until you have cleared your driveway.

              I always make that first full blade pass down hill.  Then I can use less blade if necessary to maintain traction on the uphill return pass.

[ri702bill 10,539]

I do the driveway first; plow angled to the hard right and downhill towards the street, taking the snow away from the house on LH side.

Backup with plow raised, move over 3/4 blade width, repeat.

Similar with the backyard parking area, but blade angled hard left for the 1st pass closest to the house; then all others at the left mid-position.

[SylvanLakeWH 29,784]

1 hour ago, pfrederi said:

I plow a large area.. For the main driveway start out down the middle casting to the right turn around out in the road an go back still casting right ..Repeat until you have cleared your driveway.

 

I do two adjacent driveways so I use a modified Zamboni pattern much as described. The third drive gets its own mini pattern in same fashion. Very few blade changes...

[Handy Don 15,101]

3 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

Zamboni

Yeah! “Cool" and apt.

[Pullstart 68,511]

I always plow 8’ at a time. 

 

That usually works best for me…

 

 

[ebinmaine 75,631]

14 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

I always plow 8’ at a time. 

 

 

 

 

 

Keep the camper on while plowing??

[SylvanLakeWH 29,784]

11 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

Keep the camper on while plowing??

Keeps weight on the rear wheels...

[Bar Nuthin 1,784]

30 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

I always plow 8’ at a time. 

 

That usually works best for me…

 

 

 

Seems like it would hard to maneuver with that camper on the back. 

[Brockport Bill 2,112]

obviously, no right or wrong way -- everyone learns with experimenting for their driveway design and nature of storm -- biggest variable is always the depth ( 3 inch versus 12 inches makes huge difference which technique is best ) or snow if fluffy or wet -- one strategy works one storm but maybe not the next -

starting down the middle of 12 inch storm then trying to push the next row combined with the middle is 24 inches of snow -- likely not the best approach

[ri702bill 10,539]

24 minutes ago, Brockport Bill said:

obviously, no right or wrong way -- everyone learns with experimenting for their driveway design and nature of storm -- biggest variable is always the depth ( 3 inch versus 12 inches makes huge difference which technique is best )

The depth and moisture content also determines which tractor I use. 

Light fluffy stuff - generally the snow thrower first followed by the plow.

Heavy wet stuff - only the plow.

Long duration storm - need to go out at least twice...

[Pullstart 68,511]

2 hours ago, Bar Nuthin said:

 

Seems like it would hard to maneuver with that camper on the back. 

bahh, I’m used to it!

[JoeM 9,272]

3 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

Keep the camper on while plowing??

 

If you get stuck, someone will ask "are you stuck?"  Nope, just camp n!

[Retired Wrencher 6,162]

10 hours ago, Pullstart said:

bahh, I’m used to it!

Kevin I would say more rear and traction with the camper. Do what you do best..

[johnnymag3 2,633]

I always plow 8’ at a time

 

I do the same....but when its 2 inches or so , Its a waste to get the truck involved for myself  

[peter lena 9,552]

@johnnymag3  we all have a different , yet same issue of clearing snow , personally  , like to  BACK PLOW FIRST ,  if possible , that will  enhance / help  your  snow slide edge , also have my  blade well  lubed with  , mineral oil  or PAM   food lube  , that  slide  is like magic  on a fresh area , also  PLOW WITH THE SUN ?  you know  where the  sun  lays across your  set up  , regularly  move it to the  warmer sun zone , for melting and drainage . also , snow chains , weights  , absolutely , watch for  how its  settling  , a  movement  opportunity ?  do a lot of road edge , dusk / night  , well lit up tractor  front / rear  , reflective vest , just marvel at  someone  attempting , snow removal  , and watch  every stage , as the wrong move , THAT BACK PLOWING  ,  SHOULD BE YOUR FIRST STAGE  ,THEN REFILL THAT FROM WHARE YOU STARTED THAT    , think about what you are doing ,  realise as usual  , what I say / do   is not in the book , blade slide off  is effortless , swing quadrant  works with total ease , pete     

[Brockport Bill 2,112]

4 hours ago, peter lena said:

@johnnymag3  we all have a different , yet same issue of clearing snow , personally  , like to  BACK PLOW FIRST ,  if possible , that will  enhance / help  your  snow slide edge , also have my  blade well  lubed with  , mineral oil  or PAM   food lube  , that  slide  is like magic  on a fresh area , also  PLOW WITH THE SUN ?  you know  where the  sun  lays across your  set up  , regularly  move it to the  warmer sun zone , for melting and drainage . also , snow chains , weights  , absolutely , watch for  how its  settling  , a  movement  opportunity ?  do a lot of road edge , dusk / night  , well lit up tractor  front / rear  , reflective vest , just marvel at  someone  attempting , snow removal  , and watch  every stage , as the wrong move , THAT BACK PLOWING  ,  SHOULD BE YOUR FIRST STAGE  ,THEN REFILL THAT FROM WHARE YOU STARTED THAT    , think about what you are doing ,  realise as usual  , what I say / do   is not in the book , blade slide off  is effortless , swing quadrant  works with total ease , pete     

Pete: I ALWAYS lube my blade - - i find it entertaining to see photos of tractor plow blades with huge chunks of snow stuck to the blade -- which obviously prevents snow from smoothly flowing off blade - i also suggest to clean rust which adds friction slowing the snow from gliding off the blade

[Handy Don 15,101]

4 minutes ago, Brockport Bill said:

Pete: I ALWAYS lube my blade - - i find it entertaining to see photos of tractor plow blades with huge chunks of snow stuck to the blade -- which obviously prevents snow from smoothly flowing off blade - i also suggest to clean rust which adds friction slowing the snow from gliding off the blade

Last year the front of the new-to-me blade got stripped to bare metal and refinished. The rest stayed patina!

This year the front will get PAMed. 

[peter lena 9,552]

@Brockport Bill  @Handy Don , agree on the  blade slickening , another thing about plowing  is you can see the immediate  effects of what you are doing  ,  that made me change any problem that I was creating  . like not  back plowing first  , if you establish that  , you will quickly  revert to it , because your end is already there  , making an angular  slide off easier  , used to plow onto my , neighbors land , that first  angular  cut on the road  was always easy  , and long . that also  made me add a heavy bolt on eye bolt  , left hand lower corner  , of  frame to  hood  corner  , heavy spring added for initial lift , made for much easier  lift start  , you can also add a turnbuckle to that ?  dial in the perfect  lift assist  . repetitive issues , let  you  figure in a fix . thanks for the shout . pete         

[SylvanLakeWH 29,784]

41 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

This year the front will get PAMed

I use old motor oil... return it to whence it came...

 

Now regarding PAM - Mrs Sylvan won't have any of it in the house... 

So, does this clog the 's arteries like ours?