Snow plowing

[Trz]

Snowplowing my gravel driveway with the 8n and a back blade, how to I prevent the blade from wanting to dig in too deep? I now have a dirt driveway and a gravel yard.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Snowplowing my gravel driveway with the 8n and a back blade, how to I prevent the blade from wanting to dig in too deep? I now have a dirt driveway and a gravel yard.

Contact a paving contractor?

All kidding aside its pretty much the name of the game. Some people slit a piece of plastic pipe and slide it over the cutting edge. It eliminates gouging but also reduces the effectiveness of the blade. Skid shoes like those used on truck plows is another idea. Google is your friend here and will find you all sorts of things people have tried.

TOH

 

[Tim PloughNman Daley]

Snowplowing my gravel driveway with the 8n and a back blade, how to I prevent the blade from wanting to dig in too deep? I now have a dirt driveway and a gravel yard.

 

[Tim PloughNman Daley]

Snowplowing my gravel driveway with the 8n and a back blade, how to I prevent the blade from wanting to dig in too deep? I now have a dirt driveway and a gravel yard.

Trial and error. Your 8N has POSITION CONTROL so use that mode to keep height set once you hit the mark and set Touch Control Quadrant Stop. As TOH said, skid shoes can be used. Install stabilizer bars (NOT STAY BARS) - they keep back blade from kicking off to the side under load and help to keep blade running straight.

Tim Daley (MI)

 

[Ed S.]

Shorten the top link to roll the blade forward a bit. I never tried the pipe trick, but it sounds like it would be a good idea, too.

I had it rolled a bit too much in the pic below, but it was still moving snow! -10°F, was thankful for that mil surplus parka!

 

[Tom Bowman]

Snowplowing my gravel driveway with the 8n and a back blade, how to I prevent the blade from wanting to dig in too deep? I now have a dirt driveway and a gravel yard.

I turn the blade around, and use the other side, so it doesn't dig in as much. As Tim mentioned, stabilizer bars also make a big difference.
And, I still rake/shovel gravel on nice early spring days!

 

[Mad Farmer]

I don't touch mine unless it's frozen, or so much snow I can't move my truck.

 

[Trz]

Shorten the top link to roll the blade forward a bit. I never tried the pipe trick, but it sounds like it would be a good idea, too.

I had it rolled a bit too much in the pic below, but it was still moving snow! -10°F, was thankful for that mil surplus parka!

View attachment 7230

I need to buy a shorter top link.

 

[Jim in Western MI]

Not an expert, by any means, just an import from North Carolina four years ago. But I use a simple blade on my 8N to clear about a 1/2 mile times four tracks, or two miles of work, of two driveways. If it has not frozen solidly, I try to leave an inch or two of snow on the driveway to avoid digging into the gravel. My wife and I can easily drive on this small amount, and my son and his family (the other driveway) can, too. In fact, I don't plow it unless it is getting to around four inches. If/when it gets frozen solid, which only has been a couple weeks all winter this year, then I can scrape to the surface with only minimal loss of gravel. I have a landscape rake I set at 45* in the spring to pull the gravel back into the driveway. I did the pipe thing the first year and it made it a couple times but finally shattered in the brittle cold and all the gravel; have not used that idea again..., and it was a bear to cut the slot and pound it onto the blade.

 

[flying belgian]

I don't touch mine unless it's frozen, or so much snow I can't move my truck.

I'm with madfarmer. Drive over the first few inches to make a snow pack.

 

[Tim PloughNman Daley]

I need to buy a shorter top link.

Top LNKS are adjustable ---what do you mean you need to buy a shorter one?

Your Mileage May Vary,
Tim Daley (MI)

I need to buy a shorter top link.UH, and you want to buy a new top link because why? What is the matter with the one you have? You do know they are adjustable, right?

Tim Daley (MI)

 

[TheOldHokie]

I'm with madfarmer. Drive over the first few inches to make a snow pack.

If your lane is mostly 15% grade with sharp turns that strategy gets a bit edgy.....

TOH

 

[Mike Groom]

I installed a set of shoes like on snow plows on mine, adjust the height so it suits you and it works great. Plus you get to weld something and that's always a good day!

 

[HFJ]

If your lane is mostly 15% grade with sharp turns that strategy gets a bit edgy.....

TOH

edgy. i see what u did there

i have one short steep stretch, and the rest is as flat as a pool table. until there's more than a foot, i'm driving thru it.

 

[Brown David]

If your lane is mostly 15% grade with sharp turns that strategy gets a bit edgy.....

TOH

Yep.

My driveway is pretty much straight, 300' straight up one way and 300' straight down the other.

A snow packed driveway is a skating rink after a mild spell and some rain. I scrape right to the ground and clean the mess up in the spring.

 

[TheOldHokie]

edgy. i see what u did there

i have one short steep stretch, and the rest is as flat as a pool table. until there's more than a foot, i'm driving thru it.

Foot good - rolling resistance and some traction.
Snow pack bad - pretty much a ski jump

Studded snow tires very, very good.

TOH

 

[Mad Farmer]

I installed a set of shoes like on snow plows on mine, adjust the height so it suits you and it works great. Plus you get to weld something and that's always a good day!

That's an idea. Could you post a picture?. I'll be looking for small junked plows to grab a set of shoes.

 

[stevieb49829]

That's an idea. Could you post a picture?. I'll be looking for small junked plows to grab a set of shoes.

Basically, you have to find a piece of shafting, around 1" and two short pieces of pipe that the shafting will fit in somewhat loosely. Then get or make a couple of really heavy washers you will weld onto one end of the shaft. Find someone with a heavy press, and push on the welded shaft with a piece of big pipe under the edge of the washer, which will put a crown in the washer. Weld or bolt the pipes to the back side of the blade, drill a cross hole in the shafts for a lynch pin, and if you want to get really fancy, hard-face the washer where it will be rubbing on your driveway. Adjust the height with washers over the shafting in the right spot. You can also buy the pin and shoe, because a lot of people wear through the shoe. I get a set from my fishing buddy every year to renew the hard facing he wears off during the plow season. And he has a spare set, so I get to weld while he can still plow. steve

 

[stevieb49829]

Yep.

My driveway is pretty much straight, 300' straight up one way and 300' straight down the other.

A snow packed driveway is a skating rink after a mild spell and some rain. I scrape right to the ground and clean the mess up in the spring.

Yup, a lawn broom and a scoop shovel, before the grass starts to sprout. I just got back indoors from replenishing the gravel on my lawn. 5 inches of heavy wet snow when the ground/gravel is soft. steve

 

[trouttman]

I turn the blade backwards, it will get it down to about 1/2 - 1", drive on it a few times and most of it is gone or melt if sun hits it.
Trouttman