Snow Tractor

[Jim in Western MI]

First time this relocated southern boy had snow to plow. (At age 70, any new experience is great!) Though without chains or weighted tires,
the old tired 8N plowed about 3/4 mile of a 4" dry, powder today..., though mostly level ground and mild slopes. I had split a 1 1/2"
Schedule 40 PVC electrical conduit to put on the bottom of the 7' blade, according to a recommendation here to prevent gouging the gravel
base. And it worked absolutely perfect until it hit a large, imbedded rock and tore it up. I think with chains and maybe a Schedule 80
conduit, this will be a great snow mover.

 

[Jerry9N]

Chains will make a huge difference. I put mine on around Thanksgiving and take them off in March. In very deep snow I've had to steer with the brakes, but never got stuck, even in three foot drifts.

Jerry

 

[grizz02]

put a piece of 2 1/2 steel pipe on the bottom

 

[Btzj02]

I have a .4 mile gravel drive and these work great.

 

[Kirk-NJ]

You can try to angle the blade a bit more if possible it might help. It also appears that your drive is on a little bit of an incline and I'm guessing you are have trouble when going up the drive. if this is your problem than you can plow down raise the blade and back up the driveway and put the blade on opposite angle and plow down again. If you are in an area where you get a lot of snow you will need chains. Chains are more important then adding weight IMO.

 

[Lynn Patrick]

Chains are more important then adding weight IMO.

X2 on that Kirk!

 

[formerjackman]

For small depths of powdery snow like that, i turn the blade backwards and at 45 degrees and it works fairly well for not taking gravel with it

 

[Blackhole49]

Chains will definitely help for icy conditions. If it were me, I would load the tires with washer fluid also/first.

 

[Colin King]

Looking good! Chains are really helpful. I also use CaCl filled tires. With both, my N is almost unstoppable, though steering with the breaks has a learning curve.

I've found the reversing the blade and pushing the snow while operating in reverse works better for larger or heavier snows.

Colin, MN

 

[wore out]

NICE machine, but when I clicked on the title of your post THIS is what I expected to see!

<img src = "https://i.imgur.com/gj1Vsg8.jpg">

 

[Joe.S.AK]

Not that I have a LOT of plowing experience - but - I keep a spray can of heavy duty Silicone spray in the house and before I start plowing I spray the blade with it. That seems to increase the 'throwing' ability of the blade, somewhat - especially in wet snow.

Also works on wood splitter wedges as well.

- Joe -

 

[Pete in Holland MI]

Is your tractor a "southern tractor" too? If so, check that the tires are not filled with water, that the radiator has the proper mix of antifreeze, the air filter has no water in the oil, and that you've cracked the drains in the rear end to ensure there is no water in there. Things freeze & break things up in these parts.

 

[showcrop]

(quoted from post at 11:22:19 01/21/21) NICE machine, but when I clicked on the title of your post THIS is what I expected to see!

&lt;img src = "https://i.imgur.com/gj1Vsg8.jpg"&gt;

Wore out, that is what I expected to! LOL. For those who haven't seen it there is a You tube video of it.

Jim, you could replace the PVC with ABS which is much less brittle.