RED-Z06 2,455 #1 Posted January 25 On Tuesday we got almost a foot of snow in Florida, it starter at 10:30am and snowed until 9:30pm. Around 1pm i tried to plow with the 416-H and 48" blade but it was clear before i left my yard it wasn't up for it. I grabbed my 318 and put the 54" blade on and got to it, did great with unweighted turf tires up until it didn't, turns out reversing in ice isnt a thing. But i kept my roughly 1200ft road clear until the ice got bad enough i had to bring out a heavier tractor. Things i learned at 38 years old having never seen more than an inch inch of snow prior. Walking in snow sucks The ground is hard Traction isnt overrated 11⁰ with a 4⁰ windchill is unpleasant MCR Mustang Full gauntlet gloves were absolutely worth every penny. 3 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 70,389 #2 Posted January 25 Aaannnddd...... Welcome to Introduction to Winter, 101. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 13,265 #3 Posted January 25 (edited) 10 minutes ago, RED-Z06 said: Walking in snow sucks The ground is hard Traction isnt overrated 11⁰ with a 4⁰ windchill is unpleasant MCR Mustang Full gauntlet gloves were absolutely worth every penny. Boots with good traction are mandatory Yep Yep Very yep Agreed Also: Floating the blade when plowing is critical (chain lift or float on the control valve) except to clear ice or hardpack--then downforce can be useful. Plow the center of a long drive/road/path with the blade straight (snow throw to both sides), then plow from there outward using an angled blade to one side Edited January 25 by Handy Don 3 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JCM 9,993 #4 Posted January 25 Came real close to buying a 1989 JD 318 new with a SD deck for $4895.00. Gave the WH a look as well and bought my 312-8 for $ 3400.00. Hydraulic lift and angle etc, etc, on the 318, whole different ball game than a WH 312-8. Can't even find any good ones to restore. They are all pretty hammered like most WH 520's. @RED-Z06 . nice Tractor Sir. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RED-Z06 2,455 #5 Posted January 25 21 minutes ago, Handy Don said: Boots with good traction are mandatory Yep Yep Very yep Agreed Also: Floating the blade when plowing is critical (chain lift or float on the control valve) except to clear ice or hardpack--then downforce can be useful. Plow the center of a long drive/road/path with the blade straight (snow throw to both sides), then plow from there outward using an angled blade to one side I had to be careful with ground contact, the road has various repairs and defects. The blade has the trip springs but i was worried about ripping up the road, roads here are notoriously thin. I put the skids down to about 1/2" below the blade edge and just kinda ran them right on the surface. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RED-Z06 2,455 #6 Posted January 25 1 minute ago, JCM said: Came real close to buying a 1989 JD 318 new with a SD deck for $4895.00. Gave the WH a look as well and bought my 312-8 for $ 3400.00. Hydraulic lift and angle etc, etc, on the 318, whole different ball game than a WH 312-8. Can't even find any good ones to restore. They are all pretty hammered like most WH 520's. @RED-Z06 . nice Tractor Sir. My 48" blade on the 416-H is handy, it just lacks the weight the others have, the angle mechanism is a bit clumsy too, especially when it freezes 😐. This tractor was real rough; but it got parked a decade or more prior because someone swapped in a new Onan/Limamar engine and couldn't figure out the wiring. 3 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 70,389 #7 Posted January 25 29 minutes ago, RED-Z06 said: My 48" blade on the 416-H is handy, it just lacks the weight the others have, the angle mechanism is a bit clumsy too, especially when it freezes 😐. That's where the appropriate lube comes in. In freezing world Maine here it would be second nature for many of us. Just not something you've had to deal with. Our plows don't freeze up. Ever. 29 minutes ago, RED-Z06 said: This tractor was real rough; Excellent work on that one!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 13,265 #8 Posted January 25 2 hours ago, RED-Z06 said: I had to be careful with ground contact, the road has various repairs and defects. The blade has the trip springs but i was worried about ripping up the road, roads here are notoriously thin. I put the skids down to about 1/2" below the blade edge and just kinda ran them right on the surface. Ah, yes! “Local conditions may vary”. Not a good idea to rip up the pavement, for sure! I worry about breaking up the sidewalk by catching a joint or crack so I’ve tilted the top of the blade forward some to make the scraper edge less aggressive. I have skids also but I need to work on the mounts so that they slide flat with the blade tilted--right now the ride a bit tilted but they do help keep the blade up. It is interesting that neither the WH or JD hydro lifts have an easily set hard lower travel limit while in “float” mode. Both @Ed Kennell and I have added a front centering bracket to our tractors that also provides this. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RED-Z06 2,455 #9 Posted January 26 3 hours ago, ebinmaine said: That's where the appropriate lube comes in. In freezing world Maine here it would be second nature for many of us. Just not something you've had to deal with. Our plows don't freeze up. Ever. Excellent work on that one!! It was under a tarp (only had room inside for the water cooled tractors, C100 and 702, and water got on the front blade pivot, it was about 3" encased in ice, couldn't release the pin to pivot it from straight, wasn't worth spending time on at that point and risk damaging something. I had taken it out through the yard and didnt like how the steering felt going through ice and snow, the front tires just wanted to stop turning. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RED-Z06 2,455 #10 Posted January 26 1 hour ago, Handy Don said: Ah, yes! “Local conditions may vary”. Not a good idea to rip up the pavement, for sure! I worry about breaking up the sidewalk by catching a joint or crack so I’ve tilted the top of the blade forward some to make the scraper edge less aggressive. I have skids also but I need to work on the mounts so that they slide flat with the blade tilted--right now the ride a bit tilted but they do help keep the blade up. It is interesting that neither the WH or JD hydro lifts have an easily set hard lower travel limit while in “float” mode. Both @Ed Kennell and I have added a front centering bracket to our tractors that also provides this. The 416 has no float, or rather...it always floats, theres no downpressure at all. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
