Snowplowing

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matwyukm
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Snowplowing

Post by matwyukm » Sun Nov 24, 2019 2:41 pm

Perhaps a dumb question, but has anyone used thier dozer to plow snow? Any problems doing it?

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Lavoy
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Re: Snowplowing

Post by Lavoy » Sun Nov 24, 2019 7:27 pm

More times than I can remember.
Lavoy
Parts and restoration for antique and late model John Deere crawlers.
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Stan Disbrow
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Re: Snowplowing

Post by Stan Disbrow » Mon Nov 25, 2019 5:37 am

Hi,

Me, too. The main thing is put the skid shoes on. Keeps the work down in the spring pushing the stone from the snowbanks back onto the road. ;)

Stan
There's No Such Thing As A Cheap Crawler!

Useta Have: '58 JD 420c 5-roller w/62 inside blade
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Jim B
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Re: Snowplowing

Post by Jim B » Mon Nov 25, 2019 5:39 am

Crawlers have plowed miles and miles of roads and yards for woods operations. Years ago many towns had crawlers with "Vee" plows and double wings to open their public roads, There are still a few of them around here, but not used now. I use mine for work in our wood lot (making roads for the wheel tractors to the yard) and in the driveway at times to break up ice/hard packed snow and to push the snow banks back rather than beat up on the plow truck. Drawbacks may be a rough ride and you can take a ride if it starts sliding sideways on ice or hard pack.

B Town
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Re: Snowplowing

Post by B Town » Mon Nov 25, 2019 1:52 pm

One concern maybe the type of pads you have. I have seen non-snow/ice pads pack enough snow/ice in the chain that it will bind the sprocket or cause the sprocket to skip. Without snow/ice pads or ice chalks, do not get sideways on a slope. The grousers act like ice skates, which is great fun until the track on the lower side hits a frozen object in the ground. I guess the last piece of advise i can offer is to park on wooden boards to avoid track freeze down. Good luck, Bruce

matwyukm
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Re: Snowplowing

Post by matwyukm » Mon Nov 25, 2019 8:59 pm

Thanks much. Kinda what I thought. But figured I'd check with the extensive experience here. Planning on just keeping my u.p. Michigan camp open. Pretty level drive.

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Lavoy
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Re: Snowplowing

Post by Lavoy » Mon Nov 25, 2019 10:27 pm

Plowing snow with one of these is a blast, I'll do it just for fun.
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Parts and restoration for antique and late model John Deere crawlers.
Owner and moderator www.jdcrawlers.com

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Paul Buhler
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Re: Snowplowing

Post by Paul Buhler » Fri Dec 27, 2019 5:22 pm

Good advice already given. My two cents is to be sure to dig out your tracks nightly so the center idler doesn't freeze up if you have one. Ice and frozen dirt turns to concrete that binds to front idlers and sprockets, and adjustor springs. I park on planks too. Have fun.
Paul Buhler
Killington, VT
420c 5 roll with 62 blade, FOPS, and Gearmatic 8a winch

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puzlrock
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Re: Snowplowing

Post by puzlrock » Thu Aug 05, 2021 10:45 am

:mrgreen: :mrgreen: I have ice bars welded on my grousers to stop the sleigh rides, love plowing snow. Did it for years with a wheel tractor, be hard to go back.

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