Suggestions Please

To start, I do have 28 years experience plowing snow from a 115ft drive and 250ft turn-a-round. Never had a issue after realizing I had to push the 1st snow at least 50 ft into the front & side yards to have room for the next however many dumps we got. Generally I would wait till the level reached about 10" if it was all coming at the same time. I have had times where the levels were hip high from drifts when other areas might be ankle - knee high...again, no issues. Last night I tried to remove 7" from a 100ft L shaped drive with a 47 2N. This turned out to be the worst experience I have ever had. Scenario is the tractor is running great, new "rear" 5ft blade, AG tires but with dual chains. Gotta admit, the old girl spun from time to time, left wheel, then right digging in to get er done. She really huffed along moving a LOT of snow and all at less than half throttle in 1st and reverse with the Sherman in low. In the end, I made a lot of noise ( for those that were sleeping ) from 10pm till 1am, moved a lot of snow but accomplished zilch other than to make a "spot" for our Maltese to take a dump when needed. Most of the problem seemed to be from keeping the "rear" blade under control. After 2 1/2 hours, it seems I have the same amount of snow in the driveway...just re-arranged. Again, let me remind you that I have plowed 6 of my neighbors driveways which all were a min of 100ft and mine. In the morning, looking out the window at last nights efforts will be very embarrassing.
Suggestions short of calling AAA.
 
If'N you wait for 10 inches in depth, you should plan on moving the snow "sideways" across the driveway. Make the path extra wide. as YOU back the blade raise the blade to form the boundary.

You should have skids mounted on the blade to keep the blade 'bout 2 inches off the roadway.

Eventually you will get used to looking backwaards. Keep the blade straight.

Finally reverse the blade and finish up loose ends while going forward pretty fast. Angle blade about 30 deg.

Hope this helps.

John,PA
 
If all that you have is a rear blade then you have no choice but to keep pushing until you get the area cleared. I used a rear blade on an 8N to clear snow for 20 years. It works but can be difficult. Reverse in an N tractor is too fast and it is difficult to control steering backwards. I finally got a front mounted blade. Pushing snow forward with a N tractor is a lot easier than pushing it backwards. However, deep heavy snow is still difficult to clear. I would suggest that you look for a front mounted blade.
 

You don't say weather you are pushing or pulling. I agree with others that you have to push. you are just severely "hemmed in" no fault of your own. I think that I would just work down one side pushing it off on the diagonal, then back on the other. You may have no choice but to hire someone with a loader to stack it for you. Or better yet to blow it over your piles.
 
Rear blade-turned to 30 degree backward push- to side of drive-fast speed reverse-lifting up just as its at side of drive (lifting while spinning adds weight to tires and lessens drag on plow).
Parking lot for dog dump- flat blade-same reverse-full throttle-lifting as the tractor starts to falter.
Me- 2N loaded tires, cross chain on worn tire- center link on AG bar (don't like AG bar for chains)- 2-3 feet drifted heavy snow (can walk on snow)same slight angle- Sherman in high- try head on first- blade at 6". If no go- push to side with same scenario- to side- lifting as faltering.
Neighbor with 1/8 mile drive (N-S terrible with Lake Michigan effect-30 MPH- NW wind- kept drifting back so fast that 4X4 stalled.
He gave up-drove in field next to it- didn't plow rest of winter. My neighbor came in with 6 wheel Ford bulldozer and moved everything, for me, back farther so my 2N could handle it again.
Snow so deep and heavy, and ground not frozen, that they have to plow a road in field to handle big manure spreaders, pulled by 8 wheel tractor.
HTH Charles Krammin SW MI "snow belt"
 
I'd park it and get out 1 of my bigger tractors with live power, fluid filled tires, better hyd systems and stop bothering the neighbors that late at night.
 
"Most of the problem seemed to be from keeping the "rear" blade under control."

What control issues were you having?
 
Lowering the blade to about 1" above the asphalt and pulling forward to drag the yard for the dog, the blade would slowly raise. At times lowering the blade, it would continue to drop slowly till the tractor lost traction causing the chains to take over. Raise the blade a bit to continue, again the blade would slowly raise. Just cant seem to put the blade in one place expecting to stay there till a height change is needed. I think I read somewhere about this B4 regarding 9 & 2N"s...not sure but def experienced it last night.
 
Good you can do that. Myself, I don't respect those who don't respect me but would try to wave me over into their driveway. Ben there/done that...no more.
 
Both pushing & pulling. Angled, straight, didn't seem to matter. The other tractor I had was my grandfathers 11hp cub lo boy with a 3 1/2ft garden blade. 10" was nothing for that tractor. Turf tires and chains for 28 years. It's almost 5" of slush out there now at 54* so I'm heading back out to rearrange the slush. Expecting a few more inches tonight but the temps are rising so that won't be a round long.
 
If all that you have is a rear blade then you have no choice but to keep pushing until you get the area cleared.

That's what I was trying to do. I don't mind (yet) looking & driving backwards. I guess I just over-loaded this N. It was one of those heavy non-stop 10" snows with rain towards the end that crusted the top. Couldn't see plowing 1/2 way through the storm.
 
With the house, garage, well and other things on this property, there is no moving snow across the drive. I could in Maryland. I pushed it in all directions a good 50-75ft across the drive out into yard to make room for more later. That worked well. Here I have to push it out of the drive and across the street or distribute it along my fence best I can. No HOA here, just closer than rural.
 
Wooosh! Wouldn't even want to deal with snow like that. What we got last night is rare for this area so the natives say. Well, just turned 63 today. Have seen changes in the weather patterns in just my time as I am sure a lot of you guys have. Just gotta do what you gotta do I guess.
 
I have a 53 with 6ft rear blade. In Michigan. Over 5ft of snow this season. Plow my 100ft+ gravel, and 200ft neighbors(blacktop). Both rear tires loaded. Snow drifts, grass to hip high(say 3 ft). I pull and push. Sometime best method has been to pull small bites of large drift to get to area of yard with little snow. once there push into piles, can get as high as hood of tractor, and then move the snow from drifts into areas I have cleared. Have just pushed snow into areas that I never have had to before. feel you frustration. i'm sure your neighbors appreciate your efforts.
 
Dito John your like me, 99% members are here to help others just want to let you know their toy box has more toys then you do.
 
I second the Zane Thang.
The 9N/2N do not hold the 3 pt in one position without it.
The are constant "draft" mode, meaning they will adjust themselves.
The Zane Thang adds position control so it will stay where you put it.
 
That's okay. More toys just means the need for deeper pockets, more space to keep em, more upkeep, fuel etc. To my way of thinking it's a waste but to each his or her own. One good tractor can & will do anything I want to do around here. During breakfast, my wife looked out the windows to see what I did last night. She knows very well how I managed snow in Maryland with the IH. Being from Brasil, I was surprised how fast she caught on but she had never seen snow before I brought her here so it fascinated her. Her response was "simple solution" sell the Ford and buy forward. Even one with heat since I'm getting older. She opened a dream thought and reminded me about getting attached to "things". We'll see. I already spent $$ and 4 years refurbishing this N. Said I'd never do that again after the last Jaguar. I can enjoy Leno's garage & won't cost a cent.
 
Well, looked into the Zane write-up. I also see there are several on the market. Some with free DIY plans, awards given for safety on the farm design and all reaching the same goal it seems. Zane's seems to be a good way to go. For what he's asking, it "could possibly" buy a few more years for this N & me to continue to be buddies. IF I happen across a front mount blade set-up, that might be the icing on the cake since that's what I was accustomed to for many past years.

Thanks everyone for your input.
John
 
Just called ZANE, had a "great" conversation and will go this route. Might just be what this N (&me) needs.
Thanks everyone,
John
 
ya use what ya got
fab up some brackets so you can put some plow shoes on the blade.
use sway bars to keep it straight behind you and help with impacts.
blade facing rearwards, straight across.
lift control all the way down. the shoes will hold it up some and
are adjustable for different conditions, snow depths.
some blades need some added weight.
bull your way thru. The first pass you might have to V this way then that way to get thru.
Once open, angle the blade to sweep the loose off.
(I just leave my front and rear blades straight all the time.
takes a few more passes to clean up the side spill, but works better at bulling thru deep snow)

a Zane thing would make things easier.
best solution is to find/make a front blade that will fit.
 

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