When to start plowing?

It's getting to be that time of year; just got me curious: How much snow do you all allow to accumulate before you start plowing?
 

I try to hold off as long as possible in hopes that the ground will freeze underneath, trying to limit the damage to my driveway and yard. But the weather doesn't always cooperate. This year our first snowfall was 8" or so, leaving me no choice but to deal with it and chew up some lawn. Ideally the ground would freeze solid before the first snow and I'd start plowing after 3"-4".
 


If you gravel is settled well and has not been"leveled" or otherwise messed with, you can use the reverse side of the blade and not cut into much of anything..

Even with the ground frozen hard, I use my rear blade in reverse all the time and only use the "Cutting Edge" if I have some hard-packed snow to loosen..
 


Actually I thought the question was going to be about "How much snow to turn down", to not trap too much Nitrogen in the soil..right up to the place I read the words "Frozen Ground"...!!

Sorry, ya just had to be there to appreciate that..
 
We've got a gravel drive. Ideally it'll snow a couple inches and the cars will pack it down for a hard surface so the blade won't eat up the gravel. Other wise i try to set the blade about an inch high. Only plow if it's around 3 inches or more. If it's a big snowstorm, like last Sunday we got 9 or so inches, I just wait until the end.
It's a little more challenging and fun. :)
 
My driveway is topped with crushed asphalt.
Expensive compared to gravel, but worth it.
I don't like to plow it off into the yard though so if the ground
isn't frozen yet I don't let the plow all the way down leaving
some of the snow on top. Say, and inch or two.
If there's less than 3 or 4 inches I don't bother plowing.
Car and truck will both go through that much snow.
 
(quoted from post at 21:32:42 12/15/16) It's getting to be that time of year; just got me curious: How much snow do you all allow to accumulate before you start plowing?

That's a situational thing and more or less a prefernce. My lane is paved and if I can I hit it as soon as the first flakes fall. It's a fairly steep and long grade so plowing significant accumulations is a royal time consuming PITA and any packed snow makes it pretty much impassable. If need be I use the cutting edge on the loader bucket and down pressure to try to keep it clean right down to the bone. It doesn't get good sun and once it ices up it can stay that way for extended periods and cuts off access to delivery people - esp. the heating fuel man ;-) Even up by the shop where it's not paved (yet) I gave up worrying about plowing off the gravel. I just plow it back in the spring....

TOH
 
We have a crushed limestone lane that is a pleasure to plow when it rains and the ground freezes as it did when this cold spell set in. I'll plow it if we get 3" of snow or more. Had to go out and open it up last night, it was drifting shut. Don't like starting the N when its near zero, but today is not going to be any better.
 

This is my first winter in my new house and first winter with my 8n. I was really concerned about getting her started in our current single digit temps but I don't even have to use the choke. She literally starts faster than my new truck. We just got the first big snow of the year last weekend. From asking and reading advice on here, as the storm was going on, I would take my truck down the driveway to pack down the snow to try to create a hard base. I also shortened up my top link to keep the blade from digging in as much. I also found a level spot and set my position control stop to where the blade was just off the ground. After the snow was packed a bit, I did do the driveway a few times during the storm with the tractor. Mostly because it was fun but also I didn't know how well the tractor would move the snow. Now that I see her capability, I'd feel safe doing 6 inches or so at one time, but I don't have chairs or loaded tires.
 
It depends on if I have to do it by hand or fire up the 8N with my Dearborn Utility Blade. If only getting a few inches, I don't waste the gas and do it by hand or with the 16" TORO. If expected to get over 6" I will try to keep drive and walks cleared so it doesn't get packed down and accumulate that it will be a bear to shovel by hand. Even the dinky little TORO can't handle a deep cut so two passes is needed. Now, all that being said, last weekend, early Sunday morning and all day into the wee hours of Monday morning, we got almost a foot of snow here in the Michigan Thumb region. I fired up my 8N( original 6-volt system by the way, turned over on third try) weather was cold at 32?F and tractor was outside but covered. Have my Dearborn Utility Blade hitched for snow plowing. Proceeded to plow out myself and several neighbors. We have a new, single, elderly woman now near us so I decided to plow her out too. Unbeknownst to me, her drive was a few inches above the ground/sod level so when I went to make a pass across her drive, the blade caught the lip of the concrete and promptly broke the mainframe (pipe) of the plow -see pix below. The mainframe is a steel pipe, about 3-3/4"-4" in diameter with an ID of 3-7/16". I cannot get to my trailer to load it all up and get over to the farm to repair it or even get my sister Dearborn Blade I have there in the barn. Debating if I should drive over to the farm today and hitch up my spare. Currently at 10?F at 0900 here in Hooterville. Wind chill is in the minus area. The farm is 6 miles away, mostly on a major two-lane highway, but my steering box is FUBAR and so I cannot go in 3rd or 4th gear without the front end shimmying out of control. Add the fact that the road shoulders are pretty much non-existent with snow mounds, it will be a challenge for sure. Oh yeah, also required by law to have a SMV (Slow Moving Vehicle)) sign on the rear of tractor centrally located. That's one of those reflective fluorescent orange triangles that are only to be used as such yet you see folks use them to mark their driveways and property right-of-ways. Plus, guess where my SMV sign is? Yep, over in the barn with the spare blade. Getting myself psyched up for the drive, might be an 8-hour affair. They say we are getting another 8" on Saturday, tomorrow, so I best go get it...meantime here's what happened to my 69 year old Dearborn Blade...

DEARBORN%20UTILITY%20BLADE%2007_zpsejdsamy6.jpg

DEARBORN%20UTIITY%20BLADE%2001_zpshcqdeym4.jpg

DEARBORN%20UTILITY%20BLADE%2003_zpsfubkhca0.jpg

DEARBORN%20UTILITY%20BLADE%2004_zpsgmfevqgq.jpg

DEARBORN%20UTILITY%20BLADE%2002_zpsinvckat9.jpg

DEARBORN%20UTILITY%20BLADE%2008_zps4mxlcnak.jpg


Tim *PloughNman* Daley(MI)
 
I prefer to wait until there is around 3" myself, at home anyway. Less than that and vehicles can still get in and out fine and it just causes more wasted time and trouble than it does good. Here in NE Kansas we haven't been getting a good solid ground freeze for the past few years...at least not enough to freeze the gravel driveway solid. It will freeze enough for snow to stick but the gravel is still mobile when plowed too aggressively. I welded a piece of 1 1/2 or 2" pipe (can't remember which now) to the cutting edge on my snow plow. Haven't actually gotten to USE it yet but the little piddly 1 1/2" snow I did take it out in, it didn't move hardly any gravel. I was very pleased!

The farmer I used to work for subcontracted snow removal in town and the property owner wanted us to start plowing when we hit 2" and keep going over it until the snow stopped. Where I work now, we go out and run all the sidewalks and entrances with any amount of winter precipitation but they won't call in the contractor to clear plow the parking lots unless we get 3" in one shot...if we get 2" today and 2" two days later, they won't call...it has to be in one event.
 
Dan-
When/if it gets all compacted down and forms ice, can you spread some sand on it or is it cost prohibitive? Chains on the tractor probably don't help much in that case either.

Tim *PloughNman* Daley(MI)
 
(quoted from post at 10:16:17 12/16/16) Dan-
When/if it gets all compacted down and forms ice, can you spread some sand on it or is it cost prohibitive? Chains on the tractor probably don't help much in that case either.

Tim *PloughNman* Daley(MI)

When push comes to shove I hit the spots that are the most trouble with a combination of chemicals and sand. I try to keep the chemicals to a minimum because they are hard on the pavement. But even sanded the LP driver who I know well will not risk his truck on the hill if it is snow/ice covered and I don't blame him....

TOH
 
Kenockee, I'm one of your neighbors in Clyde Twp. I have 2 8n's, one front blade one back blade. On the back blade I use 2 Sway bar brackets, grind out the holes a bit and they blot right on. They raise the blade just enough that I can move snow on gravel driveways without digging in. I use the front blade mostly on cement/blacktop drives. Although I did put a stop on the hydro lever to stop the blade from going all the way to the ground. Hope this helps. Feel free to stop over and take a look if you want.
 
I have crushed concrete (previous gravel), that dips and dives with grass higher on sides. I have a Dearborn J-1 bulldozer/snowplow (spring on blade or solid strap for bulldozer)with rear axle depth stop chains. It is on a 46 2N with Sherman step-up, loaded tires and chains. I have tried commercial skids on outside of blade. They still dig in the crushed concrete on non frozen ground and blade at non tilt. Have come to conclusion I need lawnmower deck wheels for depth control. I also have an adjustable chain stop from draw bar to top link mount, that I can use for depth control.
The first snow this year, I finally adjusted the chain axle depth limiter, for leaving 1" of wet snow. It worked about as good as anything and now I can switch to blade spring and plow at 7 MPH.
Combination of the above might be applicable to back blade. As an example I make my own rear mounts fender mounts, with the depth limiter chain slot. The 2 1/2" angle iron fender mounts can be purchased at tractor supply and the chain slot welded on. another would the adjustable chain limiter from top 3 point
 
The best time to plow is before your wife gets stuck in the driveway. If you wait till afterwards no amount of plowing will dig you out of the mess you're in.
 
(quoted from post at 13:43:23 12/16/16) The best time to plow is before your wife gets stuck in the driveway. If you wait till afterwards no amount of plowing will dig you out of the mess you're in.

words of wisdom right there.
 
(quoted from post at 14:43:23 12/16/16) The best time to plow is before your wife gets stuck in the driveway. If you wait till afterwards no amount of plowing will dig you out of the mess you're in.
From what you've heard. Right? ;)
 
(quoted from post at 10:43:23 12/16/16) The best time to plow is before your wife gets stuck in the driveway. If you wait till afterwards no amount of plowing will dig you out of the mess you're in.

The only thing that will make it worse is if you were told to go out and plow before and you chose not to. If this is the case you may not need to plow her out because she'll be steaming enough to melt the snow for quite a ways.
 
(quoted from post at 21:32:42 12/15/16) It's getting to be that time of year; just got me curious: How much snow do you all allow to accumulate before you start plowing?

As I said in an earlier reply - that is a situational decision. We were scheduled to fly out of BWI at 9:25 AM this morning headed to Miami but the sleet started around 4 AM and when I fired up the AWD at 6:30 there was about 1" of coarse sleet/ice on the lane. After [u:0b34265f4b][b:0b34265f4b]creeping[/b:0b34265f4b][/u:0b34265f4b] down the last half of our lane (I planned ahead and left the car down below the steeper part) the county road was in the same shape. Couldn't get out either end of the county road - even it is too steep to get down without sliding into a ditch - and we are now back at the house waiting on a rescheduled 6:00 PM flight. So in this situation with just a one inch accumulation things need to be plowed (and salted) ;-)

TOH
 
Me? I wait till it's done, leave the dozer (Cat D4), TLB and Ford with blade sit, fire up a big tractor with a blower and HEATED CAB!

As far as the wife getting stuck in the drive? Don't worry about it! They want equal rights! She knows where the snow shovel is!

Rick
 
(quoted from post at 10:43:23 12/16/16) The best time to plow is before your wife gets stuck in the driveway. If you wait till afterwards no amount of plowing will dig you out of the mess you're in.

One time my wife got off the road and called me to come pull her out. When I got there I told her I thought I could drive it out. She puffed up and told me it was stuck. I got in her car, backed it up a little and drove it slowly out of the ditch.

The lesson learned here is....when she says she's stuck...just hook a chain on it and pull it out. :)
 
Scott,as i was reading your post i thought , boy that sounds like something my wife would do. i still think all women came out of the same mold. just go get the chain sounds the right thing to do. by the way, is this tractor related ? Ken
 
(quoted from post at 18:29:40 12/19/16) Scott,as i was reading your post i thought , boy that sounds like something my wife would do. i still think all women came out of the same mold. just go get the chain sounds the right thing to do. by the way, is this tractor related ? Ken

Yep, this is my wife retriever. Tractor, and chain.

standard.jpg
 
(quoted from post at 07:32:42 12/16/16) It's getting to be that time of year; just got me curious: How much snow do you all allow to accumulate before you start plowing?

That's a EZ one I can answer that question. I have only had to plow one time that was 2000 we got 24" overnight. I pushed the snow off around the mail box the state plow piled up so the mail man could get to my mail box.

Other than dat I fire up the 4X4 pick'em up make a few runs up and down the drive and call it a day. It will melt off were the tar tracks were in a day are so. I turn the heat on high in the shop and enjoy the peace life is good...

I don't understand why Y'all get all worked up over a little snow nature melts it no other work required... :D
 

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