BX1850 with BX2750: Need ballast?

[SuperFly]

Hi guys,

I'm new to tractors and recently bought a BX1850 with a FEL and the 54" MMM. I'm about to look at a used BX2750 snowblower, and I'm wondering if I'll need ballast while using it. I know I'll want ballast for the FEL, but if I don't need it for the snowblower, then I can hold off on it a little while.

My driveway is 3/4" crusher run, flat, and about 80' long (double wide). We get a ton of lake effect, so I expect to use the blower a lot.

Thanks!

 

[RCW]

Superfly -

I use a BX2750 on my BX2360. We've had 2 rough winters, but living south of you, we don't get the lake effect like you do (I'm OK with that)!

First year, no ballast. Last year left my box blade on. I have hills, that's where ballast helped.

You need to have rear tires loaded, and you may be fine on the flat. Knowing the snow you get - you will want good rear chains. What tires you have - R1's, R4's, turfs?

Stone drives can push a little hard until you get some packed base built up. I leave first couple snowfalls if possible, and my shoes down all the way at first - leave 1" or so. After a base is there, I raise the shoes up to leave half-inch or so. I do part of the lawn so the dog has a place to go, so can't scrape at all. The picture is from early last year - had about 3 feet on the flat later. Still, nothing compared to what you guys can get.

 

[SuperFly]

Thanks very much for the reply, and you totally answered my question. I wasn't even thinking...we're in a new house to us. I'll want to make a path around the back for our dog to run, and that's where the property is hilly.

I'm used to establishing a good base. Our last drive was stone too and I always packed the first couple snowfalls down with the truck. I did the same as you with the shoes on my walk behinds.

I have turfs, and I hadn't thought about chains. Ary recommendations there? And what size box blade do you have? I have two projects planned for next year where I'd use one, so that's what I'm planning on getting for ballast.

I like your auxiliary lights too. It seems that most of my snowblowing is done at 5am, so I bet those are real handy.

Thanks so much, I appreciate it!

 

[Grouse Feathers]

SuperFly
As RCW said, loaded rear tires is the best place to start for ballast. On my BX2370 in addition to my BX5455 snow blower, (a little bigger and heavier the the BX2370) I use a rear blade for snow removal around the building. I drag the snow out so I can better blow it away from the buildings. It sort of depends on your layout as to the how useful a rear blade would be. If you have no other uses for a rear blade a cheap used one will work fine. The one I used last year was only 150# and provided all a the additional ballast (with loaded rear tires) I needed for the snow blower. Normally when blowing snow you have the hydraulics in the float position and the weight of the snow blower is on the ground and not on the tractor. That may not be true where you are. If you have to move deep snow or drifts in two passes with the blower raised on the first pass, ballast may be more critical for you.

Turf tires actually work best in the snow due to more biting edges. I agree however that your conditions may require chains, especially when you get off the driveway to make your dog paths. You don't want to get stuck in the back yard where you may have trouble getting any help.

There are numerous threads on LED lights and a search will give you way more information on what to buy and how to hook them up then I could put in one post. They have become really cheap and require very little current so they are perfect for a tractor electrical system.