Plowing the road with BX1870

[JackJ]

We had our first significant snowfall of the year: about 3.5 inches, which I know just counts as a dusting for some of you. I live on a hilly one mile dead end road where the homeowners association pays for it to be plowed, but we're cheap, so it sometimes take the guy a while to get to us.

It was slick today, and with the morning off, I did what I could with my FEL and box blade. That combination will work fine for my driveway, and a few of my neighbors, but I stopped on the way to work at the local tractor store and bought a used 5' rear blade (though I'm sad to say it's green), which I'll use some on the road. (Wish I could take on the job and be the one to get paid for it, but I'm not consistently available, and it would take me far longer than the guy with the big pickup plow.)

Here's my question: Am I ok running up and down the hills in high range and 4wd while plowing snow with my little BX? Top speed is less than 8 mph, and it doesn't feel unsafe to be plowing on the road at that speed. But I don't want to overtax my machine.

One reason I'm concerned is that today I heard a slight change in the sound from the transmission, and at the same time it seemed to be down on power. This was after I'd been out for an hour or so, doing a few of my neighbors' drives, and then hitting the road at high speed. Taking it out of 4wd seemed to stop the strange noise, and I kept it low range for a while too. Later, high range 4wd seemed normal, so not sure what was going on. Maybe some slight binding in the 4wd linkage? Or maybe the HST getting too hot? (Ambient temps were right around freezing--not that cold, but cold enough that I didn't think I'd need to worry about anything overheating. Fluid levels in transmission and front axle are good, and HST fan is intact.)

I've never run in 4wd and high range before today, and don't see any time I would other than plowing snow on the road. But I absolutely needed the 4wd to keep moving. Is this within normal operating parameters? Or am I pushing it?

 

[MadMax31]

Id say try it, if its bogging and kicking drop it into Lo. I was pushing with my bucket the Sun before Thanksgiving in Hi but we only had 6". With my 7' plow pinned on in place of bucket, Im only in Lo.

 

[SLIMSHADIE]

I plow in high and 4wd, I kind of forget I even have a low unless doing dirt work. With that said Im not flying either but you can get some binding while in 4wd.

 

[cerlawson]

Chances are the hydraulic fluid got quite warm, but its not in summer. It is not the highest HP for BX so not over straining anything. I'd not worry, My theory with my BX, if it can't take it, I don't want it. If the load gets too heavy the wheels will spin as a limit on torque applied.

 

[armylifer]

While I have never moved any snow with my BX1860 yet, I have moved about 100 tons (yes, you read that right) of rock in the past almost 4 years. I have done some in both high range and low range, all in 4WD.

I noticed that when I worked my machine hard in high range (4WD) that I start to hear my front axle make a louder noise as the day wears on. At first I was concerned about it but after checking fluid levels and any obvious signs of binding or something dragging, I determined that it is normal for this machine to make strange noises when worked hard.

I have almost 600 hours on my machine now and it is still going strong. I really don't think that you have anything to worry about.

 

[JackJ]

Thanks for the reassurance. Put a couple more hours on it today, driving it to the local tractor/saw shop to pick up the blade I bought yesterday (don't own a truck, and it's only 4 miles round trip). Got some more high speed 4wd time while driving on the icy edge of the road and all seemed fine today, but didn't up the load with any plowing.

 

[lordulrich]

Not an expert by any means, but I've run my BX in high and 4x4 many times. It also pushed a lot more snow than 3.5 inches last weekend. Did you have tire chains on? If you did not have chains, I'd try that and see if you can do it without 4wd.

 

[JackJ]

Did you have tire chains on? If you did not have chains, I'd try that and see if you can do it without 4wd.

No chains. I'm hoping not to feel the need to use them, since our temps vary above and below freezing all winter, and my old lawn tractor with chains would tear up the unfrozen ground pretty bad when hauling firewood. Taking them on and off was a pain. That was one of the many reasons I used to justify the upgrade to 4wd.

I am wondering if I'll get less noise, better performance by swapping out the stock front axle SUDT2 for 80/90W gear oil, which the manual says is another option. The hydraulic fluid seems way too thin for the task, though I know nothing about the mechanical/engineering issues, and I trust that it must be well suited if Kubota uses it OEM.

 

[MikeyA]

The SUDT2 lubricates your hydrostat, pto's and rear differential...it will have no problem taking care of your front axle!! The only thing I would suggest while plowing, take it in and out of 4wd occasionally. If it slips in and out with no resistance, then everything is working fine. If you feel much resistance while taking out of 4wd, then I would try to use it more in 2wd.

 

[jkz]

I plowed snow with my BX2350 for 3 years on a 3/8 mile long flat road. I always used the FEL & rear blade & 4WD high. Never an issue as far as overworking the tractor, the only issue was the lack of weight. Traction became a real issue with 6" of heavy wet snow & up. The angled rear blade would cause the rear of the tractor to swing out & turn me sideways.

I sold that BX in August and found a used 2010 L3700SU with numerous attachments. I use a 6' blade on the rear and that results in the tractor, FEL, & blade combined for a 4200LB weight. I expect to have much more traction this year when I plow. Could get my first chance tomorrow.