Snow Pushing

[Richard1234]

Any advice regarding clearing snow with a Big Bear 350? 

I've a long straight driveway to clear at a new hobby acreage and we got lots of fresh snow!  Is it any better to angle the plow and run the length, or push the snow side to side into the ditches? 

I've never plowed snow before and have a steep learning curve as to what will prove more efficient! 

Any advice from the experienced would be appreciated!

[Freedomflyer]

Angle blade and run the length if you can, if you get large amounts of snow frequently and are able, pushed it WELL off each side of the driveway because it will build up making it more difficult to plow as winter drags on. Of you don't get it far enough off your driving lan will become narrower and narrower as winter progresses.

[Richard1234]

8 hours ago, Freedomflyer said:

Angle blade and run the length if you can, if you get large amounts of snow frequently and are able, pushed it WELL off each side of the driveway because it will build up making it more difficult to plow as winter drags on. Of you don't get it far enough off your driving lan will become narrower and narrower as winter progresses.

Ah, I should have signed in before I went!  It wasn't near as deep as here in the city, so I should be able to expand the narrow lane I cut.  I did end up angling the blade and made 4 passes up/down the lane.  

I was surprised how easy it pushed.  The Big Bear had no issues with tires spinning nor motor loading up even as the blade overflowed heavy wet snow.  With the long straight driveway, and room on each side, clearing the snow doesn't seem as daunting as it did before!

My only issue is that the winch isn't sensitive enough to adjust the blade an inch or two at a time.  I will need to modify how I'm grabbing it so that I can position the blade more accurately.

But over-all, seems an excellent (and kinda fun) way to clear snow!

[Fhai Catz-eteh]

I installed a light duty sheave on a swivel (snatch block configuration) instead of hooking right on to the blade mount and in slows the in/out down so you have better button resolution on the blade up/down.

[Richard1234]

Ya, I think that should work.  I'll take a look for one or even just use nylon line and a couple hooks to make one up. 

I think 3 passes would be enough.  Much more and I won't have enough distance from winch blade to lift it up and out of the way.

Thanks!  

[OldDawg]

FWIW, on my Kawasaki Bayou 300 4x4, the guy I bought it from made a plow winch from a Mercedes car power window motor and mounted it on the front rack.  Used the original power window buttons.  Works fine for about 45 mins-then the battery begins to struggle due to voltage drop.

[Freedomflyer]

Finally got some snow, enough to mount the plow.

[Fhai Catz-eteh]

On 11/22/2021 at 11:49 AM, Fhai Catz-eteh said:

I installed a light duty sheave on a swivel (snatch block configuration) instead of hooking right on to the blade mount and in slows the in/out down so you have better button resolution on the blade up/down.

[83BMichigan]

On 12/15/2021 at 9:40 PM, Freedomflyer said:

Finally got some snow, enough to mount the plow.

Looking forward to this kind of level up. I was looking for a used ATV but they all were snagged up or priced high. Enjoy the time!

[Freedomflyer]

Getting more snow, supposed to snow all day, not sure how heavy but have about 5 inches of new snow.

[OldDawg]

I'm over in the MT Banana Belt [Kalispell]-currently +8 with-11 forecast for tonight...

[Freedomflyer]

A bit cooler than expected 🥶😕

[Richard1234]

It's a bit nasty pushing snow when the temperature drops for sure.  The high today was -9F (-23C) (low at -22F) and with a fair bit of time mucking around trying to get the old girl started (I ended up removing the plug and heating it up) it got a bit miserable on the hands and feet. 

We've enough snow now that the original advice of pushing a wider path than you need has really come into effect! 

[jamo]

I also have a Yamaha big bear 350 with a plow. I found that the two parallel bars supporting the blade were hitting the ground before the plow blade was all the way down, leaving about 3 inches of snow that wasn't plowed. I had to bore new holes in the brackets that the blade is attached to so that the blade was several inches lower allowing it to go all the way down to the ground. Much better snow removal here in Kalispell, Montana.  My battery also went dead from constantly raising and lowering the blade while plowing. Is this normal? Shouldn't the stator be charging the battery enough that this wouldn't happen?

[Freedomflyer]

Boy jamo, I haven't had that issue  with any of the machines I've had my plow on. Used a 2013 Honda Rancher, a 2018 Can Am Outlander,  and now a 2016 Outlander Max. Never had my battery run down and have done quite a lot of plowing with all 3 machines.

[OldDawg]

@ jamo:

 

Hello, neighbor!  We're about 10 mi W of Kalispell and ~ 700 feet higher than the valley so we get roughly twice the snow that Kalispell does-

[jamo]

You must be close, I'm on Rogers Lake Road!

[Richard1234]

On 12/31/2021 at 7:30 PM, jamo said:

I also have a Yamaha big bear 350 with a plow. I found that the two parallel bars supporting the blade were hitting the ground before the plow blade was all the way down, leaving about 3 inches of snow that wasn't plowed. I had to bore new holes in the brackets that the blade is attached to so that the blade was several inches lower allowing it to go all the way down to the ground. Much better snow removal here in Kalispell, Montana.  My battery also went dead from constantly raising and lowering the blade while plowing. Is this normal? Shouldn't the stator be charging the battery enough that this wouldn't happen?

I haven't had any battery issues plowing with my 350 Big Bear. 

I try to keep the blade an inch off the ground as I have a rough gravel driveway.  My blade seems to tilt a bit when I rotate it to push on an angle.  I'm not sure if the quad "rocks" or if the mount moves, but the trailing side seems lower regardless if I push left or right.  Any ideas?       

[OldDawg]

@ jamo-

A bit closer to town than you-I'm up Haywire Gulch!  I pass Rogers Lake Rd every time I make the dump run/