Snow Removal Question

[Steve Frazier]

I got to surfing Youtube this afternoon and came across this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuNUOVRoJiI&feature=related

My question is why the operator would run the front wheel up on the windrow the way he is? I'm not a grader operator at all, I've only sat in the seat with them shut off as a kid, but as an observer it doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

 

[grandpa]

Because he don't know what he's doing, thats why

 

[smoothoperator]

Just guessing, but by looking at the street he is trying to clean, he may have made a pass down the other side first, and that's where his windrow ended up. No blue tops to follow, so he is already rubbing as hard as he can to try to get the hardpack broken loose and move it. It looks like he may have curb or sidewalk to deal with, and you never know about water valves,manholes, or drains that he may be watching for. He is balancing maximum cutting with trying to keep moving forward. I'm glad you presented your question the way you did. I've watched some equipment videos on youtube, and it is really sad and sickening how some of the comments are thrown at the operators. One comment from an "expert" was wondering why he didn't roll his moldboard back so the snow would "roll" more easily. He was pitched forward to use the sharpened edge of his blade to cut the ice/hardpack from the pavement. Roll it back after everything is cut loose, roll more snow into your windrow, and resharpen your edge. Unless we are sitting in his seat, we don't know what he is really dealing with.

smoothoperator...vented

 

[JDOFMEMI]

One thought on the tire in the windrow is that the snow may be providing more traction than the ice on the street. Thats also why he would have the rear end kicked over on the fresh snow instead of flat on the ice. I agree with smoothoperator above, especially about the "expert" comments.

 

[BDFT]

Looks like he`s doing just fine to me. The front axle pivots in the centre so it doesn't `t matter that much where the front wheels are in this application. Remember, he is working on pavement so he can put all the down pressure he wants on the blade. As long as his driving wheels are on the hard level ground he`s going to get the job done. Let`s face it, plowing snow and ice like that isn`t rocket science.

 

[muzy]

Yup, he may have been getting better traction. As that looks like a 6x6. But I have been away from that type of equipment for a long time. muzy

 

[AlbertaAl]

If you look closely you can see that the operator has the rear of the machine articlated over to the sidewalk on the street. This leaves the front wheels in the middle of the street on the windrow. Articlating the machine gives it a bit more mechanical advantage, making it cut a little easier. Also it makes anything on the street easier to see and it may improve traction!

Cheers Al

 

[grandpa]

Well I don't know what qualifies one as an "expert" but I have plowed snow in northern Minnesota for 41 consecutive years without missing a year.... that said, I've never seen the advantage to plowing your steering axle thru a pile of snow like that...... just saying.

 

[Grader4me]

Lol...a lot of fancy dancy explainations...not the way to do it..plain and simple..lol.

 

[770G]

I don't think there would be a benefit to running that wheel through the windrow like that. I think id try maybe just a bit less articulation to get that wheel out of that windrow. But that being said, criticize all you want.... He's getting it done and pulling up lots of hard pack an ice.

 

[hogrst]

It said in the video that the snow and ice was being loaded with a blower so maybe he's running his tire on the windrow to break up the big chunks ? Just a thought.

 

[Grader4me]

Not criticizing..just making a point about running the front wheel over the windrow. Notice that the grader was bouncing when riding on the windrow. Problem was that he was near full articulation and sort of drifted out on the windrow. Now..thats not the end of the world as probably many of us had been in a similar situation. As you said he got the job done. The orginal question was basically is this proper procedure...answer is no. He had lots of room between the curb and the windrow if he kept the grader straight, and it would have been easier to control. I don't think traction would have been an issue. Just my take for what its worth...

 

[770G]

Maybe it's a new grader for him and he never had an articulating machine before just a kid with a new toy lol. I now when I went from my 740 champion to my 770G John Deere I was articulated every chance I could.... Was it necessary? Hell No lol

 

[Steve Frazier]

As I mentioned, I've never operated a grader but I've done snow removal for over 30 years. And again, as an observer, it would appear to me that it would be easier to maintain the level of the blade with all the wheels riding on a more level surface than on the windrow the way he is. I do see the visibility advantage, especially as the machine passes the camera.

 

[hougie]

i think hogrst has it spot on.

 

[Grader4me]

Lol...me to 770g! Now I'm going to throw something at ya..I bit off topic but oh well..When I was in Labrador there was 2 of us leveling..I noticed that the other operator most times had his grader in full articulation..even making the final passes. I asked him what was the advantage of doing that as I was mystified as hell. He told me that its alot smoother (no bounce). Of course I tried it, as a person is never to old to learn something new. I did find some difference but found it awkward, so it was straight on for me most passes..lol.

 

[Colorado Digger]

i am no blade hand but he seems to be cutting the pack and moving right along. maybe that's just where that front wheel ends up at the moment he is plowing that little road.

 

[ovrszd]

Not trying to stir the pot, but, the only way you can get good visibility of the very end of the moldboard in a CAT M model is articulate and use the door glass as your windshield. If he straightened the chassis and pulled the moldboard end in until it's near his tire edge and then tried to clean the curbs he wouldn't have very good visibility of the end of the moldboard at all.

He's cleaning against sidewalks and curbs most of the time in the video. He doesn't care what's going on in the middle of the road. If you look closely at the operator he is concentrating and staring constantly at the end of the moldboard.

Lastly, I agree with the comments about not taking a dig at the operator without being in the seat. If we were given the task in that situation and in that machine, after a few minutes we would probably set the machine up just like he did or something very similar....

 

[770G]

Grader4me.... Less bounce eh! Sweet I like it. I'm all other that like a fat kid on a smartie!! now is that some articulation or all the way?

 

[BrianHay]

I am kind of surprised no one has mentioned one possible reason for articulating. If your back wheels have little traction then your back end tends to want to slide over when you are blading. Articulating properly helps to counter that and keep you moving forward in a straight line.....pushing a windrow to the right will push the machine to the left if it does not have enough traction to hold it's line.

I also agree that he may be trying to grab more traction running his front wheel on the windrow. There is no doubt that snow provides better traction than ice.

That is a good thought about the level of the blade Steve. But the front wheels move up and down independently to the rest of the machine (to a point). So in this situation would have little or no effect at all on the blade.