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What's your hoe doing?

NH575E

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2015
Messages
1,375
Location
North, FL
Occupation
Retired Machinist
Another real good video. Not sure why, but it will not let me link it. Just search this on You tube.

THIS Is The TRUTH About Diesel Additives...​

It seems all the forums recently had an upgrade that tags all video links as a security risk. Where a You Tube video link use to automatically allow you to play in the post it now either won't post or just posts a message saying "security risk".

I didn't have the patience to sit and watch the 46 minute video. I have used Biobor JF in my fuel since the beginning and haven't had any fuel related problems. That was all the testing I need.
 

Welder Dave

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2014
Messages
15,003
Location
Canada
All depends on what you have for conditions when plowing snow.
Sometimes I just make ice and get to do the tilt a whirl, with a 15k lb machine. Sometimes it comes right up. Worst case is when the snow is wet and the ground is frozen, turns into a skateboard.
I have a gravel driveway and like to leave some snow on top to pack down. Problem is if it warms up, it melts and then re-freezes turning it into a skating rink. My driveway is wide enough I don't have to go over the edge to push the snow into the ditch. On a narrow driveway you could slide off the edge pretty easily and not be able to get back on top without chains. An icy driveway is kind of a necessary evil unless you put a little sand down but that's not much of an option on 1/4 mile long driveway.
 

aighead

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 25, 2019
Messages
2,885
Location
Dayton, OH
I think I hit some compacted spots that caused the spinning and I was definitely not on flat ground, just a hair off flat right before my gravel extension. I backed up mostly no problem but that weight and 4wd surprised me a bit. The worst I had was a couple years ago, plowing the neighborhood, the street over my right side tires went off the road, just a touch, while going uphill a little. The creek to my right was screaming at me and I puckered up more than expected!
 

HarleyHappy

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2020
Messages
942
Location
So NH
Occupation
Welder/Mechanic
No crap, we’ve been having some extremes lately.
All we need is a nor’easter in the sunshine state.
LOL!
 

Willie B

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2016
Messages
4,325
Location
Mount Tabor VT
Occupation
Electrician
We think of VT as a snowy state. We have seen 41" deep snowfalls a couple years ago. This winter we haven't had a single event that brought more than 2". I have elderly neighbors I don't want falling on ice, so I have plowed & sanded, I wouldn't have bothered to plow my own driveway.
 

NH575E

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2015
Messages
1,375
Location
North, FL
Occupation
Retired Machinist
We did have snow and ice one year back in the 80s. Wife and I were supposed to drive over to Jax for Christmas. I got up and drove to the country store and back on the ice and came back and canceled the trip. They ended up closing the interstate to stop the fools that thought they could drive on it.
 

Willie B

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2016
Messages
4,325
Location
Mount Tabor VT
Occupation
Electrician
Mrs. B. is, (was, newly retired) a first grade teacher. Her father imigrated from Norway. Nothing gave her more pleasure than a snow day. Snow has been in my home a cause for celebration. Snow is not a problem for those prepared. I was once naieve, thought I didn't need tire chains. I once plowed snow with a CJ 5 Jeep, used chains occasionally. Two wheel drive tractor needed chains to steer with the brakes. Seven ton backhoe NEEDS chains to plow. It slips sideways as well as any other direction.
 

HarleyHappy

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2020
Messages
942
Location
So NH
Occupation
Welder/Mechanic
Not putting chains on my driveway, like it just the way is.
My backhoe does just fine, till it doesn’t.
Then I park it and wait till it goes away or gets fresh powder on it.
There have been some hairy moments but now I’ve got new rear tires and so far it seems to be working and it plows like a beast.
The power angle 10’ works nice and with new pipe it scrapes even better.
 

colson04

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2016
Messages
2,597
Location
Delton, Michigan
I never used tire chains until I was 30 years old, and it was absolutely necessary. Same as @Willie B , I learned that a heavy backhoe is no match for slopes and ice. In my first real winter event at my current property, I managed to get my truck, my Bobcat, and my backhoe all stuck in about 30 minutes. I ended up using a John Deere 8440 to pull everything out, went home and ordered tire chains for the back hoe. It was a few years later before I ordered chains for the Bobcat. I felt stupid waiting that long when I saw how well it improved the performance of the Bobcat. I rarely touch the backhoe during the winter, but the chains are always on and ready, just in case. I chained up the skid steer last weekend and have plowed every day since.

I also have chains and a snowblower for my lawn tractor, which is currently parked at my dad's to help him out this winter.
 

Toolslinger

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2019
Messages
80
Location
PA
The R4's that most hoes sport doesn't help things... R1's would be better, but you'd rip up everything when the ground wasn't frozen, or bone dry. If I ever need to use the hoe in the snow, I'd have to get chains. Fortunatly I've got other machines that are better setup, or suited for snow removal as I'm sure those chains would be pricey...
 

colson04

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2016
Messages
2,597
Location
Delton, Michigan
The R4's that most hoes sport doesn't help things... R1's would be better, but you'd rip up everything when the ground wasn't frozen, or bone dry. If I ever need to use the hoe in the snow, I'd have to get chains. Fortunatly I've got other machines that are better setup, or suited for snow removal as I'm sure those chains would be pricey...
Chains for the backhoe in 2016 were just over $200 for a pair of ⅜" double linked pattern.

Chains for the Bobcat (⅜", single bar pattern) were just under $200 for a pair.

I also bought chains for a dump truck I had that had an underbelly plow. Those were around $500 for the pair, but they chained up both tires on the dual set. That thing was awesome at clearing the driveway and then grading it in the spring, but the hydraulic cylinders failed. The cost to repair them exceeded the value of the truck. I ended up cutting the plow off and just used it as a dump truck for a couple years until someone with too many $100 bills offered me enough to let it go.
 

Toolslinger

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2019
Messages
80
Location
PA
With a quick look, it would be ~$400 for the chains (duo style) for the existing tires/rims... Those are shot sadly, and the ones on the parts machine that are in decent shape push the starting chain prices up to ~$800+... Now that's irritating. Probably not gonna happen...
 

DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
17,934
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
Last chains I bought were for my Allis Farm tractor, had them over fifteen years now and not looked back except to see if was even sane in swinging them every winter!! Are on it today.

Not bought chains for Blue or the pickup even as have considered for that pickup yet Blue will no see them with me driving.
 
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