First time plowing snow

[Saucymynx]

My 140 and I left the sunny south and moved to the frozen north this fall. We have had a few snowfalls since October, but last night we had 3 inches, enough to make it worthwhile to plow. I have a simple back blade (A-60 ?) and the tires are not loaded, nor do I have chains - yet. My driveway is about a quarter mile with one long, maybe 4% grade and it’s mostly gravel except up by the house where it is blacktop and concrete. I have to say that I am totally impressed with how the tractor handled the job! I never once had to raise the blade because of traction issues and it did a nice job throwing the snow back, plowing in third gear. I think 6 inches would have been a lot more of a chore but for these smaller snows she did just fine, and I had fun doing it. She is a bit of a gas hog though – I burned about 5 gallons over the two hours I was out there. I’m anxious for a deeper snow so I can try out the snowblower on my big tractor, but for the smaller snows, the old 140 will be my go to machine

[ricky racer]

[Dh2jr]

I got my father's old super a and i can't wait to start plowing snow with it. I hope i have as much fun as you did.

[ajhbike]

Yep, snow plowing is great fun...for the first or second storm. Then it is a pain. I have the cub with a blade and it works well for the little storms. It is nice and small and maneuvers well. But for the big stuff and moving street plow mounds I use the 3020 with a truck plow on the back. I just don't have anywhere to put it with the rock walls and hedges and sheds and etc. Sometimes have to use the 504 FEL to dig out the dig out

[Saucymynx]

I do wish that the back blade was wider and taller....

[ajhbike]

you can add an extension to most of them. If you rotate them that won't work of course. I just cut a piece of metal to put a 6" extension on one side of my back blade. I usually set it to the front position and push backwards anyway....easier on the gravel

[Jim Becker]

. . . I just don't have anywhere to put it . . .

One thing you need to plan is storage of the piled up snow. If you have room to push it, push it far enough so you have room for the snow that is coming later on. Of course the rock walls etc. can make it difficult or impossible. I also need to avoid piling too much snow where the propane man has to drag his hose. It seems that the PO didn't prioritize winter access when they decided where to put my tanks.

[ajhbike]

I hear ya. The FEL is good because I can dump it over the wall or over by the salt marsh. I will probably get to try out my '61 Arps vee snow blower. That is the only part of the coming storm that I am looking forward to...and after that 5 mins, it will be a pain like they all are.

[Saucymynx]

Well, we received 3 inches of snow today so I thought I would try out the big girl in the barn for snow removal. I have a brand new LS 573 with an 8 foot snowblower. It took me about 15 minutes to realize that it is not the right Machine for so little snow. All It did was make snow dust that blew around everywhere. I put her back in the barn and took out the trusty 140 which did a fine job. I just got back in and realized that I was pushing snow around for three hours! I think for six or more inches the blower will be ideal and will take less than an hour. Until then, I’ll just have fun with the 140

[Dh2jr]

Yep I just got about 3" of snow so got out the old super A and after the first 5 minutes the playing and fun was over and then it was just a drive in the park the A worked like a dream with no problems. Sure beats a snow shovel.

[TraverAdam]

Just got to plow snow for the first time today in Michigan. Our blade was mounted on the front. We ended up pulling the kids around on snow tubes in the field, but stopped early because the bolt that goes through the underbelly holding the plow as a pivot point broke. I found the manual for the plow, but it just calls it a 12’’ bolt. Any suggestions on a replacement for that before I just buy as sturdy of bolt as I can find?

[Bob McCarty]

It's 5/8" and you should find a grade 5 or grade 8. TM Tractor (forum sponsor at the bottom of the page) has them if you can't find one locally. It should slide through two rectangular blocks that are held in place with large square head set screws.

[Jim Becker]

It's 5/8" and you should find a grade 5 or grade 8. TM Tractor (forum sponsor at the bottom of the page) has them if you can't find one locally. It should slide through two rectangular blocks that are held in place with large square head set screws.

This thread started out talking about using a 140. I think the broken bolt question is for a Cub, which uses a 5/8 bolt. But for a 140, it is 3/4x18.