Modifying A Kubota Snowblower For Our 800’ Gravel Driveway
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- čas přidán 7. 09. 2024
- We've been using a Kubota BX2822 front mount blower to clear our almost 800' dirt driveway for almost 2 years. With it sucking up as many rocks as it does, it was due for a fix. Time to finally put the pipe cutting edge to the test on the Kubota BX front mount snowblower. It’s time to test the modification to see if our Kubota BX2380 lets us down, or if she’s up to the task.
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Did I somehow miss the actual modification? I'd love to see where and how the pipe is mounted to the blower. Thanks!
Looks good. I’m looking at a JD 3046 with snow blower but I am hesitant as I have a gravel driveway.
Brillant Mod Dude!!!! Great job!!!
Great job Jack! That looks like it works perfectly
You need to trademark the phrase "gas pipe blower edge". Cool and functional mod!
I love it when a plan comes together.
Fantastic! Definitely cool to see it in action and how much it increased your maneuverability. 👍
Great video Jack 👍🏻, I think you should put a Patent on the idea 😉🙂👍🏻
Thanks for the video. Looks like your modification really worked for this past storm. The BX has a lot of power and is an awesome machine. Looks like the right kind of equipment for your property.
Great work. so glad it worked. you are the man with a plan. stay safe and warm. hope dinner was good.
One thing is the occasional curb-bump or pavement crack, gravel driveways are a whole different animal.
Necessity is the mother of invention, and you've found a good remedy here.
I've seen a lot of CZcamsrs getting their own tractors and snowblowers the last 3-4 years, and going through all the same headaches.
Common tactic where I live is to start out the season by leaving a little bit the first 5-10 times you clear the snow, you've made it easy, simply leave the pipe on.
That inch or so will be compacted from all the driving and walking/activity, and ice up, leaving a nice protective layer for both gravel and snowblower.
From there on you can just let the blower scrape on it for the rest of the season ☺
If it melts down mid-winter (not uncommon) or you scrape it down to the gravel again (unlikely, but can happen), repeat step #1.
Also, start the season by going as wide as you can, that leaves wiggle room to avoid slabs of ice along the bank.
thanks for this post! I also have a gravel driveway and I snow-blowed for the first time with my new bx2816 on a bx23s yesterday, I had the skip plates lowered to the last slot, allowing for a 3/4" gap on the blade, it was a challenge turning as you mentioned and touchy trying to prevent picking up gravel. found your post today and I've now added a 1-1/4" pvc pipe, with the same attachment pattern you built and like magic the gravel pickup is gone and turning is great. thanks again!
Looks like it worked out okay! Some day ill get one of these. 💪
Got to get a plow for that Ford pickup Chief. But I will definitely be adding a pipe edge to my Ariens.
We’ve had a plow truck before. The issue is that with the narrow drive, a plow ends up leaving us with a narrow path by midway through the season. The blower lets us get the snow out and into the woods.
Well done!
Just started watching you a couple of weeks ago, and then I see you on chronicles from wmur! Didn't know you were in NH. I'm in Raymond NH. Love your videos!!
You really get the job done ! And if that pipe edge works out , well will all be just a grinning !
Turn the hooks around on the straps to get a better grab on the carabiners. Great fix and did what you wanted it to do.
Hello, I'm Bill from Milwaukee WI, I heard about your channel from Morgan during his Farm Meeting video. I've liked all the videos I've watched so far and have subscribed as well. I look forward to following your channel
Wow what a great idea I have a gravel driveway 350 feet long every once and a while it sounds like a machine gun when it gets sucked up the one good think they are small but still a pain in the but Great job!!!
Having lived in snow country my entire adult life and having operated commercial blowers in ski resort conditions, I can tell you the ultimate solution is not modifying your blower. Wheel roll the first 3-6" of snow fall with a pickup to protect the road from scraping off gravel with a blower or a blade. Blowers are heavy and tend to scrape off all the fresh snow thus never allowing the base to pack. Pack down a layer of snow and this problem will be solved. For those with less than ideal conditions, this mod will not solve your problem if the road surface has large rocks, is uneven or has ridges in between where the skids track. This mod could come in handy during mid season thaws where the packed base softens and tends to scrape off. Also, blowing in the coldest temps possible (usually at night) will help.
I did this with the ATV blade, but dared not with the Kubota snowblower.
How to make it stand without straps, and keep it easily removable will be my reflection project to end the year.
A smaller diameter pipe say 1" will perform just the same, cost less, be 1/10" closer to the ground. Weld tabs to secure pipe to the edge.
Right. But it wouldn’t match up perfectly to the skids and the approach angle would be slightly steeper.
Trying to envision how u have the strap and carabiner attached to the pipe. Can u post a Pic? Thnx
There is a hole at each end of the pipe, drilled just below the slot for the factory edge to fit in. The carabiners are hooked to the hole, and the hooks to the carabiners.
I have a 1/2 mile gravel driveway. Great idea would like to know how it works in the future. In the fall I raise the skids on my snowblower but I throw some gravel and hove to lift the snowblower in spots. I thought of making some kind of shoe to go over the skids to increase the area of the skids on the ground. And then as the ground freezes and the snow base accumulates I could just remove the shoe and would have to make it so it’s easily done. So I’m in the design stage and have to next fall or early winter to design a system. Will keep you posted. Thanks for sharing and Has anybody done this before or any ideas?
Great mod. i like your ingenuity! I have a 1200' long driveway and I'm contemplating an 80 series bx. Curious, How long does it typically take you to clear your drive?
Thanks for watching! If I am really nit picky, it’s about an hour total. If I just need to do a quick sweep down and back it’s about a half hour. That’s budgeting in some time for a shear pin or two.
Do yourself a favor and get something with a cab if you have to blow that much. It will be worth every cent.
Do you think there would be any benefit to tack welding the pipe on in a few spots? Now that you see it’s working good
Not really. There isn’t any disadvantage to attaching it with the ratchet strap, and taking it off is as simple as taking off the strap. Tack welding it would immediately turn it into a task that required getting out some tools and keeping track of the cutting edge bolts.
I’d also need to buy a new cutting edge from Kubota, as you can’t run it without one.
If you have this pipe acting as the cutting edge why do you have to have a cutting edge? (I ask because My cutting edge is worn and bent during the last storm ) when looking to replace it I found CZcams channel- now I was thinking of removing existing bent cutting edge and using the pipe like you did only a little more “permanent “ than the strap either a few holes and bolts somehow or a few tack welds I could grind off for the next time it needs to be replaced
@@brianferguson4718 When our ground freezes super solid, the cutting edge will work way better than this pipe. Plus, I’d rather not modify anything semi permanently.
Plus with the strap, I would be able to see if the strap broke from the operator seat. If it was welded, and the tack welds failed, I could end up with a big piece of pipe in my blower, which would be no fun.
@@TheMindfulHomestead thanks - was trying to think it all through before I replace my cutting edge- I probably should replace the edge and try the pipe also cutting edge alone it wearing fast and taking a toll on my driveway that is well packed road grindings
Mindful homesteader. I have a walk behind 600 foot driveway with larger stones. I routinely eat through 10-15 shear pins a season. We have been having our driveway raked every year with larger stones in the mix to prevent potential washouts. I always place my skids as high as they will go. Is there a special accommodation I can make other than this? I need new ideas. My blades are being destroyed from this…
Also what exact model snow blower do you have
BX2822. There are lots of videos on it on the channel.
Yes. Yes. Thanks.
Need some rear weight. It will help
Normally chained up and have never had an issue with the blower.
@@TheMindfulHomestead oh ya. That’s right chains. Forgot you roll w them.
Looks like it works great! We’ve some some plowing videos recently (please check them out if you get a chance-thanks). This was a god idea to solve the problem.