This Pipe Transformed Our Kubota BX Front Mount Snowblower

[@MyClutteredGarage]

Nice job, Jack! Thanks for sharing. -Ed

[@billbriggs2309]

After a few clogs I removed the wire grille/screen from the front of the chute. At the very least it makes clearing out the clogs easier. Can't think of why I need it (other than to keep me from sticking my hand in there). In CT. Thanks for all the good information. Love the Kubota!

[@danbelden7354]

Add an impeller kit to really send the snow and almost prevent clogging

[@jeffscott5133]

I like this idea! I am going to try it this weekend for sure. Thank you for putting this out there. This is probably old news to you by now, but the manifold leak was a recall situation and the fix from Kubota was perfect for my BX23S. Not one drop has leaked since and it has been over a year, and I use the heck out of my tractor. I have a suggestion for your ruts: buy a box scraper for your 3-point hitch. I have mine mounted throughout the winter and I can knock down high spots and smooth out any part of my driveway (I have over 14,000 square feet to clear every time it snows!). It also provides excellent counterweight on the rear wheels which improves traction. Also, you can use your box scraper to fix and maintain your driveway in the warm weather. Have some gravel delivered and you can spread it with your bucket (back dragging helps a lot) and flatten it with your box scraper. It works so well that I have had 3 neighbours ask me to do their driveways. I hope this is useful info despite being a year late. Cheers!

[@ritterjon]

💥 Glad to hear you’re getting your hydraulic hook ups fixed. Had to get mine fixed also. I’ll be tuning in on Monday! Don’t forget to study! *Keep on tractoring!*

[@WheresHerb]

That's a great time for a snow pusher blade. I bought one for my Kubota bx1880 it works great.

[@natgasf7236]

I’m thinking the same way, as the climate changes and wet heavy snow I’m thinking replacing front snowblower with a snow pusher on my new BX23s. I kept the snowblower I had on my BX25 but I think I’ll sell it now.

[@bladerunner1458]

Thanks for the pointers on slushy snow and ice. My driveway is a half mile long in northern Michigan and I’m a newbie with the Kabota snow blower. I know what to look for it now Wish me luck

[@LittleMountainLife]

So cool seeing such a simple DIY modification working so well. Definitely keeping this in mind if I’m ever able to get a tractor to help with the snow up here. 👍

[@OrangeismyNewGreen]

The blower did a good job at blowing the wet slush pretty far until it clogged 👍🏻. I also have a small leak on my BX, placed a service call yesterday. Will check in on Monday to watch the live chat 👍🏻

[@BreakFreeHomestead]

Freaking Ruts. Bring on spring!!! 💪

[@OakKnobFarm]

That edge is working great! This last storm sure was a messy one. We got a bit less snow than you, but 3/4" of ice on top of the rain.

[@TheMindfulHomestead]

Oof! Hate ice! I’ll take a foot of snow over a half inch of ice.

[@BenoitParent-f4k]

To prevent snow to stick in the blower or chute, I spay wood polisher, (pledge) use the no name which is much cheaper, in the chute and inside the blower and hugger. Just a tip it works for me.

[@L2FlyMN]

On a walk behind snowblower I once owned, that kept sheering the sheer bolts off, I eventually got to the point I had enough, & replaced them all with standard bolts. I just had to be extra vigilant on where I was going, & made sure nothing was left out, & hidden in the snow. 🤷‍♂️ Confessions of a homeowner. I also packed the first few inches of snow with the car, so rocks were frozen underneath a sheet of hardpack.

[@mikeparent2813]

Hello sir you have a beautiful property, I just changed my valve on my kubota, it started leaking after 4 years, so far so good with the new one

[@jh9855]

Snow here on the Seacoast. Looks like your cutting edge is working well for you. Thank you for your video!

[@charleschapman2428]

Thanks for the video, On my walk behind I welded some 1/4 X 2 x 12 inch flat stock that I shaped like a ski to the bottom of the skids and I keep them raised so it's about 2 inches off the ground. I have a Wheelhorse with a plow blade that I use for the final clean up. You can make the skid skis as wide and as long as you want but I don't think I would go over 3 inches wide with the skid welded to the center of the ski.

[@mosfet500]

I have a blower on my 3320 Deere but I prefer the front blade with a pipe edge . Once you plow with it on gravel drives you'll never want to play with a blower, clogged shoots or shear pins again.

[@bwillan]

A rear blade on the 3pt hitch is a great compliment to a front mount tractor snoblower. GP Outdoors uses that combination to maintain his long gravel driveway/laneway on his property.

[@Mitalayeka]

Thanks for sharing guys.

[@Rockin8Farm]

Thanks for the video. It gave me an excuse to come in and thaw out my feet.

[@TheMindfulHomestead]

I’m gonna send you some northerner socks!

[@Rockin8Farm]

@@TheMindfulHomestead it’s no joke bud. We don’t have winter socks here because it doesn’t get cold enough and the only boots I own that let me not break my butt on the ice are rubber rain boots. My feet are so cold they hurt man.

[@mikezahnow1605]

I always put the skid shoes way down the first snow and let there be a hard pack then I put the shoes up and I never had any issues. People sometimes have to scrape down to the gravel every time.

[@je1279]

You really need a blade for these types of snowfalls. I love your idea to add the pipe to the blower for larger snowfalls (I have a long gravel driveway also), but the blower isn't the best tool for every type of snow.

[@waynehigden]

I have 2”PVC pipe attached to my 4’ bucket for when I have to open up areas with a grass base. The pipe glides the bucket over the grass and doesn’t get scraped up into the bucket. I opened up the slot by heating the other side to take some of the stress of it yet kept it narrow enough to hammer it on using a short length of 2 by. I have found over the years using snow blowers that shooting either left or right has a positive effect in keeping the shute open. Good old slush is a problem for us all. I live down the street over the line in Burlington.

[@TheMindfulHomestead]

I thought about PVC, but with the boulders we have pushing up through the drive, I figured the steel would be more durable. The pipe on the grass was a pleasant surprise. It works soooo much better than before.

[@waynehigden]

I agree with your choice of the steel with your driveway rocks.I like your method of fastening it to the blower.

[@HerEcolife]

ughhh that wet stuff is so hard to remove. Your tractor is taking it like a champ.

[@joelbutler7501]

For as wet as the snow looked that blower sure sent it a good distance still.

[@goliadflag9820]

love the background music

[@dennislesh2374]

Have you tried spraying silicone spray on the chute and all over the auger to keep the snow from sticking to it?

[@brandonmunson5747]

Maintainer and bucket to finish it up, or just drive on it 🤔

[@allenr265]

I'm surprised you don't have a Curtis cab for those long harsh winters. How come ? Thanks mate

[@TheMindfulHomestead]

I was a ski bum for a long time, with multiple 150 day seasons under my belt. Hanging out on a tractor for a half hour is nothing compared to some of the chairlift rides I've had to endure to get fresh tracks in a snow storm. Haha!

[@allenr265]

@@TheMindfulHomestead Got ya... And there pretty expensive to. Got one priced here in Quebec Canada and there 9000$ for their premium cab plus 15 percent sales tax. For my BX. In the states I think they're around 5000$. Thanks mate. I appreciate your response.

[@TheMindfulHomestead]

@@allenr265 Yea. The price just wasn’t worth it to me. I also worried that even with windows open and doors off it would be hot in the summer.

[@wildbill23c]

I guess I missed your video of the pipe mod for your blower. I'll have to go and watch it. I don't have a Kubota I just have a lawn tractor with a snow blower but like you I have a gravel driveway and my snow blower will suck up rocks, and even with the shoes adjusted on the ends it still sinks down into the driveway too far and picks up rocks. I will have to try this with my blower, I'll have to come up with a different way to secure it but I think that won't be too difficult, and I want it removeable so if by chance down the road I pave my driveway or something I can remove the pipe, or if I clear someone else's driveway that's paved or concrete I can take the pipe off and utilize the cutting edge. Thanks for the idea with the pipe mod, I think that will fix my issues as well, although I haven't broken any shear pins, I'm sure that day would come eventually if I keep trying to use the blower as it is.

[@philk9948]

I purchased a 5’ rear Land Pride Grading Plow when I purchased my bx23s and I use it more than the pro snowblower on the front. Would have preferred a different plow but time to snow season was upon us. Extremely happy with the plow, just wish I had additional rear remotes installed so I wouldn’t have to get down to change angle. Also have the Deluxe Curtis Cab so I stay toasty warm and dry but sweat so much, not completely dry.

[@wyliefleeman9691]

Love the beard. This is an idea that I am actually going to try. It makes sense. I live in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Rocks "grow" out of the ground here during freeze cycles. The snow is wet cement when it falls from the sky. Your modification should help a bit with steep roads as well. Good idea!

[@holymayo6417]

Your beard is magnificent!

[@wdrdiyman1674]

Have watched the four videos involving the pipe edge guard and am still unsure of the way in which it is mounted to the blower. There are no views of the backside of the blower housing. Or did I miss something ? You use both carabiners and straps ?? Please provide a fifth video to reveal the last detail of the design. Thank you much !!

[@TheMindfulHomestead]

The slot slips over the cutting edge and then it is pulled back by a ratchet strap hooked to carabiners that pass through holes in the pipe. I’ll make a short about it tomorrow.

[@noelstractors-firewood57]

What about a rear 3 point blade. Would that help.

[@jrcmac1]

What size pipe works best? is Metal better than Plastic?

[@TheMindfulHomestead]

We used 2" gas pipe. Metal is way better than plastic.

[@jrcmac1]

@@TheMindfulHomestead Thanks I used an 1 1/2" Abs Pipe went on hard but works well.

[@cbryant9542]

Can’t find the info on diameter pipe you used. I’m sure it’s around somewhere but I didn’t see it.

[@dand3975]

I used 1-1/4" steel pipe on a 54" J.D. blade, cause that is what I had. 2" pipe would be more ideal. I cut the groove in the center with the oxy acetylene torch, all the heat warped the whole thing quite a bit and I had a press it out to straighten it as good as I could. Welded 2 tabs on the pipe and bolted it to the blade. It really did a decent job of not tearing things up plowing on gravel for snowfall. It really works good for back dragging. People use the ABS plastic pipe, but I don't think you're going to have a lot of longevity with that.

[@cbryant9542]

@ I ended up grabbing one that was about that size. Not real expensive but galvanized. Will see how that works out I’m eager to try this.

[@puddlejumper3534]

We had similar but with 12” of snow it was hard to move with my snow push

[@zackbell368]

You need the diy impeller kit. Google it. Helps with clogging.

[@TheMindfulHomestead]

Been there done that. Doesn’t help with clogging in the chute, just the clogging at the impeller. With a walk behind, this snow wouldn’t have even gone up and out. It was mostly water at points.

[@Bearunter]

DID YOUR PIPE OVER THE CUTTING EDGE WORK OUT? ON NON FROZEN GRAVEL?

[@SNeal5966]

Not sure I understand the need...couldn't you just lower the shoes some more to keep the blade above the ground? I think for gravel driveways most manufacturers recommend setting the blade between 1/2" to 3/4" above the ground and 1/4" to 1/2" for paved driveways...?

[@TheMindfulHomestead]

The issue is that most gravel driveways, ours included, often end up with ruts in them which are deeper than the shoes can compensate for. At that point, you’ve got a sharp edge digging into the hump of the drive getting shot into the woods. The round pipe rolls over the gravel.

[@SNeal5966]

@@TheMindfulHomestead Ahh now I see...I didn't realize you were fighting ruts. When you made your driveway did you dig down deep and build up a base with large stone before going over it with the finer crusher run? I wonder if perhaps that's why you're getting ruts? That's a bummer, but a resourceful solution to that issue for sure! Easy enough to make and take on and off.

[@TheMindfulHomestead]

@@SNeal5966 The house was built 35 years before we moved in so who knows how it was built. In any case, we can’t dig it out because the electrical conduit runs under it only 6 inches down. So we can put material down, but can’t dig anything up.

[@SNeal5966]

@@TheMindfulHomestead Wow that sounds like it is pretty complicated. Makes sense to come up with your solution.

[@WalkScripture]

Shoveling the front steps of this crap snow threw my back out. We live too far north for anything but snow 😩😅😭

[@TheMindfulHomestead]

Tell me about it! I don’t mind snow but slush grinds my gears.

[@tomsyversen9325]

I got corrected that it's a metal pipe, an that's great:) I will let my false assumption stay, for everyone to see 🙄. I change text slightly to be more correct. This is maybe a good idea, but not happy seeing some people spreading micro plastic into the nature with pvc! Use a metal pipe if you must use a pipe for 2% extra performance... Very "jealous" of the rig thow😉

[@TheMindfulHomestead]

That is a metal pipe.

[@tomsyversen9325]

@@TheMindfulHomestead nice... I though I heard pvc... But thought it was strange it was said something about worn thru the shine or something. Seen many say they use pvc also and that's probably why I made that assumption. Myyy bad😎

[@bakedbeard8194]

My goodness that beard is getting long lol, I keep mine a bit shorter. You have any care tips?

[@TheMindfulHomestead]

Don’t over shampoo it, brush daily, and use a quality beard oil with a natural oil base. No silicone based oils. I actually blend my own, and am planning to sell it on our website soon.