RE: (ET) Snow!

["Elie, Larry (L.D.)" <lelie ford com>]

You didn't mention steering.  That was my first lesson.  As heavy as the
front of an ET is, if the blade is pushing right, the tractor is going to 
go
left.  Small bites is right.

Larry Elie


-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Krafft [mailto:dkrafft bitstream net]
Sent: Monday, February 03, 2003 3:20 PM
To: elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
Subject: Re: (ET) Snow!


At 11:02 PM 2/2/03 -0600, you wrote:
>     Here in Minneapolis we have finally had enough  snowfall to haul   I
>was a little concerned that  I'd have enough traction,.... 

Well, I learned a few small lessons in the traction department today with
our first good snowfall of the year! I live pretty near Chris and when it
snowed there was a solid layer of mush and ice below about 6" of fresh
snow. The tractor (E-15) had plenty of power but the slush turned to slick
ice as soon as you exposed it to the air. Got stuck several times on flat
ground (Lesson #1: take smaller bites) dug it out. Started taking smaller
bites. Started sliding around as exposed slush froze, got stuck again!
(lesson #2: get more weight over back wheels) added rear box with about
100lbs of brick. Dug it out again. Started plowing again, better until I
realized that I needed to rearrange the big piles I had created, Oops, not
enough traction for that! (Lesson #3: get out and put on chains) Dug out
the tractor again. Put on a set of chains that sort of fit. Better. Now
wait a minute this has taken over an hour of which 45 minutes has been
digging, normally takes 45 min total to shovel the drive (lesson #4: Leave
tractor set up for next storm!) Go inside get some Ibprofen and a warm cup
of coffee and contemplate today's experiences!

Happy plowing!


Dave Krafft
St. Louis Park, MN  USA
http://www.mnhpva.org
ph: 952-929-2978