Anyone running a 64" PTO blower on 20HP?

[tomd999]

Hiya,

I find myself in need to blow snow this winter. I have a Deere 2520 which is rated at 20.5 PTO HP.

The local dealer carries Blizzards. The wheelbase of my tractor with it's wheels set to wide is ~55" + aprox 1-1/2 inches of chain and tensioner hanging off the sides. (I have to keep the wheels wide or the chains will hit the 3pt links)

The dealer is pushing me to get the 54" blower. My concern is that I'll be driving over a few inches of snow on each side as well as not being able to clear a path for either the bucket (61") or my loader plow (60") that I'll have attached.

The dealer is convinced that the tractor will not run the 64" blower however the fan size and depth is the same between the 54 and 64. Since I see the main load on the tractor to be the fan and it's the width/ground speed ratio which deliverers snow to the fan, my theory is that since the tractor is a hydro, I can creep slow enough in the deep stuff to compensate for the greater width and maintain the fan tip speed.

Am I on the right track looking to the 64" with a slower ground speed or should I just go with the 54" and live with the drive over?

Thanks in advance,

Tom

 

[AndyMA]

Based on the snow New Hampshire gets I think even a 64" blower could end up taxing a machien that small with a heavy wet snow. Don't worry about the tire tracks. I ran a 54" for quite a while on a Ford 2120 (TC55 size machine)

Andy

 

[shvl73]

I've got the Blizzard B64 with 22hp @ the pto. It works well, though it can get bogged down in heavy stuff. On a Hydro its no big deal to back off the pedal a bit to allow it to catch up. I wouldn't want a narrower blower on my tractor. Its just about the same width as the tractor. I've been using it since '03 and like it.
I'm not too far from you if you want to try it out.

 

[JerryK]

I'd go with the wider unit, since you have the hydrostatic to control your groundspeed. Hydro xmission is a big plus when running a snowblower. I have a hydro reverser that makes it easier to navigate tight places, and change direction. But I'd trade it for the hydrostatic in a second....

 

[kcharbon]

I have a 64" Puma blower that I run on a NH TZ25 (about 19 PTO Hp), and works just fine. Just take it easy and watch your RPM's...

~kcharbon

 

[herringchoker]

I run an old 72" blower on a Kubota B7800 (22 HP at the PTO, hydrostatic transmission). With the hydro, it handles it very well, even in deep banks of the wet, salty mess rolled up by the road plow. The hydro is the key - feed it slow enough in the heavy stuff to keep the revs up.

 

[hazmat]

You'll be fine. if you keep it slow

I run a 63" front blower on my B3030 (24? PTO HP). Just slow down when needed. The 63" blower does bog the B3030 if I try to drive too fast down the sidewalk immediately adjacent to the road (where the road plow deposits all the snow).

My previous tractor (TC18 - 14 PTO HP) ran a 48" blower which was a perfect match.

 

[rbargeron]

I agree with all advice above that says it will be ok. Just back off the feed rate a little when the going gets tough. Keep the engine speed up (stay in low range) and you'll be fine. Many snowfalls are light and many snowblower/tractor combinations are way overpowered for what they usually have to do. You'll really appreciate having a blower wider than your tracks.

 

[hdbikercouple]

i run a 54 on 17 hp hyd. yes you just back off alittle. i got to stop at the jd.place and see why the chains would hit the 3 pt. arms. sounds like a bad design or too large of chains? just my guess

 

[PILOON]

Hi
I am running a 60" 'bervac' rear blower on my 20 HP Mitsubishi (48"wide) without any problems for 4 years now.

Prior I had a 48" (same make) and it was simply the pitts, I would never recommend less than 1 ft wider than your track.

Withe the narrower blower I would end up with a 'fish bowl' drive as the tires would compact the spilt snow and the blower/tractor was not heavy enough to cut the compacted snow.

Oh it made a great luge run for the kids!

Should also add, I am north of Montreal and we have had the worst snowfalls recorded in a long time.
Like 2 feet per dumping!
I am not hydrostatic so I can't 'creep'; what I do is make my first pass with the blower raised about 4" to 'give it a chance' and later passes I take half widths.

My 3 cents!