How are front snowblowers mounted and powered?

   / How are front snowblowers mounted and powered? #1  

Ken P

Member
Joined
Sep 14, 2010
Messages
47
Location
North Granby, CT
Tractor
Kubota B2410
Folks -

I'm looking to make my first tractor purchase, and have an absolute mandate to get a front mount snowblower. As much as I like the idea of having both a loader and blower available at the same time, there's no way my back and neck can tolerate driving backwards - if I could still do that, I'd keep using my walk-behind blower.:(

So, I'm planning to get a CUT, somewhere in the mid-20's hp range. I don't have any dealers very near, but there are kubota, mahindra, kioti, and bobcat dealers within an hour's drive.

Anyhow, I've been reading as much as I can - this is a great forum - but I'm still confused as to the different ways in which a front snowblower is attached and how it is powered. Rear-mounted looks pretty simple, hooks to the 3-point hitch, power right off the PTO. But how do front-mounts work, and how does that vary amongst the different models? Easy on/off and physical ease of operation will be a real plus for me.

I'd be very appreciative of details including exact models of blowers that worked well for which models of tractors. There look to be lots of attachment manufacturers, but I'd really like to be sure when I get the tractor that I can do the front snowblower easily, rather than having to do a lot of adaptations.

Thanks for all suggestions, advice, caveats, etc.

Ken in Granby, CT
 
   / How are front snowblowers mounted and powered? #2  
Anyhow, I've been reading as much as I can - this is a great forum - but I'm still confused as to the different ways in which a front snowblower is attached and how it is powered. Rear-mounted looks pretty simple, hooks to the 3-point hitch, power right off the PTO. But how do front-mounts work, and how does that vary amongst the different models? Easy on/off and physical ease of operation will be a real plus for me.
Generally, you have a front bracket, a long PTO shaft that goes from the mid PTO to the front and a short shaft that goes from there to the blower (or sweeper).
There are also some dealers (such as Michigan Iron and Equipment) who make a front mount snowblower kit that can allow you to put a aftermarket snowblower on the front of your tractor, or on your loader bucket, without needing the whole kit from your dealer.
I'd be very appreciative of details including exact models of blowers that worked well for which models of tractors. There look to be lots of attachment manufacturers, but I'd really like to be sure when I get the tractor that I can do the front snowblower easily, rather than having to do a lot of adaptations.
There are only one or two OEMs who make snowblowers for Deere, Kubots, Massey, etc. As such, you generally just get the one from your dealer for your tractor.


Aaron Z
 
   / How are front snowblowers mounted and powered? #3  
Folks -

I'm looking to make my first tractor purchase, and have an absolute mandate to get a front mount snowblower. As much as I like the idea of having both a loader and blower available at the same time, there's no way my back and neck can tolerate driving backwards - if I could still do that, I'd keep using my walk-behind blower.:(

So, I'm planning to get a CUT, somewhere in the mid-20's hp range. I don't have any dealers very near, but there are kubota, mahindra, kioti, and bobcat dealers within an hour's drive.

Anyhow, I've been reading as much as I can - this is a great forum - but I'm still confused as to the different ways in which a front snowblower is attached and how it is powered. Rear-mounted looks pretty simple, hooks to the 3-point hitch, power right off the PTO. But how do front-mounts work, and how does that vary amongst the different models? Easy on/off and physical ease of operation will be a real plus for me.

I'd be very appreciative of details including exact models of blowers that worked well for which models of tractors. There look to be lots of attachment manufacturers, but I'd really like to be sure when I get the tractor that I can do the front snowblower easily, rather than having to do a lot of adaptations.

Thanks for all suggestions, advice, caveats, etc.

Ken in Granby, CT




Greetings,


A mid point P.T.O. driven front mounted blower has plusses and minuses in use:
minusses
a. lower ground clearance
b. power losses through gear reduction
c. less visibility (you cannot see directly over and in front of the snow blower)
d. inability to move blower to new machine due to design for the older trade
e. greater first cost
f. inability to use front end loader with out major parts changing(the quick hitch must be removed to allow the use of the front end loader and loader mounting frame).
g. greater fuel consumption due to the high to low gear reduction losses
h. entirely possible to get stuck much easier with larger losses in tractive effort -been there done that.
======================================================================================================================================================

A hydraulic drive front mounted snowblower can be driven by a P.T.O. powered pump and tank unit off the rear P.T.O. in one option.

Pronovost offers 4 different pump sizes to power the blower from your hydraulic system.

The front end loader will have a quick attach kit on the boom to allow easy installation of the hydraulic drive blower.

no loss of value as it can be moved from tractor to tractor etc.

========================================================================================================================================================================================================


A Bercomac snow blower is a snow blower that is motorised and can bed attached to an ATV or RTV and winched up to transport with the R.T.V. or purchase and adapter plate to mount it on a S.C.U.T. or C.U.T.

If you were to use a Bercomac on a S.C.U.T. or a C.U.T. you would need and attachment plate made.for the quick hitch.





the biggest advantage is no power loss in using the R.T.V. S.C.U.T. or C.U.T. as a prime mover.

If you have an R.T.V. you can see directly over the snow blower while operating it.


A set of purchased pnuematic casters aids in turning the snow blower when in use and reduces wear in the bottom plates and skids.


No loss in trade value when changing to a second machine as it can be used on the new S.C.U.T. or C.U.T.

You can mount motorised lawn mower on the front of the R.T.V. or tow one.

========================================================================================================================================================================================================


You can purchase a three point hitch mounting and reversing gear box from Pronovost for the front of a C.U.T. or S.C.U.T. and mount a large rear mounted snow blower up front and other attachments like mowers as long as you have a mid P.T.O. on the S.C.U.T. or C.U.T.





========================================================================================================================================================================================================




About rear blowers:


The 540 R.P.M. is direct drive from the transmission with much available power.

No loss in trade in value as it can be moved from machine to machine.

The greater the impeller depth the more snow and ice moved per minute using 540 RPM.

Using PI * R* H gives you the volume and then divide it by 1728 to obtain the cubic feet and then multiply the cubic feet of the impeller housing times 21 pounds per cubic foot of snow times 540 then divided by 2,000 to get the tonnage per minute.






As long as you have cruise control in reverse you can use mirrors or a rear view camera mounted on the fender to avoid neck strain; and if you have cruise control in reverse you can set it and just turn a bit in the seat(if you can buy a swivel seat all the better.

You are not traveling any faster than 1-3 M.P.H. being 88-264 feet per minute any way so thats not much of an issue.


What ever route you take you need loaded rear tires and rear chains whch are a must to for traction.
 
   / How are front snowblowers mounted and powered? #4  
Rear blowers are great, but my tractor has the seat facing forward, not sure about everyone else's tractors! lol :laughing:

I don't have a Go-go-Gadget-neck that is on a swivel, so I can't see turning around backwards for a hour.
 
   / How are front snowblowers mounted and powered? #5  
I'd love to try mounting a blower from an ATV on my FEL. They come complete with gas driven motor and just might be wide enough.....
 
   / How are front snowblowers mounted and powered? #6  
I have a 2.5 mile driveway That I have to keep clear and we got 22ft. of snow last winter. The road winds up over a mountain to my house.
I use a rear mounted blower and it does the job very nicely. I don't think the front mounted blower would be worth a hill of beans in my case. I'm sure it works just as well as a rear mount but I have been stuck numerous times and the FEL is the only way to get unstuck.
Yes it is possible to get stuck with a blower on the rear. If the snow is really deep and it has ice under it there is no way to snow blow up hill so you have to make it up the hill in order to snow blow going down hill.
 
   / How are front snowblowers mounted and powered? #7  
You have a 2.5 MILE driveway? :eek: That is some serious road clearing and maintenance. I guess you probably have a 7 or 8 ft snowblower for your tractor and that means one trip out and one back to your house?

As for the original post. There are people on the site who use front blowers for some very serious amount of snow and they all seem to love it. They are about 2-3 x the cost of a rear blower, but with a bad back that could be a good way to go. Several JD and Kubota tractors in the 20-30 hp range have the option. You shoul;d deditate a half a day to visit a few dealers. A 20-25hp machine will clear snow VERY WELL so don't let them rope you into the bigger is better.
edit: unless you have a driveway like SCESNICK (that is insane but fun, or fun but insane)
 
   / How are front snowblowers mounted and powered? #8  
Hi,

Just a couple points to add.

The hydraulic powered front blowers actually run off a very small, but powerful, engine of a type that few know about. To fuel it there is a very slim slot that is about 2" wide. You insert $100 bills into it all winter (USD or CDN), and it runs. It will not accept Loonies or Twonies right now, due to weight restrictions.

THEY'RE ABSURDLY PRICED!! The JD (which is a Pronovost), in Canada, is something like $13000. I don't know what they cost direct from Pronovost, but it is less than a green one that is via JD. Michigan Iron's is well recommended, but I don't know their pricing. I could have sworn that I saw a new model from Schulte or Farmking as well, but I can't seem to find it now. I hydro-pak setup lends itself to a front broom or PHD as well.

One with it's own motor is a nice idea, and likely a lot cheaper than one running off a rear hydro-pak.

I'd love a loader mounted, hydro-pak mounted blower, in combination with a nice rear blade, but it'd be a $16 or $17k setup. I certainly understand your need for the front mount.

If you are looking to customize an existing blower, HLA (Horst Welding) makes pre-made mounts for different loader set ups that might save you some time. Gator Attachments might me able to help you out as well.

I don't know if something like a Toolcat might work for you, but if so, they're very nice (not cheap).

-Jer.
 
   / How are front snowblowers mounted and powered? #9  
Check out the way it was done about 50 years ago.....mounted on a loader and powered via an offset gearbox and an open PTO shaft :confused2:.....just be careful!
 

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   / How are front snowblowers mounted and powered? #10  
WOW!! That's nasty.

My Grandpa has spent the last 50-odd years minus his left leg (mid-thigh) due to a PTO shaft (baler shredder I think), so that one hit's pretty close to home.....

Oh how plastic has changed out lives (for things like guards, etc....)

-J.
 
 
 
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