Snowblower Snowblower PTO speed ?

   / Snowblower PTO speed ? #1  

scesnick

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 19, 2004
Messages
1,406
Location
Garrett County Md. ( Western Md.)
Tractor
Kubota MX5100
I was snowblowing today with my Ber Vac 64" snowblower on a Yanmar 2000bd. I have a 3 speed PTO 540, 740 (?) and 1000. I put it up to 740 for a minute of two. and of course it really started chucking the snow then. Worked great !!
My question is this, will it hurt my blower to run it @740 all the time?
Every attachment I have, or have ever heard of, runs on 540. Why then the 2 other speeds?
 
   / Snowblower PTO speed ? #2  
I also have a bervac 64 blower mounted on a MT180D.(20HP)

To answer your question I have ONLY run it on my 2 PTO setting.

Flat out in 1st it kinda flops the snow out and barely over the snow banks so I always use 2nd, generally @ about 2250 RPM and get very acceptable performance .

In low, even at higher RPM I find it kinda useless but do use when in hard chunky icy stuff otherwise I shear too many bolts.

Have done that for 2 years without adverse effects.
I use grade 5 bolts for shears with nylon lock nuts and blow them from time to time on chunks of ice.
The 5's cut clean rather than get mangled as the softer ones do.

Keep your augers well greased if you want to be protected.

I found out the hard way as I destroyed a 'used' 4ft bervac because the previous owner did not bother to grease it.

Keep the turbine shear bolt snug otherwise it will distort the 'ears' before they shear.

Like your Yanmar, my MT is a bit confusing as I also have 3 PTO speeds

My manual says 1st=540@2660RPM and 3rd=1000RPM=1793 for 3RD . (with no mention of 2nd)

On the other hand it gives: 1ST=623RPM@2700, 2ND=919RPM@2700, 3RD=1505RPM@2700,

I gather that the other speeds are related to some Asian standards, perhaps rice paddy equipment.

Judging by the performance @22-2300RPM in second I feel that it is correct match.

Shame that Bervac only made the turbine with 3 blades.
I plan to modify the blade from the 48" into 4 blades as I believe that it will greatly enhance the operation.

Hope this helps.
 
   / Snowblower PTO speed ?
  • Thread Starter
#3  
So, If I understand you right Your second setting is like my 740 pto setting? It seems to perform great on this setting but I didn't want to run it that setting long for fear of burning something up.
I Also use grade 5 bolts. I got sick of having a pocket full of grade 2 bolts just to use the blower. Have you found that your Ber Vac was worth the investment? I just got mine this year. it is an older model but was really taken care of. I gave $700 for it and it seems to work great.
 
   / Snowblower PTO speed ? #4  
Yes well worth the investment for me.

Paid $400. LOL and it had all the front mount kit as well which I modified back to 3point as I had the old blown 48" for parts and I wished to retain my FEL in the winter.

Want a frt kit cheap?

I also ran the 48" for about 3 yrs at the higher RPM's until It found a length of 2" chain buried in the snow.
Since the augers were frozen in rust it blew the gearbox wide open and cost of parts was prohibitive.
(I needed the 2 augers, long shaft and the gearbox.)

As I said in earlier post, grease the auger shaft well!

My 64" has zerks to grease while the 48" (earlier model?) did not.

If yours has none I suggest you add them.
I also squirt oil on all bearings from time to time. Does not hurt.

I also modified my shute to rotate with an electric motor.
Real nice feature.
 
 
 
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