Snowblower Erskine 78" Front Mount SnowBlower

[McDenny's]

Hello all,
I have been watching and reading your forums for awhile and would like to say thank you for all your information. I purchased a used 2004 MF 1445 in 3/06. The tractor had approx 260 hours and it came with about 11 attachments or so. The gentleman I bought it from was retiring and planned on moving south. I have a Erskine 78" front mount snow blower he used 1 winter on his paved driveway. I live in Southern Maine and my driveway is about 1000' and I usually plow with my truck, the driveway is gravel. Do you think this is worth keeping? I see the resale value isn't great on snowblowers so I considered trading it in for a rototiller. All my equipment was purchased through Knoxland in Weare, NH. I did talk to them but they said it would be on consignment and they have plenty of new snowblowers, unless someone was looking for a used one. What do you think??

Thanks,
Dennis
Lebanon, Maine

 

[Neophyte]

That seems like a very nice snowblower. I would give it a try this winter and see what you think. With a 78" cut, you could make quick work of your driveway. The question mark is how the shear bolts hold up to the gravel driveway.

Snow Blower - FRONT STEER / ERSKINE™ ATTACHMENTS, INC.

If you decide to get rid of it, shoot me a private message. I may know someone who is interested in it.

 

[lawn_king]

Weld a set of steele wheels to the outside of the drifknives of the snowblower, mount them low enough to keep the cutting edge 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch above the gravel. Walker sells them for their mower mounted snowblower, they run about $50.

 

[Neophyte]

Weld a set of steele wheels to the outside of the drifknives of the snowblower, mount them low enough to keep the cutting edge 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch above the gravel. Walker sells them for their mower mounted snowblower, they run about $50.

Wouldn't skid shoes do the same thing?

 

[lawn_king]

Skid shoes tend to be mounted on the rear of the blowers and they can sink down into the gravel. If you have the steele wheels mounted up front and the skid shoes in the back, you just might pull off the gravel blowing deal with no gravel/blower fan disasters. You might even be better off mounting plastic push mower wheels?

 

[Neophyte]

Skid shoes tend to be mounted on the rear of the blowers and they can sink down into the gravel. If you have the steele wheels mounted up front and the skid shoes in the back, you just might pull off the gravel blowing deal with no gravel/blower fan disasters. You might even be better off mounting plastic push mower wheels?

I have a JD 59" Front Mount Snow Blower and it has skid shoes in the back and on the sides in front. I also have a gravel driveway and I'm pondering your wheel idea. I may replace the front skid shoes with wheels. I could see this working better when the gravel is soft. I don't think it would be an issue when the frost is set in; the gravel is like concrete.

 

[McDenny's]

Thanks for all your responses. I have thought about installing wheels. I am not sure if I will even use it to be honest. Like I said I usually plow with my truck, if its a bad storm I usually try to keep up with it because I have to keep the piles pushed back. I know the snowblower would come in handy and I have had it on my tractor a few times to move it around and it goes on pretty easy. I have rear remotes on my tractor for the lift and the chute. I would sell it for the right money, but I wont give it away. Of course my wife says "you don't need a snowblower that big", but my Dad says "I wouldn't sell that, it will come in handy". Let me know what you really think it worth, what I could actually get for it.

Thanks,
Dennis

 

[lawn_king]

I'm going to guess that blower sold for about $5000. new ? I base that estimate on what i paid for my kubota blowers (B2650 B2782). As far as selling it, i wouldnt say resale on blowers is as poor as you think, not in maine anyway. Go to www.union farm equipment. com (great site) they are selling some used & abused blowers for big money?

 

[McDenny's]

It sold for $5700 new. I have been watching to see how much the used snowblowers are going for, maybe it will give me a idea how much resale on it will be. If I don't sell it I may try it this winter. I personally have never used a 78" snowblower but I bet it will throw some snow !!!!