hydraulic pump on PTO for front snow blower

[brandoro]

YAT
Personally I still don't SEE the point of blowing snow, it rarely worked for me with a walk behind.
True you are higher up on a tractor and it can probably throw it farther, but the wind isn't always in your favor and I'm thinking that I would almost NEED a cab if I was blowing snow around this place.

If all you have used is a walk behind blower then you really don't know what you are missing.
I have used a snow blower on an open station tractor for 16 years, you have to dress for it (think heated motorcycle vest and insulated coveralls) and think about which way the wind is blowing and sometimes you do get totally covered with snow. I still think a blower is superior to other methods in most circumstances.
Having said all that, I now have a cab tractor and front mount, mid PTO driven blower. I have found the last couple of years that the 3PT blower was getting too hard on my back and neck and I really wanted a cab tractor. That all worked out but so far the snow-bringer has been taunting me, snow everywhere but here so I have yet to try out the new blower.

 

[777]

I just finished hooking my 1990 JD 5300 50 hp 4wd tractor to an Erskine 2418 skidsteer blower adapted to fit the FEL. I mounted a 25gal reservoir on one side of the blower because I wanted to use the 3 point for the back blade. Next I hooked up a 28gpm 540rpm pto pump. Great huh?
Nope...it doesn't work because the pump cavitates. It won't suck the juice all the way from the front to the pump. At least that what I think is going on. Any Ideas?
Maybe move the tank to sit on top of the back blade?
Thanks for any help,
Mike in BC

 

[kennyd]

I just finished hooking my 1990 JD 5300 50 hp 4wd tractor to an Erskine 2418 skidsteer blower adapted to fit the FEL. I mounted a 25gal reservoir on one side of the blower because I wanted to use the 3 point for the back blade. Next I hooked up a 28gpm 540rpm pto pump. Great huh?
Nope...it doesn't work because the pump cavitates. It won't suck the juice all the way from the front to the pump. At least that what I think is going on. Any Ideas?
Maybe move the tank to sit on top of the back blade?
Thanks for any help,
Mike in BC

Welcome to TBN Mike

First question is what size hoses did you use?

 

[J_J]

Check and see if the hydraulic filler cap on the reservoir has a vent hole in it. If not, the pump maybe trying to pull a vacuum.

 

[Reg]

WOT he (KenneyD) said (-:

Does it only cavitate at FULL 540 ?
If so, then that is REALLY a too skinney hose - or too much pump.
The pick up hose needs to be short and FAT.
Fat probably matters more than short.

PS assuming that you are sure, Sure, SURE that you are picking up from the tank and haven't switched the hoses around to suck from that which blows (-:
{It could happen}

 

[J_J]

I believe that pump calls for a SAE-20 suction hose.

 

[beenthere]

KennyD- You are right about the Deere and Kubota blowers, they are simple and straightforward, running direct off a mid PTO. They are also very, very expensive. As well, with those, it's hard to switch from blower to loader. I want to be able to quickly switch from blower to loader to blade as snow conditions dictate. That's why I want to use a blower connected with the quick attach.

.......

Before counting out doing the blower for FEL switch, make sure you know just how quick that can happen (especially with the Deere). All of a minute to drop the FEL, and maybe 2 min to hook it back up. The blower may be a 5 minute job, coming or going.

Not sure the FEL with snow blower hanging out there will be worth any time savings in the switching category. But just my 2 cents.

I know I wouldn't want a snoblower hanging off my FEL to blow snow, unless the drive was most perfectly straight, no bends, no dips, no bumps, no corners.

 

[777]

Thanks for the replies.
I'll measure the return hose, remove the tank cap, try it again and get back with the results tomorrow. I think I'm gonna have to move the tank closer to the pump.
Great forum....

 

[J_J]

I would recommend 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 in suction hose. You should not let it cavitate for long periods.

 

[Reg]

Thanks for the replies.
I'll measure the return hose, remove the tank cap, try it again and get back with the results tomorrow. I think I'm gonna have to move the tank closer to the pump.
Great forum....

Too early for BIG arithmetic, but hoses......
Well, the internal circumference increases linearly with diameter (OK so far)
but the cross sectional area goes up as the square of the diameter (still OK)

Someone's coefficient of something gets involved, but the net result is that flow is "resisted" mainly along the internal wall and "allowed" towards the center.
Resistance to flow is linear with length.

So, FATTER MATTERS more than length (-:
It is an inverse square law thang.

IF shortening the supply hose "solves" the problem then I would guess things to still be marginal.
I think a quicker, simpler, easier way to diagnose this is to see if it cavitates at 300, 400, 500 RPM or ONLY when you get all the way up to 540.
Then you will know if it is in need of a minor fix or a major re-think.
I would want to not run it any faster than ~90% of the speed at which it cavitates, e.g. if it is to be run at 540 I would test it out at 600.