Snowblower - too big?

[Jay4200]

Is there such a thing as too big for a rear-mount snowblower, other than powerwise? I have a lead on what seems to be a good deal on an absolute beast of a blower, but it is 7' wide. My L4200 has the horsepower to run it, but my driveway is only ~8-9ft. wide (but 1000' long). For a simple once up and back job, 5' is plenty, but my rear tires are ~5.5' wide, so I was looking at 6 footers. Anyway, I came across a used 7 footer, and I wonder if 6" on each side makes much of a difference one way or another. Is bigger always better?

thanks - JayC

 

[kennyd]

HP and weight are the two things you need to worry about-You said you have the HP covered, but will your 3PH lift this "absolute beast of a blower"?

 

[JJT]

Is there such a thing as too big for a rear-mount snowblower, other than powerwise? I have a lead on what seems to be a good deal on an absolute beast of a blower, but it is 7' wide. My L4200 has the horsepower to run it, but my driveway is only ~8-9ft. wide (but 1000' long). For a simple once up and back job, 5' is plenty, but my rear tires are ~5.5' wide, so I was looking at 6 footers. Anyway, I came across a used 7 footer, and I wonder if 6" on each side makes much of a difference one way or another. Is bigger always better?

thanks - JayC

IS the L4200 a gear tractor? I'm running a 6.5' blower on an L3710 HST. I wouldn't want any more of a blower on this tractor, but it does a great job. I've had the blower for 12 years. Normally I blow in mid range, if the snow is deep and very wet, I have to go to low and creep into the drifts.

 

[herringchoker]

My tractor is a lot smaller than yours, but I run a 6 ft. wide rear blower with 22 HP at the PTO. I have absolutely no problem with power (HST) or lift capacity. I also use the FEL for snow clearing and it has a 54 inch bucket. I have to be very careful that I don't sideswipe things with the blower while using the FEL.

 

[rbargeron]

.....Is there such a thing as too big for a rear-mount snowblower.......

Yes there is, but this isn't it. The 7'blower is too big for a 24 hp tractor. But it would be just fine on a L4200. Remember you can always go a bit slower if need be. Weight-wise it will handle it fine. You'll like how nice it is to have 9" extra width on each side.

 

[Jay4200]

HP and weight are the two things you need to worry about-You said you have the HP covered, but will your 3PH lift this "absolute beast of a blower"?

Piece of cake - the blower is something like 625 pounds - according to Tractordata.com, my 3pt lifts over 1.5 tons.

JayC

 

[Nuru]

I am considering getting a Frontier SB 1164 and I was considering the SB 1174, but it seemed that the 1174 would be a bit too big. My unit's PTO HP is 30 and the SB1174's spec is 30 - 50HP required, so it seems the 3520 would be a bit underpowered to handle a SB 1174 - any thoughts?

 

[wedge40]

JayC. If the price is right, I'd go for it. Unless you're really fond of spending the extra time out blowing snow. Do you have a heated cab? You can always clear a little bigger path, say 12' or 13'. Besides, if you dont like it, you can always sell it.

Wedge

 

[quarttoolow]

I run a 7' with 55 pto hp. only thing I've noticed is the front end steering is lighter. I usually drop the front bucket 8' when running the blower.

 

[Jay4200]

JayC. If the price is right, I'd go for it. Unless you're really fond of spending the extra time out blowing snow. Do you have a heated cab? You can always clear a little bigger path, say 12' or 13'. Besides, if you dont like it, you can always sell it.

I'm beginning to lean that way. Price is easily twice what I wanted to spend originally, but its a nastier machine and (I think) about 1/2 of new. Snowblowers seem to be increasing in price exponentially. A run-of-the mill 6' blower was $1200-1500 new 2 years ago, now they seem to be running about double that, with the good commercial ones ~$5000. The one I'm looking at also runs closer to $5k. Sheeeyit - my tractor barely cost that much.

JayC

 

[slowzuki]

I run a 7 ft Lucknow (about 1000 lbs) on an L5030HSTC, it works great with the hydrostatic. The only problem I have is on steep hills I sometimes can't push the blower up. Without the blower my tractor is about 6500 lb and I have a 300 lb blade in the front bucket. I don't have chains on though as I have to drive down paved roads all the time.

 

[fish6942]

Another advantage of the wider blower is less tendancy for the front tires to drive over the unblown snow in a turn.

 

[rbargeron]

...... my driveway is 8-9ft. wide (but 1000' long)......

Well here's a shameless plug - at the moment I have an extra Erskine 6' front-mounted snowblower - the kind that drives from the rear pto. Snowblowing going forward is good for doing long driveways. I take my loader off for the winter - but I've never missed it because the blower will eat any snow pile.
My rear wheels are about 76" wide so I got another Erskine that's wider. PM me if interested - unit is in good shape. Take care, Dick B

 

[Nuru]

Well here's a shameless plug - at the moment I have an extra Erskine 6' front-mounted snowblower - the kind that drives from the rear pto. Snowblowing going forward is good for doing long driveways. I take my loader off for the winter - but I've never missed it because the blower will eat any snow pile.
My rear wheels are about 76" wide so I got another Erskine that's wider. PM me if interested - unit is in good shape. Take care, Dick B

Is that it in the pic?

 

[rbargeron]

Yes the blower is the one in the picture, taken a couple (+) years ago - so it has a few more scratches now. Back then I posted pics and hook-up information for the Erskine front-mount. Here's a link to the discussion. The L5450 in the pics has been replaced by a newer one with a cab like my avatar. Take care, Dick B

 

[The Haymaker]

I ran a 6' rear mount on my TZ25DA, 22hp at the pto. I never did make it bog, it was like nothing was there. BUT, I did have to run front weights because I didn't have a bucket and was using turf tires without chains.

If I'd have had chains, it would've been perfect. the 1300lb tractor just didn't push the best.

With traction, I could've run a bigger blower.

 

[rbargeron]

.......With traction, I could've run a bigger blower.

I agree - traction is often the weak link - power is important provided it can get to the ground.

I'm off for a few days - improving my own traction.

 

[jstrasser]

Don't post here much, but this thread did get my attention.

After spending the '08/'09 winter doing an OK job plowing with a rear grading blade I wanted to get away from snowbanks and blow it into the woods (an unpaved private road about 1/2 mile long)

For this past winter I went with a 68" Meteor PTO blower and it did a great job (for the "winter" we had). The rear tires are just over 60" wide so they run in the cleared road. My 4wd NH is geared and I run reverse in mid-range.
I only have about 23 PTO hp but it ran great- you should have no problem with more muscle at your PTO.

I agree with the poster who mentioned about not being able to go up a moderate hill, even with rear double ring chains on loaded tires. It is marginally better if I can get a front bucket full of wet snow. So I end up blowing that section downhill only.

Good luck,
John

Now if I can just stop throwing rocks......

 

[Nuru]

Yes the blower is the one in the picture, taken a couple (+) years ago - so it has a few more scratches now. Back then I posted pics and hook-up information for the Erskine front-mount. Here's a link to the discussion. The L5450 in the pics has been replaced by a newer one with a cab like my avatar. Take care, Dick B

Looks interesting but it seeems very rigid. Does it have any capability to move up and down over changing terrain?

 

[rbargeron]

Looks interesting but it seems very rigid. Does it have any capability to move up and down over changing terrain?

That was my concern too - about keeping good ground contact. But in fact it is quite flexible. The blower head has hydraulic up and down with float, and can pivot to follow the ground contour - works well I think..