Do rear snowblowers float?

[Freds]

Couild you explain the side-to-side float.?? What is that.??....I leave about a 2" "float" in the turnbuckles with my blower....Is this not what you are talking about.??

What I called side to side float Rick better called lateral float.
What the OP wanted to know was what would happen if one end of a snowblower dropped into his concrete gutter. The way my 3PH works and my snowblower is built, it would stay put and that side would not drop into the gutter. The end that remains in contact with the ground would support it, not to mention the whole cutting edge. In other words, the blower would not follow the contour on a lateral plane. Maybe pivot is a better word yet.
That's why I brought up my rear blade. I can take a pin out on my rear blade and if one side is far enough over a ditch or trench, it will drop into it. It will pivot and follow the contour, or "float". And that comes in mighty handy when using one on a crowned driveway.

 

[jinman]

What I called side to side float Rick better called lateral float.

Your description of side-to-side float and Rick's lateral float sure sound like side-to-side tilt to me just to add another expression to the mix. Isn't tilt the normal term when describing one side of an implement lower than the other? Isn't that why we say TnT, meaning Toplink and Tilt (sidelink) adjustment?

 

[Freds]

Your description of side-to-side float and Rick's lateral float sure sound like side-to-side tilt to me just to add another expression to the mix. Isn't tilt the normal term when describing one side of an implement lower than the other? Isn't that why we say TnT, meaning Toplink and Tilt (sidelink) adjustment?

I wouldn't know what is considered "normal" when different terms can be used to describe the same thing. I understood the OP, Rick understood me... I do know I tilt my seat forward when I get off the tractor :confused2:
:laughing:
Tilt works for me. :thumbsup:

 

[RTalma]

Great discussion. I guess what I was really wondering is will the 3 pt let the rear blower move up and down with the driveway contour or is it fixed so everytime the front axle hits a bump the blower pivots up and down like a see-saw with the rear axle as a pivot point, requiring constant 3pt hitch adjustments during blower use?

 

[Freds]

It will move up and down... but down not as much as up.
So if you backed up to a hill, the blower would raise even though the tractor's wheels were still on level ground.
And if you backed up to a ditch, the blower will drop, but only so far before the arms lose downward movement. Then it will just hang there.

 

[Marveltone]

I was going to add a smart-@$$ed remark like, "it will only float as long as the water is frozen, otherwise it will sink". But I decided not to confuse the issue any further.

Joe

 

[Freds]

lololol

 

[RTalma]

Understood - don't leave the snowblower alone by the pond, it can't swim.

 

[Lightnsound]

I recently hung a rear snowblower on my tractor and have had the same interest in float or tilt or whatever we are calling this. I have thought of pulling off my sidelinks and replacing them with chains and shackles. This would allow me to lift the blower when necessary, but allow it to tilt and follow the contour of the drive when it's down. As long as I can figure out a way to keep the chains out of the PTO shaft I think it might work.

Thoughts?

 

[JDGreenGrass]

What I called side to side float Rick better called lateral float.
What the OP wanted to know was what would happen if one end of a snowblower dropped into his concrete gutter. The way my 3PH works and my snowblower is built, it would stay put and that side would not drop into the gutter. The end that remains in contact with the ground would support it, not to mention the whole cutting edge. In other words, the blower would not follow the contour on a lateral plane. Maybe pivot is a better word yet.
That's why I brought up my rear blade. I can take a pin out on my rear blade and if one side is far enough over a ditch or trench, it will drop into it. It will pivot and follow the contour, or "float". And that comes in mighty handy when using one on a crowned driveway.

Freds...Thanks for that. I get it now.

Yes, my blower acts the same way. One end will not drop over an edge. The blower stays level.

I believe I had stated that my blower contours the ground very well. What I mean by that is the 3pt. hitch allows for up and down "contouring." If your driveway has a drop off you can run the blower right over it and the blower will sink nicely with the lay off the land.

Sorry for any confusion.