Snowblower attachments on light garden tractors?

[Mark Page]

I came across an $1,800 single stage 38" blower for my 18 hp JD GT275. The guy was selling it for his sister who didn't know how to use it. He wanted $250 for the blower, chains and weights and it all looked like new. I couldn't get the money out of my pocket fast enough.
It was a pretty easy install, maybe 1/2 hour. I wasn't expecting much in the way of performance. The first 10 inch snow we had I gave it a try and was totally surprised. It was throwing snow about 15 feet all the way down to the black top. With the hydro transmission it was really easy getting into a tight spot. If you get into a drift you just slow it down while the blower eats it up. The auger turns very fast which makes up for the fan.
Now with light snows my wife grabs it first.
With deeper snow I still rely on my 45 hp Massey and a rear blade or my 6ft LuckNow blower.

 

[weewilly]

I have a 28hp 54" cut sears gt5000
this year I put on a Sears/Berco 44" northeast blower attachment
I have to say I LOVE IT
the tractor with chains does a good job pushing the blower thru hard banks
the 150lb weightbox and my 225lb gives decent traction while still allowing the hydro to slip (very important I was told)
I can blow snow for hours staying Relatively warm and dry in the soft cab
I do wish I had the money for a 4wd Kubota with a heated hard cab but that was not a option.
weewilly

 

[expedoman55]

I run a New Holland tz22da Not a light weight but an SCUT. I have a 50" snow blower on the boy and it does a great job. It does suck up a lot of power on the big heavy ones however I just back off and take a smaller bite of slow down. In low range and slow speak the thing will throw about 15-20 feet with out issue. Heavy wet slush only gets 15 feet for sure. All in the operator I think and being able to judge the weight of snow, angle of chute and speed of tractor. Also. NO chains never had chains on my Honda or my baby blue!

 

[slowzuki]

We had a single stage on a Ford 120. I soon took the drum out and just used it as a box plow. We had a 100 lb weight box with 200 lb of lead hanging out behind the rear axle.

 

[rgs03833]

In my experience, snowblowing is fairly easy work for a tractor.

I've used a 36" 2-stage snowblower for a couple of years on my '87 Snapper LT16. It works very well, but the nagging problem is traction. I have about 60 pounds that I hang on the back of the tractor - seems to make a fair difference. I run chains, and it does pretty well, but does sometimes get stuck, usually due to loss of steering. Luckily, I can give it a good yank and pull the thing out by hand. Steering is the biggest problem - I don't have chains on the front, so it can be stubborn, but raising the blower a tad usually gets it going in the right direction.

You'll need a cab, or at least a good shield. It isn't a luxury, it's an absolute necessity. I made one out of sheet vinyl and electrical conduit for $29:

JayC

Hi,

I think you did a Great Job with the Homemade Cab. Anychance you can take a closer pix so I can see how the Joints are? I checked out the Corners and the 90 Degree Angle on the Conduits, but they only have T's but no 3 corners T's.

I'm gonna start doing my Cab next week, really need to see close up on the Corners if you can help. Thankx in advanced!

 

[Jay4200]

Hi,

I think you did a Great Job with the Homemade Cab. Anychance you can take a closer pix so I can see how the Joints are? I checked out the Corners and the 90 Degree Angle on the Conduits, but they only have T's but no 3 corners T's.

I'm gonna start doing my Cab next week, really need to see close up on the Corners if you can help. Thankx in advanced!

I didn't use connectors - the limitation of 45 and 90 degrees is why I didn't want to use PVC. I simply bashed the end of the conduit with a hammer to squish one side of the pipe, which leaves a nice curve to sit against another piece. Then I welded the joints with a Lincoln Weld-Pac 110. Then a can of black spray paint to cover up my ugly welds

Action shot:

JayC

 

[uglyboywith11fingers]

I think a big part of the equation is understanding the capabilities of your equipment. In 1973 I bought a used Bolens 1050 (10hp Wisconsin) with 42" mower and 36" single stage snowblower. It had diff lock, and with 75lb weight in each wheel and chains, you couldn't stop this thing in low range first gear, throwing snow a good 20ft. When the Wisconsin needed it's 2nd rebuild in 2004, I sold the Bolens stuff for $500 and got a 33" 13 HP walk behind blower. I've never worked so hard in my life trying to guide that **** thing down my 200ft gravel driveway. I wish I'd kept & rebuilt the Bolens.
Anyway, last fall I bought my big boy toy, a BX24 TLB with 54"mmm and 50" rear snowblower, but so far this winter, we've not had a snowfall bigger than 2 inches.

Pete

 

[rgs03833]

I didn't use connectors - the limitation of 45 and 90 degrees is why I didn't want to use PVC. I simply bashed the end of the conduit with a hammer to squish one side of the pipe, which leaves a nice curve to sit against another piece. Then I welded the joints with a Lincoln Weld-Pac 110. Then a can of black spray paint to cover up my ugly welds

Action shot:

JayC

OK, Thank You!

Hmmm, you just made my job harder... I don't have a Welder

I'll come up with something I'm sure

.

 

[Jay4200]

OK, Thank You!

Hmmm, you just made my job harder... I don't have a Welder

I'll come up with something I'm sure

.

Another option is to smash the ends of the conduit flat, then drill holes and use small bolts/nuts to connect everything together.

JayC

 

[rgs03833]

Another option is to smash the ends of the conduit flat, then drill holes and use small bolts/nuts to connect everything together.

JayC

Yah, I thought of it but I want a CLEAN look

hmmmm. Gonna think of something

I'll post pix if I come up with something