Tractor Size for Snow Removal and other Chores

[CJONE]

40HP is not nearly enough power with a hydrostat setup.

60HP minimum unless you want to blow snow all day long. Takes power to git er done in short order. I bought a 40hp Kubota that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. Don't make the same mistake I did; TRY the blower and tractor setup BEFORE you plunk your money down! Also some blowers blow snow better than others.

Fred

??? I only have 49 at the crank and 36 or so at the pto and it works way better than I expected. I can take a full 7' cut in over a foot of snow full speed in medium range. Maybe something with your tractor? CJ

 

[skyhook]

??? I only have 49 at the crank and 36 or so at the pto and it works way better than I expected. I can take a full 7' cut in over a foot of snow full speed in medium range. Maybe something with your tractor? CJ

My Kubota L4200 has 45 and 37 at pto, and can do the same,
mine's is GST, and will will plow through 3 foot drifts, no problem.
I have the 72 inch blower and it has never bogged in two feet of snow, rear pull.
Thats a nice size tractor you have , CJ.

 

[CJONE]

My Kubota L4200 has 45 and 37 at pto, and can do the same,
mine's is GST, and will will plow through 3 foot drifts, no problem.
I have the 72 inch blower and it has never bogged in two feet of snow, rear pull.
Thats a nice size tractor you have , CJ.

Thanks, yours also. I shopped a lot and ended up with this size machine because of the maneuverability in the woods. But I was pleasantly surprised with the capability while running the blower. It is a 7' twin auger with a 27" fan 34" tall. I regularly blow back banks from plow trucks and it does great, easily blows snow 40 to 50 feet and I have never stalled the tractor with the blower. I have available to me 2 large loaders [4 yard] and I have found that in roughly the same amount of time I can move the banks without huge piles that you have to work around later in the season. With a tractor that I can move with my pickup it eliminates road time for the loaders and fuel use is half or less. So total time is a wash and no risk of tickets on the road with the big equipment. [The state of Michigan is hungry!] CJ

 

[Kubotafan]

40HP is not nearly enough power with a hydrostat setup.

60HP minimum unless you want to blow snow all day long. Takes power to git er done in short order. I bought a 40hp Kubota that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. Don't make the same mistake I did; TRY the blower and tractor setup BEFORE you plunk your money down! Also some blowers blow snow better than others.

Fred

What kind and what size blower are you using?

 

[The Fred]

HK Martin SB75. Once I upped my HP to over 60 it worked, at least it wouldn't kill the engine. Farthest I have blown snow with this is under 30 feet and I must run the PTO WIDE open over 600 RPM.
23" fan, NOT big enough to throw snow any great distance.

Like I said don't make the same mistake I did.

Fred

MK Martin | Meteor Snow Blowers

 

[CJONE]

HK Martin SB75. Once I upped my HP to over 60 it worked, at least it wouldn't kill the engine. Farthest I have blown snow with this is under 30 feet and I must run the PTO WIDE open over 600 RPM.
23" fan, NOT big enough to throw snow any great distance.

Like I said don't make the same mistake I did.

Fred

MK Martin | Meteor Snow Blowers

That's the thing that stinks with the 540pto. I really wish I could have gotten the 1000rpm option, that would be nice with the rear mount blower and running the backhoe pump. The bigger fan is what helps mine, I think it is only a 3 blade also. CJ

 

[CJONE]

HK Martin SB75. Once I upped my HP to over 60 it worked, at least it wouldn't kill the engine. Farthest I have blown snow with this is under 30 feet and I must run the PTO WIDE open over 600 RPM.
23" fan, NOT big enough to throw snow any great distance.

Like I said don't make the same mistake I did.

Fred

MK Martin | Meteor Snow Blowers

That's the thing that stinks with the 540pto. I really wish I could have gotten the 1000rpm option, that would be nice with the rear mount blower and running the backhoe pump. The bigger fan is what helps mine, I think it is only a 3 blade also. CJ

 

[doxford jim]

Yes, I find having a choice of either 540 or 720 rpm is a big help. I have used the 720 mostly when the snow is wet and I need to be able to clear the drive. It helps in throwing the snow a bit further off the drive.
Spent some time yesterday walking along the drive - I have a nice 30ft area both side of the drive with gravel everywhere. I have got lots of raking to get this gravel back onto the driveway :-(

 

[Kubotafan]

I have a nice 30ft area both side of the drive with gravel everywhere. I have got lots of raking to get this gravel back onto the driveway :-(

I have a snow blower and gravel driveway as well. I also have an Echo PAS260 with the Pro Paddle attachment. You would have to see what a beautiful job it does at moving the stones off the lawn. If you tried one once you would want one! Stihl also has the same type of thing, and likely others do as well.

 

[smfcpacfp]

I find most of the posts quite amusing. You don't need a 60 hp tractor to blow snow. That is just insane, especially if you only have 4 feet of snow per season. If you are clearing mountain passes, in the rockies, it is a different story. The problem with a 60 hp tractor apart from the cost is that it will be big, awkward and hard to maneuver.

I live in big snow and brutal cold country. We get 15 to 30 feet of snow and I usually have to blow 30 to 50 times a year. My 30 hp Kubota is way more than adequate, irrespective of whether the snow is dry or wet. I don't care how deep the snow is, it can handle it. If the snow is deep, you go slower, or take smaller cuts each time, or better yet snow blow every foot or so if you have a big event. Below is a movie of my 30 hp Kubota B3030 in action moving serious snow.