B2320 front snowblower advice needed ...

[Baby Grand]

We have a fairly new B2320HST and I'd like to get a front snow blower for it.
From the 2013 Whole Goods catalog, there are two blowers listed for this tractor, the B2781B (51") and the BX2750D (50").
The B2781B (51") $2900, while the BX2750D (50") lists for $1977.
So I'll go out on a limb and guess that the 51" is more heavily built than the 50".
Just wondering if it's really $900+ more heavily built?
From the list, it looks like I'm also going to need:
A Mid PTO Kit (not sure if this is already part of the tractor I have, or if I need to buy it). Tractor came with an FEL.
A Front Half PTO Shaft.
A QH Sub Frame.
and optionally:
A Chute Deflector and Rotator.
When I price this all out for the BX2750D (50") it comes out to a tad over (gulp) $4000, and that's the "cheap" one. I understand that quality and capability are not free, but would like to get an idea if they are really worth the additional cost.

If anybody has either of these blowers and can tell me if I've left anything out, or have advice on which to buy, I'd greatly appreciate the help! Even comments about what you like/dislike are welcome and would be very helpful to me.
Thanks in advance,
Jim

 

[HEC]

If you don't mind backing up you can get a rear one much cheaper and will do the same job , plus you get to keep your fel on. After 25 years I got tired of the backing up deal and have gone with the front blower .I would call a local dealer if no reply's on the two different models for their input . You will need the blower , quick hitch and drive shaft , not cheap but sure is easier on the neck and back . I did get the chute rotator but not the deflector . With a no cab model you can get the hand crank rotator which should be fine .

 

[PILOON]

Save $$, get rear blower and add a back up camera if it bothers your neck.
Note (IMHO) that rear blowers are much better in close quarter situations due viewing angles and closeness are favorable. Like, think fork lift trucks.

I added a camera and it is great! Mounted it high on my cab so snow does not get it and the screen is dead center below the frt windshield.
My cost (from China)=$55.00

 

[sandyc]

Good Day:
I have the B2781A blower with a B2765A plow that I use with my B2620. I switch back and forth between either piece of equipment depending on depth, temperature (soft ground), and or slush type snow. I saw a new blower at the local dealer that was gear driven and supposedly heavy duty. Not sure if that is the "B" designation or not.
I have been satisfied with the way I can clear my 400' gravel/sand/rock drive. Switching between blower and plow is but a one minute operation. To switch to the FEL takes about 3-5 minutes....no big deal. I run loaded rear R4 tires and don't slip even on a slight hill that I have to plow.

Good luck and enjoy!

 

[tpflyer]

I just bought the (new this year) front mounted BX5455HD 54" Kubota snowblower, subframe, electric chute deflector for my B2920 and it cost me $5,800. This model comes with the hydraulic chute rotator. It is most definitely heaver duty than the 50" or 51" model. I also bought a soft cab with tempered glass windshield and windshield wiper from Tractor Cab Depot. Got everything installed wired up and tested. I'm ready for Buffalo style snow this season. I put some pictures in the photos section.

 

[rbarker]

We have a fairly new B2320HST and I'd like to get a front snow blower for it. From the 2013 Whole Goods catalog, there are two blowers listed for this tractor, the B2781B (51") and the BX2750D (50"). The B2781B (51") $2900, while the BX2750D (50") lists for $1977. So I'll go out on a limb and guess that the 51" is more heavily built than the 50". Just wondering if it's really $900+ more heavily built? From the list, it looks like I'm also going to need: A Mid PTO Kit (not sure if this is already part of the tractor I have, or if I need to buy it). Tractor came with an FEL. A Front Half PTO Shaft. A QH Sub Frame. and optionally: A Chute Deflector and Rotator. When I price this all out for the BX2750D (50") it comes out to a tad over (gulp) $4000, and that's the "cheap" one. I understand that quality and capability are not free, but would like to get an idea if they are really worth the additional cost. If anybody has either of these blowers and can tell me if I've left anything out, or have advice on which to buy, I'd greatly appreciate the help! Even comments about what you like/dislike are welcome and would be very helpful to me. Thanks in advance, Jim

I have the BX2750D on my BX 25. You are correct in your list of all the things you need, at least for that model. I have no experience with the 51" so I can't comment on whether it's more heavy duty than the 50". I know the 50" throws a lot of snow and I wouldn't exactly call it flimsy.



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[dsmiley]

The 2750D is an awesome snowblower. This will be my fifth winter with it. You can see it work here and here. I'm not sure the extra inch in width is worth $900.
The cons - The hand crank is a PITA, at least, on my BX25. It attaches to the joystick and I found that as I turned it, if I wasn't careful I would be raising and lowering the blower. I ended up holding the joystick steady with my left hand as I turned the crank with my right. This might not be such a major problem depending on your blowing situation but my layout required lots of adjustment. I ended up adding a hydraulic rotator.
Another problem, again, depending on your situation, are the skids. I blow exclusively on gravel and the skids were too small if the ground wasn't frozen and wouldn't stay in place if it was; they would allow the blower to pick up lots of rocks. I sheared 6 bolts the first winter. So I made larger skids that actually go under the cutting edge. This keeps the cutting edge 5/8" off the ground and now I might shear one bolt a year. You can see the rotator and skids in my tractor galley.
I thought I would need a ballast box full of weight but this made the front end light which hampered steering, so now I have no weight on the rear. I do use chains but only because of a hill I blow. Hope this helps.

 

[Baby Grand]

If you don't mind backing up you can get a rear one much cheaper and will do the same job , plus you get to keep your fel on. After 25 years I got tired of the backing up deal and have gone with the front blower .I would call a local dealer if no reply's on the two different models for their input . You will need the blower , quick hitch and drive shaft , not cheap but sure is easier on the neck and back . I did get the chute rotator but not the deflector . With a no cab model you can get the hand crank rotator which should be fine .

Thanks for the information, HEC. I sort of balked at the front mount after comparing cost with rear mount - however - this blower will also be used by The Plant Manager if I'm away on business and she has made it clear that backing up is not in her playbook, at least not for snow clearing. I think this is a weird, Twilight Zone situation, where I am being told to spend more money on tractor gear than I'm comfortable doing, but I'm tempted not to push back too much.

Save $$, get rear blower and add a back up camera if it bothers your neck.

Note (IMHO) that rear blowers are much better in close quarter situations due viewing angles and closeness are favorable. Like, think fork lift trucks.

I added a camera and it is great! Mounted it high on my cab so snow does not get it and the screen is dead center below the frt windshield.
My cost (from China)=$55.00

Thanks, PILOON. I had thought about getting a rear blower for the L3240, but The Plant Manager won't operate my machine - something about the size being just out of her comfort zone. Also, I have a degenerative back condition that gets aggravated by turning around to see behind me for long periods. My present snow removal team is the L3240 with rear blade & FEL, which has allowed me to clear some pretty impressive snow accumulations. I'd like to keep this setup ready to go for conditions that the blower is not really good for. We are at the end of a dead end street, with no cul-de-sac, and the town plow has nowhere to put the snow from up the street than all around the entrance to our driveway. He does try hard to keep it to the sides, so I don't curse him, but give him a thumbs up whenever I see him. I'm pretty sure he knows that's my thumb I'm raising? After a point, though, snow removal becomes a major task as I run out of nearby places to put the stuff.

I will keep the backup camera in mind, though, as that sounds like a great help for all sorts of work, including brush hogging, tilling, rear blading, box blading, and especially using folks on the 3pt to move pallets of firewood! Thanks for that idea.

 

[Paystar]

Good Day:
I have the B2781A blower with a B2765A plow that I use with my B2620. I switch back and forth between either piece of equipment depending on depth, temperature (soft ground), and or slush type snow. I saw a new blower at the local dealer that was gear driven and supposedly heavy duty. Not sure if that is the "B" designation or not.
I have been satisfied with the way I can clear my 400' gravel/sand/rock drive. Switching between blower and plow is but a one minute operation. To switch to the FEL takes about 3-5 minutes....no big deal. I run loaded rear R4 tires and don't slip even on a slight hill that I have to plow.

Good luck and enjoy!

I have a rear blower on my B2620 because I use my fel so often.....but now you have me wondering about your 5 minute switch......how does it work on the B2620 model? Do you have to remove the whole front quick hitch setup to use the fel? I always thought there was clearance issues?

 

[Baby Grand]

Good Day:
I have the B2781A blower with a B2765A plow that I use with my B2620. I switch back and forth between either piece of equipment depending on depth, temperature (soft ground), and or slush type snow. I saw a new blower at the local dealer that was gear driven and supposedly heavy duty. Not sure if that is the "B" designation or not.
I have been satisfied with the way I can clear my 400' gravel/sand/rock drive. Switching between blower and plow is but a one minute operation. To switch to the FEL takes about 3-5 minutes....no big deal. I run loaded rear R4 tires and don't slip even on a slight hill that I have to plow.

Good luck and enjoy!

Thanks, sandyc - I guess if I already have the quick hitch for the front blower, then getting the plow makes it that much more versatile with a huge bump in cost. I love the way TBN finds new ways to spend my cash! But, to be fair, all this gear is helping this aging body to keep up with a work load that would have crushed me when I was younger. No regrets, here. Good to know traction is okay with that weight out front. Our B's tires are unloaded R1s, so I think a little rear ballast may be in order. Maybe a small rear blade.

I just bought the (new this year) front mounted BX5455HD 54" Kubota snowblower, subframe, electric chute deflector for my B2920 and it cost me $5,800. This model comes with the hydraulic chute rotator. It is most definitely heaver duty than the 50" or 51" model. I also bought a soft cab with tempered glass windshield and windshield wiper from Tractor Cab Depot. Got everything installed wired up and tested. I'm ready for Buffalo style snow this season. I put some pictures in the photos section.

Thanks for the information, tpflyer. So there's a third front blower out there? Oh boy. I like the idea of getting the heavier blower (B2781B), even though it's more expensive. It'll be used on grassed over driveway, gravel driveway and asphalt driveway, as well as to clear whatever the town plow leaves in front of the drive, out on the street. So heavy duty is starting to sound like a requirement, for me. I'm not sure that the 54" cut width of the BX5455HD is a plus, for me. I suspect I'll be pushing it with the B2320's power & a 51" blower, as it is.

 

[Baby Grand]

I have the BX2750D on my BX 25. You are correct in your list of all the things you need, at least for that model. I have no experience with the 51" so I can't comment on whether it's more heavy duty than the 50". I know the 50" throws a lot of snow and I wouldn't exactly call it flimsy.

View attachment 399801

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rbarker - thanks for the feedback on the BX2750D & confirmation on the parts list. Makes the call to the dealership a lot less stressful, knowing the relative costs of both options before having "the talk".

The 2750D is an awesome snowblower. This will be my fifth winter with it. You can see it work here and here. I'm not sure the extra inch in width is worth $900.
The cons - The hand crank is a PITA, at least, on my BX25. It attaches to the joystick and I found that as I turned it, if I wasn't careful I would be raising and lowering the blower. I ended up holding the joystick steady with my left hand as I turned the crank with my right. This might not be such a major problem depending on your blowing situation but my layout required lots of adjustment. I ended up adding a hydraulic rotator.
Another problem, again, depending on your situation, are the skids. I blow exclusively on gravel and the skids were too small if the ground wasn't frozen and wouldn't stay in place if it was; they would allow the blower to pick up lots of rocks. I sheared 6 bolts the first winter. So I made larger skids that actually go under the cutting edge. This keeps the cutting edge 5/8" off the ground and now I might shear one bolt a year. You can see the rotator and skids in my tractor galley.
I thought I would need a ballast box full of weight but this made the front end light which hampered steering, so now I have no weight on the rear. I do use chains but only because of a hill I blow. Hope this helps.

dsmiley - thanks for the feedback about the hand crank. I'm tempted to go the hydraulic route, just because our driveway configuration is cramped and complicated and hydraulic controls seem to be a little easier to master while controlling the rest of the action. The skid information is very valuable to me and I'll be fabricating something similar, based on your experience. If I have to go out & deal with the snow, then let me deal with the snow, not fix machinery that's cold & wet and far from the toolbox. Thanks for showing the 2750D in action - that unit sure can move some snow! Your gallery photos were very helpful for me visualizing how the hydraulic & electric actuators & controls are configured. You really can't get that from the parts list and Kubota's website seems to be set up to outright discourage sales of snow blowers.

 

[rbarker]

dsmiley - thanks for the feedback about the hand crank. I'm tempted to go the hydraulic route, just because our driveway configuration is cramped and complicated and hydraulic controls seem to be a little easier to master while controlling the rest of the action. The skid information is very valuable to me and I'll be fabricating something similar, based on your experience. If I have to go out & deal with the snow, then let me deal with the snow, not fix machinery that's cold & wet and far from the toolbox.

Let me add that I have the Kubota factory electric chute rotator and while it does work it's pretty slow and doesn't inspire my confidence. If hydraulic is an option I would vote that way. Dsmiley is right about the feet not being that effective, even on pavement. I noticed today while getting the blower ready for installation that there is uneven wear on my scraper edge. And you couldn't be more right about dealing with the snow and not worrying about repairs in the cold, wet and usually dark. I had a run of bad luck with shear bolts one year and it made for some miserable nights.

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[Farmall45b]

I have a BX2750D on my 2008 B2320. The blower is pretty heavy duty, but there are some signs of strain from small rocks and ice chunks going through the blower. I clear about a dozen driveways each time is snows. It is my understanding that the 51" blower is very heavy duty. I can't imagine trying to operate a rear blower after having a front mount. I find the manual chute rotation to be easy and efficient to use. Don't by the Kubota deflector, you can build one for less that a $100 with a cylinder from Surplus Center. The deflector is the best improvement that I have made to my blower. No longer a need to stop the PTO and get off to adjust.

 

[Baby Grand]

Okay, so I'm a bit confused about how the hydraulic options are controlled. I get that raise & rotate can be accomplished through the loader joystick - but how do you control the deflector? Is there some kind of flow diverter valve to select between rotate & deflect, or would I need a 3rd function remote?

 

[dsmiley]

Okay, so I'm a bit confused about how the hydraulic options are controlled. I get that raise & rotate can be accomplished through the loader joystick - but how do you control the deflector? Is there some kind of flow diverter valve to select between rotate & deflect, or would I need a 3rd function remote?

The deflector would be an electric linear actuator with a double pole double throw switch (ON momentary-OFF-ON momentary). No hydraulics. See here.

 

[ericher69]

The deflector would be an electric linear actuator with a double pole double throw switch (ON momentary-OFF-ON momentary). No hydraulics. See here.

Actually there IS a factory option to get hydraulic chute deflector but about $700!

Here is my b2920 with 51" industrial blower.

http://youtu.be/BBf8zeEyJ2E

As you can see I do get very close to the black car with no issues.

Only broke 1 auger shear bolt over 5 winters of doing up to 35 residential drives per snow fall.

Never bogged down the engine with 51" blower and switched to 63" front blower with no power issues

http://youtu.be/Lf0whm0B_3Q

Hope this helps

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[Baby Grand]

Farmall45b - thanks for the encouragement toward the 51" HD blower - I'm starting to solidify my opinion that I need the extra beef, for my conditions.

ericher69 - Your 51" was moving plenty of snow, too, and good to see the 63" working on your machine - makes me think I'll be okay with the 51" on our lower powered B2320. I like the end plates you have on that rear blade - really reduces the spillage and lets you use a smaller angle. Should be fairly simple to knock something similar together for mine.