Horsepower needed to run 8 ft 3 point snowblower?

[sixdogs]

What do you need for HP to run an 8 ft single auger snowblower? I've been on the lookout for a 5 footer or so but might have stumbled onto this 8 footer. It's bigger than I want but it might be an offer I can't refuse and I do have the HP to run it. A search is iffy with conflicting advice so I thought to ask here. Anyone have an 8 ft snowblower and what does it take to run it? Thanks in advance.

 

[oldnslo]

I have used one on 5600 Ford which I believe was around 55 HP. Heavy snow meant feathering the clutch but it did the job. This same blower would stall a 2-85 White (85 HP) if pushed to hard. Biggest question is can your tractor lift it on the 3 point without you star gazing? The 5600 was light on the front but it would still turn and drive with no extra weights on the front.

 

[doxford jim]

Using the rule of thumb of 5hp per foot, you would be looking at 40hp. Myself, I think a higher horsepower would be needed. A lot would depend on the rate/speed at which you blow the snow.
I have 55hp tractor and think the limit for me would be 8ft, though a 7ft would take a lot of power too.

 

[rd_macgregor]

Rate/speed of blowing is a big factor but also related to how much snow you are faced with. If you are in southern Ohio, you would seldom be trying to blow through huge drifts. Up near the lake, you might get occasional massive lake-effect snows that would force you to slow way, way down (as in mid or even low range) to move the stuff (especially the real wet, heavy snow).
I have a six-footer on a 38 PTO hp tractor and mostly manage in mid range. Last winter we totalled nearly five and a half meters of snow here and I spent a lot of time in low range...and, late in the season, even more time trying to find a place to blow it all!

 

[sixdogs]

I'm in central south Ohio so the snow is no big deal, but every now and then it could be. My 89 HP Deere would do the trick but I'm beginning to think I might be able to get away with the 51 HP Kubota MX5100 most of the time. That's the better tractor because it starts easier in the cold. I have always been under the (false) impression these snowblowers took lots more horsepower than they apparently do. Good info here. Thanks.

 

[Fallon]

A HST will make a huge difference if the blower is a bit bigger. Trivial to vary your ground speed to get max throughput without overloading the engine. Probably end up going really slow if the snow is deep & the blower is big. Assuming your 3pt can lift it & keep the front on the ground.

 

[Dave M7040]

I have a 90" inierted and have operated it with two different tractors.
One with 65 hp at engine and the other with 64 hp on pto.
This blower will challenge both of these tractors unless you have a way to go real slow which is frustrating.
Agree with caution "can you lift the 8' blower when its covered in wet snow"? It is not just the blower weight you need to be concerned with
Dave M7040

 

[SPYDERLK]

A HST will make a huge difference if the blower is a bit bigger. Trivial to vary your ground speed to get max throughput without overloading the engine. Probably end up going really slow if the snow is deep & the blower is big. Assuming your 3pt can lift it & keep the front on the ground.

BX1500 with 50" front thrower will do about 1mph in 15" heavy snow. Uses 1 gallon per hour. ... YES - HST is the ticket

 

[Old tractor Guy]

What do you need for HP to run an 8 ft single auger snowblower? I've been on the lookout for a 5 footer or so but might have stumbled onto this 8 footer. It's bigger than I want but it might be an offer I can't refuse and I do have the HP to run it. A search is iffy with conflicting advice so I thought to ask here. Anyone have an 8 ft snowblower and what does it take to run it? Thanks in advance.

i have a 9N Ford 19 HP tractor and have a 8" single stage blower on it for 40 years ! If you don't let the snow get to deep before you blow it will work well ! If it gets over a foot deep i have to lift the blower up and make a pass or two to get it down to driveway ! then blow a quarter of the width till I get it all blown out ! My Daughter has a 30 HP Massey Ferguson with a 8 Ft. Blower and Live PTO and works much better and you can lower the gear speed if the snow is very deep or very heavy .

 

[sixdogs]

i have a 9N Ford 19 HP tractor and have a 8" single stage blower on it for 40 years ! If you don't let the snow get to deep before you blow it will work well ! If it gets over a foot deep i have to lift the blower up and make a pass or two to get it down to driveway ! then blow a quarter of the width till I get it all blown out ! My Daughter has a 30 HP Massey Ferguson with a 8 Ft. Blower and Live PTO and works much better and you can lower the gear speed if the snow is very deep or very heavy .

Thank you

 

[Rustyiron]

I have a 96" that uses all the power at the PTO of my m9540 not taking full "bites".
I need a creeper gear.
I'd be very hesitant with anything less than 50-60 hp unless you go and blow every 5-6" or have a hydrostatic transmission.

 

[oosik]

For 27 years I ran a six foot blower behind my Ford 1700 4WD ( 26 hp ). Low and slow is the way to go. Try going too fast - bound to run over something you really didn't want to.

Fast will overload the blower and it becomes a "pusher" - until you slow back down.

With 8" or more snow I will clear my mile long driveway - 100 foot long mailbox area - part of my yard.

With the blower - 3.5 to 4.5 hours. With my rear blade - 2.0 to 2.5 hours.

With the blower - my neck/shoulders were in PAIN ( all that looking back ).

With my rear blade - need a cup of hot coffee laced with JD.

 

[Rockbadchild]

I personally think getting worried about the front end of your 50hp kubota up in the air with a single auger snow blower is pretty funny like sure if you ask for it will happen but anyhow… if it be a double auger it be a different story … to me you shouldn’t have any issue and if you do take smaller bite.

 

[KWentling]

Not all 8' snowblowers are created equal. Is it a single auger or a double auger? What diameter is the impeller? If it's double auger with large fan it could take a 100+HP. A single auger with a 24" impeller your 50HP would probably work but might be slow going. I'm in the camp that you can never have too much horsepower on a snowblower. 64 PTO HP on my 7' blower works pretty good but there are times it could use more.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

You guys that keep insisting you have to have a whiner tranny for everything, I guess you haven't taken the time to run a gear drive tractor with creep gears yet...

SR

 

[Rockbadchild]

Not all 8' snowblowers are created equal. Is it a single auger or a double auger? What diameter is the impeller? If it's double auger with large fan it could take a 100+HP. A single auger with a 24" impeller your 50HP would probably work but might be slow going. I'm in the camp that you can never have too much horsepower on a snowblower. 64 PTO HP on my 7' blower works pretty good but there are times it could use more.

the OP mentioned in his first sentence on the first post it’s a single auger … (it only happen to the best of us)

i agree you never have enough hp.

 

[sea2summit]

You guys that keep insisting you have to have a whiner tranny for everything, I guess you haven't taken the time to run a gear drive tractor with creep gears yet...

SR

I’m shocked at how many folks my age don’t know how to drive a clutch let alone younger. For lots of folks I’m sure the tractor is their only real gear driven implement. Sometimes it’s just lack of understanding. I’ve got both, like both, but neither is a clear winner IMHO.

 

[CobyRupert]

How much horsepower a snowblower takes has little to do with its width and everything to do with how many pounds it of snow per second you’re passing through it.

Horsepower is a measure of rate. The speed you’re getting the job done at.

If you’re putting more pounds of snow through a 5’ snowblower than a 8’ (because snow is heavier, or higher, or you’re going faster), the 5’ is going to need more hp than a 8’.

A hydrostatic transmission makes it easier to match your ground speed with the horsepower demands of the snow.

 

[Wyobuckaroo]

I run a gently used, but cheap, 50" Buhler 3pt blower with 25 pto horse power.. A full cut will be slow going even with the hydro drive..

The remainer of the job with 1/2 to 3/4 width cuts runs smooth and a bit faster... But then when we get snow up here it tends to be a bunch at a time..

 

[RoyJackson]

You guys that keep insisting you have to have a whiner tranny for everything, I guess you haven't taken the time to run a gear drive tractor with creep gears yet...

SR

Been there with gears...the 4052 is my first HST tractor. The others have been gear and my favorite transmission is a reverser