72" snow blower and 35 hp?

[atsah]

I mispoke. Though does it change anything the discussion, other proving my tractor ignorance?

I am curious when I would ever use the different ranges or speeds. For what I do now, I never use the turtle. Maybe not have to stop and shift into low, when in medium??

I don't know anything about that trans on that tractor just what tractordata has on file. The lowest gear you have coupled with low range and that's what you would use chewing the kind of snow you want to move. You have to move slowly to give the blower time to break apart the hard snow..

 

[dnw64]

I mispoke. Though does it change anything the discussion, other proving my tractor ignorance?

I am curious when I would ever use the different ranges or speeds. For what I do now, I never use the turtle. Maybe not have to stop and shift into low, when in medium??

If you put a snowblower on you may find that your lowest possible gear (lowest range, lowest gear) is still not slow enough for your most challenging snowpack.

In order for the collective forum to provide valid advice the conditions need to be known. With HST you can go as slow as you can possibly imagine, and easily change speed without stopping or shifting. That's the ideal for blowing snow. Lots of people use geared tractors to blow snow, but knowing you have a geared tractor versus HST will tend to get different answers.

Since it appears your tire width is about 6', then you are pretty much stuck with a 6' blower as the smallest feasible one to install. And since you have a geared tractor, and need to clear what is probably the most challenging snow imaginable, the smallest possible is what you want. There may still be times when you will need to either slip the clutch or take small forward (well, rearward I guess!) bites. Once you have the first full width path open you can then take smaller width-wise bites.

As to the question about whether it's worth using a snowblower, my answer is a resounding YES! Especially since you get so much snow. With a snowblower you almost completely eliminate snowbanks, because you are throwing the snow past the edge of the cleared area. If you are clearing an area larger then the throwing capability of the blower you will of course have some buildup along the edges, but nothing like plowing. With the blower it's mostly one-and-done. If you have a large area to pile up plowed snow it may not matter so much, but I personally just like how clean a job a snowblower does compared to a plow (or bucket, snow pusher, etc).

 

[Rustyiron]

If you put a snowblower on you may find that your lowest possible gear (lowest range, lowest gear) is still not slow enough for your most challenging snowpack.

In order for the collective forum to provide valid advice the conditions need to be known. With HST you can go as slow as you can possibly imagine, and easily change speed without stopping or shifting. That's the ideal for blowing snow. Lots of people use geared tractors to blow snow, but knowing you have a geared tractor versus HST will tend to get different answers.

This ^^^^ is my experience with my 96" Loftness on my M9540, I either need to get the creeper kit or a tractor with another 50+hp or more than mine.

 

[PILOON]

Hey, my CUT is rated at 20 hp and is 6 speed (2 rev) like 3 fwd+rev + hi/low and I run a 60 rear blower and I handle as much as 16 inch events.
OK, slow and multiple passes but I still 'get 'er done'.
All about techniques and you soon develop them with time and practice.

 

[milkie62]

Sorry if I get off subject but this thread is interesting. I have been looking for a cabbed tractor for a 6 foot rear finish mower and a front snowblower of probably 6 foot to do my 1300 foot driveway. Do not want to put a plow on the front of my new truck so a blower on a tractor is better for me because of drifting. What is the minimum HP for a 6 foot blower ? No monster snow since I would go out every foot or so in a blizzard.

 

[PILOON]

I recall reading 5 hp per foot.
That being said my CUT is 20 HP and I run a 60 inch blower and that in often up to 12" snow events.
Added to that equation I'm a 3 speed geared tractor. (read too fast most times)
Hydrostatic is no problem, just go slower!

In my case in heavy events I simply blow with the blower raised 4 inches for my first pass and return a second time then later passes I only take a 1/2 width.
Tokes a bit longer, perhaps 1 1/2 hours instead of the normal 1 hour but then I'm retired.

My other option would be a new tractor but then I'm cheap!
Hey, I could give out a contract but I have better uses for that $1000/year fee.

 

[dnw64]

Sorry if I get off subject but this thread is interesting. I have been looking for a cabbed tractor for a 6 foot rear finish mower and a front snowblower of probably 6 foot to do my 1300 foot driveway. Do not want to put a plow on the front of my new truck so a blower on a tractor is better for me because of drifting. What is the minimum HP for a 6 foot blower ? No monster snow since I would go out every foot or so in a blizzard.

I have a 63" front blower on my 30HP tractor. It's pretty good, but I would not consider trying a 6' one. Then again, I prefer to be overpowered than underpowered...

 

[Fallon]

I ran a 66" on my 32hp 25pto L3200. I ran it through 3-4' wind packed Colorado drifts too. As with most PTO impliments that are operated moving, HST will cover up a multitude of sins. You can dynamically adjust your speed to load your engine to the max, but not push into a stall. I run a PTO trencher on my L4060 creeping along at a yard a minute or so.

If you can lift it, you can spin it. Just make sure you can lift it packed full of snow too.

If you have a gear machine, it will be pretty iffy. You cant adjust your speed easily & likely might not have a gear low enough. Constantly clutching due to to high if a gear is going to end poorly for your leg & the machine.

 

[milkie62]

I have a 63" front blower on my 30HP tractor. It's pretty good, but I would not consider trying a 6' one. Then again, I prefer to be overpowered than underpowered...

hey there dnw64. Are you in Brattleboro ? I am just over the border from bennington. I see you have a 3030 . That is what I am told is a decent machine for a snowblower. Are you happy with the 3030 overall ? And do you have a radio in yours ?

 

[dnw64]

hey there dnw64. Are you in Brattleboro ? I am just over the border from bennington. I see you have a 3030 . That is what I am told is a decent machine for a snowblower. Are you happy with the 3030 overall ? And do you have a radio in yours ?

I am in Rockingham (Bellows Falls area).

Have had the 3030 for a bit less than a year but fairly happy with it overall. Not perfect but nothing ever is.

I can't see the point of a radio in a tractor - just too loud. I have a Bluetooth noise canceling headset that I connect to my phone.