PTO snowblower?

[Chainsaw.]

Hi all.
Been lurking for a while but finally signed up to start getting my feelers out for some snow removal equipment.
The quick specs. Roughly 3/8 mile driveway, slight down hill grade into the property, lots of parking spaces/turn arounds to keep after. Choice of a Yanmar 1500 19hp, or a Yanmar 2000D 4x 24hp, obviously the bigger tractor is the choice.
This is a vacation property so we wont be there all the time, that means possibly over a foot per visit of sitting snow.
The Woodmaxx 48” or 60” are my top picks as they look like real nice units.
My only real concern is looking back for over 6/8 of a mile (two passes), anyone using big mirrors to save the neck on those long straight stretches?

I also have a 5’ blade, whats a realistic depth of snow a guy could knock off the road with one of these?

Thanks!
Charlie.

 

[oosik]

For 25 years I used a PTO driven blower to clear the berms on my mile long gravel driveway. I had a 26hp Ford 1700 4WD. I could easily clear a foot of fresh snow with the rear blade. As the winter went on and I cleared the driveway with the rear blade - the driven path would get narrower and narrower. That's what the blower was used for. Blow those nasty berms.

Man - did that ever get old. Three plus hours with the blower to clear the berms - the mailbox area and the buildups in and around the yard.

Trying to use mirrors never work for me.

If you can go fast enough - 4 to 5 mph - the rear blade might do the job just fine. You have to be able to curl the snow enough to get it off the driven path. Then you have to have the weight to clear the berms that will form. My Ford 1700 had the power - it just didn't have the weight to maintain a straight path as I attacked the berms.

So I upgraded to a brand new Kubota M6040 in 2009. The berms are no longer a problem. With my HD grapple - Rim Guard in the rear tires - HD rear blade - the tractor weighs 10,100#.

Welcome to TBN and the forum. Upgrade your profile with your location. Helps with more specific responses.

 

[oosik]

There is another consideration. Using a rear blade. When you angle a rear blade to plow snow - you loose effective width. A five foot blade - angled - may only clear a four foot or less path.

The rear blade on my Ford was 84". It would clear a ~ 70" path when angled. The blade on my Kubota is 96" - it clears a ~ 78" path.

Both of my rear blades would angle, offset and tilt. Offset and angle are nice. They allow snow to be bladed off the driven surface and you don't have the tractor right on the bloody edge of the driveway.

 

[nyone]

I have yet to use my rear snowblower but I'm told you dont need to lower the blower to the ground to remove snow. So in theory you may beable to drive on 12in of snow and blow any thing over 12in. Then make a second pass down lower. At that point I would just take half pass cuts.

I have used a rear and front blade on a 4x4 tractor and it leaves alot to be desired. Also a rear blade is about 12in tall. So I wouldnt expect it to plow even 8in of snow very well.

If it's a vacation home why not pay someone to plow for the big storms?

 

[Chainsaw.]

Oosik.

The weight of my tractors is definitely a concern with using a blade, my tractors are SMALL. That's probably gonna be a try and see kinda deal, I dont hold much hope.

I'll update my location.....just as soon as I figure that out Twisp Wa. BTW.


Nyone. I am hoping to be in contact with at least one plow man here soon. That would get the road handled, but I'll still have all my little paths etc to keep after. Doesn't help I'm cheap, and I like snow blowing.

 

[Farmer495]

Turn around in seat and blow snow. Done it for years. No different than turning around and watching anything else you are hitched to.

 

[SARG]

A smaller machine has many advantages getting around a property. I have the pictured T1030 & also a T1530. The smaller unit is the preferred snow tool.

 

[oosik]

WoW!! Twisp - Chainsaw. I was raised in Omak. Twisp, the Methow valley, Winthrop were some of my best stomping grounds. And, Yes - you can get some REAL snow up there in the Methow valley.

BTW - don't knock a smaller tractor. Smaller tractor = smaller bites.

When I had the Ford 1700 4WD - I had a 5 foot blower - called the Blue machine.

Get everything set up and off I'd go in reverse. My driveway runs right down a section line - straight as an arrow. I'd be going in reverse - knees on the seat - right hand reaching back to the steering wheel. Looking straight down the driveway. It worked well because my driveway was straight and almost totally level.

I never went really fast - probably 2 to 3 mph. It IS a PITA if you have to look back over your shoulder. That's the way I had to do it - clearing the mailbox and my yard.

If you should be so lucky to get deep snow. Plow in two passes. Take half the depth in the first pass. Down to the ground in the second pass. A good rear blade is a wondrous snow mover.

 

[Chainsaw.]

Yes Sir! We are a good ways up the Twisp river valley. When we bought the place I asked my neighbor who's been there 40 years how the winters are. He promptly told me that the locals call that valley "the Icebox". According to him, and I have since confirmed, four feet on the ground is kind of the norm. We did get alot of ice this year for some reason. And lucky you! That is such a beautiful area.

I may have a new plan that just surfaced. My friend is going to give me his old lawn tractor snow blower. Its and MTD 4*" wide unit. Seems on the heavier duty side as far as mower blowers go, not as burley as say that woodmaxx but.. I think I'm going to mount it on the front of G.G., the little tractor and do a belly shaft to drive it. Ill need chains, definitely some rear weight, maybe some front weight, but I think this is gonna work.
I wonder if I can find 4x12 tire chains or if Ill have to makes those custom

 

[oosik]

If you have a Les Schwab tire dealership in Okanogan or Omak they may be able to get something for you.

 

[Chainsaw.]

Ah yes. We have one right in Twisp. I'll give them a jingle.

 

[CobyRupert]

A snowblower doesn’t need the weight and travels on clear ground unlike a rear blade. (I wouldn’t “push” a rear blade, only “pull”).

I’d think a setup with a snowblower on front and blade (plow) on back, or snowblower on back and plow or bucket on front would make a good snow clearing machine.
Each have their advantages and disadvantages. (Speed vs snowbanks vs wind vs getting into spots, etc..)

 

[Chainsaw.]

I was just thinking a little weight on the front tires to help steerage while the blower is on the ground trying to keep the tractor from turning.


Anyone know the ideal RPM for small blower to chuck snow good? its the one piece I need to calculate my gearing etc.

 

[PILOON]

I was just thinking a little weight on the front tires to help steerage while the blower is on the ground trying to keep the tractor from turning.


Anyone know the ideal RPM for small blower to chuck snow good? its the one piece I need to calculate my gearing etc.

Well my CUT has 3 PTO speeds.
The 500 is pathetic, the 1000 wants to shake things apart but my 700 +/- does a great job.
Have run that 700 +/- for some 10 year or so without any major issues.

 

[CobyRupert]

I suspect that having weight on the front helps steering when the blower is raised more than when lowered and sliding on the ground.

 

[shooterdon]

A snowblower doesn’t need the weight and travels on clear ground unlike a rear blade. (I wouldn’t “push” a rear blade, only “pull”).

I’d think a setup with a snowblower on front and blade (plow) on back, or snowblower on back and plow or bucket on front would make a good snow clearing machine.
Each have their advantages and disadvantages. (Speed vs snowbanks vs wind vs getting into spots, etc..)

This works well for me. Pull blower on the back for most of the work. Mounted an old rear blade on a 3ph to SSQA adapter plate on the front for back dragging and scrapping the concrete pad. 74" blower was $4000. Old blade and SSQA adapter on front was $350.

BTW, for light snows, (4" or so) I angle the front blade to windrow the snow to the center of the drive and make one pass with the blower. Also, by turning the blade backwards, there is less digging of the gravel before the frost sets it up.

A front mount LS blower was $7500.

 

[Sonny580]

My old blower is 540 and that works just fine. You can get them with 540 or 1,000 gearboxes on them----your choice. The blower will run at the same speed with either. Advantage of 1,000--- NONE! Some tractors only have 1,000 so thats why the different gearboxes.

 

[Farmer495]

I was just thinking a little weight on the front tires to help steerage while the blower is on the ground trying to keep the tractor from turning.


Anyone know the ideal RPM for small blower to chuck snow good? its the one piece I need to calculate my gearing etc.

Yes you will need front weight if 3pt blower and you do not have loader or blade on front of tractor.

As for RPM, fan speed should be 1:1 of PTO RPM, at least on the 540 blowers I've run.

 

[Steelauzzy]

The question is is it a drift that’s frozen in place or just snowfall/accumulation? If it’s only a couple times a year get a tractor (weight over hp) with a blade. If you have a blade or a loader arm worst case in a crazy snow fall your going to spend a day pushing the berm aside bucket width at a time.
I caved this spring and bought a blower because the path kept getting narrower and narrower and with the drifts we were spending 20+ hours per week just keeping it passable. The blower however is slow as heck. It gets rid of the snow but 75hp on a blower still doesn’t move very fast.
my advise would be to get the blade tractor or truck for cheap and if you get in a bind hire a local to dig you out the 1 time in 20 years your blade can’t keep up.

 

[Wyobuckaroo]

I run a 50" blower.. A 3pt mount Buhler/Allied brand.. This on a JD 2032R with loaded turfs and 2 link V bar ladder chains..

This tractor could handle a 60" easily enough, but the blower was purchased gently used and quite cheap..

I also use a 72" rear blade until winter overwhelms it, then switch to the blower..

For the price and usefulness I have no problem looking over my shoulder to blow snow. A bigger blower would make it quicker, but quick and a perfect job each pass is not a requirement to me..