Horsepower needed to run 8 ft 3 point snowblower?

[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