3PH Snowblower Help

Climber · Nov 19, 2001

I finally got my tractor yesterday (B7300HSD), and will be looking for a 3PH snowblower in the very near future. I will be looking at used units first. (Right after I wipe the grin off my face). /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif

My question is probably a little vague, but here goes: What should I be looking for? Aside from making sure it’s a Category I implement, and that its weight does not exceed what my 3PH can lift, is there anything else I should consider?

Thanks,

--Chris

boustany · Nov 19, 2001

The width of the blower, to start. It should be at least as wide as the widest part of your tractor. Probably too wide is a pain. You may consider how you are going to steer the chute. I got a hydralic gizmo, which is very cool, but the tractor has to support it (cost me a bundle). Finally, the better blower are made of of heavier guage steel, while the lower end ones are made out of thinner stuff. You get what you pay for.

CamshaftLF · Nov 19, 2001

Climber:
I have a Ber-Vac 3ph blower, super unit very well built. Don't know how much room you have to manuver around, my blower hangs out the back about 10-12 inchs ,behind the tires. So with the Fel & Blower it takes a little room to get around. Hope this helps a little./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Camshaft in Pa.

P.S. Where abouts are you in Pa?
Also any tractor dealer in Pa can get this brand if they want to, the dist for them is in south eastern Pa. Can't remenber the name.

JJT · Nov 19, 2001

"10-12 inches past the rear tires"? Mines closer to 4 feet past the rear tires. Height is another concern, I have 8' tall garage doors and must lower the unit almost to the floor before backing into the garage, fully raised I'd need a 10' door. I have a Canadian built AgroTrend and am very happy with the quality. It's 78" wide and was told it has an 80 hp gear box. It's setup for cat 1 or cat 2. 2 years ago it cost $1200 new.

CamshaftLF · Nov 19, 2001

JJT:
The discharge shoot on my unit fully rised, doesn't go any hire, then my ROPS. So garage doors are not a problem, but then my doors are 10'-10' any way./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Boy if mine would hang 4' behind the tires, I'd have to have the FEL bucket full of dirt or something, to keep form tipping backwards./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

Camshaft in Pa.

snowman · Nov 20, 2001

Make sure that you have a good rear facing light, otherwise you won't be able to see what you're blowing.

Climber · Nov 20, 2001

Thanks, boustany. That all makes sense. I don't have any front hydraulics, so I'll be looking for a manual chute adjustment. Fortunately, there is nothing really in my way, so I won't have to adjust it often.

--Chris

Climber · Nov 20, 2001

Camshaft,

I am in the Lewisberry area, just South of Harrisburg. Thanks for the info on your blower. I don't have a FEL yet, but I will need a blower for this winter. Of course, if I get one, it will garantee that we won't get any snow for the next 3 years of so. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

--Chris

Climber · Nov 20, 2001

Good suggestion, snowman.

The previous owner on my tractor already took care of that for me. I was always planning to put in a rear light, and there a few good threads in the forum on how to do it, but I guess it's one less thing I have to do.

--Chris

DVerbarg · Nov 20, 2001

Adjustments to a snow blower chute are done not only to place snow in a particular area but also to keep snow from blowing back into your face (assuming you have winds). I have a manual adjustment and am very seriously considering adding the hydraulic option. Just bought the unit last winter after moving to a new house with a driveway 1/4 mile long. Was using a blade and FEL and would spend 4hrs clearing after each snow fall. With the blower it only requires about 25 minutes but it is so much fun that I end up "playing" around for an additional 45 minutes to an hour doing the road around the driveway and my parents driveway to both their house and barn and ..../w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

DaveV