Snow B-7800 & B-2910 snow blower

Pks · Dec 14, 2004

Ray,

A lot of folks have snow blower machines that produce 5 HP per foot of clearance width. The ratio really doesn't need to be that high. My 1975 Ariens 5 Hp 2 stage blower has 20 inches of width which means it has a 3 HP per foot of clearance. It's 30 years old and still throws snow 20 to 30 feet.

A 15 Hp garden tractor with chains, wheel weights and a 48 inch two stage or single stage blower will be able to clear your future drive. You'll be able to drive about 3 mph or faster for up to 10 inch snows. For a 30 inch snow, you'll drive slower. Depending on the height of the blower opening, you might have some additional cleanup to do because some of the snow might spill over the top of the blower/auger housing.

If you need/want to keep the budget less than 10K, then a big garden tractor can do the job (without killing it over the years). If you can find a used compact tractor like a B6100 then the costs should come down.

A lot of the folks in the UP use an old beatup truck with a blade to do their plowing. Except for the City folk. But then they usually complained about the big piles that go built up. A blower is a better solution, but it takes just a little bit more time.

If Nick Zambon is still the owner of US 41 Sales in Marquett, talk to him. He was a good, straight shooter when I knew him. Another source to contact is the Road Commision garage. Find out what the drivers and the supervisor use on their own drive (unless they cheat and use the graders they drive during the day /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. And find out what problems they see residents get into. Snow piles at the end of the drive are nasty when you can't see around them. The plow drivers don't like them either (hides mail boxes). I have a picture of a driver trying to break a mailbox post out of the augers of his blower. He was not pleased.

UP winters are a funny business. Out of the years I lived in Marquette, all but one were wild, with 30 inch snows with ice coming down all in 72 hours (usually around Thanksgiving). Oh that reminds me, I don't recommend traveling long distances during the Thanksgiving Holiday. The weather is usually the nasty kind that took the Edmund Fitgerald (comes in fast and ugly and tell you "winter's here" /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif)

Just out of curiosity, what's taking you to Munising? You're gonna love living there. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

petekoss · Dec 14, 2004

We used to go up to Munising in the in the summer, to compete in a High Power match they held at a gun range just out of town. Beautiful up there. Ray, if you like to snowmobile your in luck! Wev'e had plenty of beers & burgs at the Dog Patch over the years. I have a 64" rear blower on a TC24DA, I have only used it once in about 6" of snow so I don't have much in the way of feed back to give. Will know more when there is a couple two or three feet on the ground.
Pete

RayMunising · Dec 14, 2004

Hi Peter,

I have a 14 hp lawn tractor with a front blade on it that I use for snow removal down here (outside Ann Arbor). It works fine for the small amount of snow we get here. When we do get snow here it is almost always heavy and wet. I see you're in SE Michigan too so I'm sure you know what it's like. Anyway, I have wheel weights and chains on my tractor and it does ok pushing the snow but if I try to go "two tracking" through 6 inches of snow I'll get stuck within 10 feet! It simply can't go through snow. So that's what made me think I need something serious for Munisng but maybe I'm going overboard with a b7800/L3130. I'll look into the smaller (still 4wd) machines. I would certainly like to save the money!

You're right about a lot of people having old beaters to plow snow up there. I'm convinced a blower is the answer for me though.

As far as why the move ... Ever since I was 6 years old I've wanted to live by "the big lake". Well it's taken me a few years (lol) to be able to do it but we've been saving up our pennies (enough I hope!) to semi-retire up there. We bought 15 acres in Munising on the side of a hill with a view of the bay in the distance and we'll build a modest home up there. It's a dream come true for us.

Thank you for your insights and when the time comes I'll see if Nick is still around. I really appreciate your help!

Ray

RayMunising · Dec 14, 2004

Hi Pete,
Well if I can't figure out how to keep the snow out of my driveway I may park the truck on the road and use a snowmobile as a commuter between the house and the road LOL!
Thanks,
Ray

Pks · Dec 14, 2004

Ray,

Try to find a blower for your tractor, then find ag style tires for it as well. Believe me when I tell you that small bar type tires can be found in the proper sizes for your garden tractor. Tractor Supply in Saline might have them on the shelf.

I put a set on my father's 14 Hp Cub Cadet model 1430. They were about $35 each. Install tubes even though the tires don't need them. It's worth the extra $6.

Kozy makes cabs for garden tractors. Maybe they have one that would fit yours.

I'm in Saline... howdy neighbor!

rdln · Dec 14, 2004

The Bear Trap Inn is a good waterin hole with UP atmosphere.

My Aunt and her husband (step uncle?) live in Paradise year round, I still need to visit them.

Alot of people build wooden guards in front of the mailboxes to protect from plow wash and are taller than box itself to be more visible.

That is a good dream Ray, congratulations.

RayMunising · Dec 14, 2004

Hey Peter. I'm in Lodi Twp. We are neighbors!

I gotta tell ya, bar tires or not 1300 foot driveway that could easily be drifted over with 3' of snow its entire length and my little garden tractor don't add up in my mind! I'm going to take your advice and see what the locals use (the ones without the beaters w/plow).

Ray

RayMunising · Dec 14, 2004

Steve,
I've spent countless hours walking the shoreline west of Whitefish Point looking for agates. Paradise is were my parents took me on my first ever trip to the UP when I was 6 years old. Wading the "warm" waters of Whitefish Bay ah yes, great times had in that area! My dad owned 200' on the bay for many years. Having an Aunt up there to visit is a great excuse to go!

Since this is a tractor forum I should say something about tractors ... um ... they use tractors to pull the floats during the blueberry festival in Paradise but I don't recall seeing any Kubotas? Eh?

Ray

MadReferee · Dec 14, 2004

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The 2710 has a 20hp pto? That'd be 4hp per foot width of the snowblower handling 16" of wet snow with no problem. That's good info. hp undoubtedly determines how fast you can go too. If I've got 1/4 mile driveway say with a foot of snow in it and I need to make 3 passes to clear it (15' wide) and I can go 1mph (is that reasonable?) then it'd take 45 minutes to clear. Maybe with a little more hp I could get it done in 30 minutes and a little less hp an hour. How fast can you go while blowing snow with you machine?
)</font>

My driveway is around 250' long, 12' wide and there is a 75' x 75' or so parking area on the end near the house. It takes me less than one hour to clear it, regardless of the snowfall and about 1/2 that time is spent moving vehicles out of the way.

For the driveway I make 3 passes, first down the middle then one on each side. I use low range and move at a moderate pace depending on the snow condition. I like to take my time as I like seat time /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.

RayMunising · Dec 14, 2004

Well if my calculations are right that'd be the equivalent of a 700' long driveway 12' wide (based on square feet). So my driveway is close to double that (1300'). Should take me a little less then twice as long as you. That's a fair amount of seat time if I have to do it every 2-3 days for 4 months! I need a cab AND a cd player!
Thanks,
Ray