Snow B26 owners and snow handling

[nspec]

FWIW, I was worried too about loading the rears with the backhoe. I agree, as long as you don't work with the wheels lifted off the ground you'll be fine. Dealer thinks so also. For me, the pro's far outweigh the cons. Plus, these days I don't use the backhoe nearly as much as the rest of the implements. I noticed only a marginal difference when using the loaded tires and the hoe - you still can pull yourself around pretty easily if the digging gets tough.

 

[GPintheMitten]

I have a B2620, industrial tires rears are loaded with rimguard. I do spin tires but dont get stuck. I havent grooved my tires and am considering it. Im not sure there is enough clearanc for rear chains unless wheel spacers were used. I do have a set of front chains that I'm going to try.

I have a 5 ft rear blower. Its not the pull type. I agree that 7 foot blower wouldbe too much, especially for contract work.

I use the loader at times like the 16 inches we got dumped on use, but it is a slow method. As for front chains it would help with the blower but would be minimal help with loader work because I seem to always raise the tires off the ground.

I have moved a lot of snow these last few days but it took a long time with my set up.

 

[bstrom]

The B26 is supposed to be a very rugged machine, industrial strength and will do more than the standard series tractors. Will it run a 7 foot blower? well I don't know, ask your dealer. I have never stalled my 2620 it just loses traction even with chains on all 4 wheels. It's incredible over 2k rpm. As far as traction I would chain up the rear wheels first and see how it works and if it doesn't chain up the fronts too. I have run chains on all 4 wheels now plowing snow with a front loader plow for a few years without a problem. Helps with steering to have them on the front and backing uphill. I have loaded rear tires but I don't think you need them. I have ballast on the back and before I had loaded tires that worked fine. Weight of blower on the back and chains you should be fine.

Don't let anybody tell you the 26 horse doesn't have enough power, I have yet to stall mine doing anything. I have loaded tires and a 400 lbs ballast box on the back and can drag a 1000 pound log uphill out of the woods. I'm not exaggerating. You just need torque not horsepower.

Don't know about cutting tires as opposed to chains, are there downsides like faster wear or tear? Seems like there could be or why wouldn't they be designed that way to begin with. Anybody know?

 

[bstrom]

By the way if you look at the 3 point lift capacity on the B26 it's over 1600 pounds at 24 inches. The specs for these tractors are all on Kubota's site.

 

[nspec]

The B26 is supposed to be a very rugged machine, industrial strength and will do more than the standard series tractors. Will it run a 7 foot blower? well I don't know, ask your dealer. I have never stalled my 2620 it just loses traction even with chains on all 4 wheels. It's incredible over 2k rpm. As far as traction I would chain up the rear wheels first and see how it works and if it doesn't chain up the fronts too. I have run chains on all 4 wheels now plowing snow with a front loader plow for a few years without a problem. Helps with steering to have them on the front and backing uphill. I have loaded rear tires but I don't think you need them. I have ballast on the back and before I had loaded tires that worked fine. Weight of blower on the back and chains you should be fine.

Don't let anybody tell you the 26 horse doesn't have enough power, I have yet to stall mine doing anything. I have loaded tires and a 400 lbs ballast box on the back and can drag a 1000 pound log uphill out of the woods. I'm not exaggerating. You just need torque not horsepower.

Don't know about cutting tires as opposed to chains, are there downsides like faster wear or tear? Seems like there could be or why wouldn't they be designed that way to begin with. Anybody know?

I'm talking about power to run an implement off the pto. Much different than power to the wheels, which I agree with you 100%. I run a 60 inch tiller and a woodchipper on mine, so I know a little bit about pto power on the machine. It quite simply does not have anywhere near the horsepower to run an 84" snowblower - no way, no how.

By the way if you look at the 3 point lift capacity on the B26 it's over 1600 pounds at 24 inches. The specs for these tractors are all on kubota's site.

Yup, and if you turn the page in the manual, it lists the following:

maximum implement weight - 550 lbs.
maximum allowable load which can be put on the lower link end - 800 lbs.

The 1676 lbs is a measurement of the maximum lifting force exerted by the three pt. hitch measured 24 inches behind the lift point. This is an indication of the strength of the hydraulic unit in the tractor.

The B26 is supposed to be a very rugged machine, industrial strength and will do more than the standard series tractors.

Same tractor as the B2630. Different loader, and slightly turned up hydraulic pump. Tractor frame and engine are identical.

Don't know about cutting tires as opposed to chains, are there downsides like faster wear or tear? Seems like there could be or why wouldn't they be designed that way to begin with. Anybody know?

The rears haven't worn faster. Maybe a little faster wear on the fronts? I don't know - they wear quicker anyway. For the price of front tires, I'll replace them before I look at chain marks on my asphalt.

 

[bstrom]

double post

 

[bstrom]

ok I lose. He can only pick up 550 lbs on the back end even though I pick up more than that with my little tractor all the time. But a 60+ horse tractor to blow snow? Come on really?

If you are running on asphalt down there in civilization land Rhode Island I'll give you the cut tires. How do you cut them anyway?

Also 5 to 8 inches of snow isn't that much really. I should hope you can get through that. The past years here on the coast we have been getting 12 inches and sometimes more of wet heavy snows. One time 18 inches which I should have started before it stopped.. I don't think I could make it with cut R4s and no chains. Different environment I guess.

 

[nspec]

Don't get me wrong. I lift up way more than 550 pounds with mine. The tractor is a powerhouse. I lift implements that weigh upwards of 700 to 800 pounds. Just because you can lift it doesn't mean that you should. But check the weight of 84" snowblowers - they're over 1000 lbs. You'll maybe pull it off, but you'll eventually break something.

I think you misread the original poster's question. I mentioned a 60 horsepower tractor needed to run a 7-foot snowblower, not a plow. Again, I'm talking about PTO horsepower, not horsepower to the wheels. We're not just dragging or pushing a blade.

Quite simply put, an 84 inch snow blower is entirely way too much for this little tractor.

As for cutting tires, you can buy a tool. Its like a hot knife. There is a huge discussion on this under the snow removal section. Look for tire cutting, grooving, siping. It's not just for asphalt. Snow tires have these grooves - it's quite common. Hard to believe, but the snow packs in the grooves and the snow to snow contact improves traction over rubber on snow.

 

[powerstroke444e]

I have a b26 with foam filled tires all around and a 5' plow on the front that I made from a blade off of a f series Kubota. For a couple winters I used it for commercial snow removal and it was very fast for small driveways like in average subdivision 100' and under. Just left it in medium range no chains.

My house has a 1000' driveway that drifts real bad but it does really well for size of machine it is. This last snow we couldn't get a truck thought the drifts but got it done with the b26. I always leave the hoe on with a 30" bucket in case I get hung up I can get myself out.

Only issue is I don't have a cab. I would like to get a 5' blower but front blade works good.

 

[skyhook]

Thank's guy's, some GREAT info here,
I must confess. I made a mistake, my blower is "72 inches", 6 foot, weighs about 560lbs.
From reading, looks like this machine can handle it.
I like the idea of cutting grooves in the tires, never thought of that,
I suppose you wouldn't need chains then.
I would definitely need a cab, most likely custom made somehow,(non-removable).
I figure the cab ( 400-500 lbs and the blower 500-550 lbs) would give about 1000lbs of weight
to this machine, thats why I was worried about the 26hp of it.
From what I'm hearing, it does pull it's weight in "snow" situations.
I did try one of my friends, didn't have the hoe on it and no chains or blower,,
had no traction whatsoever with the R4's in the deep snow.
So, here's what I've understood so far,,
A 6 foot (72") blower on the rear, some sort of cab, slit or chain the rear tire's and possibly
the front if needed, and this thing should eat snow like there's no tomorrow.