Snow BX-24 Front Snow Blower

[okgarcia]

I am thinking of purchasing a front mount Kubota snowblower for my BX-24. I do have tire chains, and loaded rear tires. My reservation is that portions of my 80' long by 40' wide driveway have 8' tall retaining walls (without the additional snow on top). I suppose I could blow the snow toward the lower portions of the wall then up and over. How high is the arc of snow coming out the chute? If I run the blower right along the wall, will the snow go over the top? Any other thoughts or operational tips are greatly welcome.

 

[Evil the Weasel]

If you are a reasonable distance from the wall, you should be able to arc the snow over with no problem. If you are right next to the base of the 8' wall, the snow will not clear it. You might consider blowing the snow away from the wall, or blowing it in front of the tractor into more open areas and then blow it out of your way from there. Wind and packiness of the snow complicate matters. A blade would be nice to push it clear at the base of the retaining walls. Sounds like a rear blade in combo with your front blower would be a workable option.

 

[LBrown59]

I am thinking of purchasing a front mount Kubota snowblower for my BX-24. I do have tire chains, and loaded rear tires. My reservation is that portions of my 80' long by 40' wide driveway have 8' tall retaining walls (without the additional snow on top). I suppose I could blow the snow toward the lower portions of the wall then up and over. How high is the arc of snow coming out the chute? If I run the blower right along the wall, will the snow go over the top? Any other thoughts or operational tips are greatly welcome.

Interesting question(s).
Looking forward to the replys.

 

[dwenham]

If your driveway is 40' wide, is there any NEED to blow snow from right against the retaining wall?

Hard to picture the need for 40' of cleared width.

Our drive is 20' wide, but I only bother to clear about 12' of it through the Winter. 465'x12' plus parking area and walkways takes long enough.

To answer your actual question: If the wind is coming from where you're clearing and blowing toward the wall...Absolutely! Just angle the chute a bit ahead and toward the wall. If the wind's going the other way, You're going to wear a LOT of snow.

Best way with a blower is to start upwind and move all the snow whichever way the wind is blowing, if your layout gives you that luxury.

Highly recommend full face cover and goggles. Enjoy the blower, love mine! (on BX22)

 

[okgarcia]

I should add the following info. For the past 13 years I have been using an 8 hp walk behind blower and too many types of shovels. I just got my BX two years ago, so this is my second winter. The width of the drive is to have the ability to park 3 to 4 cars wide in the short length. My wife has a daycare business and often there are cars behind cars during early morning drop-offs and evening pick-ups. I thought my FEL would be great, and it is, except for snow banks. Parents can't see over them to back out into the street, thus a blower is the way to go.

Thanks so far for the replys.

 

[irvingj]

Sounds like a blower would work. My drive is 200' long, going uphill, but the lower "turn-around" area in front of the garage is easily 35' to 40' wide. I also used to use an 8HP walk-behind, and ended up moving the snow 3 times in the wide area before it was over the bank... an 8' high wall would have been impossible. The GC2310, however, with the 2360 front blower, throws easily 40 to 60 feet away, and I often hit the trees 10 to 12 feet up- but I have no walls to contend with.

In the photo below, the snow was not very deep, only a few inches, but was slushy- you can see the arc. I also do the top of the drive --side of the dirt road, really-- and am able to blow the snow across the road and up into the trees on the (uphill) bank on the other side of the road. Very impressive, to me!

I'll try to get some daytime shots of the size of the area these "little" SCUTS can handle with their blowers.

 

[ChuckinNH]

Here is a photo of a BX blowing snow, and it looks like the chute deflector is about all the way up. Looks like you could be reasonably close to that wall, and clear it. This photo was posted by another member, and I hope he doesn't mind it being used for illustration purposes.

 

[billhall]

I bet you will miss having your front end loader, I switched my order from a kubota front blower to a rear 48 inch puma and am very glad I did, the loader comes in very handy for hard packed snow at front of driveway. Just my opinion.

 

[TheFlatlander]

I bet you will miss having your front end loader, I switched my order from a kubota front blower to a rear 48 inch puma and am very glad I did, the loader comes in very handy for hard packed snow at front of driveway. Just my opinion.

It really doesn't take that much time to remove the snow equipment and put back on the front end loader should the occasional need arise. They are all Quick Attach accessories.I have done this in the past to move back snow banks-I snow plow. If I had a snow blower I think that the need to move a snow bank would not even be required. I would like to have the snow blower attachment for the deeper snow applications, in the future when they get more in stock. Don't hesitate, Get the blower if you have access to one.

 

[billhall]

Your right it does not take much time to re-connect the front end loader but just enough time that you would never bother and would just make due with the blower, which of course is possible. It sure was nice the other day when I broke a shear pin in the middle of a storm and rather than going back to the garage to fix it, I just finished up with the front end loader, and quickly realized that I sure like playing with that loader sometimes. OH well, maybe it is that I am just new to these tractor things and the novelty of using the loader will wear off, but I sure hope not.

 

[billhall]

After my last post I went out just to fool with the loader and blower again and yes the fun factor is way better with the loader, anyways you may not want to go by what I say, I really did not even need a tractor, its just that my wife would not let me buy a Harley, and now I will never go without a tractor.

Bill

BX 25

 

[smfcpacfp]

I bet you will miss having your front end loader, I switched my order from a kubota front blower to a rear 48 inch puma and am very glad I did, the loader comes in very handy for hard packed snow at front of driveway. Just my opinion.

I totally disagree, and I get a lot of snow as you can see from the picture below. A snowblower can move hard packed snow as well as front end loader, because they both cut into the snow, they don't push it.

The disadvantages of the rear blower are well know, primarily having to look over your shoulder for long periods of time. It is hard on the old neck. A cab makes the whole process more pleasant. The rear blower is cheaper because you don't have to buy the undercarriage.

I probably have to go out and snowblow 30 times a year and it takes about 45 minutes each episode (450' by 20' drive and walkway). If we only got a little snow a few times a year, the rear blower would be OK, but if you get serious snow the front bloer is great. I can't think of any situation in the winter where I said to myself, "I wish I had the front end loader on."

Kubota B3030 snowblower in action

 

[billhall]

I like my loader plus it allows me to make forts for my 4 kids, so now you know the real reason.

 

[dwenham]

I bet you will miss having your front end loader, I switched my order from a kubota front blower to a rear 48 inch puma and am very glad I did, the loader comes in very handy for hard packed snow at front of driveway. Just my opinion.

Never yet in 6 years use of my front snowthrower have I encountered a berm I couldn't break through with the blower. Don't forget, with the front blower, you have hydraulic downforce, unlike the gravity-only rear blower you twist your body 180 degrees to observe skipping over the top of the berm left by the plow driver.

One useful tip, if you can use it: The plow comes by our house at a very predictable time on snow days. I always get out before it gets here and clear about 50' of road to the left of our driveway so the plow has no snow to throw into the drive

 

[smfcpacfp]

I like my loader plus it allows me to make forts for my 4 kids, so now you know the real reason.

The front blower would be even better for this job! You have the kids build the fort frame and then you just blow snow on it.

 

[Evil the Weasel]

My blower cuts through banks at the road with ease. I haven't needed the loader yet this Winter. Having said that, I wish I hadn't dropped the loader where I did because it's in my way.

 

[irvingj]

dwenham-- I do precisely the same, and it really works! With that blower, I can truck downhill and throw the snow across the road and up into the bank on the other side; it may look odd (thank goodness for the highly visible --annoyingly so at times-- hazard blinkers, I know I can be seen) driving & blinking down the road, but I take out about 35 yards to the left of my drive, ging out as far as the middle of the road: no snowplow ridges the next morning!

OKGarcia-- here's some shots of the large area I do in front of my garage, after our storm last Wed. Note how high it hits the trees.

Where are you located? Does the phrase "some portions have an 8' retaining wall" mean you're built into a slope? You'll learn to play with the blower, just like you had to with your walk-behind, but you'll have one HUGE advantage: the SCUT blower will be able to handle any pile that you encounter. As others have said, these things will eat into a hard-packed bank --of course, with some finesse-- amazingly well. Like others, I'll add that, although it means more "work," switching back to the FEL is not a huge undertaking, should the need arise. I keep mine handy, and do switch occasionally.