Do rear snowblowers float?

[RTalma]

As I consider a sub-cut purchase, color undetermined I wondered how 3 pt hitch snowblowers work. Do they tend to follow the driveway contour (float) or is the 3pt fixed in postion so it tends to lift or dig in depending on movement over bumps in the driveway? I have relatively smooth asphalt, but a concrete gutter at the end and wonder how a rear blower will react to dropping a wheel off the driveway. Thanks.

 

[radioman]

with any 3pt attachment, all tractors 3 pt "floats" as there is no down pressure. its the top link that does the cutting or skipping by adjusting the length. n

 

[flyingcow]

Basically floats, no down pressure other than the weight of the blower. You can adjust the top link on the 3 point. This will make it more or less aggressive on the cutting edge.

 

[leonz]

As I consider a sub-cut purchase, color undetermined I wondered how 3 pt hitch snowblowers work. Do they tend to follow the driveway contour (float) or is the 3pt fixed in postion so it tends to lift or dig in depending on movement over bumps in the driveway? I have relatively smooth asphalt, but a concrete gutter at the end and wonder how a rear blower will react to dropping a wheel off the driveway. Thanks.

With a smack and a bang but otherwise unhurt provided the auger does not catch anything substantial and shears a pin.

You can set the draft control androp likn to skim the path and to lock its position to avoid this if you want but you may end up making a second pass.

No worries, great implement- depending upon the builders steel thickness. and the cross augers snow entry design- you want a cross auger design that has an open top to pull tyhe snow down and in to avoid snow flowing over the blower.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

I find that my Frontier follows the surface really well.

It has good sized skid shoes and weighs about 500 pounds.

I am very happy with mine although I have experienced some neck pain.

 

[Craig Clayton]

As for a rear snow blower I think it comes to your age and how deep your pockets are .My neck is slowly reaching the stage of a Barn Owl . I am positive it will soon turn almost all the way around just before it stiffens up. The front setup is more costly and depending upon the machine some are better than others. If you are planning on keeping your snow blower forever and live in snow country I would suggest a front model if your pocket book can afford it.
I have a rear blower that I would like to retool for front usage and then I could put the rear blade back on.
Craig Clayton

 

[Freds]

Going by your post, no, it will not float. Snowblowers have no side to side float, just up and down float. So if you drop a shoe off the edge, the snowblower will basically stay supported by the shoe still in contact with the ground. The lower lift arms work in conjunction with each other. You can lift one up and down and the other will follow suit.
I sure wish it had side to side float though. I went from a rear blade to a snowblower. I could take out a pin on the rear blade and it would follow the contour of the crown on a dirt driveway. Not so with the snowblower. It threw the crown into my yard with the rest of the snow, lol. Shaved it right off. I have since had my driveway concreted and no more problems that way. It would be nice if they had side to side float.

 

[RickB]

Going by your post, no, it will not float. Snowblowers have no side to side float, just up and down float. So if you drop a shoe off the edge, the snowblower will basically stay supported by the shoe still in contact with the ground. The lower lift arms work in conjunction with each other. You can lift one up and down and the other will follow suit.
I sure wish it had side to side float though. I went from a rear blade to a snowblower. I could take out a pin on the rear blade and it would follow the contour of the crown on a dirt driveway. Not so with the snowblower. It threw the crown into my yard with the rest of the snow, lol. Shaved it right off. I have since had my driveway concreted and no more problems that way. It would be nice if they had side to side float.

Good post; a rear blower will float about as good as a tombstone. Some 3pt linkages have settings that provide 'lateral float'. The blower isn't likely to have that ability otherwise.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

Couild you explain the side-to-side float.?? What is that.??....I leave about a 2" "float" in the turnbuckles with my blower....Is this not what you are talking about.??

 

[chopped]

I agree on the floating. I also have one of these
HYDRAULIC TOP LINK CATEGORY 1 - Agri Supply
The hydraulic upper link lets me fine toon it to the depth of cut. Not alot of adjustment but just another use of the hyd top like.(adjust on the blow) lol

 

[Freds]

Couild you explain the side-to-side float.?? What is that.??....I leave about a 2" "float" in the turnbuckles with my blower....Is this not what you are talking about.??

What I called side to side float Rick better called lateral float.
What the OP wanted to know was what would happen if one end of a snowblower dropped into his concrete gutter. The way my 3PH works and my snowblower is built, it would stay put and that side would not drop into the gutter. The end that remains in contact with the ground would support it, not to mention the whole cutting edge. In other words, the blower would not follow the contour on a lateral plane. Maybe pivot is a better word yet.
That's why I brought up my rear blade. I can take a pin out on my rear blade and if one side is far enough over a ditch or trench, it will drop into it. It will pivot and follow the contour, or "float". And that comes in mighty handy when using one on a crowned driveway.

 

[jinman]

What I called side to side float Rick better called lateral float.

Your description of side-to-side float and Rick's lateral float sure sound like side-to-side tilt to me just to add another expression to the mix. Isn't tilt the normal term when describing one side of an implement lower than the other? Isn't that why we say TnT, meaning Toplink and Tilt (sidelink) adjustment?

 

[Freds]

Your description of side-to-side float and Rick's lateral float sure sound like side-to-side tilt to me just to add another expression to the mix. Isn't tilt the normal term when describing one side of an implement lower than the other? Isn't that why we say TnT, meaning Toplink and Tilt (sidelink) adjustment?

I wouldn't know what is considered "normal" when different terms can be used to describe the same thing. I understood the OP, Rick understood me... I do know I tilt my seat forward when I get off the tractor :confused2:
:laughing:
Tilt works for me. :thumbsup:

 

[RTalma]

Great discussion. I guess what I was really wondering is will the 3 pt let the rear blower move up and down with the driveway contour or is it fixed so everytime the front axle hits a bump the blower pivots up and down like a see-saw with the rear axle as a pivot point, requiring constant 3pt hitch adjustments during blower use?

 

[Freds]

It will move up and down... but down not as much as up.
So if you backed up to a hill, the blower would raise even though the tractor's wheels were still on level ground.
And if you backed up to a ditch, the blower will drop, but only so far before the arms lose downward movement. Then it will just hang there.

 

[Marveltone]

I was going to add a smart-@$$ed remark like, "it will only float as long as the water is frozen, otherwise it will sink". But I decided not to confuse the issue any further.

Joe

 

[Freds]

lololol

 

[RTalma]

Understood - don't leave the snowblower alone by the pond, it can't swim.

 

[Lightnsound]

I recently hung a rear snowblower on my tractor and have had the same interest in float or tilt or whatever we are calling this. I have thought of pulling off my sidelinks and replacing them with chains and shackles. This would allow me to lift the blower when necessary, but allow it to tilt and follow the contour of the drive when it's down. As long as I can figure out a way to keep the chains out of the PTO shaft I think it might work.

Thoughts?

 

[JDGreenGrass]

What I called side to side float Rick better called lateral float.
What the OP wanted to know was what would happen if one end of a snowblower dropped into his concrete gutter. The way my 3PH works and my snowblower is built, it would stay put and that side would not drop into the gutter. The end that remains in contact with the ground would support it, not to mention the whole cutting edge. In other words, the blower would not follow the contour on a lateral plane. Maybe pivot is a better word yet.
That's why I brought up my rear blade. I can take a pin out on my rear blade and if one side is far enough over a ditch or trench, it will drop into it. It will pivot and follow the contour, or "float". And that comes in mighty handy when using one on a crowned driveway.

Freds...Thanks for that. I get it now.

Yes, my blower acts the same way. One end will not drop over an edge. The blower stays level.

I believe I had stated that my blower contours the ground very well. What I mean by that is the 3pt. hitch allows for up and down "contouring." If your driveway has a drop off you can run the blower right over it and the blower will sink nicely with the lay off the land.

Sorry for any confusion.