First impression of new 54" blower?

[Dale1995]

I am looking at trading in my 47" blower on my 2320 for the new 54" model. It will cost me $1300.00 to trade up, but since my tractor is only 1 year old, I think I will be happier with the larger swath it will take. The 47" is a real workhorse...but I am constantly driving over fresh snow and packing it down when I back up. My question is ...Has anyone tried it in some snow yet? And how is it working? I see it has a plastic impeler instead of steel. I would like to hear from some owners out there before I spend a wad of money.....

 

[Thomas]

Could always attach side panels on blower to push snow in for chewing so rear tires don't run over the snow until deciding.

 

[Kamik]

Hi Dale,

I'm sitting here in Portland half-way between my family in Maryland with 20" of snow from last week and my wife's family in Presque Isle with 8 new inches from this week, and I got nothing but frozen slush!

The day it fell the blower cruised through 4" of slushy mush without skipping a beat. Later I adjusted the shoes to lower the blade for a cleaner surface.

I can attest that 3/8"-3/4" gravel as well as big dog poops are ingested and exgested with no trouble or damage to the blower at all.

There doesn't seem to be any vibration in the drive system, I could find no quirky behaviour at any engine speed or blower height above ground.

That's all I've got for now. After we get some real snow and I have an opportunity to run it for more than a few minutes I'll send you an updated report.

Kamik

 

[Runner]

I want one.

Looks like the only thing needed to upgrade from the 47 is the "Implement Drive and Upstop Kit", part # BM23238, for $270 (plus about $2450 for the 54 blower, minus trade-in value of the 47...).

In reviewing the other required parts, it appears that it uses the same front quick hitch and main drive shaft.

 

[turbo36]

I want one.

Looks like the only thing needed to upgrade from the 47 is the "Implement Drive and Upstop Kit", part # BM23238, for $270 (plus about $2450 for the 54 blower, minus trade-in value of the 47...).

In reviewing the other required parts, it appears that it uses the same front quick hitch and main drive shaft.

How old is your front hitch and 47" blower? If it is the latest style you may be able to use your current up up stop kit and implement drive. The new quick hitch is a couple of inches longer then the old style, if you use a new style drive shaft with and old style hitch it will bind when lifting all the way up. Have your dealer really look into this before ordering anything.

 

[Dale1995]

Everything I bought brand new last year. Dealer said all I needed was a new upstop, and of course the new blower. I wanted the larger blower last year, but it still wasn't available yet. So I guess I need to just suck it up and trade up now.

 

[turbo36]

Everything I bought brand new last year. Dealer said all I needed was a new upstop, and of course the new blower. I wanted the larger blower last year, but it still wasn't available yet. So I guess I need to just suck it up and trade up now.

I was pretty much in the same boat, I got my X749 last fall and wanted a wider blower. I heard rumors of a wider blower coming soon so I put on a 47" Blower that I already had from my 455AWS. Since I bought a new style front hitch I had to change the up stop and implement drive to the new style also. When the new 54" showed up this fall my dealer pulled the up stop and drive shaft off the 47" and put them on the 54", everything worked fine. If I remember correctly the Deere changed the part # for some reasom but it is still the same.

 

[Dale1995]

so how does the 54" compare to the 47"? should I do this deal? How does the blower perform with the new impeler?

 

[turbo36]

so how does the 54" compare to the 47"? should I do this deal? How does the blower perform with the new impeler?

The 54" works really well, it seems to run quieter then the 47" and the starting load on the clutch seems lighter (perhaps due to the lighter weight of the plastic impeller). The extra width is very noticeable and really reduces the snow packed down by the tire overlap. The plastic impeller does not have the "hooks" on the the blades like the steel impeller, I don't think it throws dry snow quite as far but very wet snow seems to throw better.

I give it a "thumbs up"

 

[Spudland_Dave]

...perhaps due to the lighter weight of the plastic impeller

Huh
PLASTIC Impeller? If thats true, I would stick with the ol tried & true 47"...I dont want no plastic anywhere on my blower. I chose the blower I got because it was built like a tank...