front or rear mount snowbower

[WayneB]

WayneB had it right, if you just snowblow in the winter, then you will want a front blower. I have no need for a FEL in the winter, anyway not enough to suffer the pain associated with a rear blower. We get 15 to 30 feet of snow a winter which means 20 to 40 snowblowing episodes a year for me.

If you buy a tractor with a cab, you will definitely want a hydraulic chute rotator. I live in the boonies with a 13 acre parcel so I don't need to worry about blowing snow into my neighbors yard, but I would still find a hydraulic chute deflector angle adjustment useful and will install one this summer.

The additional cost for a front blower on a B series (Kubota) tractor is about 27% for a total cost of about $6,100 (list) with all of the bells and whistles:

Just curious to know if most of the snow lake effect? You don't really need a snowblower what you need is tickets south! (LOL)

As for the chute deflector on mine I went out and bought a 12 VDC linear actuator and with a double pull double throw momentary switch it is up and running. Works great and even though the actuator cost around $75 plus shipping it was a cheap way out for me.

 

[RoyJackson]

donn12 doesn't tell us where he's from or how regularly he gets snow...or how long his drive (or area to plow) is.
So there's no real good way to provide good advice and many of us are reacting to a couple of really major, but infrequent, snow events.

So, if donn12 wants good advice, he'll want to provide a bit more information...

 

[gordyy]

I blow a lot of snow for other people in town I have always thought the front blower was the way to go, then after I bought one with my tractor and the blower is not stong enough for the tractor (am waiting they are supposed to make an all new design next year and will replace it) I had to buy another for this year bought a 30-40 yr old Mckee 3 pt All I can say is I love the loader being available it scrapes concrete much better than the blower, and you can use it to bust out and chop up road grader droppings

now I really need to change my lil avitar

 

[etcallhome]

Front blower , No way in ---- would I ever consider a rear blower..
This is my needs,,, If you are doing your drive ,once in a while a neighbors,
rear may do ..Yes a lower cost with rear....
I lucked out when I bought my used FB this past fall

 

[smfcpacfp]

Just curious to know if most of the snow lake effect? You don't really need a snowblower what you need is tickets south! (LOL)

As for the chute deflector on mine I went out and bought a 12 VDC linear actuator and with a double pull double throw momentary switch it is up and running. Works great and even though the actuator cost around $75 plus shipping it was a cheap way out for me.

95% of our snow is lake effect. Starting on Sunday thru Tuesday we had 21" of snow that was the size of table salt grains, yet it was in the mid 20's so the snow was dry, but dense. I snow blowed on Monday and Tuesday. Most local schools were closed on Tuesday and the mail wasn't delivered. If you looked at the weather channel, it showed most of Michigan was pretty clear, except for the south shore of Lake Superior.

I am not comitted to the hydraulic chute activator. The hydraulic units costs close to $1,000 (just for the kit), so $75 sounds pretty good. Did you mount the switch to the joystick shaft?

 

[WayneB]

95% of our snow is lake effect. Starting on Sunday thru Tuesday we had 21" of snow that was the size of table salt grains, yet it was in the mid 20's so the snow was dry, but dense. I snow blowed on Monday and Tuesday. Most local schools were closed on Tuesday and the mail wasn't delivered. If you looked at the weather channel, it showed most of Michigan was pretty clear, except for the south shore of Lake Superior.

I am not comitted to the hydraulic chute activator. The hydraulic units costs close to $1,000 (just for the kit), so $75 sounds pretty good. Did you mount the switch to the joystick shaft?

Hi Steve,

Growing up in New York I know a little about that lake effect snow. Makes for a long wait for spring to come, but we certainly enjoyed it once it arrived.

I actually mounted the switch inside a small water resistant box and it is mounted to the back wall next to the rotator switch. I have sent you an email with additional information. Let me know what you think. Tried sending it to your email address Steve and it got kicked back so I have sent you a PM. Wayne
Wayne

 

[Fritzy]

WayneB how fast PRM do you turn your rear mount Blower?

 

[skywaterbanjo]

After 3 years of moving snow with the FEL and rear blade, I bit the bullet and bought a front mount B2782 blower for my B7800. The blower has been fantastic and saved me many, many hours of moving snow. My biggest issue with the FEL/blade was having a place to put the snow. We've had a couple of 'slightly' more snow than normal winters but not by much. The blower puts the snow out of the way. I have a dirt/gravel driveway (~450 ft) and I have to be a bit careful the first snow after a melt.

I don't have a cab and have both the hyd rotator and electric chute deflector. I'm glad I have both of them.

I, personally, would never have a rear mount SB. I got so tired of driving backwards all the time with the blade. No more sore neck. That was the main factor driving me to the front mount SB.

 

[WayneB]

WayneB how fast PRM do you turn your rear mount Blower?

It is a 540 RPM unit and I run it at that. I have a friend that told me I could run it at the higher ROM, but I would never do that, just to fast for the snowblower.