Front or Rear Snow Blower?

[marxman]

Hi all,

I am about to purchase a tractor and am considering between two Kubota models B3200 and B3300SU. The main difference is the 3300SU doesnt have a mid-PTO.

I'm absolutely sure I wont want a Mid Mount Mower or Rotary Broom. However I line in MA, so there is typically a lot of snow. I'm trying to consider whether I would want a snow thrower, and if so whether to go front or back... because that would affect my decision on which tractor to get.

Do people know if both positions are typically as effective? Is the rear mounted option less powerful due to a slower spinning PTO? Also... is it a pain to drive backwards the whole time? Is it a pain to have to take the bucket off to use the snow thrower?

 

[nybirdman]

The front mounted blowers(on Kubotas)use a sub-frame..the FEL must be removed.Lots of reading on the debate of front or rear mounted snow blowers,do some reading here.Cost wise..the rear is a lot less money.I use a FEL mounted Curtis plow and rear blade.All depends how much snow you get and how large an area you are clearing.

 

[devildog1]

Birdman hit it right on the nail, lots of debate on subject. I owned a B3200TLB and used the 60" FEL and a 72" rear blade, a little slower then a front plow but results are the same huge snow banks. Tractor before 32 was a BX23TLB with front snow blower, GREAT!! except if you wanted to use FEL== Remove blower to install FEL. I now have a L3540 with a LA2674 rear snow blower and for hard ice banks I break then up with FEL. I have tried all and that is the combo that I like best for heavy snow, ha although sometimes I use the rear blade with snow 6" or less. See what Bird meant? Good luck, what ever works for you, but you'll probably change a few times.
DevilDog

 

[MIKE R]

You can also get loader mounted snow blowers. They are powered from the PTO and the hydraulic unit mounts on the 3 point hitch. They have to have their own unit because the tractors hydraulics don't have enough flow. They are a little more expensive but are easy to hook up and use. John Deere has them for their tractors (made by frontier implements) but you can probably get one from you local dealer. I'm not sure if they make the size to fit the tractor you are looking at.

I don't mind using the rear mount snow blower but they don't have the scraping ability of one mounted on the front with down pressure from a hydraulic cylinder.

 

[leonz]

Hi all,

I am about to purchase a tractor and am considering between two Kubota models B3200 and B3300SU. The main difference is the 3300SU doesnt have a mid-PTO.

I'm absolutely sure I wont want a Mid Mount Mower or Rotary Broom. However I line in MA, so there is typically a lot of snow. I'm trying to consider whether I would want a SNOW CASTER, and if so whether to go front or rear... because that would affect my decision on which tractor to get.

Do people know if both positions are typically as effective? Is the rear mounted option less powerful due to a slower spinning PTO? Also... is it a pain to drive backwards the whole time? Is it a pain to have to take the bucket off to use the snow thrower?

About your SNOW CASTER needs:

The Kubota snow casters are made by RAD in Canada. they build equipment for many different brands.

I have an RAD snow caster of a different color and this coming winter will be the first one for this particular unit.

I will say that I think the construction of this unit is poor in my opinion as the bearings are ungreaseable and the sheet metal is too thin where it should be made of thicker steels versus a rear mounted ALLIED FARM KING or PRONOVOST snow caster.



Many horror stories about the attempts to purchase them (RAD)in snow season as they are normally back ordered where a rear mounted unit is normally much easier to obtain.

One of the major negatives for a front mounted snow caster is the amount of area required to store them where a rear mount does not have these issues.


There have been many horror stories related regarding the innocent home owner being viciously attacked by the snow caster mounting frame where it jumps out and either trips the unsuspecting homeowner or they end up with bruised shins or banged up toes because the frame takes up so much more room
than a rear mounted snow caster(been there done that-my front mounted unit is outside on barrels).

a. The front mounted snow caster is more expensive to purchase because of the mounting frame and propeller shafts.

b. The front mounted snow caster and mounting frame reduces the ground clearance of the machine at all times(not good)

c. The front mounted snow caster will allow more spillage and poor cleanup with deep snows where the open configuration of the rear mounted snow casters auger allows it to pull deep snow falls into the cross auger and the impeller housing for discharge

d. The front mounted snow caster requires both reduction gearing and reversal to operate in most cases in which i will expand upon for you.

e. A small loader mounted snow caster with a hydraulic power pack will be
close to $15,000.00 USD(Pronovost) The loader mounted snow caster will be
a rear mount snow caster changed to operate by hydraulic power(some units
have a pump motor combination on skid steer loaders or 2 motors and
hydraulic chute rotation and spout tilt.

f. The hydraulic drive snow caster will be limited in operating width and wieght
to your loaders (ACTUAL) load lifting capacity where you can purchase a
wider cutting snow rear mounted snow caster if desired with no issue other
than driving a bit slower in reverse for the first pass to open the path and
then you can take further half cuts if desired at a faster speed.


The front mounted snow caster is limited in its ability to clear snow in the raised position to eat at snow banks because of the propeller shaft clearances where a rear mounted snow caster will work through its arc as long as the P.T.O., shaft is the proper length.




The front mounted snow caster also limits your line of site distance as it is in front of you and you cannot watch the snow entering the snow caster unless you have a camera to watch the blind spots in front of the snow caster as it works.

The rear mounted unit allows you to sit above the rear mounted snow caster and watch the entire operation as it works.


The rear mounted snow caster uses the 540 R.P.M. of the rear PTO directly to rotate the impeller and the spur gearing rotates the snow casters cross auger.

The down side to the front and rear mounted snow casters that are shaft driven is simply that the cross auger is an open auger configuration which slows snow removal for the smaller front mounted snow casters especially as the impellers are smaller in size.

Neither the rear or front mounted snow caster can apply down pressure for scraping as they depend upon the wieght of the snow caster for this.


I must emphasize this one point as the "most important" one for your purchase:

The size of the impeller drum which is the business end of the snow caster is the issue and WHAT YOU MUST EXAMINE.

The rear mounts have bigger impeller drums and the 540 RPM impeller speed is more than adequate for the task, I have several posts about snow casters explaining the math fo the snow volume removed at 21 pounds per cubic foot of fresh snow fall as the larger impeller on a rear mounted snow caster cannot be flooded like the front mounted type of snow caster.


The front mounted snow caster will be limited in trade in value as it will only fit the machine it is mounted on in most cases.

The rear mounted snow caster will retain its value as it can be used on other larger tractors if you trade up and you can save money by not having to buy a new unit.


You should also spring for the seat up grade so that you can swivel in the seat and relax while using the snow caster.


As you are in the beginning stages of your search you have plenty of time to investigate.


Please contact Ken Sweet on the forum here about his line of rear mounted ALLIED FARM KING snow casters as he is a forum sponsor in good standing as he ships his snow casters to his customers as well.

 

[LedgeFarmer]

I live in New England too and have used a rear mount snowblower driving backward 1/2 mile windy STEEP hill driveway for the last 3 winters. I recently changed to a rear mount driving forward type. We'll see how it is driving over the snow, but I've heard it works great. I got tired of craning my neck to drive backwards. If you don't mind taking the loader off, don't have any major water bars or bumps to go over, and don't foresee using the bucket in the winter, then I'd go with the front mount blower off of the mid mount PTO for not much more money than the rear mount drive forward type. The loader mounted hydraulic blowers are amazing, but cost a lot more and you sacrifice your PTO (for other uses) with the hydraulic power booster required to drive it. Good Luck.

 

[moship]

I have used both a rear and front mounted snow blower. My preference is the front mount for long term comfort, but the additional cost over a rear unit is significant.

The subframe can remain on the tractor during the winter. With the snow blower removed (very simple task) the front end loader can be used with the subframe in place. At least this is the case on my tractor. It does limit ground clearance, but was workable for my needs during the winter months. Once there was no chance of snow the subframe came off.

Good luck with your purchase.

 

[kco]

I intend to purchase a rear mounted pull type blower this year. I am tired of clearing with a blade, which I must use in reverse to get the snow in the ditch. To avoid so much work in reverse I often just push the snow to the edge with my blade and then use one pass of the walk behind blower to throw it into the field.

I'm not concerned about running over the snow first or having a bit of packed snow. In fact I hope for a couple of light snows early in the season that we can pack with normal driving and not be concerned with picking up rocks with the blower.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

I would get the front mount blower only if it is quich-attach.

IMO, a blower out back and a bucket out front is THE set-up for snow removal. Can't beat it.:thumbsup:

 

[forester2]

The front mount blower on my B3030 has grease fitting all most points. Plowed with a rear mount for 20 years and the front mount cuts my blowing time in half with a lot less strain on the neck. If needed I can remove blower and mount loader in under 5 min.

 

[grsthegreat]

I live in north Idaho and had a 28 HP JD tractor and rear mounting snowblower that i used for some 8 years or so (i forget actually when i purchased the blower). The rear driving blower worked great in moving 18-24" snow piles, but bogged down in anything deeper. my problem with the JD was it only had 3 reverse speeds, and it was either too slow or too fast.

My new tractor is HST controlled, so i can set speed to conditions. i haven't Had it thru a winter yet, but due to neck and back issues (probably due to 8 winters of driving backwards) i recently purchased a loader mounted blower and rear power-pack from Quick Attach. They are kind of spendy, a little over twice the price of a good quality rear pusher model, but my back required it. I actually cant wait till winter

I also purchased an 84" blade for the smaller snowfall days (4-6") so i wont have to blow snow for 8 hours like i usually do. The blade moves it at least twice as fast.

 

[RoyJackson]

I don't have enough driveway or enough snow to justify a snowblower, but this one:
Skid Steer Attachments - Erskine Attachments, Inc.
is one of the neatest blowers I've seen.
There is a drive shaft running from the rear PTO to the front blower unit. Looks great, especially if you don't have a mid-PTO.

Grsthegreat has a cool blower too...but the price is definitely spendy!!!!!

 

[crazyal]

I have a front mount blower on my Kubota and wouldn't go to a rear mount blower. The sub frame can stay on the tractor if you want to use the fel but with the blower I rarely need it so even though in less then 5 minutes I can switch between the two it really doesn't matter. It costs more but it's worth it. Not sure about what model blower that fits on the 3200 but mine is extremely well built with very thick steel and grease fittings on every bearing.

 

[johnems]

I have a question? Which has more power to blow snow? I front mount PTO mid mount snow blower or a front mounted hydraulic driven power like the quick attach type talked about in this thread. Years ago my dad taught me that shaft driven devices are better to transfer power to unit. Obviously hydraulic units have come a long way. Does any have experience using both and can compare the power for each. I currently own a Kubota 5030 with a cab. Thanks

 

[90cummins]

I live in Western Ma. and have had a rear mount 60" RAD on my 1720 for several years, very well built all bearings greasable.
In my opinion the rear mount makes the tractor much more versatile because the loader can be used to break down hard frozen banks and scrape the driveway down.
Living on top of a mountain and having my mailbox on a secondary road the banks can be 4 or 5 feet high and is very dense, heavy and hard after being rolled and pushed, the FEL can break them down for easier blowing.
The loader is very useful to do the final dressing up.
Another thing to consider would be hidden objects if you are not familiar with a particular area, use the loader first!
Looking and diving backwards does not bother me but that痴 me.
Lastly is cost, the rear mount is cheaper and can be mounted on any tractor.
Tim

 

[leonz]

I have a question? Which has more power to blow snow?, a front mount PTO mid mount snow blower or a front mounted hydraulic driven power like the quick attach type talked about in this thread. Years ago my dad taught me that shaft driven devices are better to transfer power to unit. Obviously hydraulic units have come a long way. Does any have experience using both and can compare the power for each. I currently own a Kubota 5030 with a cab. Thanks

============================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================
The problem is power loss through gear reduction for front drive units except when snow casters are powered through
the rear PTO BUT the issues of lift for the snow caster limit its ability to chew at fresh snow banks and and frozen snow banks.

And the load the hydraulic drive snow caster encounters will affect its available power as the hydraulics rotate the gear box that
powers the impeller and the cross auger at the same time.

Unless you have a high flow hydraulic system with a largw reservoir a snow blower wil not work very well as the available fluid power
is limited in volume.

This is the reason a hydraulic pump tank unit that attaches to the three point hitch is available for the hydraulic snow blowers offered
by several manufacturers.

Fluid power losses affect the mid mount PTO as it also fluid driven as an attachment through the hydrostatic transmission
The propeller shaft delivers the rotary motion to the front mounted gear box which is typically a reverse rotation method
with chain drives or a reversing gearbox which also creates a further power reduction to the gearbox which provides
rotation energy for the snow caster.


And please understand that hydraulic power is lost through both heat and piping friction loss so that is another negative.

The price for a loader mounted snow blower and a hydraulic pump tank can start at $15,000 depending on the builder.

The rear mounted snow blower provides the most power as all the energy that is being delivered to the power take off is
being delivered to the snow blower gear box and the spur gear is rotating the cross auger at the same time with very little
power using the chain drive as the pass through shaft is rotating the impeller with massive amounts of torque from the gearbox.

 

[grsthegreat]

Yup, mine has a rear mounted 50 gallon, 3000 psi, 15 gal/minute rear hydraulic unit that powers the blower. the tractor itself could not power it. They are spendy, but i plan on living in snow country awhile so it will pay for itself. been here since 1996, not planning on leaving anytime soon. Lots of cold , wet winters ahead.

 

[crazyal]

I have a question? Which has more power to blow snow? I front mount PTO mid mount snow blower or a front mounted hydraulic driven power like the quick attach type talked about in this thread. Years ago my dad taught me that shaft driven devices are better to transfer power to unit. Obviously hydraulic units have come a long way. Does any have experience using both and can compare the power for each. I currently own a Kubota 5030 with a cab. Thanks

As a rule of thumb gears and drive shafts are more efficient. There's a reason why cars and trucks use drive shafts and gear drive tractors have a little more HP than the same model in HST.

For the most part it's unlikely that you'll need the full PTO hp to blow snow. So either will work fine.

 

[5030]

You can also get loader mounted snow blowers. They are powered from the PTO and the hydraulic unit mounts on the 3 point hitch. They have to have their own unit because the tractors hydraulics don't have enough flow. They are a little more expensive but are easy to hook up and use. John Deere has them for their tractors (made by frontier implements) but you can probably get one from you local dealer. I'm not sure if they make the size to fit the tractor you are looking at.

I don't mind using the rear mount snow blower but they don't have the scraping ability of one mounted on the front with down pressure from a hydraulic cylinder.

That's not true. The attitude at which you set the blower (angle) provides plenty of downward force as the auger pulls the snow in. You actually don't want a blower to scrape but leave a bit (1/4") or more of snow on the surface you are blowing because if the cutting edge of the blower contacts the ground, any object (gravel, kids toys, anything, becomes a missle). A blower is a wonderful machine gun and will destroy your siding, windows, car sheet metal or cause injury to animals or people if it throws objects.

I actually put skid shoes on mine to insure it would not contact the ground.

Front mounted truck plows have no doen pressure either. It's the attitude the blow is set at that makes it dig in, in to the depth of the skid shoes that is.

I have a question? Which has more power to blow snow? I front mount PTO mid mount snow blower or a front mounted hydraulic driven power like the quick attach type talked about in this thread. Years ago my dad taught me that shaft driven devices are better to transfer power to unit. Obviously hydraulic units have come a long way. Does any have experience using both and can compare the power for each. I currently own a Kubota 5030 with a cab. Thanks

I ran my Lucknow 72 rear mount with my 5030 and it's gradualted to my M9. I added some width with angled side sheets because I went up appreciably in horsepower (pto) from the 5030.

The 5030 was capable with the 72 in all but very deep, wet snow. The M9 throws 150 feet or better, depending on wind and is capable of cutting a 6 foot drift. I do our road every winter.

I'd never have a blower without a cab. An open station tractor and a blower is inviting frozen skin. A blower is miserable with an open station, rear or front mount. If I had an open station (I don't), I'd have a front mount blade or a rear blade. Never a blower.

I'm sold on Lucknow Blowers. I had a Land Pride prior to the Lucknow and the Lucknow is much better built, with heavier gage steel, grease fittings and adjustable drive chains. My lucknow will throw a cinder block, I knw, one reason why I don't want the blower contacting the ground and why I watch where I'm blowing. The Lucknow also has a cab controlled chute via the remote valve. I don't want to get out and get cold. I want to stay inside the tractor, where it's toasty and listen to Rush Limbaugh blather about something inconsequential to everyone, except him.

 

[Don87]

That's not true. The attitude at which you set the blower (angle) provides plenty of downward force as the auger pulls the snow in. You actually don't want a blower to scrape but leave a bit (1/4") or more of snow on the surface you are blowing because if the cutting edge of the blower contacts the ground, any object (gravel, kids toys, anything, becomes a missle). A blower is a wonderful machine gun and will destroy your siding, windows, car sheet metal or cause injury to animals or people if it throws objects.

I actually put skid shoes on mine to insure it would not contact the ground.

Front mounted truck plows have no doen pressure either. It's the attitude the blow is set at that makes it dig in, in to the depth of the skid shoes that is.



I ran my Lucknow 72 rear mount with my 5030 and it's gradualted to my M9. I added some width with angled side sheets because I went up appreciably in horsepower (pto) from the 5030.

The 5030 was capable with the 72 in all but very deep, wet snow. The M9 throws 150 feet or better, depending on wind and is capable of cutting a 6 foot drift. I do our road every winter.

I'd never have a blower without a cab. An open station tractor and a blower is inviting frozen skin. A blower is miserable with an open station, rear or front mount. If I had an open station (I don't), I'd have a front mount blade or a rear blade. Never a blower.

I'm sold on Lucknow Blowers. I had a Land Pride prior to the Lucknow and the Lucknow is much better built, with heavier gage steel, grease fittings and adjustable drive chains. My lucknow will throw a cinder block, I knw, one reason why I don't want the blower contacting the ground and why I watch where I'm blowing. The Lucknow also has a cab controlled chute via the remote valve. I don't want to get out and get cold. I want to stay inside the tractor, where it's toasty and listen to Rush Limbaugh blather about something inconsequential to everyone, except him.

Lately everything has been extremely consequential, but with that aside.............I wouldn't trade my front mount blower for anything(cept a blonde and a 12 pack).............oops, did I say that?:laughing::laughing::laughing: