In a comment about the Frontier loader mount blower: I would like to know why John Deere won't just make a simple 76 inch snow blower that runs off the front PTO? Why all the extra 3 point mounted hydraulics? My 4720 has a front and rear PTO. Just make it fit the loader arms. Simple. Leave the rear 3 point free for a grader blade. Blow and scrape the excess.
Frontier Front Blower
- Thread starter Spudland_Dave
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kennyd
Advertiser
How could you use the mid-PTO and mount a blower on the loader arms? What would happen to the driveshaft when the loader was raised
hanson1999
Gold Member
i like the idea of blower on loader frame, with all the technology now days i think they could come up with a way to stop the loader so far up ( the crude way with a chain comes to mind)!! drop the bucket put blower on and hook up pto shaft....maybe a 2 minute swap would be awesome!!
mjncad
Super Member
That Frontier blower is just what I want if I had enough snow to get rid each winter, enough PTO HP to run it, and $10k with options and taxes to buy it. Heck I could get by with a 60" blower, which might get within my PTO HP range; but I doubt the price will drop 21% to $7,900 for a smaller unit. The 21% is based on the difference between 76" and 60".
This is the same idea I had if I were to convert a 3pt snowblower to loader mount and add a PTO powered hydraulic pack to drive the blower.
This is the same idea I had if I were to convert a 3pt snowblower to loader mount and add a PTO powered hydraulic pack to drive the blower.
Karl2
Gold Member
How could you use the mid-PTO and mount a blower on the loader arms? What would happen to the driveshaft when the loader was raised
Exactly. I suspect the hefty price tag for the front blower is partly due to it including the linkage or "harnessing" gear to the rear PTO. Shoule has a similar system for their SI72 model that almost doubles the price of the original (rear) model.
Since using such a front blower bars the use of any rear implement I can only see one instance where such a front blower would be desirable, that is clearing country roads and driveways by blowing the snow directly over the roadside.
Ramairfreak98ss
Silver Member
How could you use the mid-PTO and mount a blower on the loader arms? What would happen to the driveshaft when the loader was raised
im with technoid.. 10k for that is rediculous, mainly because "its just a snow blower"!
but it does look like one mean mofo. Here are a couple pics from the GIE show last month. I have the same tractor, wouldnt spend 10k for a blower setup though.
I have the mid shaft pto as well.
if they could just give you a nice "sticker" in bright orenge or something that would let you know when you raised the loader "too far up" so that you stop? OR
Make a undercarridge to the front with a bearing for the main drive shaft then another shaft that had the capability to extend to an upwards angle... i know, you still coudl pull the shaft out by lifting too high, but it would be a 4k setup at most compared to all the fancy stuff they need to make this rear pto one run
Dont know why TBN cant allow image linking in posts.. i get no edit options while typing this so you're gonna have to click on them. Even if i had 10k to blow on this thing, id still be mad mentally that my MID pto goes unused! lol
[image]http://inlinethumb25.webshots.com/8856/2734332880036233031S600x600Q85.jpg[/image]
http://inlinethumb50.webshots.com/43697/2093736400036233031S600x600Q85.jpg
http://inlinethumb31.webshots.com/35294/2332245730036233031S600x600Q85.jpg
http://inlinethumb08.webshots.com/45319/2973914650036233031S600x600Q85.jpg
Karl2
Gold Member
It does, but the proper code is "" not "[image]" :)
These are your photos:
[img]http://inlinethumb25.webshots.com/8856/2734332880036233031S600x600Q85.jpg
OP
Spudland_Dave
Veteran Member
While you're right...its really is "just a snow blower" and you can buy the exact same thing for 1/3 the price which goes on the 3pt...for those who dont want to look backwards its an option. IMO a heck of alot better then the poor sorry excuse of a "blower" which JD calls the 59" Front Blower.
That being said, the cost isnt the blower itself...its all the Hydraulic components in that system...Pump, Motor, plumbing, valves, etc... ANY Skid Steer blower is "expensive" because of the hydraulic components...The rear ones are cheap because the drive technology is cheap... I bet 1/2 the cost of that setup is the rear "power pack"...
I'm with Karl on this one....if I were JD I woulda tried to make a pump which utilized the mid PTO and put the tank somewhere else other then the rear 3pt...leaving the 3pt for any other use....BUT I'm sure they figured that the weight of the blower required the ballast anyways...(hence the weight brackets on the power pack)...so its not like a rear blade would have been enough weight...
**Edit**
Wanted to add, in the grand scale of things, this really isnt a bad price...Price out the 59" Front blower, the required bracketry, MID Pto, etc.. and your not that far off in price. With something like this, an enterprising indiviual could now then utilize OTHER Skid Steer attachments on the FEL....things such as Power Brooms, brush cutters, etc.. AND the single biggest beauty of this setup... if you trade up tractors or trade colors, this blower will work with any machine. Thats always been my biggest gripe with front mounted equipment, its expensive because they KNOW you have no other choice...if there was a "standard" front mount hitch spec such as what we have with the 3pt & rear PTO, things would be alot better, both in price & equipment availability. Not to mention, when/if you trade all your equipment would be compatible with your new machine.
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orlo
Platinum Member
Actually (I'm going to get flamed here), the price isn't all that bad.
Now saying $9,200 for a snow blower is a lot is true but even 5K for a rear mount is a lot.
If it was all about $$ we could just buy a bunch of walk behinds (3 33" ones maybe) and mount them on the loader for much cheaper. (No worried about HP)
I'm trading in my 3720 for a 4720 - It's currently speced with a rear 84" blower but I'm thinking about this - Saw it at the dealer and it looks pretty cool. Much more ruggedly built than I would have thought. Also, the 'ears' on the back of the power pack lead me to believe (if you could deal with the length) you might be able to put a small blade back there if the dimensions match 3pt (I think they do). I'd worry a little about bending the cage of the power pack but it's pretty heavy. I'm sure this would void your warranty though.
I'm not sure where you get a blower the 1/3 of the price, but a front mount on a 3720 (I have one probably is around 6K+ right now (was about 5K when I got it between the blower, drive shaft, front 3pt hitch, etc., etc., etc. And it's not terrible to take off, but difficult enough once I take the loader off and put it on I'm not swapping back. And my 3720 blower is only 59". Come to think of it, my 47" blower on my 2305 is probably about 3500+ now (It was about 3K in 2005 between the blower, drive shaft, front PTO kit, front lift kit, etc., etc.
They also do make rear PTO front blowers (a whole assembly/shaft goes UNDER the tractor) but those are almost 9K also and where do you store such a long rig with all the mechanicals in the off season? (My issue with them). (You drive over them, hook up the PTO, etc, then put on the blower). You also lose a lot of ground clearance (You lose some with the JD front blower mounts on the 2000/3000 series also.
At least with the rear blower you buy the blower you are done. With the exception of
options (remote chute, etc.) you don't need to double the price with crap you need to mount it. So my point is that it's not a fair comparison front blower to rear blower.
Frontier (same brand comparison) rear blowers are in the 5000-6000+ range and those are simple compared to either a mechanical front mount, or a hydraulic.
Also, what this basically is is a skid steer blower with JD mounts and a rear power pack. SS blowers go from around 6-7K (Very low end) to 12K+ and that's without the power pack.
Now, for an Idea: (I'm too old and lazy but maybe somebody can make one and I can copy it).
I have an extra Harbor Freight quick hitch I bought and some JD mount hooks and pins I've been meaning to weld together so I have a standard 3pt hitch on the loader - Great for raking, moving implements, etc. Now, if I took that further and either had a mechanical linkage/reducer to the front PTO. The other option would be a PTO pump (rear or front) with lines running to a shaft on the welded up unit. So basically ANY PTO powered 540 rig would be mountable on the loader (using a drive shaft just like the rear). I'd love to mount a small bushhog this way (maybe a 4'). Anyway, I'm still dreaming.
One other thing also if you are trying to justify it. Once you have the rear power pack, if you get a skid steer mount you are open to all sorts of nice hydraulic accessories for skid steers (used also) that the tractor hydraulics wouldn't run - Hydraulic brushes, etc.
Now saying $9,200 for a snow blower is a lot is true but even 5K for a rear mount is a lot.
If it was all about $$ we could just buy a bunch of walk behinds (3 33" ones maybe) and mount them on the loader for much cheaper. (No worried about HP)
I'm trading in my 3720 for a 4720 - It's currently speced with a rear 84" blower but I'm thinking about this - Saw it at the dealer and it looks pretty cool. Much more ruggedly built than I would have thought. Also, the 'ears' on the back of the power pack lead me to believe (if you could deal with the length) you might be able to put a small blade back there if the dimensions match 3pt (I think they do). I'd worry a little about bending the cage of the power pack but it's pretty heavy. I'm sure this would void your warranty though.
I'm not sure where you get a blower the 1/3 of the price, but a front mount on a 3720 (I have one probably is around 6K+ right now (was about 5K when I got it between the blower, drive shaft, front 3pt hitch, etc., etc., etc. And it's not terrible to take off, but difficult enough once I take the loader off and put it on I'm not swapping back. And my 3720 blower is only 59". Come to think of it, my 47" blower on my 2305 is probably about 3500+ now (It was about 3K in 2005 between the blower, drive shaft, front PTO kit, front lift kit, etc., etc.
They also do make rear PTO front blowers (a whole assembly/shaft goes UNDER the tractor) but those are almost 9K also and where do you store such a long rig with all the mechanicals in the off season? (My issue with them). (You drive over them, hook up the PTO, etc, then put on the blower). You also lose a lot of ground clearance (You lose some with the JD front blower mounts on the 2000/3000 series also.
At least with the rear blower you buy the blower you are done. With the exception of
options (remote chute, etc.) you don't need to double the price with crap you need to mount it. So my point is that it's not a fair comparison front blower to rear blower.
Frontier (same brand comparison) rear blowers are in the 5000-6000+ range and those are simple compared to either a mechanical front mount, or a hydraulic.
Also, what this basically is is a skid steer blower with JD mounts and a rear power pack. SS blowers go from around 6-7K (Very low end) to 12K+ and that's without the power pack.
Now, for an Idea: (I'm too old and lazy but maybe somebody can make one and I can copy it).
I have an extra Harbor Freight quick hitch I bought and some JD mount hooks and pins I've been meaning to weld together so I have a standard 3pt hitch on the loader - Great for raking, moving implements, etc. Now, if I took that further and either had a mechanical linkage/reducer to the front PTO. The other option would be a PTO pump (rear or front) with lines running to a shaft on the welded up unit. So basically ANY PTO powered 540 rig would be mountable on the loader (using a drive shaft just like the rear). I'd love to mount a small bushhog this way (maybe a 4'). Anyway, I'm still dreaming.
One other thing also if you are trying to justify it. Once you have the rear power pack, if you get a skid steer mount you are open to all sorts of nice hydraulic accessories for skid steers (used also) that the tractor hydraulics wouldn't run - Hydraulic brushes, etc.
OP
Spudland_Dave
Veteran Member
Actually (I'm going to get flamed here), the price isn't all that bad.
Now saying $9,200 for a snow blower is a lot is true but even 5K for a rear mount is a lot.
Orlo...did you read my post? Great minds think alike
orlo said:
I guess I coulda been more clear...I shoulda said, if all you want/need is a blower, you can get a rear mount for 1/3 the price...EASY..
orlo said:
Yes & No....its a fair comparison because at the end of the day, regardless where its mounted, the final result is the same...you blow the snow out of your driveway. I'm like Karl where I like the FEL available to do work...you dont know how much time having a blade on my FEL saves me...plus I can stay in the heated cab that much more by not having to shovel next to the buildings.
orlo said:
Umm, you may want to talk to your dealer...MSRP on the Frontier SB1174 is 2,830.00, this front mount is a 76" unit, so its a hair wider, but spec wise, its identical to the SB1174 (24" Fan, etc.), If 74" isnt wide enough for you, I think the SB1184 would be a better blower with its 27.5" Fan..MSRP on the SB1184 is 3,900, So I'd say that my 1/3 estimate was spot on...cause you'd be getting "alot more blower" then even the front mount with the 84" unit.
