Snow Attachments Hydraulic conversion of a PTO snow blower

[drmac]

Thanks Dick, and all who have commented.

I'm guaranteed snow for Christmas!! (Truth--I have to go up to Anchorage for a family matter.) But my wife will be home with tractor, snowblower mounted and walk behind blower at the ready--no snow here.

Merry Christmas to you all.

DrMac

 

[grsthegreat]

Again, nice job ya did there......now we need to hope for some snow.:thumbsup:

 

[drmac]

Well, in my absence we had some snow, I'm not sure just how much but I do know this. My daughter and her kids were there for a ski visit and one of my neighbor buds came over to pull her car out of a snow bank and plow my drives. Alls well that ends well--my wife has yet to try firing up the "orange beast". Hope some of the snow is being shared with the rest of you!!

DrMac

 

[grsthegreat]

Well, in my absence we had some snow, I'm not sure just how much but I do know this. My daughter and her kids were there for a ski visit and one of my neighbor buds came over to pull her car out of a snow bank and plow my drives. Alls well that ends well--my wife has yet to try firing up the "orange beast". Hope some of the snow is being shared with the rest of you!!

DrMac

nope..at 9PM yesterday it was 50F........ yikes.

today clear sky's and 40F

 

[drmac]

OK snowwhiners there is winter-but maybe not where you expect it. I'm in Anchorage as I previously noted and here's this mornings news:

Valdez--42 inches in the last storm, 6 feet on the ground, 18 feet so far this winter. Previous seasonal record total 560.7 inches, looks to be exceeded this season.

Nome--temp hit -40 Thursday for the first time in 13 years.

Fairbanks--"balmy temperature yesterday when the temperature climbed up to -20. Prediction is a low of about -40 next week, the weather lady is quoted saying "Monday will be cool again".

It's all in your perspective!

DrMac

 

[Chaostamer]

DrMac - Any idea on how large of a tractor you need to run a system like this? I am currently running 32 hp Mihindra. Also, do you lose the use of your 3 pt hitch with your configuration?

 

[drmac]

I've lost track of the size snowblower you are using, but I have a Woods sales piece that gives a HP requirement listing. They show 52 inch blowers for 20-40 HP, 60 inch for 25-45 HP and 74 inch for 30-50 HP. I suspect these would be reasonable ranges for any manufacturers products.

The hydraulic power pack I built has it's pump fitted to the PTO and the reservoir held by the 3 point. You need a big fluid reservoir for adequate cooling, but I suppose you could find someplace else to mount the tank so you could still use the 3 point for a back blade (or ?).

If you'd like to send me your email address I'll send you more details.

 

[Chaostamer]

I've lost track of the size snowblower you are using, but I have a Woods sales piece that gives a HP requirement listing. They show 52 inch blowers for 20-40 HP, 60 inch for 25-45 HP and 74 inch for 30-50 HP. I suspect these would be reasonable ranges for any manufacturers products.

The hydraulic power pack I built has it's pump fitted to the PTO and the reservoir held by the 3 point. You need a big fluid reservoir for adequate cooling, but I suppose you could find someplace else to mount the tank so you could still use the 3 point for a back blade (or ?).

If you'd like to send me your email address I'll send you more details.

DrMac - thanks for the information. I have a couple more questions. First, is this conversion something that takes away the use of the 3-pt hitch? It seems like it from your pics. If so, is it easy enough to (or can you even) take this unit on and off so I can use the 3-pt (like for a brush hog)?

 

[drmac]

The 3 pt is occupied holding the fluid reservoir. This spring I'll be building a fitted dolly to hold both the pump and reservoir. When it's built the removal time will be just minutes, but taking it off and mounting another implement would seem like a pain.

On the other hand, around here I wouldn't know what to use my bush hog on when it's all covered with snow!

Basically I'm converting the tractor to a single use machine for the winter and my neck really enjoys the front mount.

Be well, DrMac

 

[grsthegreat]

Ya, my rear powerpack and pump would only take a few minutes to remove, as the hoses that go out front have quick disconnects also at the rear pump. But i personally have no interest in removing the unit all winter long. Its about 500-600# of rear ballast that makes using the front plow a breeze.