Hydraulic Snowblower with PTO Increaser?

[Dfixit1]

My 4/10 mile driveway is hilly and has a circle at the garage. With my front blower driven with mid PTO it takes about an hour. With my previous 8’6” V plow it was 2 hours but in February it required the tractor and FEL to move piles.
Front snowblower was a vast improvement but removing the FEL and installing the subframe is a PITA. Pusher I used a couple years was better than the plow but not as good as the blower. So considering other options. Thanks!

 

[hayden]

“50 hp PTO and an 84” blower. 50hp isn’t enough for anything more than a couple of inches. The rest of the time my tractor is running flat out and I’m regulating speed to keep rpms from dropping too far. Typical speed is between 1 and 2 mph.”

Are your results with the PTO increaser?

They are. The PTO increaser just allows for a smaller displacement pump because it's running at 1000 RPM rather than 540 rpm. Power required is pressure x flow where 1 gpm @1500 psi takes 1 hp. So 24 gpm @ 3000 psi (relief pressure) is 48hp. But I don't think that accounts for the losses in the hydraulics.

 

[hayden]

When my barn sheds, this is what im left with.
I have to clear it so horses can get out of barn. When its this deep, i have to blow it in levels, but doesnt take very long as i can raise the blower.

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We have the same setup, just slightly different sizes, and I recall you were a big help when I was buying mine. I had a 74" 3PH blower before that was well matched power-wise to my tractor. With the new blower, going to 84" has added more power demand, and there are losses through the hydraulics. I also expect it's true that mine isn't optimally matched to my tractor. Your 15 gpm power pack wants a max of 43hp, so seems well matched to your 40hp available. Mine runs up to 75hp, so my PTO is at the bottom range of the required power, not the top range. That's all because I bought mine used, so got what I got. With 75 PTO hp, I think I'd be very happy, and that's part of why I'm in the market for a larger tractor.

All that said, I'm still very happy with the blower and would get one again. In light snow it's awesome, and only with wet or compacted snow where I have to go real slow to keep it from bogging down. I also have the same snow shedding off my barn as you have off your shed. But as long as I keep up with it, it's fine.

 

[hayden]

Why i love my setup, i can swap between blower, plow or bucket for various winter chores. Even put forks on if i need to move snow fall tree damage. And being able to raise blower up to whatever height needed to move shed snow is also a blessing.

And NO SHEAR PINS. It uses hydraulic bypass.

Ditto on all this.

 

[hayden]

Front snowblower was a vast improvement but removing the FEL and installing the subframe is a PITA. Pusher I used a couple years was better than the plow but not as good as the blower. So considering other options. Thanks!

This is exactly why I went with an SSQA front blower and hydraulic power pack.

 

[Dfixit1]

We have the same setup, just slightly different sizes, and I recall you were a big help when I was buying mine. I had a 74" 3PH blower before that was well matched power-wise to my tractor. With the new blower, going to 84" has added more power demand, and there are losses through the hydraulics. I also expect it's true that mineisn't optimally matched to my tractor. You 15 gpm power pack wants a max of 43hp, so seems well matched to your 40hp available. Mine runs up to 75hp, so my PTO is at the bottom range of the required power, not the top range. That's all because I bought mine used, so got what I got. With 75 PTO hp, I think I'd be very happy, and that's part of why I'm in the market for a larger tractor.

All that said, I'm still very happy with the blower and would get one again. In light snow it's awesome, and only with wet or compacted snow where I have to go real slow to keep it from bogging down. I also have the same shedding off my barn as you have off your shed. But as long as I keep up with it, it's fine.

His has 36 PTO hp, Mine is 35 PTO hp. That is why I’m hesitant. My mid PTO front snowblower works well but have to remove FEL and install subframe. I can run blower in my driveway in Mid range, turtle on hills and rabbit on downhill with 6” or less and Low, turtle or rabbit with deep snow. So it’s fast and only have to slow down if I see snow piling in front of blower fan.
Kubota has electronic switching called Turtle or Rabbit with lever left of steering wheel in L, M, H, ranges so it acts like a 6 speed.

 

[Dfixit1]

They are. The PTO increaser just allows for a smaller displacement pump because it's running at 1000 RPM rather than 540 rpm. Power required is pressure x flow where 1 gpm @1500 psi takes 1 hp. So 24 gpm @ 3000 psi (relief pressure) is 48hp. But I don't think that accounts for the losses in the hydraulics.

Ok physics lesson, that’s why I asked. Higher rpm less displacement. Thanks!

 

[hayden]

His has 36 PTO hp, Mine is 35 PTO hp. That is why I’m hesitant. My mid PTO front snowblower works well but have to remove FEL and install subframe. I can run blower in my driveway in Mid range, turtle on hills and rabbit on downhill with 6” or less and Low, turtle or rabbit with deep snow. So it’s fast and only have to slow down if I see snow piling in front of blower fan.
Kubota has electronic switching called Turtle or Rabbit with lever left of steering wheel in L, M, H, ranges so it acts like a 6 speed.

Oh, OK, I thought he had 40hp PTO.

What width is your current blower? I notice a big difference between a first pass where I'm using the full width, and subsequent passes where I'm providing for some overlap and only using partial width. So I think that was a significant contributor to power needs when I switched from 74" to 84". But I don't know how it compares to the hydraulic losses. But the wider width is huge for me since I can now clear my road with one pass out and back. I used to have to make a second run to catch the spots missed by the narrower blower.

 

[Dfixit1]

Oh, OK, I thought he had 40hp PTO.

What width is your current blower? I notice a big difference between a first pass where I'm using the full width, and subsequent passes where I'm providing for some overlap and only using partial width. So I think that was a significant contributor to power needs when I switched from 74" to 84". But I don't know how it compares to the hydraulic losses. But the wider width is huge for me since I can now clear my road with one pass out and back. I used to have to make a second run to catch the spots missed by the narrower blower.

72” but it has the wings on the sides which extends about 2” each and cut higher also.

 

[nyone]

I have one of these PTO speed increases under my work bench for about 15yrs. Just waiting for the correct project. Its basicly a PTO adapter that allows you to run a standard hydraulic pump. I believe there typicaly 2,000-3200rpm.

More speed means less power.