I want to hear from owners of Kubota front mount blowers

[RFB]

Mr. Fowler,

Yes, I did comprehend that and was trying to ensure that my meaning (not yours) was not confusing to the OP.

 

[JoelD]

Sorry catfish, did not realize your superior knowledge of forums.

My bad.

Will be sure to stay clear of responding to such posts, wouldn't want to "make a forum mistake".

I guess you get the specificity of response equal to the dollars you spent in the request.

Joel

 

[smfcpacfp]

I also have the B3030 HSDC and agree with nfowler generally.

1. You need to remove the subframe if you are going to use the FEL effectively. In my case changeover isn't an issue because we get a lot of snow which covers the ground to a thickness of 5 feet of very dense snow/ice by the end of the year, so I have no use for the FEL in the winter. With a helper it takes an hour or two to get the FEL off and the blower and subframe on. Since I make the change so seldom (once a year), it takes me a while to remember what to do. It looks like the B3030 replacement (B3000) doesn't have that issue. If you need to use both in the winter, obviously that would be an issue.

2. Non issue for me

3. My comfort is worth the front blower. I have yet to hear anyone with a snowblower say they prefer the comfort and ease of use of a rear blower over the front blower. It's usually, "I wish I had got the front blower, or my next blower will be a front blower." I don't plan on getting another rig. I always get exactly what I want to avoid the shoulda's. At almost 65 this should do me for my forever.

4. Yes but probable a larger tractor just because I like bigger. My friend who owns a motorcycle/snowmobile dealership has a 47 hp Grand L which is such a nice big rig, both inside and outside. The snowblower on that has metal twice as thick as mine - what a beast. He only uses it for snowblowing shockingly. It isn't any faster than mine - really tremendous overkill for the task. I used it one day for him at my request. It only cost $15,000 more than mine.

 

[kevinj]

I suspect I'm being fed bad information from a dealer. He either is not very knowledgeable about the products he sells or he wants to talk me into equipment he already has in inventory so he doesn't get stuck with it in the off season.

I routinely ask questions that I already know the answer to. This tells me if I can trust the person that I'm dealing with (I learned this years ago dealing with cars). This guy didn't pass my test, so I don't trust him, but he did plant some doubt in my mind.

So I have a few questions:

1. Do you have to remove the snow blower subframe to mount the front end loader?

2. Do you feel the blower subframe is in your way when doing other tasks, (bush-hogging, road grading etc)

3. Do you feel the front mount blower is worth the extra money over the rear?

4. If your tractor and blower was stolen, would you replace it with another kubota front mount?

1. best to remove it

2. see #1

3. absolutely, see my sig.

4. absolutely again

you did not list your tractor, that makes a huge difference in the subframe, see my sig, I have 2 different styles

 

[Catfish Man]

I haven't made a purchase yet, but if I go front mount it will be on a grand L 4240

 

[kevinj]

I haven't made a purchase yet, but if I go front mount it will be on a grand L 4240

i hope you mean grand L4240hstc for a snowblower

 

[Catfish Man]

i hope you mean grand L4240hstc for a snowblower

yep that's what I meant

 

[kevinj]

yep that's what I meant

Have you not seen one of these up close???

That subframe is a beast with about 6" clearance and can impede loader operation.

Unless you need the FEL a lot in the winter the blower is a far superior snow removal tool.

Due to dealer error I ended up with the 3rd Function so I added a hydraulic flipper.

 

[Catfish Man]

i've been looking at the tractors, but none of the dealers i have visited have a front mount already mounted to an L series, I've seen them in person on the B series.

thanks for the pictures

 

[kevinj]

i've been looking at the tractors, but none of the dealers i have visited have a front mount already mounted to an L series, I've seen them in person on the B series.

thanks for the pictures

The frame is easy off and on within reason. It goes to the back and anchors to the draw bar with center and front mounts. It does not require tools however.

 

[alaskakubota]

The frame is easy off and on within reason. It goes to the back and anchors to the draw bar with center and front mounts. It does not require tools however.

It does require the removal of 4 bolts that hold on the subframe up front. THese are 7/8" i believe. These four bolts hold up the front mount carrier that holds the two massive pins that hold the front of the frame. Up here in alaska i only take it off once, and put it on once. Mine has been on since nov and will be on until april. I have done this on a 3130 and now the 5740 hstc.

I would never run it with loader as the sub frame sits about 6" off the ground and my tractor sees alot of mud. I would get stuck with it on. Also, someone mentioned that the bucket may hit it and that is true. It will.

It takes me about 15 minutes to take it off the tractor. That is including the blower. About 25 to put back on as I only put it on once a year.

The blower and everything cost me 5000 bucks ish.

I have done it with rear mount before and I wont again. Front is the only way comfortably.

I would however do it different. If I knew what I knew today, I would have never purchased this setup. I would have purchased a loader mount snowblower. Quick attach style

This way in a matter of minutes, take off the blower with two levers and put on the bucket. No subframe to worry about. I wouldnt have had to put on a mid pto kit either.

 

[kevinj]

It does require the removal of 4 bolts that hold on the subframe up front. THese are 7/8" i believe. These four bolts hold up the front mount carrier that holds the two massive pins that hold the front of the frame.

I do remove that and put the brush guard on in the summer but for loader use in the winter it can stay on the tractor. If you do not use a brush guard then it could stay on year round.

 

[alaskakubota]

I do remove that and put the brush guard on in the summer but for loader use in the winter it can stay on the tractor. If you do not use a brush guard then it could stay on year round.

I forget who, but someone on here put longer bolts on and kept both of them mounted.

 

[crazyal]

I forget who, but someone on here put longer bolts on and kept both of them mounted.

On my 4240 you can't have both on at the same time. The grill guard lines up with where the lift cylinder is on the sub frame. I think some of the other GL tractors might be able to though.

 

[alaskakubota]

The bolts on mine were too short. I am too lazy to go purchase 4 bolts, so I just swap it out.

 

[Phil48]

Have you not seen one of these up close???

That subframe is a beast with about 6" clearance and can impede loader operation.

Unless you need the FEL a lot in the winter the blower is a far superior snow removal tool.

Due to dealer error I ended up with the 3rd Function so I added a hydraulic flipper.

Hello Kenvinj!

Could you elaborate on the ｫdealer errorｻ, because here the flipper seem's to be only -eletric- otherwise crazy steep$ and verrrrrrrrrry complicated!?! The electric gizmo have to be clean and dry after every time... otherwise ice/seized

Wondering Phil

 

[kevinj]

Hello Kenvinj!

Could you elaborate on the ｫdealer errorｻ, because here the flipper seem's to be only -eletric- otherwise crazy steep$ and verrrrrrrrrry complicated!?! The electric gizmo have to be clean and dry after every time... otherwise ice/
Wondering Phil

Dealer thought 3rd function was needed for the blower so he put it on. I did not order it so I got a real good deal so he did not have to remove it.

I used it for my home brew hyd flipper.


See post 28

 

[rohas]

I have owned a front mount Kubota blower for 9 years, have used it keeping approx. 1/2 mile of gravel road and several neighbors driveways open. Most of our snowfall is in the 24" depth. One thing I did to the blower was to add hardened steel to the blower housing to mitigate any inadvertant intake of gravel. Tractor is a BX18.

 

[weatherman]

I'm late to this party, but will add my two cents. After watching my neighbor operate his John Deere with rear blower (he was good at it, but why drive backward when you can put a blower on the front?), we decided we wanted a blower on the front.

When we bought our Kubota L3130 several years ago, we made sure to get a front blower and have not regretted the decision for a minute. It is a pain to remove the blower and install the FEL, but it can be done, though not fun. We finally ran out of immediate tasks for our FEL and now leave the blower on all the time, though can still swap out for the FEL if the need arises.

John

 

[ericher69]

I suspect I'm being fed bad information from a dealer. He either is not very knowledgeable about the products he sells or he wants to talk me into equipment he already has in inventory so he doesn't get stuck with it in the off season.

I routinely ask questions that I already know the answer to. This tells me if I can trust the person that I'm dealing with (I learned this years ago dealing with cars). This guy didn't pass my test, so I don't trust him, but he did plant some doubt in my mind.

So I have a few questions:

1. Do you have to remove the snow blower subframe to mount the front end loader?

2. Do you feel the blower subframe is in your way when doing other tasks, (bush-hogging, road grading etc)

3. Do you feel the front mount blower is worth the extra money over the rear?

4. If your tractor and blower was stolen, would you replace it with another kubota front mount?

1. No

2. No (very easy and quick to remove)

3. Never ran a rear but for my residential snow removal business a must!

4.yes, only change I would make is go to 63" model as mine is 51" and has never bogged the engine down. In this video I am only running at slightly below 2000 rpm. 12-15 inches of snow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWpmIHVL5I4&feature=youtube_gdata_player