JD or Kubota??

[tanuke01]

Thanks for the information. Sure glad we don't have you type of weather. I blow snow on a paved driveway and the trail is in good shape.
We sometimes get a very heavy wet snow, that if not removed can be 4" to 6" of pure ice when it get cold again, I thought that is what you are removing.

I was in the Marines late 50s. 1st and 3rd Air wings. We were ReCon but in the Air. Sounds Gun Ho but the planes took pictures and radars checks..We processed the film and data. I was in VMCJ-1 + VMCJ-3. Simple Fi. Happy birthday on the 10th USMC

 

[sleepyhollow]

Hi tanuke01,

Finally, someone with a JD 59" snowthrower!!! How do you like it? Any complaints?

Not too many people seem to own this attachment. I am waiting for the 4310 to come out before I buy, but the snowthrower is a must have for me. I have 600 feet of paved, flat and hilly driveway in Connecticut (wet and heavy snow). Would you recommend the blower on a 4300?

I'm interested to hear how it performs? If you have a heavy, wet snow, how far does yours throw? Have you broken any shear bolts? Has yours dented (I'm worried about the hump in the middle of the driveway). Does it do a better cleanup job than a plow? I don't know anyone with the 59" blower, so your input would be invaluable to me.

Thanks,
Jonathan

 

[tanuke01]

I like the 59" snow blower. It depends on the wetness of the snow. We do not get the excesses that you do. It's sort of hard to explain how far ir throws the snow. It spreds the snow if it is dry and does not pile, from just out of the chute to 40 or 50 feet. when you have a foot of snow. when the snow is wet and heavy the distance is reduced. It is alway far enought that I've never moved it twice. The only thing that I dislike is that the angle (vertical) is manually controlled. If it is set on the high angle, all most stright up it will throw 10 to 12 feet up. At the lowest setting it will put the snow very close to the blower. At the high angle if the snow is light and the wind is blowing it hard to not be covered with snow. you must stop and reduced the angle. I'm talking only about the angle of the chute not the direction.

If you are blowing 24" of wet snow it will do the job, but it will not be at a fast speed. But I can keep moving. 2 passes and you have 10 feet cleared. Or take your time on the first pass the second only need 2 or 3 feet wide to be able to get you car through. The only time I broke a shear pin was when I picked up a rock. I clear about a mile of walking trail.
I started with this blower on a 4200. It worked but did not have the power needed. Had to go very slow.

Hope this helps if not let me I'll try to explain better.

DPR

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I have a 4300 and a fairly flat gravel drive. Works good for that except the one day it was glare ice for the entire length. Nothing could get up the slight grade including 4WD. Perhaps chains would help - my brother in law finds that they are great - but with the R4 tires, there is not much clearance between the wheels and the plastic fenders. MFWD is a must in any case.

 

[sleepyhollow]

Hi tanuke01,

Nice to hear good things about this blower. Sounds like you put your snowthrower through quite a workout with that trail.

Besides the performance, I was concerned about the over toughness and durability of the blower. My driveway has a hump down the middle of it and I'm concerned that it might deform the blower if it is not tough enough.

I'm also wondering about the drive for the snowthrower, I know it comes off the mid PTO, but after that, does it end up in a gearbox on the blower or does it use a chain drive? Is the auger gearbox cast iron or aluminum?

Deere is missing some of the important specs on it's website...

Thanks for your input, I think I feel a little better about spending the money
- Jonathan

 

[tanuke01]

I don't know about a hump, the blower is very strong. Mine is only two years old still looks new. The is run off the mid PTO, there is a gear box added to the front of the tractor. A drive shaft goes from the mid-mount to the front gear box and one from the other side to the blower. The blower has a gear box. I think it is cast iron. No belts.

 

[sleepyhollow]

That's exactly what I wanted to hear! I was worried they might have used a roller chain as part of the speed reduction for the blower.

So there is drive shaft from the mid PTO to a gearbox on the front of the tractor? This gearbox then connects to the blower which has another gearbox for auger speed reduction? Just wanted make sure I understood that right...

 

[tbarber55]

Re: JD or Kubota?? *DELETED*

Post deleted by tbarber55

 

[tbarber55]

Ill try it again.
You won't need glasses for this/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gifoops
Tom

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by tbarber55 on 11/13/01 05:29 PM (server time).</FONT></P>