Kubota L3540 rear snowblower question?

[Bswope]

Hey fellas I've been looking into a rear blower for my tractor and I'd like to see if you guys think my tractor could handle a 74" sized blower? This is what my local dealer is saying for size.
I spent 15 hrs in my tractor with this last snowstorm plowing and i have finally talked myself into investing in a blower, I'm not in any hurry to buy and wanna make the right choice as far as size.. so what you guys think?

Thanks guys,
Buddy

 

[devildog1]

Hey Buddy, I have the same L3540 and I sure do love this tractor. I also own a L2674 three point snow blower with hydro operated snow shoot, the L3540 handles it with ease through the deepest snows, although not this year yet,lol. Your tractor will handle it without any issues.
DevilDog

 

[Bswope]

Devildog thanks for the pics and your input, you have just made up my mind..! The Kubota brand snowblower looks GREAT..!
While we are at it what kinda plow setup is that in your first pic?

 

[devildog1]

Your welcome.On the back is a Land Pride 3584 and the front hosts a HLA 2000 which is operated with a third function hydro over electric vale into the FEL control handle which also is 84". If snow is 8" or 10" I use the blades but anything over the snow blower comes out. I have a 250' blacktop drive with a exl turnaround for my RV, about 12,000 sf, I also do a widows drive next door, the same distance, great neighbor to help out. HLA Snow | Home
DevilDog

 

[AStanton]

Personally, I would hold off buying for another 2-4 weeks and maybe you could score a nice clearance price. The dealer may not want to store it until next season.

 

[Bswope]

Personally, I would hold off buying for another 2-4 weeks and maybe you could score a nice clearance price. The dealer may not want to store it until next season.

Yeah I'm not in any hurry, the dealer near me told me that the prices come down pretty good on them the closer the warm weather gets to us. I'm gonna wait and see if I can find on on clearance like you mentioned, also my Kubota dealer said Kubota has 0% for 2yrs on their attachments.

 

[Fallon]

My L3200 HST easily handles my 61" I think you have more tractor than my 32 engine HP & 3,500 ballasted lbs. I wish the blower was about 68-72". My track is 60" & I need wheel spacers to get chains on my rears.

A gear machine might not be as easy as a HST, but should be fine if you are geared low enough.

 

[moship]

Bswope,

You should be fine using a 6' snow blower on your tractor. I have slightly less HP and a 6' front mounted snow blower and it works great. The recent snow storm last weekend that dumped more than 30" of snow in PA was the first time that I had to put it in low gear and take my time.

See signature for tractor and snow blower model.

 

[Bswope]

Thanks for the replys fellas, this site is dangerous cause now im REALLY wanting one, but I just have to be patient and see what pops up around my area.
Devildog thanks for the link to the plow... they look real nice!
I'm searching for a project to work on this winter and I think I'm gonna try to find a truck plow and mount it on my SSQA that I have sitting here... for some reason I'm really wanting to build one of these.

 

[moship]

Bswope,

I'm not certain where you are located in South Central PA, but I noticed Appalachian Trailers on Rt. 72 1 mile North of PA TP Exit 266 have some quick attach attachments. I don't see them on their web site, but they had some when driving past. Perhaps it's worth calling them to see what they have. Of course building one would be fun if you have the means.

 

[chim]

Thanks for the tip. Appalachian has a couple of clicks to get there but here's what they carry:

American Attachments | Skid Steer Attachments

I was looking for a snow bucket for the tractor at work and they have one on the American site for under a grand. Our shop is near Lititz so it's only a short trip.

 

[moship]

Thanks for the link.

 

[billnj]

I have the 74" Kubota three point snowblower installed on my 3540. No issues at all. I opted for the hydraulic chute rotator which required a rear remote. I wanted the remote anyway for other implements. I think the blower, hydraulic rotator and remote cost around 5K two years ago.
Nothing beats sitting in the cab with the heat on listening to the radio while you blow snow!

 

[The Fred]

I have the 74" Kubota three point snowblower installed on my 3540. No issues at all. I opted for the hydraulic chute rotator which required a rear remote. I wanted the remote anyway for other implements. I think the blower, hydraulic rotator and remote cost around 5K two years ago.
Nothing beats sitting in the cab with the heat on listening to the radio while you blow snow!

You have to be kidding.

My L3940 with a rear mounted 75 inch MK Martin Meteor is an absolute dog even after the turbo install, before the turbo if I backed into a snowpile I could easily kill the engine. Yes I want the snow gone like right now!

Impatient Fred

 

[Fallon]

Backing into dense freshly windrowed piles that was about 3' high the other day barely slowed my L3200 with the 61". I was going pretty easy on the reverse pedal in medium.

 

[Bswope]

You have to be kidding.

My L3940 with a rear mounted 75 inch MK Martin Meteor is an absolute dog even after the turbo install, before the turbo if I backed into a snowpile I could easily kill the engine. Yes I want the snow gone like right now!

Impatient Fred

You had a turbo installed on your 3940? How much did that cost ya?l

 

[chim]

Bswope,

I'm not certain where you are located in South Central PA, but I noticed Appalachian Trailers on Rt. 72 1 mile North of PA TP Exit 266 have some quick attach attachments. I don't see them on their web site, but they had some when driving past. Perhaps it's worth calling them to see what they have. Of course building one would be fun if you have the means.

Bought a snow bucket for the company on Friday. It is about the same width as the factory bucket on the Montana, but can scoop up nearly twice the snow. They had a wider bucket but I'm sure the Montana wouldn't have handled it with anything more than the fluffiest snow. The bucket was around $850.

 

[dstig1]

You had a turbo installed on your 3940? How much did that cost ya?l

What did it cost Fred? A lot of grief on TBN for one...Then a lot of respect for his work...And a lot of WTF to go with that as he believes a 39Hp tractor should behave like a 90 hp tractor, or thereabouts. Plus he also had some problems that should have been warranty that he did not bring back to the dealer, IIRC. In a nutshell, this is opening a can o' wurms.... He does nice work, fer sure, but his expectations may not mirror reality very well... IMO

 

[art]

There are differences in snow blowers! Make sure the augers don't use sealed bearings, check the distance of the paddle to the rim sheet of the blower and be sure it is a four paddle blower. To blow old banks and the like be sure the augers are made of good steel so not to bend over. You should be looking at a gear box not the cut gears if you need to run it for longer then small jobs.

 

[JWR]

You have to be kidding.

My L3940 with a rear mounted 75 inch MK Martin Meteor is an absolute dog even after the turbo install, before the turbo if I backed into a snowpile I could easily kill the engine. Yes I want the snow gone like right now!

Impatient Fred

I think Fred enjoys pulling our collective legs a little too much. I use a 5ft rear mount blower on a B2150 24 horse considerably smaller than the 3540 under discussion. I normally just use a blade unless the snow is more than a foot deep. Have used it in light fluff as well as nasty, nasty hardpack either windblown or layered with sleet. No problem throwing any of that 30 feet and more with ease. It'll throw you too if you get in the way. One of the keys is operator skill which I can describe really well but don't have a lot of. The creeper gear on the B2150 is a HUGE help. Moving slow enough to match the material is a big factor. Another is carefully adjusting the angle of attack into the snow to avoid scooping gravel or being stopped by digging in too deeply. Set the top link to point the scraper bottom of the blower very slightly upward. I have switched to ag tires from turf tires for traction but have yet to try it this season.
All that said, my B2150 handles a 5ft blower with ease (in terms of power.) The front end loader is a great companion because you can move snow both directions and it adds weight. Traction is the biggest issue. Bottom line: your 3540 should handle a 74" blower quite well.