Normand Inverted Snowblower

[grader guy]

i think i recall a discussion on here regarding the optimum blade number and that the consensus or wisdom was 4 on smaller fans more on larger

i think pronovost (and probably normand ) do 4 up to 28" then 5 then 6 on the largest (34"?)

another manufacturer of pull blowers that has some satisfied owners on tbn is lucknow
Pull Type Snowblowers | Lucknow Products

there is also
66", 78" & 90" Pull Types (Residential & Agricultural) - Smyth Welding & Machine Shop Limited | Smyth Welding

and

MK Martin | Pull Type Snowblowers
i think member kco has one and likes it

I have a 92'' normand behind my M7040 and it handles it well. We have not had that much snow this season so I don't think I have had the true test in regards to having enough horsepower. The unit is very well build and whenever anyone sees it they are very impressed. For my size tractor I would not want anything any heavier hanging off the back. They are expensive.

 

[Agvg]

It always makes me wonder why inverted blowers are so common in places that get serious amounts of snow, and uncommon most other places where a lot of people suggest they wouldn't work as well.

I don't think anyone here in Norway would even consider to buy anything than a pulled blower for use on the rear, on tiny tractors they maybe better but those are very rare here.

Snowblowers mechanical | Tokvam as - snøfresere - strømaskiner - feiemaskiner

 

[Dave M7040]

One aspect to weight when considering fan blade number and size is the height of the shaft for the pto on the blower compared to the height of the pto on the tractor.
Some fans have more blades and smaller diameter and some just are smaller in diameter. The net result is a blower shaft height lower to the ground.
If your tractor is on tall tires or sits high, then the tractor pto shaft will be high.
The net result is that the pto shaft will be at a more severe angle than is good for u joint life.
Also factoring in the calculation is the distance from the point where the pto shaft is on the blower to the end of the pto on the tractor.
If the blower is close to the tractor and the height difference between the two is significant, then your pto joints are going to wear much more quickly.
This chart shows that a pto joint angle of 5 degrees has a life of 450 hours whereas an angle of 25 degrees has a life of 20 hours.

Dave M7040

 

[Dave M7040]

One aspect to weight when considering fan blade number and size is the height of the shaft for the pto on the blower compared to the height of the pto on the tractor.
Some fans have more blades and smaller diameter and some just are smaller in diameter. The net result is a blower shaft height lower to the ground.
If your tractor is on tall tires or sits high, then the tractor pto shaft will be high.
The net result is that the pto shaft will be at a more severe angle than is good for u joint life.
Also factoring in the calculation is the distance from the point where the pto shaft is on the blower to the end of the pto on the tractor.
If the blower is close to the tractor and the height difference between the two is significant, then your pto joints are going to wear much more quickly.
This chart shows that a pto joint angle of 5 degrees has a life of 450 hours whereas an angle of 25 degrees has a life of 20 hours.

Dave M7040

 

[Piston]

Dave M7040,
That pictorial you posted above is very interesting. I swear I learn something new every time I check this website, and this is no different. What struck me as pretty incredible, is the difference in life between just 5 and 10 degrees! I will keep this in mind when operating my equipment from here on.

I have a 92'' normand behind my M7040 and it handles it well. We have not had that much snow this season so I don't think I have had the true test in regards to having enough horsepower. The unit is very well build and whenever anyone sees it they are very impressed. For my size tractor I would not want anything any heavier hanging off the back. They are expensive.

Grader Guy,
Do you use your tractor/blower commercially? I always wondered how well a 7040 would handle the big 92", so it's good to know yours handles it well. Have you had it a while, or just last winter? I know last winter wasn't much of a test, but the proportion winter was certainly a challenge!

 

[grader guy]

Dave M7040,
That pictorial you posted above is very interesting. I swear I learn something new every time I check this website, and this is no different. What struck me as pretty incredible, is the difference in life between just 5 and 10 degrees! I will keep this in mind when operating my equipment from here on.





Grader Guy,
Do you use your tractor/blower commercially? I always wondered how well a 7040 would handle the big 92", so it's good to know yours handles it well. Have you had it a while, or just last winter? I know last winter wasn't much of a test, but the proportion winter was certainly a challenge!

I do, and will hopefully be getting more customers this year. I wanted the 92" for future upgrade on tractor size but I was surprised on how well it handled it. While last winter was not the best I think that I still got to test it a bit. And yes last winter was my first season snow blowing driveways. I figure if we get a big storm it will slow me down a bit but not enough to justify a tractor upgrade at this current time. Matt

 

[Piston]

That's great that you are getting into it, seems like a lot of guys are doing very well. I have wanted to start doing the same thing but due to my real job of working on a ship, I can't exactly be around all winter

I'm absolutely fascinated by these inverted blowers. Nice setup and please post more pictures for us through the following winter!