Diggin It
Super Star Member
I'm not sure we've been below 60 yet, maybe a night or two. Last two weeks have been mid 90s. Not even a hint of a sprinkle in almost 30 days.
OMG, already thinking of winter
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joe48
Gold Member
speaking from experience, I've had a 2014 Kioti CK2510HC cab with a front mount Kioti Blower, that I love to run and stay warm in the middle of winter. BUT I absolutely hate dealing with the blower frame and PTO. With help it takes me 2 hrs to put on. The SB itself is a ten minute job to attach. The frame weighs 300lbs. and even with the hydraulics and jacks it is a bear to put on, and not much better to take off. that is why I'm looking at trading up to a 40hp Kioti or LS, but with an ERSKINE front blower with the drive over frame and rear PTO. Once tractor is setup with brackets etc. takes 5-10 to put on and 5 to take off. I've done quite a bit research and it's the only one I've found that is that easy to mount. The Kioti SB was $6000 in 2014. the prices I've gotten on the Erskine vary from $7300 to $7999 for the 50".
Your other option is to get a 3pt adapter for your loader and a hydraulic drive system that is 3pt and PTO. Erskine has a package that lists for $9999 for the 50" model.
Hope this helps.
shooterdon
Elite Member
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- 2019 LS XR4140 HST Cab; 2020 Kawasaki Mule SX; 2021 Bad Boy 54" ZT Elite
Joe48 is correct. Dealers will tell you the blower is easy on/off but the frame for a full front blower is not easy to mount. My LS dealer showed me a unit they were installing on an XR4100 series that was in the shop, and it convinced me to go with a rear pull blower. You need a cement floor or at least a level surface not covered in snow. It might not be bad if I was younger but I am 69 and want something I can easily use as I get older.
I really like the Erskine but in my situation I want the FEL available to do other things; and then I have a storage space problem when not using it. I have no winter tasks that require the 3PH so a rear blower makes the most sense. Put it on in late October and off late March.
The rear pull takes more space and a standard rear blower but not at lot more. Mine is a FarmKing 74" and I paid $4000 (end of season sale - likely close to $5k now) so about half the cost of a good front mount system. This will be my first winter using it so cannot comment on how well it operates.
Just a thought. If you go with a front mount, adding more weight at the front seems counter productive to traction. Might be a good idea to add a heavy back blade for ballast and to deal with the lighter snow events. I have heard some in this area that use the back blade to windrow snow and then blow it out on the second pass. I plan on mounting a blade to a SSQA 3PH adapter and trying that with my set up.
oosik
Epic Contributor
Well - I don't know if I should be happy or concerned. In the last week I've talked to two long-time residents about our coming winter. Both indicate that the Old Farmer's Almanac says we are in for a long, snowy winter. It has sure started out with a BANG. Snow and below freezing overnight temps for over a week now.
Oh, well - hopefully the gravel driveway will freeze, rock hard, before plowing is necessary.
Was at the local JD dealership yesterday. They had a very nice 3025D set up with a front mount blower. PTO driven off the mid-mount PTO. I think they are expecting a lot of snow. They had over 40 small JD's lined up on their lot.
Oh, well - hopefully the gravel driveway will freeze, rock hard, before plowing is necessary.
Was at the local JD dealership yesterday. They had a very nice 3025D set up with a front mount blower. PTO driven off the mid-mount PTO. I think they are expecting a lot of snow. They had over 40 small JD's lined up on their lot.
ruffdog
Super Star Member
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- southern wisconsin
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- Bobcat Toolcat 5610G, Deere X744, Cub Cadet IH 982
I have heard that you can tell how cold the winter will be by how fuzzy the caterpillars are, well, they are super fuzzy this year. I have never seen them so luxurious....we will see then.
LouNY
Super Star Member
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Well between the Old Farmers Almanac and now this;
https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/accuweathers-2019-2020-us-winter-forecast/592125
I'm glad I have an extra ton of coal from last year to start the year with and the fuel oil tanks at the house and tractor fuel are in good shape.
https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/accuweathers-2019-2020-us-winter-forecast/592125
I'm glad I have an extra ton of coal from last year to start the year with and the fuel oil tanks at the house and tractor fuel are in good shape.
Diggin It
Super Star Member
Suddenly below 60. Forecast to be below 50 next week, maybe below 40 a night or two.
Well next weekend we have snow in forecast, means nothing yet but it is coming, if all the rain we have got this summer would of been snow it would be a deep pile. I am still planning on a front blower, I do have a newer 1 ton P/U with a big plow but being gone alot leaves cleanup for wife to do, She will use pickup untill snow gets deeper then the blower.
ruffdog
Super Star Member
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- Bobcat Toolcat 5610G, Deere X744, Cub Cadet IH 982
Brrr, WI is right in the center of the frigid blue area. The last couple of Winters had Alaska warmer than us. No wonder our caterpillars are fuzzy!
Diggin It
Super Star Member
Not sure what you're looking at, but CPC three month outlook says 'above normal' for nearly the whole US: https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/long_range/lead01/off01_temp.gif
