Snow Orange on Red

[Langanobob]

Seems to handle it just fine. We’re at 6,000 feet here so there’s also some HP loss due to the lower air density. If I go too fast into a heavy windpacked drift, I can hear the motor change pitch and lose 2 or 3 hundred RPM but it hangs in there and doesn’t bog completely down. Of course when that happens I back off the go pedal and let the blower catch up.

Adequately is probably the best word to describe how the 1720 handles the wider blower.
I didn’t intentionally look for a wider blower, one came up for sale nearby and it was in very good shape so I bought it. No regrets so far.

 

[dnw64]

Sounds good. I'd like around a 63-66" blower so I can clear my 10' driveway in two passes. I've been thinking about getting a larger tractor (30-35hp), and may still (for other reasons), but good to know that the GC may handle it (I know the 1720 has an extra 2.5hp but as you said, the elevation is killing you; my GC2300 probably has about the same HP at 1200 as you do at 6000).

 

[timbrehse]

Hi Tim, It would help to know what state you reside. Also, my driveway sounds very similar to yours.

Here's what I do with the dolly's I built and how they "copulate" in the winter to save space.
View attachment 541129

Hey Pixguy - yep, that's how I have 'em stored up against the back wall. Now if you had a broom attachment (on a furniture dolly) tucked in lengthwise between your "copulater's" and the side wall....
Makes it a bit tight backing in so as to get the blower in far enuff to close the door.
What with the ROPS & it's canopy folded down (not enuff headroom) and a 3pt receiver hitch poking out the back...
Like threading a needle wearing mittens.
Oh & P.S. - I'm across the Hudson from West Point Military Academy. AND COME ON ALREADY, IT'S APRIL 2ND !!!!!!!!

 

[bumperm]

Bob,

There are times when I need to turn tighter and have to raise the blower out of float. My skids are about 11" X 2.5" X 3/4" thick UHMW with front and back beveled at a 45. Besides skid design, it also looks like your mount puts the blower further forward in relation to the front of the tractor. This would also decrease steering control when it float.

Yessir, looks like we are neighbors! :c)

 

[timbrehse]

Here are a couple of Blue on Red pictures. The blower is a New Holland CS63.

View attachment 543305

View attachment 543306

Hey Langanobob - Looks like I may have to change the name of this thread to 'Orange AND Blue on Red'

I have 2 thoughts/suggestions
First one I credit to Irvinj - Take off the back hoe! I had big traction problems trying to snowblow up hill- even w/ 4 wheel chains. The b-hoe is just too heavy.
I was doing wheelies - couldn't steer or keep the blower on the ground!

Second - Was in a post (pg6) by Jaylegger about a slight difference in the mid pto rpm's of an Orange tractor to a Red. Accordingly, you may want to compare the 1720's listed PTO rpm to the CS63 blower's optimum impeller speed. While I haven't (yet) changed out the impeller gears, it may well be worth you looking into given the extra challenge @your altitude. Maybe Jaylegger would have the Blue part numbers for the gear swap.
Here's his post:

It's common knowledge all these blowers are manufactured by Rad Technologies and except for the impeller gearing these blowers are essentially identical. Since Kobotas spec'd pto speed is 2500 rpm vs Masseys of 2000 rpm, different gearing is used by rad tech to achieve the proper impeller rpm for both manufacturers. The gear ratio used Massey blowers 2:1 reduction while Kubotas is approx 2.9:1 therefore taking an optimum impeller speed into account these units are not really interchangeable.

Optimum impeller speed for these blowers is between 900-1000 rpm and while going higher is ok, going lower than this can compromises efficiency. Taking your gc tractor as an example where the impeller speed for a "massey" blower would be exactly 1000 rpm, swapping out for the same Kubota blower drops your impeller rpm to 687. For the sprocket chain blowers this is an easy fix to increase impeller RPM by just replacing the sprockets, Rad uses sprockets H40B26 H40C13 for the Massey MF2360.:

 

[Langanobob]

Thanks for your suggestions. About the PTO speed, someone, maybe you, suggested checking that. I checked and the New Holland mid PTO speed is the same as MF. I have a portable tach and I should confirm the impeller speed next winter.

About removing the backhoe, the NH blower is heavier and sticks out in front further than the standard MF blower so nothing close to wheelies, but again, I’ll try it without the backhoe next winter. Looks like nothing left but rain for this year! Thanks, Bob

 

[timbrehse]

Thanks for your suggestions. About the PTO speed, someone, maybe you, suggested checking that. I checked and the New Holland mid PTO speed is the same as MF. I have a portable tach and I should confirm the impeller speed next winter.

About removing the backhoe, the NH blower is heavier and sticks out in front further than the standard MF blower so nothing close to wheelies, but again, I値l try it without the backhoe next winter. Looks like nothing left but rain for this year! Thanks, Bob

Blue on Red looks nice!
But it doesn't sit any further forward than my Orange

And while your 63" NH blower is slightly heavier than my Orange BX5450 (by about 150lbs)
the backhoe weighs in at over 700lbs AND the tractor weight is concentrated towards the rear
When I remove the loader w/ the backhoe on, I cant keep the front wheels on the ground
So you have 700lbs Cantilevered in back w/ 400lbs of blower up front - waaaay unbalanced (like the wife says of me sometimes!)
And why carry the extra weight?

Get rid of the backhoe when you mount the snowblower - you'll never have a turning or traction issue again when snow blowing - in float or down pressure- period-
Thank me later (next season)

 

[mgstevens]

So, it's 5 years later, I just bought a 2410, which came with the rotary broom and quick-hitch. I don't need a broom, but DO need a snow blower. The MF unit, presumably with the sub-frame, is well over $5K (CDN) so I am very interested in ways to save on that addition. I am now asking MF for the price on a blower without quick hitch, but knowing that the Kubota and MF units come out of the same factory in Quebec, it stands to reason that they would be interchangeable to some extent. Here you suggest they are fully so.

Did you have the quick-hitch before getting the Kubota blower? Was the pricing you mention for just the blower or both pieces? Did you need to reach a level of frustration with MF before going this direction?

Hopefully this OP account is still active.... Most of the reply posts completely ignore the questions I have about this move.

 

[blackd]

I have a MF GC2400 and used the Kubota Quick Attach for a snow blade. mf gc24 snow blower quick attach - Bing images There is a difference between the Kubota and MF versions, but not a difference in the blowers. Unless you get a good price on the other tractor's version, to save few hours of fabrication get your tractor's Quick Attach unit. IIRC there is a difference in the location of the front axles which keeps the Kubota from fitting all the way back on the MF, and I had to cut some of the QA's extension off/out to get it to fit. There is also a slight difference in the height of the MF front frame requiring a wider piece to be placed on the threaded hold down bolt. I just cut an oversized hole in a piece of steel and used the old hold down with the new piece between the MF frame to hold it tight.

To picture this think of this as a large rectangular 1/2" thick washer about an inch higher than the original hold down adding additional overlap to get a better hold on the MF frame.

 

[mgstevens]

...There is a difference between the Kubota and MF versions, but not a difference in the blowers. Unless you get a good price on the other tractor's version, to save few hours of fabrication get your tractor's Quick Attach unit.



...but not a difference in the blowers.

So I have the MF Quick Hitch/Sub-frame... Came with the rotary broom. Now I have to source a snowblower unit to go with the MF QH/Sub-frame.

You seem to say here that: 1) get the MF sub-frame. Check! 2) The blower units (MF/Kubota) are not different from each other. I know the two machines deliver mid-PTO power at different RPM's, so I am trying to figure out if I could use a Kubota blower (lower price by as much as $1400 CDN) on my MF QH/Subframe?

Thanks for the response.