Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Pictures of your snow weapons

[RoyJackson]

I have a question for all you snow experts. I have a John Deere 4410 with about 38hp in the PTO. I have been looking at a new Frontier 60" 3 point hitch snowblower. I am wondering if I can upsize that to a 72"?
Also curious as to this brands reputation and durability. I looked at a Woodmizer online and it looks good too, but I don't know anything about gear durability, etc.
Open to ideas here, used units are few and far between and buying new is not too much more.
Thanks

I ran a Deere 4400 with a 72" Woods snow blower....worked good...might have to slow a bit on occasion
BTW, my 4400 with a reverser transmission put out 30 PTO HP...I suspect your 4410 is about the same

 

[airbiscuit]

TractorData shows the following specs

John Deere 4410 Power:
Engine (gross): 34.6 hp [25.8 kW]
PTO (claimed): 30 hp [22.4 kW] (gear)
28.5 hp [21.3 kW] (hydro)

 

[Otto Syracuse]

TractorData shows the following specs

John Deere 4410 Power:
Engine (gross):34.6 hp [25.8 kW]
PTO (claimed):30 hp [22.4 kW] (gear)
28.5 hp [21.3 kW] (hydro)

Sorry either a typo in my head or off my finger! You are correct.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Personally, I would prefer a five foot blower where I could go faster, than a six foot and have to worry about overloading it. Given the snow and modest PTO hp, I think six foot is a bit too much.

 

[aeblank]

Personally, I would prefer a five foot blower where I could go faster, than a six foot and have to worry about overloading it. Given the snow and modest PTO hp, I think six foot is a bit too much.

Where I'm the opposite. I'm 72" on a hydro L3940. I'd love bigger (I think they recommend a 64"). If it's deep, I slow down. If not, I go fast. One slow pass or 2 fast passes moves the same snow. It's a function of HP on how much snow per hour (minute, whatever units you like) you can move.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I find that I make so many trips anyway to clean up windrows or spillage that the foot difference wouldn't make any difference so you might as well go with a slightly handier and more efficient size. I also get terribly bored when something is going too slow.

 

[RjCorazza]

I ran a 72" blower on my previous Kubota L3410 (27hp PTO) and it was fine in the few storms where I used it. We don't get a lot of snow in my area, so the blower is for the once every few years storm we get in Maryland.
I did 25+ rural driveways after a 34" snow with this setup back in 2016 without issue, but it was slow going.

 

[metalbender]

How wide is your tractor? When I purchased my Massey 1742, they equipped it with an 84" 3 pt blower. My tractor is a tad under six ft wide. Worked well, big snow, slow down. Light fluffy stuff, go like blazes. The tractor will tell you. Hydro makes you a pro.

 

[grsthegreat]

i agree on how wide are your tires set apart... nothing worse than your tractor being wider than the blower width. a hydrostatic tractor is easy to adjust reversing speed. not so with my old jd870. it sucked when blowing snow. only 2 usable reverse speeds.

 

[Otto Syracuse]

How wide is your tractor? When I purchased my Massey 1742, they equipped it with an 84" 3 pt blower. My tractor is a tad under six ft wide. Worked well, big snow, slow down. Light fluffy stuff, go like blazes. The tractor will tell you. Hydro makes you a pro.

I had to go out and measure.... 58” from outside to outside. The Frontier I am looking at says it has a working width of 64” which would cover the tire tracks.

I think I am pretty settled on the width, just wondering about brand of Frontier which I have not used or other brands out there. I liked the Wood Maxx because it had an electric chute option. The Frontier has hydraulic chute only, and it would require an $6-800 addition on the rear hookups which run the front plow. I also plan to purchase a Cover My Tractor cab so the manual chute adjustment would not work.

 

[airbiscuit]

Woodmaxx snowblowers get pretty good reviews on TBN. I would inquire about lead time.

Here is their link
Three Point Hitch Snow Blowers Attachment, 3pt Snow Blowers

Here is a TBN thread
https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/snow-removal/292735-anyone-using-woodmaxx-blower-2.html

This is it. Very well made compared to some that I have seen at dealers heavier, it is out and mounted tomorrow need to cut drive shaft and hook up the electric for rotation and tilt.
Think next I'll need some side mirrors to save the neck.

 

[Otto Syracuse]

Great video Airbiscuit. Thanks for the link. If lead time is 6+ weeks, I will probably end up with the Frontier because it is in stock at the local dealer.

 

[beenthere]

Otto

I liked the Wood Mizer because it had an electric chute option. The Frontier has hydraulic chute only, and it would require an $6-800 addition on the rear hookups which run the front plow.

Linear actuators come in all sizes and maybe could be added in place of the Frontier hyd. cyl. They don't seem to be overly expensive.

 

[RoyJackson]

Great video Airbiscuit. Thanks for the link. If lead time is 6+ weeks, I will probably end up with the Frontier because it is in stock at the local dealer.

I think that's a wise decision!
30 PTO HP did fine with my 72" blower in Vermont winters...one thing I did do, if the prediction was for >12" of snow, I'd go out when there was about 8" for a first pass...especially if it was wet snow.
I'm sure you've read this before, but do spray your chute (especially the chute!!), fan, fan housing, auger and auger housing with some kind of non-stick. I've used Pam, silicone spray and something else that eludes my memory right now. From experience, I can tell you chopping out frozen snow is a real PITA.
BTW, I've had a Frontier blower since 2015... The Woods was a great blower, but had manual chute rotation. I traded the 4400 for a Deere 4520 with a Curtis Cab and needed hydraulic rotation
Still got the blower, but now a newer 4052R Cab


BTW, might be too late for a Woodmaxx blower (but the Frontier will do fine!), but if you ever need a big PTO chipper, their WM-8H is a great implement.
One thing about Woodmaxx...call for actual availability. Even though they sell them, they may not have them in stock. These are designed in NY, but components (and much of the assembly) are made in China. Order one now, you may not see it until Spring. My Woodmaxx WM-8H chipper was delayed a time or two...not happy, but that's what happened.

Another consideration is to look on Craigslist...there's a fair number listed in the Vermont CL. I expect you'll see the same in a NYS CL. This, of course, isn't a real good time to look.
Here's some available:
Pardon Our Interruption
That SB1174 in WallDroff Farm Equipment (Watertown NY) is the same as mine. It works great! Mine was used and about the same price as show in the listing. Also, the hydraulics should fit right in to your rear remotes

 

[Otto Syracuse]

Thanks Roy and everyone else, very helpful as usual! My search actually started on Craigslist, I’ve been watching it for a few weeks now. I saw the one listed with Walldroff Farm Equipment. A brand new Frontier (albeit 64” not 74” as they have listed used) is $2950 with hydraulics. I will be making some calls today and see what is really out there.

 

[leonz]

If and when you purchase your snow blower you should purchase some Fluid Film in either in a liquid form or their aerosol can and apply it to the impeller, impeller housing, chute and spout. A paint mitt will help you coat it evenly and the fluid film will help protect the metal if you have a place to work where its warm so you can apply several coat of Fluid Film.

I have used Fluid Film in the Aerosol spray can for many years and it works very well. As late as it is the aerosol spray cans will be a better option now as you need to be able to coat the impeller, impeller housing, chute and spout to aid in the easy discharge of snow and double your casting distance.

Since we both have to deal with municipalities that use much more salt than is necessary you need to make sure that there is no ice or snow built up in the snow blower as it can cause you fits like broken shear pins if there is ice in the impeller housing.

Keep in mind the snow blower only has to be a bit wider than your widest rear wheel position.

When you clear snow you should make your first pass to the end of the driveway/lane/private road and then you should clear the snow pile/end of driveway monster and feed the little moat monsters and by doing that you will be able to flush the salt out of the snow blower on the succeeding passes and there should be no salt brine left in the housing. Be sure to drill some drain holes in the impeller housing at the six o'clock position if there are none to quickly drain any water from the impeller housing.

The biggest worry with any 2 stage snow blower is what the gap between the impeller and the impeller housing. You can purchase an impeller kit to close the gap and in the process increase how efficient your 2 stage snow blower is and reduce plugging to a minimum as there is no snow left in the impeller housing to plug it.

If you have a warm shop/garage to work in you can remove the chute and spout and drill holes in the impeller paddles to mount the rubber paddles and the thin steel reinforcement plates to hold the rubber paddles in place and use the nylock nuts and washers to hold everything in place.

On a separate issue; I hope and wish that mk martin changes its single stage snow blower design and eliminates the 16 inch diameter snow blower rotor and instead uses a 13 inch diameter snow blower rotor as this size snow blower rotor will require a 50+ horse power mule to successfully employ it.

 

[RoyJackson]

Thanks Roy and everyone else, very helpful as usual! My search actually started on Craigslist, I’ve been watching it for a few weeks now. I saw the one listed with Walldroff Farm Equipment. A brand new Frontier (albeit 64” not 74” as they have listed used) is $2950 with hydraulics. I will be making some calls today and see what is really out there.

Nothing wrong with used stuff!
The SB1174 I have was used...paid $2800 for it, IIRC. New, the price with hydraulics is north of $4K. Other than the usual faded paint (a Deere tradition), it serves it's purpose.
If that SB1174 is still available (in Watertown), it'd be worth trip. If you need to finance, Deere has great rates.

 

[airbiscuit]

I just called Woodmaxx 1-866-965-1671 and asked about lead times.


They Have Snowblowers in Stock!

They said, give them a call.

 

[Otto Syracuse]

I just called Woodmaxx 1-866-965-1671 and asked about lead times.


They Have Snowblowers in Stock!

They said, give them a call.

I did and I ordered it with electric chute control! It will ship out this week and I should have it within 10 days. I also ordered a "Original Tractor Cab" enclosure, which was also in stock and shipping out tomorrow. Looking forward to a nice big snowstorm sometime around December 20th or thereafter - I will be warm and out of the wind, and blowing snow a long distance.

leonz - thanks also for your tips, I use Fluid Film on my snowmobile when I store it and will be sure to coat all the surfaces of the blower when I assemble it.

 

[Otto Syracuse]

Nothing wrong with used stuff!
The SB1174 I have was used...paid $2800 for it, IIRC. New, the price with hydraulics is north of $4K. Other than the usual faded paint (a Deere tradition), it serves it's purpose.
If that SB1174 is still available (in Watertown), it'd be worth trip. If you need to finance, Deere has great rates.

No there is not! Tractor was used, so was the flail mower, and a lot of other equipment I use. But in this case, for a couple hundred more, I got a brand new blower, 2 year warranty and electric chute control. The blower in Watertown has hydraulic chute control. Buying the Woodmaxx saves me from having to install a splitter so I can use rear remotes on both the blower and the front plow.