Snowblower Pronovost Puma 72 Snowblower

[letour93]

So, I have been shopping around for a snowblower for my JD3320 and my dealer who originally was quoting me on a Walco 64" unit has now come back at me with the following:

Pronovost Puma 72" unit
Hydraulic rotation (the dealer will also install the rear hook-ups for me as I do not have lines in the back)

His price $2673.00CDN

The price seems fair for what I am getting just not sure about the Puma unit...still learning about blowers but from my understanding one of the most important things to look for is fan size...this unit comes with a 20" fan which I thought was small but he has assured me that the unit will be more than enough...that said I have a driveway that runs up a 10-13% grade and is about 1200 feet long...

Could I trouble some people for some feedback as our winter is drawing close and I want to close on a deal as soon as possible.

Thx in advance.

 

[PILOON]

Hi
I don't know the specific unit but I do understand PUMA has a good reputation.
At least Pronovost around here is considered as the 'creme de la creme' and probably the only one used by snow contractors.
I operate a 60" unit (not Pronovost) that only has a 3 blade 16" fan and I was able to deal with all that mother nature threw at us here in Quebec last winter.
Foe sure I'd take a Pronovost over most other brands.
Just make sure that you are 6" (or more) wider than your wheels are.

Good luck

PS: update your info so that we know where you are from.

 

[JDeerekid]

Have you looked at Agrotrend.Agrotrend Mfg - Clifford, Ontario
I just purchased a 78" unit in february for $2100US and they are built very stout. Large fan with 4 blades 26" fan. The 72" blower has a 24" fan 4 blades. Mine came with the hydraulic rotation also. I would assume you could get one for that price or a little more.

 

[RickB]

So, I have been shopping around for a snowblower for my JD3320 and my dealer who originally was quoting me on a Walco 64" unit has now come back at me with the following:

Pronovost Puma 72" unit
Hydraulic rotation (the dealer will also install the rear hook-ups for me as I do not have lines in the back)

His price $2673.00CDN

The price seems fair for what I am getting just not sure about the Puma unit...still learning about blowers but from my understanding one of the most important things to look for is fan size...this unit comes with a 20" fan which I thought was small but he has assured me that the unit will be more than enough...that said I have a driveway that runs up a 10-13% grade and is about 1200 feet long...

Could I trouble some people for some feedback as our winter is drawing close and I want to close on a deal as soon as possible.

Thx in advance.

I have the same unit and 40 HP will pump snow about 40 feet in most conditions providing PTO speed is maintained. I have hydraulic rotation and the standard bar for the deflector adjustment which I have set and left alone. I think your price is OK for the blower, and great if the stated price includes the SCV install on your tractor.

 

[JerryK]

A 20" fan is on the small side, but still capable of doing the job. Usually a front mounted blower fan size tops out about that size. A bigger fan requires more HP, but since it will throw more snow, you can travel a a faster ground speed. Provost is a well made unit. Blowers can only get rid of X amount of snow per RPM, and the larger fan gets rid of more snow per RPM. If you try to travel faster than what snow you are gathering up can be throw out by the blower, the fan starts to bog down...throw distance drops...cloging becomes more possible...and eventually you end up with a fancy expensive front or rear blade.....not a blower anymore.

 

[art]

The Puma is a good working blower! They have performed in deep snow with no issues and will throw it a good distance with the paddle design they use.

 

[skidsteer.ca]

Have you looked at the Erskine front mount or rear pull blowers? The snow flies while the tractors going forward. You neck will thank you.
Ken

 

[Tig]

Pronovost was my second choice. I felt I needed larger skid shoes and the Pronovost hydraulics were expensive. Sounds like you are getting a much better deal.
I was very impressed with the quality and serviceability of the Pronovost. They looked equal to a better in every other area.
As for throwing snow. My 13 PTO HP limits me more than fan size. My 50" will bog in a heavy drift, but with the HST I can just slow down the travel a bit and it works fine. You should do better, since you have more PTO HP per width of blower. Does the JD3320 have HST?
I think you will be very happy with the Pronovost. Final answer, buy it!

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Fan size IS key.... there is a BIG difference between a 20" Fan and a 24" Fan...
I've seen both first hand on similar machines...The Key is "Fan Tip Speed" which is what will dictate how far you throw the snow...on a rear PTO we all know the RPM is 540.... That being said, the tip speed on a 24" fan will be much more then a 20" fan.
My dad has a 20" Fan on his and my FIL has a 24" Fan on his....both are 30 horse tractors... (one green the other orange not that it matters ) and the 24" Fan blows so much more snow further its not even funny.

I just went thru this same situation this summer in buying the blower for my 3520..... Pronovost around here is the Gold Standard with the Blizzard/BerVac being 2nd....I went with the Blizzard because it was equally well built but had the 24" Fan vs the 20" on the Puma....the only real Benefit to the Pronovost IMO is the chute rotation...the Pronovost rotation/chute mount system is about as slick as they come...which really matters if you're gonna manually turn it. Me...I have a Cabbed machine and was planning on my own "even better" hydruaulic chute rotation setup, so the blizzard was the best for me.

FWIW, around here, nobody bad mouth's a Blizzard/BerVac or Pronovost unit....they sell easy and everybody wants one, Both known to be Caddliac blowers.... The Meteor's/Erskine/Woods and other brands on the other hand are pretty much known for being "cheapie" units..

If you got a good Kubota dealer around, price out a L2674....Blizzard/BerVac built blower painted Kubota Orange...seen the L2664 in person, and its a SWEEEET blower...with a nice pricetag....

 

[JerryK]

I agree, tip speed is important. Bigger fan the better....but don't forget depth of impeller blade, too. It all comes down to how much snow you can get rid of per RPM.... My JRW has a 26" impeller, but my JD 2240 w/hyd reverser runs a little on the fast side in reverse. I usually run about 1800 RPM, with PTO rating 50hp at 2100RPM. But I am going close to 1.8 MPH in low range at that RPM with my size tires. [JD reverser ground speed is faster in reverse than in forward, which I think is common with reverser xmissions] So I could use another lower gears somedays, even with the size of my fan and all my availble HP. Going to fix that someday with a NH 45DA, front blower, and soft cab....when I get old.