Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Single stage vs. Two stage snow blowers

[bushmanmike]

Hello everyone!!

I'm new to TBN, but have been reading posts for quite a while. Whenever I get stumped on a tractor issue I know that I can always find good information and new ideas at TBN!! So here's my question... Which is a better snow blower for a tractor??? Single stage or two stage??

In the past (when I was a kid), I've used a large walk behind two stage snow blower on my driveway, and it worked well. Now, I have a single stage walk behind that works well... So, both types of snow blowers work. But which type works best mounted to a tractor????? I know that the single stage has to spin like crazy to eject the snow, where as the two stage spins fast, it may not be as susceptible to vibrations...

Thanks!!!!!

 

[DeereMann]

Welcome to TBN.

I have owned both types. I now buy only 2-stage exclusively. That is because I have expanded my vehicle paved areas tremendously over the years, and need the extra throw distance the 2-stage provides. The 2-stage also is less prone to clogging in wet, heavy snow.

So why doesn't everyone have a 2-stage? You guessed it - +$$$

 

[deerseeker001]

Welcome from Wisconsin

 

[bushmanmike]

I've found a Spramotor (made in Canada and now out of business) 6'6" wide single stage here in mid-Michigan for a good price. I haven't seen it in person, however, the limited information that I've found is that it is solidly built. It needs some paint and a bit of TLC. I'm not 100% convinced about it though... Hmmmmmmmm...

 

[Pillager]

I've found a Spramotor (made in Canada and now out of business) 6'6" wide single stage here in mid-Michigan for a good price. I haven't seen it in person, however, the limited information that I've found is that it is solidly built. It needs some paint and a bit of TLC. I'm not 100% convinced about it though... Hmmmmmmmm...

Most single stage tractor blowers I've seen run on 1000 RPM, which takes a lot of horsepower compared to 540 RPM. Make sure to know what RPM the blower is designed for and know that sometimes people did install 540 RPM PTO shafts on 1000 RPM blowers in an attempt to use them this way but it does not work. (We are having this discussion in another thread here)

It's only a good price if it's a good fit for your PTO speed and horsepower.

 

[bushmanmike]

Pillager, can you send the thread to the similar discussion please?

 

[Pillager]

Pillager, can you send the thread to the similar discussion please?

Here you go:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/snow-removal/302829-540-pto-too-slow-3-a.html

 

[Labrat]

My experience has been with front mounted blowers not 3 point but what I can say is as much as I like my 2 stage as far as throwing distance it likes to plug up when it gets slushy, the single stage I had was much better in that respect. It rarely plugged up to the point that you couldn't force more snow through it and clear out the chute.

 

[jgayman]

My old walk-behind used to plug up once in a while but for the past two years I've been using a JD 54" front mounted 2-stage on my 2720. I have not had one problem with clogging. The acid test was the recent ice storm. Once the stuff started to melt it was like blowing a Slurpy drink. Nothing but mega heavy wet snow and slush and it still threw it almost 30-feet. I blew for over 2 hours and did four driveways and not a single clog.

 

[furnone]

For about 20 years, in rather snowy Connecticut, I had a 40" single stage snowthrower on my Wheelhorse 16hp. tractor. I only remember one time that it clogged with really wet, slushy snow. I learned that if I took smaller bites, but fed it in faster, it was less likely to clog.

I've had a 46" single stage snowthrower on my JD 2210 for 2 years now and have had no problems with it at all, and it has moved a lot of snow since I got it. I've never used a two stage of any sort to compare to. Both blowers would throw the snow about 16-18 feet.

 

[D7E]

With sufficient hp and RPM's they are all generally fine

 

[bushmanmike]

Well, I've come to a decision... After going and looking at the blower this morning, reading/digesting all that you all have written. I'm deciding not to get the single stage blower... Also, I've never found such little information about a product on the web as I did for this, but what info I was able to find pertained to the 8' Spramotor single stage and that is they need to turn at a 1000 RPM. I can only make 540 on my New Holland and I'm not about to start spending good money for a PTO gearbox that will let me make 1000RPM. Call me frugal... Also, I spoke with some other people whom I very much value their input and they all said that I most likely wouldn't be as happy with a single stage as I would with a 2 stage.

My gut feeling is that (for me and my my equipment) this is the right decision. BTW, one of my buddies that I was talking with about this whole matter said he has a 6' 2 stage blower that isn't being used this winter and is going to bring it by for me to "test drive" for the remainder of the season!!! I think I must be living right!!!!

Thank you all again!
M

 

[bushmanmike]

So my buddy dropped off the 6' 2 stage blower earlier today. After showing me the idiosyncrasies of it (if you break it you buy it) I used the blower to clean up my main drive and aux drive going to the pole barn... All I can day is WOW!!!!! Blowing at about 2000 rpm on the tach (which is not 540 on the PTO), I was blowing the snow an easy 15' to 20'. I am very convinced that I made the proper choice by holding off on the purchase of a "very good priced" single stage for the pending acquisition of a "new to me" two stage blower. Since patience is a virtue, and winter is winding down, I have no doubt that between now and next winter, I will have my own blower (Purchased for a "reasonable" price) and I can return the "borrowed blower" to my buddy for his purposes.

 

[bigtiller]

So my buddy dropped off the 6' 2 stage blower earlier today. After showing me the idiosyncrasies of it (if you break it you buy it) I used the blower to clean up my main drive and aux drive going to the pole barn... All I can day is WOW!!!!! Blowing at about 2000 rpm on the tach (which is not 540 on the PTO), I was blowing the snow an easy 15' to 20'. I am very convinced that I made the proper choice by holding off on the purchase of a "very good priced" single stage for the pending acquisition of a "new to me" two stage blower. Since patience is a virtue, and winter is winding down, I have no doubt that between now and next winter, I will have my own blower (Purchased for a "reasonable" price) and I can return the "borrowed blower" to my buddy for his purposes.

It fits, it works, you like it........... buy it. Maybe your buddy would like to upgrade his next year.

 

[DeereMann]

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

So my buddy dropped off the 6' 2 stage blower earlier today. After showing me the idiosyncrasies of it (if you break it you buy it) I used the blower to clean up my main drive and aux drive going to the pole barn... All I can day is WOW!!!!! Blowing at about 2000 rpm on the tach (which is not 540 on the PTO), I was blowing the snow an easy 15' to 20'. I am very convinced that I made the proper choice by holding off on the purchase of a "very good priced" single stage for the pending acquisition of a "new to me" two stage blower. Since patience is a virtue, and winter is winding down, I have no doubt that between now and next winter, I will have my own blower (Purchased for a "reasonable" price) and I can return the "borrowed blower" to my buddy for his purposes.

Now, go play, er - I mean, work! There is plenty of snow season left the way this winter has been.

Congrats...........