VoyagernOK
Member
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2020
- Messages
- 46
- Tractor
- Mahindra MPower 75P; JD 4210
I added a big grapple to the front of my Mahindra mPower 75M and to avoid having to add a third function hydraulic up front, I used a fish tape and ran a set of hoses under the cab from a spare hydraulic connection at the back of the tractor. I used two hoses for each so that I if I remove the FEL I don't have to take the hoses out from under the cab, just disconnect at the loader mount. This has been very workable for me. I never use both sets of hydraulics on the back at the same time I'm using the grapple.I have a Kubota L5740 and for years have been clearing a 1/2 mile road plus parking areas with a rear mount PTO snow blower. It works well, but as I get older, being twisted around to see and work backwards is getting old. So I have started thinking about a front mount snow blower.
Kubota of course makes one, but it involves a substantial sub frame that doesn't look easy to install and remove, and as I understand it, the sub frame is incompatible with using the loader. So even if you remove the blower itself, you still can't use the loader unless you remove the whole sub frame. That just won't work for me.
So I've been thinking about using a skid steer snow blower. I have a SS mount on my loader, and I have front hydraulic remotes that could be used for chute rotation. But I don't have enough hydraulic power to drive the blower. I've seen specs in the 16-21 gpm, so I'm figuring on 20 gpm as a round number. I think my choices are a rear PTO pump, or a mid PTO pump. The mid PTO runs at about twice the RPM of the rear PTO, so a smaller pump will work, But somehow I'd have to mount and secure the pump. For a rear PTO there are a variety of commercially available kits, but on first check they seem a bit pricey.
Anyway, I'm interested in thoughts on this approach, and especially interested if anyone has done this before.
Thanks in advance
I also always use color coded zip ties around my hydraulic hose connections so that I always go back the right way without having to disconnect and switch to make controls run right.