Skid steer snow blower on tractor loader?

[bitseeker]

Thanks. I'll go back and double check the compatibility issue. Maybe I misunderstood something along the way....

Sure,

Let me know if you'd like photos or any other details on the loader with the front blower subframe mounted.

 

[JWR]

Switch to a blade.. much faster and less mechanical wear and tear.
Keep the rear mount blower for the few times you need to blow back a snow berm. There will not be many of those times.

Yes, BUT .... I'd not want to have only the blade and a half mile of road to clear. The main disease of blades is sideways creep. If you are doing much snow shoving at all it is going to shove the front of your vehicle (truck, tractor, whatever) to the side based on the angle of the blade. If you use a VERY large front-heavy tractor and a SMALL width blade you can get by doing that. I don't think that describes the OP situation.

 

[hayden]

Yes, BUT .... I'd not want to have only the blade and a half mile of road to clear. The main disease of blades is sideways creep. If you are doing much snow shoving at all it is going to shove the front of your vehicle (truck, tractor, whatever) to the side based on the angle of the blade. If you use a VERY large front-heavy tractor and a SMALL width blade you can get by doing that. I don't think that describes the OP situation.

Correct. The blade issue was discussed a while back. I have a relatively narrow, single lane woods road with limited space to push snow off to the side. My neighbor does plow the road, but the blower is required for further clean up and to throw the snow further into the woods. Without the blower the road chokes in and becomes impassible. There are other areas around buildings and parking areas where a plow just can't get the snow far enough out of the way.

 

[JWR]

Correct. The blade issue was discussed a while back. I have a relatively narrow, single lane woods road with limited space to push snow off to the side. My neighbor does plow the road, but the blower is required for further clean up and to throw the snow further into the woods. Without the blower the road chokes in and becomes impassible. There are other areas around buildings and parking areas where a plow just can't get the snow far enough out of the way.

Well then, you mainly need a pulling forward type snowblower.

 

[shooterdon]

A front mount blower seems ideal if it is easy to put on and take off. The $$$ hurt but that is a one time hurt. If you can keep the subframe on the tractor that is a big plus. The mid PTO might be a bit of a PITA but you only need to do that twice a year.

I want/need the FEL during the winter but not everyone has that need/desire. Frankly, the $$$ were a factor too. So far, the pull blower has worked well for my needs. Being retired, if the forecast is for more than 12" of snow I have time to blow it out twice. At 10" (max I have seen since getting the blower) the pull blower has had no issues. But I do not know any better either. My previous snow weapon was a plow truck and it was fast, until I would get it stuck. I have not got the tractor stuck...yet...LOL

 

[hayden]

Well then, you mainly need a pulling forward type snowblower.

one question on this... if I'm widening the travel path by cutting back the snow banks, I would be driving with one set of wheels in the snow bank, and the other set on the cleared path. That would place the tractor on an angle, and in turn it would place the blower on an angle. Wouldn't that prevent it from really cutting down the expanded width of the roadway? I occationally have this issue with the push-behind. Wouldn't this be worse with a pull-behind?

 

[JWR]

I don't know the geometry of your lane but I see no reason why that is worse with a pull behind. It MIGHT motivate you to buy a wider one that goes out wider than your tire track (?) Also using the pull type you should still have a loader bucket or front blade on the FEL to use assisting with the operation.

Whatever that angle of concern is would be the same angle with a front mounted blower wouldn't it?

 

[hayden]

Whatever that angle of concern is would be the same angle with a front mounted blower wouldn't it?

I think they are different. Pushing a blower, whether forwards or backwards, the cutting enters the material (snow in this case) level because the tractor wheels are level on the cleared roadway. And the cutting edge stays level as long as you fully cut down the material leaving a level roadway behind you for the wheels. It's just like running a dozer. You need to cut the material ahead of you to leave a level surface for the machine.

When pulling a blower the tractor will already be out of level before the blower starts to cut, so it will cut out of level. The only way to get a level cut is with a tilt. So in this respect I think push has an advantage over pull.

 

[JWR]

I don't follow that but my lack of understanding no doubt.

 

[shooterdon]

I think they are different. Pushing a blower, whether forwards or backwards, the cutting enters the material (snow in this case) level because the tractor wheels are level on the cleared roadway. And the cutting edge stays level as long as you fully cut down the material leaving a level roadway behind you for the wheels. It's just like running a dozer. You need to cut the material ahead of you to leave a level surface for the machine.

When pulling a blower the tractor will already be out of level before the blower starts to cut, so it will cut out of level. The only way to get a level cut is with a tilt. So in this respect I think push has an advantage over pull.

I agree with your assessment. But I have never encountered it.

On light snow falls, I use the front blade angled to the middle of the road to windrow the snow so there is enough for the blower to do its thing. One pass in both directions with the blade, then drive down the center with the blower. Keeps wear and tear on the blower down as well.

If over 4" of snow, I run the blower only.

I maintain a consistent "bank" on the edge of the road. The edge does not migrate in like plowing with the blade angled to move snow to the edge. I am either moving snow to the middle with the blade or blowing it out directly

I have a buddy with a plow truck as my back up or if am away on vacation. If he ended up narrowing the road, I would use the front blade to break down the edges and windrow to the center and blow. But i have not had that occur yet.

 

[ruffdog]

It would be hard to "pull" through this....

 

[hayden]

I agree with your assessment. But I have never encountered it.

Interesting. It's always been a challenge for me, even when the blower precedes the tractor. It's especially difficult after the banks have been around for a while and been through some freeze/thaw and have hardened up. The skid shoes want to ride up on the residual snow rather than cut into it.

Anyway, I'm dropping a pull-behind from my list of options. In my situation there are just too many places where I'll have to be looking back at the blower, which is exactly what I'm trying to get away from. If I only hand long, straight, and flat runs I would probably feel differently, but I don't.

 

[hayden]

It would be hard to "pull" through this....

View attachment 710552

That's exactly what I face for much of my clearing work. Thanks for the picture.

 

[jkb7810]

Not sure if anyone has brought this up yet.

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Zuidberg is the world leader in front 3 point hitch and front PTO solutions. Offering OEM quality through aftermarket channels with stock available in US.

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[metalbender]

ERSKINE front mount tractor blower. Pricy though.

 

[bennatti]

Thank you! I'm just behind you on age and I'd never considered this, but I'm definitely going to do this. Even just being able to watch my bushhog easier will be nice.

Yes..I also use it when bush-hogging and when using the grader blade (in the winter I often push the snow in reverse with my grader blade.) I got camera system from Rearviewsafey.com. Even though I have a cab my installation required no drilling of holes in the cab. Flagship Backup Camera System

 

[JWR]

Not sure if anyone has brought this up yet.

Front Linkage Systems | Elevate Your Experience

Zuidberg is the world leader in front 3 point hitch and front PTO solutions. Offering OEM quality through aftermarket channels with stock available in US.

www.zuidbergna.com

That is usually seen only on very large tractors. I found when travelling that a large % of the machines in Austria and the Alps use the front end pto on very steep ground with bush hogs and even hay cutters. In this country that's a super expensive feature limited to only a few tractor types (and not any of the smaller ones we have been talking about.) But that is THE WORLD BEATER ... if you got the money and the desire, a full blown front end PTO and 3pt will cure any snow blowing issues once and for all. And of course could run a blade on the back concurrently.

 

[ptsg]

That is usually seen only on very large tractors. I found when travelling that a large % of the machines in Austria and the Alps use the front end pto on very steep ground with bush hogs and even hay cutters. In this country that's a super expensive feature limited to only a few tractor types (and not any of the smaller ones we have been talking about.) But that is THE WORLD BEATER ... if you got the money and the desire, a full blown front end PTO and 3pt will cure any snow blowing issues once and for all. And of course could run a blade on the back concurrently.

Yes, it's very common in Europe to have front 3 pt hitch plus PTO, even on 20 HP tractors.

Around here, I'm pretty sure it would come up a lot cheaper than the proprietary stuff that Kubota and JD sell. 3 pt implements are cheap compared to that proprietary hitches.

Here is a channel of a guy in Belgium I believe, with a Kubota B2261 with front 3 pt + PTO. He uses it for mower, blower and broom. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVLwyPBEkywtB2XB-ZrxC6A/videos

 

[hayden]

Well, here we go. I bought a lightly used Erskine snow blower that is front mounted on my loader's skid steer mount, is hydraulically powered, and includes a PTO powered hydraulic power pack. So come along for the ride to see how well it works.

New, these seem to go for around $15k, and I got this for $6500. I had to drive 8hr each way to get it, but I think it will be worth it.

The big issue with this arrangement for a blower is getting enough power to it. Sizing the hydraulics I think is the key. The power pack is 24 gpm at a pto speed of 540 rpm, and it can develop up to 3000 psi. In rough numbers that's 48hp which is a good match for my tractor's 50 pto hp. So the power pack should be able to extract all the power my tractor has available. Then the blower motors are sized for 22-25 gpm, so at 24 gpm I'll be driving it at the upper end of it's speed rating. In theory, this is set up as a perfect match for my tractor. This will inevitably be lower net power vs the push-behind pto driven blower I've been using, but I'm willing to give up some power so I can work facing forward instead of in reverse. Worst case, I just slow down a bit. Now we get to see how all this matches up to reality.

So far I just have the equipment laid out in my shop. The hydraulic hoses are set up a bit funny from the previous install, and look like it as powering something else in addition to the blower, including an extra return hose fitting. I have removed all that so it can be connected as intended.

Stay tuned.

 

[grsthegreat]

Looks like the same unit i have…or at least real close.

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