Snow Attachments Snowblowers vs PTO HP

[ruffdog]

There are many different types of snow too. Fluffy snow, dry snow, packed in drifted snow. Sometimes we get 3 foot drifts that you can walk on top without snow shoes.

 

[dave1949]

There are many different types of snow too. Fluffy snow, dry snow, packed in drifted snow. Sometimes we get 3 foot drifts that you can walk on top without snow shoes.

So true. Has to be a big difference in the weight of what is being thrown by the blower depending on the moisture content and density of the snow.

It seems like the impeller rotating through and lifting the snow fed to it by the auger would use the majority of the horses on a blower.

 

[RoyJackson]

Don't know, it does sound like a lot of blower for the HP. Let us know how it works out please.

If you go to the Puma website, the recommended PTO HP is 20 to about 45. I looked at very nice Puma 72" before I bought the Woods snow blower (which is 30 to 50 PTO HP for the 74" unit). The Puma was nice, but the Woods was $600 cheaper and works quite well behind my (30 PTO HP) Deere 4400.
The Woods is a heavier machine...always had good luck with Woods equipment, so I stuck with Woods.
But that Puma was a nice machine too!

 

[The Deerslayer]

I am not sure if this is sized right as I just got it new this summer. The tractor is a Kubota B2920 HST (21 PTO HP) with a FEL and the blower is a Pronovost Puma 72.
The dealer sized it as said that the 2920 will handle it and told me to try it for the first couple storms. If I am not happy I can have the next size down (Puma-64) no questions asked.

I thought it was large for the tractor at the time and just put it on the other day and still think it is large but I have been surprised at how much heart this little unit has.

Your Thoughts

Al

I have the Pronovost 64 on my L2250 with 21 HP at the PTO and it throws snow like crazy. Your dealer seems to want you to be happy which is a good thing; sounds like great customer service. The 72 seems large for your tractor, but try it out and go from there. My 64 is plenty of size and power for my applications. In fact any bigger and I believe I would have less maneuverability. Good luck and here is hoping we get plenty of the white stuff to play with!

 

[Al Mac]

I have the Pronovost 64 on my L2250 with 21 HP at the PTO and it throws snow like crazy. Your dealer seems to want you to be happy which is a good thing; sounds like great customer service. The 72 seems large for your tractor, but try it out and go from there. My 64 is plenty of size and power for my applications. In fact any bigger and I believe I would have less maneuverability. Good luck and here is hoping we get plenty of the white stuff to play with!

Tks for the positive feedback on the blower Deerslayer.
You are the first person on the forum that is running the Pronovost blower. Not to say the same HP also. Not many seem to have this brand but people that have looked at them like the style and workmanship but think they are to expensive. For me it was a package deal so cost was a small factor as I plan to keep it for many many years.
Yes it is a good dealer to work with. He was a bit lower than other dealers and gave his best price out of the gate. He also took my old tractor, front mount mower and blower back to his lot and sold it for me as a package unit. With no commission.

Not many will do that these days.

Al

 

[aeblank]

I think you'll like the big blower. MOST snowfalls won't max it out. For that one per year, go slower. Hydrostat is THE way to go for blowing.
I have a 72 on my L3940, and K only says to put the 64" on (no way!). Same situation, though quite a bit bigger tractor.. =)

 

[ruffdog]

I only use the blower on DEEP snow because I can do it so much quicker with the blade.

 

[E3A]

In shopping for snowblowers I've been looking at every brand out there. I found a great price on a Farm King 60". My rookie question...it calls for a minimum of 20 PTO HP. Kubota says my 2620 has 19 PTO HP. Is that enough to be worried about or should I be OK?

Farm King's next size down is 50" and the width of my tractor footprint is 49". That seems a little too close.

 

[CobyRupert]

In shopping for snowblowers I've been looking at every brand out there. I found a great price on a Farm King 60". My rookie question...it calls for a minimum of 20 PTO HP. Kubota says my 2620 has 19 PTO HP. Is that enough to be worried about or should I be OK? Farm King's next size down is 50", and the width of my tractor footprint is 49" wide. That seems a little to close.

I wouldn't worry about it. Tractordata says your 2620 has over a thousand pound lift at the 3ph, the Farm King 60" weighs 470lbs. It takes a certain amount of total work energy to move a given amount of snow, the power determines how fast you can deliver that energy total. The horsepower recommendation is based on a lot of assumptions. That 60" wide times some height of snow times some density of snow at some rate of feed. Lets make up numbers and say 50 horsepower can feed 200 lbs of snow every 1 second, then a 25 horsepower tractor can feed 200 lbs of snow every 2 seconds, (or 100 lbs of snow every second). Follow? The power required (and speed you can travel) will vary for every snowstorm as the snow hieght and density (wet snow/dry powder varies).

 

[aeblank]

Agreed, especially if you have a hydrostatic drive.
I know at least one person that regrets getting a blower just barely wider than his wheels.

 

[bumperm]

From responses so far, it seems the old rule of thumb, 5 hp for each foot of snowblower width is often broken with success - guess that's why it's only a rule of thumb.

I'm running a B2782 63" front mount blower on my 27 PTO hp B3350. No issues for want of power.

 

[Jay4200]

From responses so far, it seems the old rule of thumb, 5 hp for each foot of snowblower width is often broken with success - guess that's why it's only a rule of thumb.

It's all about ground speed. I run a 6' 3pt blower on my L4200 (37 PTO HP). I was running it on my driveway - WFO in 4th gear up a 10-15% grade while blowing 20+ inches of snow, which was WAY too fast. My tractor or blower never missed a beat, but after the 500' climb at the top of my drive, I looked down and sparks were shooting out of my engine compartment - not like a few sparks, but a shower - like what you see flying off of a 9" grinder. It stopped after a minute or two and all was fine - I figured that I worked the engine hard enough to ignite carbon deposits in the head and exhaust. Scared the crap out of me, but was probably good for the engine.

 

[CJONE]

It's all about ground speed. I run a 6' 3pt blower on my L4200 (37 PTO HP). I was running it on my driveway



Best thing you can do for a diesel, work it once in awhile. CJ

 

[5030]

85hp on 84inch really wouldn't want any less

I'm with you. 80" Lucknow with 4" side wings on an M9 (87 pto Kubby). I could use about 15 more in deep drifts over 4 feet. Blows a bit of smoke and the hairdryer is screaming but thats what it's for.....

I believe blowing works the tractor harder than any hay making does.

Sure sucks down diesel.....

 

[biffnh]

I run a 60" on my B7800 (30 HP). Never have had a problem. Ground speed is important - essentially the trick is to keep feeding the blower at the proper rate to keep the snow flying! I have 1.5 miles of dirt road and I usually plow the storm with my F-350 then when the skies clear I blow the banks back to make room for the next storm and to keep the snow off the road in preparation for spring melt to minimize mud season.

 

[bumperm]

A plow pushes snow around, quick if the snow's not deep, but certainly not exciting. And if you've a long driveway and no place to stack it so it's not in the way, it can get exasperating and starts to feel like work.

A blower, on the other hand, especially one with a nice warm cab, most always is fun. For a blower fairly launches snow, scattering it far . . . it imbues the operator with a sense of enormous power and control . . . here, Mother Nature, take THAT!!

 

[joe04785]

I run a 72" Puma blower with my CK35 with no problems at all. As a lot of people have mentioned already, speed is key. Bought this blower on the side of the road for $1100 with hydraulic chute and deflector. Couldn't pass it up.

 

[excav8ter]

It's all about ground speed. I run a 6' 3pt blower on my L4200 (37 PTO HP). I was running it on my driveway - WFO in 4th gear up a 10-15% grade while blowing 20+ inches of snow, which was WAY too fast. My tractor or blower never missed a beat, but after the 500' climb at the top of my drive, I looked down and sparks were shooting out of my engine compartment - not like a few sparks, but a shower - like what you see flying off of a 9" grinder. It stopped after a minute or two and all was fine - I figured that I worked the engine hard enough to ignite carbon deposits in the head and exhaust. Scared the crap out of me, but was probably good for the engine.

What kind of speed are you seeing? 20" of snow is not going let a 37 hp tractor (pto) go very fast, fast being a relative term. I run a NH TL100A Deluxe, with 93 pto hp, with a Normand 92-280 Inverted blower. Max speed i am seeing, in 4" is a bit over 7mph, with out spilling any snow. 20" and I'm down to about 3mph. But I'm throwing so much snow, with such velocity, that i need to be careful where I'm throwing it. I usually see between 475 and 570 rpm on the pto.

 

[DABSGT]

I ran a Woodmaxx 60 inch, 695 pound snow blower off of a JD 855, 24 HP with 19 @ the PTO worked fine just a little slow. This year I up graded to a 2032R, 32 HP with 24 @ the PTO. Hate snow but looking forward to one good storm.

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

Why do people want to put the biggest blower they possibly can on their tractor? I couldn't imagine having the blower stick out a foot on each side. Yes, with hst you can always slow down but on the same page you can always speed up with a smaller blower. 6' of heavy or drifted snow is a lot on the first pass when you have to take a full bite when pushing the HP limits