Tractor mounted snow blower questions need opinions

Thinking about them may be a used one. Probably 3 pth Have only been around a few and small ones at that. What advice do you guys have??? Seems like you would need super low reverse? What about size and power? How do they do in wet snow??? Any pit falls or be aware of's????

In principle, not much different than a walk behind or similar snow blower/thrower.

You will need a slow reverse, but conditions will vary so if there is enough power, you have made a decent match with a tractor, preferably one with a heated cab, they are quite productive. We had a 6' Loftness on a 33 HP challenger with a loader. Underpowered, and heavy, but it actually worked quite well, just by working with what you have. This tractor was hydrostatic, so speed was no issue. Aggravating without a cab, looking back does wear on you, but given the productivity of it, wins hands down vs using a bucket, and or a plow in many situations. Nice to have hydraulic chute vs manual turn. In all reality, cab tractor and front mount is much better, but for limited work, depending on winds and how much you can take, they will move and throw some serious quantities of snow in a short time. Even banks that are starting to set up. I like the set up with a loader on the front, as you can turn around break hard pack up, then clear it with the blower.

Not all that much to them either, so checking the chain and sprockets, auger bearings, gear box/oil etc., some fittings to grease on the chute etc.
Most blowers perform poorly in wet snow, all depends on how wet if that can be measured. I plugged a walk behind for the first time in 13 years, with a wet sleet/snow that packed in before it turned to snow, and I've cleared lots of non powdery snow in warmer conditions, mostly it just won't throw it as far, can plug depending on how fast you go.

Look for worn chain sprocket, bent flighting/auger, check the cutting edge, skids, leaking gear box, no different than any other etc.

Safety, you had best shut it off if you need to look at it, visibility, make sure NO one is nearby when in use and obviously do NOT direct the chute towards glass like vehicle windows, house, barns, as projectiles will come out of picked up. Adjust properly, the skids, top link etc.

I got an old Aquilon 6 foot blower this fall and have been running it with a MF 35 which has 2 speed reverse. It does very well and will throw powdery snow 30 feet or so, how far it goes depends a lot on how much snow is coming through it at the time and the speed it is turning. With the blower I have been able to keep the sawmill open all winter which has never happened before. When it gets warm and the snow slides off the roof and piles up in front of the mill I go out and blow it up onto the snowbank. It will handle wet snow, just have to be careful not to overfill it or it will plug. If it plugs I shut it down and take a hand weed whacker (the kind with the springy blade) and poke the snow back down out of the chute into the impeller. I plugged it a few times right at first, but I've gotten better at reading it. It will cut through an established snow bank along the road, the highest I have gone through is 4 feet high. It takes a few back and forth maneuvers to get through, but it has no problem with it. A double auger machine on a bigger tractor would be able to go through in one pass. I have not yet tried it on the Farmall 300 which has more power but a higher reverse. The other nice thing has been that with this snowblower being here I didn't have to get the loader onto the Farmall, so now I can use it for skidding logs as soon as it warms up again.
Zach

I have a 6 foot one that I use on my 32 HP tractor. The speed of the reverse is key to making it work right. If it is to fast you will shear pins in wet snow or plug the blower up. I put a rock about the size of a softball thru mine once and I bet it went 50 yards. I use it to cut any snow banks back in the spring and even if the snow is froze solid it will cut thru it.

Cut and throw types don't work too well in wet snow. I'd sure get a cut and blow. And yeah, they take the horses and a slow reverse.

Allan

If in wet snow get one that has a side chute. Its a real pain blowing wet snow with a conventional chute. It can be done, hit the snow at a good clip, always keep the chute full then quickly get out of snow when stopping or it plugs.

I am waiting to see a video of that monster throwing snow! If i see one like that for sale around here, I'm buying it.

I have a 7ft, and in deep snow (20" or more) it will make my 6070 Allis Chalmers, 70 hp with a 3 speed reverse, grunt in the lowest gear. It sure does make it nice for eliminating drifting though like you get with buckets and blades moving snow. Just make sure it has an auger(s) to feed the fan, and is not one of the old v styles. Those are worthless in my experience.

Oh heck Leo,

I'll sell ya this one. :>)

Allan

If you were a thousand or so miles closer....
I have a 7' Agco Double auger 2 stage, I kind of over power it, I use my 1130 Massey on it. It can throw lots of snow. It does have issue with the wet stuff though.

What tractor are you putting it on? Would help to know if you're talking a utility type tractor or larger farm type tractor. If you're buying that now too and can budget a hydrostatic they're the ideal blower tractor. You'll want a blower at least as wide as the tractor rear wheels. A hydraulic deflector on the spout is a really handy feature (a necessity IMO)

I can vouch for Lorenz brand as very good blower for all snow conditions. I currently have an 8' on a 70hp hydrostatic tractor, would probably want a smaller blower or 10-20 more hp if it were a gear transmission with a low reverse over about 1 mph.

What you need is HORSEPOWER if you want to get much done with a blower. A slow reverse helps but I'd rather have power myself. I guess it depends on how much you need to do with it but I'd gravitate towards the semi-industrial types that have the drum rotator so it casts the wet stuff out the side rather than out the top. My preference is towards Pronovost or Normand... but I bought a Frontier just before Christmas last year because I needed a blower, post haste. All I need to say about Frontier blowers is that I'll probably sell this one at a loss to get a Pronovost...

Rod

I have a 7" Allied that FIL had. Never been on anything larger than 30hp. I've used it on the F 2000 but it's a bit much for it. One thing not mentioned yet it live PTO. Next year it's going behind the 1550.

I have a 3 pt 5 ft wide Lucknow on my '74 Ford 2000 8 speed.
I run about 1600 rpm.
It's powered and geared just about right in low gear, but the blower is about 6" too narrow as the 13.6 x 24 tires are just outside the cutting edges..
I used the same blower on my 2N for about 20 years, but the lack of live PTO was a pain in deep snow.
One thing that can be a real benefit if you have an open station tractor is wearing a full snowmobile suit and a full helmet with a flip up full face shield. The snow when it blows back will not stick to the synthetic suit and the full helmet is warm, quiet and shields your face from the wind and snow. You can flip the shield up when you don't need it.

I have an old 80" single auger Allied snow blower hooked to a Massey Ferguson 65 diesel. It is a great combination. This blower has a short chute and handles wet snow well. I had a McKee before with the tall chute. Wet snow would plug it.

Found a used 7 foot BER-VAC front mount two stage snowblower last fall, I installed it on an AC 7000 cab tractor. Works really well, and no more sore neck from looking backward all the time like last year. Would like to have it on an IH Hydro someday, but the AC was cheap, and does have a 3 speed power shift that works fine. Do need a set of chains on the rear tires for ice though.