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Frount mount snowblower

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ktm rider
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 1
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2004-09-19          96815

Hello, I am new to the tractor world, I have been reading posts here for a couple of weeks to learn more. . I own a farm mostly for hunting. ( just a few horses ) I built a home there 3 years ago and my driveway is 3 miles long up a mountain to get there. I bought a case backhoe for snow removal.( alot of snow !) It works well but would really like and need a front mount snowblower on a compact tractor. I now have a ford 8N just to mow fields but the Ol' girl is getting tired.
My question is this. with the price of front mount snowblowers being so high why can't a person buy a compact tractor with a front PTO and then run a rear mount snowblower on the front >? I'm sure there is a reason i just don't know what it is... If this is not possible i believe i will just sell my backhoe and buy a skidsteer and but a blower on the front of that. A rear mount blower is not an option for me with a driveway as long as mine. Thank you for the input...


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Frount mount snowblower

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hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3583 iowa
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2004-09-19          96821

KTMRider: Welcome to the world of CUT's. Puting a rear mount blower on the front is complicated because of drive problems. A rear mount blower is designed to run off the rear 540 RPM PTO and a front mount blower is designed to run off the mid PTO that is a smaller diamater and usually runs much faster, so quite complicated drive systems are required to convert a rear mount to front use. You would need to use either the mid PTO or a hydraulic drive system. both can get real pricey. I've never had a rear blower on a compact, but I've had an 8 ft. two stage blower on the rear of a 100 hp. farm tractor with a FEL on the tractor for years so you have the option of using either. Three miles is a long way to go in reverse, so I can understand your desire for a front mount. Best of luck. Frank. ....

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Frount mount snowblower

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JimP
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 58 NY
TractorPoint Premium Member -- 5 Tractors = Very Frequent Poster

2004-09-19          96826

Hi - I'll take a crack at trying to answer this. I own several older Bolens Iseki diesels with snowblowers, so I'll look to some of the other members to chime in how things are on the more well known brands.

I think the answer to your question boils down to the RPMs. Most Front PTOs are rated for 2000 RPM, while rear PTOs are 540 or 1000. When a tractor manufacturer designs and develops a front or rear mounted snowblower, this is taken into account. I have 3 different snowblower models for my tractor. Two are front mount only and one can be either front mounted or rear mounted with the use of different mount kits depending on which.

If you look at the blower design that can be either front or rear mounted, you will get your answer. For rear mounting, the mount kit is very simple: a couple of brackets to hook up to the rear links and a PTO drive shaft and that is it, because the blower gearbox is set up to operate at 1000 RPM.

Now if you look at the front mount kit, it involves a special hitch and a whole reduction box including sprockets and a chain to slow the rated 2000 RPM Front PTO down to the designed 1000 RPM operating speed of the blower unit gearbox that is designed to run off a 1000 RPM rear PTO.

The other two front mount snowblowers I have are front mount only and the gearboxes are designed to take the 2000 RPM Front PTO and gear it down to whatever speed they need within the gearbox.

I am speaking only of my models whose designs are some 20+ years old, so I don't know what is available nowadays with front or mid PTO options. I'm sure other more knowledegable members with chime in with what is available now. ....

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Frount mount snowblower

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TomG
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 5406 Upper Ottawa Valley
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2004-09-20          96854

I'd keep in mind that blowers are slower than plows--at least in moderate snows. Two to three mph is pretty good for a blower, although managing the birms left by a plow also takes time. Blowers also aren't great on gravel till freeze-up.

When shopping, I'd keep in mind that the ground speed of a blower is limited more by the fan than the pto hp. If it doesn't clear snow as fast as the auger feeds it the blower turns into a plow. If it plows then you've got to slow down. If you've got the power some blowers throw more snow than others and would allow faster ground speeds. Large fan diameters and cupped fan blades are pretty good. Maybe some front blower fans run at different rpm's but I think all rear ones use direct drive from the pto input.

....

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Frount mount snowblower

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Art White
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 6898 Waterville New York
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2004-09-20          96859

The Grand L series by Kubota gives you a great cab and a super front blower for it that would handle your driveway snow removal job. You need to match your blower fan speeds and size well to ground speeds and potential amount of intake of snow to have a good blower. ....

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Frount mount snowblower

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Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2004-09-20          96872

Several companies, including JD themselves, offer or have offered, kits to allow the use of a rear blower on the front of a tractor.

Any decent machine shop can also easily fabricate a driveline to power a blower from the rear PTO. It is just a frame rail that holds a driveshaft and the reversing pulleys and belt or chain, it usually bolts to the drawbar, leaving the lift arms to operate the front lift via a cable system, or to hold a blade if it is hydraulically lifted.

There is a disproportionate cost difference between a 200 rpm front blower and a 540 rpm rear blower, usually WAY more than the cost of a conversion kit.

Best of luck. ....

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Frount mount snowblower

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254893
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 1 Northeast
TractorPoint Premium Member -- 5 Tractors = Very Frequent Poster

2004-10-28          99434

This is my first post on this site, I just registared tonight. I have a L 3830 with a front mount SB and it works great. I only have a 1/2 mile driveway and with 6" of snow I can travel at 6-8mph. Get a front mount compatiable with your tractor and you will love it. ....

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