Snow Snow clearing newbie - Recommended steps

[Starrynights]

This will be my first winter snow clearing with the big boy, I've moved up from a JD570 lawn tractor/blower to a Kioti CK2620 & Inverted (pull type) snowblower. That little JD tractor did surprisingly well, but just not enough for the big snow dumps we get. Anyways, since this is a new task with new equipment for me, I want to make sure I am approaching it correctly.

So this is what I believe to be the correct way to do it;

• Warm up tractor
• Raise 3pt hitch
• Move into initial starting area
• Set RPMs approx 1200
• Clutch, then slowly release while PTO is initially engaged
• Bring RPMs up to ~2,000
• Get into the snow and lower the 3pt hitch to desired height above ground and start blowing the snow

When I reach the end of a pass down the driveway, is it a good idea to disengage the PTO while raising the 3pt hitch and maneuvering or does it matter?

cheers!

 

[gstrom99]

Your process seems okay, except that the blower probably wants full PTO RPM, after it's engaged.
A couple questions: Gravel or paved drive? Hydro or gear trans?
Gravel takes more of your attention re: level/height.
Hydro is easier to control the speed vs snow depth challenge.

 

[zzvyb6]

Grease the blower fittings 1st time out and consider silicone spray on the chute. Get good safety eyewear because you WILL get flyback. Hang a stick on the tractor fender to unclog the blower fan in mushy snow conditions.

 

[BlueKnife]

This will be my first winter snow clearing with the big boy, I've moved up from a JD570 lawn tractor/blower to a Kioti CK2620 & Inverted (pull type) snowblower. That little JD tractor did surprisingly well, but just not enough for the big snow dumps we get. Anyways, since this is a new task with new equipment for me, I want to make sure I am approaching it correctly.

So this is what I believe to be the correct way to do it;

• Warm up tractor
• Raise 3pt hitch
• Move into initial starting area
• Set RPMs approx 1200
• Clutch, then slowly release while PTO is initially engaged
• Bring RPMs up to ~2,000
• Get into the snow and lower the 3pt hitch to desired height above ground and start blowing the snow

When I reach the end of a pass down the driveway, is it a good idea to disengage the PTO while raising the 3pt hitch and maneuvering or does it matter?

cheers!

Will this be your first time using PTO powered equipment? Generally, you want to keep the RPM's as low as possible when engaging the PTO. No reason to bump it up while engaging. Start it at idle, unless doing that stalls out the engine. Shouldn't do that since there isn't a lot of rotating mass. Once it's engaged, run it at whatever RPM the manufacturer recommends, which is probably 540 or thereabouts. You should have something on your machine that tells you when the PTO is at 540. You can raise or lower the RPM's to throw the snow more or less distance. No need to disengage PTO to raise and turn, assuming the driveshaft angle is such that raising the blower doesn't make your U joint angles too steep.

 

[Thomas]

When done blowing snow shut tractor off clean inside auger shoot the best as can so ice doesn't build up.

 

[Starrynights]

Your process seems okay, except that the blower probably wants full PTO RPM, after it's engaged.
A couple questions: Gravel or paved drive? Hydro or gear trans?
Gravel takes more of your attention re: level/height.
Hydro is easier to control the speed vs snow depth challenge.

Hydro trans... a gravel drive about 500m (1500ft). So only the tach it has a PTO range. So I can keep it in upper part of that.

 

[Starrynights]

Will this be your first time using PTO powered equipment? Generally, you want to keep the RPM's as low as possible when engaging the PTO. No reason to bump it up while engaging. Start it at idle, unless doing that stalls out the engine. Shouldn't do that since there isn't a lot of rotating mass. Once it's engaged, run it at whatever RPM the manufacturer recommends, which is probably 540 or thereabouts. You should have something on your machine that tells you when the PTO is at 540. You can raise or lower the RPM's to throw the snow more or less distance. No need to disengage PTO to raise and turn, assuming the driveshaft angle is such that raising the blower doesn't make your U joint angles too steep.

Ok I'll do this. Yes, there is a 540 PTO range on the tach,but I'll start it up on the low end and see how it goes. The guy that dropped it off suggested 1200rpm to start , but it idles much low that this. Makes sense to make the engage and windup as less stressful as possible

Thanks!

Edit: yes... 1st PTO piece of equipment.

 

[gstrom99]

Maybe wear hearing protection. They're LOUD.

 

[FullMetalBucket]

Maybe wear hearing protection. They're LOUD.

I wear ear protection anyway on the tractors. My eyesight is a little iffy, don’t want to be deaf too .

 

[RjCorazza]

I raise the blower just a few inches when not actually blowing snow to keep the pto shaft more level. I cringe when I see people raising a blower to full height, usually creating a severe angle on the u joints. It's just unecessary wear and tear.