2210? or bigger

mike123 · Aug 28, 2005

Hi
I have never operated a compact tractor before but after test driving one today I thought it might be my saviour.
I am in the snow business and have a lot of accounts we do with walk behind blowers. We do 6 sets of condos units that average 25 double drives and 150 small residential triple car driveways. Staffing is getting very difficult so I am seeking new setup.
We use a skid steer for condos in heavy snow but for res. it is slow reloading and tying down bobcat. I think a tractor would be much quicker in between calls (average a city block) with or without reloading on trailer.
Would the 2210 have enough jam to do these driveways quick or do you have to crawl with the blower? And with a blade can you push allot of snow. I was thinking you could move the snow quick to the bottom of the drives with a box blade and then blow the windrow you created in one swipe.
Also how do these handle cold -20 to -40 here in canada?
Thanks for advice
Mike

JDFANATIC · Aug 28, 2005

Mike,

Welcome to the forum. Can't speak for those temperatures myself, but there are 2210 owners in your neck of the woods. As for the speed, I use the 46" single-stage snow thrower, and you can go just about as fast as the tractor will go. In fact, with the snow thrower, it is better to mover fast, so as to keep the chute full. The deepest snowfall I've had experience with was ~ 18" and it handled it just fine. I have also used it to go through banks at the end of my driveway made by passing plows that have been 2-3'. Before you get this set-up, you should wait to hear from those that use the 47" 2-stage just for a good comparison. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

mike123 · Aug 28, 2005

Thanks - yes Im going to get a 2 stage for it!

trlong · Aug 28, 2005

Mike,

Also, Welcome to the forum. Search for threads on snowblowers and snow removal. There are several and your questions are likely to spark the continuing debate on single-stage vs. 2-stage vs. blades (both front and rear), etc..

I can't speak for the 2210 vs. temperature and power (is that -20 to -40 Celcius or Farenheit?). The 4115 handles the sub-zero weather fine. I would definitely suggest a block heater, letting it pre-heat the motor for a 1/2 hour, atleast, when the mercury drops, and when really cold, a transmission/hydraulic heater would be a really good idea. In northern Vermont, I was out blowing snow with a 47" 2-stage, front mounted "Frontier" in -15 F weather. The tractor and blower had no problems with the temperature or the snow (I, however got a bit chilled and snowcovered a few times...no cab /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif).

With the blower (2-stage) when the snow gets very deep (3 feet) or gets very wet and heavy, you do have to move fairly slow. However, if the snow is dry you can blow it about as fast as is safe for steering.

I use a rear blade for the end of the drive where the town plow piles up sand and gravel mixed with the snow. I hate hearing the rocks bang through the shute /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif, or risking a shear pin. I suppose that if you are dealing with paved areas only, that would be less of an issue. I have 600' of crushed slate/gravel drive. With chains and 4WD, I haven't met a snow bank I couldn't push back, or at least slice off a bit at a time. If necessary, I raise the 3PH and push off the top of the bank before dropping the RB and pushing the rest. Ofcourse, with the blower I don't get the kind of snowbanks I used to when I had it plowed.

As for power, again, I don't have experience with the 2210 but, I'm sure it would clear faster, wider, and deeper than any walk-behind. One note though; If the 2210 with the 47" blows snow like the 4115 does, you'll have to be careful where that chute is aimed. I have a 29" walk-behind 2-stage and, although it blows snow (and rocks) a long way, it is nothing like the distance the 47" will throw anything that goes through that shute AND, the chute turns very fast! I don't have a problem with it as there are no houses anywhere near me but, with your job, be carefull how far things can get thrown.

Good luck whatever your choice is.

Tom

mike123 · Aug 28, 2005

Thanks Tom
Yes Celcius. We have some pretty cold weather here. We get a few storms a year with lots of wind so the snow can be packed pretty hard is my only concern but it sounds like it might handle it. I am just trying to find out if I should move up in horsepower I don't want to be crawling out there.
I thought the 2 stages were better then 1? Do you know if you can get hydraulics to run the deflector on the schute?

Thanks again Tom

trlong · Aug 28, 2005

mike123,

I thought you might mean celcius. Wish we'd get on board with the rest of the world with the SI system. Minus 20 C is no problem, it's only -4 F. However, -40 C (same as - 40 F) is pushing it for machines of most type (and certainly those running them without a heated cab). If you're working at that temp, I don't envy you. That said, I would definitely order the engine heater and probably the hydraulic heater.

As for the deflector (tip of the chute), I don't believe there is a stock hydraulic deflector kit. The "Frontier" 47" blower's sold by and for the J.D.'s are run from the mid-mount PTO via a long driveshaft that feeds through the quick-hitch and attaches to the blower's driveshaft. The mount is tilted by a hydraulic piston (pull forward or back on the SCV stick) and the chute is rotated by a wire run by another hydraulic (left or right on the same SCV stick...that's the one that moves really fast). The attachment system makes for quick and easy install of the blower, except for the part where I get on the ground to slide the shaft on the mid-PTO but, that's not really bad, I just don't have a garage.

Search the "Attachments", or "Modifications" (?..forgot the name) forums for a thread on chute control, electronic chute,... If I can find it I'll post the thread. I recall that some one made a motorized chute control. I suppose that with an additional hydraulic control, a small piston could be driven to tilt the deflector. Electric may be cheaper.

Tom

Woody71 · Aug 28, 2005

Actually I just saw a post from Garryb in JD Buying/Pricing has a link to this web page It mentions a hydraulic deflector tip adjustment kit available for the 47" blower.

RoyJackson · Aug 28, 2005

How long are those driveways? If they're at condo units, I can't believe they'd be more then 40'-50'. I'd also guess that there are garages at the end of most of them.

It really seems that a plow on a pick up or small dump truck would be the quickest (and warmest), but that would push snow to the garage doors.

As far as using a blower, I would think it depends on what kind of accumulation your area gets, typically. If less then 8", a rear blade might be faster. Another thing to consider is what's under that snow. If these are family residences, I should think those kids would leave things on the drives that may damage the blower (or damage other things when thrown by the blower). And, if you go for a front blower (in the work you describe, the only way to go)...that's a pretty expensive set up.
I'm wondering if a front blade (snow type blade with hydraulics) may be the most cost effective for your business.

However, I don't think the 2210 is a big enough tractor for your needs. I think I'd be looking at a 4210 (or 3xxx series equivalent) or similar model New Holland or Kubota.

I do think you want to consider your requirements, cash flow and other options before you buy a tractor/blower.

trlong · Aug 28, 2005

Woody,

Thanks for the link. My dealer (last year) made it sound as though it was not an option. I'll have to check into it but, I expect the expense is not worth it to me. I think I only adjusted the tip a few of times last year (wet snow vs. dry snow). Ofcourse, last year we didn't get the continuous snow we often do and remote control might have kept my beard a lot less frosty /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif. Glad to know it's available for those who can afford it though.

Thanks,

Tom

P.S. mike123...there you go! Many, much more knowledgable TBN'ers than I.

mike123 · Aug 28, 2005

Driveways are 40 feet on average. Can't see a truck plow working, no where to put the snow. The drives are small but the lawns are smaller with lots of bushes. We get a lot of snow but only a couple of big dumps a year, 2 inches or less most of the time.
I would use the front blade most of the time and an inverted blower (pull blower) when it is heavy. I think it would be a great system for all these small properties just don't know if the 2210 is enough but the price to move up is getting high!
Mike