Snow Attachments 3 point snowblower question..

[TractorHound2]

Hey all! Have a question and hoping for some thoughts. I own a 4100 hst, and have been searching for a rear snowblower. Finally came across a great deal on a pronovost puma 54? Now my question is, since the puma is rated 18-25 hp and the 4100 is 16/17 hp at the rear pto, will I be ok using it being at the very, very low end of the hp requirement...? I知 thinking I値l just have to adjust my speed with dealing with some of the thicker heavier stuff..? I live in CT so we can get a mixture of snow (heavy, fluffy, etc.). My driveway is long and narrow but thankfully paved. So, ultimately I壇 love to hear from some 4100, and series, owners or anyone with a similar size tractor, for some input. Thanks in advance!
The hound

 

[CobyRupert]

A horsepower rating for a snowblower are just ballpark estimates that assumes you are blowing X pounds of snow per second. We don't know what this number is.

When you think about it, X lbs/sec going through snowblower will be a factor of:
- snow depth.
- snow density (powder or mashed potatoes?)
- speed.
- width of snowblower (do you take a full width "bite" each pass?)
- other factors?

Mother nature controls a few of these variables, but operator (with a infinitely variable hydro transmission) control the others. You can always go slower.

We don't know if manufacturer made rating based on a 6" or 24" storm. Or for Colorado powder or a wet Nor'Easter? For 1 mph or 5mph? For 100% width or 80%

If your tractor can easily lift snowblower (i.e. blower isn't too physically big) you're good to go.

 

[KennyG]

I don't think you have anything to worry about. I had a 60" blower on my 2320 (18 PTO HP) and it was fine. I just slowed down in the heavy stuff. Since you have a HST, it should be easy. I also have a long narrow concrete driveway. In the interest of full disclosure, I sold the snowblower when I adapted a 60" ATV snowplow to my tractor. I find it much quicker and easier.

 

[cdaigle430]

Hey all! Have a question and hoping for some thoughts. I own a 4100 hst, and have been searching for a rear snowblower. Finally came across a great deal on a pronovost puma 54? Now my question is, since the puma is rated 18-25 hp and the 4100 is 16/17 hp at the rear pto, will I be ok using it being at the very, very low end of the hp requirement...? I知 thinking I値l just have to adjust my speed with dealing with some of the thicker heavier stuff..? I live in CT so we can get a mixture of snow (heavy, fluffy, etc.). My driveway is long and narrow but thankfully paved. So, ultimately I壇 love to hear from some 4100, and series, owners or anyone with a similar size tractor, for some input. Thanks in advance!
The hound

I have a woodmaxx 60 inch snowblower(rated 18hp to ?)and my GC2410 (PTO at 18.7 hp)...because the unit weights over 600lbs it can be tricky to get the traction to push it through. The HP rating on my tractor is at the lower recommendation for the 60 inch blower and it does very well.
My solution was rear tire chains-makes the tractor unstoppable. Just use the upper 540 rpm speed setting and leave it there, then adjust your tractor speed accordingly keeping an eye and ear out for engine rpm.
My first year I wore hearing protection and had to disable my tach cable because the grease used in it froze. Last year I replaced the tach gears and can now use it to help determine rpm....it worked so well.
I am looking for weights for the front but for now just fill the loader bucket with snow or sand.

 

[RNeumann]

I don't think you have anything to worry about. I had a 60" blower on my 2320 (18 PTO HP) and it was fine. I just slowed down in the heavy stuff. Since you have a HST, it should be easy. I also have a long narrow concrete driveway. In the interest of full disclosure, I sold the snowblower when I adapted a 60" ATV snowplow to my tractor. I find it much quicker and easier.

Bingo! If you have the place to push the snow a blade is much faster. It also has far fewer moving parts and requires less maintenance. Oh and it’s cheaper. Finally, typically you aren’t driving backwards.

With that said, if you don’t have the space to push the show the blower would be the tool to use.

A blower that is on the big side will tend to bog down and not throw the snow like you would like. When this happens it can actually make the job go slower. In the world of blowers, smaller is better. IMHO. I’d rather move a bit faster, throwing the snow a good distance with a smaller blower. The other option is creeping along, watching the snow bog the machine down, dealing with jammed snow in the blower and blowing the same snow more than once.......

CT is the wet heavy stuff from what I’ve heard. It’s not the dry snow you sweep off with a push broom.

 

[RickB]

Your HST is your friend here. If you want a blower the Puma is a good choice.

 

[RjCorazza]

My only low hp experience was with a 72" blower and 24 hp at the PTO. It was fine, though at times I would have to go a little slower than I would have liked. Your hp vs width is very close to my previous use.
Heavy wet snow will bring practically any tractor to its knees under the right conditions. I generally move slow enough that I don't start piling up snow in front of the auger, which let's the blower process the snow, and doesn't ask the tractor to push a big pile of snow.

 

[TractorHound2]

Wow! Thanks for all the input! @RNeumann, I agree that plowing is way faster, however, like you mentioned, I run out of space with the 600 of driveway along the sides, so I need to move the snow up and out. @KennyG, I use my atv and the 60 plow for snow removal the last year or two. You致e piqued my interest with the adaptation of the atv plow to your tractor. Any pics/ links to view that set up..? Sounds like a good idea especially if the snowfall is light and I知 unable to blow it. Would rather not have to use the atv if I don稚 have to...

 

[KennyG]

Here is a thread on the snowplow:

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/snow-removal/389262-adapting-plow-tractor.html?highlight=Plow

When I posted this I thought the used plow was from a zero turn since it was branded Exmark but now I think it may be from an ATV. I got it really cheap - I've got more invested in the hydraulics than the snow plow.

 

[oosik]

You will have sufficient HP. The condition/depth of the snow will be the telling factor. Heavy, wet snow is just simply tough to blow. For 27 years I used a 60" blower and 26hp tractor on my mile long gravel driveway. I had plenty of hp - wet, heavy snow is a b**ch.

You will find the Pronovost an excellent implement.

 

[Soldier415]

With HST you will be fine. If it is deep snow and you start to bog just slow down and let it catch up.

I have a L3430 with 27HP at the PTO. I run a 74" 3 point blower. Deepest snow I have cleared was a little over 3 feet. If its heavy/wet or deep just slow your blowing speed down and it will chew through it

 

[TractorHound2]

Wow! Nice setup @KennyG! I知 wondering if you or anyone here has tried the plow QA set up on the loader? I壇 like to keep the loader on, at least for this year. And once I have a barn built, I will have space to store it when I remove it for the plow. But at this point, the plow QA would be more convenient... any thoughts?

 

[KennyG]

I think if you search you will find a number of loader mount and skid steer attachments. If you have the standard John Deere QA bucket, all you have to do is build a frame for the plow.

Here is a post on how I built some JD QA implements. There are two reasons I used the frame mount. First, it gave me lift and angle control with the joystick without having to add a third function valve. Second, it keeps the plow as close to the tractor as possible to minimize sideways push.

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/391039-john-deere-loader-qa-projects.html?highlight=Fork

 

[PILOON]

I agree on Pronovost.
I run a 60 inch on a 20 hp geared tractor for some 10 years now.
You are hydrostatic so you'll have no trouble, simply adjust your speed to keep up the RPM's.

With wet heavy snow you'll find most clogging happens when you stop so keep moving.
For clearing clogs I rigged about a 2 1/2 'washer' on the end of an old shovel shaft to poke the clogs thru. Works great and beats a shovel.

I also lined my chute with HD plastic so the snow glide out better as it sticks much less than on steel.

Have fun.
Since I have a gravel drive I always have spare shear bolts in my cab.

 

[TractorHound2]

Thanks again to everyone痴 input! This web sight is awesome! @KennyG, thanks for the links, super helpful. One last question for anyone, when I check the blower out, aside from broken gear teeth and missing chain links, is there anything I should investigate before purchasing. Can稚 exactly see it operate handling snow, but any advice would be helpful. Thanks in advance!

 

[RickB]

It should turn freely by hand, the PTO shaft should telescope freely and the universal joints should be snug without binding.

 

[cdaigle430]

One more thing I would like to add-with a berco soft cab, loader bucket edge tamers and rear tire chains along with the snowblower a tractor becomes a lethal snow weapon. I had the whole combo last winter and it was unstoppable.

 

[TractorHound2]

Thanks @RickB for the tips. And @ cdaigle430, what are the bucket edge tamers? I have the rest but am debating the chains. I have turfs so I壇 like to see how well they do.

 

[leonz]

Hello TractorHound2

Your going to want chains even on flat terrain UNLESS the rears are loaded, saying that turfs do not like ice either so keep that in mind.

My john deere LA115 lawn mower junk was worthless even with chains and 82 pounds of suitcase weights until I loaded the rears with windshield washer fluid.
These current jd mowers cannot hold a candle to the older 318 and other pre 1980 models

 

[chim]

As the others have said, the HST makes up for any shortage of HP. I used a Puma 64 on an L3200 for about 4 Winters and the L4240 (which is also equipped with a front blade) last Winter. While it was great fun to watch the snow fly, it isn't practical for me. I do a couple parking lots and have a front blade that works way too much better. When I list the L3200 for sale the blower will be part of the package.

It does work well on driveways and I don't mind sitting side-saddle to watch it. Our driveway is only about 300' long and it has no obstructions or banks that limit where snow can be pushed. A few neighbors have shorter driveways but again no banks along them. It is slower than a plow, but being able to toss the snow well away from the driveway is a benefit if you're short of space.

Also used a rear blade only for 10 years before getting a tractor with a loader. Then used a rear blade plus loader for another 15 years on a couple tractors. Wouldn't go back to any of those, although the rear blade worked very well if the snow depth allowed driving forward with the blade angled. If the snow was deep or heavy, the angled blade acted like a rudder and steered the tractor sideways.