B7610 snowblower question...

[Stoweski]

Hi all,

Even though it's spring I'm starting my investigation on a snowblower for my B7610. The most obvious, and most expensive option is the $2500 front snowblower attachment that Kubota sells. I've been told that in order for the blower to attach, a sub-frame must be attached first. This lowers the ground clearance of the tractor and also limits the FEL. Anyone know if this info is correct?

My second option from the dealer is a RAD Blizzard 54" rear blower. The only concern I have with that is I have to drive the tractor in reverse.

My driveway is 1400' long and is partly flat and partly a steady uphill grade. I'm favoring the rear blower because of price and the fact that I can leave the FEL on to scrape the bottom of the driveway since the scraper blade on the blower will have to be raised because of the gravel. I'm also favoring it because of the $800 savings.

Does anyone have any experience with the rear mounted blowers? Is it a real pain? Anyone think it's worth the extra $800 for the front blower? I don't care about being in an enclosed cab so that's not an issue. I do think it might be easier to drive in reverse because of where the reverse pedal is located. Oh, and anyone actually use the FEL for a gravel driveway? That is the cheapest option for me but it seems like it would be a pain with anything over 6" of snow.

Thanks for any input!
Keith

 

[dholly]

Keith - you must remove the FEL for snowblower use, although you can leave the subframe and (I think) the male quick attach hitch on the tractor (after removing the blower/female quick attach hitch assembly) for FEL work. The subframe really doesn't hang down low enough to be any kind of a problem IMO, and you can easily remove it simply by untwisting the front clamplock and pulling one rear pin. The only hardware permantly mounted onto your tractor are the 2 rear mounting ears. You must remove the subframe for MMM use.

Personally, I balked at the high cost of the front blower and blowing snow backwards is not for me. Instead, I bot just the quick attach subframe and retrofitted an old Fisher plow blade. Figured if that didn't work out, at least I already had the necessary subframe for the front blower. Plow worked so good this winter I doubt I'll pony up the $ for the blower now. For a few pics of the subframe, search up the thread "B7610HSD Snowplow Retrofit" in the Attachments Forum. Might help you some.

 

[JayT]

You have all summer to find a used blower. Mine was about
$800 very lightly used. A 55" JRW with an electric rotator.
I still prefer the plow on the front for speed, but the blower is very handy.

1400' would be a long ways to maintain in reverse, for my neck anyways.

Good Luck

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

Keith,

Today take your tractor out and go backwards down the entire length of your driveway 3 times. Do not go fast, low gear, and slow. Then let us know how your neck feels. OK now figure you are 10 years older and then think how your neck feels. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Also figure on a some sort of a cab, unless you like to freeze your butt off! I had a rear blower and sold it and went with a front blower. I am so glad I did. If you go with the snowblower option a cab is NOT a nice thing to have, it is a MUST, a 1400' drive is a lot of seat time. I first had a golf cart cab I modified to fit the BX for $125. That worked well, I then stepped up to a Sims soft sided cab, now that is the way to go.

This topic has been discussed many many times, if you do a search you will find many hours of reading.

At the end of the day how much $$ do you have to spend and how conferrable do you want to be when you do snow removal? Does it snow a few times a year or every week? do you get small dumps, or big dumps, all this needs to go into the decision process.

THE best time of year to look for snow removal equipment is NOW, you will find good deals on equipment dealers do not want to store until fall. I picked up a 54" Puma blower in May for $1000 used it for 2 seasons and sold it for $1000. That same blower was selling for $1300-1500 in the fall.

Good luck, you are not alone we all have had to make the same decisions. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[RoyJackson]

I'm not sure they make one small enough for your Kubota, but Puma manufactures pull behind blowers...saves your neck as well leaving you use of your loader.

These are a little cheaper then a front mount, but not much.

 

[herringchoker]

Keith
I have a B7800 with FEL and rear blower, but the 2 driveways I do are nowhere near the length of yours so I don't mind looking backwards. Both driveways are gravel and I use the FEL for light snowfalls and scraping down where I don't want ice buildup on a grade. If I set the blower and bucket angles just right I can minimize gravel pickup but I always manage to pick up some.
Tom makes 2 real good points: for blowing snow, a cab is a MUST (I built my own and it is heated); and try 3 trips backwards on your driveway and then decide.
You're planning ahead, that's good. I bought my blower in July (many years ago) and got a real deal on it.
One thing I think you will find whether you go front or rear blower.... that little B series has tons of PTO power.
Good luck with it!

 

[MadDog]

I have a B7800 and a rear pto Puma. I do my own driveway and eight neighbors so although none of them are nearly as long as yours, the aggregate is reasonably long.

I am 66 and I haven't had any problems (neck or otherwise) using the rear-mounted snowblower. I find that sitting slightly sideways is pretty comfortable and enables me to keep an eye on both directions. After a heavy snowfall I am usually outside clearing for about an hour.

I have hydraulic chute and deflector control and I haven't found that I needed a cab.

Hope this helps.

 

[Bob_Young]

As part of your planning, Stoweski, consider the direction of the prevailing wintertime winds in your area. If there are stretches where you might be forced to blow snow into the wind (due to neighbor's land, nearby road, houses, etc) you will most surely want either a cab or a very good snowmobile suit and a helmet. Might even be best to do those stretches with the FEL or a front blade.

1400ft. is alot. Not as long as the 4000ft. runway I used to clear, but long enough to eat up lots of time and a surprising amount of fuel with the class machine you'll be using. I don't envy you.

My experiences with blowing snow are mostly negative--
Good rig, no cab: slow, cold and boring
Bad rig, no cab: slow, cold and frustrating
Good rig, good cab: slow and boring
and if the snow is heavy and wet, it might not work at all.

The idea of blowing snow is very appealing and the act itself is very picturesque but, to "Git 'er done", use a blade.
FWIW
Bob

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( where you might be forced to blow snow into the wind )</font>

My neighbors driveway is 25' away from mine, SO I have no choice but to blow snow in the opposite direction. If the wind is blowing and I am blowing into the wind, NOT FUN. So I will adjust my statement IF you EVER have to blow into the wind, you will WANT a cab. If you can blow with the wind then all you will need is warm clothing.

If you have less then say 6-8" of snow a front blade will be faster, if you get more then a say 12" a blower is best as far as speed is concerned, every option has its trade offs. The FEL only option is the slowest option. A rear blade with front blower would give you more options.

Are you having fun yet? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Bob_Young]

It's hard to beat a good 4WD pickup truck with a blade on the front and 700 lbs. of sand in the back. You can make the 1400' run quickly and if you get a bad storm you can make a few passes while it's still coming down to keep it from getting beyond the ability of the plow.

Plus there's the cab...the heat...the windshield wiper...the radio...the thermos of hot coffee...the sandwich....

Gotta adopt the survival mindset /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Bob