Buffalo Turbine | CPTO Debris Blower

[larry8818]

This year I sold my BearCat 3pt wood that sat and collected dust ever since I dug my fire pit. I converted the money into an implement that I will use quite often. This thing is amazing. My only regret is I didn't do this along time ago.

I bought the wood chipper for $3,900 in 2007. I used it only a handful of times and sold it for $3,500. It was always stored indoors & was in "like new" condition.

I have been looking at these PTO debris blower for years, but there is not much information I was able to find online. The most common types I found are the large fan style units. The Buffalo blower seems to be the only "turbine" style out there. It is lighter than the other types. I also like how the air nozzle (approx 12 1/2" dia.) rotates 360 degrees via a magnetic mounted rocker switch.

This past summer I was told the machine had a list price of $4,881 from Buffalo. In 2011, they were listing for $4,595. I was quoted $4,680 delivered to me in NH & that's what it set me back.

It works great and has way more power (like 3x-4x) the power of the wheeled landscaper models you see everywhere. Not to mention, your doing "work" from the seat of your tractor

Here are some videos to share:
http://youtu.be/a1c9854oWuA
http://youtu.be/5AC5erNieV0
http://youtu.be/_TtxpNaZM3g

 

[jeff9366]

Here is a LINK to Buffalo Turbine on eBay:

Leaf Blower Buffalo Turbine Blowers Cyclone PTO Leaf Debris Blower New | eBay


Did you negotiate your (discounted) delivered price by telephone with BT Customer Service? Easy/Difficult/Complicated?

To power the nozzle movement is there is a 12 Volt connection to the tractor? Clips to the battery or something more refined?

Does nozzle movement mech seem like a potential weak link?

Does the rocker switch give Forward-Neutral-Reverse or do you have to go all the way around with the nozzle?

Is turbine output proportional to throttle, or should turbine be powered @ PTO 540 RPM only?


If I used a Buffalo Turbine to force draft the Oak in my burn-trench 'pile', I expect the center would get hot enough to smelt iron.

 

[larry8818]

Here is a LINK to Buffalo Turbine on eBay:

Leaf Blower Buffalo Turbine Blowers Cyclone PTO Leaf Debris Blower New | eBay


Did you negotiate your (discounted) delivered price by telephone with BT Customer Service? Easy/Difficult/Complicated?

To power the nozzle movement is there is a 12 Volt connection to the tractor? Clips to the battery or something more refined?

Does nozzle movement mech seem like a potential weak link?

Does the rocker switch give Forward-Neutral-Reverse or do you have to go all the way around with the nozzle?

Is turbine output proportional to throttle, or should turbine be powered @ PTO 540 RPM only?


If I used a Buffalo Turbine to force draft the Oak in my burn-trench 'pile', I expect the center would get hot enough to smelt iron.

Hi jeff9366. I saw the same listing directly from Buffalo Turbine on ebay. When I called them on this listing, they told me that they have priced their unit over list price to protect their dealers.

I did not negotiate the cost at all with BT. They provided LaCorte Equipment as a dealer close to me and I contacted them for a quote. Once I found out that the LaCorte quote with delivery was less than BT's list price for the unit, I felt comfortable. In all my years of looking at these, they don't really go on sale. In fact I have only see these things and just about everything else go up.

To power the nozzle motor you are correct, you tie into your tractors 12v power supply with a lead that comes with the blower. The lead has a 2-pin quick disconnect on it that looks identical to the lead in the attached photo.

As for the nozzle movement, it is of the newer ball bearing type as compared to the white plastic that they used to come with. This kit allows for full nozzle rotation left or right, 360 degrees even while under full pto power. It works great and is fast, but not too fast. While this little unit does not seem very robust, I would not necessarily call it a weak link. It does the job. Now how long it lasts will remain to be questioned.

The rocker switch is always in neutral and moves which ever way you'd like on demand. You do not have to go all the way around. Simply toggle left or right and it returns to neutral once the rocker switch released. The switch works great and feels like a quality unit.

Yes, turbine power output is proportional to the throttle. It has a 7:1 gearbox and BT says you should run it at 540 pto rpm, but "The Blower can operate at a slower RPM if it can effectively move the debris." At 540 pto rpm the turbine spins at approximately 3,780 rpm...it really moves some air!