contemplating a 3pt snowblower.....

[docsfarm]

Found a used dettson 3pt snowblower. 7' with hydraulic chute. Anyone know anything about them? are they any good? 1400$ too much?
I would be running on my Mahindra 5035.
41.5 HP at the PTO.
Is this too much unit? My driveway will be approximately 1/3 mile or so.
Thanks!!

 

[RjCorazza]

Can not comment on dettson, but 7 foot is certainly within your tractors ability.

 

[Reb954]

I don't know anything about Dettson either so can't help you there.

As far as having enough power, it depends on how much snow you get, how wet it is and how many reverse gears you have.

I used to run a 7' blower on a Ford 4400 with 42 PTO hp. I had to let the blower catch up quite often but that tractor only had 2 reverse gears.

 

[JerryK]

I ran a 78" JRW rear blower with my 5035 HST with no problem. The clue is the HST, which allows you to vary speed to match snow depth/etc. The 5035 operator station is wide enough that you do not have much problem sitting sort of side saddle, making it easier on your neck. I have a little 1526, and the operator station is tight... and hard to turn to back up.

 

[RNeumann]

Unless you don’t have the space to push the snow blowers are slower for day to day clearing. You don’t talk about the rest of your setup so maybe you already know this. However, it’s interesting to watch folks buy a blower cuz it’s the “fanciest” or top of the line snow implement. They soon realize facing backwards and going very slow isn’t ideal.

 

[Budweiser John]

Unless you don稚 have the space to push the snow blowers are slower for day to day clearing. You don稚 talk about the rest of your setup so maybe you already know this. However, it痴 interesting to watch folks buy a blower cuz it痴 the 吐anciest or top of the line snow implement. They soon realize facing backwards and going very slow isn稚 ideal.

Exactly. Unless you have a cabbed tractor you will also freeze your -ss off in windy conditions. After fifteen winters I just placed an order for a front mounted snow blade with a hydraulic Angeling cylinder. Driving and looking backwards while operating a rear mounted blower gets real old real quick.
B. John

 

[fishhead]

Exactly. Unless you have a cabbed tractor you will also freeze your -ss off in windy conditions. After fifteen winters I just placed an order for a front mounted snow blade with a hydraulic Angeling cylinder. Driving and looking backwards while operating a rear mounted blower gets real old real quick.
B. John

Exactly which is why i drive forward with my 3pt blower

 

[2458n]

1978 had a real snowy winter in Northwest Ohio. Still some low hour snowmobiles and three pt. blowers left on farms 40 years later.

 

[Stomper]

Exactly. Unless you have a cabbed tractor you will also freeze your -ss off in windy conditions. After fifteen winters I just placed an order for a front mounted snow blade with a hydraulic Angeling cylinder. Driving and looking backwards while operating a rear mounted blower gets real old real quick.
B. John

What He said^^

Only took me two days to realize driving slowly backwards covered in snow, really sucks, and that I want a front blade. I will only use my 3pth blower if I absolutely need to.

 

[RoyJackson]

I could find only a few used Dettson snow blowers in a Google search. I suspect the company may be out of business.
However, as long as it operates OK (so you do want to see it running before you buy), there isn't much that can go wrong...and if anything does, you can probably fix it if you're handy.

Price is good, if it's in reasonably good condition.

I have a 72" rear blower (not a Dettson). Good unit, moves the snow way out of the way so once you've made a pass, it's done. Facing to the rear isn't that bad...best way (IMHO) is to twist in the seat as much as you can. I have a reverser transmission, so once I select a gear and set the throttle, I don't need to be doing much but steer and rotate the chute as needed.
As others wrote, for smaller accumulations (6" or so), plowing is faster. But occasionally, PA does get some major snows.

As far as the cold and snow...cab is better, but if you dress properly, it isn't too bad. Sooner or later, you will get covered with snow...wind changes...things like that. That's why I traded up for a cab tractor, BTW...Vermont winters are too **** cold!