Buying Advice Front snowblower

[sandalwood]

Anyone using a Kubota front snowblower model L4474 or L4485?

Looking at blower specs, L4474 only has a 20 inch impeller (fan) size compared to 26 inch for L4485.

A 20 inch impeller seems kind of small for a 74 inch blower and would seem to run the risk of being overwhelmed by quantity of snow it would be fed by auger.

Anyone with any experience with either of these models?

Thanks

 

[Baby Grand]

That is a big difference in diameters.
Any info on the tip velocity of the impellers at the same PTO speed?
Do they run at the same PTO speed?
Do both blowers have the same drive ratio off the PTO, or does the 20" have a different ratio to match the tip velocity of the 26" at the same PTO speed?

 

[sandalwood]

No mention of tip velocity on Kubota site, only that both size blowers have impeller rpm of 545.

These snowblowers are manufactured by RadTechnologies for Kubota with no posted specs of their own web site.

 

[Baby Grand]

So tip velocities would be:

545*(3.14*20)/60 = 570 in/sec = 47.5 ft/sec

545*(3.14*24)/60 = 685 in/sec = 57.1 ft/sec

Kinetic energy is proportional to velocity squared, so (57.1^2)/(47.5^2) = 1.44.
So the 24 inch machine should be throwing the snow with 44% more energy.

Seems like a big jump for increasing width from 74 to 85 inches.
If I had the HP to run that larger blower, I'd definitely be favoring that one.
But an 85 inch thrower seems like a lot to ask a 23 Hp PTO to run (assuming it's for the B3030).
Is your tractor HST or gear?

 

[sandalwood]

Thanks for the information, it explains well the difference between 2 impeller sizes.

I went back to the Kubota.ca site and looked again at the web page for L4474 blower. In one place they list impeller diameter as 20" and another place as 26" diameter. I am assuming that 20" is a typo.

I'm thinking of upgrading the B3030 (23 hp pto, rear blower) to L5460 (46.5 hp pto, front blower) and the L4474 is for the L5460.

 

[Baby Grand]

L5460 with a 74" front blower sounds like a great combination.
Just double check your tire track width - especially if you're planning on getting wide tires like R4s or turfs.
Make sure you're getting at least a few inches wider than your track width.

 

[sandalwood]

According to Kubota brochure, tractor supposedly 67 inches wide and blower 74 inches. I just don't know if reported tractor width is with R1 or R3. I am planning on R3s.

 

[ST98]

I've been trying to figure what tire they figure the 67 from? Does anyone know the true numbers difference R1, R3 and R4?

 

[Baby Grand]

The R1s come with wheels that can be set at 4 different widths, not sure if the R2s, R3s & R4s have this adjustable width or not.
I've also noticed some very wide R1s - don't know what they're called, but they look great.
Best way to find out might be to take a tape measure with you and measure some tractors at a dealership.
Oh - and check the cab/folded ROPS height vs barn door height, if you're keeping it inside.
I had a moment of panic after signing papers for the L3240, but it fits under the garage door with 3" to spare.