HST power needed for 72" blower?

[leonz]

Hello aesmith,

Do you have access to WD-40 or Fluid Film aerosol spray or WD-40 in gallon cans?
They both work wonders in slicking up the impeller, chute and spout of a snow blower
and can double your casting distance.

 

[aesmith]

And the equivalent Deere compact would be the 4 series, not the 3 series.

I think someone started off recommending 60 to 70hp tractors. I don't know why.

If I was looking at that Kubota range it would be the L4760 or maybe L4060. Or whatever the equivalent JD if their 3720 isn't appropriate.

 

[Fallon]

I think someone started off recommending 60 to 70hp tractors. I don't know why.

If I was looking at that Kubota range it would be the L4760 or maybe L4060. Or whatever the equivalent JD if their 3720 isn't appropriate.

All the Kubota grand Ls (end in 60) have the same frame. I believe it's the L4760 and up has a beefier front axle. Obviously the higher the model, the more HP. There are 2 different engines I believe. They just slap turbos, intercoolers & what not to get more power. The bigger axle can take the bigger loader.

My l4760 with R4 tires measures 74" from outside of the tires. Contact patch is a little less, probably 72" but the sidewalls bulge out a bit. I may be able to move them in a notch, but haven't looked. R1 tires are narrower & would probably get you below your 72" desired width. I'm not sure if there is clearance for chains on my rears. My blower is 74" wide, which matches well.

I've got chains for my fronts I use occasionally. They definitely help me push more with my SSQA blade. But I'm not sure it's worth the hassle putting them on & worrying about damaging concrete or pavement (all the roads & almost all driveways out here are gravel though). They really help when it's icey though. Last photo I have with them on was before I got the blower, which makes sense.

I want more HP than the 40 I have. Well, I live at 7,000' so it more like 34hp. But with HST I have plenty of control & enough to plow or blow at a reasonable pace.

I had front chains only & didn't have the blower yet for the big snow back in 2019. Buried some neighbors F350 with a 8-10" lift. That was the final straw on me getting the blower.View attachment 4995873

View attachment 4995874

 

[Fallon]

Tapa talk sucks for multiple attachments.

 

[Fallon]

Still sucks

 

[WinterDeere]

Tapa talk sucks for multiple attachments.View attachment 4995876

lol... "Honey, where's the trailer?"

"We'll find it in June!"

 

[grsthegreat]

I ran a geared tractor with rear snowblower for 14 years. After switching to HST id never go back. The JD870 had a 2 stage clutch that would stop tractor movement as you slowly press in peddle, than remove pto engagement as clutch peddle was fully engaged. Problem is when traveling over bumpy ground and engaging clutch sometimes it would get bumped and stop pto too soon, clogging the snow chute. What a PITA. I had this occur regularly over 14 years. Not all the time mine you, but i got real good at scraping my knuckles cleaning the chute.

The HST eliminates all this. Plus, my hydraulic powered blower has no shear pins, so this adds to my pleasures.

 

[aesmith]

I ran a geared tractor with rear snowblower for 14 years. After switching to HST id never go back.

That's the sort of comment that's got me where I am. Too much time grinding along at 0.8 mph when I could clear much faster if I could just go faster. Too many times having to stop because 0.8 mph is too fast and I've no way of running slower.

 

[Fallon]

lol... "Honey, where's the trailer?"

"We'll find it in June!"

Found it!

 

[dnw64]

My B3030 with 23 PTO HP runs my front mount 63" blower "fine" here in VT. Could I use more HP? Sure, once or twice a year, but often I run in High range - I probably don't go any faster than top speed in Mid going forward, but I have quite a bit of back and forth, and reverse is often full speed which makes a huge time difference.