HST power needed for 72" blower?

[aesmith]

I'm looking for a hydrostatic drive tractor. The most demanding job will be the 72" snowblower. I'm currently using a geared tractor, a Siromer 304 which I believe is the same as a Jinma 254. This occasionally runs out of power. Ideally I'd like the new tractor have at least as much power, but I can't seem to get a straight answer about what PTO power the Siromer actually would be putting out.

So I thought I'd turn it round, what sort of power would people want/need for a 72" blower? There are lots of 25 or 26HP tractors around, but a whole lot less choice in higher power.

 

[CalG]

This woodmax wants 25 HP min.

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Nice thing about a hydrostatic drive tractor is how easily the over the ground speed is modulated to suit the blower loading.

I might call 35hp a better match depending on snow type. Do you get wind drifted fill? That stuff can be hard and dense.

 

[aesmith]

Ch

This woodmax wants 25 HP min.

Nice thing about a hydrostatic drive tractor is how easily the over the ground speed is modulated to suit the blower loading.

I might call 35hp a better match depending on snow type. Do you get wind drifted fill? That stuff can be hard and dense.

Cheers. My blower is rated 40HP max, min recommended 18HP. I assume those are PTO rating. But same as you I was thinking 35HP tractor, if I can find one.

I'm looking forward to the variable ground speed, and I'm confident that will save time by allowing me to run faster where possible. So theoretically I could afford to have to slow down sometimes, but that would kind of suck. I want the job done quicker all round.

When you say "wind drifted" do you mean lying snow picked back up again? We do get that from time to time and it sets pretty solid.

 

[CalG]

Ch

Cheers. My blower is rated 40HP max, min recommended 18HP. I assume those are PTO rating. But same as you I was thinking 35HP tractor, if I can find one.

I'm looking forward to the variable ground speed, and I'm confident that will save time by allowing me to run faster where possible. So theoretically I could afford to have to slow down sometimes, but that would kind of suck. I want the job done quicker all round.

When you say "wind drifted" do you mean lying snow picked back up again? We do get that from time to time and it sets pretty solid.

Sounds like you are on the right path.

I grew up in the Dakotas of America. There, the snow drifted so dense and hard you could walk on it, four feet thick that it was, and not leave a boot print on the surface. That snow is slow going with a blower. Might be worse with a small truck mounted plow.

 

[Fallon]

I have a 72 or 74" blower. L4060 cabbed machine with 40hp runs it pretty ok. I wish I had a L6060 with 60hp to go faster, but 40hp is fine. 32-35hp would be pretty slow but doable.

I'm in Colorado & we get lots of wind & pretty big drifts. I mostly use a plow on the loader. Faster with the plow, but I use the blower for drifts or windrows. A lot will depend on your snows & drifting. With a HST you can usually go slower & just let the blower eat.

 

[oldnslo]

I have Branson 2400H which is 24 engine HP and aprox 18 PTO HP on a 52” blower. It works but slow so would say you want 40 - 50 PTO HP to keep moving though heavy snow.

 

[RjCorazza]

I ran my 72" blower on a 27pto HP hydro and a 32pto HP hydro without issue.

 

[leonz]

I'm looking for a hydrostatic drive tractor. The most demanding job will be the 72" snowblower. I'm currently using a geared tractor, a Siromer 304 which I believe is the same as a Jinma 254. This occasionally runs out of power. Ideally I'd like the new tractor have at least as much power, but I can't seem to get a straight answer about what PTO power the Siromer actually would be putting out.

So I thought I'd turn it round, what sort of power would people want/need for a 72" blower? There are lots of 25 or 26HP tractors around, but a whole lot less choice in higher power.

Jinma does not list their power take off horsepower either.

It is going to come down to how much you can afford to
spend for a new 4 wheel drive mule and snow blower and
whether you want a front mount snow blower or a rear
mount snow blower.

A john deere series 2 or series 3 4-wheel drive tractor with
loaded rear R1 ag tires and rear chains would be needed
with your heavy wet snows.

A kubota B30-30 with loaded rears, chains and a 6 foot rear mounted
snow blower like the pronovost P720TRC with the rotating
impeller drum that bypasses the chute and spout to quickly
clear heavy ice and snow.

 

[CalG]

Is your location Scotland PA, or "Scotland"? My bet is the snow is very similar, but .....;-)

 

[HammerGrips]

You can probably put it on any tractor, but more horsepower lets you move thru deeper snow at a faster rate. I have an L4240 and it does fine until I'm in really deep, wet, sticky snow, then I have to go slower.

 

[JJT]

I've used a 30 pto hp hst tractor with a 78" blower for the past 26 years, with no issues. I think you'll need at least 25 hp at the pto for your 6' blower..

 

[tacticalturnip]

A solid rule of thumb is 5 PTO horsepower per foot of width. This of course varies by terrain and use, but it's a good guide.

 

[aesmith]

Thanks everyone. I'm in Scotland.

 

[tacticalturnip]

What machines are you considering?

 

[KCTractors]

I'm looking for a hydrostatic drive tractor. The most demanding job will be the 72" snowblower. I'm currently using a geared tractor, a Siromer 304 which I believe is the same as a Jinma 254. This occasionally runs out of power. Ideally I'd like the new tractor have at least as much power, but I can't seem to get a straight answer about what PTO power the Siromer actually would be putting out.

So I thought I'd turn it round, what sort of power would people want/need for a 72" blower? There are lots of 25 or 26HP tractors around, but a whole lot less choice in higher power.

I had LS MT342 with a front-mount snow-blower which 42 HP. At home in the yard it was just fine, but at some property we own that had a little more than a 1/4 mile of open field on one side, the 42 HP was working hard so I traded it in for a LS MT357 and that 57 HP plays with it.

 

[aesmith]

Thanks again. I certainly wouldn't say no to more power if it was on offer second hand for example.

Someone ask what machines I was looking at. Second hand I'd be happy with the right model from any of the major names, most likely would be JD 3520 or 3720, Kubota from their confusing multiple ranges, or Kioti. If I decide to splash out on new I'd be looking seriously at Kioti CK3530H.

Local dealer has several ex-lease CX2510s in his yard, but they're only 19HP PTO so i think too small. I might take a chance if it was a private sale so wouldn't lose much selling it on.

 

[RjCorazza]

I would not recommend a 72" blower and 19hp at the pto. Sure, you could slow way down with an HST, and take smaller bites, but it's going to aggravatingly slow going in all but the lightest snow conditions.

 

[aesmith]

I agree. You guys haven't so much talked me into wanting bigger, but you're helping me not make the mistake of going too small.

 

[oldnslo]

Would a 25 HP tractor even lift a heavy duty 72” blower without front weights? I know the 52” makes the front light on mine.

 

[aesmith]

It needs weight, or at least our existing rig does. Blower is supposed to 270kg. The Siromer 3PT is rated for 400kg, any model I'm looking at now will lift more.