Hydraulic power for FEL mounted snowblower

[SI2305]

Hi all,

Its been a long time since I’ve posted but I have a question I just can’t find anywhere else. Due to some circumstances, the possibility of inheriting a substantial amount of land in snow county is a remote but real possibility. If we were to ever move there we would definitely need a snowblower.

At present I own a JD 2038r, but I would likely upgrade to something like a 4066r with a cab. The ideal setup that I would want to have for snow removal (it’s a long driveway) would be a FEL mounted snowblower and a hydraulic actuated 3pt rear blade.

So my basic question is about getting hydraulic power to the FEL snowblower. The 4066r has 11gpm available for implements, but the blowers need something like 20 at a minimum and 40 is preferable. I know that there are rear PTO pumps, but they all seem to stop at 20 GPM.

Cheyenne Mfg has a blower with a PTO pump that claims to have a “T” to the regular power beyond system to boost the GPM rating. Are these PTO pumps, especially ones that feed back into the regular hydraulic circuit for real! Would they damage the hydraulics (as in too much flow). Also, could I still use the 3pt hitch and hydraulic controls for a rear blade? Am I missing something altogether?

At the moment this is mostly a thought exercise, but that possibility of moving, though remote, does exist and I am just wondering how I could set up such a FEL snowblower.

thanks in advance,

SI2305

 

[ArlyA]

So, where is "snow county" and how much might they receive there?

 

[SI2305]

So, where is "snow county" and how much might they receive there?

Western Minnesota, and depending on the year, blizzards can easily dump 18” of snow, but drifts can get as tall as buildings or hedgerows. Though not the normal, I have seen 20’ deep drifts. I was thinking that the FEL blower could really help to take apart tall drifts.

 

[kennyd]

Have a link?

You can't add that much pump capacity and not increase the sump volume to help dissipate heat.

 

[SI2305]

Compact Tractor Loader Mount Snowblower | Sheyenne Tooling & Mfg.

www.sheyennemfg.com

KennyD,

this option sounds like a too-good-to-be-true option. I have read that the cold weather obviates the need for cooling, but this also sounds too good to be true.

still. I am curious as to how this might operate.

 

[mikester]

Skid steer snow blower on tractor loader?

Whatever you decide on...think long term. I will be 71 next month. What is a PITA today may be very difficult in 10-15 years. That was a prime consideration for me. Even if wanted to invest in a front blower, none were that easy IMO. I have a friend who would have helped me out, but...

www.tractorbynet.com

 

[m1garand762]

Your fooling yourself if you think that is a good idea. If you want to use that blower put it on a skid steer like it was meant for

 

[ArlyA]

Lots of self contained units get added to front end loaders here. Seen here is a municipal unit.

 

[oldnslo]

Information on the Sheyenne websites pretty vague and raises a few questions for me and I question ability of drawing 15 GPM out of a CUT sump without cavitation.

I did not see any hydraulic circuit but is this running a semi-closed loop where the pump inlet is connected to the tractor sump and also to return from snowblower motor? In doing this once the lines for the blower are full very little oil is drawn from the reservoir but you now have a concern for the loop oil temperature. Not a common practice but does work if designed properly.

 

[SI2305]

Oldnslo,

I agree, the website is lacking. I have seen a number of adds for PTO hydraulic pumps with no obvious fluid sump. I saw a video of this blower suggesting that one just connects the pump to the power beyond (I think), plug in the blower hydraulic connectors, pull on the PTO and the blower starts. I am not just accepting this hook, line and sinker which is why I am posting here. But I am curious if this is even feasible and especially if anyone has actually used this type of setup.

A FEL mounted snowblower sounds ideal for blowing out deep snowdrifts, but I really want to know what I am getting into well before I commit.

 

[oldnslo]

Oldnslo,

I agree, the website is lacking. I have seen a number of adds for PTO hydraulic pumps with no obvious fluid sump. I saw a video of this blower suggesting that one just connects the pump to the power beyond (I think), plug in the blower hydraulic connectors, pull on the PTO and the blower starts. I am not just accepting this hook, line and sinker which is why I am posting here. But I am curious if this is even feasible and especially if anyone has actually used this type of setup.

A FEL mounted snowblower sounds ideal for blowing out deep snowdrifts, but I really want to know what I am getting into well before I commit.

Si,
What you are describing certainly sounds like a semi-closed loop system.
I suspect that power beyond is connected to PTO pump inlet with a tee. The tee would also be connected to the tractor reservoir. I also suspect the return flow from the blower motor would be connected to this line hence semi- closed loop. Without this connection every time you operate the FEL you would starve the PTO pump.

with this setup you potentially could not use the PH since power beyond flow typically feeds the 3PH and you could not pressurize the PTO pump inlet.

still an interesting concept and would be nice to have a little more information on the system

 

[dstig1]

Seems to be lots of this going around on TBN right now... Mikester linked to one thread up above. I am converting a rotary broom (my thread is in Build it Yourself) for use on the FEL too (similar type application). If you are in Minnesota, then you should look up Erskine attachments in Northern MN as they make lots of systems like you are looking for. I've seen them at the MN State Fair in years past but who knows what this year is going to be like and I haven't even gone to the fair for several years now.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I had this same problem with my Kubota L6060HSTC . I found getting enough hydraulic capacity forward to run a blower was too expensive. Instead of putting the blower on the front and the snow blade on the rear, I did the reverse.

I found it was easier and quicker do most of my snow removal with a FEL mounted plow. I can pile snow 12' high if necessary. I use the rear mounted blower for tight spaces where there is no place to push the snow. Yes, it's a PIA to turn around and work the rear blower in reverse but I don't need to do it often.

The plow is just another QA FEL attachment which can easily be swapped for a bucket or grapple. You lose some of this flexibility with a front mounted blower.

Every situation is different though and this scheme may not work for you.

 

[Dave M7040]

Using something like a Landpride rear hydraulic pump and reservoir is an expensive option and consumes lots of pto power which many smaller tractor do not have.

52 pto HP from memory to provide 30 gpm @3,000 psi

Dave M7040

 

[bdhsfz6]

Using something like a Landpride rear hydraulic pump and reservoir is an expensive option and consumes lost of pto power which many smaller tractor do not have.

52 pto HP from memory to provide 30 gpm @3,000 psi

View attachment 710836

Dave M7040

These systems are indeed expensive but they work well. The problem is, you lose the ability to mount a rear blade.