Inverted

ChesapeakeBoy · Apr 13, 2020

I have been looking at Pronovost and Normand blowers. Is there one blower manufacturer that is better than another (other brands as well)? I will say that I questions concerning the quality of the Normand paint. I see many fairly new ones that have plaint coming off and rusting. I know much of that is based on how it was used/abused and conditions that it was used...

In addition.. I have been comparing the Normand HYD vs the Inverted series... and of course, the Provonost PXPL.

Opinions on these...

airbiscuit · Apr 13, 2020

I got a great deal on a M K Martin Meteor rear pull snowblower from Iowa Farm Equipment in Tipton, IA. They also carry Farm King and Provonost.

ChesapeakeBoy · Apr 13, 2020

I got a quote from them on a PXPL80. How do you find the construction of the Meteor? Paint? How good of deal... what size?

airbiscuit · Apr 13, 2020

I bought a 68" Meteor pull type. I found the build quality and operation to be very good. I have no doubt that the Normand or Provonost are better, but also about twice the cost.

I would recommend that you call Andrew at Iowa Farm Equipment and see what they can do.

Snow Removal Equipment -- Iowa Farm Equipment

fishhead · Apr 18, 2020

I believe that the Normand and pronovost are probably built a bit better but for someone that is not doing commercial work the difference is probably not important. In reading Plowsite it appears the Normand is slightly favored. I have a Pronovost rear pull and i think that it is also possible the big2's blowers might be somewhat more efficient though i don't know why. The Pxpl and the HYB are both more expensive and heavier than the standard models, with the slight benefit of leaving a tiny bit less of a pile when doing commercial work- if this is for yourself i believe that you would find adequate performance from a normal rearpull- all you need to do is wait a second or 2 before lifting the blower.

Too, the greater weight of the HYB and PXPL could get into a territory with increased risk of 3ph breakage- the contractors using rearpulls have often started to use accumulators to lessen damage. The weight on a rear pull is pretty far back and an addl 200+ lbs is a lot. Steering with blower raised is also an issue.

airbiscuit said:
I bought a 68" Meteor pull type. I found the build quality and operation to be very good. I have no doubt that the Normand or Provonost are better, but also about twice the cost.

I would recommend that you call Andrew at Iowa Farm Equipment and see what they can do.

Snow Removal Equipment -- Iowa Farm Equipment

PILOON · Apr 18, 2020

Both are made here in Quebec and both enjoy excellent reputations with contractors.
Kind of a Chevy/Ford debate.
Perhaps weight might be how to select.
Both are easy to maintain as all wear components are 'off the shelf' from most suppliers,

ChesapeakeBoy · Apr 18, 2020

Most of the used ones seem to have paint flaking off and very rusty. That typically is due to paint prep process.. or lack there of... Or do you thin it is just that they have been used hard with salt?

shooterdon · Apr 18, 2020

I have a cheaper 74" Farm King and for $4000 it was a good deal for my needs. I get 120-140"of snow a year with 250 yards of driveway and an open area about 1/4 acre to clear. This was the first year using it and no regrets. It is useless for clearing snow from a garage door etc but I use my back blade mounted on a 3PH SSQA adapter for back blading

Paystar · Apr 20, 2020

PILOON said:
Both are made here in Quebec and both enjoy excellent reputations with contractors.
Kind of a Chevy/Ford debate.
Perhaps weight might be how to select.
Both are easy to maintain as all wear components are 'off the shelf' from most suppliers,

What PILOON said. Both Pronovost and Normand are very good. The best blowers on the market come from Quebec. Right up to the big industrial ones.

I just priced an inverted for a friend. My dealer stocks MK Martin and Agro Trend. He says he never sees them come back. Just for comparison a 68 inch MK Martin inverted with hydraulic rotation is $4695 Canadian LIST price here. So a couple hundred cheaper.

fishhead · Apr 20, 2020

i have had mine for 4 years and do not rinse it down after use and have basically no rust- the only paint scars would be where rocks have impacted or on the inside of the top of the chute where grit and stone have abraded. The ones you are seeing probably were used commercially where they might be doing 60-75 drives with a single machine some times multiple times a day and there is salt cinders etc.
I find my Pronovost to be exceptionally well constructed and assume the Normands are the same. I have seen some erskines locally and they do not seem be of the same build level IMHO.
If you are concerned about quality you should read the Plowsite thread "switching to a blowing service" which is probably the biggest single repository of info on rear pulls- it is oriented towards commercial but you can gather some good insights there

What is your drive and snowfall patterns like?

ChesapeakeBoy said:
Most of the used ones seem to have paint flaking off and very rusty. That typically is due to paint prep process.. or lack there of... Or do you thin it is just that they have been used hard with salt?

ChesapeakeBoy · Apr 20, 2020

I have read everything I can find. I have a 150 yard land, and I do the neighbors land that is 1/4 mile. My current set up is an 8' blade on the back and 6' hydraulic blower on the front. I use the blade when it is up to 4-5" deep , and the blower when it is deeper. Snow patterns... inconsistent.... 2019/20 winter was pretty light on snow... In 2018/19 we had quite a few 6" snows.. and a few 10".

PILOON · Apr 20, 2020

ChesapeakeBoy said:
Most of the used ones seem to have paint flaking off and very rusty. That typically is due to paint prep process.. or lack there of... Or do you thin it is just that they have been used hard with salt?

Today most manufacturers have gone to powder coating process which IMHO is like old undercoating, It flakes then traps water and the corrosion starts.
Good preparation, followed by a good primer and then an enamel coating would be the best but then just too costly so they simply give it a 'protective coating' knowing as being equipment it will chip scratch and wear anyway. It is up to the owner to maintain his gear.

On my blower , purchased used, I sand blasted and primed same day followed by a good enamel top coat.
That was 8 years ago and 90% of it still sports my original paint, and I have sand/gravel drive.

My 'hint of the day' is spray any color whatever on all the polished (sand blasted) parts so as to prevent deep rust from forming B4 you store your blower in the spring

Paystar · Apr 20, 2020

Or just do like me on my 2013 blower..anywhere the paint got sandblasted off, I just spray the blower with Krown, put it away, then next year all the bare metal is still shiny.

I'm too busy to have to prep and paint every year.

fishhead · Apr 23, 2020

when you say land, do you mean yard or field?
Pull blowers and most blowers work best on paved surfaces, they are tricky house on unpaved until an ice layers forms. Their much greater weight than a rear push blower means they usually scrape better which is good unless the surface is not firm. To me the ideal set-up would be a front blade for sub 2 inch snows or slop or for making berms where desired and a rear pull which would be used on most snowfalls.
You don't mention deep drifting, that is the one condition that rear push blowers have it over a rear pull.

ChesapeakeBoy said:
I have read everything I can find. I have a 150 yard land, and I do the neighbors land that is 1/4 mile. My current set up is an 8' blade on the back and 6' hydraulic blower on the front. I use the blade when it is up to 4-5" deep , and the blower when it is deeper. Snow patterns... inconsistent.... 2019/20 winter was pretty light on snow... In 2018/19 we had quite a few 6" snows.. and a few 10".

ChesapeakeBoy · Apr 27, 2020

Sorry.. auto correct... LANE... not land. but I am not asking about the ability of the inverted or pros or cons.. only about the paint.

airbiscuit · Apr 27, 2020

Why are you so focused on paint? To me functionality is most important. If the paint stays good - no problem. If it chips or fades, take an angle grinder and a wire brush to it and paint it yourself - problem solved. If an implement is in the snow and has rotating parts, sooner or later a little rust will appear.

ChesapeakeBoy · Apr 27, 2020

The used units that I have seen have lots of rust that are not scars or scrapes. I have spent 20+ years in mfg and seen paint come off in sheets... When you are paying $8k plus for a new Normand, I think it is a fair concern.

razor · Apr 29, 2020

Perhaps because most Normands and Pronovost blowers are mainly used by contractors, I would think most see a lot of road salt compared to average homeowner only doing their own driveway. More salt means more rust. Just a guess.

fishhead · May 2, 2020

Razor has a lot of experience with normand commercially and I am sure pronovost anecdotally. I would trust what he has to say. As for myself i cannot speak first hand about normand but have read great things.
I will say that i feel my pronovost is very well constructed and the paint application/quaity is good. The only places where paint has come off are where rocks, sand or grit have taken it off.
I will say that the apparent quality is much higher than the kubota and frontier blowers i have seen or used or the erskines i have seen locally- really no comparison at all.

QUOTE=ChesapeakeBoy;5722740]The used units that I have seen have lots of rust that are not scars or scrapes. I have spent 20+ years in mfg and seen paint come off in sheets... When you are paying $8k plus for a new Normand, I think it is a fair concern.[/QUOTE]