Hey Guys, I'm looking to get a front mount blower for a kubota tractor. I know they both are expensive, buuuuut my question is,is one better than the other. I know that you need either a mid pto or rear pto apparatus to run a mechanical and also some type of hydraulics for the other. Any thoughts? Thanks,
Snowblower Mechanical VS Hydraulic Snowblower
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Ductape
Elite Member
How many HP and what type of hydraulic flow does your Kubota have? What model is it?
For most tractors, some type of hydraulic pump , tank , etc. will be required. Hydraulic is the way to go with skidsteers since a) they have the hydraulic capacity, and b) a PTO is not an option.
I would asses your wants and needs as to what you want to accomplish. Do you want your loader on during the winter? Are you OK with being spun around looking backwards while doing your snow clearing? Would you rather have a front mount so you can drive / look forward while snow blowing? Are you looking for new , or used?
My personal recommendation is a front mounted blower, but many have different feeling on the matter
For most tractors, some type of hydraulic pump , tank , etc. will be required. Hydraulic is the way to go with skidsteers since a) they have the hydraulic capacity, and b) a PTO is not an option.
I would asses your wants and needs as to what you want to accomplish. Do you want your loader on during the winter? Are you OK with being spun around looking backwards while doing your snow clearing? Would you rather have a front mount so you can drive / look forward while snow blowing? Are you looking for new , or used?
My personal recommendation is a front mounted blower, but many have different feeling on the matter
About a week ago I started what I thought was going to become the acquisition of a front mounted Loftness blower.
Not sure what happened, a spouse may have trodden on the deal, anyway it seems to have gone cold - maybe the threat of the next storm, maybe they managed to pay their December bills anyway, though they said that it is too big for their current tractor(s).
One outcome was that I scoured the Loftness site for info;
They don't currently have a 67 inch wide blower or ANY front mount ones, so my guess is that it is an adaptation of a rear mount unit with a dropped gear box, shaft under, etc., e.g. it could be a real hack-up.
I have browsed skid steer mounted units and will keep looking - well into May and June, maybe July and August (-:
I think a rear PTO pump to a skid steer unit on the front would be quite practical, of course I would need to figure out a hydraulic tank - maybe 20 gallons - and I would probably want to keep the rear blade on, so where/how to mount a 20 gallon tank could be problematic (-:
OTOH, a 20 gallon hydraulic tank and high volume pump... could find other uses - other skid steer attachments - the continuation of the never ending toys acquisition journey.
Ductape
Elite Member
Unfortunately, the L3400 does not have a mid PTO to power a factory Kubota blower. You would either have to step down into a B series, or up into a Grand L for a mid PTO. You could go with a front mounted blower such as the Erskine, which uses the rear PTO to run a front blower. The problem with wanting to run a hydraulic blower with a compact tractor is that the hydraulics require a much higher flow that the tractor is capable of, and they are naturally inefficient compared to a PTO blower so they make more heat than the tractors system will want. There certainly are hydraulic blower set-ups that will run an external hydraulic pump off the rear PTO , but you will find them a bit spendy. I'm guessing in the ten to fifteen thousand dollar range.
leonz
Super Member
It depends on how deep your pocket is primarily;
For the front mounts you need the underframe and or the quick hitch mount for the mid P.T.O.
The loader mounted front mounts and the front mounts that are hydraulic drive will enter into the very low 5 figure cost for you.
The Mid P.T.O. drive front mounts are less costly BUT you will need a lot more as far as, the underframe, and reversing chain drive or gearbox and you would not be able to use the loader if you have the quick hitch parts mounted on the front for most models.
AND you will lose ground clearance in the process because of the underframe
which is non issue with a rear mounted snow blower.
A rear mount "Pronovost PUMA group 1 snow blower" which is the best snowblower in "my opinion" is less money and more bang for the buck as it has no sheet metal in the units construction.
A rear mount snowblower and an open station hydro drive tractor fit well together as all you need is a suicide knob for the steering wheel and a pillow for the seat reduce stress on your lower back while you twist in the seat slightly usiing your left foot to depress the reverse portion of the directional pedal to watch over your shoulder OR use a big truck mirror to watch while you use the blower while looking forward-this is why the steering knobs are so nice as the tractor will go where you steer it much more easily and there will be less stress on your forarms and hands.
You have to keep in mind the following:
1. fresh snow fall and packed snow from freeze thaw cycles wieghs 21 pounds per cubic foot or more.
2. the open auger design of the two stage snow blowers floods the impeller drum all the time it is operating as the delivery volume is not constant as
THE AUGER IS OPEN and does not have a ribbon suirrounding a tube like a grain auger or "single stage snow blower auger"
using the 21 pound per cubic foot example:
if you are traveling at 2 miles per hour you are advancing at 176 feet per minute AND if you have a 4 foot blower:
176 feet by 4 feet by 21 pounds per cubic foot you will be dealing with-
7.4 tons of snow per 176 feet of distance with the four foot width with a 1 foot snow load.
The slower you travel the faster the snow is "cast" aside not "blown" and
you will not flood the impeller drum and plug from the heat of friction created by the rotation of the impeller.
I would contact Ken Sweet who is a proud sponsor of the forum in good standing and ask about his line of rear mounted snowblowers.
You can find suicide knobs/steering knobs at the local TSC.com or agsupplyonline.com and other places
The only real option you have if you want a front mount blower for this tractor is a Bercomac motorised snowblower for an ATV or RTV
and a front hitch mount winch kit from Bercomac for it.
WE have a lot of Kubota Owners with rear mounted blowers here on the forum, and they are very happy with them.
Candidly the first thing you should do is make a decision tree and go from there.
For the front mounts you need the underframe and or the quick hitch mount for the mid P.T.O.
The loader mounted front mounts and the front mounts that are hydraulic drive will enter into the very low 5 figure cost for you.
The Mid P.T.O. drive front mounts are less costly BUT you will need a lot more as far as, the underframe, and reversing chain drive or gearbox and you would not be able to use the loader if you have the quick hitch parts mounted on the front for most models.
AND you will lose ground clearance in the process because of the underframe
which is non issue with a rear mounted snow blower.
A rear mount "Pronovost PUMA group 1 snow blower" which is the best snowblower in "my opinion" is less money and more bang for the buck as it has no sheet metal in the units construction.
A rear mount snowblower and an open station hydro drive tractor fit well together as all you need is a suicide knob for the steering wheel and a pillow for the seat reduce stress on your lower back while you twist in the seat slightly usiing your left foot to depress the reverse portion of the directional pedal to watch over your shoulder OR use a big truck mirror to watch while you use the blower while looking forward-this is why the steering knobs are so nice as the tractor will go where you steer it much more easily and there will be less stress on your forarms and hands.
You have to keep in mind the following:
1. fresh snow fall and packed snow from freeze thaw cycles wieghs 21 pounds per cubic foot or more.
2. the open auger design of the two stage snow blowers floods the impeller drum all the time it is operating as the delivery volume is not constant as
THE AUGER IS OPEN and does not have a ribbon suirrounding a tube like a grain auger or "single stage snow blower auger"
using the 21 pound per cubic foot example:
if you are traveling at 2 miles per hour you are advancing at 176 feet per minute AND if you have a 4 foot blower:
176 feet by 4 feet by 21 pounds per cubic foot you will be dealing with-
7.4 tons of snow per 176 feet of distance with the four foot width with a 1 foot snow load.
The slower you travel the faster the snow is "cast" aside not "blown" and
you will not flood the impeller drum and plug from the heat of friction created by the rotation of the impeller.
I would contact Ken Sweet who is a proud sponsor of the forum in good standing and ask about his line of rear mounted snowblowers.
You can find suicide knobs/steering knobs at the local TSC.com or agsupplyonline.com and other places
The only real option you have if you want a front mount blower for this tractor is a Bercomac motorised snowblower for an ATV or RTV
and a front hitch mount winch kit from Bercomac for it.
WE have a lot of Kubota Owners with rear mounted blowers here on the forum, and they are very happy with them.
Candidly the first thing you should do is make a decision tree and go from there.
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Some sizes, prices and hydraulic flow requirements for skid steer models are here;
Skid Steer Snow Blowers
A general rule of thumb for hydraulics that do WORK (not just position things occasionally) is that you need a gallon of reservoir capacity for each gallon per minute of pump output.
A 20 gallon tank for round numbers, a PTO pump, mounting brackets, paint, etc.
I will probably only go this route if/when something like this shows up locally, is cheap and in fair/good condition.
There are two chances of that happening; fat and slim.
Skid Steer Snow Blowers
A general rule of thumb for hydraulics that do WORK (not just position things occasionally) is that you need a gallon of reservoir capacity for each gallon per minute of pump output.
A 20 gallon tank for round numbers, a PTO pump, mounting brackets, paint, etc.
I will probably only go this route if/when something like this shows up locally, is cheap and in fair/good condition.
There are two chances of that happening; fat and slim.
Another site that may be of interest if you want to price the pieces;
Beaver Valley Supply Company - Schulte Snow Blowers
Beaver Valley Supply Company - Schulte Snow Blowers
jgrreed
Platinum Member
Lots and lots of things to consider in planning a PTO driven power-pak system to run a front mount blower, broom, post hole auger, etc...
- How much HP do you need to drive the implement? (~5hp per foot of snowblower, no idea for broom)
- What hydraulic motor will provide the HP you need at either 540 or 1000rpm?
- What pressure and flow do you need to run that hydraulic motor?
- What diameter pipes/hoses do you need to get that fluid from the front to the back?
- What hydraulic pump will you need to provide the pressure and flow you need? Will this pump be "PTO ready" - like a Prince or Cross - or will you adapt it?
- What reservoir size do you need? (1 Gallon per 1GPM flow is bang on) Check out these guys - Hydraulic reservoirs
- Where will you have a filter? Pressure release valve? Control valve? Mechanical valve or electrohydraulic? Do you want it to be reversible?
It's very do-able, and all the answers you need are somewhere here on TBN. Cross Manufacturing has great charts (nomograms) for how flow and pressure relate to HP, and diameter of hose needed to allow fluid to flow. Surplus supply has some too.
Some rear blades have a nice long 'arm' on them that'd make a nice spot to mount a reservoir - that's my plan - that way you'll still have the blade to row up snow before blowing it away.
It's not a cheap project, but it can sure be done a lot cheaper than what Frontier or Schulte or Puma want for theirs.
Have fun, there's lots of learning to be done with a project like this!!!
-Jer.
- How much HP do you need to drive the implement? (~5hp per foot of snowblower, no idea for broom)
- What hydraulic motor will provide the HP you need at either 540 or 1000rpm?
- What pressure and flow do you need to run that hydraulic motor?
- What diameter pipes/hoses do you need to get that fluid from the front to the back?
- What hydraulic pump will you need to provide the pressure and flow you need? Will this pump be "PTO ready" - like a Prince or Cross - or will you adapt it?
- What reservoir size do you need? (1 Gallon per 1GPM flow is bang on) Check out these guys - Hydraulic reservoirs
- Where will you have a filter? Pressure release valve? Control valve? Mechanical valve or electrohydraulic? Do you want it to be reversible?
It's very do-able, and all the answers you need are somewhere here on TBN. Cross Manufacturing has great charts (nomograms) for how flow and pressure relate to HP, and diameter of hose needed to allow fluid to flow. Surplus supply has some too.
Some rear blades have a nice long 'arm' on them that'd make a nice spot to mount a reservoir - that's my plan - that way you'll still have the blade to row up snow before blowing it away.
It's not a cheap project, but it can sure be done a lot cheaper than what Frontier or Schulte or Puma want for theirs.
Have fun, there's lots of learning to be done with a project like this!!!
-Jer.
Willl
Elite Member
I don't do snowblowers.
But if you went hydraulic, you'd gain a hydraulic power pack sorta.
I say that cause hydraulic would mean a PTO pump, tank, filters and maybe a valve of some sort.
The initial up cost would be high, but usage beyond a snowblower,,,, :thumbsup:
But if you went hydraulic, you'd gain a hydraulic power pack sorta.
I say that cause hydraulic would mean a PTO pump, tank, filters and maybe a valve of some sort.
The initial up cost would be high, but usage beyond a snowblower,,,, :thumbsup:
I'm running a 78" Erskine blower on the front of my NH TN70DA, 4WD tractor. I've owned the unit for going on 10 years now with nary a problem or anything breaking. When I was first considering a blower the question of hydraulic or mechanical was on my mind too. After talking to Erskine they recommended mechanical as it requires less hp. to do the same job. At the time I had it on a NH TN55 with 50 hp. at the pto. It would blow snow 50-60 feet. I do have to take off the loader to mount the blower but that's only a 20 minute job start to finish. One other thing. Driving around backwards is a pain in the neck, literally. So go with a front mount.
leonz
Super Member
===================================================================================================================
My question to you is this do you own this frame size tractor or are
you shopping for it or tractor in general?
Do you realise that a Grand L will allow you to have 2 or 3 three rear remotes to control a
rear mounted snow blower with ease?
Will you purchase a loader, wheel wieghts, good rear snow tire chains either the ring type
or logging chains ?
Will you have the tires loaded with rim guard or windsheil washer fluid in addition to the wheel
wieghts and chains swhich are a must have item in heavy snows?
Getting a Grand L and a Pronovost Group 1 P-720-74s now blower with hydraulic chute rotation
and spout control will be much more productive in snow removal with a pronovost front mount
kit and the reversing gear box if you want o have a front mounted snow blower that can be used
on the rear as well.
You are limited with a front mount snow blower to the size of the auger housings ability to pull snow
into the impeller and in heavy deep snow falls you will have much snow that wil be falling over the
snow blowers housing and under the tractor as it advances where this would not occur with a rear
mounted snow blower as the auger open housing pull all the snow into the impeller.
And the under frame mount will reduce your ground clearance!
Have you taken the time to sit down create a decision tree to come to a conclusion good or bad?
Do you really need a tractor of this size and wieght when a BX2660 with a wider rear blower can do the same job
at less cost?
You will find that having a rear mount blower is better simply because the view is better and you
are up and over the snow blower giving you a full field of view where you cannot see in
front of the snow blower in a front mount set up.
All you may need is need is a firm pillow or the upgraded kubota seating option
to reduce lower back stress while you are slightly turned in the seat and
the open station allows you to use your left foot to control the directional
pedal and releasing the pressure on the pedal will allow the tractor to come
to a stop with the rear blower being on the ground.
A front mounted blower may or will limit your ability to trade up to a different
machine as it may not be useable on the newer unit you wish to trade up to
where a rear mount will go from tractor to tractor with no issues
other than a possible pin mounting change over from type 1 to 2 pin size?
Snow removal speed is measured in tons per minute not width of cut when
discussing a snow blower so please keep this issue in mind first when
examining the issue.
A handy thing to keep in mind;
88 feet per is one mile per hour
176 feet per minute is 2 miles per hour
264 feet per minute is 3 miles per hour
352 feet per minute is four miles per hour
The snow blowers cutting hieght impeller diameter and impeller drum depth are of primary
importance when making this decision as the cutting hieght will be what determines the cross
augers ability to feed snow and allow the impeller to cast it aside.
The open auger design / open ribbon type allows for faster conveying of snow to the impelller drum but
The impeller drum can be flooded and impede its ability to cast snow.
At 3 miles per hour you can cover a 500 foot drive in less than
2 minutes in reverse in one pass for any size blower in low snow
fall accumulations.
And be done in less than 5 minutes with two passes.
The snow fall tonnage not the depth is what is the primary issue
for any snow blower purchase.
You can purchase a very narrow width snow blower and have the
ability to remove hundreds of tons per hour with a 4 foot width of cut
using the pronovost side walk snow blower as an example using a
50 horse power machine.
In some tractor owners cases they buy a much wider rear mounted snowblower
and simply travel a bit slower in reverse to accompolish the SAME THING with a
smaller tractor so keep that in mind also.
Dont expect to be able to remove snow at the speed of mowing in forward unless
you can afford to purchase a machine that has 80-90 horsepower if you insist
on a front mounted snow blower which will cost much much more than the same
size rear mounted blower.
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thirdroc17
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Turned up this old thread looking for information on something else.
One thing to consider about that rear mount snow blower is, can you comfortably, and safely, stay turned around backwards in the seat to see where you're going? I probably could in my 20's and 30's, but not in the last half of my 50's. 3-point hitch snowblowers are a young persons game. A front mount snowblower is mandatory for me. Even if not mandatory for physical reasons, a front mount I can easily see both ends, where I'm headed, etc. Turned around looking backwards is a limited view at best.
One thing to consider about that rear mount snow blower is, can you comfortably, and safely, stay turned around backwards in the seat to see where you're going? I probably could in my 20's and 30's, but not in the last half of my 50's. 3-point hitch snowblowers are a young persons game. A front mount snowblower is mandatory for me. Even if not mandatory for physical reasons, a front mount I can easily see both ends, where I'm headed, etc. Turned around looking backwards is a limited view at best.
Given that I have to do quite a bit of squirming around to PRECISELY position the rear blade when pulling snow away from cars, trucks, trailers, buildings, in fact away from EVERYTHING at the start of every pass, then turn to face front again - I would guess YES, I could do that.
PS First half of some decade - and it certainly ain't 50's, but I still move around a lot in other activities.
Get yourself a wind surfer, it will loosen you up a LOT - well, at least the FALLS will (-:
thirdroc17
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I have a few physical ailments that prevent me from doing a lot of things. Attempting wind surfing, or many other activities, would be a pure waste of money I don't have.
My comment, like yours, was more of a general statement, but a valid one to consider.I have a few physical ailments that prevent me from doing a lot of things. Attempting wind surfing, or many other activities, would be a pure waste of money I don't have.
Since you only mentioned (mere) age I assumed that was the only thing getting in your way and since I have more of that than you do I didn't see it as a HUGE obstacle... (-:
The windsurfer suggestion was kinda/sorta a joke - that is to say I get laughed at every summer.
The biggest problem I see with the front mount blowers is that they preclude use of the loader.
OK, so you can put a rear blade on for scraping out from buildings, so you don't have to use the bucket for that, but I do like to use the bucket to stack snow with.
It is also VERY useful or digging out the storm drains that my town's contractor INSISTS on plowing in.
Not sure how easy those would be with a front blower, though I know I would rather do them with the loader than the rear blade.
I'm in Mass, quite frankly we rarely get enough snow (for me) to justify a tractor blower and I have NO intention of "investing" in one to make money (-:
RedNeckRacin
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We my dad has a blower on his BX and its pretty sweet. Its not quite as much fun as plowing because your driving so slowly. It does clean the driveway very well! (paved so the shoes are all the way down) The only thing I hate about snowing blowing is the snow always seems to be blowing back into my face when I'm trying to put it where I want it. The front mount is very nice and a set of goggles and a full face mask help greatly! Its also very quickly able to switch from blower to loader if the situation presents itself. Personally, I like to bulk the majority of the snow out, then go around and clean up things as needed/as my tolerance to the cold allows. It does seem to bog down a bit when you try and go a little faster than you should. (Never had snow as deep as the blower intake though)
There is alot of tractor work that requires frequent looking behind you. If you can't drive in reverse very well, I would not suggest a rear blowerbut it would be good practice! A suicide knob would be a must.
Has anyone ever put extensions/scrapers on the impeller or a spacer in the impeller housing to tighten up the clearances?
There is alot of tractor work that requires frequent looking behind you. If you can't drive in reverse very well, I would not suggest a rear blowerbut it would be good practice! A suicide knob would be a must.
Has anyone ever put extensions/scrapers on the impeller or a spacer in the impeller housing to tighten up the clearances?
thirdroc17
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Hey Reg, I took the surfer comment tongue in cheek, no problem there. I like the blower because once it's blown, it's gone. I really don't like the cold enough to go out into the yard or field chasing it just to pile it up. LOL I don't have, nor see a need, for a loader. We used to use one on the farm years ago. It's what we had. I'm sure glad to be beyond that now, as the snowblower makes it so much easier. I do NOT miss the loader. it was a pain for me.
Everyone has different needs and circumstances. I was purely pointing out that the circumstances for many may dictate a front blower over a rear mounted one. Just trying to advise people to consider ALL circumstances. What works for some, may not work for others, and I didn't see anyone address the issue of always looking backwards with a rear mount blower.
Everyone has different needs and circumstances. I was purely pointing out that the circumstances for many may dictate a front blower over a rear mounted one. Just trying to advise people to consider ALL circumstances. What works for some, may not work for others, and I didn't see anyone address the issue of always looking backwards with a rear mount blower.
grsthegreat
Super Star Member
thats the reason i went with a loader mount snowblower as opposed to a frame mount unit. I can swap between blower, plow and bucket in 2-3 minutes.
I didnt want to get stuck without the loader to use.
and my back and neck issues precluded anymore turning around and driving backwards for 6 hours on snow days.
I didnt want to get stuck without the loader to use.
and my back and neck issues precluded anymore turning around and driving backwards for 6 hours on snow days.
Baby Grand
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Someone on here mentioned this idea - maybe in another thread?
I think they used this:
SNOWBLOWER IMPELLER KIT
