Buying Advice Newbie buying B2320, B2620, B2920 for Snow Blowing...needs advice.

[John1133]

I live in Ontario Canada on 3 acres of woodland but my access lane way is 1/4mile long with VERY steep hills. I need a tractor with a front mounted snow blower to keep the road open in the winter. My local Kubota dealer is recommending the B2320, B2620 or B2920 model with snow chains for climbing the steep hills and a front end loader. I am finding it very hard to get detailed info on the differerent models of snow blowers available from Kubota. Their web site has no info on blowers for these new models. I understand that my three options for blowers are the BX2750A at 48.75", the B2781 at 50" or the B2782 at 60". I prefer the larger 60 inch width but want to make sure I am buying enough horse power (mid PTO) to power the snow blower. So which model 23hp, 26hp, or the 29hp is right for me? The Kubota brochure lists the PTO horsepower for each model....are the rear and mid PTO horsepowers the same? I did notice that that mid PTOs on all three models have the same RPM (2500 rpm). Anyone have any experience with these models of snow blowers? Where can I get more info on the blowers if Kubota doesn't have any on their own web site? Anyone have experience climbing VERY steep and icy hills with chains. Thanks in advance for your thoughts

 

[easygo]

John,
If you want to go with the 60" blower than you would have to buy the at least the 2620 but the 2920 would handle it more comfortably. In the Kubota brochure there is a list of additional implements that the company makes and the recommended size for each tractor. I only have 2007 booklet and that does not recommend using the 60" snowblower on machines less than 26hp. I have no first hand experience but I'm sure people here will be happy to tell you about their snowblowers.
ps: the chains are pricey but very useful!!!

 

[ChuckinNH]

Kubota offers the 60" snowblower for the B2630, and so I think that the b2620 would also handle it. As noted above the B2920 would do it with more authority, but you are then getting close to the B7800 in price.

 

[John1133]

Thanks....FYI, I have the latest Canadian Kubota brochure and it says not one word about attachments other than a loader, backhoe and MMM. I can't even find anything about the snow blowers and recommended min. hp on the Kubota web sites which I find very frustrating. Thanks for your input....I guess I'm looking at a min of 26 hp (B2620) if I go with the 60" blower. Cheers John

 

[hwp]

The rule of thumb for snowblowers is 5 hp per foot of width. What else do you plan to use the tractor for? If snow blowing is your major use, I'd suggest looking at a front mount tractor such as a F2560 four wheel drive. These machines are essentially a B series turned around to run the other way. I have the older F2400 and use it for mowing grass, snowblowing, sweeping, tilling and dozer blading. It serves my needs perfectly, but I have no need for a FEL or backhoe. I strongly recommend a cab for snowblowing - keeps you warm and dry. PM me if you want more info.

 

[John1133]

Thanks for the 5 hp per foot snowblower rule of thumb. My major use (90%) will be for snow removal including spreading sand on some steep hills. The other 10% will be for moving soil and firewood with the FEL. I will not be using it to cut any grass. The cab sounds like a good idea. Thanks again

 

[hazmat]

I have the 60" on my B3030. In heavy/wet snow it uses all 30HP. It also shoots the snow into the next county .

I think the ultimate small(er) snow removal machine would be the B3030 CAB tractor with the 60" blower. Depends on how much $$$ you want to spend. I don't have the cab & end up with a pretty good nanuk of the north impression if it's at all windy.

Spend the extra to get the hydraulic chute rotator & the deflector (electric). If you get the deflector, make sure your dealer installs it, it's kind of a PITA.

 

[art]

The new B-series is a good unit with three ranges for good power while doing PTO work. They do not offer the 60" front blower for them!!!! I don't recomment the 2750 blower for your application but the smaller heavy duty B2751 blower for your needs. Depending on the width of the drive that model normally will take four passes to totally clean most 12' wide driveways. Go with the 29 horsepower although it would just take a little longer with less. It depends on your time constraints as to large horsepower vs less. The hydro makes it so you can do the job with less hosepower just more time. They do have cup holders for your coffee!

 

[stimpee]

Watch out with the Bxx20 series for your application, as you are indicating that you also want to spread sand.

You cannot run the PTOs independently on those tractors. If you have the mid PTO engaged, the rear PTO is spinning also, and at around 1000rpm.

If you want true independent PTO operation to be able to keep the spreader on the back and turn it on and off at will, you will need to move up to a B2630 or B3030...

Steve

 

[John1133]

I guess at this point I'm leaning towards the new B2620 (26hp) with a 60" (5 foot) blower which my dealer tells me is compatible with the B2620. It will meet the min. of 5 hp for every foot of blower rule of thumb mentioned earlier. Keeping the cost down is a major concern so I'll try the first year without a cab and add it later if necessary. The hydraulic chute rotator etc. is also on the list as is industrial tires, chains and a FEL. In the event of heavy wet snow I'll just cut a small path or drive slower. 90% of the snow we get is dry fluffy stuff which I'm sure it can handle no problem. Thanks for all of the input and please keep the ideas and suggestions comming. John

 

[stimpee]

As I mentioned in my post above yours, please make sure you thoroughly understand the operation of the PTO on the 2620/2920 to make sure there are no surprises. That limitation is one of the reasons that I ended up deciding to pony up the extra cash for the 3030 over the 2920 (among other details, and size).

 

[John1133]

Thanks for the heads up on the potential PTO issue. Since I will be using the tractor for personal snow removal and not commercially, it won't be a big problem if I can't run both the mid and rear PTOs at the same time. In other words spread sand at the back while blowing snow up front. Still it's a good point and something I'll take into consideration. Thanks again for your comments! John

 

[stimpee]

Thanks for the heads up on the potential PTO issue. Since I will be using the tractor for personal snow removal and not commercially, it won't be a big problem if I can't run both the mid and rear PTOs at the same time. In other words spread sand at the back while blowing snow up front. Still it's a good point and something I'll take into consideration. Thanks again for your comments! John

I fear that you are misunderstanding the reality of the situation. The issue is not that you cannot run them simultaneously. The issue is that you cannot run the mid pto by itself. If the mid pto is on, then the rear pto is on also, and at nearly 2x the normal rear pto rotation speed.

So if you are blowing snow, then you are also spreading sand/salt at a very high speed! Or you ar at a minimum heating it up a whole lot!

I would see your only option being blowing the snow with nothing mounted on the 3 point, and then when you are done, hooking up your spreader and then running rear pto only (which it does have the ability to do) to spread.

Not sure if it is a big deal, but personally it was a limitation that I chose not to live with.

Steve

 

[John1133]

You're absolutely correct.....I didn't fully understand. Thanks for the explanation. I will look into it more closely now. Can't thank you enough for your expertise and generosity. John

 

[jcaledon]

John,

Stimpee is right about the rear PTO - you can't run the mid without also running the rear PTO at the same time - although you can run the rear on its own. In other words there are three settings, 1. mid (2500 rpm) rear (940 rpm) together, 2. neither, and 3. rear (540 rpm) on its own. That was one of the things I didn't like about the B2620 that I just got delivered (from B.E. Larkin in Gormley) versus the John Deere 2320. But I can't see why you couldn't just remove the PTO shaft, versus removing the entire spreader. I just finished installing my Herd M-96 (which I painted orange to match the Kubota - looks good!), and the shaft, which I had to shorten, can be easily disconnected from the tractor. Its not ideal, but it can be made to work quite easily. Having said that, I'm not sure you would need to do this - how hot would the spreader get if the PTO were running while you were blowing snow on a cold Canadian day in the middle of January? I think this would be more of a pain if you were to use the spreader for fertilizer and seed during the summer like I'm planning to do. I plan on taking the spreader off when I'm finished with it, rather than leaving it on when I'm cutting the grass. This is definitely and advantage the B2630, and B3030, not to mention the green machines, have over the new B. But as I'm sure you have determined the new B is a very strong package.

I was initially very intimidated by the size of the B2620 (I was used to a garden tractor - you can see my thread on this topic) but have since gotten used to it. I have a very steep hill to mow, and the B2620 did it in mid range at full speed (and its not broken in yet), with power to spare. At 6.5 mph, the mid range speed is as fast as I'm comfortable driving on hills with the 300 lb plus mower deck going. I don't think that you would have any problems with the power of the B2620. If you've got a lot of wet heavy snow, all you'll have to do is leave it in low if you run out of power - but I doubt that you'll have to do that very often if ever. Its a great machine. The ergonomics are fantastic. The fit and finish are terrific. I have put 5.5 hours on my machine, and have only used a little more than a quarter tank of diesel! Good luck with your purchase.

 

[John1133]

jcaledon.....Once again I spend most of my time just thanking everyone for their thoughtfull input, like yours. It sounds like the PTO issue is not perfect but can be overcome with some thought. Thanks again, John

 

[easygo]

John,
If you end up with the 2620 I would say go the route of disconnecting the PTO shaft while blowing snow and just secure it somehow out of the way. That spreader will add a lot of very useful weight for traction. Chains are great but the added weight will make it even better.
As far as considering the smaller tractor I would say don't even worry about it. It is a lot more capable than some people make it out to be. You will have a lot of fun and your wife or other family members will make jokes about it.
I have a B7510 with 21hp and it continues to surprise me what I can do with it.

 

[John1133]

Easygo, How difficult is it to disconnect the rear PTO shaft? Sounds like it might be a good solution to my PTO issue if it's quick and easy. Thanks for your advice! I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with the 2620 which will be 1000 percent better that what I've been doing the job with for the past few years. Cheers John

 

[easygo]

John,

It isn't hard to disconnect the REAR pto shaft at all. (It's much more of a pain to do the same with the mid-shaft) It is the reconnecting that can be a little more of a challenge. It may take a couple-three minutes to shut off engine, get off tractor, find proper position for the shaft and reconnect, make sure it is secure. I don't think it is that big of a deal, but some people might. Add to that the weather you will be doing that in. You could be out there in minus 15-20 with a big coat and heavy gloves, trying to do the same operation. May be the dealer would hook up a spreader on a 2620 and you can try to hook up the shaft before you commit to buying. Also try to figure out if there is a SAFE AND SECURE way to tie it out of the way if you are going this route. I have not done such thing myself. The original idea was in a post before mine.

"I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with the 2620 which will be 1000 percent better that what I've been doing the job with for the past few years."

I know what you mean by that. I used to use an ATV for the chores around the house until I figured out that it was not the way to go.

 

[ByronBob]

I can only offer that a BX2230 with a 23hp engine can easily handle a 51" snowblower and throw it a long way into the yard. If your primary use for the tractor is snowblowing then consider something a little bigger.

I find Kubota does an admirable job matching up unit accessories to the model they offer you.