3-Point Hitch Rear Mount Snowblower for low HP tractor

Jimbo1972 · Aug 5, 2020

Hello All!
Its 90deg out right but I am on the hunt for a 3pt rear snow blower for my Kubota. I’m looking used and want everyone’s feedback on my machine and what size it can handle.
She is an old mid 80’s gearbox Kubota B5200d rated at 13hp and 11.5hp pto. Yes that’s low hp but she is tuff.
Found some decent prices on 50 and 60” Meteor and Kubota brand blowers. Would she handle a 60” at slow speed?
Thanks for the help!
-Jimbo

fried1765 · Aug 5, 2020

Jimbo1972 said:
Hello All!
Its 90deg out right but I am on the hunt for a 3pt rear snow blower for my Kubota. I’m looking used and want everyone’s feedback on my machine and what size it can handle.
She is an old mid 80’s gearbox Kubota B5200d rated at 13hp and 11.5hp pto. Yes that’s low hp but she is tuff.
Found some decent prices on 50 and 60” Meteor and Kubota brand blowers. Would she handle a 60” at slow speed?
Thanks for the help!
-Jimbo

Possibly a 50" blower MIGHT work, but a 42" blower or smaller, would be the all I would even consider trying.

bigtiller · Aug 5, 2020

11 horse power?......If it was me, I would spend the time and money looking for a walk-behind. Some of them have more HP than your tractor.

CobyRupert · Aug 5, 2020

-How wide is tractor?
-What type of transmission does tractor have? Remember, horsepower is just a measure of how fast you can do the job. 1/2 HP would work if transmission lets you move slow enough and you have enough:
- Traction. Traction is usually function of weight. Rear blower adds traction. How heavy is tractor, how heavy is blower? Got chains and ballast? Is tractor big enough to lift blower and go where it needs to go? How hilly is terrain?

IMHO, for a flat driveway with a hydro transmission that’s lets you go slow on those heavy snow days, don’t be afraid to have a larger blower. 95% of my snowblowing isn’t in maximum conditions. Having a bigger blower on those average storms gets you inside for the hot cocoa quicker.

Edit: Looks like OP’s tractor has manual transmission, 6F/2R (3 x 2 ?), and is under 48” wide.
PTO is also off transmission (i.e. not independent). Is it 2 stage? How slow is reverse-low wheel speed when PTO is 540 rpm? Might want a creeper gear, if possible.

I’d avoid snowblowing with a gear tractor with a manual “transmission PTO”.
It can be done; you’ll have to learn the tricks of what to do when the tractor just won’t go slow enough and not plug the blower.

herringchoker · Aug 5, 2020

CobyRupert said:
I壇 avoid snowblowing with a gear tractor with a manual 鍍ransmission PTO?
It can be done; you値l have to learn the tricks of what to do when the tractor just won稚 go slow enough and not plug the blower.

I agree. I have done it, not enjoyable if you need to hit the clutch to stop the wheels while the chute is full of packed snow. Like CobyRupert says, you need a slow reverse and you need to know and use the tricks so "the wheels don't get ahead of the blower".

cdaigle430 · Aug 5, 2020

Jimbo1972 said:
Hello All!
Its 90deg out right but I am on the hunt for a 3pt rear snow blower for my Kubota. I知 looking used and want everyone痴 feedback on my machine and what size it can handle.
She is an old mid 80痴 gearbox Kubota B5200d rated at 13hp and 11.5hp pto. Yes that痴 low hp but she is tuff.
Found some decent prices on 50 and 60 Meteor and Kubota brand blowers. Would she handle a 60 at slow speed?
Thanks for the help!
-Jimbo

I have 18.7hp PTO on mine with a 60 inch Woodmaxx and its a challange in wet-ish snow. What is the minimum hp the snowblower manufacturer recommends? For example Woodmaxx 60 inch has a range of 18 to 30 so I am just barely within the recommended specs and it does sometimes show it. Their 48 inch has a range of 15 to 25 on the PTO. Based on that info I would not try a 60 inch.

wheelbuilder · Aug 5, 2020

I have a Bolens/Iseki tractor rated for 15ish hp. I have a 50 inch 3 point Allied blower on it. It works good for me. My driveway is flat, and I don't usually have to move more than 6- 8 inches of snow at once, but I have blown 18 inches of fairly dry snow without issue. Wet snow is interesting with the live pto. There is a learning curve, but it's do-able.

My biggest issue is light steering when the blower is lifted, if my plow isn't on the front. If we get under a few inches of snow, I use the plow on the front and leave the blower on for traction (I've got chains too)

Some folks have lined the chute with polyethylene, or added rubber to the impeller to tighten clearances for dealing with wet snow. I've done the rubber, and think it was worth the effort as I had about 1/2 - 3/4 inch of space. I've heard that 4 blades on the impeller is also better in wet snow than 3.

Jimbo1972 · Aug 5, 2020

Thanks for the info! I really appreciate it.
Low Reverse with the PTO engaged is less than 1mph!
I’m ok with learning how to use a geared tractor/pto. I bought this old girl to have fun with and put to work.
I have a FEL and chains if needed.
It looks like I should lean towards a 50” blower.
-Jimbo

ruffdog · Aug 5, 2020

Here is a tc33d tractor creeping through dense drifted snow going as slow as it can go and using every HP it could muster. It too would not want to steer when the 60" Lorenz blower was lifted.