Rear mounted snowblower

[Jim59]

I picked up a 76" nortrac snowblower and mounted it on my tractor 3 pth. The problem I am having with it is that tends to want to ride up on top of the snow rather than stay down on the ground. Has anyone else had this problem? How did you solve it? The lifting arms are adjustable and I have it setup at the shortest length, there are 2 more settings that in can extend out in 3" increments. I was thinking the added length may give me more down pressure.

 

[PILOON]

I suspect you simply need to adjust your upper 3 point arm.
Screw it out to have the blower aimed slightly downwards.
That should do the trick.

 

[TerryR]

The lifting arms are adjustable and I have it setup at the shortest length, there are 2 more settings that in can extend out in 3" increments. I was thinking the added length may give me more down pressure.

Three-point hitches do not provide any down pressure -- it's only gravity.

 

[Citydude]

Does the blower have shoes or skids? If so, tinker with them for height adjustment as well as adjusting the top link shorter.

 

[leonz]

As Piloon has so kindly mentioned extending the top link will aid in digging in the snowpack.
Slowing down in reverse if you have a reverse creeper gear works very well also as the open
augers will be better able to chip away at snowpack that has melted and become more dense
from freezing.

Extending the lower link arms will be a potential problem as you have to be very careful about
elevating the snow blower too high as you can damage/destroy the tractors PTO stub shaft,
the PTO shaft and also destroy the gear box.

There are many descriptions examples showing how you should manage your rear mounted snow
blowers lifting height/range here on the forum to assure it does not go above the tractors center line
too high or too low which will also damage the tractor and or the snow blower

AS TerryR has mentioned a 3 point hitch will only be used to lift an implement like a snow blower
as the tractors hydraulic system for the 3 point hitch is considered a single acting hydraulic circuit
which means is has pressure only in one direction/upward for the hydraulic system.

 

[Citydude]

As Piloon has so kindly mentioned extending the top link will aid in digging in the snowpack.
Slowing down in reverse if you have a reverse creeper gear works very well also as the open
augers will be better able to chip away at snowpack that has melted and become more dense
from freezing.

Extending the lower link arms will be a potential problem as you have to be very careful about
elevating the snow blower too high as you can damage/destroy the tractors PTO stub shaft,
the PTO shaft and also destroy the gear box.

There are many descriptions examples showing how you should manage your rear mounted snow
blowers lifting height/range here on the forum to assure it does not go above the tractors center line
too high or too low which will also damage the tractor and or the snow blower

AS TerryR has mentioned a 3 point hitch will only be used to lift an implement like a snow blower
as the tractors hydraulic system for the 3 point hitch is considered a single acting hydraulic circuit
which means is has pressure only in one direction/upward for the hydraulic system.

Good catch Leonz, yes extend the top link. I have an inverted blower so was thinking "forward" motion.

 

[oosik]

I wonder. What "type" of snow would make a blower ride up. Is the op attempting to blow hardened, encrusted snow drifts.

I have 27 years experience using a 3-point blower. Never once did it tend to "ride up". The weight of the blower kept it firmly planted on the ground. Even with the leading lip angled up - so I wouldn't be blowing gravel.

 

[RjCorazza]

I wonder. What "type" of snow would make a blower ride up. Is the op attempting to blow hardened, encrusted snow drifts.

I have 27 years experience using a 3-point blower. Never once did it tend to "ride up". The weight of the blower kept it firmly planted on the ground. Even with the leading lip angled up - so I wouldn't be blowing gravel.

My standard rear blower would ride up and pack snow when dead level. After having a cutting edge welded on the blower it stopped riding up on the snow. There are blowers that are sold without standard cutting edges, and they run straight on the blower housing.

 

[oosik]

Hmm - I would have never guessed. A blower without a cutting edge. Mine had a very heavy cutting edge. Extend the top link - angles the cutting edge down - cut right thru icy areas on my gravel driveway. Cut and blew gravel real well also.

 

[metalbender]

The average CUT doesn't have the weight or traction to cut through a seven ft wide path of hard packed snow and ice on a driveway. And why would you want to have that material go through your blower? I guess conditions and definitions of hard pack differ. Just, up here, when my 900 lb blower rides up a bit, it means I haven't broken anything. Always have the option of swapping the blade for the bucket to work over the crusty bits.

 

[5030]

Hmm - I would have never guessed. A blower without a cutting edge. Mine had a very heavy cutting edge. Extend the top link - angles the cutting edge down - cut right thru icy areas on my gravel driveway. Cut and blew gravel real well also.

Blowing gravel and vinyl siding or windows facing the drive ain't a good combo. Makes the wife very unhappy...

 

[hube2]

As someone else said, there is no down pressure on the 3pt. In addition to this, at least on my tractor, if the ground dips down the 3pt will not drop further unless I push the lever to allow it to drop further. My driveway is sloped with a flat at the top. I lower the blower at the top and start blowing. When my driveway starts to slope away the blower remains at the level it was at so it is no longer at the ground. I have to continue lowering as I back up. This results in me basically holding the lever down most of the time. the blower is 750#, it's not the snow holding it up. I have not encountered any show that was so packed the it would hold the blower up or cause it to ride up and over the snow.

I have found that with my foot on the go backwards peddle I can push the lever down and hold the lever down with my shin pressed against it rather than needing to keep my hand on it the whole time. Again, this is on my tractor and when the lever is pushed down it is just below my knee right next to my leg.

 

[PineRidge]

Perfect need for a hydraulic top link. Adjustments on the fly from the tractor seat.

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

as others have said... adjust top link to change snow blower angle and slow ground speed.

PLUS if your tractor has a rate of fall valve that adjusts the rate of drop of 3pt under various weights adjust settings here as well.