Snowblowers, and Garden Tractors??

[ChuckinNH]

My only experience with a snowblower on a small lawn tractor was years ago, but I remember not being impressed. What can anyone tell me about how well this combination works? Is 4wd necessary? What positive, or negative experience have you had? I live in New Hampshire, my drive is not hilly, though I have paths I blow that are a little steep for a short ways.

Thanks in advance for any help in deciding whether this is the way to go!

 

[Thomas]

Morning Chuck.
I had CC 1450 w/blower work great on flat surface,but when it came to going up little grade or so not so good also blowing around corners....good griping tire chains plus couple hundred rear ballast weight did help little.

Thank goodness all this rain were getting not snow...yikes.

 

[ChuckinNH]

Thanks for the reply Thomas.. That is pretty much what I expected to hear. I think it would work better on a BX, or a "B" series tractor. I'm not only thankful that this is not snow, but am beginning to be thankful that I live on a hill!

 

[LHoyer]

I had a Sears SS16 for 25 years with a 48" blower, chains, and double weights on each rear, never had any problems. My new setup is a Kubota B series, 4wd,weights and chains with 48" blower, so I don't expet problems with that.

 

[LBrown59]

I think my BX23 with FEL and the CC and Bolens tractors with front blades will see me through the winter.

 

[Fordlords]

Modern smaller lawn and garden tractors might work well with snow blowers in general, but his is provided you are using a decent machine to begin with, and most important is set up properly! With good weights and chains, even a lower HP machine can do great snow work. My first small tractor/snow blower experiece was with a Case 210, this was a sturdily built gear drive machine with 10 HP Kohler using a Case blower made for it and wheel weights and chains. It was darned near impossible to stop when blowing heavy snow in Buffalo, never recall a problem with it, and it was at my job where the job HAD to get done- it did it just fine, sure beat shoveling! Heavy weight and true power transfer to the ground were the keys though back in the time of the Case 210, I really don't think the LT's and SLT's manufacturers are selling today with their light duty construction would be as competent as a nifty machine like that.

-Fordlords-

 

[5030tinkerer]

Until I purchased my Kubota, I used a 48" single-stage frame-mount blower on my <ack> Murray 52" 5-speed "garden tractor" with a 25hp (I believe) Briggs motor. The drive I used it on was concrete, about 125' long and 12.5' wide. The biggest storm it saw was a 14" dumping of wet stuff. I had no complaints - 1-2mph throwing 14" of wet snow 15-20' sure beat shoveling. Tire chains were an absolute necessity as this was a 2wd setup. The drive sloped down and then up, perhaps 10' rise in a 50' run. The biggest issue with the whole setup was the hour and a half or so changeover required each season, as the mowing deck had to come off. This method sure beat a walk-behind dedicated thrower any day. Faster, more powerful, easier. What more could you ask for? Oh yeah, a snow blade on a Kubota <grin> (but that can't do sidewalks...). I should add that clearing 3-4" of snow could be done at almost full speed without bogging the motor. It was a cool setup that I'd recommend to anybody. The frame blower was purchased at Home Depot on clearance for about $500. My setup also included weights from Sears at each rear wheel - 50# each I think. I never tried clearing without them, so can't say what difference they made. I weigh in at 220, so that couldn't hurt either. Slipping chains can damage drives, so I always took it easy when things got super slick. If you had a gravel drive, I'd consider the v-bar chains.

 

[LBrown59]

Until I purchased my Kubota, I used a 48" single-stage frame-mount blower on my <ack> Murray 52" 5-speed "garden tractor" with a 25hp (I believe) Briggs motor. The drive I used it on was concrete, about 125' long and 12.5' wide. The biggest storm it saw was a 14" dumping of wet stuff. I had no complaints - 1-2mph throwing 14" of wet snow 15-20' sure beat shoveling. Tire chains were an absolute necessity as this was a 2wd setup. The drive sloped down and then up, perhaps 10' rise in a 50' run. The biggest issue with the whole setup was the hour and a half or so changeover required each season, as the mowing deck had to come off. This method sure beat a walk-behind dedicated thrower any day. Faster, more powerful, easier. What more could you ask for? Oh yeah, a snow blade on a Kubota <grin> (but that can't do sidewalks...). I should add that clearing 3-4" of snow could be done at almost full speed without bogging the motor. It was a cool setup that I'd recommend to anybody. The frame blower was purchased at Home Depot on clearance for about $500. My setup also included weights from Sears at each rear wheel - 50# each I think. I never tried clearing without them, so can't say what difference they made. I weigh in at 220, so that couldn't hurt either. Slipping chains can damage drives, so I always took it easy when things got super slick. If you had a gravel drive, I'd consider the v-bar chains.

Weight will help as much or more than chains but it really takes both.

 

[LBrown59]

With good weights and chains, even a lower HP machine can do great snow work.
>>> >>> >>>> >>>>

-Fordlords-

I used a 1966 Bolens 8.25 HP model 850 with a 42'' front blade from 1966 till just a few years ago. I used Chains I made out of Car tire chains on it. I'm now on the third set of chains.
For weight I used a small tray on the back I built to put a 12'' filled concrete block on.
This is usually more than enough weight. I have 2 of the 12'' filled blocks and 2 10'' filled ones just in case I do need more weight.
The chains, tray and 12'' block are still on the tractor.
Have moved snows 12 to 14'' deep with this Bolens rig.

 

[Steadite]

My opinion only...really need to have 4wd (or at least locking diff) to move around effectively in snow/ice. This is especially true if any kind of slope is involved. I used to have a GT5000 and with 1-wheel drive it could never go anywhere w/o chains, weights etc. My JD X585 (4wheel drive+locking diff) will plow snow uphill (without chains and weights).

Guess my point is: if I had the choice of spending $800-$1000 on a self-propelled blower or a tractor (1 wheel drive) snow-blower, I'd go for the self-propelled blower.

Just my opinion.