Front mount snowblower

[Dieseltech]

Just brought home a BER-VAC seven foot front mount snowblower that was on a 706 Farmall, has the subframe with a reversing gearbox on the back. Have never seen this model before, any weak spots to watch for? Am used to a JD/McKee three point that works well, but hard on the neck as I get older. The new to me BER-VAC will go on the AC 7000 I have. Thanks in advance for any words of wisdom.

 

[Jim in Ma.]

In Ice or frozen snowbanks - Run it fast or you will be changing shear pins.

 

[RodinNS]

Probably depends on what model you have... A neighbor of mine has a 108" Ber-Vac and it doesn't break too many bolts. It breaks 540 PTO shafts... but then again, it's a semi industrial blower with a drum rotator...
Ber-vac, from what I've seen is generally a pretty good blower. So are Pronovost and Normand.
McKee was good back in the day but these new ones make them look kind of sick really.

Rod

 

[Dieseltech]

The tag on the PTO gearbox cradle has model 1425 on it, blower has B84 decal also. The McKee/JD is 7 1/2 foot, has two shear bolts, one at the PTO shaft and one at the auger drive. Both augers are 14 inch diameter. The BER-VAC top auger is 14 inch and bottom is 20 inch diameter, has a shear pin for the auger drive only which scares me. I plan on adding one at the main drive gearbox, parents live back a lane by a woods. I've sheared pins from unseen downed tree limbs before, don't want to tear anything up!

 

[moresmoke]

The rear mount units have a shear pin in the PTO shaft. Not quite sure how the front mount is configured. The original series of Deere Frontier blowers were built by Ber-Vac. Deere has since gone to a cheaper version, at least on the smaller ones. My Mom has a 54" blower that has been very good. Throws snow really well considering the size of the outfit.

 

[RodinNS]

The larger Frontier's are definitely NOT a Ber-Vac. I have one. If I could be rid of it economically I would be... but as it is I'd probably get hurt too bad on selling it... after I've upgraded shafts at my own cost.
It's an OK blower but it's not what it was advertised to be and certainly not a top notch blower.

Rod

 

[champ7ac123]

Just brought home a BER-VAC seven foot front mount snowblower that was on a 706 Farmall, has the subframe with a reversing gearbox on the back. Have never seen this model before, any weak spots to watch for? Am used to a JD/McKee three point that works well, but hard on the neck as I get older. The new to me BER-VAC will go on the AC 7000 I have. Thanks in advance for any words of wisdom.

Very good setup. I have one as you have described on a John Deere 3010. I have had the unit for 20 years and have cleared tons of snow with it. I have had no issues with it.
Very easy to remove or install.
Just be sure to grease all the joints and pillow bearings before the snow season and top off the gear boxes with gear lube

 

[paul]

I realize this is an older thread.

Nice picture and info.

That pto drive sure sticks out a far way behind, newer setups have a drop case these days with a chain or belt? I’d bet I would back into things with that long frame behind, as I focus on the blower up front….l

How is your traction, with all that weight up front, on a rear wheel drive tractor? That always seemed to be a problem by the few folks that had front blowers on the older farm tractors back in the day. Could do fluid and wheel weights, but with that long driveshaft out the back it would even be tough to add a rear weight box.

Paul

 

[DoubleO7]

@paul

 

[champ7ac123]

I realize this is an older thread.

Nice picture and info.

That pto drive sure sticks out a far way behind, newer setups have a drop case these days with a chain or belt? I’d bet I would back into things with that long frame behind, as I focus on the blower up front….l

How is your traction, with all that weight up front, on a rear wheel drive tractor? That always seemed to be a problem by the few folks that had front blowers on the older farm tractors back in the day. Could do fluid and wheel weights, but with that long driveshaft out the back it would even be tough to add a rear weight box.

Paul

My driveway is 12 hundred foot long with a gradual incline. The tractor has tire chains and the tires are not loaded. It does okay as far as traction, never had her stuck. Once in awhile I wish the tires were loaded when the driveway was icy. But that's rarely an issue.
Never backed into anything other than maybe an occasional snow bank.
Love the fact that the tractor is gas and she starts very well under cold temps. She has an engine preheated but I've never had to use it. I use the 3 pt lift arms when installing it and to remove it, I simply pull the pins, unhook the lift chain, remove and hang the chute cylinder on the front lift bracket and back the tractor out from the unit. I remove the chains and stretch them out over the blower chassis. I use the tractor to bale hay during the summer. Thanks for reading, Terry

 

[champ7ac123]

Another photo

 

[paul]

My driveway is 12 hundred foot long with a gradual incline. The tractor has tire chains and the tires are not loaded. It does okay as far as traction, never had her stuck. Once in awhile I wish the tires were loaded when the driveway was icy. But that's rarely an issue.
Never backed into anything other than maybe an occasional snow bank.
Love the fact that the tractor is gas and she starts very well under cold temps. She has an engine preheated but I've never had to use it. I use the 3 pt lift arms when installing it and to remove it, I simply pull the pins, unhook the lift chain, remove and hang the chute cylinder on the front lift bracket and back the tractor out from the unit. I remove the chains and stretch them out over the blower chassis. I use the tractor to bale hay during the summer. Thanks for reading, Terry

That is a neat pic, the tractor looks a little angry and wanting to eat and shred something. Kind of how I feel about winter some years.

Paul