tractor for snowblowing

jeff vanderhorst · Sep 27, 2007

hi. im interested in getting a tractor that will accomodate a six foot snowblower . i guess i might have got the cart before the horse but i found a great deal on a smyth snowblower at the local tsc store that they had recieved by mistake. i intend to use it at my place on lake superior so it has to handle a fairly good sized load. they get it a foot at a time up there. anyway i was wondering if a ford 8n would do the job. the snowblower manual says it requires between 25 and 50 horse. its a two stage blower. thanks for any advice. jeff v

Anonymous-0 · Sep 27, 2007

An 8N Ford would be real close to useless on a 6ft blower. First, it doesn't have live PTO so, if you hit a spot where the engine can't handle itand you push the clutch down, the blower will be plugged. Second, it just doesn't have enough power to run it. I own an 8N, great little tractor but just not enough power for that job. I have a 60hp tractor on my 6ft snowblower and, when we get over a ft of wind blown snow in between the buildings, I wish it was bigger.

Bob N.Y. · Sep 27, 2007

I agree completely with what Ken said about an 8N and a snowblower. I use a 80 inch snowblower with a late Massey Ferguson 65 diesel (50 hp). I would suggest at least a 45 hp tractor WITH live pto and live hydraulics.

Anonymous-0 · Sep 27, 2007

We use 170 allis on a 6'two stage here in central Ky. The hand clutch is better for old knees. Cold snow is easy but down here two hrs of sun the snow turns to slush,now thats heavy! Only use it every 5yrs or so but thats more than enough!

jason, NW Ontario · Sep 27, 2007

What side of Superior are you on?

Michael Soldan · Sep 27, 2007

Jeff, it sounds like you got a good blower, Smyth is a respected name. I blow snow with a Lucknow two stage blower, six footer and I use a 52 horse 584 International..it makes it work ..I think like others that the Ford 8N is a great little tractor but you wouldn't be happy without live power or enough power.

RayP(MI) · Sep 27, 2007

Needs live PTO, Very slow reverse speed, hydrostatic would be ideal, and far more hp than your 8N has!

jeff vanderhorst · Sep 27, 2007

u.s. near baraga. but ive thought about relocating!

jeff vanderhorst · Sep 27, 2007

hey thanks for the input. if you didnt figure it out by my original question im a novice when it comes to tractors. so i take it that i would be better off with "live pto" and hydrostatic and a minimum of 50 hp. any suggestions come to mind that wont break the bank?? jeff

Mathias NY · Sep 27, 2007

I think it depends on how much snow 'normal' is. Here in Rochester, NY clearing 1' of snow is not unusual but 2' of heavy stuff is pretty uncommon. As such you don't need 50hp for a 6' rear mounted blower. We have been using a 6' John Deere blower on the back of a John Deere 900HC, which is only 23hp, for 15 years now without issue. My boss has been using a 6' Loftness (sp?) snowblower on the back of his Kubota L2640 (also 23hp) for about 10 years without issue.

Slow reverse is a must, live 3pt hitch is also a must, live or 2stage clutch is also a very good idea. Hydrostatic would be ideal, but may be expensive and may not ideal for some of the other work you will want the tractor for.

Anonymous-0 · Sep 27, 2007

We had a 3 point FRONT FACING single stage blower on our 8N. In light snow I would just drive ahead and it would blow good. In heavy drifts I would back in until spinning,then go ahead dragging and blowing it out.No problem, no chains either.Once I had a single lane track I would drive ahead back and forth blowing it wider. And I was only 14 years old.

paul · Sep 27, 2007

As mentioned, you _really_ need live pto for a snow blower, & a slow reverse speed.

I'm here in southern MN, I run a 7 foot 2-stage blower in our (sometimes) deep drifts with a 27 hp tractor with 3 reverse speeds & live pto. Works well. HP is not the problem; no live pto, & way too fast a reverse gear is a problem - the N series does not make a blower tractor.

--->Paul

buickanddeere · Sep 27, 2007

George Smyth makes a fine snowblower.
If the tractor doesn't have live pto and a very,very,very slow reverse gear. You will grow to hate both the tractor and blower.
A hydraulic hood rotator is much handier & safer.

Tradititonal Farmer · Sep 28, 2007

If you try it with a 8N please video and post on
You Tube it should a killer.

Anonymous-0 · Sep 28, 2007

I've got two 6 foot John Deere 240 snowblowers that I use on several small tractors. We get many snowstorms with over two feet, and sometimes more. Last year, with drifts, we had several mornings with five feet of snow on the ground. I own some land up in northern New York that got 12 feet of actual snowfall in one week last year - all lake-affect from Lake Ontario. Some of the drifts were close to 20 feet.

As others as have already said - the 8N would be just about useless. Unless it has the optional Sherman aux. underdrive, it's too fast. Also, even if it has the Sherman, the lack of power steering and live PTO would make it miserable.

I've used the 6' blowers on my little IH B-275 tractors and they do fine. I've cut into 6 foot snow banks - i.e. a full load and had enough power. 32 live PTO horsepower and a very low, low-range. But, using a blower on my Deere 1020 is much easier since it has power-steering. When you're driving around mosty backwards with your neck twisted in a knot, being able to steer with one hand via power-steering is a big plus.

By the way, what's a good deal? 6 foot three-point snowblowers around here - in good shape - often sell for around $250.

Here are some photos (I've posted before) of one of my B-275s blowing snow here and also some of my house-roofs lower than the snow. We had to dig a few tunnels to let light into some lower windows. Also - the last photos are some deep-snow photos near my property up in Northen NY near Oswego and Mexico.

I've been up to your area many winters - my wife is from the UP. Seems things must be a lot easier by you since you don't have the steep hills all over. We've been thinking of moving up your way, since it's getting a little crowded around here for my taste.

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