Decreasing Down Pressure 3 Point

[fikey]

I own a front facing 3 point snow blower. It weighs just over 1000 pounds. Because of the weight, it digs into the gravel driveway and strips a ton of gravel until (or if) the driveway freezes. I mounted gauge wheels on the back and had and angle blade (a 45 degree angle cut on the front) which helps but doesn't eliminate the problem. My buddy has one on the front and ordered a ground pressure control kit that can be adjusted to reduce the "down pressure" the blower exerts. He found this kit that our local dealer didn't even knew existed. I was wondering if there is anything Kubota makes to do the same (reduce the downward pressure) of an implement on the rear. ?? Thanks.

 

[91diesel]

hmm most people (me included) would in general like to 'increase' down pressure on the 3 pt! I believe that the only down pressure on a 3pt hitch is the weight of the implement, so I don't know how you'd reduce that. I use my hydraulic top link (useful even on the snowblower!) to adjust the angle of 'bite' of the blower bottom. Mine also has skids that you can adjust the height of the blower with (The skids would run on the driveway surface and the blower bottom would be an inch or more above), would either of these options work for what you want?
If I understand your post, you have a 3pt hitch mounted 'drag behind' snowblower? I have a 3pt hitch blower that I have to drive the tractor backwards to use. I still think adjusting the top link to rotate the 'biting' edge up from the surface could be accomplished on a drag behind blower, but I've never used one.

 

[jyoutz]

IDK what you cad do for the front blade, but the solution for the rear blade is simple: reverse the blade so the cutting edge is facing the rear and float the blade when snow plowing. It will skim off the snow without disturbing the gravel roadbed.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I own a front facing 3 point snow blower. It weighs just over 1000 pounds. Because of the weight, it digs into the gravel driveway and strips a ton of gravel until (or if) the driveway freezes. I mounted gauge wheels on the back and had and angle blade (a 45 degree angle cut on the front) which helps but doesn't eliminate the problem. My buddy has one on the front and ordered a ground pressure control kit that can be adjusted to reduce the "down pressure" the blower exerts. He found this kit that our local dealer didn't even knew existed. I was wondering if there is anything Kubota makes to do the same (reduce the downward pressure) of an implement on the rear. ?? Thanks.

Your question does not add up???

Your taking about a front mounted snow blower which is not a three point hitch.
A three point hitch is in the rear and it does not have down pressure.

You can float a front mounted implement by putting the valve into float, no need to add any valve or anything else.

 

[skeets]

OK something you might think about on your FRONT MOUNTED SNOW BLOWER, take a piece of 1 or 1 1/2 pvc split it long ways and push that over the cutting blade, it will help to keep it from digging in, and putting the FEL in to the float detent helps a lot. Also I dont know who might have told you about down pressure on the 3 point, but the only down pressure is from the weight of what you have mounted on the 3 point. Not talking down to you, just want to make sure you understand there is no down pressure on the 3 point

 

[Mrlunchbox]

I own a front facing 3 point snow blower. It weighs just over 1000 pounds. Because of the weight, it digs into the gravel driveway and strips a ton of gravel until (or if) the driveway freezes. I mounted gauge wheels on the back and had and angle blade (a 45 degree angle cut on the front) which helps but doesn't eliminate the problem. My buddy has one on the front and ordered a ground pressure control kit that can be adjusted to reduce the "down pressure" the blower exerts. He found this kit that our local dealer didn't even knew existed. I was wondering if there is anything Kubota makes to do the same (reduce the downward pressure) of an implement on the rear. ?? Thanks.

Do you mean a 3pt blower that you don't have to back up to use? In other words you drive over the snow to blow it?

 

[TheOldHokie]

I own a front facing 3 point snow blower. It weighs just over 1000 pounds. Because of the weight, it digs into the gravel driveway and strips a ton of gravel until (or if) the driveway freezes. I mounted gauge wheels on the back and had and angle blade (a 45 degree angle cut on the front) which helps but doesn't eliminate the problem. My buddy has one on the front and ordered a ground pressure control kit that can be adjusted to reduce the "down pressure" the blower exerts. He found this kit that our local dealer didn't even knew existed. I was wondering if there is anything Kubota makes to do the same (reduce the downward pressure) of an implement on the rear. ?? Thanks.

Raise the 3pt arms slightly.

Dan

 

[chim]

Took it to be a pull type rear blower.

I'd think a couple skis could be fabbed

 

[RCW]

Sounds like he has a 3PH blower with the front-facing design.

Drive it forward. Not common but I recall @Dave_eng has one on his M-series tractor and swears by it.

Seems like @Dave_eng designed and built pretty neat hydraulic (?) guide wheels for his but was a while ago.

Absent something like that I would just pull up the 3PH just a whisker like others mentioned. Depending on the tractor position control of the 3PH could be beneficial.

A quick set of shoes/skids like @chim suggested could also be the ticket.

 

[RCW]

Sounds like he has a 3PH blower with the front-facing design.

Drive it forward. Not common but I recall @Dave_eng has one on his M-series tractor and swears by it.

Seems like @Dave_eng designed and built pretty neat hydraulic (?) guide wheels for his but was a while ago.

Absent something like that I would just pull up the 3PH just a whisker like others mentioned. Depending on the tractor position control of the 3PH could be beneficial.

A quick set of shoes/skids like @chim suggested could also be the ticket.

Just an afterthought- don’t know what tractor you’re using, but a REALLY LONG top link might help.

My only concern here would be possible binding of the PTO shaft to the blower.

I’d really like to see a couple pictures of the tractor and snowblower connected.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

AWWWWWWW Read and answered on the fly this morning.
Now rereading it makes a lot more sense!
You're just up the road from me and yea we are having the warm ground then snow and then its not getting cold enough to freeze the ground.
You need to raise the blower off the ground and keep it off the ground, there is nothing that will automatically do this for you.

 

[fikey]

OK, let me clarify. It is a front facing 3 pt. snowblower. Yes, you drive over the snow first. Instead of "down pressure" I should have said weight. I have fabricated two gauge wheels on the back and change the cutting blade to one with a 45 degree angle to try and avoid the gravel. The weight (over 1000 pounds) is too great on soft ground and still digs in. If it was a front mount, they make a "down pressure control kit" that you can incorporate into the hydraulics to effectively reduce the amount of weight (pressure) on the ground. This, along with either skids, shoes, gauge wheels or angling the blower, will allow it to float over the softer ground. I am trying to do the same with the rear. I know, as some suggested, I can raise the 3 pt. hitch. Unfortunately that leaves more snow then I want, especially as the tractor goes up and down varying grades in the driveway.

 

[Bearcatrp]

I went through this with my snow pusher and soft gravel driveway. Tried raising the skies but not luck. To much weight. Still digs in. Until your driveway freezes solid, not much you can do. My $1400 pusher sits in the garage. I use my 3 point rear blade turned backwards and adjusted appropriately to do my driveway and my neighbors. My issue is thin skies. Was trying to find someone to make wider skies to help keeping it from sinking in. Landpride doesn’t make wider skies. Mine are bottom mounted. Trying to sell it now as the blade is working pretty good. Can you mount wider skies on that blower? Might help.

 

[chim]

I'd fab a pair of wider skis and try them.

 

[NCL4701]

OK, let me clarify. It is a front facing 3 pt. snowblower. Yes, you drive over the snow first. Instead of "down pressure" I should have said weight. I have fabricated two gauge wheels on the back and change the cutting blade to one with a 45 degree angle to try and avoid the gravel. The weight (over 1000 pounds) is too great on soft ground and still digs in. If it was a front mount, they make a "down pressure control kit" that you can incorporate into the hydraulics to effectively reduce the amount of weight (pressure) on the ground. This, along with either skids, shoes, gauge wheels or angling the blower, will allow it to float over the softer ground. I am trying to do the same with the rear. I know, as some suggested, I can raise the 3 pt. hitch. Unfortunately that leaves more snow then I want, especially as the tractor goes up and down varying grades in the driveway.

3 point implements that need to float in relation to the tractor, yet be fixed in relation to the ground, use skis or gauge wheels. That’s true not just for snow blowers, it’s also true for moldboard plows, landscape rakes, mowing decks, etc. That is the “normal” tractor world answer to your issue.

If the skis / gauge wheels are ineffective due to sinking into soft ground, you need to increase the footprint of the skis / wheels to reduce the pounds per square inch the implement is putting on the ground. You need bigger skis / gauge wheels.

Other option is, as others have suggested, use a backblade turned backward until the ground is frozen enough your blower doesn’t sink into the ground.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

I assume your tractor doesn't have 'draft control' or whatever K calls it ?

 

[fikey]

I went through this with my snow pusher and soft gravel driveway. Tried raising the skies but not luck. To much weight. Still digs in. Until your driveway freezes solid, not much you can do. My $1400 pusher sits in the garage. I use my 3 point rear blade turned backwards and adjusted appropriately to do my driveway and my neighbors. My issue is thin skies. Was trying to find someone to make wider skies to help keeping it from sinking in. Landpride doesn’t make wider skies. Mine are bottom mounted. Trying to sell it now as the blade is working pretty good. Can you mount wider skies on that blower? Might help.

Mine doesn't have skis at all. Not built that way.

 

[Bearcatrp]

Can you post pics? Seems weird not to have some kind of skis due to wear.

 

[chim]

Mine doesn't have skis at all. Not built that way.

If you have some skills, tools and ambition someone here can help figure out how to add some. Many here have built entire implements and cabs. A couple skis should be doable.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

hmm, would like to know make/model of snowblowers that do NOT have 'skis'. I've never seen any.. rather curious as to HOW they don't dig into the ground.