I can see a number of reasons why I wouldn't want to have a 3ph blower on an x7xx machine, including, but not limited to
1. The cost to upgrade the 3ph and add the PTO. If one has to pay to have these done to an existing machine, you are talking $2k.......BM23588 PTO kit is $999.38. Rear 3ph is $600, the labor to install is 5 hours or more, bringing the total to $2k. At that point, you really need to ask is it worth putting the money into the rear set up or just trade up to a 1 series?
2. The blower would be awful close to the operator due to the machine design. Wearing snow from a front mounted blower is unpleasant enough. Sure don't need to reduce the distance between the operator and blower to 1/3rd of a front mounted blower.
3. Visibility with the blowing snow with the blower right behind you is going to be a challenge for sure.
4. The weight of the snow blower is going to be right at 95% or more of the 3ph capacity. Its always a poor idea to start at the machines capacity as you have no margin for "error".
5. Personally, I dislike the idea of a 3ph blower on ANY machine, and especially on an x7xx series machine. I don't like to work with my neck swiveled like that and without a cab, a back up monitor is out of the question.
6. The 3ph snow blowers are usually 50" wide or more, a 50" Nor Trac model, which is not a real heavy duty blower weighs 485 pounds and costs $2,200 plus tax.
7. How are you going to adjust the rear discharge chute? Add a pair of rear hydraulics on an x7xx machine? It can be done, but not without a lot of "customization" using hydraulic components. The cost would be high. How about a manual crank? Not sitting that close to the blower, without spinning on the seat.
How do you control the rear chute rotation? I suppose you could route some hoses to the 4 ports where the front attachments connect and then use the levers next to the steering wheel to control the chute rotation. Again, custom modifications to make the rear blower work.........
8. Yes, the front hitch and implements are expensive, but they hold their value very well. I have personally sold the front implements and hitch assemblies for 85% of new, even when several years old. Now, what's a rear 3ph snow blower small enough to fit the x7xx going to be worth after the time and money to make it a rear blower on your machine? Much smaller market for rear 3ph snowblowers for garden tractors than there is for front mounted ones............
9. If you spend the money for the front Quick Tach hitch to run the blade or blower, you can also custom mount things like leaf wheel blowers, etc. to use on the hitch, which are very handy. I have used leaf blowers both out front and on the 3ph and I will take out front all day long..........Using wheel blowers for leafs is like herding cats and herding cats behind your back is even less fun..........It's very handy to be able to mount other tools and implements to the front Quick Tach hitch and be able to lift them and angle them during their use. You can't use the angle feature on the rear 3ph.
10. What are the other uses for the rear 3ph and PTO you foresee on your machine? When it comes down to it, if you are going to use the 3ph and rear PTO, the 1 series is a much better value than the x7xx. Plus, you can get a FEL on the 1 series and can't on the x7xx. The FEL is probably the most valuable implement on a SCUT.......and they can't be added to the x7xx. You can get a "Jimmy Bucket" or something like that, but that's a real stretch to compare to a FEL on a 1 series.
There are 10 reasons which come to mind on why the 3ph blower on an x7xx is not something I would spend money on...........I bet if I thought about it, I could think of several more reasons why not to do this.............but hey, if its what you want to do, go for it.
We have people who do "unique things" here on GTT all of the time which others insist ;
-won't work
- are a poor use of money
- or are just not a good idea.
We even have one guy who plows with a snow plow blade that is 87" wide on a 2wd garden tractor and now a 1 series, and many many people advised against it and were sure it wouldn't work and the machine couldn't and would never handle it. But it has handled it just fine and works well for my needs. Its not something I would recommend for most others, but for me, its ideal.
So if YOU want a rear 3ph snow blower on a x7xx machine and feel its best for your needs, go for it, just plan to deal with the challenges and costs identified in this thread................Some times, you just need to go against the grain............just do so with your eyes open.
If you do put a 3ph snowblower on an x7xx machine, make sure to create a thread and post about it, so everyone can learn from it.............Happy Holidays.......
