Buying lawn tractor/snow blower

16 years ago

Hello, I am just new to this forum and have been reading a lot of the postings and found it to be quite informative. So see if you can help me. I have about 3 to 4 acres of mowing and probably 500 to 750 feet of driveway, not including an area in front of storage shed,,,,,anyway I have been reading a lot of different lawn tractors to buy but I have seen several repeats of getting a separate walk behind blower for the snow,,,,,any particular reason for this???? Thanks!!!!

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Comments (10)

johndeere
16 years ago
Keeps the Lawn tractor snug as a bug in a warm shed all winter.Less ware and tare and no need to put on chains and weights and switch the mower deck for the snow blower.Tractor stays dry and its engine is desighned for warm weather and a self propelled blower engine is desighned for cold weather.Thats just a few reasons also cost is about the same probably less and takes up less or atleast no more shed space.Not to mention you just might get the Lawn tractor stuck.That will not happen with a snow blower.Sitting on a tractor is COLD.Walking behing a self propeled snow blower gets the blood flowing you stay warmer.
dynamike59
16 years ago
Well put JD.
Let us not forget changing the oil to a lower weight or running synthetic.
These guys claiming a 10 min crossover are blowing smoke.
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Hi Bill, Thanks for your advice. Looking at yout post, you have a 50ft by maybe 30 feet, (10 feet per car) area to clear. So that is about 1,500 square feet. You are looking at about 20 - 30 mins. What is your typical snow depth there? If I have 400 feet by 10. I have maybe 4000 sq feet. So Am I therefore looking at over an hour at a minium. In which case maybe a snow blower is not a way to go. I guess my problem is I am just not sure how long it will take me. Anything under an hour would probablly be managable. Anything over is probablly not going to work. Is there a formula to work out given roughtly X square feet to clear and a snow depth of y inches how long it will take? The Honda claims 71 tons per hour. And I read somewhere that snow weighed like 1 lbs per sq foot inch. So If I get an average 4 inch snow fall, it would take me: 4000 * 4 * 1 / (2000 * 71) = 0.1127 of an hour or about 7 minites. Clearly this incorrect. So what is a better formula? Thanks for your kind help, Mike.
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grandm1, True, the only blade that will allow manual angling from the cab is the 48", part BM19415. It is not designed specifically for the GT235, it will fit just about every late model Deere garden tractor through GX series. But you need to note that while the blade that fits the GT series will also fit the older 240/325 series, the blade that was made specifically for the 240/325 and family (BM18130)will NOT fit the GT series due to clearance issues on the GT undercarriage. Here are some pictures to clear things up. First, I must mention that the really big difference between the 42/44" and 48" blades are the 42" just mounts to the front frame of the tractor, then has two braces which attach to the mid-frame to provide additional support. It pivots on the front frame mount. The braces are just there to prevent the front tractor frame from bending. The 48" blade has its own frame, like a snowblower. It mounts to the same point mid frame, and unlike the 42", it pivots on those mid-frame mounts. This is certainly a more rugged design, and the blade is less likely to ride up on ice due to the pivot being further back. To use the 48 blade, you need to get the front lift kit for the GT series, which uses the front section of the tractor's frame to mount a jackshaft which will lift the front part of the 48" blade's frame via a tie-rod clamped to the deck lift handle. This is the same lift setup used with the 42" snowblower. This is the front lift kit: (you will not need parts 1,2,3, your tractor already has that D-hole incorporated in the frame. Hopefully I haven't confused you. Now that I've shed light on the two bracing systems: if you find a 48" blade for sale online (used), and it has a straight frame, it is made for the 240/265/325 tractors. It will not work with your GT tractor. See pic: You need this frame: This frame (the bent one) will work with any of the tractors. The two holes in the back near the J-hooks are for the 240/265/325 tractors. The GT series use the front holes (as shown) with the front lift kit). All these diagrams are on the JD parts catalog, linked below. Go to "Equipment Search" and type in "Blade" then scroll down to the 42, 44, 46, 48 front blade and click on "sectional index" to see the breakdowns. Do you have a foot or hand lift? If you have a hand lift, that other blade I mentioned will work with the right mounting parts. I mounted my GT's 42" blade to my old 111H before I found one online specifically for it which included the braces and rear frame weights (for $50). The 42 inchers are all compatible, like I said, you just need to buy the proper braces and mounting hardware. You'll still need to buy the blade angle kit from Deere. That's something like $180 new. You might find a 48 blade for sale which has it mounted, but it's unlikely. I've been looking for one for my Dad for about a year and only saw one, which went for the retail price when you count shipping. If you have any more questions, ask. I've spent quite a bit of time researching compatibility of the GT series, and it's paid off, having found a like-new 42" blade for my GT225 for $100, and a pair of new-in-box 42" snowblowers for both my GT225 and my GT262 for a total of $300 (plus $50 in gas to have my brother pick them up). In both cases, the sellers didn't think they'd fit my tractors. In both cases, they did. Here is a link that might be useful: jd parts
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reply by theodocus struck me as coming from the desk of the ad agency of MTD. No mention of the actual operation that involves rolling over uneven terrain and jarring action from bumps and uneven spots and the fragile fabricated axles that bend and crack easily. Oh, there is also the bushings used in place of ball bearings: bushing use requires higher horsepower to move the newer units. The Deere has points and condenser; cost $5.00 and 9.00 respectively and the sears is a solid state igntion. Newer technology is wonderful as long as it is coupled with quality assemblage in a product. I have a 1968 Sears GARDEN tractor with a 12HP Tecumseh Heavy duty cast iron engine with ball bearings and cut with a 42 inch deck and also have a 1976 John Deere GARDEN tractor with a cast iron 10 HP engine with ball bearings and cut with a 42" deck and use both alternately for mowing two acres and for tilling and moving earth, etc.. Each has cast iron axles and mutli-speed hi-lo transmissions and EACH is used for plowing, snowblowing, tilling earth, hauling 1100 lb loads in attached large carts. EACH will run circles around the new 20 plus HP light LAWN tractors made today. Spend 5,000.00 and you will have a comparable heavy duty GARDEN tractor. By the way, good luck on getting even 10 years of use with the new wonders.
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khwils
16 years ago
This is my second winter with my property of 5 acres with well over 1000 ft of drive and lane. The first year I only had a medium walk behind blower, probably a 22" would be my guess. Pros - It has an electric start and runs good. Always ready for winter. It really did a fine job and like JD says you can't get it stuck. Cons - It took quite a bit of time to clear my drives but I was undersized, I should of had at least a 36 or 40 inch blower. It's still cold especially when you have to blow into the wind. An enclosure would help this also. I don't think it's a bad option. That being said I bought a blower for my JD 317 mower this year. Pros - blows much faster speed wise, walk behinds aren't very fast. My time was probably cut down to 1/4 the time. Cons - Switchover required in the fall and Spring. It's still cold but I bought an Enclosure that I haven't used yet.

Now, truth be told I like my mower setup and I agree with JD and dynamike. 1. Wear and tear on the mower - but I bought my mower to use. 2. Setup - like JD said weights, chains, mower deck to blower, and in my case enclosure. Like dynamike said - 10 min crossover is blowing smoke. But again, I don't mind working on my setup for a couple of evenings. 3. JD says the tractor stays dry in the shed - boy he's got that right! Your tractor is going to get WET! The snowblower does too but that's not a big deal. 4. Engines designed for warm and cold weather, I wasn't aware of that so I can't comment on that, I thought you just used different oil. I like synthetic but again personal choice. 5. Cost and space - again like JD said they're about the same. In my case I bought the JD blower and enclosure for about $250 each on Ebay. These guys make a lot of great points but I guess the way I see it it's just personal choice. I believe I could get a larger walk-behind with an enclosure with multiple speeds that would do just about as good of a job. That would add another engine to maintain in your stable. Kurt
johndeere
16 years ago
Yes a self propelled snow blower engine is desighned for winter.Things like no air filter to worry about getting wet or plugged with snow.Heat shields to keep the carb warm.No long throttle and choke cables to worry about freezing.

I have a Simplicity 32'' 11hp Commercial and it is a 5 speed forward I blow often in 4rth gear anything lower is for deep drifts and turning it around.It is a snow blowing animal.It makes quick work of my long lane and circle drive.I alway wish I had more snow to blow.Unless its very cold and windy and then maybe.
eal51
16 years ago
Well I'm going to disagree with the posters.

I have a 42" blower on my Simplicity Conquest. It allows me to do my 1100 foot driveway in under 45 minutes.

I also have a 26 inch/ 8 HP Toro walk behind blower. It's a great machine but it can take up to 2 hours to do the drive.

Now it does take me about an hour to remove the mower deck and put on the blower without any help. But I don't mind the time. I find it worth it.

Since I'm not a mechanic, I can't address the engine comment of made for warm weather and not cold. My dealer said the tractor is built for all weather conditions. Yes, I change the oil for winter and change it back for the mowing season.

This is my third year blowing with the tractor and I have had no problems.

Enjoy the journey.

eal51 in western CT
tomhoffman
16 years ago
In the 90's I had a similar property. 1/4 acres parking area, 700+ foot gravel raised lane. I had for several years fought blowing snow huge drifts with a 72' wheelhorse and snow blower, it did the job well. Very heavy duty machine. 98' rolled around and we had the worst winter storms that I had ever seen. The snow was so hard that the Wheelhorse would not cut. It would drive up on the drifts. I bought a used Bobcat 92'($10,000) with 2020 hours on it and that was the answer. Over the past 9 years, I have used it a total of approximately 450 hours. (Rental for that would be $60 per hour) I just sold the Bobcat this winter for $10,000 including my trailer ($1500) My point is that my cost to own that was $3.33 per hour. At the time I bought it, I had not calculated it that way. I just needed it in anticipation of building some homes and doing landscaping. Best equipment purchase I ever made.
dan280lxaws
16 years ago
I was taking a hint by your name and I too was looking for a new tractor leading to retirement. I cannot actually respond to the size of your property as mine is much smaller but maybe can relate how I felt about a purchase going into retirement. I had had approximately 13 years of completely trouble free use of a John Deere RX-73 which had a Kawi engine in it so fell in love with John Deere. I told the wife I would like a new tractor (while money wasn't an issue) to be ready for retirement. I also thought there might be the possibility of mowing a few other lawns (hasn't happend yet) during retirement so it would be nice to buy a tractor capable of the task and comfort was of great concern. My property is not large so maneuverability was a big concern when buying a much larger tractor then I had been using. I ultimately picked a John Deere LX 280aws (don't think I didn't feel guilty at spending the price it was and tried to have my wife talk me out of it) my wife didn't talk me out of just the opposite. She knew that I was thinking that this would be the last tractor I would ever buy and said why not get what you want on top of that she said how come you aren't including a snow blower. Well of course I bought it tractor,JD single stage snowblower,weights and chains. I have never been so happy with a purchase (albiet price) the price thing only stuck with me a short while.
I am not suggesting that you get what I got but that you won't likely regret buying the best you can going into retirement. As far as using the tractor for snowblowing it's a blast and you can't beat a ride that makes you wish there were more reasons to stay on your tractor. I could say more on certain conviences of AWS but believe I have made my point. Have fun and enjoy.

Dan
tomhoffman
16 years ago
Dan, I have to agree with you price should be a secondary consideration, unless money is really an issue. Just as my post above stated. If you buy good quality. It is most always inexpensive to own.

In 1999 I started shopping for a ZTR and looked at and drove 20 on my own property before buying a Commercial ZTR. We are moving so I sold my BobCat, but I have bought a Snow Blower for my ZTR. After 9 years with it I only have 220 hours on it and it is a good as new. It gets serviced by my dealer every fall and he stores it through the winter next year, I will keep it to blow snow. Scroll down to see the Snow Blower attachment. Page also shows other attachments.

Have a good one...

Here is a link that might be useful: This is what I have...
soontoretire
Original Author
16 years ago
In regards to the snowblower attachment on these lawn tractors. I have been told throughout the years when buying a snowblower you should get a dual stage blower. I have found that on some of the JD's they are single stage only,,,,,does anyone have thoughts on this???
Thanks,
Bill
niceshotscott
16 years ago
I use my JD 318 to do all chores ........mowing, blowing and tilling. When making a major piece of equitment purchase I consider all that I need to do plus what it can do(like make my life easier!) and how much of MY time can I save!! Takes me 30 minutes to go from mow to blow same the other way. I can blow a 20x80 drive in 15 minutes and cut 2 acres in 50 minutes. Brings me to the main question here how much is YOUR time worth. JMO

Buying lawn tractor/snow blower

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Buying lawn tractor/snow blower

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