snowblower horse power question

[welderman85 53]

I just have a quick question. What is a good horse power number on a hydro tractor to run a single stage blower.thank you

[boovuc 1,090]

A 12 HP and up is perfect for single stage blowers. I know many here use their 8's and 10's but with a hydro which requires more HP than the manuals, I would stick to a 12 minimum.

[Tim 97]

used one on a 12 hp charger

worked well

never tried on anything smaller

[dbartlett1958 99]

My 416-H is a blast to use with a blower on it. Plenty of power for the single stage.

[CasualObserver 3,411]

I don't think I'd want to go any smaller than 10-12 for sure.  If you look at most walk behind models.. most of them have historically run 5-8 HP on 24-27" models. 

 

As was mentioned, the hydro trans takes some of your available power... up to 4 HP if I remember correctly.  That would leave around 6 HP to run the snow thrower on a 10HP tractor... on which your probably going to be running 36" thrower, and at 6 HP, I wouldn't take a full bite..., probably more like 24-30".  Of course all of this depends on the snow too.... if you get really light fluffy stuff, 6 HP will just launch it out of the way.... but if you get really heavy wet snow, you're probably going to want more power.

[SousaKerry 503]

I run 17 but I do have advanced T.A.S. (Tim Allen Syndrome)

 

[Kelly 1,033]

Well unless your running a older tractor, pre 74 machine the smallest hydro tractor out there is a 12hp, I have used a worn out 14hp with a blower and it did fine, my 520's have power to spare. 

[Forest Road 594]

10hp Kohlers run single stage blowers quite nicely. Wouldn't advice going any smaller.

[RMCIII 838]

Went from a 12hp to 18hp. < That was only because I could. The 12hp with 36" single did just fine.

[WH nut 553]

I would say it all depends on what you intend to use the tractor for other than blowing snow, and if you have other tractors. If this is going to be your only one I would say 12hp and up. And if you have to go out and buy one, get what you can find and afford. Like anything else you can adapt to any situation with what you have.

[pfrederi 18,698]

12HP Charger handles a blower just fine.

 

   
  

 

I have a blower for my L107, that didn't work out very well.  The 3 speed tranny will not go slow enough to handle the first pass.  6hp just isn't enough

[Gracie's Dad 155]

I ran a 42" single stage on my c-105 last winter(record setting snowfall-here) w/o issue, but this year the short chute is going on the 312-8 and off to mom's. The single stage tall chute is going on the 416-8 and the c-105 can have the 48" plow.