would a 5hp be enough

[JJFox 0]

If I put a 5hp motor on the old wheel horse, will it have enough to push snow?  or how small  could i get by with?

anyone ever tried something smaller than a 10 or 12 hp?

Edited July 13, 2015 by JJFox

[CasualObserver 3,410]

There were several models that were 4 and 5 HP, and they could all push a blade.  Mostly it depends on the Wheel Horse you're talking about. If you're talking about something hydro, then no.

[rmaynard 16,152]

The other factor is how deep and how wet is the snow? You can push light snow up to about 8" with just about anything. But heavy, wet snow over about 4" is a different story.
 

[squonk 43,226]

As a kid I pushed snow in the Upstate NY snow belt with a 6 HP Tecky. Of course I ruined a few along the way. 

[Lagersolut 733]

When I was a kid Dad had a David Bradly - that's what he made garden with for years and also pushed snow -  think I was about 10 years old when I started clearing snow around the sheds, barns and D-way with  guessing  the 3 hp model.

They would really push the snow .

Edited July 13, 2015 by Lagersolut

[953 nut 59,051]

     Traction and gear ratio are the main considerations in pushing snow, lots of RJs and Suburbans have pushed snow without problems, slow but steady.

[Bach-Ed 170]

I lived in Wisconsin in the 1970s to 1985.  My dad and I pushed a lot of snow with our 702.  We had tire chains, no wheel weights, no filled tires.  We just kept pushing.  Although at the driveway edge we lifted the blade and initally pushed the piles back about six or eight feet.  So there was room for more later on in the season.  That was before global warming.  Currently I live in Illinois and my 857 takes care of my snow plowing.  So I know you're safe with 7HP when you work inteligently.