Home / Guides / Implements & Attachments
Implements & AttachmentsSnow Blower Attachments
A PTO snow blower handles deep drifts and long lanes that a plow would only push around. It also has rotating parts that demand a firm routine for clearing clogs.
Key points
- A PTO blower throws snow away, where a plow only pushes it.
- Match PTO speed and power to the manual for your tractor and blower.
- Shut off the PTO and engine before clearing any clog.
- Keep spare shear bolts of the correct type and never substitute stronger ones.
How does a tractor snow blower work?
A tractor snow blower is a PTO-driven attachment, usually on the three-point hitch or on a front mount. An auger gathers the snow and feeds it into a fan or impeller that throws it out through an adjustable chute.
Many farm models use a two-stage design, with an auger that breaks and feeds snow and a separate impeller that throws it. Check which type you are looking at and what the maker says about it.
When does a blower beat a plow?
A plow pushes snow aside and needs a place to put it. A blower throws the snow away from the lane. It is the better tool where deep snow, tall drifts and narrow lanes leave you no room to push.
A rancher with a long lane to a feed barn and tall drifts in a windy area will often prefer a blower. A homestead with a short drive and light snow may get by with a blade. In a wind-prone spot near a hay barn, plan the blower's chute direction before the storm, because drifts often form in the same places year after year.
- Deep drifts and narrow lanes: blower
- Short drives and light snow: blade or bucket
- Wet, heavy snow: both may struggle, so slow down
How do you match the blower to your tractor?
Look at the PTO speed, the PTO power the blower needs and the tractor's lift capacity. Many blowers are designed to work at a certain PTO speed. PTO speeds are commonly 540 and 1000 rpm, and the blower must match the one your tractor uses.
Check how the blower mounts, whether it is a rear unit that requires you to drive in reverse or a front unit that mounts with an adapter, and ask the dealer about the setup for your tractor. If you are buying used, look closely at the auger flighting, the impeller blades and the gearbox seals, and ask for the manual if it is missing.
How do you control the chute and the cut?
Set the chute so snow is thrown away from the lane, away from buildings and away from people. Wind direction matters. Throwing into a headwind just blows the snow back on you.
Take passes at a moderate depth. Overloading the blower with too deep a bite can stall the PTO or shear a safety bolt. Adjust the skid shoes so the housing sits just above gravel, which keeps stones out of the auger. Keep your speed low enough that the blower throws a clean stream, because a plugged chute is the most common reason people reach into one.
What should you do about clogs and safety?
Never put your hand or a tool into the chute or the auger housing while the engine is running or the PTO is engaged. Many serious injuries come from trying to clear wet snow from a running machine. Shut off the PTO, shut off the engine, take the key and wait for all motion to stop before you clear it.
Use a stick or the clearing tool the manufacturer provides, and read the manual's instructions for clogs. Keep shields in place, never disable a safety device, and keep children and bystanders far away from the machine and from the thrown snow.
How do you maintain a snow blower between storms?
Grease the fittings the manual calls out, check the gearbox oil level, and inspect shear bolts and the PTO shaft. Keep a few spare shear bolts of the exact type the manufacturer specifies in the tractor toolbox. Do not substitute stronger bolts.
At the end of the season, clean off salt, touch up bare steel and store the blower on its stand. Dry storage keeps the housing from rusting and the chute from freezing.
Sources and further reading
Organization homepages are linked so you can search them for current guidance on this topic.