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Help me not blow this decision for my X748

19736 Views 61 Replies 18 Participants Last post by  rubadub, 
POENY
Well I haven't had my X748 long but the days are getting shorter, the nights longer, and it is not unheard of to have an early season storm throw punches come mid-October (I'm having a hard time believing that is only 5 weeks from now). Anyhow I'm looking for a couple of things to help me with about 200' of driveway, a couple of turn arounds, and an average of 150" of snow a year.

First on the list is a snowblower to stick out front. Options I see so far with some options included are:

- JD 47" Quick-Hitch Snow Blower (1473M) - hydraulic lift & chute rotation, manual deflector adjustment
- JD 54" Quick-Hitch Snow Blower (02C1M) - hydraulic lift & chute rotation, manual deflector adjustment
- Bercomac 48" PTO SnowBlower (700400-1) - hydraulic lift, electric chute rotation and deflector adjustment

There are obvious advantages to going all JD. While it does not appear that there is a price advantage to the Bercomac from what I have read in this forum and others and videos I have seen the Berco may be a better built more solid unit and it really really throws the snow. The JDs include installation but the Berco instructions look so simple I don't consider this an issue.

Adding to the JD / Bercomac controversy is a soft weather enclosure/cab. The JD one like Brett and others have is a little over $1K. It looks nice, has some nice light mounting surfaces, may be a PITA to initially install. The Bercomac is rather bland looking (I have seen silver and black photos and videos, black is better) but has plenty of size to it, looks easy to install and take off, and people say it works well for keeping out the snow and wind (my primary reason for having it).

My wife hates my spreadsheets but I can't help myself so here is what things look to me. I know I could mix things up (JD 47" blower w/ Bercomac cab) but this should give you something to look at.


​

Prices so far are list and include the chute adjustment options I want and tax (I don't want but ...) negotiations have not started yet. I'm interested in thoughts on the snow blower and cab options from above and any others you may have.

My X748 was used and not purchased from my local dealer so I don't think I have as much leverage as if I had handed him a big check for the tractor. What percent do you think I should be able to negotiate off for attachments/accessories only?

Peter
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H
Just my opinion, but if it were me (VERY lucky me!:D) for the difference of one inch in snow blowing for $11... I'd be sticking with the JD 47" unit. If your JD dealer is anywhere near decent at what he does, all parts/service will be available quickly. I've never heard one way or the other about Bercomac handling aftermarket problems, but I have experience with JD.

As I understand it Berco makes JD's blowers (Yes/No experts?) so another reason I'd give up that inch of width. It would take me a heap of convincing to go off brand with my JD because my closest JD dealer is 2 miles and the Berco dealer is way across the river by ½ hour or more. I like all my stuff in one basket.

I have no opinion on cabs because I still like the wind and snowflakes against my plastic teeth...
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B
Have a look at page 21 from JD' s attachments & accessories book. you did not state if you had any other JD accessories.
But if you go with JD then you will have the Quick-Hitch (if you don't have it already) for other attachments that you might want at some point.

http://www.nrmotors.ca/johndeere/brochures/10_mowerattach.pdf

47" Blower 1473M $ 2050.00
54" Blower 02C1M $ 2450.00
QUICH-HITCH BM19782 $ 618.00
PTO KIT Bm 22560 $ 251.00
REMOTE SPOT CAP CONTROL KIT
BM20960 $ 111.00
Dave
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POENY
Bossgobbler - I have that pdf and see the quick-hitch. I see it allows a plow and sweeper (same as Bercomac's does) but I doubt I will be getting either. I hope to be finished plowing snow as I did that for 6 years with my ATV (and loved it) but now need to be able to do things a bit faster when I get a lot of snow and have to clean up a couple of times a day.

Have you seen how the Berco throws the snow? The Lawn & Garden snow blower videos are amazing at http://www.bercomac.com/decouvrezBercomac_videos_ang.php and on YouTube. Nothing of the JD videos I have seen on YouTube for any garden tractor sized JD blowers shows really throwing the snow a distance and putting it out where you don't possibly need to move it again (depending on wind direction, where you want it, and all).

My JD dealer is 10 miles away and the Bercomac dealer is 4 miles so distance is not a factor.
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POENY
HydroHarold - I agree. Price and size are a wash between the two smaller blowers. Thanks for your input!
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rubadub
Heres some pictures from last winter of our 47'' throwing snow. http://www.1969supersport.com/01tractor3.html

Rob
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chemteck29
POENY said:
Well I haven't had my X748 long but the days are getting shorter, the nights longer, and it is not unheard of to have an early season storm throw punches come mid-October (I'm having a hard time believing that is only 5 weeks from now). Anyhow I'm looking for a couple of things to help me with about 200' of driveway, a couple of turn arounds, and an average of 150" of snow a year.

First on the list is a snowblower to stick out front. Options I see so far with some options included are:

- JD 47" Quick-Hitch Snow Blower (1473M) - hydraulic lift & chute rotation, manual deflector adjustment
- JD 54" Quick-Hitch Snow Blower (02C1M) - hydraulic lift & chute rotation, manual deflector adjustment
- Bercomac 48" PTO SnowBlower (700400-1) - hydraulic lift, electric chute rotation and deflector adjustment

There are obvious advantages to going all JD. While it does not appear that there is a price advantage to the Bercomac from what I have read in this forum and others and videos I have seen the Berco may be a better built more solid unit and it really really throws the snow. The JDs include installation but the Berco instructions look so simple I don't consider this an issue.

Adding to the JD / Bercomac controversy is a soft weather enclosure/cab. The JD one like Brett and others have is a little over $1K. It looks nice, has some nice light mounting surfaces, may be a PITA to initially install. The Bercomac is rather bland looking (I have seen silver and black photos and videos, black is better) but has plenty of size to it, looks easy to install and take off, and people say it works well for keeping out the snow and wind (my primary reason for having it).

My wife hates my spreadsheets but I can't help myself so here is what things look to me. I know I could mix things up (JD 47" blower w/ Bercomac cab) but this should give you something to look at.


​

Prices so far are list and include the chute adjustment options I want and tax (I don't want but ...) negotiations have not started yet. I'm interested in thoughts on the snow blower and cab options from above and any others you may have.

My X748 was used and not purchased from my local dealer so I don't think I have as much leverage as if I had handed him a big check for the tractor. What percent do you think I should be able to negotiate off for attachments/accessories only?

Peter
Click to expand...
After reading your post, to me it's pretty simple your first 4 or 5 sentences say it all! 200' of driveway, couple of turn arounds and most importantly an average of 150" of snow a year! Now to me that screams Bercomac, especially with you having a dealer right close. With that much snow, and driveway you darn sure want to do 2 things A) throw the snow as far as possible (as to avoid having to move it again) and B) Put the snow where you want to,...the Berco excels at both of those!

Now that said if u said the Berco dealer was much farther than the Deere, than I'd prolly lean more towards the Deere, but it would have to be much much farther! Berco has been around awhile and yours isn't the first Deere they have put a blower on, so I would think they would have their stuff together as far as form, fit, and function of their equipment to yours. In the end it really need only do what you need it too, throw snow far, fast and accurately,......can the Deere do that like the Berco?

As far as the cab goes, me personally I don't really have an opinion as to which would be better, but I will say this,.. generally speaking if it looks like it's a PITA to do,.....it usually is........!
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rubadub
The Berco videos, whats with the little stream of snow when it first comes out of the chute, kind of tiny in diameter, and also the tractors are barely crawling and they aren't in a lot of snow.

This 47'' two stage from John Deere will throw it 50' and you can get right after it, none of this turtle speed.:trink40:

Rob
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rubadub
Heres a 47'' blower, and he isn't crawling along like the Berco.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CultZCK8X2g&feature=related

Rob
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rubadub
That x728 and 47'' blower we have will flat out get right after that snow, theres no lugging on the blower, with that four wheel she just goes.:fing32:

Rob
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MXZRXP
sure seems like the Bercomac throws the snow better (the JD looks fine BTW great pics) but if a very wide drive/lot, the further the throw the better.

It appears tha the 2nd stage on the Bercomac has a bit higher RPM...

the 1000$ savings is not bad either but the JD cab does look better. If the Bercomac has a better seal I would think that is more important than looks.
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slkpk
http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?t=33054

http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?t=97238

Both enclosures do a fine job and the Original Cab looks better IMO. You can't trailer either one with the cab on. slkpk
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POENY
rubadub - Thanks for the pictures, you have a great looking setup! I have seen the 47" X749 blower video. I forgot about it as it was before I bought my X748. It looked great but was not blowing very deep snow and the owner said he was showing off by driving so fast and engaging the blower after plowing some. Even with this the diesel sounded great the whole time. I'm thinking I would not be blowing at that pace often or I would not have time to enjoy a cigar.:fing32: From what Brett said in his cab thread I'm guessing venting smoke will not be an issue.

Youtube has a JD 316 with a Berco blower. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OL_6y7sDYw0 It is slower than the much larger X749 but that might be expected. It does throw an amazing amount of snow though. Thanks for the PM too.

slkpk - thanks for the links. I have seen those and I think all threads related to cabs (lots of lurking around). I think Bercomac must have changed the fabric to black as their site does not show the silver any more. http://www.bercomac.com/accessories-description-26-tractor-winter-cab.php I like that the frame is galvanized. The third sequence in the video show a tractor/berco blower in what I would guess to be 8" of snow moving at a pace I would consider reasonable.
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UrbanTractor
POENY said:
...

Youtube has a JD 316 with a Berco blower. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OL_6y7sDYw0 It is slower than the much larger X749 but that might be expected. It does throw an amazing amount of snow though....
Click to expand...
Poeny,

I've always thought the JD blowers did a pretty nice job of it, but I have to say the Berco in that video (link above) is VERY impressive.

So, tell me more. Does the Berco come with a Quick-Hitch type mounting arrangement? Or, do they assume you already have Quick-Hitch, and there's is compatible with it? Any issues with how the shaft attaches/connects with the mid-to-front PTO?

Exactly which model Berco would that 48" blower be?
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POENY
UrbanTractor - more info on the unit (700400-1) I'm looking at can be found at http://www.bercomac.com/accessories-8-driveline-snowblower-hydraulic-lift.php?noModeleVehicule=24. The Berco PTO model comes with a quick mount designed for John Deere 425, 445, 455/ X475, X485, X495/ X575, X585, X595/ X700, X720, X728, X740 & X748 Tractors. Installation manual is here http://www.bercomac.com/images/fichiersUpload/manuelDuProprietaire/103540A_pub-20100805163305.pdf.

It has hydraulic lift on the front frame/quick hitch. They also sell a 48" plow and 48" broom that mount on the same quick hitch.

Installation info for the cab is here (it looks quick and easy) http://www.bercomac.com/images/fichiersUpload/manuelDuProprietaire/105439_EN-20100738143338.pdf
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Brett-JDX748
If it were me, I'd go with the Deere unit.
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UrbanTractor
Brett-JDX748 said:
If it were me, I'd go with the Deere unit.
Click to expand...
Berco has some nice options for that blower:

http://www.bercomac.com/accessories...blower-hydraulic-lift.php?noModeleVehicule=24

I especially like the one on the bottom -- the combo chute/deflector control with joystick.
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POENY
I included the combo electric chute/deflector option in my price comparison.

JD includes a hydraulic chute adjustment but the deflector is either get off your butt and adjust it (a hassle) or pay ~$110 for the manual remote adapter so you can sit in your seat and do it (I included this to the JD pricing option).

The Berco has 4 paddles on the impeller vs. 3 for the JDs. That might be the blowing power difference.

For what it is worth I also noticed that the JDs have chute rotates 200 degrees (100 degrees each side) vs. Berco's 238 degrees (119 degrees each side).
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rubadub
POENY said:
I included the combo electric chute/deflector option in my price comparison.

JD includes a hydraulic chute adjustment but the deflector is either get off your butt and adjust it (a hassle) or pay ~$110 for the manual remote adapter so you can sit in your seat and do it (I included this to the JD pricing option).

The Berco has 4 paddles on the impeller vs. 3 for the JDs. That might be the blowing power difference.

For what it is worth I also noticed that the JDs have chute rotates 200 degrees (100 degrees each side) vs. Berco's 238 degrees (119 degrees each side).
Click to expand...
The Berco may be a better unit, but one last thing that you might want to think about.

Things may happen and a guy may have to sell the tractor and blower.

If I want a tractor or car or whatever and I see something out of the norm, like a different brand something on a John deere I will pass on it.

This way of thinking comes from 68 years of seeing some cobbed up vehicles and not having much money so I had to buy used.

If its a Berco on a Deere its cobbed.:D

Rob
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POENY
Rob - I understand what your are saying and to a certain extent agree but do feel that the statement "If its a Berco on a Deere its cobbed." might not be right.

Would you consider "If its a JVC stereo in a Chevy its cobbed." or "If its Fram filter in a Ford its cobbed." the same way? I would not. These are examples I have no JVC, Fram, Chevy, or Ford likes or dislikes (my disclaimer).

Bercomac makes attachments and accessories. They even may OEM some for JD. I have yet to hear from anyone or view (here or in other forums) anything to indicate Bercomac snowblowers are a week link. That is what makes it more difficult. So far everything points to them possibly being superior.

The down side with the Bercomac is the risk that may be there with the component not being JD. Your comments and thoughts are greatly appreciated (everyone's). I know in the end the discussion will help me make the right decision (or at least think I did) and probably help with pricing too.
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