"time to get it done?" Well, Ive given it a little thought and I believe I can get it to the test phase in about 16 working days. After test, if everything works well, I would dissmantle it and have it sand blasted in prep for paint. I have a plan to use some preformed sheet steel parts to save alittle hassle. For instance, I am searching for a 30 pound LP cylinder, which is 15" diameter and about four feet tall. From this I can torch out 2 pcs of housing so I won't have to have anything rolled. I did find a nice helical gear right-angle box at Surplus Center, good for high speed use, for about $90. It will run 2000 RPM, and transfer my tractor's 17PTO HP, to the cross-shaft. The Cross shaft is going to use a Lovejoy coupling on the gearbox end, and then it will be 2 feet long to reach the one side of the blower housing, where the chain reduction (2:1 reduction) will carry the power to the rotor. This last part is just like most single-stage blowers you see, but of course they are belt driven typically, so they don't have a right-angle drive box. The rotor will turn on 1.25" shaft, welded into a 3 or 4" tube center for the flighting, depending on whats available. I have not purchased anything yet, as I thought as I got closer to starting, I'd total it all up and make sure I was saving a thousand over purchasing JD new. If no big savings, there will be no project. Later this week I will try to get over to the metal recycling center to see what jewels I can find for this and a couple other projects I have in mind.
Will keep you all posted....