Looking for a source of rubber blades

[JDgreen227]

Guys, I have a 2005 vintage Sears Craftsman 5 hp, two stroke, 20 inch single stage snowblower. It probably has 35 hours on it at most. Was clearing snow off my drive with it the other day, and something got caught between the rubber flap on the auger (SearsPartsDirect calls the rubber flap a blade) and popped the lower section off the metal auger (riveted on) and before I could stop the engine, the rubber blade had come all the way off. I drilled out the rivets that had been holding the blade on, and used carriage bolts and nuts to refasten it.

Just out of curiousity, I went to the SearsPartsDirect site to price what the rubber blades would cost should I ever want to replace them...guess what...$27 EACH !! For strip of reinforced rubber 1/4 thick and an inch and a half wide, and 16 inches long !!!

Would anyone know a source where I could simply buy a section of reinforced rubber so I could cut my own replacement blades? Thanks.

 

[Scooby074]

used conveyor belting?

 

[reggiejr]

How about one of these its 1/4" thick and you could make a bunch of them if you can figure out how to cut it to size.

Buyers Rubber Mudflap 24in.W x 30in.H | Mudflaps | Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[drmac]

How about the side-wall of an ordinary passenger car tire?

DrMac

 

[JDgreen227]

How about the side-wall of an ordinary passenger car tire?

DrMac

Thanks for your suggestions, the conveyer belt idea sounds good, if I can find a source. The rubber mudflap also is good, that would be the easiest to cut. Cutting rubber that isn't very thick is easy, using a jigsaw with the proper blade. Last of all, the tire sidewall idea sounds really practical as the section would be rounded as a tire sidewall is. And I have some old 4:80X8 trailer tires I kept for some reason.

THANK YOU ALL, one of these has gotta work !!

 

[ELMO67]

Tractor Supply has rolls of conveyor belting.

 

[JDgreen227]

Tractor Supply has rolls of conveyor belting.

Thanks...can probably get a good size section of it for the cost of one rubber blade from SearsPD...$27 and shipping $$$ for 24 square inches of rubber...what a ripoff !!