Converting Kubota B2789 blower to hydraulic rotation and deflection

[Scooby074]

After suffering with the stock hand crank rotation and get-off-the-seat deflection for a couple years, figured it was time to add some hydrulics to the BX blower.

First up was tackling the deflection.


Cylinder is a 1" dia, 6" stroke from PA that was on sale for $49. 1 in. Bore x 6 in. Stroke Snap Ring Utility Cylinder | Princess Auto


Figuring out where to mount the cylinder so that it gave enough travel to close and open the deflector was the hard part. The chute goes a little high, but thats by design. I plan on extending the deflector about 6" to make it aim more towards the ground. With the wind here, those big, high arc snow trajectories that are so cool looking on video, do nothing but cause the snow to blow back where it came from, and I end up with a face full of snowdust Generally I keep the deflector in the lowest postion unless I have to blow snow over my woodpile or similar.

After mock up, the head of the bolt was cut off and the bolt was welded into the chute so as to not create an obstruction in the chute to catch snow

 

[Scooby074]

Step 2 was to tackle the hyd rotation

First was to extend the factory hand crank screw mount with 6" of 4x1/4" angle

Then lay out the mounting plate for the motor on the bench and weld into place on the extension. Best plan is to do a full mockup with the lovejoys installed on the motor and the worm screw so that everything is in line before tacking

Motor is a 5 cu ProPoint from PA. Was in the clearance section for 50% off so I got it for around $80 5.0 cu. in. 2-Bolt Hydraulic Spool Valve Geroler Motor | Princess Auto. Lovejoys are L099 style from PA. Search results for 'drive couplers' | Princess Auto

After the mount is installed, add gussets to support the plate.

 

[Scooby074]

A coat of black paint

 

[Scooby074]

Install the hoses.

 

[Scooby074]

And youre in business

 

[tk tom]

That looks like a slick way to set it up yourself, nice job!

I am curious, however, why you didn't mount the deflection cylinder to the back of chute instead of the side? I would think that would give you more freedom with the hoses and better control of the deflection?

The controls also appear to be nice and smooth. Most of the hydro chute controls I've seen are super snappy, almost impossible to make fine adjustments with them. I like your setup a lot!

 

[Scooby074]

That looks like a slick way to set it up yourself, nice job!

I am curious, however, why you didn't mount the deflection cylinder to the back of chute instead of the side? I would think that would give you more freedom with the hoses and better control of the deflection?

The controls also appear to be nice and smooth. Most of the hydro chute controls I've seen are super snappy, almost impossible to make fine adjustments with them. I like your setup a lot!

Thanks.

I mounted it on the side because it was the easiest way to do it. A rear mount would require much more fabrication and calculations to make a mount that would allow the cylinder to meet up with the deflector and provide enough movement. Side mount is way easier, all you have to do is mount it where it has enough to move the deflector over its full range, no need for fancy mounts. This one side cylinder for deflection is quite common in larger snow and ag equipment. Around 1min in the video below.

There would be no real advantage to rear mount for control of the deflection or hose control IMHO. In the video, the hoses rolled up on each other a bit because they were cable tied to tight. I loosened that up a bit and now they are free to roll without climbing over one another.

The hoses out to the cylinder are only 1/4 and the fittings on the cylinder are 1/8npt. This is sort of a built in restriction to smooth out the hydraulic action. The Prince valves are also pretty high quality and tend to be nice and smooth on the controls.

 

[94BULLITT]

Nice job. It should help speed up the snow removal process for you.

 

[wild bill]

The controls also appear to be nice and smooth. Most of the hydro chute controls I've seen are super snappy, almost impossible to make fine adjustments with them. I like your setup a lot!

Post #32 of this thread http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/hydraulics/179865-installed-restricted-orifice-my-hydraulic-4.html has photos of a simple DIY flow orifice. I added them to my hydraulic chute rotation.

 

[Scooby074]

I like to keep my deflector in as low a position as possible so as to not end up covered in snow dust and to try and keep from throwing rocks from the driveway into the middle of the lawn. I like to try and blow my snow to within 5' of the driveways edge. Those big arcing trajectories that look good on video for bragging rights, dont work for me in practice with the wind here. Maybe if I had a cab lol

So I made up a chute extension and welded it on today using my portaband table to cut it out. Well see how it works in tomorrows snow.

The pattern

The bandsaw