Shop project..........Converting manual blower shoot to hydraulic

[Tried and True]

So we know manual chutes on snowblowers suck. A few years back when I bought my blower, a gently used Lorenz 7' blower, I knew hand crankin' the chute was not going to be an option. Lorenz does offer a power chute add-on, but I know I can do better than a silly hydraulic cylinder and some cable. After a little bit of head scratchin', I concocted a plan.

This was what it came with...........pretty sad really. Who makes junk like this and thinks it's a good idear?

I cut off the sprocket? or gear? or whatever ya want to call it to make way for a new spocket and some roller chain.

Plasma cutter made short work of it..................

I did the math and figured out what would be a good rotation speed for the shoot. Of course no one makes an nice off the shelf sprocket in the large size I needed. So I do what I always do, I make it myself.

Chunk of 1/4 x 6 hot rolled for one half of the blank ready to be cut....................

And half a sprocket magically appears...........................

to be continued................

 

[Tried and True]

So the sprocket was made in two pieces and then welded to the shoot...............................

And then I needed a mount for the hydraulic motor. Just a hunk of flat bar with a counterbore and a few holes to accept the motor........................

To be continued....................................
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[shui5612]

I was thinking of doing that with a homemade sprocket, however I found a simpler solution.

Originally mine was held in place by a C clamp and had what seems to be an option for a cylinder that would make it rotate 90° only, aka straight or to the right.

My solution was, use the 3ph frame and made a bracket for a hyd motor, with a sprocket and made a chain look (grade 60) that I spot welded at the front of the chute. Basically just one link is welded to the chute. Have not had issues and use it pretty often.

I'll get pictures tomorrow if anyone is interested.

 

[shui5612]

Pardon the mess, but as promised, this is the design I opted for. At first I used a small bolt that would act as a shear pin but decided to spot weld the chain. Figured it doesn't really "need" a safety but if anything the gear on the motor is held only with 2 small spot welds, that would give in faster than the motor would ever.

You can play with different gears for the ideal speed, I added a tension gear but it's not really needed either. After 2 winters there was no tensioning that needed to be done.

Probably one of the easier designs despite maybe not looking the best. (My poor last minute paint job didn't help, it was a choice between this tan or a flat black)

 

[cormier]

View attachment 496696View attachment 496697

Pardon the mess, but as promised, this is the design I opted for. At first I used a small bolt that would act as a shear pin but decided to spot weld the chain. Figured it doesn't really "need" a safety but if anything the gear on the motor is held only with 2 small spot welds, that would give in faster than the motor would ever.

You can play with different gears for the ideal speed, I added a tension gear but it's not really needed either. After 2 winters there was no tensioning that needed to be done.

Probably one of the easier designs despite maybe not looking the best. (My poor last minute paint job didn't help, it was a choice between this tan or a flat black)

I just built 2 of these set ups. One manual and one hydraulic. Used # 60 chain. The manual one i used a right angle gear box. Just made a cleaner look than the cable that was on their before. Both work great. I don't a pic of my hydraulic one but is basically the same but runs with a char lynn hydraulic motor.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=496837&d=1485674054&thumb=1&stc=1

 

[Tried and True]

I thought I had a few more pics but can't seem to find them........................
Anyhoo, I calculated out my rotation speed, choose a drive sprocket and motor RPM. I figured I'd just pick up a nice compact unit since there really isn't much of a load to turn the spout. I found a motor cheap, but much bigger then my needs. Oh well.

So here it is. Only problem is you can actually blow it directly at the operator's seat. (Don't ask:confused2

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[countrybumpkin]

So here it is. Only problem is you can actually blow it directly at the operator's seat. (Don't ask:confused2 ....................................

That was the first thing i thought of when seen it was able to spin completely around.

 

[JCByrd24]

Great project.

 

[dnw64]

That was the first thing i thought of when seen it was able to spin completely around.

Me too. But if the chute was high enough that could be pretty cool in some circumstances especially if you had a cab...