Snow Orange on Red

[timbrehse]

It's common knowledge all these blowers are manufactured by Rad Technologies and except for the impeller gearing these blowers are essentially identical. Since Kobotas spec'd pto speed is 2500 rpm vs Masseys of 2000 rpm, different gearing is used by rad tech to achieve the proper impeller rpm for both manufacturers. The gear ratio used Massey blowers 2:1 reduction while Kubotas is approx 2.9:1 therefore taking an optimum impeller speed into account these units are not really interchangeable.

Optimum impeller speed for these blowers is between 900-1000 rpm and while going higher is ok, going lower than this can compromises efficiency. Taking your gc tractor as an example where the impeller speed for a "massey" blower would be exactly 1000 rpm, swapping out for the same Kubota blower drops your impeller rpm to 687. For the sprocket chain blowers this is an easy fix to increase impeller RPM by just replacing the sprockets, Rad uses sprockets H40B26 H40C13 for the Massey MF2360.

Cheers

Wow-I haven' checked this board in a while
Thanks for the info Jaylegger ...AND Part #'s - love it when people post part#'s !!!!

I'll look into swapping out the sprockets but I can't imagine I'd need to increase my impeller's RPM. I'm afraid if I do this BX 5450 will be throwing snow a ridiculous distance... like into my neighbor's driveway! I had no difficulty last season moving what fell. Sure, if I'd nose into a 4 or 5ft bank, I'd get a little diesel bogg but I don't let it pile up. If it starts getting deep, I'll go out half way thru the storm. I prefer doing it twice to fighting with snow way over the top of the blower. And I'm not out there setting snowblowing speed records either. As is, this Orange on Red, w/ the flapper@45deg, will toss some fairly wet stuff 30ft or more w/o complaint.
However I DO have a complaint....about the 'newly designed outside mounted skid shoes' Granted, I like to scrape down on the blacktop. It then melts off quickly which is key w/ a steep driveway. I figured going in I'd be replacing the leading edge after 2-3 seasons or so but the shoes - no matter how hi or low they're set.. they're going to SKID ....and after one season, they're toast.




I've been looking for something like this



but the slot centers are 2.25" on the BX5450 - this is 2.5"
I found a standard pr. - Kubota Pt# 77700-05889 w/ shipping will run $55.
Any one have a better alternative?

 

[bumperm]

The wheel shown is going to get lateral wear as the tractor turns, as it's so far forward of the front wheels and has but a tiny footprint. I think a better solution to skids is what I've done, going on 3 seasons now and about 1/16" wear. Made from 3/4" UHMW PE (the strongest, most wear resistant plastic available).

 

[Clipse3GT]

The wheel shown is going to get lateral wear as the tractor turns, as it's so far forward of the front wheels and has but a tiny footprint. I think a better solution to skids is what I've done, going on 3 seasons now and about 1/16" wear. Made from 3/4" UHMW PE (the strongest, most wear resistant plastic available).

Where did you get the skid shoe brackets? Homemade? Did you cut the UHMW PE yourself?

 

[bumperm]

Yes, homemade. I have a machine shop and welding equipment in my plane hangar - love to piddle with stuff.

UHMW can be worked with woodworking tools. I used a table saw. For the counter sunk bolt holes (not shown), a drill press was used. I destroyed one skid as I was doing the drilling free hand with the drill press and a regular drill bit will want to grab and dig in. So it's necessary to clamp things down. Or, if drilling with a portable drill, use a tube or some other method of depth stop to prevent the bit from gouging in.

I took off the original skids and put them on the shelf.

 

[Clipse3GT]

Yes, homemade. I have a machine shop and welding equipment in my plane hangar - love to piddle with stuff.

UHMW can be worked with woodworking tools. I used a table saw. For the counter sunk bolt holes (not shown), a drill press was used. I destroyed one skid as I was doing the drilling free hand with the drill press and a regular drill bit will want to grab and dig in. So it's necessary to clamp things down. Or, if drilling with a portable drill, use a tube or some other method of depth stop to prevent the bit from gouging in.

I took off the original skids and put them on the shelf.

Nice! great job. Gave me an idea for my plow to use some UHMW PE for some skid shoes to not tear up the drive way.

 

[bumperm]

Peachtree Woodworking has the best prices I could find on Amazon. Check:

UHMW Sheet 3/4" x 4" x48" By Peachtree Woodworking - PW1125 - Woodworking Project Kits - Amazon.com

They sell several other sizes as well.

I've purchased full sheets from Plastics International, they have other sizes too and reasonable prices, but shop and compare.

Plastic Sheets, Rods & Tube - Plastics International | Plastics International

I have only used virgin UHMW. There are some companies also selling recycled (it is typically not the off-white color) and it should cost less but with slightly lower strength properties.

bumper

 

[timbrehse]

Very Nice Bumperm - a machine shop would be nice as well!
I do like the UHMW, would make a nice replacement cutting edge for a snowblower or a plow for that matter. Wouldn't it be great to be able to 3-D print a pr. of shoes w/ UHMW? Anyway, back to reality. I'd have to come up w/ a different design as it looks like your blower rides an inch? above the surface. I need to scrape down to blacktop. Years ago, I tried ureathene cutting edges on a 9' V plow. Was kind to the turf when pushing a pile off the pavement but was useless if it'd iced up under the snow. I read, earlier on this thread, maybe a different one, Kubota makes a "Plastic" vs. of the BX5450 shoe and cutting edge (BX5444 and BX5445 respectfully) I'm certain it will not perform as well as UHMW would but....I've eMailed my dealer for a quote. Anyone heard of or had any experience with these plastic replacements?

 

[bumperm]

No, I guess it doesn't show up so well (or at all), my original scraper bar on the blower is shimmed down to about 1/2" clearance - had to order a box of longer "plow bolts" (yeah, I never knew they were called that - in fact, I didn't even know there was such a thing a plow bolts!!).

Anyway, I have some UHMW on its way for the scraping edge. A couple of 4' lengths of 1/2" thick by 6" wide - I'll rip it at a 45* on the table saw and butt the resulting 3" strip together to cover the width. I may use the original metal scraper at the spacer, instead of the washers I'm using now.

No, I've looked into the plastic edges that the MFG's are using for scraping edges and such. I don't know of any of them that are using UHMW - too expensive, when there are way cheaper, but less durable, plastic options available.

 

[timbrehse]

Quote Originally Posted by bumperm View Post

"Anyway, I have some UHMW on its way for the scraping edge. A couple of 4' lengths of 1/2" thick by 6" wide - I'll rip it at a 45* on the table saw and butt the resulting 3" strip together to cover the width. I may use the original metal scraper at the spacer, instead of the washers I'm using now. "

Hey bumperm- I know it's an old thread - how did the UHMV scraping edge work out? The orig. edge on my BX5450 is so worn as to be of no value as a template.
I'd found a guy who fabricated these shoes pretty cheap-




am interested to see how they work/wear this season. He'd make me a scraping edge if I could supply the specs........any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[timbrehse]

Anyway, I have some UHMW on its way for the scraping edge. A couple of 4' lengths of 1/2" thick by 6" wide - I'll rip it at a 45* on the table saw and butt the resulting 3" strip together to cover the width. I may use the original metal scraper at the spacer, instead of the washers I'm using now. .

Hey bumperm- I know it's an old thread - how did the UHMV scraping edge work out? The orig. edge on my BX5450 is so worn as to be of no value as a template.
I'd found a guy who fabricated these shoes pretty cheap-




am interested to see how they work/wear this season. He'd make me a scraping edge if I could supply the specs........any help would be greatly appreciated.