Rear Inverted Snowblowers 2019

[BoylermanCT]

Back to the FK blower. I talked to the dealer this morning and he seemed very concerned and said he would get my pics to the closest FK rep and see how fast they could get parts to me. I described what I found and he concurs with my thoughts that the bearing retaining collars were not properly tightened. He suggested taking it to one of the local FK dealers since he is so far away from me but also said they would put this work on the back burner since I didn't buy the blower from them. I said I could replace the parts but had 2 concerns; 1) would that void the warranty and 2) what if there are other parts that were damaged by this and I didn't notice those damages. He suggested the shaft is likely damaged too and may not be usable again.

Now I wait to see what FK proposes to resolve this. Hopefully I will get a positive response and can get this dealt with at minimal cost to me and in a timely manner.:crossfingers:

Hoping FK proposes a new blower for you. I would not accept anything less after spending many thousands on a new blower.

 

[Hilbilly]

This sounds like sprockets and chain are not in line causing things to pull under load.

That can't be the cause, since there is no direct connection between the chain drive / sprockets and the fan shaft that is moving.

Hoping FK proposes a new blower for you. I would not accept anything less after spending many thousands on a new blower.

That would be nice but highly unlikely.

I will try to contact the FK rep today and see if they will allow me to make a temporary fix, without voiding my warranty, to stop the shaft from moving forward. Then I could use my new blower, instead of looking at it in my shop.

 

[airbiscuit]

Ready for snow!

 

[OrangeMuscle]

You seriously interested in selling your blower? I'm looking for an inverted blower. Given a choice between the two, I'd rather help out a fellow TBNer than a dealer. Although I'm in the southern part of PA, so I'm afraid you're probably some distance away from me. Whereabouts in New York are you located?

I want to try it a couple more times before I give up on it. I live near Rhinebeck NY. If I can't come to terms with it after the next couple snowfalls I will reach out to you and see if we can make something happen. I go round and round about what I would replace it with. I watch all these videos of front snowblowers which also leave a considerable amount fo snow behind, but at least with those you can use a nice rear blade to get a nice clean scrape. If you go to youtube and type in "L4760 Mark Holbrook", he has some amazing videos of quality snow blowing with a front mount. I am also considering a front broom that was mentioned here. Has anyone on here tried one on a L6060 type tractor. I think that may be the winning ticket. Front sweeper on the front, and blower on the back.

 

[MJ1964]

I want to try it a couple more times before I give up on it. I live near Rhinebeck NY. If I can't come to terms with it after the next couple snowfalls I will reach out to you and see if we can make something happen. I go round and round about what I would replace it with. I watch all these videos of front snowblowers which also leave a considerable amount fo snow behind, but at least with those you can use a nice rear blade to get a nice clean scrape. If you go to youtube and type in "L4760 Mark Holbrook", he has some amazing videos of quality snow blowing with a front mount. I am also considering a front broom that was mentioned here. Has anyone on here tried one on a L6060 type tractor. I think that may be the winning ticket. Front sweeper on the front, and blower on the back.

I don't remember if this was discussed, but have you considered adding the back drag scraper? Not cheap, probably in the $1400.00 range for scraper and hydraulics, but that might be the solution. Someone with a scraper can chime in. It appears the videos of commercial users on youtube all have scrapers.

 

[fitter1]

Hilbilly, I assume the bearing locking collars are driven tight with a punch before tightening set screws. This is usually in the opposite rotation of shaft, but some mfgr's want this done in the same rotation of shaft.

 

[Hilbilly]

Hilbilly, I assume the bearing locking collars are driven tight with a punch before tightening set screws. This is usually in the opposite rotation of shaft, but some mfgr's want this done in the same rotation of shaft.

You are correct. They are eccentric locking collars and I have used a punch to cinch tight to the bearing and the shaft, then tightened the grub screw to hold it in place. I watched a video on the correct way to tighten the collar and they suggested it be tightened in the direction of rotation. According to them, if the bearing starts to slip it will be in the opposite direction of rotation and that will cause the collar to self tighten. I made a cup to fit over the exposed end of the shaft that will prevent it from moving forward. I'll get a pic later.

I got a response from the dealer and he has got authorization to replace the parts that were obviously damaged plus some that might be damaged. Now we wait for the parts to arrive but in the meantime I can use the blower with a lot more confidence that it will not shift forward.

 

[ruffdog]

Normally, shaft misalignment is a cause for bearings to walk.

 

[Hilbilly]

Normally, shaft misalignment is a cause for bearings to walk.

I sure hope that is not the root cause because if it is, then the replacement parts are not going to fix the problem. I thought it must be that someone didn't tighten the locking collars properly and now I am hoping that was the cause, not shaft misalignment. How would I go about checking that.

Here are some parts diagrams showing the 2 driveline shafts that are linked with a roller chain coupling. I have never seen one before and Googled it. According to the site I found, these couplings are capable of operating with a fair amount of misalignment.

 

[ruffdog]

I sure hope that is not the root cause because if it is, then the replacement parts are not going to fix the problem. I thought it must be that someone didn't tighten the locking collars properly and now I am hoping that was the cause, not shaft misalignment. How would I go about checking that.

Here are some parts diagrams showing the 2 driveline shafts that are linked with a roller chain coupling. I have never seen one before and Googled it. According to the site I found, these couplings are capable of operating with a fair amount of misalignment.
View attachment 637284View attachment 637285

Have you looked at why shaft #41 is not staying where it should be in the gear box? Are there locking collars on those bearings too?