3pt. snowblower paddles.

[ihuntbear]

plastic and rocks ,gravel,branches don't mix.I'd go steel or nothing.Just my .02

 

[smiley]

A coal company should have lots of used conveyor belting and I hope that's a front mount blower. I'd hate to think of backing looking over my shoulder, 2.5 miles with snow blowing in my face

 

[scesnick]

A coal company should have lots of used conveyor belting and I hope that's a front mount blower. I'd hate to think of backing looking over my shoulder, 2.5 miles with snow blowing in my face

Nope , rear mount on my Kubota MX5100. It is a roomy cockpit so I just sit sideways in the seat. it really doesn't bother me.. I would much rather have a bab than a front mount blower.

 

[leonz]

Leonz,
Yeah, Clarence is probably the way to go. But from the looks of his website I think he only offers the kit for the walk behind residential blowers. If he does offer a bigger version for 3pt. hitches I am gonna go that route for sure. I have an email into him now.

I was just thinking out loud in case he doesn't offer the big version.

The kits will fit any size blower according to clarence and you may need two of them for the paddle width you have -not an issue as he is using nylock nuts and countersunk bolt heads to hold it in place.

I would be faster to remove the impeller and drill each paddle while its being held in a vice if you have a bench vice.

All thats needed is a prick punch and a vice grip to clamp the sheet metal to the paddle to drill the holes in the paddles.

Using conveyor belt is not good as it will flex and bend and you dont want that to happen with a snow blower and cuting slots in the belt pieces will prematurely tear the belt sections out.


If you can find used conveyor belt you need thick belt for the purpose and it can be instaled this way:


You need;

4 pieces of conveyor belt for each paddle 2 on the top and 2 on the back side of each paddle to strengthen the sandwich of belt.

2 pieces of 1/4 inch by 2 inch strap iron to secure the conveyor belt to each paddle cut to length.

2 or 3- 3/8 by 1-1/4-1/2 inch hex head cap screws and nylock nuts to secure the strap iron and belting to the individual paddles, flat washers to secure the flat stock securely to the paddles on both sides of the impeller paddles.

The allen bolts will avoid any issues with scraped knuckles as you will not have to hold a box end wrench where you can use a ratcheting box end wrench and nylock nuts.

 

[leonz]

Thats good to hear from Clarence, do you have a suicide knob or two to aid in steering the tractor and reducing strain on your hands?

Cant wait to see the pics if you can upload them:licking::drool:


Happy motoring:thumbsup:

 

[scesnick]

Thats good to hear from Clarence, do you have a suicide knob or two to aid in steering the tractor and reducing strain on your hands?

Cant wait to see the pics if you can upload them:licking::drool:


Happy motoring:thumbsup:

Nope, the Bota is power steering and can be steered with one finger.

 

[JohninCT]

Don't know if you have a Tractor Supply near by, but they sell this rubber baler belting that might work. I think it might be a tad too thin though

Replacement Baler Belting, 10 in. Wide-2 Ply-210# Nylon/ft.</li><li> - 1420017 | Tractor Supply Company

Replacement Baler Belting, 4 in. Wide-2 Ply-210# Nylon/ft.</li><li> - 1420009 | Tractor Supply Company

I might be inclined to try getting a horse stall mat and cutting it into pieces. It's tough stuff 3/4 inch thick. It's pretty easy to cut with a saber saw and a coarse wood blade.

Royal Mat Rubber Horse Stall Mat, 4 ft. x 6 ft. - 2219003 | Tractor Supply Company

 

[Jerry/MT]

I have a 64" Ber-Vac blower that I use to clear my 2.5 mile driveway/road that winds its way up over a mountain and we get PLENTY of snow to play in. The blower is an older model but works very well. But, after hours of use and machine gunning plenty of gravel, the clearance between the fan and the housing is becoming pretty great. This gap causes the blower to not want to throw snow very far.

I went to the local race car shop and got some lexan type plastic and used that to line the fan housing trying to close that gap a bit. This worked for a while but is getting pretty chewed up now.
So, I am looking to go a different route. I was thinking of removing the lexan lining and putting some rubber paddle extensions on the fan blades. Like this guy did.... HOW IT WORKS

I was wondering what you guys would use for the rubber paddle. I have access to very heavy duty Euclid rock truck tires. I was thinking of using a chunk of that tire but how would one cut this very thick piece of rubber?? each chunk would have to be pretty close to identical so the balance of the fan would not be disrupted. Or, other ideas? I'm all ears...

You know I am just not of fan of putting anything on a piece of high speed rotating machinery because it you don't do it right, it can hurt you or someone nearby. I guess that stems from the almost 35 years I spent as an aircraft propulsion engineer and from seeing the results of some uncontained failures of aircraft engine (which by the way are desgned to not have uncontained failures, and not always sucessfully! A recent example was on the Quantas Airbus A380 with RR Trent engines.)

The fan on a snow blower is probabaly the highest stressed part of the machine and if you don't keep it balanced, and start drilling, welding, or otherwise modifying it, you can do some things that can initiate cracks, add additional stresses, etc that cause it to fail in a catastrophic fashion. See if the manufacturer has a replacement fan available to replace the one you've worn out or look at modifying the static structure of the fan casing. That's a lot safer approach. The Lexan you used is a good safe way to deal with your problem. What's wrong with just replacing that when it wears out? if your going to be putting rocks and gravel through the machine and causing that kind of wear, put some skid shoes on the blower to keep it above the gravel in your drive to minimize these effects. But please don't start messing with the rotating machinery components. Respectfully, people that know what they are doing don't always get it right. What do you think your chances are?

Please play it safe.

 

[wdchyd]

Don't know if you have a Tractor Supply near by, but they sell this rubber baler belting that might work. I think it might be a tad too thin though

Replacement Baler Belting, 10 in. Wide-2 Ply-210# Nylon/ft.</li><li> - 1420017 | Tractor Supply Company

Replacement Baler Belting, 4 in. Wide-2 Ply-210# Nylon/ft.</li><li> - 1420009 | Tractor Supply Company

Just bought some for new "Doggy Doors"....I think it would be too whimpy for snowblower........

 

[scesnick]

Jerry/MT,.

I hear what your saying but the plastic lining in the housing just wears out too darn quick. I don't think the fan is moving fast enought o cause a major failure. From what I have read many many people have used this technics for years with no issues.
I would ultimately like to just replace the fan with a new one but my blower is an older model and to be honest I don't think Ber-Vac is evewn in business any longer.
I discussed the unbalance issue with the maker and he said he has never had an issue with it.

I do have feet on the blower but with 2.5 miles of uneven road it is next to impossible to not get gravel n the blower.