Adding a 2-speed pto

rbargeron · Jan 29, 2002

Thanks Mark - it won't cost you much - can't drink as many as I used to.

It's been in the 50's and no snow in MA - I wanna try this out ! Don't need any speed pto at this rate /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif

rbargeron · Jan 31, 2002

IT WORKS - got some heavy granular snow today and on the high pto speed the blower throws it a mile (well maybe 40 feet) And from the pto gearbox: no leaks, no drips, no noises. Life is good.

hwp · Feb 1, 2002

Those extra rpms at the pro will make a big difference. Out of curiosity, what is the diameter of your auger/impeller?

rbargeron · Feb 1, 2002

It's 22" diameter. At engine rpm of 2450, pto 840, tip speed is about 4800 ft/min. Chute is fixed at 45 degrees, but can rotate. Like any pump it works best with a full bite.

hwp · Feb 1, 2002

4800 feet/min should give you a decent throw. Too bad you couldn't get another 500 ft/min as that would make a big difference. Is there any gearing between your pto and auger? I am guessing that since you have a single stage snowblower there is no gearing change. On my two stage snowblower, there is a direct drive to the impeller but a 4:1 reduction to the auger. How is the clearance between the impeller and the drum? If the gap is getting too big you might want to build the ends of the impeller up a bit in the off-season. Anyway, it weems to be working for you.

rbargeron · Feb 1, 2002

Auger/impeller run direct at pto speed, no reduction. Increasing the engine rpm 10% from 2450 to 2700, the pto would increase to 920 and tip speed would be 5300 ft/min. The engine could actually be run at 3000 maximum, where tip speed would be almost 5900 ft/min. But I don't think it needs that much. It seemed to work well with the engine just below 2500 where the pto is at 840 with the new gears.

That speed wasn't possible before the gearbox modification.

Pks · Feb 4, 2002

Hows about a photo of the snow throwing results?

rbargeron · Feb 4, 2002

We're temporarily snowless again - just a little ice here and there. But the camera is ready for the next opportunity !

emery · Feb 4, 2002

Just finished reading the entire post and viewing your nice modification! Great job.

I would like to see picture of your blower also. Did you say you drive forwards???

rbargeron · Feb 5, 2002

Here's the snowblower on my rig. Two feed plows and a spinning auger/impeller - pretty simple.

This blower is really suited to the layout of my place. It also works for widening plowed roads - it's possible to drive along with the bucket raised about 8" but reaching 2 or 3 feet into a plowed bank - breaking it up and spreading it down where the blower can pitch it. Was handy last year when we had so much snow.

Hasn't done very much this year yet /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif But it sure is ready /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif