Snowblower Adding hydraulic deflector on snowblower

[Tig]

Nice setups HWP and Herringchoker.
Thanks for the feedback guys. I did the grinding this afternoon. No turning back now.

The original linkage has 5" of travel. Since I could not get a 5" cylinder, I chose a 6. I'd like to limit the travel to 5" to avoid problems. Can I limit the retract with an inch of PVC sleeved over the rod? I was thinking a short piece of 1 1/4" PVC inside a longer piece of 1 1/2" PVC. That should limit the retract while avoiding any pressure on the seal from the sleeve.
Here's a pic of things just hanging together. Ultimately the bottom bracket will be mounted an inch lower. The picture shows where I plan to have the chute when fully retracted (5") against the sleeve.

 

[skippy957]

This is my set-up. I install swivels on chute elevation to avoid twisting the hydraulic hoses.

 

[canoetrpr]

Hey that looks like a Princess Auto cylinder! Nice to see some local guys online.

I think you've inspired me to add a hydraulic deflector and rotator to my blower when I can afford to add the rear valves.

I'd be very interested in seeing how they hydraulic chute rotation works as well. Did your blower come with that?

 

[Tig]

Good idea with the swivels Skippy

Yes, Canoetrpr, that's PowerFist you see there. The guys in the PA hydraulics shop have been very good to me.
The rotation bracket was a $90 option. I put my own cylinder on.

 

[Ductape]

Looky there......you're halfway there already ! Aren't you glad you decided to dive in? Keep us posted with more pics as yo go.

 

[loulblades]

I have had my front snowblower for several years and do not recall a time when I had to stop and adjust the deflector.

I am however adding hydraulic chute rotation. A hyd. motor acquired on ebay will replace the crank handle.

 

[hazmat]

Nice setups HWP and Herringchoker.
Thanks for the feedback guys. I did the grinding this afternoon. No turning back now.

The original linkage has 5" of travel. Since I could not get a 5" cylinder, I chose a 6. I'd like to limit the travel to 5" to avoid problems. Can I limit the retract with an inch of PVC sleeved over the rod? I was thinking a short piece of 1 1/4" PVC inside a longer piece of 1 1/2" PVC. That should limit the retract while avoiding any pressure on the seal from the sleeve.
Here's a pic of things just hanging together. Ultimately the bottom bracket will be mounted an inch lower. The picture shows where I plan to have the chute when fully retracted (5") against the sleeve.

If you can move the deflector thru 6" of travel w/o damaging it, Don't bother to try to limit the travel on the cylinder.

The cylinder should bottom out before the deflector does, or you will be bending metal.

 

[herringchoker]

Like Hazmat says, if the deflector can move through the full 6" stroke without binding, I would leave it as-is. If there is binding, I would think about lengthening the strut on the deflector so you need 6" stroke instead of 5" to get full non-binding range of movement.

 

[rbargeron]

.....The original linkage has 5" of travel. Since I could not get a 5" cylinder, I chose a 6. I'd like to limit the travel to 5" to avoid problems. Can I limit the retract with an inch of PVC sleeved over the rod? I was thinking a short piece of 1 1/4" PVC inside a longer piece of 1 1/2" PVC. That should limit the retract while avoiding any pressure on the seal from the sleeve.......

PVC sleeves may work - very good idea to use a large enough one to get outside the seal. The PVC will act as a bumper - but may crush. Maybe the outside sleeve will need to be iron pipe. As others say, it's best if the cylinder stops against itself, not the deflector linkage. On my wood splitter, I use a pvc sleeve to limit travel when working 12" wood - the valve auto-centers when there is backpressure retracting. You can see the pvc sleeve bulge momentarily when it hits.

 

[Tig]

At full extension the cylinder will stop before any metal bends. When the cylinder is fully retracted the chute will pivot over backwards and the sides of the chute will uncouple from the guides. I just wanted a stop to prevent me from uncoupling it by mistake. I'm considering a small mod to extend the chute guides.
Long day at work today so I did not get a chance to work on the blower.