Christmas Project - snowblower chute automation

whiskywizard · Dec 28, 2015

I had the kids all home for Christmas so the 3 boys - me, my son and my son-in-law - decided to celebrate the season properly by doing a little fabrication and drinking some beer in the garage.

Nothing ground-breaking here, but it has tested out OK, and I'm happy with it. Now I'm looking forward to some snow so I can try it in anger. :laughing:

KennyG · Dec 28, 2015

Do you have the cable wrapped around the chute? The pictures look like it's not fully wrapped. I gave mine an extra wrap to make sure I wouldn't bind it up.

What did you use for the deflector actuator? I haven't added that yet but yours looks pretty high tech.

Mendonsy · Dec 28, 2015

If that winch is the Harbor Freight one (looks a lot like it) the little relay box that comes with it is not waterproof. Mine froze solid last winter!! I replaced it with an ATV winch control from Amazon.

PILOON · Dec 28, 2015

On my similar set up I made a motor cover from a short length of 4" sewer drain pipe.

Where the cute rotates and makes contact with the blower body I made up a wide 'washer' using plastic sheet stock.
The chute rotates more easily when sliding on plastic vs metal on metal. Grease also helps.

Fallon · Dec 29, 2015

What is the load on the defletor? I have a spare $60 actuator rated to 200lbs or so I was thinking about deploying like that. Have the winch for lifting the jeep plow too. Its obselete as the plow is now SSQA & curl does the lifting. Might try the same setup you have.

whiskywizard · Dec 29, 2015

KennyG said:
Do you have the cable wrapped around the chute? The pictures look like it's not fully wrapped. I gave mine an extra wrap to make sure I wouldn't bind it up.

What did you use for the deflector actuator? I haven't added that yet but yours looks pretty high tech.

The cable isn't fully wrapped around the chute. It terminates behind the chute, secured to two large nuts I welded there.

The deflector is driven by a linear actuator. $74 at Princess Auto.

whiskywizard · Dec 29, 2015

Mendonsy said:
If that winch is the Harbor Freight one (looks a lot like it) the little relay box that comes with it is not waterproof. Mine froze solid last winter!! I replaced it with an ATV winch control from Amazon.

The winch is an ATV unit, from Princess Auto. It included at circuit breaker but no relay. I added a relay up near the battery. It's weatherproof but also pretty well protected there.

whiskywizard · Dec 29, 2015

Fallon said:
What is the load on the defletor? I have a spare $60 actuator rated to 200lbs or so I was thinking about deploying like that. Have the winch for lifting the jeep plow too. Its obselete as the plow is now SSQA & curl does the lifting. Might try the same setup you have.

My LA is rated for 135lb dynamic and 200lb static load. I hope it is strong enough.

whiskywizard · Dec 29, 2015

PILOON said:
On my similar set up I made a motor cover from a short length of 4" sewer drain pipe.

Where the cute rotates and makes contact with the blower body I made up a wide 'washer' using plastic sheet stock.
The chute rotates more easily when sliding on plastic vs metal on metal. Grease also helps.

Good suggestions. My winch is rated for immersion so it should withstand the weather. I have enough gap in the chute cylinder for some thin plastic; I'll keep that in mind.

ishiboo · Dec 29, 2015

whiskywizard said:
The cable isn't fully wrapped around the chute. It terminates behind the chute, secured to two large nuts I welded there.

The deflector is driven by a linear actuator. $74 at Princess Auto.

BOC whiskywizard? Small world!

Sorry for the threadjack.