Snow Orange on Red

[timbrehse]

Have you thought about getting a small hydraulic cylinder for the flapper? Splice in and mount another spool or a factory 3rd funcion kit. Summertime you could always use it for a hydraulic top link or what ever suits your needs. I almost did one on mine but I find backing off the throttle a touch and blowing at an angle doesnt require any flap adjustments.

3rd Function would be nice....but just for the flapper - I can p/u a sm 12v actuator & a 3 position toggle for pocket change.
I know I have wire, wire wrap, inline fuse & an appropriately sized weatherpack disconnector kit...... now that I mention it,
it should be a a fairly easy mod.
So ....pics to follow.

 

[Jaylegger]

It's common knowledge all these blowers are manufactured by Rad Technologies and except for the impeller gearing these blowers are essentially identical. Since Kobotas spec'd pto speed is 2500 rpm vs Masseys of 2000 rpm, different gearing is used by rad tech to achieve the proper impeller rpm for both manufacturers. The gear ratio used Massey blowers 2:1 reduction while Kubotas is approx 2.9:1 therefore taking an optimum impeller speed into account these units are not really interchangeable.

Optimum impeller speed for these blowers is between 900-1000 rpm and while going higher is ok, going lower than this can compromises efficiency. Taking your gc tractor as an example where the impeller speed for a "massey" blower would be exactly 1000 rpm, swapping out for the same Kubota blower drops your impeller rpm to 687. For the sprocket chain blowers this is an easy fix to increase impeller RPM by just replacing the sprockets, Rad uses sprockets H40B26 H40C13 for the Massey MF2360.

Cheers

While the subframes and mid PTO shafts may differ,
this is for anyone who has any remaining doubts about the interchangability of Red, Blue, Orange quick hitch implements -
View attachment 400223 View attachment 400224 View attachment 400225
Ready to GO (soon as it stops snowing)
View attachment 400226
All tucked away
View attachment 400227
Foul Weather Cab
View attachment 400228

From the Orange online build a tractor pricing, Kubota has discontinued the two current models of snow blowers (BX2750=MF2360) and the newest offering, which is to become available November 1st is the BX5450. priced at $1999.
The NEW BX5450 blower comes with a standard manual crank chute rotator, upgraded outer shoes on the edges of the blower along with heavier steel material for building the snowblower housing as well as the overall body of the snowblower is a bit beefier.
they also are offering a wider 55 inch blower the BX5455HD. this comes with standard hydraulic chute rotator and heavier gauge construction like the BX5450.

Blue's 50CS is the updated vs. as well (skid shoes on the outside)
I guess this means Massey has decided to wait 'till next yr to update?

 

[bumperm]

Hey Jaylegger,

Foul Weather Cab
Attachment 400228

Nice!

Do you have a heater and air conditioner for that foul weather cab? For back blowing snow, you're gonna need to add wipers :c)

 

[irvingj]

Jaylegger, thanks for that very detailed info-- now we know! I hadn't really thought about the rpm issue; great explanation.

 

[Stache]

Tim & everyone else,

This is exactly the thread I've been looking for, great idea followed up with excellent craftsmanship and plenty of detail on how to make it work!


Did everything hold together throughout the season? [ I'm still amazed by how much 'how-to' is packed into this one post that directly applies to my next 'want-to's'. ]

 

[irvingj]

Stache, are you referring to the UHMWPE lining, or the other blower mods? I had some smallish issues with my lining, in that a relatively flat rock got caught in the outlet and jammed the plastic some, flexing it and making a hump. I've since cut the PE back bit so that shouldn't happen again, hopefully.

 

[Stache]

Irving,

The lining thing is the MAIN thing that has me all excited, especially for the chute area. It seems like UHMWPE would make that SO much slicker that it would reduce clogs, or at least make clearing a jam so much easier.

I don't know if the impellers are worn enough on my 4' Pronovost that I would need to line the drum, or have room to do so, but I know my brother's 7' whateveritis has plenty of wear that he would have room to try it.

[ And THEN I need the bigger/better shoes, so adding or replacing with some thick UHMWPE shoes/sliders there seems like the next step. ]
-and then the whole rest of the post. turn the spout with a button instead of the crank/cable I have now. Yep. This is my "project" post for the next bit of forever.

 

[bumperm]

On my previous smaller tractor, a Kubota BX-2230, I used all electric to rotate chute and move deflector. A car electric window motor for the chute, coupled to the original manual "worm screw" with a short length of heater hose and a couple of hose clamps - the gear output of the window motor fit into the hose and the clamp held it on no problem. A 12 volt linear actuator from eBay did the deflector.

Then I goofed. Though I needed a single joystick to move both items. It worked, but added build complications and was not all that easy to operate with gloves on. Better would be two toggle switches, one mounted above the other and oriented so the top mounted one would move vertically for the deflector and the bottom one side to side for rotation. Switches DPDT center off momentary.

 

[irvingj]

Yes, that's what mine uses, a couple of waterproofed toggle switches (though the rubber's cracking on one of them).

They're mounted on either end of the "dashboard"/instrument panel. Took a bit of getting used to (and I re-wired one of them to reverse it), but it works well, and I got used to it quickly. Like I said, the electric actuators are a tad slow, but nothing that can't be tolerated.

As far as the lining goes, the distance it threw snow last winter was better than it was when it was new. Wet clogs are pretty much history, unless you try to throw a REALLY wet slush.

BTW, I took the leftover piece of UHMWPE and fashioned a fresh water tank shield on the new RV we bought, using the very same torch technique. Worked great. (Just didn't like that everything thrown off the front right wheel would hit the tank & drain fittings.)

 

[bumperm]

Irv,

Good application. As you know, UHMW is "bullet proof" - litterally. Depending on thickness of course, a one inch thick piece will stop a .45 slug - though I'll pass on the opportunity to be standing behind it.

I did end up buying a 48" X 96" - 1/8" sheet to get a long enough piece to line the impeller housing on my blower. Guy contacted me back and said shipping was going to be more than the cost of the sheet (sheet was just over $100) . . . they were planning to ship it flat!! I told them to roll it up tight. They did, and charged me $46 shipping.

Have a lot of other projects now, and winter is still way off, so I doubt I'll be getting it done soon.

bumper