snowblower crossbreeding

Anonymous Poster · Dec 28, 2002

I've got an old Ford LGT 145 lawn tractor, but no snowblower attachment. From time to time I see used blower attachments for sale in Uncle Henry's (Maine's version of the Pennysaver) and I wonder how hard it would be for a guy with a welder and an open mind to make an old blower of a different manufacture (but appropriate size) fit an old lawn tractor. I've never actually seen a blower attachment up close. Are they belt-driven off the pto, as the mowing deck is? If so, is it just a matter of making sure all the pulleys line up? Has anyone tried this?

s1120 · Dec 28, 2002

My stepfather made one years ago for our old JD112. Just had to fab up some brackets, make sure the belts run true, and your set. You just want to make sure the blower turns the right way.

beenthere · Dec 28, 2002

How hard it would be? Depends on the person doing it. I have a great son-in-law, but he doesn't know which end of a screw driver to hang on to, or what one would use it for if he did. For him, I would say it would be hard. Then again, for others that sign in here, it would be just a breeze. Now, most are everything in between those extremes. If you have an interest in doing it, and have the aptitude to do such things (you will know if you do or do not), then do it. Some just like to "rube goldberg" things together. (I'm not sure where that term came from, but seems it fits).

Good luck, and keep us posted.

Anonymous Poster · Dec 29, 2002

If the mounting on a 145 is the same as the mounting on a 125, the linkages are fairly straight foreward. I've got a complete 125 snowblower, so if you need pictures, I could shoot you some for reference, assuming I can remember where I put that snowblower.
I've also got a mower deck and hood for a 145 if you need them or know anyone who does. They sure won't work on 125 series machines.

Anonymous Poster · Dec 29, 2002

Thanks to all for the advice and encouragement. A picture would be welcome, Franz, but you shouldn't go to any trouble for it. From my decaying owner's manual I get the feeling that the 145 and the 165 LGT's are similar, but the 125's are a bit different, which could explain why the hood and mower won't interchange. Snow blowers might, though. At least the linkage might be the same.
Yours wouldn't be for sale, would it? Do you remember what size it is? I have a 42" inch mowing deck, and would assume the blower should be about the same size. Ahhh, nevermind -- too much trouble with shipping, schlepping, etc...
Rube Goldberg, by the way, was an american cartoonist who made drawings of absurdly complicated inventions, usually involving banana peels, unaware pedestrians, buckets of plaster, ironing boards, parrots, and lots of rope.
Thanks, again.
kevin

Anonymous Poster · Dec 30, 2002

The blower I have is for a first generation tractor, the one with the rectangualr welded steel deck. I think it's about 36".
Jacobsen, the actual builder for ford, and miniMo as well as Ford didn't do a lot of fancy engineering on the machines, just good solid thinking, other than the major screwup of mounting the engine backwards and requiring the reversing gear box between the engine and rear axel.
The blower actually hangs from the front axel on a pair of pipe clamps, and wouldn't be to hard to duplicate.
You could try the Jacobsen Group over on Yahoo, they were quite active the last time I was over there. Mine isn't mounted right now, so if the snow melts, I can take some pics this week.

Anonymous Poster · Dec 31, 2002

Franz, thanks for the tip about the yahoo group. I lost track of how much time I spent reading old posts about snowblowers and stuff. (I'm sure my wife could tell you.) I saw a few nice blowers on that site, and also found one at a local tractor dealer. It was on a 145 identical to mine (which is a newer model than I thought, apparently circa 1980). The linkage runs all the way back under the tractor and links to a bar in front of the hydro transmission. Dealer won't break up the package. But at least I got a few good looks at the proper linkage for my deal. I think I'm set now on how to fit a mismatch.
After spending a few hours on other tractor discussion sites, I have to say that this place is the easiest to use, by far the most helpful, and is filled with the nicest people.
Thanks.