Snowblower Modification

[thirdroc17]

Maybe try gluing them on. And I don't mean some cheap hardware store super glue. If you know the materials that will be bonded you can maybe find an adhesive that will hold up. Try researching Henkel Loctite for some applications. They are gluing car body panels together now, I'm confident someone makes a glue that will hold some rubber on a plastic impeller.

If you want to use adhesive, I'd recommend adding on with the same type of plastic the impeller is made of rather than rubber. Then use the correct specialty adhesive required for that type of plastic.

 

[doxford jim]

I used 1/4" mild steel plate when I did mine - with four 5/16" through the fan blade. Instead of steel, 3/8" thick conveyor belt would work really well as it is reinforced. I installed my metal plates in 2011 ( I think) and blow snow at 720 rpm ona 540rpm blower. Everything works fine and the blower really pumps out the snow.

 

[BleedingOrange]

I did this mod on my previous 3 point hitch mounted blower, using 3/8 " conveyor belt, and it worked great.
What you have to watch, if your doing this mod, is measure and mark each blade individually, because each length of blade might be a bit different.
Rotate the blade by hand and find the tightest area in the chute and adjust the belt to freely go by that spot.
I used 1/4 in. bolts, with washers on both sides, and a lockwasher and nut.

 

[PILOON]

Does the modification affect the impeller balance at all?

Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet

Hey, we are talking 500 rpm here, not a jet engine turbine.
When you trim the flaps do it as equal as possible and you are good to go.

 

[DuckSlayer1017]

I have the same doubts. A lot of the automotive bonding depends on large surface areas of materials having similar properties with low dynamic forces. With adhesive attachment of tips to a composite impeller it's going to be tough to match tip to impeller properties. Then there's the high dynamic forces, spread over a small surface area, on a rotating mechanism that's doing mass transport of an inconsistent material. Actually sounds like a fairly good recipe for bond failure.

Guys, it was only a suggestion to do some research. Maybe there is something out there that will work and maybe not, but if you don't look you will never know. I honestly have doubts too because of the normal forces from the additional piece acting on the edge of the joint. I don't work with many high end adhesives but have read some amazing thing in some engineering journals.

 

[tk tom]

My Ariens walk behind has 6 blades on the impeller, looks like I've got a lot of work to do!

 

[tractchores]

Do the meteors have a big manufacturing tolerance in spacing? I looked at my impeller blades yesterday and they barely any room except where the chute opening is. Wondering why there is so much variance. Mine isn't new by any means.

 

[Baby Grand]

Guys, it was only a suggestion to do some research. Maybe there is something out there that will work and maybe not, but if you don't look you will never know. I honestly have doubts too because of the normal forces from the additional piece acting on the edge of the joint. I don't work with many high end adhesives but have read some amazing thing in some engineering journals.

Sorry if I came off sounding overly critical. It's a flaw in my personality. You are right - nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Your suggestion was taken seriously, and it was an interesting idea to think about. I recently mended a pair of old work boots using Shoe-Goo, bonding the rubber toe & heel guards, which had worked loose, to the leather uppers & and synthetic fabric backing. That stuff really surprised me - how well it bonded and held up to repeated flexing. If the Shoe-Goo repairs hadn't worked, those boots were going to the landfill. That started me thinking about different ways of fabricating other stuff, so your suggestion sort of flipped a switch for me.

 

[kco]

Do the meteors have a big manufacturing tolerance in spacing? I looked at my impeller blades yesterday and they barely any room except where the chute opening is. Wondering why there is so much variance. Mine isn't new by any means.

The Meteor 75" pull-type I bought in 2011 is as you describe tractchores. There is a consistent 1/4" spacing around the drum. I estimate it will throw cold, dry snow 50 to 60' and heavy, wet cement-like snow just 30'. That is more than adequate for my setting which don't call for precision in where to put the snow.

 

[AStanton]

I attempted to get a photo today on the snow blower running with the new modification. I think the camera was too close to the tractor. I'll try and get another shot further away.

 

[don white]

I don't know anything about the clearance issue but I can tell you I wax my chute. It really helps reduce clogs. Just smear on some car wax.

Hummm that would be my snow blower chute getting the wax.

 

[Looking4new]

I don't know anything about the clearance issue but I can tell you I wax my chute. It really helps reduce clogs. Just smear on some car wax.

Hummm that would be my snow blower chute getting the wax.

I'm glad you clarified that statement.:laughing:

 

[KubotainNH]

So to the OP, what do you think of the mod?

 

[Industrial Toys]

I just believe that some snowblowers are better then others. I think fan diameter has much to do with it too. I am wondering weather decreasing the fan to housing distance will make a blower more suceptable to having the thing freeze up when parked, especially if allowed to thaw. . That situation is a real PITA!

I have a blower project I am working on and was going to have a new fan made on account of very large clearances. One problem though is that the housing is not a constant size. If this rubber extension idea works, that may be the answer.

 

[hawkeye08]

I did this using pieces cut from old tire years ago. It works great... Yes, it is better after the mod, no question. For those that have some gravel in your snow, this is nice since you remove the gap that the rocks get caught in... (they can still wedge in the auger gaps though)..

 

[AStanton]

Regarding the mod, I would say the jury is still out. I think the litmus test will be when we get that heavy wet snow that comes out of the chute like wet cement. Previously my blower clogged with that type of snow. If it doesn't in the future, I would say the mod was a success. There is no bigger pita than getting out of warm cab and unclogging a chute.

 

[kub0]

Tractor Supply has belting for round balers that comes in several widths & lengths. I was going to try it on my Buhler but the clearance goes to almost nothing at the top where the snow exits. I tried graphite paint in the chute and haven't had any plugging since so am holding off on the mod.

 

[thirdroc17]

I painted my chute with graphite paint last summer, while I've never had it plug, this does seem to help with distance. Blowing snow from a largish parking area sometimes has me blowing the same snow twice because distance just isn't there. I have a couple more modifications in the planning stages, one being paddle extension if warranted. It's just too cold to check it this time of year. Too cold to do anything about it anyway.

 

[AStanton]

Today I woke up to about 2 inches of heavy wet snow. Based upon the snow blower's performance in removing this snow, I believe the modification was worth every penny. The snow may not had been thrown as far as I would have liked. However, I didn't experience any clogs whatsoever. Attached are some pics. One shows the wetness and consistency of the snow in my Kubota's bucket. The second shot shows the blower's discharge.

 

[KennyG]

Today I woke up to about 2 inches of heavy wet snow. Based upon the snow blower's performance in removing this snow, I believe the modification was worth every penny. The snow may not had been thrown as far as I would have liked. However, I didn't experience any clogs whatsoever. Attached are some pics. One shows the wetness and consistency of the snow in my Kubota's bucket. The second shot shows the blower's discharge.

Looks good. I thought you'd find it worked. You might want to use some Teflon or Fluid Film spray on the impeller also to minimize the potential for freezing up overnight.