Snowblowing

[dylan]

Hello everyone
I just got my toolcat last week and i'm looking to install a backdrag for the front of the snowblower.

Some sort of setup so that when i blow snow up to a garage door, i can set down the back drag and pull away the remaining snow.

Does anyone here have any pics of a similar setup?

Thanks
Dylan

 

[dsb5610]

Dylan,

I recall reading about others wanting the same thing. Pronovost has a model with that feature but I only see a 3pt version.

Do you already have a snowblower and are looking to add this feature to it or are you looking to buy one with it? I have a Bobcat 66" SB200. I've never used it in snow but did run it once to test everything. I'm trying to remember how all the controls work to power the blower, rotate the chute and change the angle of the deflector and if there is an unused function on the joystick to lift/drop a backdrag.

dsb

 

[dylan]

I already have the 72" SB200. My dealer mentioned that there is enough controls with the toolcat to run an extra hyraulic cylinder up front.
I'm looking to build this backdrag myself because i've never seen anything available on the market.
thanks
Dylan

 

[Egon]

There's lots on the market.

http://http://hotproducts.alibaba.com/manufacturers-exporters/Snow_Shovel.html

 

[dylan]

Shovelling may not totally be for me so here is the prototype:

Two cylinders will power it up and down. It will have a poly urethane cutting edge and a plastic blade to keep the snow in.

Should be finished in a few days.

 

[dsb5610]

Dylan,

It looks like you are well on your way. Good work. If we got more snow here I would keep my blower and look into to fabricating a backdrag for it too.

I still cannot think of how you are going to control the up/down on it with the standard Toolcat controls. You will need post that part as well and enlighten me.

Good luck,
dsb

 

[dylan]

Dsb
Thanks for the reply. Here are some more pics. I'm on my way to the dealer this morning to get his help with the hydraulics. He said it would be no problem to run the cylinders from one of the extra switches behind the joystick.
There are 3 of them in a row. The first 2 will run the chute on the blower. Up / down and rotate. the Third switch will raise /lower the back drag.

Still left to do:
install poly cutting edge
plastic gliders
poly blade to hold deep snow in
hydraulics
paint

 

[dylan]

The hydraulics are finished. It works really good.
We went over to the local hockey rink and found some snow to blow!

Just the detail work now like paint and touchups.

 

[odleefs]

Very nice...let us know how it works on the real stuff right around the corner.
Steve

 

[mike123]

I am about to start this same project. I thoght it would be easier to have the rams run parellel with the ground instead of up and down. Did you give this any thought?
Thanks Mike

 

[dylan]

Mike
Yes I did give it some thought to doing it the other way but it seemed easier doing it the way i did. I thought about copying the picture of the pronovost blower (rams go sideways) but up and down seemed easier to measure.

Be sure to post some pics. Maybe I'll get some more ideas from you.

Cheers dylan

 

[theoshin]

going to give a picture of the prov. 3pt blower to the engineers at work
(family company) and see what they come up with. Probably will start with
the hydrolics engineer and then let the cad engineer make up a blueprint.
this should be interesting. the family builds heavy hydro. concrete breakers
(badger breaker).

ts

 

[rbargeron]

DYLAN - I just found this thread - You Da Man !!!

I've been thinking of the same rig for my 84" rear-mount snowblower. I posted the other day at the bottom of this thread:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/84242-rear-pull-snowblower.html

I have an 80" wide lightweight blade (SnoWay - with Lexan) and I mounted it on two arms with a fast crank winch. Functionally it looks like a similar layout to yours but without hydraulics. Not sure it needs hydraulic downforce - the places I use it are just light duty cleanup. I'm counting on the weight and curvature of the blade to dig in enough. Real snow will tell all. As suggested in the post above, I did some layouts in AutoCad to get the swing arm geometry, etc. Pics to follow. Did I mention - TBN ROCKS !

 

[rbargeron]

I posted about my drag blade over in the Attachments forum - including a few pictures. It is a first-cut - may work well, but may need some revisions. Mostly, we need some snow for testing.

 

[dylan]

rbargeron: Thanks for the compliment. Hope the pictures help others build similar units. Your blade looks good too. Simple and should be effective.
Cheers Dylan