Wishing for an AFFORDABLE PTO leaf blower

[hazmat]

I really wish someone would make one for <$1,000. My walk behind little wonder has crapped out again /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif I can't complain too much as it was free & is more than 15 years old. Can't decide if I should replace the motor ($350 for new Briggs $550 new honda), buy a good quality backpack blower, or convert the old one for tractor use.

If there were a new PTO leaf blower available for less than $1,000 it would be a no-brainer to me. From my research (here and google) Seems that all available are multiple thousand dollars. Since they are marketed towards the turf industry, they are priced based on return on investment (what a lawn guy could make using the thing) vs. cost to build + profit.

It would be nice if Midwest, King Kutter, or one of the other "value" mfgs offered one at a decent price.

 

[Spencer]

Hazmat, I would love to get a leaf blower for the tractor myself. If I had a inoperable one like you do I would be looking hard at coverting it over to PTO. I have a Craftsman walk behing leaf vacuum,shredder,blower combo unit. I am going to see if it works any good as a blower while mounted on my forks.

 

[chrisjbell]

I wonder why that is? I'd think (being me, and that is dubious /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif) that to rig up some kind of simple 3PH mount, add a PTO shaft and a gear box, and attach it to a fan in a housing wouldn't be an enormous expense. Doesn't sound (in theory) more complicated than a post hole digger...

But I use a tiny little attachment that hooks up to my line trimmer motor, so what do I know? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[kensfarm]

If you had an RFM side discharge.. it's an added bonus..

I wonder if you replaced the blades w/ "round disks w/ fins" kinda like what some upright vacuum cleaners use.. you could create more suction & blowing power?

Now that would be affordable.. just change the blades out.. and your RFM becomes a leaf blower.. that's an idea that might sell!

 

[shady1701]

cardo something makes a rfm with a 5hp motor or something on top with a collector that sits on top of the rfm and sucks up so if you had something like that.. mulch n go..

 

[PondKeeper]

I would be right up front in the line to buy one the day they were available. I watch them every fall on the golf course blowing the fairways. It would be great if they made a smaller PTO unit for like you mentioned $1,000.

I have told my dealer if one ever comes in on a trade /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gifjust send it down.

Mike

 

[SHIFTY]

I bet that you could make one from a modified used rotary mower,unbolt the gear box,turn it side ways and fabracate a bracket so it is secure that way,now take the blower assemble out of a junk leaf blower proubally readily available at any town dump,all you would need to do is to couple the 2 together and make a bracket to support the blower assembly,I dont know the required RPMS but if your pto has multiple sppeds you should be in good shape,If not you could probally run 2 pullys and a belt instead of a direct drive coupler. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gifJust a thought for a weekend project

 

[PondKeeper]

Now you got me thinking.

 

[ns_in_tex]

Sorry, I can't find my own post a while back with several pictures but this is one of them
Tim Taylor driveway blower
I built it out of an old belt drive finish mower I had, along with a fairly heavyduty air conditioner blower. Probably cost me less than 10.00.
Will blow that 2x4 off the drive from 8' away by the time it reaches 1/2 throttle.

 

[ns_in_tex]

Another view,
I have since cut off the swivel wheels & part of the rear deck so I could back up closer to things. I use it regularly for drive way sweeping.