snowblower gearbox accelerator

[keithcoady]

Just wondering if these snowblower gearbox accelerators are worth the investment.

I priced one and it's around $700

Curious because I find my snowblower not throwing snow as far as I thought it would.

Snowblower is a E60 Normand 3 ph on a Kubota B7800

Works great but just thought it would be firing the snow much further. Throws it about 25 to 30 feet even powdery stuff

Blowing in low range at 540 rpm

Any thoughts?

Keith

 

[BravoXray]

I've never tried one, but my inclination is that it won't make much difference. In my experience, the temperature and weight of the snow and the atmosphere will affect the blower's ability to throw. There are folks who have added rubber flaps fashioned to extend the metal blades of the blower that seem to make a difference. You tube shows such a modification if you're interested in trying it, should be an inexpensive upgrade.

Jerry

 

[keithcoady]

Thanks Jerry, may try the flap mod and see if that'll help but I think the clearance is fairly close as it is. will check it out though, may be worth it,
thanks
Keith

 

[Dave_eng]

I have a friend with a B7100 hst.
His 3 pt blower is 48" and looks like it was made by McKee who painted it Kubota orange.
He has run it in the mid pto speed for decades without a problem.

I think the fan on his blower has 3 blades and in 540 rpm pto speed he was not happy with where the snow ended up after exiting the blower.
In mid pto speed he is much happier

Dave M7040

 

[keithcoady]

THanks Dave but I have no idea how I would connect my 3 point to the mid pto and that rpm is 2500

he must have some kind of reduction

 

[D2Cat]

I think what Dave_eng is telling you is the B7100 HST has 3ea PTO speeds. His friend uses the middle range PTO speed. He is talking about a 3pt blower.

 

[keithcoady]

D2cat, ok that makes perfect sense, my bad, still learning

 

[MadMax31]

Id try riviting rubber flaps to impeller ends to seal up the gaps better. Typically results in improved snowblower performance without dropping $700.

 

[keithcoady]

Thanks max I might give it a go not much room to get at the blades but will check it out tomorrow

High winds and rain tonight but a blizzard coming Sunday with 30cm so be a good test

 

[OldeEnglish]

I don't think our going to throw it much farther, 20-25ft is pretty good. Where do you want to throw it in your neighbor's yard

The blower I had on my b7100 did not like anything but the lowest pto speed

 

[keithcoady]

Might wait until the storm Sunday and see how it does with this snowfall might make a difference with a different weight, wetness, etc.

 

[keithcoady]

I don't think our going to throw it much farther, 20-25ft is pretty good. Where do you want to throw it in your neighbor's yard

Lol yeah neighbours yard would be fine

 

[Grizzy3901]

Id have to say for the hp your talking about thats pretty good distance. We run big snowblowers at work and your talking a c18 cat turned up so somewhere in the neighborhood of 700+hp and we throw 100 to 150 feet.

 

[NoJacketRequired]

Keith - how many blades on the impeller, 3 or 4? This does make a difference, with 4 typically being better than 3. Also, what is the shape of the impeller blade? If you are looking through the auger at the impeller, blades that have an upward-curved surface on this edge, the edge which is being fed fresh snow by the auger, often creates more throwing velocity.

Also, take a look at the intersection between the impeller housing and the discharge chute. Some blowers suffer from the impeller blowing some of the snow back out into the auger area. Installing a strap of steel across the top edge of the auger-side of the impeller housing can sometimes prevent this from happening and again produce higher throwing velocity.

As others have said, installing rubber impeller blade extensions also helps.

With a 60" blower you've got lots of HP to get the job done (this being said by a guy with a 51" Meteor 3pt hitch blower on his old B7200 with only 14 PTO HP). Stepping up the PTO speed is not likely to gain you much other than headaches and frustration.

 

[keithcoady]

NoJacket - great points there thanks so much.

there are 4 blades and they are curved, bearing is tight as well

don't get me wrong this thing works great and gets rid of the snow quite well. I'm probably just expecting too much from an already awesome set up

I'll definitely try the metal strip on the front of the impeller housing. How wide a strip would you suggest? Would a 2" strip make a difference or do you think I should go a bit larger.

I take it just mount it from left to right over the top of the circle of the drum?

A lot less work to try iinstead of the flaps for now. We have snow coming tomorrow and then a storm on Sunday so if I can find time I'm going to try this and see how it works.

Thanks again, much appreciated

Keith

 

[Daren Todd]

I don't think our going to throw it much farther, 20-25ft is pretty good. Where do you want to throw it in your neighbor's yard

That would be my philosophy make it the neighbors problem

Snowblower is pretty much worthless in my region. Snows too wet with usually an inch or two of of slush and ice mixed in. Would be lucky to toss the snow a foot


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[NoJacketRequired]

NoJacket - great points there thanks so much.

there are 4 blades and they are curved, bearing is tight as well

don't get me wrong this thing works great and gets rid of the snow quite well. I'm probably just expecting too much from an already awesome set up

I'll definitely try the metal strip on the front of the impeller housing. How wide a strip would you suggest? Would a 2" strip make a difference or do you think I should go a bit larger.

I take it just mount it from left to right over the top of the circle of the drum?

A lot less work to try iinstead of the flaps for now. We have snow coming tomorrow and then a storm on Sunday so if I can find time I'm going to try this and see how it works.

Thanks again, much appreciated

Keith

The Kubota blower on the front of our B7510 is using a strip that's about 2" wide. It is mounted on a bit of a diagonal, with the left end (when viewed from behind the blower, looking forward past the auger into the impeller) lower than the right, so it's covering more of the intake side of the discharge chute. Wish I had thought to take a pic to post here. Instead I found one on the web that shows you basically the same thing. Note the left side of the impeller housing is not round - this squaring off is what one can accomplish with a steel plate, essentially sealing the end of the impeller blade within a closed chamber before it blasts the snow up the discharge chute.

 

[keithcoady]

NoJacket, took some pics and I actually have the flat section you mentioned, it's part of the blower.

I never noticed it as I'm a new owner of this machine and first winter with it.

Anyway, so that problem is solved but you'll notice in the pics there is quite a bit of clearance between the blades and the drum. Probably around 1/4" to 3/8" so getting some flaps in there is certainly going to help things I think.

Problem is probably not going to have time to do it before the storm on Sunday but going to give it a try, don't have much free time this weekend.

Pics coming below, let me know what you all think of the clearance on the blades.

 

[keithcoady]

 

[keithcoady]

Here's another pic