converting a leaf blower

[coolconnection]

Hello everyone, I'm new on here but have been reading for some time now. I just purchased a new PT 425 and it still has less then 1 hour on it. I have been reading all sorts of things people have done to their power tracs, good and bad. I am selling a steiner 420 tractor because it is getting old and they also have their limitations. Anyhow I have a leaf blower that goes with the steiner and was wondering if the Power Trac would have enough hydro volume to spin a leaf blower at high rpm. I don't know how many rpms it would take because it was taking power directly from the engine on the steiner. Out of all the attachments this is probably the one I would miss the most. I have lots of cherry trees and of course lots of leaves in the fall. So would it be possible to rig up a leaf blower to a power trac? Is their a motor that would spin it fast enough and if so where would I get something like that? Thanks everyone and I'll be lurking on the forums somewhere.

 

[J_J]

I believe that someone has already done that. I have the picture, but can not get it to load. It is a blower/vacuum driven by a hydraulic motor, on a green machine.

 

[3238dpw]

This may be the pic that JJ is talking about. I hope that it helps.

 

[J_J]

Here is the other picture.

 

[J_J]

This may be the pic that JJ is talking about. I hope that it helps.

Hi Scott,

How is that leaf vacuum working for you. Is it avg or above avg?
Does it suck up wet leaves and grass?

 

[coolconnection]

I wonder how much it would cost to buy a motor for a blower like that? It might be cheaper to buy one of those push jobs at Lowes and clamp it to my pallet forks and drive it around that way. Hmmmm.

Thanks everyone and if you come across any more pics of leaf blowers be sure to post them.

Thanks

 

[3238dpw]

JJ, That isn't mine. It was from this thread
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/power-trac/112090-missing-accessory-power-trac-product.html

 

[NJBill]

Brian,
The Turbine Blade, inlet and outlet housings, a 3/4 inch shaft, 9 inches to cut to size required, and a key, came in at about $378. I can't find my Hyd motor price but it is identical to the 48 inch mower motor. The hoses and fittings I purchased at a Parker dealer, that was the expensive way.
I extended the mower sides and back permanently, but I made the front extension removeable, then cut the top to make an outlet for the cuttings. I built the box on a H Depot garden cart. My son had bought 20 feet of suction hose so he gave me half of it. I didn't get the 100% i was hoping for but it allow me to ride for leaf pick-up. I bought the PT 422 to dig, lift, carry, push/pull and all the other things that are difficult with a well over eighty years body, so I'm not really complaining.
I have one of the pushy things you talk about, and I began to hate it, the bag would always drag on the ground as it was filling. I constructed a small framework to the rear with two swivel wheels, now we are more than the best of friends, so I went out and bought another one in the hope I can combine them, and have a 44 inch pick-up. I tried the single one on the forks, but of course you are riding over other leaves with oppsite side wheels.

By the way the Trac Vac requires 3700 rpm fpr optimum use, I measure mine at 4400 rpm withut the mower running, with the needle valve I installed on the mower feed, I can run the mower at about 3000, while using most of the feed to accomplish the 3700 for the Turbine, the Turbine of course is a balanced unit.

All the best Brian whichever way you go, it keeps the mind working as it as been used to for quite a whille. Bill.

 

[coolconnection]

Thank you so much for the reply. I do wish I could keep the blower. It is made like a tank. Heavy but it works so well on the Steiner. With my PT I could even raise it to new heights so to speak. That would be awesome. Any good ideas or a way to convert it, keep'em coming. Thanks again.

 

[MossRoad]

First: Find the RPM that the blower shaft is turning when on the Steiner.

Second: Find the formula for figuring out RPM, motor displacement, hydraulic flow and hydraulic pressure. They are on TBN somewhere and there are many hydraulic calculators on the internet.

Third: IF the math supports your needs, find a hydraulic motor that will do the job, build a bracket to hold it to the blower, attach that to a PT quick attach plate, plug in the hoses and off you go.

 

[DHS]

Surplus center has a large assortment of pumps. Decide your desired RPM, allow a couple hundred RPM decrease under load, and ensure the pump can handle at least 8 gpm at 2500 psi. I have ordered from Surplus Center and they are good to deal with.

This an example.

Burden Sales Surplus Center Item Detail

Dale

 

[MossRoad]

Surplus center has a large assortment of pumps. Decide your desired RPM, allow a couple hundred RPM decrease under load, and ensure the pump can handle at least 8 gpm at 2500 psi. I have ordered from Surplus Center and they are good to deal with.

This an example.

Burden Sales Surplus Center Item Detail

Dale

I think you mean motor, not pump. The tractor already has pumps.

 

[coolconnection]

Well everything I can find is the motor spins at 3600 rpm at full throttle. The pulley on the blower is 4.75 inches OD with a 1" keyed shaft. I am not quite sure the pulley size on the motor because the ole steiner is out by the road for sale. I would guess it between 4 to 5 inches. I found one hydraulic calculator but it don't take pully size in consideration. Any guesses?

Thanks

 

[3238dpw]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/power-trac/95167-snowblower-conversion.html
This is a link to a snow blower conversion. but it explaines a little about how to figure it out.

 

[DHS]

I think you mean motor, not pump. The tractor already has pumps.

You are correct, I did mean motor.

Thanks

Dale

 

[MossRoad]

Well everything I can find is the motor spins at 3600 rpm at full throttle. The pulley on the blower is 4.75 inches OD with a 1" keyed shaft. I am not quite sure the pulley size on the motor because the ole steiner is out by the road for sale. I would guess it between 4 to 5 inches. I found one hydraulic calculator but it don't take pully size in consideration. Any guesses?

Thanks

The motor spins at 3600 RPM.
This does not mean the drive pulley on the tractor turns at the same RPM as the motor. There may be some gearing going on. If the pulley is connected directly to the engine shaft, it will be 3600 RPM. If it goes through a gear box, it may be reduced or increased.

See if you can figure that out or if you can find some literature or specifications as to how many RPMs the shaft that drives the pulley on the tractor turns at.

Then record the size of the pulley on the tractor and the size of the pulley on the blower. This is another area that gear reduction can be done.

Once you have the tractor pulley RPM and the diameter of both the pulleys, you can figure out how many RPMs the blower needs to turn.

After that, you need to figure 8GPM at 2500PSI can turn a motor of X displacement Y RPMs.

 

[coolconnection]

Well I figure I need a hydraulic motor of 4,350 rpm to give me the speed I need on the blower. I found a neat little web site that helped me figure out the speed I need with with the pulleys I have on the old tractor. Now if I get a hydraulic motor and hook it all up. Can I just hook it up to the PT or do I have to prime it somehow so I don't get air in the hydraulic system? I hear AIR is bad oil is good. Or will it prime itself and be ok and not hurt my PT?

Thanks

 

[J_J]

Well I figure I need a hydraulic motor of 4,350 rpm to give me the speed I need on the blower. I found a neat little web site that helped me figure out the speed I need with with the pulleys I have on the old tractor. Now if I get a hydraulic motor and hook it all up. Can I just hook it up to the PT or do I have to prime it somehow so I don't get air in the hydraulic system? I hear AIR is bad oil is good. Or will it prime itself and be ok and not hurt my PT?

Thanks

It would be a good idea to fill the motor and lines with oil before starting, although the oil under pressure will force all the air out of the system. By the time you put an impeller on the motor, you may find out that you will need a larger motor, but as you go larger, max rpm on the motors will decrease. Small hydraulic motor, high rpm, larger hydraulic motor, lower rpm. Most of the blower/vac setup uses 5 hp and higher. Most of the 5 hp gas engines run at around 3600 rpm

 

[coolconnection]

So your thinking this might not be a good idea? I know the blower turns real easy by hand but maybe a hydraulic motor will not have enough torque to turn it fast is that what your saying? I don't want to put all this money in it and it not work. That picture with the blower on the tractor lift arms and piped over the top of the canopy to a trailer in back is about the same size as my blower. I wonder how good that thing works. I'll have to do more research before I buy anything. Keep the wisdom coming please.

Thanks

 

[coolconnection]

If everyone thinks this might work I might try it. I am trying to find couplers that would work to attach a motor to the blower. The blower has a 1" shaft with a keyway. If anyone knows of a good site or place to go to get one could you please let me know.

Thanks again