Snowblower Adding wheels to a 3pt snowblower

[dickday]

Our lane is all mud-rock, so letting the blower float along it on the skids, like you would do with a hard surface road, is not an option.

I have read many posts from some who say that mounting wheels on the sides of the box will not work. Most said that the wheels would "ride up" on the snow. I never actually read where the poster had tried this, but they were speculating that wheels on a 3pt blower would not work.

So... I checked the internet and found 10" pneumatic tires with steel wheels with the correct load rating were about $35 each. I used 5/8" grade-8 bolts as a short axles.

I ran to my local TSC store and found some with steel rims, the correct rating AND... they were $9.99! I could not believe my eyes. Then, when I checked out, I found they were on sale for HALF PRICE! So, my two wheels/tires cost me a total of TEN bucks.

I tested to see how much the tire squats under the weight of the blower and then positioned the bolt holes so that the tires are about 1.5" below the skid.

I was able to test this on a small un-plowed section of lane, and it seemed to work!

Thoughts? Anyone using wheels on a 3pt?

Thanks

 

[nuffer460]

It should work. Just keep an eye on the bearings. I found they need to be greased better.

 

[dickday]

Thanks.

When you say "they" are you referring to super-cheap wheels? These don't even have zerks on them. I squirted as much 3-in-1 as I could in there. I doubt if these will last very long, but they did help with my proof of concept that wheels on a blower do work. I plan on replacing them with better wheels when these fail.

 

[MikeInEburg]

What happens when you turn? Do you need to raise 3-point first or do wheels simply skid sideways? I'd think you'd need some type of pivot or turning mechanism for long term success. Keep us updated on how it works out.
Mike

 

[ihuntbear]

why not just lower skid plates or skies

 

[beenthere]

Where are the pics.

If positioned right (on the side where the snow is already blown away) I would think wheels should work reasonably well. If the wheel is out in the unblown snow, maybe not so well.

Pics will speak for a lot of words and proof of the concept and build while blowing snow could make a believer out of many. Glad you had a chance to give it a shot.

 

[Usta]

My thought is the wheels MIGHT pack down wet heavy snow. You might want a small angled plow blade in front of the tires. Maybe three inches wide and about 6" high eigth inch flat stock. Just enough to plow away the snow before the tire runs over it.

 

[leonz]

Our lane is all mud-rock, so letting the blower float along it on the skids, like you would do with a hard surface road, is not an option.

I have read many posts from some who say that mounting wheels on the sides of the box will not work. Most said that the wheels would "ride up" on the snow. I never actually read where the poster had tried this, but they were speculating that wheels on a 3pt blower would not work.

So... I checked the internet and found 10" pneumatic tires with steel wheels with the correct load rating were about $35 each. I used 5/8" grade-8 bolts as a short axles.

I ran to my local TSC store and found some with steel rims, the correct rating AND... they were $9.99! I could not believe my eyes. Then, when I checked out, I found they were on sale for HALF PRICE! So, my two wheels/tires cost me a total of TEN bucks.

I tested to see how much the tire squats under the weight of the blower and then positioned the bolt holes so that the tires are about 1.5" below the skid.

I was able to test this on a small un-plowed section of lane, and it seemed to work!

Thoughts? Anyone using wheels on a 3pt?

Thanks

I would buy some "slime" very quickly as the quality of the rubber is very poor for those tires-been there done that for my firewood splitter making a larger hand cart/towed cart to act as as a fifth wheel hitch.

I would also purchase some steel pipe water pipe to add to the base of the cutting edge of the snow blower to reduce the chance of rocks entering auger housing by cutting a slit in the pipe lengthwise to raise the cutting edge by pushing the pipe onto the cutting edge.

I have posted details here on the forum on how to build a screen to mount on the base of the snow blower to keep rocks out and allow snow to come in easily.

You should look at the dual pneumatic swivel caster sets offered by Cyclone Rake they are very heavy duty and they can be lubricated.

I am glad the wheels worked for you.

 

[PILOON]

I have faced that gravel driveway problem.

If you weld, simply widen the skids that came with your blower and adjust the skids approximately 1" lower than the blower 'cutting edge'.
On my 60" blower I welded 10" X 2" X 1/4" flat stock (ends turned up like ski tips) to the bottom of my factory skids.
I now very rarely blow gravel and that unblown 1" of snow makes a good base for the rest of the winter.
Once you have that good base, you can re-adjust your 'skis' to a higher setting.

I also wanted to try wheels but to get a pair tough enough to withstand the torture was prohibitive unless I could find a pair of used industrial cast iron cart wheels that had zerks for greasing.

 

[Bob_in_VT]

I had the same problem with skids. My snow removal area consists of pavement, gravel and grass. The skids dig in too much when the ground is soft and require a different height setting for each surface. My solution was an adjustable full length roller. Using boat trailer rollers and a linear actuator I can adjust the height on the fly. I can drop the blower to scrap the pavement clean then raise it up when I hit the gravel or grass. This will be my 10th season using this set-up. I went electric because I didn't have rear hydraulics at the time. My chute rotation and chute deflector are also electric.

 

[Roger2561]

I had the same problem with skids. My snow removal area consists of pavement, gravel and grass. The skids dig in too much when the ground is soft and require a different height setting for each surface. My solution was an adjustable full length roller. Using boat trailer rollers and a linear actuator I can adjust the height on the fly. I can drop the blower to scrap the pavement clean then raise it up when I hit the gravel or grass. This will be my 10th season using this set-up. I went electric because I didn't have rear hydraulics at the time. My chute rotation and chute deflector are also electric.

Bob_in_VT - That's a great idea. I have an Erskine 721 front mount snow blower attachment on my JD4500. It came with shoes to keep the cutting edge off the ground. But, my snow removal area is like yours, pavement, gravel and grass. Looking at your pics (thanks ) I have an idea how I can set up a manual adjust to the shoes. When I'm on pavement, I can scrape it clean of snow. When on the gravel or grass I can raise a bit to prevent the scalping I have been experiencing. Roger

 

[beenthere]

I can visualize how a trailing wheel or two on each side would work in place of the shoes.
But I fail to see how the rollers on Bob_in_VT 's snowblower would not ride up on the snow left. Being that he says it worked for 10 years and the fact that it is adjustable on the fly attest for it working for him.

But if one was to mechanically adjust for say 1", then the blower edge would leave one inch and the rollers would ride up on that inch, thus raising the blower edge another inch higher. A wheel or two would work if they actually cut down through the snow left behind by the blower edge. Just thinking outloud here.

 

[Bob_in_VT]

That was a concern of mine when I built it. It does ride up at times - depends on the moisture content of the snow. Sometimes I have to go forward (tractor), drop it a bit and go again. There seems to be a sweet spot which is easy to find from the seat. I try to keep the leading edge angled down a bit and the snow slides up.

 

[wedge40]

I have to admit that Bob_in_VT has great idea. That's what I like about this site there's always something new to learn. :thumbsup:

Wedge

 

[Markcuda]

This may be a possibility for some of you guys or not.
This is what I did.

 

[PILOON]

This may be a possibility for some of you guys or not.
This is what I did.

Me also. Works just great. All of 1/2 hr of cut, bang and weld.
I used the existing skids to weld the new larger shoes.

 

[rbargeron]

......................I was able to test this on a small un-plowed section of lane, and it seemed to work!..............Thoughts? Anyone using wheels on a 3pt?

Here's a New Idea snowblower with wheels Two castor wheels look to be about 8" diameter and 3" wide. The fact that they are still attached to this machine and not tied in a knot indicates they held up reasonably well. I'd say it's a good idea.

 

[dickday]

I posted a very short (and boring) video on YouTube showing the Braber Agriease 72" blower with wheels...

YouTube - Braber Agriease pto snowblower w/wheels

 

[chopped]

:thumbsup:I didnt find it boring at all...

 

[dickday]

My wife suggested that watching grass grow was more exciting

Someone mentioned that I should look into swivel casters, and I seriously did consider that. Having done our lane and path behind the house once with the wheels, I don't think that I will need swivel wheels since almost everyone of the "runs" I make is almost a straight line.