Ever seen one of these??

[deputyrpa]

Hey folks. Has anyone seen one of these? It's a Hanson Equiipment Co. Model SB-72 snowblower. My buddy had it sitting in his yard and didn't find out until I was telling him how unsuccessful I was in trying to find a snowblower for a decent price. It doesn't work to well in the crust/powder - larger chunks just get pushed around. Anything over 6-8 inches comes over the top of the vee blades, and isn't thrown. Also, when pressure is exerted, the auger hits the bottom brace and make a racket. The shoes don't allow it to scrape clean, and it leaves a inch or so, which is probably good since my driveway is gravel and shale. It throws this granular mix about 5-10 feet.

He'll sell it to me cheap, but unless I can think of a way to make it throw further and eat deeper snow, it may not be worth the few hundred bucks. What do you all think? Thanks, in advance, for your help.

 

[IslandTractor]

It looks to be about 8-9 feet wide. With that width, you could just back down your driveway then back up the same path to get any snow that overflowed. You'd have to make a round trip with a plow or smaller blower anyway so why not?

 

[foggy1111]

I'm a little surprised that it wont throw the snow further than that stated. The price seems right...if you think you can live with the short-comings of it. I think you could add some metal to the top of the wings to reduce the spill-over....maybe reduce the width too? I like the way they feed the blower on this unit....at least it looks good.

 

[deputyrpa]

It looks to be about 8-9 feet wide. With that width, you could just back down your driveway then back up the same path to get any snow that overflowed. You'd have to make a round trip with a plow or smaller blower anyway so why not?

It's a little wider than 6', Island. The pic is perspective-free. I have to make a first pass each way. BTW - as you can see, the original paint is really intact, even in the chute! It's kind of frustrating to have a decision-making issue with $200 for this one, or $650 for this one I found:

 

[deputyrpa]

I'm a little surprised that it wont throw the snow further than that stated. The price seems right...if you think you can live with the short-comings of it. I think you could add some metal to the top of the wings to reduce the spill-over....maybe reduce the width too? I like the way they feed the blower on this unit....at least it looks good.

Well, the granular snow is heavy. I bet it'll blow powder well. I really like the auger design too. It seems it would feed snow better than an impeller-only vee design. I guess I can create a Frankenblower with some steel and my inferior welding skills.

 

[IslandTractor]

Get out your welder and raise those wings. You could probably do it just by bolting on an extension. Might need some bracing I suppose but you can always consult Rube Goldberg's Bible for that. I'm thinking Wright Brothers wire and bridgeworks.

 

[deputyrpa]

Get out your welder and raise those wings. You could probably do it just by bolting on an extension. Might need some bracing I suppose but you can always consult Rube Goldberg's Bible for that. I'm thinking Wright Brothers wire and bridgeworks.

Alas, your mind is infected too....

Actually, I'm not a bad welder - I'm just a fix-it welder as opposed to a build-it welder (read:real welder). It looks like I can weld a piece on top and flush to the wings, and brace it against the pipe. I'm seeing it!

 

[deputyrpa]

I forgot to mention....I have to use Medium range gear 2 to move 4 inches of snow without spillover.

I just wonder why they made the vee blades so low given the large auger and apparent capacity.....

 

[IslandTractor]

I just wonder why they made the vee blades so low given the large auger and apparent capacity.....

I think you got the Florida model.

Even with the low wings, you could adapt by moving snow as it accumulates rather than waiting until morning. Or simply keep making passes until it doesn't flow over the top anymore. Those are certainly not the ideal solutions but for a few hundred bucks it's better than shoveling.

 

[deputyrpa]

I think you got the Florida model.

LOL !!! Dat waz a goude one.....

It'll be slower than plowing, but I won't have to deal with finding places to put piles in the wooded and cut 200yd. driveway. I'm getting pinched in with all this snow.

 

[LBrown59]

*I think you got the Florida model.

Even with the low wings, you could adapt by moving snow as it accumulates rather than waiting until morning. Or simply keep making passes until it doesn't flow over the top anymore. Those are certainly not the ideal solutions but for a few hundred bucks it's better than shoveling.

*LOL

 

[PGBiodiesel]

I picked up one of these, same model SB-72, at an auction a few years ago. A much older version though. I'm a real cheapskate so I won't tell how much.

I don't know why a 72 model is actually 6'6" wide.

Mine doesn't have that flat cross brace, doesn't seem to have needed it.

No skid pads or front extension either. Might dig in a little more.

Upgrade modifications may be in order. I don't think verticle extensions of the V would need to be very heavy duty. Perhaps some grade 8 bolts in the spiral would breakup the snow chunks.

Is yours the original color?
Mine is that hywy yellow orange. Very weathered & rusty but it still has all the faded decals.

But nothing about how far to stand back, nor what PTO speed to use.

I have a multi-speed PTO so can crank it pretty fast. Don't have a long drive so have only tested it a little and stuck it away for another project idea.

Frequently it's easier to modify to suit than build totally from scratch.

If you can afford it get both. Play around with them. Clean up, touch-up or paint the one you don't want and get more than you paid for it.

Goodluck

 

[deputyrpa]

I think it may be wider because the effective snow collection area inside the vee is 6'.

It's all original paint, which is amazing.

It's hard to beleive there is a "much older" version.

I only have a 540 rpm pto, and I think a 1000rpm would be too fast.

I works alright, and may only need slight modification. The auger style breaks snow up pretty well without the need for bolts, etc. I just need to increase the vee blade height.

 

[pennwalk]

About the throwing distance. I think there is a company that makes rubber or plastic scraper blades that bolt on to the ends of the impeller blades. The theory is that the clearance between the impeller and the impeller housing needs to be about the thickness of a quarter. Why that is supposed to make them throw much farther I can't figure out. Is there much gap between the blades and the housing? Seems like you could fabricate something like that.

Chris

 

[David Devuono]

I made one of these snowblowers (48") for about 300 bucks in Dec 08. Just this past weekend I put it to work clearing 12 inches of snow (packed down by driving into my camp). Still have to post this weekends snowblowing. Here is a video of how it works with lighter snow. I can move back as fast as the little Kubota will go in light snow. It throws 40-50 feet. I don't have an elaborate auger but my shoot is large enough that it should never get blocked by wet snow. I have modified the hood that is held on with vice grips. I primarily run 540 PTO speed. It throws even further at 1000 rpm but does not seem necessary.

YouTube - Homemade Single Stage Snowblower 4

 

[deputyrpa]

I made one of these snowblowers (48") for about 300 bucks in Dec 08. Just this past weekend I put it to work clearing 12 inches of snow (packed down by driving into my camp). Still have to post this weekends snowblowing. Here is a video of how it works with lighter snow. I can move back as fast as the little Kubota will go in light snow. It throws 40-50 feet. I don't have an elaborate auger but my shoot is large enough that it should never get blocked by wet snow. I have modified the hood that is held on with vice grips. I primarily run 540 PTO speed. It throws even further at 1000 rpm but does not seem necessary.

YouTube - Homemade Single Stage Snowblower 4

I read that thread david....that was one heck of a build. I also watched tour videos. I guess that makes me a fan....but not a stalker....

I only have a 540rpm pto. I haven't had a chance to blow any light snow - just some ice-chunked granular stuff. Given that have the blower, it probably won't snow again here!!

 

[AKwelder]

just a thought, what was the Kubota dealership here had a old mechanic out back that had the memory of an elephant. When I got my B8200 he had the answers. My kubota has 2 PTO speeds, 540 and 750. after asking around, I went back to the old timer. he said for a while kubota and a couple others used the higher speed for snow blowers and a couple other things. It answered my question so i said thank you and didn't press for details.

Maybe you need another PTO speed.

We get a lot of small snow falls, 2 to 6 inches. Mostly our snow is dry. Some blowers work well in different snow.

 

[Builder]

Hey folks. Has anyone seen one of these? It's a Hanson Equiipment Co. Model SB-72 snowblower. My buddy had it sitting in his yard and didn't find out until I was telling him how unsuccessful I was in trying to find a snowblower for a decent price. It doesn't work to well in the crust/powder - larger chunks just get pushed around. Anything over 6-8 inches comes over the top of the vee blades, and isn't thrown. Also, when pressure is exerted, the auger hits the bottom brace and make a racket. The shoes don't allow it to scrape clean, and it leaves a inch or so, which is probably good since my driveway is gravel and shale. It throws this granular mix about 5-10 feet.

Sounds like my kinda machine!

 

[deputyrpa]

just a thought, what was the Kubota dealership here had a old mechanic out back that had the memory of an elephant. When I got my B8200 he had the answers. My kubota has 2 PTO speeds, 540 and 750. after asking around, I went back to the old timer. he said for a while kubota and a couple others used the higher speed for snow blowers and a couple other things. It answered my question so i said thank you and didn't press for details.

Maybe you need another PTO speed.

We get a lot of small snow falls, 2 to 6 inches. Mostly our snow is dry. Some blowers work well in different snow.

I love those old-timers. No bull and no guessing.

I just sold my Jinma, which had a 100rpm pto as well as a 540. Timing is everything. I'm not ready to buy another tractor yet.....

I have to try it on some fresh snow. The snow I tried it on had melted and refroze a few times in layers.

 

[deputyrpa]

Sounds like my kinda machine!

Did I mention that the cutting edge was 1/4 x 2 angle iron welded behind and to the bottom of the vee blades, with a tad of reveal? Makes for a strong and durable blade.