How long does a tractor snowblower last>

[Kubotafan]

You use a blower on 500 jobs in one year, there should be enough revenue to replace it BEFORE it needs major attention. The drive chain should be replaced without even thinking about it, and the gearbox should be drained & filled. PTO shaft u-joints & telescoping tubes need a close inspection.

,

I do replace the drive chain every year, but have never had to do anything to the pto u-joints besides keeping them greased.

I had one blower where I had to have the blower housing rebuilt. I had metal fabricators bend a piece of steel to the right curve, and a friend who is an excellent welder, and particular about his work welded it in. I sold it and that tractor it was on shortly after and replaced them with a larger tractor and blower. I would like to replace my present blower before it needed this much work, and would give a new owner who didn't use it as much good service. However, it costs money to trade, and if I could get another year without problems I would.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I've often wondered if it would pay to line the blower housing with a slippery plastic just to help the blower blow further ans to prevent the housing from wearing.

 

[doxford jim]

pmsmechanic,

Thanks you have just given me an idea. The inside of the fan housing on my old snow blower could do with relining and I am sure using some high density PTFE type material will help a lot and there would be no need to be a good welder. Strategically spaced countersunk screws/bolts should work well and can be easily replaced. Hhhhm, the cost wouldn't be too bad and the material readily available.
Cheers

 

[RickB]

pmsmechanic,

Thanks you have just given me an idea. The inside of the fan housing on my old snow blower could do with relining and I am sure using some high density PTFE type material will help a lot and there would be no need to be a good welder. Strategically spaced countersunk screws/bolts should work well and can be easily replaced. Hhhhm, the cost wouldn't be too bad and the material readily available.
Cheers

Be sure to report back on that. I think the idea has merit, but also wonder how stones/gravel would treat the PTFE. I see how my steel impeller housing is lasting in my gravel drive..............

 

[pmsmechanic]

Yes I'd like a report back too on how well the high density plastic works. I have a small float as I call it for leveling dirt. It's a blade with a roller behind to control the depth of cut and to pack the soil in preparation for grass seed. I use it in winter on my gravel driveway to pack down a layer of snow so that when I clean off my driveway the gravel stays where it belongs. The only down side is that if we get mild weather the snow turns to ice which is treacherous to walk on.

 

[dragoneggs]

If you can get your hands on some UHMWPE (ultra high molecular weight polyethylene), then use that for your scraper/bumper needs. This is used by the US Navy for amphibious craft well decks and downcombers to name a couple applications. This stuff is tuff!

 

[oosik]

I had a five foot PTO snow blower that I bought new in '82. The only part needing replacement was the sheer bolt - about 2-3/season. I traded it in on a new Wallenstein chipper last year. It was 32 years old and still in great shape. It was kept under cover all the time and I dismounted and stored the chain in a coffee can of oil during the off season. I drained and put new gear lube in the gear box each year. With this kind of maintenance I would expect it to last another thirty years. I used it to clear a mile long gravel driveway.

 

[dragoneggs]

I had a five foot PTO snow blower that I bought new in '82. The only part needing replacement was the sheer bolt - about 2-3/season. I traded it in on a new Wallenstein chipper last year. It was 32 years old and still in great shape. It was kept under cover all the time and I dismounted and stored the chain in a coffee can of oil during the off season. I drained and put new gear lube in the gear box each year. With this kind of maintenance I would expect it to last another thirty years. I used it to clear a mile long gravel driveway.

Maintenance is the key! To almost everything in our possession! Even your better half! :laughing:

 

[BleedingOrange]

If you can get your hands on some UHMWPE (ultra high molecular weight polyethylene), then use that for your scraper/bumper needs. This is used by the US Navy for amphibious craft well decks and downcombers to name a couple applications. This stuff is tuff!

Any idea where a regular guy could buy some of that stuff ? Is it thin enough to be able to bend it into a circle 15 " diameter circle ?

 

[oosik]

Guido455,
Unless you use something like spray in bed liner, I don't think you will be able to get a tight fit and it will just bind up on the impeller or get chewed to shreds. I don't know what everybody is using their blowers for but using mine for the 32 years, clearing my mile long driveway barely ground off the paint inside the impeller enclosure. Folks must have really abrasive snow or they are blowing sand & gravel along with the snow.