Hydraulic Chute Spout Rotator

[KellyB]

Hey Guys,
Just wondering if anyone has done their own chute rotator on a Farm King 740 Snow Blower or similar?

I bought a new blower from a dealer in Edmonton and the Ad on Kijiji said that it came with a Hydraulic Spout Rotator but it showed-up with a Hand Crank. I talked to their sales manager a number of times but now my calls and emails go unanswered so I guess I'm on my own.

I contacted a number of Farm King dealers and their kit #F1545 sells for about $800 plus taxes, so I'm looking into doing my own.

Any tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Dave M7040]

There are simple do it yourself alternatives to a hydraulic motor for chute rotation.

I will provide pictures of a few.

In the simplest style, a bar is swung by a hydraulic cylinder. A cable wraps around the chute and is pulled by the ends of the bar.

You need to view the chute and whatever pulls on the cable as two sprockets. Each needing to move through a circular path. With the bar, its movement is not following a circular path and for this reason, the trick is to not fasten the cable to the ends of the bar but rather to have the cable go around a pulley or roller at each end of the bar and then be fixed to something immovable. This ability to slip at the ends of the bar makes up for the fact that the ends of the bar do not follow a circular path.

The second example has a piece of light channel bent into a semi circle. This semi circle has the cable affixed to each end. Because the semi circular channel moves in a circular way, the cable can be fixed directly to each end of the semi circular channel.

The last example shows what not to do. The cable is fixed directly to each end of a pivoting bar but because the ends of the bar do not follow a circular path, the cable's movement if unacceptable.

In each of these designs a simple double acting hydraulic cylinder can be used. Typically a 2" diameter x 8" stroke cylinder.

Dave

 

[Industrial Toys]

I never liked cylinders to control chute rotation as there is never enough degree of movement. Adding fancy pulley and cable arrangements to increase travel is just problematic. The motor is the preferred choice.

 

[Dave M7040]

Cylinders can be made to easily provide more than 180 degrees of rotation.

After that, you are blowing snow in your face.

Dave M7040

 

[CalG]

Cylinders can be made to easily provide more than 180 degrees of rotation.

After that, you are blowing snow in your face.

Dave M7040

I "NEED" more than 180 degrees to clear snow at my place. Some areas require the blown snow go to the rear of the tractor position.

I bought a small hydraulic motor through ebay , it cost $45 shipped. but it has not been fitted yet.

The attentive snow blower operator does what must be done to NOT blow snow at himself. Heck, there might be stones in the snow! ;-)

 

[Industrial Toys]

I would sooner have a motor that simply doesn't turn a frozen chute, rather than a cylinder that destroys a bunch of pulleys, cables and brackets that provide increased tavel. MAJOR PITA!

 

[CalG]

What would be the hydraulic control component that would limit the force that a piston or motor could develop?

Some sort of over pressure relief valve with high flow capabilities so as not to push all excess flow through an orifice?

The parts illustration in the op might have such a device attached to the motor.

 

[Industrial Toys]

A relief valve accross the cylinder or motor.

 

[KennyG]

I considered hydraulic but ended up using a 12 volt winch because it was cheaper and easier.

 

[CalG]

A relief valve accross the cylinder or motor.

This cushion valve appears to be the suggested solution.
1/2 NPT 3 GPM 5-15 PSI Hydraulic Cushion Valve | Prince Mfg | Brands | www.surpluscenter.com

I like the OEM idea of a package unit with the motor. Does anyone know where to source one like that?

 

[Industrial Toys]

Not sure it would work for exactly that. I see it for dealing with the momentum issues associcated with hydraulic motors. You are not concerned with shock, but simply limiting the pressure your motor or cylinder can see.

 

[CalG]

Not sure it would work for exactly that. I see it for dealing with the momentum issues associcated with hydraulic motors. You are not concerned with shock, but simply limiting the pressure your motor or cylinder can see.

check the Q&A on this page.
1/2 NPT 16 GPM 1���-25�� PSI Relief Valve | Relief & Cushion Valves | Hydraulic Valves | Hydraulics | www.surpluscenter.com

Perhaps, the package is a very convenient bi-directional pressure relieve valve.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I wouldn't even have a clue, how much one would limit the pressure to. But yes, I guess that valve would work if the pressures were appropriate.

A friend who sells and makes hydraulic hoses (handy for a project like this) rigged up valves so that he can use part of the blower motor flow to run his chute with a hyd motor, which previously had been electric, as he had no extra circuit on his SS boom.

 

[PILOON]

For some 5-7 years now my chute rotates via a simple cheap electric ATV winch.
Good torque, nice powerful slow speed and VERY cost effective.

LOL, mine is a yard sale winch ($5.00) but as a rule a new unit is found at very affordable cost, (under $100)

The challenge is mounting but not all that difficult to imagine.
Mine is mounter vertically with a cable that wraps around the chute.

Power is ample to even break the chute lose from ice build up. (but I do grease to ease that task)

Operation is a simple DPDT switch that is spring loaded in both directions (more or less $10.00)

 

[CalG]

For some 5-7 years now my chute rotates via a simple cheap electric ATV winch.
Good torque, nice powerful slow speed and VERY cost effective.

LOL, mine is a yard sale winch ($5.00) but as a rule a new unit is found at very affordable cost, (under $100)

The challenge is mounting but not all that difficult to imagine.
Mine is mounter vertically with a cable that wraps around the chute.

Power is ample to even break the chute lose from ice build up. (but I do grease to ease that task)

Operation is a simple DPDT switch that is spring loaded in both directions (more or less $10.00)

Sure, there are many ways, but the OP used the OEM HYDRAULIC MOTOR in example. If the thread wants to explore options, IT"S ALL BEEN HASHED OUT IN OTHER SIMILAR THREADS! Just go read them, they are in the DIY forum.

And Yes, I am yelling. (Pet Peeve!.... Derailing a thread that just MIGHT lead to useful information on a single particular subject. SUCH AS a hydraulic motor drive for chute rotation)

No Offense meant towards any individual.

 

[CalG]

I wouldn't even have a clue, how much one would limit the pressure to. But yes, I guess that valve would work if the pressures were appropriate.

A friend who sells and makes hydraulic hoses (handy for a project like this) rigged up valves so that he can use part of the blower motor flow to run his chute with a hyd motor, which previously had been electric, as he had no extra circuit on his SS boom.

4/3 GPM Prince Priority Flow Divider w/Relief | Divider Valves | Hydraulic Valves | Hydraulics | www.surpluscenter.com

Not something needed if running off the tractors rear remotes. But something nice with a SS and all it's hydraulic capacity.

I can see a "properly designed" hydraulic motor drive for a snow blower chute ending up to be a rather costly project. I'll need to shop carefully ;-)