Renewing My Old Snowblower

[GPintheMitten]

A few years ago I bought an old rusty 60" Kubota snowblower. At one time I think it was a front mount blower that someone converted to 3pt rear blower. It works fine but needs some TLC. So I'm in the process of cleaning it up and painting it.

I'll post before and after pics soon, but I question the "gear box". My gear box for the bevel gears is open with no gear oil. The bevel gears just had grease on them. This seems odd to me, but they are not worn that I can tell and it works ok.

Is this normal? Do you think this may have been part of the modification to convert it to a rear blower? Should I attempt to create a sealed box and add gear oil?

Thanks.

 

[grsthegreat]

A few years ago I bought an old rusty 60" Kubota snowblower. At one time I think it was a front mount blower that someone converted to 3pt rear blower. It works fine but needs some TLC. So I'm in the process of cleaning it up and painting it.

I'll post before and after pics soon, but I question the "gear box". My gear box for the bevel gears is open with no gear oil. The bevel gears just had grease on them. This seems odd to me, but they are not worn that I can tell and it works ok.

Is this normal? Do you think this may have been part of the modification to convert it to a rear blower? Should I attempt to create a sealed box and add gear oil?

Thanks.

there are alot of blowers without an oil immersed gear box. My old one didnt have oil and ran it for many years. Just keep it greased.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Thanks for the quick reply Grsthegreat. That's reassuring. I'll keep it greased up.

Now, onward with the project!

 

[studor]

+1 on the keep greased and run with it -- I have a bush trailer built from an old truck rear end -- the diff cover has never been there in my memory and a little grease seems to keep it operating fine -- not as if it is likely to overheat in the normal usage temperatures

 

[hawkeye08]

I think it goes back to keep it simple and save some money. The snowblower is used when there is no dust or dirt flying around to get in the grease, just some snow and maybe rain... water will run off it. Safety and protection from grime would be benefit to closed gear box.. you could always add a shield to help with safety issues..

 

[GPintheMitten]

The gears are mounted in a U shaped box bolted to the blower box and there is a shield for the top.
So it is only open on the bottom.

Good point though.

Thanks guys. I'll keep it greased.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Ok, another question.

I'm installing a power window motor to turn the chute. How do you wire it?

I have mounted and tested it to my satisfaction. I put neg on one wire and pos on the other and it spins the chute. Then I switch polarity and it spins the other way.

But how do you wire it to switch polarity? I have a momentary on-off-on switch. What else do I need?

Thanks.

 

[grsthegreat]

Ok, another question.

I'm installing a power window motor to turn the chute. How do you wire it?

I have mounted and tested it to my satisfaction. I put neg on one wire and pos on the other and it spins the chute. Then I switch polarity and it spins the other way.

But how do you wire it to switch polarity? I have a momentary on-off-on switch. What else do I need?

Thanks.

im not sure how you could do that without a on-off-on switch with dual posts (6 posts all together). A standard on -off-on switch couldnt reverse the polarity. Any one else have a better idea.??? These are called DPDT or double pole double throw switches. They come in maintained and momentary. Youll need momentary style.

I made a little diagram for you that will help out.

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/HUBBELL-WIRING-DEVICEKELLEMS-Rocker-Switch-3JC10?Pid=search

 

[grsthegreat]

here, i found another link. says the same thing.

Also, remember you dont want a maintained switch. your going to want a momentary switch.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Cool, thanks.

I also found this searching the web. It says the same as you.

http://www.instructables.com/id/HOW...or-reversing-po/step1/Required-materials/?f=m

 

[rayclar]

i have mine wired to a car power widow opener. works great.

 

[brokenknee]

i have mine wired to a car power widow opener. works great.

Can you post a picture of your setup. I would like to do this but unsure how to mount the motor to the wire.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Brokenknee, I think you were asking rayclar but I'll be posting pictures of how I used the power window motor on my blower soon.

I wired the DPDT switch like you suggested, grsthegreat, it works like a charm.

Well tomorrow is paint day. I prepped the blower as much as I can. It is in primer right now. Tomorrow, Kubota orange, if everything goes as planned.

I post pics soon. Thanks for the help along the way, guys.

 

[grsthegreat]

Cool....good job.

 

[rayclar]

hey Brokenknee here are some pics of my wiring. The two red wire on the leaf are the 12v in with inline fuse, the other wire was just old extension cord,hope this helps. ray

 

[scrappy isb67]

Ok, another question.

I'm installing a power window motor to turn the chute. How do you wire it?

I have mounted and tested it to my satisfaction. I put neg on one wire and pos on the other and it spins the chute. Then I switch polarity and it spins the other way.

But how do you wire it to switch polarity? I have a momentary on-off-on switch. What else do I need?

Thanks.

nothing else is needed if you have a DPDT(double-pole-double-throw switch with 6 terminals. wire the power and ground to the center terminals and hook the power to both sides of the switch in an X configuration do the same with the ground and you will have what you want.

Like this:
to motor= power -I I- ground
--- main= power -I I- ground
to motor= ground -I I- power

 

[brokenknee]

Brokenknee, I think you were asking rayclar but I'll be posting pictures of how I used the power window motor on my blower soon.

I wired the DPDT switch like you suggested, grsthegreat, it works like a charm.

Well tomorrow is paint day. I prepped the blower as much as I can. It is in primer right now. Tomorrow, Kubota orange, if everything goes as planned.

I post pics soon. Thanks for the help along the way, guys.

I would like to see them. Anyone that made such a modification please post pictures, as they would be great to see.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Well, its orange now. That's about the best I can say for it right now.
It looks good from about 20 feet.

I had a hard time adjusting my new spray gun. Finally after thinning it way more than the directions said I got it to spray, but not like I know it should. Next time I'll try to find someone to help me get the gun set up.

The inside of the box is good enough so I'll mount the auger back up. Then I'll sand the outside and give it another coat.

 

[WilliamBos]

A few years ago I bought an old rusty 60" Kubota snowblower. At one time I think it was a front mount blower that someone converted to 3pt rear blower. It works fine but needs some TLC. So I'm in the process of cleaning it up and painting it.

I'll post before and after pics soon, but I question the "gear box". My gear box for the bevel gears is open with no gear oil. The bevel gears just had grease on them. This seems odd to me, but they are not worn that I can tell and it works ok.

Is this normal? Do you think this may have been part of the modification to convert it to a rear blower? Should I attempt to create a sealed box and add gear oil?

Thanks.

The Farm King Y500 is the same way.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Now that I have another coat of paint on (used a brush this time... more on that story later), I am going to post some pics that are long overdue.

This is a formerly front snowblower that some previous owner convert to rear 3pt.

Here's some before pics: