The PT425 and the Storm Front

[PTOuser]

I’ve been thinking about one of my toughest jobs with 7 acres of mostly oak-hickory woods … leaves and zillions of ‘em. Did a search on leaf blowers and PTs and found talk about adapting vacs to mowers, that PT once sold a blower unit, etc. Not exactly what I was looking for. Here’s my idea ... the Hesko Storm Front (Hesko Products) appears to me to be a beast of a blower. With that said I’d like the opinions of all you hydraulic guys as to whether it could be powered by a hydraulic motor and adapted to a 425? The left/right articulation of the tractor could point the discharge effectively I believe.

 

[stray]

Yes I do believe it would work well. A mount could be made with a quick attach plate. A hydraulic motor of the correct CC to equal the speed that the blade should turn. The 422 and the 425's Hydraulic PTO puts out 8 gallon per minute. I had to figure this out when I made my side mower out of a 28 inch snapper mower deck and blade. It has worked very well and has been used extensively mowing pond banks, bushes, and ditches.

The Hesko Storm Front has a 24" x 5" fan; front and side discharge chutes. Selection of front or side discharge can be made from the operator's seat. Fan speed is approximately 2200 RPM, producing up to 4200 CFM


1 gallon [US, liquid] = 231 cubic inchs
8 gallon would = about 1848 cubic inches
Theoretically 1848 cubic inches would be pumped in one minute. You need 2200 rpm.
1848 ci / 2200 rpm = .84 cubic inch motor or any where close should be alright.
Some people might say to multiply this ans. by .85 to account for a motor efficiency of 85 %. But in my case for the side mower I didn't and it seemed to have turned out perfect.

Be sure to go over these figures to be sure this would be right.
It might help if you look over this tread.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/power-trac/64961-side-mower.html

Pumping: 1 Hp = 1 GPM x 1500 Psi or say 2 GPM @ 1500 Psi = 2 Hp

 

[PTOuser]

I expected more interest in converting a mower spindle powered blower to a hydraulic pump … guess everyone else hails from the plains, the desert southwest or has a yard vac. Stray thanks for the fluid power info & calculations. Your reply was really on target. Since my initial post I've found my plan seems to have a major flaw. Hesko seems to exist only as a WWW site. I sent two emails asking for basic pricing info … so far no reply. Tried calling the telephone number on the Storm Front site. Got a guy’s private cellular instead of Hesko. Anybody seen their product for real?? I guess I’m going to have to look into buying parts from a gasoline engine powered blower like the Little Wonder, Billy Goat, etc. unless someone knows of a good source for used blowers with dead gas engines.

 

[3238dpw]

How about this
Ventrac - Blower
or this
Ventrac - Turbine Blower


Scott

 

[KentT]

Don't limit yourself to just old blowers -- also think old yard-vacs with bad engines...

For example, I have a belt-drive vac that hooks to the PTO on my old Simplicity machines that could quite easily be turned into a hydraulically driven leaf blower...

Given that, I'd personally prefer a vacuum much more than a blower. It allows you to pick up the mess (whatever it is) and dispose of it... Chopped up leaves make excellent compost, for example...

 

[3238dpw]

I was thinking about this while I was out blowing leaves at a few costumer's houses today. This would be another option.
Giant-Vac - Leaf and Debris Management
Just Mount it on an attachment plate

 

[PTOuser]

Sent info about the Storm Front to Chis @ Power-Trac along with order for a new 425 and ask them to consider building a blower based on it. Chris told me they used to sell one. Any body out there own the original PT blower?

 

[woodlandfarms]

Did you ask Terry about the blower. As he does repairs, he may know of someone who has one who is thinking of unloading it, or knows of one sitting around the shop....

 

[woodlandfarms]

Oh, and CONGRATS on the purchase. Please post pix when you get it...

 

[PTOuser]

Woodlandfarms I've not talked to or met Terry. I'll look him up and ask your suggested question when I pick up the 425 Tuesday. Chris didn't mention any old stock lying around. Thanks for the idea.

The Storm Front folks might be a good business match for PT. They build a base blower that mounts on many zero turns via adapter kits. I like the horizontal orientation better than the Little Giant (thanks for your post 3238dpw) because of my hilly 7 acres. I REALLY like the Storm is powerfully enough to move a concrete block! stray's great post tells the PT folks pretty much how to begin mating the blower to a PT so I sent them a printout of this thread and hopefully they'll investigate and at least do a prototype. I'll post what they tell me Tuesday.

 

[DCWhitley]

I asked about a blower when I was down there in March and Chris said there wasn't any interest back when they made them and there weren't any left around. I'd be real interested if you here from Storm Front. I spend alot of time moving leaves in the Fall and with spring clean-up. It would be interesting to hear what Terry would say, I didn't think to ask him after talking to Chris.

 

[smartguyz]

I dunno. I agree with the guys. I have a lot of leaves on my 2+ acres (I'm sure you have a LOT more) but I dislike blowing them around. I ended up buying a lawn tractor with a power-blower bagger system. Worked fantastically well, but it was really too expensive to just have around for the once a year job, so I sold it. I then purchased a really cheapo Snapper riding mower and it did a great job picking it all up and bagging it, but then the tranny on it broke and I recycled it.

If I can make enough room in the wallet, I would look at the lawn vacuum, and adapt it for use with the front fine cut mower. One of the TBN members did this years ago, but I can't remember his name. It was a brilliant solution, but consisted of a tow-behind power vacuum system, hooked to the fine cut mower. The Mower had a big slot cut in the deck, where he hooked the big hose up. He had a method of reversing the adaptation, as I recall. You guys remember? Wasn't it Ed?

Rob

P.S. Found the link. Check out the photos:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/power-trac/27074-vac-pt-425-a.html

 

[NJBill]

the collection box is home made to mount on a 4 x 2 Home Depot garden cart, it is made to be pulled or pushed by the pin, and a wooden block which holds the cart to the rear section of the PT thereby allowing the caster wheels at the back to "follow" the PT body either way. the sun cover is simply to allow easier movement for the hose. The body of the finish mower was cut to allow leaf pick-up, or if I wish when mowing to have side discharge, normally keep it blocked for mulching mode. I purchased a Trac Vac turbine with 6 inch adapter.The turbine is powered by the PTO at the same time as the mower, the mower hydraulic feed is adjustable to leave majority of the power for the Trac Vac.
It works.
This year hope to make modsfor improvement.
Lots of luck whoever is trying something, it kept me busy for a while, I have to take it easy at 86.

 

[MossRoad]

...I have to take it easy at 86.

Ha! You're probably sharper than most of us 40 somethings!

 

[PTOuser]

Went back to Tazwell Monday. Found out from Terry that Power-Trac only made one debris blower then gave up on the idea of making blowers ... didn't ask why. Chis and Terry agreed to talk with Engineering about the possibility of building one using the Storm Front if I buy a blower. Terry remarked thathe liked the horizontal orientation of the Hesko blower. The previous Friday I Googled Hesko's phone number which gave a person's name in the Detroit area. E-mailed him personally asking cost of a blower without mounting hardware. So far no reply. Not sure if Hesko is real or not but WWW site is still up. Hope they are 'cause I believe the 425/Storm Front would be a perfect match.