Powered Snow Blower Chute Control

[wallfish 18,684]

So the worm gear setup on the blower worked OK with a motor turning it but once in a while a chunk of ice could bind it. Turns out it wasn't totally all the worm gear's fault for questionable performance as I found a dimpled out part of the sheet metal which was affecting the smooth travel of the plastic chute guides. Of coarse that was discovered after making and attaching the new 85 tooth gear so decided to just go forward with the chain drive after fixing that. It still needs a little tweaking but so far so good. Strong and powerful so it should just crush any ice chunks, hopefully. Thinking about attaching a plastic guard to cover the entire chain and motor gear. No modifications to the blower itself except for enlarging the holes on the chute itself so it can always be changed back to the worm gear set up using a motor or handle. The thing about the chain drive is it will be nice to shoot snow 45-60 deg backwards instead of turning the tractor around. BTW, the notches on the chute for the worm gear drive perfectly fit #35 chain so grinding in new teeth all the way around on that plate would have worked too.

Also making new windows for the snow cab using clear 20 mil marine vinyl and aluminum frames. Covering the vinyl of the cab with clear Flexseal out of a can with a brush turned out to be a successful experiment. I covered a big portion of the cab already and it sticks VERY well and turns the vinyl cover into a nice pliable sheet of rubber. Very happy with the results of that so far! Bought a couple spray cans of the red which I may spray on over the clear after some testing.

Added new rubber paddles too as the old were worn down some and a new front gearbox support.

 

 

[peter lena 9,523]

@wallfish nice job on that ! get some chain and cable lube in the chute base area as well as the obvious chain to gear drive set up , should work , without effort  , pete

[Pullstart 68,407]

Sweet work John!

[prondzy 3,889]

John where did you find the large gear for around the chute?

[kpinnc 16,029]

On 11/28/2021 at 10:19 AM, wallfish said:

No modifications to the blower itself except for enlarging the holes on the chute itself

 

AWESOME fabrication! What are you using to control it?

 

Is there a bearing in there? Only asking because I'm looking for one that is 7 inches ID. Only thing I've found that isn't ridiculously expensive won't tolerate outside conditions. 

[wallfish 18,684]

23 hours ago, prondzy said:

John where did you find the large gear for around the chute?

 It wasn't a direct fit so it was trimmed to fit but aluminum is easy to cut and it won't rust. Not sure where I found an 85 tooth sprocket

 

Found one

https://www.amazon.com/GoPowerSports-Split-Sprocket-35-Chain/dp/B07SM1GL1B/ref=sr_1_2?

 

 

 

6 hours ago, kpinnc said:

 

AWESOME fabrication! What are you using to control it?

 

Is there a bearing in there? Only asking because I'm looking for one that is 7 inches ID. Only thing I've found that isn't ridiculously expensive won't tolerate outside conditions. 

Here's the motor. I did seal it up better with liquid electric tape.

Not sure what you're referring to for "a bearing in there". The chute just rides on the normal guides and the sprocket was attached directly to the flange. No bearing added.  Everything can easily be swapped back to factory.

Due to snow load moving and tilting the chute, I've since added a small idler sprocket with spring load on it. It wasn't completely necessary but the chain would catch on a sprocket tooth every once in a while so the spring loaded chain tensioner solved that.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Makermotor-Electric-Gearmotor-Roller-Sprocket/dp/B011AMFHBS/ref=asc_df_B011AMFHBS?

 

Dual pole momentary switch. Use the second one for a small actuator to control the chute tilt.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Momentary-Toggle-Switch-Malicele-Waterproof/dp/B0F9PC5XW3/ref=sr_1_5?

 

Actuator

https://www.amazon.com/VEVOR-Actuator-Waterproof-Actuators-Mounting/dp/B0FTRVDTHQ/ref=sr_1_8_sspa?

 

Edited 4 hours ago by wallfish

[wallfish 18,684]

It's so much easier with electric controls with the cab. The speed of rotation is super helpful when turning around 180 degrees and shooting the snow the same direction. It can be done without stopping or even slowing down. 

 

The total of the chute throw from the middle of that bracket is about 6" (I believe) The actuator I had is a 4" throw (I believe) so that's why it's attached to the side instead of the middle. Still works perfect either way but attaching it to the side like that does speed it up for the travel distance end to end.