Electric Snowblower conversion - Page 2

davidbr13 · 10-15-08, 10:49 AM

Hey, dcb (hey those are my initials, too), that's the exact same motor/switch that I bought surplus some time ago for converting a push mower, so it should be the same power range as what you are looking for. The only difference is mine came with a yoke to attach a blade.

Be sure to weld in a cross brace behind the motor and attach supports for that third mounting hole to it. It won't hold long just attached to the handle like that. Otherwise, it's looking good!

toyobug · 10-15-08, 11:50 AM

did you weigh it before and now after?
Looking at the pics it looks like you lightened it up a bit.

MetroMPG · 10-21-08, 08:55 PM

Cool project, dcb. Subscribed!

dcb · 10-21-08, 11:14 PM

Minor progress, found a belt at grainger, a 3l390 , hopefully it is strong enough.
still need to weld pully together and beef up motor mounting.

Actually ran it for a tiny bit though (till the pulley unbolted itself)

Will need some alignment tweaks too:

dcb · 11-30-08, 11:48 AM

They say the snow is coming so I dusted off the welder and sorted out the pully/motor arrangements.

The pulley was two pieces so I welded it at the seam, sort of, from the inside. First welding in many years.

Then I held the pulley on the motor with a bolt and adjusted the runout and knocked it straight within a few tries and deposited much welding wire

Tricky welding, gotta focus on the shaft since it is so thick.

It should be mostly braces and alignment from here.

dcb · 11-30-08, 11:38 PM

Ok, it is together enough for me to want to try it

This is your basic piece of threaded rod and a few angle brackets and a piece of metal strapping approach. It sounds faster than the original at top speed, starts up like an amusement ride. I'm a little nervous around it

, so will probably add a shield or just cobble the covers back on, but gotta try it.

dcb · 12-01-08, 12:56 AM

Cover Cobbled

That makes me feel a little safer, Now where is that snow?

Daox · 12-01-08, 07:59 AM

Looks all ready to go. I hope it holds together. I wonder if it'll work better with the higher speed?

dcb · 12-01-08, 08:03 AM

Alllrightee

Had a couple inches this morning, first test was quite manageable. I blew one circuit breaker and had to move to another circuit. But it is a lot quieter and smoother. It also has noticeably less torque

, so maybe a smaller motor pulley would be in order, you have to use a fair bit of finesse to keep the rpms up, but I can live with it.

dcb · 12-01-08, 09:29 AM

Followup,

The snow got a lot wetter towards the end. I was really overtaxing the motor, was packing snowballs on it to get it to quit smoking so much while trying to finish up.

This rig is overheating with 2 inches of wet snow. The blade speed is about right so it probably needs more motor. I managed to finish but had to let the motor rest a few times. plow stick would have been about as effective. Ah well, a $30 experiment

Now I know, get more motor.

10-15-08, 10:49 AM	#11 (permalink)
davidbr13 Lurking Renovator Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Savannah, Georgia Posts: 24 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hey, dcb (hey those are my initials, too), that's the exact same motor/switch that I bought surplus some time ago for converting a push mower, so it should be the same power range as what you are looking for. The only difference is mine came with a yoke to attach a blade. Be sure to weld in a cross brace behind the motor and attach supports for that third mounting hole to it. It won't hold long just attached to the handle like that. Otherwise, it's looking good! (Support EcoRenovator.org & get rid of these annoying ads!)

10-21-08, 08:55 PM	#13 (permalink)
MetroMPG Infrequent noob Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: 1000 Islands region, Ontario, Canada Posts: 309 Thanks: 6 Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts	Cool project, dcb. Subscribed! __________________ . To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

12-01-08, 07:59 AM	#18 (permalink)
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 3,674 Thanks: 206 Thanked 144 Times in 121 Posts	Looks all ready to go. I hope it holds together. I wonder if it'll work better with the higher speed? __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

12-01-08, 09:29 AM	#20 (permalink)
dcb Lurking Renovator Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 23 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Followup, The snow got a lot wetter towards the end. I was really overtaxing the motor, was packing snowballs on it to get it to quit smoking so much while trying to finish up. This rig is overheating with 2 inches of wet snow. The blade speed is about right so it probably needs more motor. I managed to finish but had to let the motor rest a few times. plow stick would have been about as effective. Ah well, a $30 experiment Now I know, get more motor. (Support EcoRenovator.org & get rid of these annoying ads!)

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10-15-08, 11:50 AM	#12 (permalink)
toyobug avid DIY'r Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: MS. Gulf Coast Posts: 154 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	did you weigh it before and now after? Looking at the pics it looks like you lightened it up a bit.

10-21-08, 11:14 PM	#14 (permalink)
dcb Lurking Renovator Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 23 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Minor progress, found a belt at grainger, a 3l390 , hopefully it is strong enough. still need to weld pully together and beef up motor mounting. Actually ran it for a tiny bit though (till the pulley unbolted itself) Will need some alignment tweaks too:

11-30-08, 11:48 AM	#15 (permalink)
dcb Lurking Renovator Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 23 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	They say the snow is coming so I dusted off the welder and sorted out the pully/motor arrangements. The pulley was two pieces so I welded it at the seam, sort of, from the inside. First welding in many years. Then I held the pulley on the motor with a bolt and adjusted the runout and knocked it straight within a few tries and deposited much welding wire Tricky welding, gotta focus on the shaft since it is so thick. It should be mostly braces and alignment from here.

11-30-08, 11:38 PM	#16 (permalink)
dcb Lurking Renovator Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 23 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Ok, it is together enough for me to want to try it This is your basic piece of threaded rod and a few angle brackets and a piece of metal strapping approach. It sounds faster than the original at top speed, starts up like an amusement ride. I'm a little nervous around it , so will probably add a shield or just cobble the covers back on, but gotta try it.

12-01-08, 12:56 AM	#17 (permalink)
dcb Lurking Renovator Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 23 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Cover Cobbled That makes me feel a little safer, Now where is that snow?

12-01-08, 08:03 AM	#19 (permalink)
dcb Lurking Renovator Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 23 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Alllrightee Had a couple inches this morning, first test was quite manageable. I blew one circuit breaker and had to move to another circuit. But it is a lot quieter and smoother. It also has noticeably less torque , so maybe a smaller motor pulley would be in order, you have to use a fair bit of finesse to keep the rpms up, but I can live with it.