Racinbob 11,081 #21001 Posted March 17 For years I've been wanting to build a pto driven leaf blower but just never got too serious about it. I did have a blower in Florida but for some reason it stayed in the garage attic when we moved I've had my eyes peeled for another one but it's been more like if one stumbles in front of me I'll grab it. That hasn't happened yet. I decided to go ahead and rig up a frame to mount it. I made a couple modifications to a frame that I've had since the Big Show in 2018 and I'm sure @squonk will recognize it. The weather has been exceptionally warm recently so I had a chance to throw some paint on it. My wife asked me what it was for so I told her and she said 'you don't have a blower'. I said I WILL have one before the leaves fall again. With the frame complete and having options as to how I mount the blower I will be real serious about finding a blower now. BTW, the bar that fits up into the front mount is 5/8". I didn't have a rod that size and I was just going to get one when I happened across the original tie rods (worn out) for this very tractor. A couple of cuts, a 3/8"-24 rod coupling and a perfectly good 5/8" rod. 13 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,118 #21002 Posted March 17 Whatever you do Bob, regulate the the speed at which it will turn and how much air flows thru it or it will blow apart like @87 416-8 horse blower did. These belt drive blowers are getting harder to come by with most home units going to direct drive years ago. Most of the ones you will find are well past their service life with rusted worn out vanes 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Racinbob 11,081 #21003 Posted March 17 13 minutes ago, squonk said: Whatever you do Bob, regulate the the speed at which it will turn and how much air flows thru it or it will blow apart like @87 416-8 horse blower did. These belt drive blowers are getting harder to come by with most home units going to direct drive years ago. Most of the ones you will find are well past their service life with rusted worn out vanes I was wondering about that Mike. The little research I've done seems to indicate about 17-1800 rpm. Right now I'm thinking size the pulley for running the engine wide open. Part of me was thinking sizing it for a lower rpm on the engine but sure enough I'd accidently rev it up too high. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lee1977 6,660 #21004 Posted March 17 (edited) 1 hour ago, Racinbob said: I was wondering about that Mike. The little research I've done seems to indicate about 17-1800 rpm. Right now I'm thinking size the pulley for running the engine wide open. Part of me was thinking sizing it for a lower rpm on the engine but sure enough I'd accidently rev it up too high. If you used the 5" out side pulley you will need a 10" pulley on the blower to get down to 1800. I Edited March 17 by Lee1977 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 38,178 #21005 Posted March 17 6 hours ago, Racinbob said: For years I've been wanting to build a pto driven leaf blower but just never got too serious about it. I did have a blower in Florida but for some reason it stayed in the garage attic when we moved I've had my eyes peeled for another one but I'm sorry I didn't know that Bob. I think I sold mine for $25 at the show last year. I can't remember who bought it. I really didn't need one as the wind takes care of all my leaves. I picked mine up for a couple bucks at the auction. If I see another one, I'll yell. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Racinbob 11,081 #21006 Posted March 17 Thanks Ed. They are getting harder to find but they are out there. I was basically waiting for one locally but now I'm gonna get serious about it. I didn't have a frame for one before but now that I do I'm more motivated. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,239 #21007 Posted March 18 9 hours ago, Racinbob said: if one stumbles in front of me I'll grab it. If you are coming to the Big Show I will give you one. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Racinbob 11,081 #21008 Posted March 18 I appreciate that Richard but unfortunately the Big Show isn't likely to happen this year. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeM 7,874 #21009 Posted March 18 If your really wanting to blow stuff (and have deep pockets) you can look these guy up. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thor27 767 #21010 Posted March 18 Terrible picture, but this is a 440 chrysler with iron intake & exhaust, and front accessories about a foot in the air. I need a weight box, it moved it fine, but didnt have the traction to push the front tires over the transition to garage slab.. 11 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TonyToro Jr. 1,427 #21011 Posted March 18 Took the snowplow off my 310-8 and put the 42in SD mower deck and power flow bagger system on. Added a little oil, and greased. All ready for mowing season! 10 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,239 #21012 Posted March 19 22 hours ago, JoeM said: really wanting to blow stuff (and have deep pockets) you can look these guy up. And a VERY LONG extension cord! 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OutdoorEnvy 1,522 #21013 Posted March 19 (edited) Well this is one that falls under "any reason is a good reason to get a tractor out..." So Jack and his friends were making a small wiffle ball field in the woods behind our house and wanted dirt baselines...I couldn't watch them with a rake and shovel any longer so out came the Wheel Horse garden tractor implement system! Had to take off the snow plow that I never got to use this year. Then put together the cultivator and put on the old rear tires on the 312-8 and it was ready to go. Ended up adjusting the tines close together for a narrower line. Edited March 19 by OutdoorEnvy 5 9 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 38,178 #21014 Posted March 19 1 hour ago, OutdoorEnvy said: any reason is a good reason to get a tractor out. A couple more reasons. Drag those three trees outa the diamond and pull out the beaver dam before it floods the field. 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OutdoorEnvy 1,522 #21015 Posted March 19 26 minutes ago, Ed Kennell said: A couple more reasons. Drag those three trees outa the diamond and pull out the beaver dam before it floods the field. LOL! If only the WH's could handle that job! Field will be flooded regardless though...That area looks like a pond when we get a major spring shower here. Kinda neat watching it form and then drain out within hours. But if the field needed work after that wouldn't be the worse thing either...maybe the disc harrow will get a turn 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,239 #21016 Posted March 19 3 hours ago, OutdoorEnvy said: Jack and his friends were making a small wiffle ball field in the woods behind our house and wanted dirt baselines.. May want to put up a backstop so the catcher doesn't end up in the creek chasing a foul ball. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OutdoorEnvy 1,522 #21017 Posted March 20 3 hours ago, 953 nut said: May want to put up a backstop so the catcher doesn't end up in the creek chasing a foul ball. They were warned in advance on their location selection. They want to learn the hard way so dad will let em. The hard way always sticks with you 1 3 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Colby G 233 #21018 Posted March 22 Hello everybody, I have a lot of play in my steering, does anybody know how to fix it? VID_20240322_152331.mp4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 17,739 #21019 Posted March 22 (edited) Remove cotter pin #36 add a washer between pin and housing 27 (like washers 34 and 35 to take out end play) Edited March 22 by pfrederi 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Colby G 233 #21020 Posted March 22 44 minutes ago, pfrederi said: Remove cotter pin #36 add a washer between pin and housing 27 (like washers 34 and 35 to take out end play) This works for any wheel horse? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
87 416-8 horse 420 #21021 Posted March 22 My brother was driving the 518 along the field and the tire had a small leak and popped off the bead. We pulled it off and got it back on the bead. We just nearly made it to the shop before it was flat again. I guess tires are next on the list. 1 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,508 #21022 Posted March 22 5 minutes ago, 87 416-8 horse said: guess tires If you don't have any sharp aggressive plants around.. throw a tube in it. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
87 416-8 horse 420 #21023 Posted March 22 31 minutes ago, ebinmaine said: If you don't have any sharp aggressive plants around.. throw a tube in it. I didn’t think about that. Thanks Eric 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,508 #21024 Posted March 22 22 minutes ago, 87 416-8 horse said: I didn’t think about that. Thanks Eric We have no sharp plants here. ALL our tire swaps get tubes now. No. More. Concerns about getting the bead to set. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 17,739 #21025 Posted March 22 The WHs used the same steering mechanism for many years 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites