Snow blower shute director modification?

[red73mustang]

Not sure if this belongs here, but I was wondering if anyone had some ideas about modifying the hand crank rod used to change the output direction of some of the older snow blowers.

A lot of the new units have kind of a "joy stick" with cables going to the output chute that is right up top with the gear selector, auger and drive levers\paddles

The older style with the "worm-gear" rod set up puts it about a foot and a 1/2 lower than the main controls thus forcing you to and bend down every time you want to change the direction the snow if blown.

Could a simple rod end and universal joint be used to mount this adjuster at a higher location similar to a steering arm set up?

Chet

 

[rlitman]

Could a simple rod end and universal joint be used to mount this adjuster at a higher location similar to a steering arm set up?

Absolutely yes, but then the handle will be at an angle. Otherwise you need two universal joints, but that may start to cause other issues.

My Ariens actually came with a universal joint to do just this, although it uses a bevel gear setup that turns the chute much faster than the worm gear type.

 

[srmofo]

I saw a video where a guy modified his by cutting the rod off and permanently mounting a cheap cordless drill onto it. He just used the chuck to grab the rod and a couple of clamps to hold the drill. With the flip of a switch he changed which direction it went.

 

[ClickClickBoom]

I've been thinking about using a window wiper motor, or a window lift motor to power mine.

 

[454ragtop]

I've been thinking about using a window wiper motor, or a window lift motor to power mine.

I put a window motor on my Cub Cadet snowblower attachment, works excellent. Not sure self propelled snowblowers have 12V available?
Jim

 

[ClickClickBoom]

I put a window motor on my Cub Cadet snowblower attachment, works excellent. Not sure self propelled snowblowers have 12V available?
Jim

Not sure either, but it's also fairly trivial to add a junkyard alternator, which then also allows you to add lights, heated grips, coffee maker, ect, ect.

 

[rlitman]

I put a window motor on my Cub Cadet snowblower attachment, works excellent. Not sure self propelled snowblowers have 12V available?
Jim

Many do. Mine has a headlight. I used that power instead to run my heated handgrips.

The Tecumseh Snow King motors are notorious for not having a lot of 12V power. It'll run the headlamp, OR the grips, but not both. Not enough power for this.

If you have a Briggs engine and a headlamp, you should have plenty of power to run a window motor to turn the chute. At work, we actually have a snowblower with an electrically controlled chute that came this way.