451 Snowblower Lift
 

I've just picked up a 451 blower for my 2082 and had a question about how much lift they have for ground clearance, my driveway is steep at the bottom and I also need to load it on a trailer. Has anyone mounted a remote hydraulic cylinder up front to help out? Thanks!

Nobody with a snowblower?

Sure we do! Lol. I don't have one on a super. I have one on a gt. I'd say it clears around 3" when raised fully. From what I've seen, none of them come very far off the ground. I have yet to see anyone mount a cylinder up front to lift the blower. They will load on a trailer. The blower just drags, but they can float higher than max lift. It does suck though.... Loading it with it dragging.

How about modifying your lift rod? You could give it two positions: blowing and transport. If you take a stub of 1/2" round stock and weld it...I don't know 1.5" in front of the end it would give you more lift. You would have to experiment with the distance and figure out how far is enough, but pulling a cotterpin and adjusting the rod is a lot easier than fabbing up a front cylinder.
Bill

The rod would look something like this.

The 450 and 451 blowers use a different style of lift rod. They have a clevis on one end, and a hole in the other. They don't pull the blower up, like on the smaller blowers.... They push it. Then there is a set of linkages that lift it on the blower. The lift rod you described would work on the smaller ones, but not on the 450/451. The rod is already adjustable, but you have to screw it. But you have the right idea!! :beerchug:

I have a 451 that mounts to my 2084. The guys are right when fully lifted it clears the ground from 3 to 5 inches. I have loaded mine on a snowmobile trailer and yes it drags but does float higher than the max lift. Unless you already have front hydro ports the cost of mounting an additional lift cylinder would be very high to just gain a couple of more inches. I even mounted my sons 551 blower last year and got the same amount of lift. I would not recommend loading the tractor and blower on a tilt trailer. I did that but could not back it on and when I pulled it on the weight was still so far back we could not tilt the trailer back down. It would work very well with a lift gate trailer and you can lessen the angle by using 2x8 or bigger on the gate and not fear of one breaking and upsetting the tractor.

Bummer, thought I was onto something. :Forgot:

What about where the lift rod connects to the rockshaft? Any way to add a hole further from the pivot to increase travel? Some sort of custom bolt on bracket. I still think its easier to modify the existing mechanical linkage for more travel than to go to the hassle of installing/plumbing an extra hyd cylinder up front.

Another option would be to install an ATV winch up front and use it for lifting the snowblower. This would also free up the tractor lift to operate a rear blade independently.

blower lift
 

have you thought of adding a ratchet strap to lift blower for loading and unloading

I'm sorry that I don't have a pic of the lifting mechanism.... But I'm not near my blower, or my tractor.

Here is a pic from the parts book. Perhaps this will help.
Attachment 42882


This might work...... But as you can see from the pic, the 451 lifts quite differently. I really don't think a hyd cylinder or a winch is a viable fix.....

However, extrememotorworks makes a different lifting bracket. It is heavier but it isn't stated if it is longer. I do think the original one flexes quite a bit. He also makes a lift rod extender and an adjustable lift rod. Not that these can't be build at home..... but, sometimes it is just as easy to buy. Here is a link to the extreme page....... extrememotorworks

Click the link on the left side "snow blowers/push blades" and it will take you to where you need to be. :beerchug:

If I understand correctly, the lift rod pushes and rotates 14 up and raises 22 which is attached to the blower. There are two holes in the arm on 14 where the rod attaches with the upper hole giving the blower more travel. If he scabs another 1" x 1/4" plate on the left side of the arm and puts a hole centered vertically between the other two, it should increase the travel of the arm by 1" and raise the blower higher. The only thing I don't know is if there is enough travel in the lift cylinder to have it still return to full down.

How about narrow gauge wheels on the sides? It would allow it to roll up a trailer ramp or steep driveway without scraping.

I apologize to keep going on about a solution; but as a stubborn fabrication engineer its in my nature.:biggrin2: