Leaf vacuum. Not Cub related but an implement.
 

I have a motor and blower housing from a vacuum/chipper that I want to use to build my own tow behind vacuum to pick up leaves. The question I have is about the fan wheel. This one has hinged hammers on each paddle. I'm just wondering if they will create as much suction as a solid paddle? Was just wondering if anyone has had experience with these and how good they worked. Maybe bolt some heavy Belting on each paddle and leave the hammers off.
I think it is probably made by MTD.

:bigthink:
I am guessing this is a "safety issue". If something "solid" got in the blower fan, the hinged paddle would offer "some give" while the solid paddle would bend or self destruct.

I have three EZ vacs with four blade fixed impellers. The blower housings have knots all over them where rocks and other hard objects have gotten between the impeller and housing. I've also had to remove and straighten the impeller blades as when they get bent a little, they vibrate and also lose suction due to added clearance to the housing.

A friend had an EZ vac and he decided to tighten the clearance between the housing and the impeller by lining the inside of the housing with more metal. He said it really picked up the suction But otherwise had some bad habits I can't remember what and he changed it back to design.

So, I agree the hinged pieces are problem either a safety feature or necessary design feature, especially since your unit is also a chipper. You could not use the fixed impellers like I have as a chipper unless it was a small stick.

leaf vacuum
 

It wont be a chipper. I want to make a Cyclone Rake similar machine to pickup leaves and being as it will be hooked to the mower deck discharge the original wheel with the hammers will probably work ok. I also have several pine trees that like to litter the yard with pine cones so the hammer wheel will be better. I agree with you , I think the wheel was designed that way for a reason.
I just need to find the time to construct it. Thank you all for the input.
Jim

The hinged pieces are the hammers for you chipper/shredder. A. Friend of mine gave me one for that same reason to make a trac vac out of it. The chipper/ shredder are made to put leaves into not to suck them up at least not at tractor speed. I finally got a leaf vacuum with a big funnel cone that was made with a big bag on the back to put the leaves in. Never finished it still have the blower and cone.
Look on you tube it's almost like the Cramer leaf vacuum.