Idea for a sweeper, want input !

Super-H-Mike · Oct 11, 2011

I bought a used broom from a street sweeper with the intention of building a pull behind lawn sweeper for leaves and rocks in the grass after winters plowing. Then I thought , maybe I could mount this on the front end loader of my SH after removing the bucket. I was thinking of running a belt and pulley system from the belt drive transmission. I know a hydralic system could be easier, but too expensive for me. Salvaged combine pulleys and belts, spring tensioners, sound more in my price range. Anybody ever do anything like this? Or any ingenious ideas for me ? Thanks~ Mike

glennster · Oct 11, 2011

why not see if you can pick up a used horizontal shaft engine, maybe 8 or 10 horsepower and mount that up front to run the sweeper. be a lot less rigging, and it would be "live" vs running off the tractor belt.

gtractorfan · Oct 11, 2011

Sounds like you'd need a long expensive belt. Also might be tricky to keep the right tension while raising and lowering. Your idea reminds me of many years ago, my dad made a single strand wire fence winder to run off the belt pulley on a H. He had a spool up ahead of the belt pulley that he ran with a V belt. I think the spool bolted to the holes in the frame by the engine.

Wardner · Oct 11, 2011

The broom has to be angled if you want any production. Don't know how you are going to do that with belts and pulleys. And things get worse when you raise and lower the broom.

Hydraulics aren't that expensive if you shop used on eBay and get hoses and fittings from the Surplus Center. But I wouldn't use the SH live hydraulics. Not enough HP and those systems weren't designed for continuous high demand loading.

I would divorce the hydraulics by running a pump from the belt pulley, crankshaft, or rear PTO.

You need to get educated on how to size the components. It requires some math and a knowledge of how much horsepower the broom will require. Once you get used to displacement, torque, and horsepower you should be able to buy with confidence.

Super-H-Mike · Oct 11, 2011

That is a good idea, I have a 14hp Kohler motor here, but I wonder if it could power a broom like this ok. I have access to a couple of junk combines that have all the belts and pulleys and tensioners that I would need. It would be handier to have the broom independant of the the ground speed however, as you stated. I will have to think about that option some more...thanks !

Super-H-Mike · Oct 11, 2011

I like that idea of running the pump from the belt pulley, that was my first idea too. A lot easier to run the hoses and mount the hydro-motor than belts and pulleys I know, but still too much $ for my use... A swinging tensioner pulley with a strong spring would compensate for the up and down of the loader I believe, which would only have to up and down a couple feet or less anyway. Do you think the broom would HAVE to be angled to work? If so, I d likely go back to my idea of a trailing pull-type unit instead . Thanks !

Super-H-Mike · Oct 11, 2011

I don t think I d try and make up the whole distance with just one belt, more likely a jackshaft with two belts and an auto tensioner on the one belt that has to move with the loader up and down. I d have to reverse the direction of the power to the broom anyway, as I d want it to sweep away from and ahead of the tractor. I was thinking I could do that with a twist in the fixed belt maybe... Thanks!

glennster · Oct 11, 2011

add a set of gauge wheels to adjust the height off the ground, i think the 14 hp would be fine. yo will use some type of speed reduction anyway on the broom, so you should have ample torque to drive it.

Super-H-Mike · Oct 11, 2011

I had not thought of the gauge wheels, but that is a great idea. Just the kind of clever advice I am seeking, thank you! ~ Mike

CAROGATOR · Oct 11, 2011

What about using a driveshaft with u-joints to make the angle broom work?

Wardner · Oct 11, 2011

Well, I guess you could think of a broom as similar to a hay rake. You could use it like a horse drawn dump rake whereby you create windrows by elevating the machine or you could create the same windrows using a pin wheel rake that is angled and always moving hay. It's your choice.

Janicholson · Oct 11, 2011

Use caster wheels (harbor Freight has some with mount ball bearings about 4" hubs with 8 inch dia. tires. These will follow the path of the broom as you turn the loader. The separate motor also lets you build it such that it can be angled (or adjustable over several different angles) to do what you need. Including removing light snow easily down to the driveway! Jim

JRSutton · Oct 12, 2011

Maybe a couple of old car wheels to support the brush at just the right height - and to drive the brush as you move. Either chain drive or a couple of simple, big, gears.

Idea for a sweeper, want input !

Super-H-Mike

Member

glennster

Well-known Member

gtractorfan

Well-known Member

Wardner

Well-known Member

Super-H-Mike

Member

Super-H-Mike

Member

Super-H-Mike

Member

glennster

Well-known Member

Super-H-Mike

Member

CAROGATOR

Member

Wardner

Well-known Member

Janicholson

Well-known Member

JRSutton

Well-known Member

Similar threads