OKA walk-behind tractor as a snow blower. Principle of operation. Tips for use

Rotary snow blower

This snow removal attachment for the Oka walk-behind tractor is a complex hinged structure attached to a motorized device through:

• PTO, via V-belt transmission;
• gearbox

Snow blower SUN.1 "Oka"
The KaDvi plant produces rotary snow removal attachments connected via a V-belt drive; analogues from other manufacturers use a gear reducer for this purpose.

Design of a rotary snow blower for the Oka walk-behind tractor

The main elements of a rotary auger snow removal machine are as follows:

1. An auger with serrated blades that cut even very hard snow crust.
2. An impeller that feeds snow masses to the nozzle.
3. A screen that regulates the direction and angle (height) of snow discharge.
4. The housing in which the auger is hidden.
5. Controls.

Rotary machine parameters

The rotary snow removal attachment for the Oka walk-behind tractor has the following characteristics:

• snow throw range from 3 to 5 m;
• Screw rotor grip width - 70 cm;
• snow mass capture height - up to 25 cm;
• cleaning speed is 1 m/s.

Purpose

Cleaning the areas adjacent to the house from the following types of snow:

• freshly fallen;
• stale;
• dense crust;
• melted and icy snow.

Description of a snow blower for a walk-behind tractor

There are several models of snow removal attachments on sale. They all work on the same principle. The rotating auger (rotor) captures the snow, which is thrown far to the side in the form of a spectacular jet. The snow throw range is from 3 to 12 m .

This is what the attachments for AGRO and MTZ walk-behind tractors look like:

Blade (shovel) for Oka walk-behind tractor

The shovel for the Oka walk-behind tractor can be used all year round: in winter - for removing snow, at other times - for leveling the ground or clearing areas of debris. The shape of the blade resembles a large bucket with a knife attached to the lower edge of the nozzle. The knife can be made from:

• rubber - for snow removal (soft rubber does not damage paving slabs or asphalt upon contact, it only gently scrapes snow from its surface);
• metal - for leveling the soil (a sharp metal edge trims compacted soil).

Design and principle of operation

The left and right parts of the spiral rotor (auger) capture snow and deliver it to the central part, under the ejection pipe. There is another rotating element there - an impeller, which throws snow over considerable distances. A similar principle is used on grain harvester pick-ups and bulk material loaders.

The pipe through which the snow is thrown has rotating casings. With their help, you can direct the stream of thrown snow in the desired direction.

The auger and impeller are driven by the walk-behind tractor engine through pulleys and a belt. Inside the mechanism itself, chain drives or an angular gearbox can be installed, which distribute torque to the rotor and impeller.

The image shows the operation of a snow blower on a walk-behind tractor in a real situation. In this case, this is a NEVA SMB with a motor cultivator of the same brand, Neva MB-2:

Along the edges of the casing there are runners (skis). They have an adjustable stroke up and down, due to which you can change the grip depth. If you raise the skids all the way up, the rotor will lower and pick up snow from the very bottom. If there is a danger of damaging the tiles or catching clods of earth, the rotor is lifted up.

When harvesting, torque is transmitted both to the wheels and to the rotor of the unit. Therefore, the walk-behind tractor moves on its own while the rotor is rotating.

Harvesting can be done on rubber wheels with an agricultural herringbone tread. If such wheels slip, there are two options: winding and securing the chains to rubber or using metal “lug” wheels.

Snow removal attachment for walk-behind tractor - utility brush

This attachment will help the owner of the Oka walk-behind tractor keep his site clean and tidy all year round. In winter, the brush will gently clear the areas adjacent to the house from freshly fallen snow, and in spring and autumn it will help deal with debris.

Motoblock brush ShchM-0.9

This attachment is designed for removing freshly fallen snow, but it cannot cope with icy crust. The snow masses flying out from under the brush are scattered on both sides of the moving walk-behind tractor, clearing a path 1 meter wide (along the width of the brush). The diameter of the utility brush is about 40 cm.

Main technical characteristics

A snow plow on a walk-behind tractor does not have its own engine, so technical parameters are assessed based on the following simple points:

• dimensions, for example 60 x 64x82 cm;
• compatibility with models;
• maximum depth of snow cover (17-25 cm);
• working width – about 50-60 cm;
• screw rotation speed. Depends on the engine speed and gear ratio. Approximately in the range of 1800-2500 rpm;
• total weight of the device is 40-60 kg.

These parameters differ on different models, therefore they are indicated approximately and on average.

The compatibility of the snow blower with the walk-behind tractor is also important. Many of them are universal; they can be used on most models of walk-behind tractors immediately or with minor modifications.

For example, this includes the Russian SMB NEVA model. Compatible with the entire range of walk-behind tractors of this brand (MB 2, MB 23 and others) as well as Oka and many Chinese models with left-hand drive pulleys.

Also, snow can be removed using a knife attachment, which you can make yourself - how to make a shovel blade for a walk-behind tractor for snow removal.

Tips for using snow removal equipment

Depending on the level of precipitation, the following are put on the walk-behind tractor along with the snow removal attachment:

• pneumatic wheels with strong tread;
• lugs;
• caterpillars.

Pneumatic wheels

Lugs

Lynx track attachment

In case of strong conditions, it is generally recommended to install a tracked attachment on the walk-behind tractor, turning this agricultural device into a real snowmobile. Such a device will not only allow you to perform snow removal work more efficiently, but will also allow you to use the walk-behind tractor as an all-terrain vehicle.

Tracked snowmobile attachments are sold in specialized stores or made with your own hands, using the recommendations and drawings of craftsmen from the forums.

To create a snowmobile, you may need skis or sleds, or a special trough.

We invite you to watch a video showing various options for self-propelled units on caterpillar tracks made from a walk-behind tractor:

You may also be interested in diagrams and drawings of a self-propelled snowmobile made from a walk-behind tractor:

Diagram of drive units and frame of a homemade snowmobile from a walk-behind tractor

Diagram of a snowmobile steering column made from a walk-behind tractor

• front frame cross member (1);
• stand made of steel pipe (2);
• steering wheel support made from angle 25x25 (3);
• steering shaft made of steel pipe (4);
• crossbar made of steel pipe 28x28 (5);
• bipod (6); bronze washer (7);
• support sleeve with angle (8);
• nut, type M10 (9).

Criteria for choosing a snow blower for a walk-behind tractor

The first condition is compatibility with the model. There are walk-behind tractors with right-handed pulleys; it is impossible to hang a left-handed snow blower on them.

Motoblocks with power from 9 hp. cope with the loads of any mounted snow blower that are sold specifically for this equipment. With a power of about 7 hp, you should choose equipment with a narrower and lower grip.

It is not recommended to use low-power walk-behind tractors (less than 6.5 hp) to operate a mounted snow thrower.

The manufacturer's reputation for quality matters. To get an idea, you can study objective reviews online and from friends who have experience using such equipment.

When making a personal selection in a store, it is recommended to inspect the product in detail. When rotating, the rotor and pulley should not get stuck, play, or make sounds (creaking, knocking). The metal should not bend with light force.

Owner reviews

Rostislav, 34 years old:

I prefer to make attachments for my Oka with my own hands - you immediately take into account your needs and the capabilities of the future unit, and provide a method of mounting and control. My Oka is already a little over six years old. The blade was made in the second year of operation. It is a simple design, low maintenance, easy to operate and use. All possible breakdowns are reduced to a minimum. Cleans paths, parking lots, and can also be used as a cleaner. One condition is a smooth cleaning surface.

Alexey, 29 years old:

My walk-behind tractor is 4 years old. For the first 2 years I used it only for agricultural work, then I paid attention to the possibility of using it in winter as a snowblower. I regretted spending money on a rotary attachment and decided to buy a brush - it will work in summer and winter. The purchase was justified; the brush gently cleans the yard of both small debris and freshly fallen snow.

Advantages and disadvantages

This device turns the walk-behind tractor into a snow blower, significantly expanding its capabilities.

A specialized snow blower of similar performance with its own engine costs from 50 thousand rubles. up to 120 thousand rubles.

Mounted snow blower for walk-behind tractor – from 13 thousand rubles. up to 30 thousand rubles. When using it, there is no need to buy another complete expensive unit with its own engine. An ordinary walk-behind tractor does not sit in the garage throughout the cold season, but works even in winter.

There is more and more suburban housing. Such a unit can be useful in areas located, for example, 500 m from main roads, which are regularly cleaned by road services. In case of heavy snowfalls, a snow blower for a walk-behind tractor may be the only option to quickly clear the passage to the main roads.

There are two main disadvantages:

1. Low quality , design flaws in the snow blowers themselves, which some manufacturers may have.
2. Wear of the components of the walk-behind tractor itself . Operation in cold weather requires the use of winter oils. When the snow blower is operating, the gasoline engine operates at fairly high speeds. In terms of overall engine life, a walk-behind tractor that is also used in snow blower mode will wear out much faster than one that does not work in the winter.

As an example, the following video. Mounted cleaner after 2 years of operation, repairs and design improvements:

General disadvantages include significant limitations - it is used to remove snow only on flat surfaces. If solid foreign objects (stones, hummocks of frozen earth, metal, etc.) get into the snow, there is a high probability of breakdown. First of all, the planes of the spiral of the auger and the impeller that throw out the snow are bent or broken off. It may tear out the shaft bearing fastenings or bend the shaft itself.

It effectively removes only loose, freshly fallen snow that has become compacted or cannot be removed with ice.

We also recommend reading a useful article about the reasons for the breakdown of a walk-behind tractor; they can be caused by improper use of a walk-behind cultivator as a snow blower.

The best snow blower models for walk-behind tractors

Today you can find about 10 different models of mounted snow blowers on sale. Mainly Chinese, Russian and Belarusian production. Preference is given to Russian and Belarusian manufacturers. In our countries there are real winters in which such equipment is used. Developers are well aware of these conditions.

One of the best options for SMB NEVA. , St. Petersburg, has been producing walk-behind tractors and equipment for them for many decades. This is a serious factory production with a good design school and production base.

In the picture below, the best snow blower for a walk-behind tractor is the SMB NEVA (SM 0.6) with a geared spiral auger (rotor). This shape allows you to remove dense, packed snow.

The rotor is turned on from the handle of the walk-behind tractor. The delivery set includes a pull rod and a power handle, which are mounted on the handle of the walk-behind tractor itself.

The grooves on the sled mounts have a large stroke, which allows you to adjust the depth of snow capture with a significant amplitude.

Characteristics:

• working width 64 cm;
• the height of the removed snow layer is 25 cm;
• snow throw to the side up to 10 m;
• weight 47.5 kg;
• length 65 cm, width 65 cm, height 79 cm.

Compatible with all NEVA brand walk-behind tractors. Additional parts are required for installation on NEVA MB1. Also compatible with a large variety of other walk-behind tractor models described above.

The video shows how to assemble a snow blower SM-600N for a walk-behind tractor. It is suitable for walk-behind tractor models: Neva MB2, MB23, Oka, Caiman.

The characteristics of most mounted snow blowers are approximately the same, differing only in the width and height of the grip.

For example, another attachment for the Salyut walk-behind tractor:

• working width 50 cm;
• height of removed snow 17 cm;
• weight 60 kg;
• length 60 cm, width 64 cm, height 82 cm.

Compared to the first option, the height and width of the grip are smaller. This reduces the performance of the unit, but makes it possible to use the unit on walk-behind tractors with lower engine power.

The Salyut 100 model is equipped with a standard engine for the Lifan 168-F-2B walk-behind tractor, which can also be found on other models. The power of such an engine is 6.5 hp, which is close to the minimum to which such mounted snow blowers can be used.

For powerful diesel walk-behind tractors, you can choose a more productive snow blower with a grip height of 35 cm and a width of 70 cm.

In principle, you can install a small rotor on a low-power cultivator, but it will work more like a children's toy rather than an effective unit.

In addition to the described rotary cleaners, today there are attachments of a similar design on sale, where instead of a metal auger there are round brushes with hard bristles.

This universal product is suitable for removing debris, leaves, and snow from paths and sidewalks. The main difference from a rotary cleaner is a simpler design; there are no additional blades or a vertical pipe for throwing snow. Anything that comes under the brush is simply swept aside. To do this, you can adjust the position of the brush at the desired angle.

As a result, you can significantly expand the capabilities of your walk-behind tractor and use it not only for seasonal work on the ground. It is important to choose high-quality and compatible attachments that are suitable not only for mounting and drive, but also for engine power.

Installation and operating rules

Attaching a snow blower to a walk-behind tractor
Before installing a snow blower on a walk-behind tractor, you must read the factory instructions. When operating, select the speed of movement, observe the adjustments of the guide visor so that the flying mass does not harm passers-by and the windows of buildings.

Before clearing snow, the attachments are attached to a special trailer unit on the frame of the traction unit. Algorithm of actions:

1. If the trailer unit is made in the form of a bracket, you need to remove the pin, attach the attachment and insert it back. Secure the structure with bolts.
2. Remove the pulley protection on the PTO. Use a V-belt to connect the PTO pulley and the pulley on the snow removal attachment. Create the required tension using the adjusting mechanism.
3. Put on the protective cover and manually check that there is no friction by turning the mechanism.
4. You can start working. Do not forget to periodically check the reliability of the coupling, since the safety of the person himself, as well as the performance of the unit, depends on this.

Tools for making your own snow removal equipment

Any work can only be done if you have a tool, so it is advisable to have:

• electric drill - without it it is impossible to make holes of a given diameter in the right places;
• riveter - will help create strong permanent connections in sheet material;
• electric welding machine - required for welding the frame, as well as individual units;
• angle grinder - will be used for cutting steel workpieces, as well as cleaning welded joints;
• metal scissors;
• measuring tool - used to mark and control the parameters of parts, as well as the entire snow blower (usually a caliper, tape measure and ruler are sufficient);
• hand tools for fixing parts and temporary fasteners - will allow you to perform work efficiently and with minimal effort;
• a slipway - even the simplest one, made of wooden blocks, will help simplify the assembly process; the design of the snow blower has a spatial structure that needs to be assembled, fixing individual parts and assemblies in different places.