Modifying snowblower

I have an old Craftsman snowblower (10hp, 32 in. swath) and would like to change its drive from a track system to tires. I have a small, flat driveway so the treads are unnecessary and burdensome (and costly - a new tread is $102). From the little information I can find online (I don't have an owners' manual) this wouldn't require any internal modification. However, does anyone know or have an idea if any external modification is necessary? The shaft comes out to a sprocket that attached by chain to a larger sprocket/drive wheel assembly. Could the shaft be used as an axle for the new wheel/tire as is?

Reply to
klp1
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No. Even using small wheels, the rotational speed would be too high. You would probably have to be almost running to keep up with it.

Harry K

Reply to
Harry K

What he says...you would need to replace whatever the track runs on w/ an equivalent diameter wheel to keep the same ground speed. Don't have a clue how these are built, but there has to be a sprocket the track is running on that's mounted on some sort of axle--replace it.

Reply to
Duane Bozarth

Thanks to both of you. I'm gonna take a look at Sears to help me (and a friend) think this through some more. Does the following info change the answer from either of you? The axle sprocket is about 1/3 the size of the drive wheel sprocket, so a modification will be getting rid of that 3:1 gear ratio (or is it 1:3?). Definitely speeding the tire up. But I also have 6 drive gears so can adjust the speed. Obviously, until I put a tire on there I don't know if the lower gears will make me run behind the snowblower or will be tolerable. But, again, does that info change your answers? Thanks Keenan

Reply to
klp1

It may be easier and as cheap to sell what you have and buy what you want. Even comes with a brand new warranty.

Reply to
Edwin Pawlowski

Depends on your gearing. My guess is that it will still be too fast. You can put it in the lowest gear, see how fast that is then mentally compute what it would be like 3x faster but only if the wheel is the same diameter as the current drive sprocket. Remember that the size of the wheel itself will affect ground speed.

Harry K

Reply to
Harry K

Thanks again, everyone. Lots of good info for consideration. You've been very helfpful.

Reply to
klp1

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