Tractor-Mounted Blower Keeps Mower Deck Clear

2016 - Volume #40, Issue #5, Page #18

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After burning up 2 rotary mowers and a tractor, Terry Jacob put air power to work keeping mower decks clean. He can blow away residue at the end of the day or whenever it builds up, which is often.
    “I maintain roads for 2 townships, and that includes mowing,” says Jacob. “Whenever you lift a wing on a mower, the residue dumps onto the main deck. It’s a fire hazard if not cleared away. If it gets wet, it crusts up and encourages rust.”
    Prior to adding the blower, Jacob would clear the residue away with a rake or shovel at the end of the day. That can be too little and too late.
    “With one fire, I had a buildup of residue when some wire wrapped around the clutch and it slipped for a bit,”
recalls Jacob. “It didn’t take long until it got hot enough for a fire to start. When you’re in a remote area, you can’t always get to water.”
    Jacob picked up a blower at an auction for about $100, complete with a 6-in. hose. Originally, the hydraulic-powered fan had been part of a small, dry fertilizer applicator.
    He mounts it to the expanded metal protective screen on back of his tractor and plugs it into a hydraulic outlet. The in-cab control lets him engage the fan and control the speed that controls the volume of air.
    Jacob estimates the fan puts out the equivalent of an 80 to 90 mph wind. The entire apparatus attaches and detaches with only 2 bolts, whether the screen is in the upright or lowered position. He suggests the fan would be just as useful cleaning off combines and other farm equipment, as well as the tractor to which it is mounted.
    “I’m planning to build a rack that holds the hose better,” he says. “For now, I set the speed in the cab, get off the tractor and use the hose to direct the air. It only takes a few minutes to clear the deck, roll the hose back up, shut off the fan, and get on about business.”
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Terry Jacob, 9317 S.W. 72nd, Sedgwick, Kansas 67135 (ph 316 393-7731; ruth1110@kanokla.net).

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Tractor-Mounted Blower Keeps Mower Deck Clear MOWERS After burning up 2 rotary mowers and a tractor Terry Jacob put air power to work keeping mower decks clean He can blow away residue at the end of the day or whenever it builds up which is often “I maintain roads for 2 townships and that includes mowing ” says Jacob “Whenever you lift a wing on a mower the residue dumps onto the main deck It’s a fire hazard if not cleared away If it gets wet it crusts up and encourages rust ” Prior to adding the blower Jacob would clear the residue away with a rake or shovel at the end of the day That can be too little and too late “With one fire I had a buildup of residue when some wire wrapped around the clutch and it slipped for a bit ” recalls Jacob “It didn’t take long until it got hot enough for a fire to start When you’re in a remote area you can’t always get to water ” Jacob picked up a blower at an auction for about $100 complete with a 6-in hose Originally the hydraulic-powered fan had been part of a small dry fertilizer applicator He mounts it to the expanded metal protective screen on back of his tractor and plugs it into a hydraulic outlet The in-cab control lets him engage the fan and control the speed that controls the volume of air Jacob estimates the fan puts out the equivalent of an 80 to 90 mph wind The entire apparatus attaches and detaches with only 2 bolts whether the screen is in the upright or lowered position He suggests the fan would be just as useful cleaning off combines and other farm equipment as well as the tractor to which it is mounted “I’m planning to build a rack that holds the hose better ” he says “For now I set the speed in the cab get off the tractor and use the hose to direct the air It only takes a few minutes to clear the deck roll the hose back up shut off the fan and get on about business ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Terry Jacob 9317 S W 72nd Sedgwick Kansas 67135 ph 316 393-7731; ruth1110@kanokla net

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