Self-Propelled Lawn Sweeper

Self-Propelled Lawn Sweeper FARM HOME Lawn Mowers (31h,38) 16-5-22 You've never seen anything like this "one and only" self-propelled leaf sweeper de-signed and built by B.L. Uhnken, Jacksonville, Ill. The brush he used was originally manufactured for clearing light snow off side-walks and roadways. Uhnken acquired it from a nearby hospital with the idea of building a rig to clear leaves out of his yard along with balls from sweet gum trees. Once he had acquired the brush, Uhnken set about building an appropriate tractor around it. He used the rear end from a Deere hydrostatic garden tractor and built a frame onto it out of 3 by 3-in. sq. tubing with a single steering wheel up front. Uhnken built an arch into the front frame so he could raise and lower the brush. The front steering spindle consists of a vertical shaft held in place by combine bearings. The front wheel is turned by a V-belt pulley that mounts on top of the spindle. A 3 steel cable wraps around the pulley and runs back through pulleys to a windlass mounted on the steering wheel shaft. Power is supplied by an 18-hp. Wisconsin engine. Uhnken used a hydraulic pump off a Deere 6600 combine to drive the broom by way of a Char-Lynn orbit motor. The brush turns at about 100 rpm's. It's raised and lowered by a lift mechanism powered by the pump that drives the rig's variable speed hydrostatic drive. The brush came with its own cowling and caster wheels. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, B.L. Uhnken, 25 Westfair, Jacksonville, Ill. 62650 (ph 217 472-3851).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.