RM Mack w snowblower....

[Warren D]

Great project.  I had to move on of those many years ago, always in the way of my locker.  Great progress, I admire your skills!

[gotnitro?]

Thanks , the state brought the truck back from summer storage and getting it prepped for duty again . I took a few more detail photos I was lacking for the hitch frame . The shear size of that unit doesn't show in pics,  but the top of the auger box is 5 ft !!! 

Back to work

 

[Chariots of Fire]

Great Photo!  What are those primer colored plates on each side?  Reinforcement of some kind?

[Warren D]

56 minutes ago, Chariots of Fire said:

Great Photo!  What are those primer colored plates on each side?  Reinforcement of some kind?

I think they are bank cutters for deep drifts.

[Chariots of Fire]

Sounds reasonable, Warren.

[gotnitro?]

Probably right as to their purpose,  there's a hydraulic cylinder on top that moves them to and fro. Being more of a " push pull " arrangement 

[gatorincebu]

 

   Outstanding project. I like what you are doing here !

 

  Be Well

   Gator

[gotnitro?]

Thanks Gator glad to see ya around hope you've been doing well ! 

Decided to start laying out the framework that mounts this to the truck chassis.  Luck was on my side during last photo op, and showed a large spacer pack shifting frame over around impeller drum .

Then it happened...mocking up the tubing that runs under truck showed an issue . The Mack frames bow out in front...where Oshkosh is straight framed . This will cause the frame to be much wider than planned , but only way .

I'll shim the belly frame out so everything lines up properly when attached to blower . Theres a vertical strut mounted to bumper welded to hitch frame rail that'll tie it together..

[Mopar - D]

Glad you were able to catch the frame difference before you were further along. You’re doing some awesome scratch building here. 

[gotnitro?]

On 12/11/2020 at 10:44 PM, Mopar - D said:

Glad you were able to catch the frame difference before you were further along. You’re doing some awesome scratch building here. 

Thanks ! I've wanted to build this piece of snow removal equipment for a few yrs . Its challenging but also teaching me valuable skills 

I decided the simplest way to approach the frame was to follow Mack's design  and make mine bow also ! They already engineered it , why not borrow the idea. 

So using solid .100 x .250 rectangular stock, I slowly bent  a bow into it approx behind the bumper. Then bend again to line up w mounts, and repeat!! I'm more than pleased w shape.  One area concerned me where I attached the vertical mount to the horizontal rail. The glue joint was strong but decided to fishplate the joint .

Here's the progress 

Fishplates 

The final frame before adding cross braces ..one side is much shorter , they shift the rail over to avoid the impeller drum. 

now for the bracing and hydr cylinder goodies 

[gotnitro?]

More work was done on the hitch frame , started the mounts for the hydraulic cylinder, built up a cylinder to lift the snowblower,  and mocked the hitch frame up before installing cross braces 

This little cylinder took 2 hrs of work ...can't believe how many parts it took 

And under the truck 

Now a spider web of wiz bangs doodle bugs and thing a ma jigs . Ive gotta plan a few steps ahead or get myself painted into corner 

Thanks for following 

 

[gotnitro?]

So far the squirrels have assembled quite a few parts ..but still a ways to finish up. Last night I started the impeller drive motor , after mocking up the mounting plate .

Here's all the parts the furry buggers stashed around the bench..The discharge chutes still need clean up 

The blower lift assembly parts made from several different bits then sanded into shape 

Lastly the motor mounting plate ready to accept the drive motor once its fabricated. 

Heres the real one for an idea of whats ahead...

I asked Santa for some help..even the squirrels laughed ..guess I'm going solo ! 

Jeff

[Mopar - D]

Jeff your doing an awesome job with your scratch building you don’t need any squirrels or Santa Elf’s. 

[mikemodeler]

Better hurry up, looks like that could be put to use TODAY!   Nice scratch building and the details look great.

[DRIPTROIT 71]

Awesome looking work going on here!

[gotnitro?]

4 hours ago, Mopar - D said:

Jeff your doing an awesome job with your scratch building you don’t need any squirrels or Santa Elf’s. 

Lol thanks ! Didn't really want the squirrels help anyway I keep stepping on the shells 

Santa has his hands full w our daughters request anyway..she would like a dinosaur..and not that talking purple one 

4 hours ago, mikemodeler said:

Better hurry up, looks like that could be put to use TODAY!   Nice scratch building and the details look great.

Haha  ! I'm actually surprised they didn't send it out to help . Road crews south of me were getting their plows buried after snowfall levels topped 40 inches ..unheard of in this area . 

 

4 hours ago, DRIPTROIT 71 said:

Awesome looking work going on here!

Thanks ! I hopefully will have a few days off after holidays to work on it steady

[Chariots of Fire]

Great work, Jeff.  With all those doodads, squirrels and thing-a-ma-jigs going in there are there any widgets???

[afx]

Impressive work.

[kilrathy10]

Always amazed at the work you do... Very nice... Excellent detail...

[Dutzie]

Nice progress!

[redneckrigger]

Outstanding work Jeff. Love the auger....................same exact construction method I used on my paver................shapes and pieces. Absolutely beautiful, and very timely with the snow upon us!

[gotnitro?]

On 12/17/2020 at 11:34 PM, Chariots of Fire said:

Great work, Jeff.  With all those doodads, squirrels and thing-a-ma-jigs going in there are there any widgets???

plenty of widgets..half the fun of building from photos is trying to figure out how parts get fabricated !!  Theres a bunch of fun parts coming soon..just tackling the chutes now. 

 

On 12/18/2020 at 9:26 AM, afx said:

Impressive work.

Thanks ! 

 

On 12/19/2020 at 9:31 AM, Dutzie said:

Nice progress!

Thanks ! theres still a ton of parts to make yet ..but its how ya eat an elephant one bite at a time ! 

 

On 12/18/2020 at 9:41 AM, kilrathy10 said:

Always amazed at the work you do... Very nice... Excellent detail...

Thanks ! 

19 hours ago, redneckrigger said:

Outstanding work Jeff. Love the auger....................same exact construction method I used on my paver................shapes and pieces. Absolutely beautiful, and very timely with the snow upon us!

funny how those kept me awake, then it clicked ..I think the major assemblies are close, now to add life t each making a small model from all of them. looking at certain parts now look boringly simplied, but once the bolts, widgets, and thing a ma jigs go on..it should pop

[gotnitro?]

Big mock up day ! Assembled the chute tower mount and had to see how it looked together 

I almost had a panic attack when it dawned on me the impeller drum wasn't gonna fit..but it dropped right in..whew !!!

now for the chute drive motor and bank cutter parts ..the end is closer !!!

[gotnitro?]

Tossed a few braces and Meng bolts on for detailing.  After looking at bare plastic for weeks this felt really good! 

One major part i wanted to knock out was the drive motor / cylinder that rotates the drum . A few pieces of rod, and square tube made up the assembly.  The gear was found lurking in a spares bin

Back to work tomo to pay for my snow tires...

Thanks for following 

[Bainford]

Very cool project. Been following since it started. Really digging your scratchbuilding. It's coming along great.