[Richard-tx]

It was a nice day today with a high of 67 so I decided to bang out the adapters I needed to put a front PTO on my 24G.

I made the shaft for the front axle earlier this week so all that was left to do was to make the weldment adapters and a lift rod extension, I made the front weldment adapters this morning and ground the ends of the weldment so they would slip on. Then I pulled the 24G out of mothballs, removed the deck and installed the parts. All in all it wasn't hard.

Now if anyone wants a shaft and adapters, send me a PM.

You will need to buy a tach and limit the engine RPMs to about 2100 if you want to maintain stock attachment speeds. Based on my measurements of a 50" deck on the front of the 24G, 2350 RPM gives you about 20,000 SFPM.

I did run up the 50" deck at 3300 RPM engine speed. I am not sure how to describe it. It sounds like something that is between a Triplane and a turbine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wlSl3kg4tHA

The stock weldment before I ground off the button on the end. I am not sure why gravely put that on there anyway.

The weldment after I ground the shoulder off.

I cleaned it up with a file after grinding.

The 24G adapter installed.

Weldment with adapters installed on 24G.

Lift rod extension installed.

I used 1/2 of the drive shaft from the 72" deck.


Tomorrow I install the tach to keep the blade tip speed down to something sane.

For an example of insane, here is a stock 50" deck powered by the 24G at WOT.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlSl3kg4tHA

 

[CrazyVet]

Be careful with those covers removed WOT!! It would ruin your day if the belt came your way or a spindle let go. Like a four speed coming apart with out a scattershield. We need you on the forum to stir you up! C.V.

 

[Richard-tx]

The risk was minimal. Like a helicopter self destructing from sympathetic vibration, the safest place to be is in the operators seat.

 

[wjohn]

Two words: rotary plow.

Although the 24G might be too wide.

How about twin rotary plows in the front? :hide:

 

[tracktortag]

Nice, and what a sound! I also have two words: SNOW BLOWER. Now you HAVE to move north.

 

[Richard-tx]

I actually undertook the project because there are some forum members here that wanted to put a snow blower on the front of their 24G. Given the ability to drive the blower faster and harder, I can only imagine the great plumes of snow being thrown 100+ feet away.:thThumbsU

I am making adapter kits for a couple of 24G owners here on the forum. If anyone else wants one, now is the time to speak up. I will make a batch and that will be it. Richard's may be stocking the kits.

The next lift rod extensions will be made from steel.

 

[Richard-tx]

Next up will be to put a standard 50" deck under the 24G.

I think the same adapters could be used there. When I get done messing around with the front PTO, I will try that. I think there will be some other things that will have to be done to achieve that.

If the rear track width is a problem, 25x9-12 tires on standard rims should solve that.

 

[Richard-tx]

Two words: rotary plow.

Although the 24G might be too wide.

How about twin rotary plows in the front? :hide:

I was thinking about that. The plows would have to be staggered so that the the left plow doesn't bury the one on the right.

I am not sure what would happen if someone went to WOT with a rotary plow on the front of a 24G. That much power could do some real damage to the plow drive. I wish I had a bigger field to test on.

Tire width could be an issue so a wheel and tire change might be needed.

I am going to try a variety of attachments on the front of the 24G.

I wish I had some heavy weeds to mow. A 30" rotary mower could suddenly turn into a fierce monster with a bad attitude. Hitting something solid with that much power could result in total destruction of the mower drive.

How about two cultivators side by side? An entire tract sized front yard could be tilled in short order.

 

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

As long as they hold up to the higher speed, the 24G may be the answer to the folks who complain that the 48" snow blower does not throw the snow far enough.

Sheldon

 

[tracktortag]

I guess I should grab a 24G before word gets out about these adapters.

 

[Richard-tx]

For those wondering what has to be done to the front shaft, the shaft has to have an OD of 24mm (.9842) and a sleeve made, heated, installed, and then turned to the proper dimensions.

 

[Fla Don]

I could have told you what the 50" deck would sound like. Also the power brush and Comm 40". I'm afraid to put a single 30" deck on the front of the 35-G as that is sure thing to destroy thr 30" drive. The Comm 40" belts couldn't take the torque under load and got smoked.

 

[coldone]

I thought your front end was gonna lift in the vid! I think it sounds great, but i wouldnt want to tear anything up just because it sounded good at the time.

 

[Richard-tx]

I could have told you what the 50" deck would sound like. Also the power brush and Comm 40". I'm afraid to put a single 30" deck on the front of the 35-G as that is sure thing to destroy thr 30" drive. The Comm 40" belts couldn't take the torque under load and got smoked.

Describing a sound and actually hearing it are two different things. Even the recording does not do it justice. As far as I am concerned hearing protection is a must at blade speeds of 20,000 SFPM or higher.

I can understand why the Com 40 would eat the belts. The belt tensioner isn't anything that I would call robust. I have seen screen door springs that are more robust than what is used there.

The 30" deck spins at a lower rate than the 50" deck. I will put a drive on without a blade and measure the RPMs. Once I do that I will post the results.


[Preach mode on]

I am not going to actually run the 24g at WOT with a front deck attached and be near anyone or anything that could be damaged by a projectile. That is the primary reason that the USG says to not run a deck at speeds greater than 20,000 SFPM. As reckless as I may sound at times, I believe I am actually a fairly conscientious fellow. A front PTO without a speed reducer is sort of like driving a Ferrari. Just because the car will do 225 MPH doesn't man that you should. Driving a Ferrari at 225 MPH can be done safely under the right conditions. A unused airport landing strip might be a good place to do that. That same principle applies to the 24G front PTO.

If the average Joe had the ability to run his mower at 30,000 SFPM he would do it all the time which is inappropriate. Too many people enjoy their liberty but fail to accept the responsibility that comes with that liberty. That is why we have things like the 20,000 SFPM law. It is also the reason why we have some annoying safety constraints placed on new machines.

For those that are going to put a front PTO for their 24G, just install a dash tach so that proper attachment speeds can be adhered to. It is also good idea to buy or borrow a hand held laser tach to verify that the dash tach is accurate.

The way I see it, running the engine at 2200-2300 RPM means the engine will run longer between overhauls. The front PTO without the speed reducer is like having an overdrive. Maybe it could be called an OverThruster(tm). In any case, there is more than adequate power at 2200 RPM from the P224 to handle any reasonable load. At WOT the P224 can even handle an unreasonable load. Don's 35G definitely can.

The weak point will be the front attachment. That brings up another point.

Just because the safety clutch is working doesn't mean that it will be effective at higher than normal speeds. The greater the velocity of a mass, the more energy it has. Dropping a lead fishing weight onto concrete block does nothing. Accelerate that fishing weight to 1400 FPS and that block is destroyed. Same principles apply here. Doubly so with the 30" deck. That heavy single blade has a significant amount of mass.

The short version is to enjoy the machine, have fun, and be safe.

OverThruster is a trademark of Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems. :ROF

[preach mode off]

 

[tracktortag]

Two words: rotary plow.

Although the 24G might be too wide.

How about twin rotary plows in the front? :hide:

I'd also like to see twin 26" MA blowers! Two chutes, and plumes, like big snowcutters. Richard, do you see what you've started?

 

[Richard-tx]

Imagine blowing 2 ft of snow at 6 MPH with a standard blower.

 

[tracktortag]

Imagine blowing 2 ft of snow at 6 MPH with a standard blower.

... and then double that!:fam32:

 

[Richard-tx]

Tomorrow I remove the ammeter and install a tach. I will post pictures when it is done.

 

[tracktortag]

I've been thinking, and wondering about this.

Running attachments directly from the 24G's PTO, without the PTO speed reducer in line, there would also be a loss in gear reduction.
To my mind, the loss of gear reduction would place additional load on the PTO drive itself (tall grass, snowblowing, etc.).
I would think that the PTO drive would absorb the additional load without a problem, but keep wondering, just the same. Any thoughts?

 

[Fla Don]

I've been thinking, and wondering about this.

Running attachments directly from the 24G's PTO, without the PTO speed reducer in line, there would also be a loss in gear reduction.
To my mind, the loss of gear reduction would place additional load on the PTO drive itself (tall grass, snowblowing, etc.).
I would think that the PTO drive would absorb the additional load without a problem, but keep wondering, just the same. Any thoughts?

The torque on the shaft is reduced. The speed is increased if you run WOT or reduced if you keep the attachment near factory speed for them. No problem either way. The bearings can handle 3500 RPM without problems. The u-joints should be good to around the same. Just keep them lubed. The Rapid XZ runs its long drive to the 60" deck at around 3400 RPM.