Forums Archive Index > Outdoor Power Equipment > Impeller ideas....

Author: Spectrum

Date: 29 Dec 2006 6:28 pm

I need some help everyone.

This past summer Toro discontinued the 10-1/2 inch impeller used on the 26 inch Gilson Unitrols. It runs on a 3/4 inch shaft. Have any of you substituted another impeller to salvage a machine?

For the past few months I have been giving owners the bad news and it breaks my heart. In some cases these are machines that have assumed heirloom status.

So if you can think of another brand's impeller that is in good supply and that would fit these machine please let me know.

Thanks,
Pete

Author: robmints

Date: 29 Dec 2006 8:23 pm

Hey Pete! I don't. But do you have a picture or a sample? If worse comes to worse someone could try and make some. We make stuff like this at work.





And sometimes there is time for Government jobs.

Author: sonofjabba

Date: 29 Dec 2006 8:28 pm

I might be able to repair broken ones. I'm a fairly decent amateur welder.
What seems to be the major issue with the impeller that makes them break.


I can break anything twice! :D

Author: krislu

Date: 29 Dec 2006 10:17 pm

Mints- I have no idea what that stainless steel thing is but it looks awesome! So does your fireplace screen ! Good Job ! Maybe you could make him a Stainless one. - Kris :D

Author: Spectrum

Date: 29 Dec 2006 11:02 pm

Duplicate

Author: Spectrum

Date: 29 Dec 2006 11:04 pm

Spectrum wrote:
sonofjabba wrote:
I might be able to repair broken ones. I'm a fairly decent amateur welder.
What seems to be the major issue with the impeller that makes them break.


I can break anything twice! :D

I have rewelded some while still on the shaft but sometimes they are too distorted, rusted or cracked. It's odd, the thing has loads of gussets, ribs, keys, cone shapes and welds but they don't hold up as well as you would expect. They have a real hard time on the 10 Hp models, the 5s last forever and the 8s usually go the distance unless crap gets in there Many get creamed when a length of lumber or other junk is left on the ground and it makes it into the throat.

On a seasoned machine they are all but impossible to remove so you usually need to do the work on the shaft. That prevents me from throwing it on something like a mower blade balancer to make sue it's not too out of whack.

I'm looking mainly for a simple solution that Joe Gilson owner can use as long as he (or she) has reasonable mechanical abilities.

Author: Spectrum

Date: 29 Dec 2006 11:08 pm

robmints wrote:
Hey Pete! I don't. But do you have a picture or a sample? If worse comes to worse someone could try and make some. We make stuff like this at work.

I could draw one up that could be fabricated without the need for stamping dies. Thanks for the offer but what I'm really hoping for is a commercially availble solution for the masses. They ran that impeller from 1970 to 1987 so there are a slew of these out there.

If the demand becomes apparent I may see what the local cost to manufacture would be. In small volume I have to belive it will be prohibitive. The last OEM ones went for $148.

Pete