How to Choose a Snow Blower for Your Garden

A snow blower is a good investment. It may possible reduce doctor’s bill by going easy on your back. There are some considerations to be thought about before you go in the market for a snow blower, (also called snow thrower in some areas).

• Consider the amount of snow and the density of snow that you will have to deal with. Take into account the total number of days of snow and the inches of snow per day. Also consider if the snow is fluffy or hard when you have to deal with the snow.

   

• Take your machine for a test drive. Some showrooms have arrangements for testing the snow blower in their back yard. Going for a demonstration gives you the feel of the machine.

Snow blower costs

The following discussion gives you an idea of costs involved. Remember that the costs change significantly as it is a market play that determines the cost.

A single stage machine can be purchased from $350 to $800. A two-stage machine would cost you upwards of $1000. The costs would change depending on the throw distance of each machine and capacity of the machine. Information on prices at www.lawn-mowers-and-garden-tractors.com/snow-removal-equipment/snow-blowers.html

Varieties Of Machines In Market

Apart from the obvious variety of single stage and a two-stage machine, there is the variety of drive. The gasoline powered drive and electric driven machines are available in the market. Gasoline engine driven machines are generally two stroke engines and are noisy and polluting. Electric driven machines have the disadvantage that their power is limited. They cannot be made as two-stage machine. Where the snowfall is heavy, the electric machines will not be useful as the gas machines.

Snow Blower Safety

Safety is an important consideration while operating a snow blower. Take following precautions while operating a snow blower.

 

• Never allow children to operate the snow blower. Serious injuries and even amputation of hands can take place if it encounters the rotating impeller of a two-stage machine.

   

• If the blower is electric, the normal precaution when using electricity should be taken.

   

• When a two-stage machine is working, it is as if there is magnet for children. A powerful throw from machine creates a good visual impact. If children are present, keep them at a sufficient distance so they do not come under the snow being thrown.

  Andrew Caxton is the webmaster of http://www.lawn-mowers-and-garden-tractors.com A guide on lawn mowers and garden tractors and how to choose the right type for your garden;including snow removal tools for the winter season such as snow blowers and throwers http://www.lawn-mowers-and-garden-tractors.com/snow-removal-equipment/snow-blowers.html

A Review of Popular Snow Blower Products

No job is too small or too big for a snow blower. From the humblest light powdering to the heaviest blizzards, there’s a machine designed to clear the way. Here is a look at several brands of snow blowers and what you should know before making that first purchase.

Toro Snow Blowers
Toro’s 12 single-stage, dual-stage, and electric snow blowers offer a 5-year warranty on their exclusive 2-cycle R*Tech Engine. Most warranties only last 2 years. Other goodies Toro offers: A special trigger for releasing power to the wheels for tight turning action; an omni-directional joystick for mechanically aiming the discharge chute; and a heavy-duty gear case, eliminating the need for shear pins.

Honda Snow Blowers
Honda’s line of ten snow blowers feature logical control layouts and “infinitely variable” drive speeds, allowing you to choose your exact speed in forward and reverse without stopping. Most other snow blowers have 6 forward speeds and 2 reverse speeds. Honda snow blowers all use Honda engines, which focus on fuel economy.

Ariens Snow Blowers
Ariens offers 14 high-quality single- and dual-stage gas snow blowers, plus the unique Power Brush, which is perfect for clearing away light snow and leaves. All Ariens snow blowers have tires that don’t require chains, preventing wear and tear on your driveway. Ariens warranties last 3 years.

MTD Snow Blowers
MTD is a family of outdoor equipment brands, including Troy-Bilt, White Outdoor, Yard Machines, and Yard Man. Yard Machines boasts 14 different gas and electric snow blowers to fit your needs. Troy-Bilt and Yard Man sport the biggest, most powerful machines for the heaviest jobs. White Outdoor offers the most affordable models, ranging from $400 for their single-stage unit to $1,100 for their largest dual-stage thrower.

John Deere Snow Blowers
John Deere contracts Frontier Equipment for their snow blowers. All Frontier Equipment single-stage snow blowers, as well as their smallest dual-stage units, use standard Tecumseh Snow King engines. Their 9 to 13 horsepower units use Briggs and Stratton Intek Snow engines, which are designed for performance in sub-zero temperatures, quick starts, and quiet running. All Frontier Equipment dual-stage snow blowers are optimized for constant carburetor and engine temperatures, with an optional engine block heater.

Murray Snow Blowers
Snapper makes Murray’s snow blowers. They come in all sizes and stages. They only offer 5 forward speeds rather than the standard 6, but their exclusive “Creeper Speed” makes up for it by getting you steadily through some of the tougher portions of the job.

Craftsman Snow Blowers
Craftsman has an exclusive agreement with Sears whereby Sears both sells and services Craftsman snow blowers. This is desirable because Sears’s technicians where you bought your machine know the machine inside and out. Craftsman snow blowers use Briggs & Stratton for their smaller engines and Tecumseh for their larger engines. Newer Craftsman snow blowers are made by AYP or Murray.

Simplicity Snow Blowers
By design, Simplicity snow blowers are anything but. Their 11 models boast such extras as a special handle for releasing power to the right wheel, allowing for turning on a dime; a snow depth and density sensor that automatically adjusts power to the auger and impeller; and a Briggs & Stratton Intek Snow engine, which is built for subzero temperatures, quick starts, and quiet running.

Snow Blowers Info provides detailed information about electric and truck-mounted snow blowers, snow blower parts, and reviews of best snow blowers. Snow Blowers Info is affiliated with Original Content Web

A Closer Look at Snow Blower Parts

You can maximize efficiency, dependability and ease of use with a number of snow blower parts.

Covers
A heavy-duty cover will protect your snow blower when not in use.

Drift Cutters
If you want to create sharp, aesthetically pleasing edges to your snow banks, either buy a snow blower that has a built-in drift cutter or buy a conversion kit. These are also known as drift breakers.

Electric Starters
There are two kinds of starters: Electric and recoil. Electric uses a simple button, while recoil uses a cord that you yank. Some starters use a combination of the two. You can convert recoil starters to electric by getting an electric starter kit. They are available for both two-cycle and four-cycle engines.

Gas, Oil, and Stabilizer
Two-cycle engines are for smaller jobs and use a gas/oil mixture, along with a stabilizer: A liquid that keeps the gas/oil mixture from breaking down over time. Stabilizer also slows long-term build-up of deposits in the carburetor. Four-cycle engines are for bigger jobs, use separate gas and oil feeds and do not require stabilizer, but they do require periodic oil changes.

Headlights
You can buy sealed beam or halogen lights to mount on your snow blower, if it didn’t already come with one. This will make it safe to operate before dawn or after sunset.

Shear Pins
Most augers are connected to the auger shaft with shear pins. These pins break off if you hit an impasse while using your snow blower, thus saving the auger gear case from breakdown. If your unit uses shear pins, be sure to keep a few on hand at all times.

Snow Cabs
Protect yourself from sub-zero temperatures and snow flurries with a snow cab. Usually made of heavy-duty vinyl and freeze-resistant polyethylene, snow cabs attach to the handlebars of your dual stage snow blower. They can sometimes be too heavy, upsetting the delicate leveling of the auger blades, so be sure to buy a snow cab that is designed for your specific unit.

Snow Tire Chains
For added traction and maneuverability in icy conditions, you can wrap your tires in special snow chains. They come in various sizes and weave patterns to fit your particular tire.

Other Replacement Parts
Because of the frictional nature of snow blowers, you will need to replace certain parts from time to time. Auger rubbers, drive belts for augers, impellers, wheels and scraper bars are some of the items you might need to replace every two to ten years. Contact a snow blower parts retailer near you in your local yellow pages, or buy parts online. A good place to start is jackssmallengines.com. They stock most snow blower parts, from dual-stage augers and belts, to useful whistles and bells like snow cabs and headlights.

Remember: a good snow blower with a conscientious owner can last up to 30 years or more.

Snow Blowers Info provides detailed information about electric and truck-mounted snow blowers, snow blower parts, and reviews of best snow blowers. Snow Blowers Info is affiliated with Original Content Web

The Emergence of the Snow Blower

The first snow blower was built in 1925 to clear snow-covered roads in rural Canada. Designed by farmer and road contractor Arthur Sicard, this first snow blower resembled a wheat combine, with two rotating blades on the front and a long chute that hurled the snow to one side. Variations on this first machine eventually proved it to be a vital implement for all road contractors, airports, and railroads around the world.

In 1951, Toro introduced the domestic push snow blower, cementing the machine’s place as one of the most important back-saving devices ever created. Today, even the smallest, lightest, and least expensive domestic snow blowers can effortlessly clear 300 pounds of snow per minute and throw snow 20 feet away. A strong man with a good shovel would no doubt collapse under such competition. Even a top-of-the-line snow blower can eat snow at the rate of almost two tons per minute along a three-foot path and launch the snow a staggering 45 feet!

No job is too small or too big for a snow blower. From the humblest light powdering to the heaviest blizzards, there’s a machine designed to clear the way. There are two types of gas-powered snow blowers: Single-stage and dual-stage.

Single-stage snow blowers are perfect for clearing flat surfaces such as walkways, paved driveways, and patios. Their rubber-faced augers reach ground level, clearing away every last bit of snow. They’re usually smaller and lighter than dual-stage machines and easier to maneuver in tight spaces.

Single-stage snow blowers rely on one, high-speed auger to both scoop and throw snow. The auger’s curved blades spin parallel to the ground, carving out a section of snow with every rotation and moving the snow towards the machine’s centerline. Snow is then forced up and out through the discharge chute in one continuous motion. Single-stage snow blower technology can’t clear as much snow or throw snow as far as dual-stage machines can. However, dual-stage units can’t fit into confined spaces like single-stage units. Also, dual-stage snow blowers cannot clear snow from flat surfaces as well as a single-stage snow blower can.

Dual-stage snow blowers are best for medium to large jobs where snow is deeper and heavier, and where the terrain might be gravelly or uneven. They employ a slow-rolling auger for scooping up snow and a fast fan, called an impeller, for forcing snow out. The auger often has two types of blades: Serrated blades for breaking up hardened snow and ice, and smooth blades for scooping and lifting the snow into the machine. The auger can often be adjusted up and down, depending on how uneven the terrain is and how close you want to shave it. The auger casing can also come with skid shoes for adjusting total allowed ground clearance.

Separation of snow-handling tasks is what makes dual-stage snow blowers so effective for larger jobs. For the smallest jobs, however, you’ll want something much more maneuverable such as an electric snow blower.

Snow Blowers Info provides detailed information about electric and truck-mounted snow blowers, snow blower parts, and reviews of best snow blowers. Snow Blowers Info is affiliated with Original Content Web.

The Benefits of Snow Blower Tire Chains

Snow blowers generally come in two styles: one stage or two stage. Two stage snow blowers have one or more low-speed metal augers that break up the snow and movie it into a separate high-speed fan that blows the snow out the discharge chute. These machines are usually self-propelled, either with large wheels equipped with tire chains or, in some case, tracks. Snow blower tire chains are important for these large wheels because, without them, they would not be able to force themselves through the snow, much less clear it out of the way.

Like other tire chains, snow blower tire chains are available in a few different styles. They can be purchased in two link or four link spacing. In two link spacing, there is a cross chain every second side chain link. Similarly, four link spacing means that there is a cross chain every fourth side chain link. Two link spacing generally provides for a smoother ride and better traction. As with other tire chains, snow blower tire chains can be purchased with an optional V-Bar chain in both two link and four link spacing. V-Bar chains are especially recommended for snow use because they provide extra traction for use on hills, ice, and hard packed conditions. However, drivers should not use V-Bar chains on pavement since it can damage the surface.

Although snow blower tires are built to provide for extra traction in winter weather, snow blower tire chains will give drivers the extra grip they need to make it through even the worse snow conditions.

Tire Chains Info provides detailed information about automatic, snow, tractor, truck, ATV, skidder, and snow blower tire chains, as well as tire chain rentals. Tire Chains Info is the sister site of Trailer Hitches Web.