Snowblower Blog



             


Saturday, February 9, 2008

Snow Throwers - What Type Is Right For You?

Should You Get A Snow Thrower?

These neat pieces of kit can be a godsend in winter, making short work of removing the snow that blocks the access to your home and therefore allowing you to stay nice and toasty indoors for longer! While the city and state administration take care of removing the snow public roads, the responsibility is all yours when it comes to your property so you may have to brave the arctic weather to clear the footpath to your door and the driveway. This is traditionally the men’s job to sort out. A power tool like the snow thrower can be the difference between hours of punishing, back-breaking physical efforts and getting it all done very quickly.

Single-Stage Snow Thrower

Snow throwers, usually powered by a gas two-stroke engine, can be either single stage or two-stage. Both kinds feature a metallic or plastic trepan designed to cut through the snow or ice. Sometimes it can even be made of hard rubber. The machine features a series of gears that will drive the trepan to break off, gather and then blow the snow out of the way with impressive strength and velocity. The spinning trepan, or auger, contributes to propelling the thrower by being in contact with the ground, and pulling the machine forward as a result. A single-stage blower can usually cope with clearing between 12 and 22 inches of snow with each pass. You will most likely need several passes to rid your driveway of snow so these are usually only recommended for light residential usage.

What’s In A Two-Stage Thrower?

In addition to the trepan or auger, a two-stage thrower also features a pump, which makes the machine a lot more efficient by propelling the snow pumped up into the thrower much farther away. Sometime they can throw the snow gathered as far as 45 feet away, which can act as a magnet for all the kids in the neighborhood, so you should make sure they stand well away from the place the snow is going to land. A two-stage thrower is so powerful that it will make short work of any snow clearing job you can think of, and you may even have quite a bit of fun in the process! In a single pass your double-stage machine will be able to clear a width of snow of between 2 and 3 feet, so you should be back inside in no time at all.

Making Snow Removal Easier

- If this is allowed by your local authorities, you may be allowed to sprinkle salt onto it to ease up the process. Always check before going ahead to make sure you are complying with local regulations.

- Think layers! When going out in very cold weather to clear the driveway after a snowfall, try to wear several layers of clothing: you will be better insulated against the cold and able to work more comfortably.

- Be extremely careful when walking out on the snow or ice to clear the driveway as it is easy to fall and sustain serious injuries as a result: shoes with added grip may be a worthwhile consideration.

Andrew Caxton contributes adding long articles on lawn care for http://www.lawn-mowers-and-garden-tractors.com You can find more information and resources on snow thrower at his website.

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Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Using a Snow Thrower to Save You Time

Snow throwers can make your life easier. By learning how the snow throwers work. you will be better able to make the process quicker and safer.

Snow throwers serve a great purpose during the wintertime. This article will give you information on how snow throwers do their job and how to get the best results from your snow thrower. These tips will help you to reduce the time that you have to spend outside getting rid of that cold and wet snow.

Snow throwers Can Keep You Warm When there is snow outside. many men have to leave the warmth of their home to keep their sidewalks and driveways clean so that their family can go on with their life as normal. Your local government keeps the roads clear of snow. but the snow in front of your home is your responsibility. A snow thrower will allow you to quickly do this job and get back into the warmth of your home in no time.

Gas Engine Single Stage Operation Snow Throwers You can find a snow thrower that is either single stage or two stages. The single stage snow thrower has a hard rubber or a combination metal and plastic auger. The engine uses a gear system to drive the auger. which cuts through the ice by chipping it. cellecting it. and then spitting it out of the snow thrower with quite a bit of force. This gets the ice off of the driveway. A single stage snow thrower is self-propelled as it rides on the snow. This kind of machine clears 12 to 22-inch width strips so it will most likely take several passes to clear your driveway of snow.

The More Powerful Two-stage Machine The two-stage machine includes a pump in addition to the auger that is in a single stage machine. In a two-stage machine. the ice that is churned by the auger is sent to a pump. The pump helps to increase the distance that the clear snow goes and in some cases. the distance that the snow is thrown can be up to 45'. Children love watching the snow flow through the air and this machine can make your snowy chore easy and fun. These machines can make a path of 2 to 3-feet in one pass so it will take you less time to clear the driveway and/or sidewalk.

How to Remove the Snow Easily. * Sprinkle salt over the snow to help clear it more easily. (It is important to check with your local authorities to see if this is allowed.) * When using your snow thrower. you need to wear many layers of clothing instead of just one layer to ensure that you stay warm. * Spiked shoes are a good idea to help make sure that you do not slip on the hard snow. Keep in mind that if you fall. you could break a leg. arm. or another bone or you could hurt your head. That is why you want to take precautions to ensure that you are safe.

Andrew Caxton is a syndicated writer of http://www.lawn-mowers-and-garden-tractors.com . A free online magazine that carries articles on snow blowers, and a guide on lawn care with John Deere snow throwers

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Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Snow Blowers: 8 Steps to Keep Yours Running Smoothly

Your snowblower is perhaps your most valubale piece of mechanized machinery that you own (besides your car of course!) - so it requires regular servicing to ensure that it will perform just when you need it. If you look after your snow blower correctly you will enjoy several winters of excellent response and performance from your blower. Well worth that additional investment if you do not want to be left stranded. Here are some basic and practical ways that you can help prolong the life of your snowblower.

1. Tires. You need to ensure that your tires have aqequate thread and that they have enough pressure. If you have chains then you need to ensure that they are in good conditions and stored somewhere convenient.

2. Two Cylinder Engine. If you have a two cylinder/two stroke engine that uses a mix of gas and oil then you will need to periodialcally replace the spark plug.

3. 4 cylinder engine. You snowblower engine will need to be maintained and serviced just like any other engine. For four cyliner engines with separate oil and gas, you will need to change the oil, filter, and spark plug. Oil levels should ideally be checked every time you use your snow blower. A four cylinder engine will typically use 5W30 oil and take around 20 ounces. It is best to keep a stock decent supply of oil.

4. Rubber Paddles.You need to regularly check the rubber paddles and the rubber on the auger. The space between the augur and the housing should be less than the width of your finger. If more, then you should replace the rubber to allow your snowblower to run more efficiently.

5. Scrapebar. Check out the condition of the scraperbar. To do this you need to turn your snowblower on it's side. The scraper bar does the work of moving the snow and so is likely to wear quickly and will often need replacing. It is imperative that you replace the bar before if gets too worn. If the bar is worn you can damage the housing on your blower and you will end up with far bigger problems and expense. Depending on how often you use your snowblower, I would recommend regualr checks.

6. Drive and Chassis. It is important that you lube the drive and chassis. If you have a 2 stage snowblower you will need to Your owners manual will confirm which type of snowthrower you have and tell you which type of lubricant to use.

7. Belts and Bolts. Check all the belts, bolts and moving parts. Over the Summer bolts can become worn or loose. Belts can become frayed or cracked. Belts may also need to be tightened. Check out your owners manual on how to do this and always adhere to the safety guidelines.

8. Fuel. It is best practice to ensure that there is no fuel left in the tank from the previos year. It is recommended to siphon off the old gaseoline and fill up with a fresh tank. To prevent the carburetor from freezing it is also recommended to add some methanol to your gaseoline once every few months.

Keith Kingston is a professional web publisher who is an authority on a wide variety of subjects. Find out more about his reviews on snow removal contract and snow removal equipment

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Snow Blowers: 8 Steps to Keep Yours Running Smoothly

Your snowblower is perhaps your most valubale piece of mechanized machinery that you own (besides your car of course!) - so it requires regular servicing to ensure that it will perform just when you need it. If you look after your snow blower correctly you will enjoy several winters of excellent response and performance from your blower. Well worth that additional investment if you do not want to be left stranded. Here are some basic and practical ways that you can help prolong the life of your snowblower.

1. Tires. You need to ensure that your tires have aqequate thread and that they have enough pressure. If you have chains then you need to ensure that they are in good conditions and stored somewhere convenient.

2. Two Cylinder Engine. If you have a two cylinder/two stroke engine that uses a mix of gas and oil then you will need to periodialcally replace the spark plug.

3. 4 cylinder engine. You snowblower engine will need to be maintained and serviced just like any other engine. For four cyliner engines with separate oil and gas, you will need to change the oil, filter, and spark plug. Oil levels should ideally be checked every time you use your snow blower. A four cylinder engine will typically use 5W30 oil and take around 20 ounces. It is best to keep a stock decent supply of oil.

4. Rubber Paddles.You need to regularly check the rubber paddles and the rubber on the auger. The space between the augur and the housing should be less than the width of your finger. If more, then you should replace the rubber to allow your snowblower to run more efficiently.

5. Scrapebar. Check out the condition of the scraperbar. To do this you need to turn your snowblower on it's side. The scraper bar does the work of moving the snow and so is likely to wear quickly and will often need replacing. It is imperative that you replace the bar before if gets too worn. If the bar is worn you can damage the housing on your blower and you will end up with far bigger problems and expense. Depending on how often you use your snowblower, I would recommend regualr checks.

6. Drive and Chassis. It is important that you lube the drive and chassis. If you have a 2 stage snowblower you will need to Your owners manual will confirm which type of snowthrower you have and tell you which type of lubricant to use.

7. Belts and Bolts. Check all the belts, bolts and moving parts. Over the Summer bolts can become worn or loose. Belts can become frayed or cracked. Belts may also need to be tightened. Check out your owners manual on how to do this and always adhere to the safety guidelines.

8. Fuel. It is best practice to ensure that there is no fuel left in the tank from the previos year. It is recommended to siphon off the old gaseoline and fill up with a fresh tank. To prevent the carburetor from freezing it is also recommended to add some methanol to your gaseoline once every few months.

Keith Kingston is a professional web publisher who is an authority on a wide variety of subjects. Find out more about his reviews on snow removal contract and snow removal equipment

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