Snow Blower Performance

[doxford jim]

Update on earlier post.

Well, I got the impeller measured and there is more clearance than I thought there would be - aint it always the same when you buy used, the deal isn't as good later after calming down and doing some checking.

I get between 1/2" and 3/4" cleance on each blade - depending on which side you measure. I think the front gets worn more as the snow/grit or what have you takes it's toll. I guess I will try welding on some 1/4 x 1x2 flat bar to close up the gap. I guess static balancing for the fan would better better than nothing.
Anyone have an idea of cost uf building up and balancing if sent out? What about the cost of replacing the fan - how expensive are these?

I once repaired a 10hp gas powered blower and the impeller was something like $40 to replace - I know there is no comparison, but the price still seemed cheap to me. The old one got bent like a pretzel after jamming with rocks/ice !. My dear dog loves to play with stones and drops them anywhere - and I gets to find them

Anyway, just thought I would add a bit to the first post. Also the fan is 24" diameter, so it should throw quite a bit out if set up right.

If anyone has some info that might be of help, I sure would appreciate hearing about it.

Thx

Jim

 

[gerard]

check out this link. Snowblower Impeller Kit

Closes the clearance while still alowing some flexibility. looks like it will do what you're looking for and is easier than welding and building up the edge.

 

[doxford jim]

check out this link. Snowblower Impeller Kit

Closes the clearance while still alowing some flexibility. looks like it will do what you're looking for and is easier than welding and building up the edge.

Thanks for the link. I took a look but that looks to be for the small gas powered snow blower of 10hp or less.
Hmmm, maybe that idea could be used and modified to take advantage of some PTFE board say 1/2 thick and somebacking plates. Cheap to do and nothing gets damaged with the PTFE being so slippery.

Thx

Jim

 

[studor]

Jim -- I think you could use the plastic as mentioned to create strips to go on each impeller blade and close the gap. I want to try it this summer as I am going to do an overhaul of my old blower and will use 1/ 4" UHMW material to do it. I plan to have slots in the material so I can adjust it to get minimum clearance between the fan and the housing. If worst comes to worst I will have some small holes in the end of my fan blades that could be welded closed if necessary

 

[doxford jim]

Jim -- I think you could use the plastic as mentioned to create strips to go on each impeller blade and close the gap. I want to try it this summer as I am going to do an overhaul of my old blower and will use 1/ 4" UHMW material to do it. I plan to have slots in the material so I can adjust it to get minimum clearance between the fan and the housing. If worst comes to worst I will have some small holes in the end of my fan blades that could be welded closed if necessary

Seems, some minds do think alike although 3,000 miles away eh !!
The plastic would also be sacrificial and readily replaced in it wears quickly. Weight should be equal between the blades if the same number of bolts are used on each blade and same positions used for drilling (ie. a template made and used).

I figured a cheap domestic cutting board for about $8.00 would be fine to use when cut into trips. I am also cosidering placing it in the front of the blade so the blade itself would offer support to the plastic.

Thx for your comments - if ya have any more ideas, I would sure appreciate hearing about them.

The weather has really warmed up on the left coast. The 2ft - 3ft of snow I had is mostly gone with the current warm spell. It has been about 6C (42F) for about four or five days. At this rate if I manage to improve the blower, I might get to try it out next winter

Cheers

Jim

 

[studor]

Jim -- Lee Valley Tools has UHMW material in a variety of sizes that you can use. I do not think that any weight difference you would generate by doing this would amount to a problem. I seem to remember a kit like the one posted by Gerard for 3 pth blowers that was essentially what we are talking about-- probably not available anymore cause why would you buy it once you have the idea?

 

[doxford jim]

Jim -- Lee Valley Tools has UHMW material in a variety of sizes that you can use. I do not think that any weight difference you would generate by doing this would amount to a problem. I seem to remember a kit like the one posted by Gerard for 3 pth blowers that was essentially what we are talking about-- probably not available anymore cause why would you buy it once you have the idea?

Thought you might be interested - I have just got a reply back from Allied-Farm King (Buhler) who made my new (used) snow blower (I am guessing that it is an ex-rental and probably 15years old or more, but well built and in good shape). They couldn't find the specs for my particular machine, but said that the clearance between blade tip and housing should be as small as possible/practucal.

Hmmmm, that mean I got lotsa "hole" to fill up That I can do without a problem.

Further to the plastic idea, depending on the wear experienced, it might be worth considering replacement blade tips in metal. Make a drawing and make them all the same (ie not rely on memory). After the experience with the plastic - I suspect they will wear rather quickly, replace with metal ones say 1/4" thick and made of stainless steel flat bar. No corrosion and would wear well and last the fan throughout it's usefull life I would think.

Just idle thoughts at the moment, but certainly something to consider.

Cheers

Jim

 

[studor]

Jim -- debated using metal and I think it would work as well. I don't think the plastic will wear very quickly due to its slippery surface and in theory the snow is not very abrasive (although the occasional rock and dirt clump probably is). I do know that the blower used by the guys who do the driveways in my "in town" neighbourhood has about 1/8" to 1/4" clearance between the fan and the housing and they frequently throttle down to stop it from throwing too far.
I figure if the plastic does not last long then I can replace it with metal fairly easily since the holes and dimensions will be the same -- and I have the plastic.

 

[slowzuki]

My neighbour has an allied blower, I have a Lucknow, both 7 ft'ers.

Mine will throw snow 50+ feet, his only about 20 ft max.

Mine has 1/2-3/4" gap on the impellor. His is only 1/4".

He breaks a lot of shear pins on rocks. Mine shoots a lot of rocks right through.

I think his fan is a slightly different design than mine, it cleans up much better. Mine leaves a big pile.

 

[doxford jim]

My neighbour has an allied blower, I have a Lucknow, both 7 ft'ers.

Mine will throw snow 50+ feet, his only about 20 ft max.

Mine has 1/2-3/4" gap on the impellor. His is only 1/4".

He breaks a lot of shear pins on rocks. Mine shoots a lot of rocks right through.

I think his fan is a slightly different design than mine, it cleans up much better. Mine leaves a big pile.

When I went to look at the blower, the chap who sold it showed me how it performed by going through some 15" of snow. I also found out that the tractor he was using was only a 30 HP machine - I believe that was engine power too.
The blower cleaned up the snow with about an inch or so of the ground/grass. It threw the snow some 15ft - 20ft. I haven't yet used it - the snow is all but melted away where I am after nearly a week of 42F or thereabouts temps.

You say your machine has the 1/2 " - 3/4" between the impeller and casing and yet still manages to push the snow a long distance - hmmmmm! Maybe the gap is not as critical as the factory said it was. They did say with large gaps , 1/2 - 3/4 I consider pretty large, the performance would still be pretty adequate.

I will try some plastic blade tips and see what happens. The worst that can happen is I end up with three or four 5/16" dia bolt holes on each blade.

How do you like your blower? The one I have looks to be very well built and, has the enclosed gearbox, large #60 chain for auger drive and 25" dia. fan - which is normal with the 7' (85 ") model. think mine must be a hybrid and they used the parts left over from a production run.

Anyway, thanks for your comments.

Jim