Snow Attachments Blowin snow and glad I got the xtra HP!

[keeney]

The favorite thing to get jammed in my snowblower used to be a frozen newspaper. Those stupid free ones that they always just throw on your driveway even though you never subscribed or anything.

They would lay buried in the snow just waiting to get stuck in the snowblower. They are the perfect size and mass when wet/half frozen and compress just enough to really get wedged in the fan really tight.

I always felt like I dodged a bullet when I would find them before blowing, or even better when I see one go through the blower without getting stuck!

Luckily now, I live in a town where they don't throw the free papers on people's driveways.

- Rick

 

[Trev]

Brad,

From all the replies here, it seems clear that everyone agrees that stopping the engine suddenly is a bad thing.

The only "somewhat related" experiences I can share is with my PTO tiller.. when I pick up a rock, the engine RPM begins to lower quite rapidly, but not instantly. If I simply disengage the PTO lever, the engine keeps running. I'm assuming the tiller has a clutch of some kind built in. Seems like the best solution. No bolts to replace, no sudden engine stoppage. I just raise the tiller, jiggle the PTO on and off a couple times, and the rock falls out and I'm back on my merry way.

If you could get a clutch for this snowblower, I think it might be the best solution...

Question: do the various manunfacturers who make these sheer bolts adhere to decent standards? Or is one's grade 5 bolts way different from another??

Bob

 

[SacandagaBrad]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( If you could get a clutch for this snowblower, I think it might be the best solution...

Question: do the various manunfacturers who make these sheer bolts adhere to decent standards? Or is one's grade 5 bolts way different from another?? )</font>

Bob,

For now, I've stepped down to a grade 2, but without any decent snow storms /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif, I have not had much of a chance to try it. I basically have made it the weakest link (as it should be), if it is too weak, I will go to the grade 5 which is the correct one for the drive shaft. I will check into a clutch for the shaft if all else fails, especially keeping a gravel road clear.

As far as the "quality control" on shear bolts - I would imagine they have to meet minimum standards such as SAE. Does that mean they are all the same strength? I doubt it. That is why I started with the grade 2 to see how it works. The bolts most of us are using are not specific shear bolts, rather standard bolts of a specified size and strength.

Anyway, with these lousy little clipper systems dumping 1" to 3" at a time, the blower will probably stay in the garage and I'll continue to use the back blade. It's still seat time /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Brad

 

[Trev]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The bolts most of us are using are not specific shear bolts, rather standard bolts of a specified size and strength. )</font>

Just a thought, Brad, but is it possible that, since the bolts are not specifically intended as shear bolts, that the specs simple require them to be "at or above" the specs for a given grade of bolt? Of course it would be the "or above" part that might be the problem here. Normally, people wouldn't object to getting a bolt that's stronger than what they are paying for.. except in this one case of needing it to shear when we expect it to. I probably am all wet here, knowing zero about bolt manufacturing.

Bob

 

[art]

I'd be taking the shafts apart and make sure that the shear bolts can shear. We find that from time to time that the shafts might be damaged and can't shear.

 

[MCA]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I never thought of getting a camera /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif The make of my blower is a Buhler/allied, I thought it odd they called for a grade 8 bolt which is why I called the dealer after reading it in the manual, I figured it had to be a misprint. I do know a frozen squirl is tough to get out of your 2nd stage fan. I had to get a large pry bar and work it around till the frozen critter got to the chute, at that time I was able to reach in and pluck it out. )</font>

I have the same blower on a BX2200 - I popped my first shear bolt last week. I didn't even hear it break over the sound of the engine and the PTO running. What broke it? Not a rock or even a squirrel - just lifting the 3PH up a little too high, binding the u-joint a bit too much while changing positions without turning off the PTO.

MCA

 

[BigEddy]

Popped a shear bolt myself the other day. Kids left the shovel lying on the drive and it drifted over. Never knew it was there till the snow stopped coming out the chute. 3 minutes and 7 cents later, I was back blowing again. I like the soft ones!