Snow blower questions

[whynot162]

I have a snow blower, and it is picking up a lot of rocks. If I tilt it back more it just pushes the snow. What am I missing here?
Also when the snow starts to melt, or it rains on top of the snow, it just clogs it up with ice in the chute. Anything to do on that? or just go back to the blade?

Thanks
Doug

 

[leonz]

Ideally you want to let the snow pack freeze
to use the snow caster without having to deal
with the rocks.

If your snow caster has adjustable skids you can
lower them all the way to down to reduce the digging
and gouging.


You can use Fluid Film or a cheap cooking spray or water proof
silicone spray to spray a film of the fluid every where to prevent sticking.

 

[whynot162]

it does not get that cold, or stay cold that long here. I live between Portland Or. and Seattle Wa. So it is a few day event, but it gets to be more than a rear blade can handle. So I bought this to try and get in and out of the place.

I will try the cooking spray thing...

 

[oldnslo]

I have a snow blower, and it is picking up a lot of rocks. If I tilt it back more it just pushes the snow. What am I missing here?
Also when the snow starts to melt, or it rains on top of the snow, it just clogs it up with ice in the chute. Anything to do on that? or just go back to the blade?

Thanks
Doug

Is this a two-stage with feed auger or single stage V-type blower?

I always adjusted my top-link so the wear skids where parallel to the ground. If you are just pushing snow and this is a two-stage with auger, did the auger drive shear a pin? This would turn it into a snow pusher Vs snow blower.

Never had an issue with rocks in gravel drive, just tree branches, etc. buried in the snow.

Roy

 

[JDGreenGrass]

I agree with the comments above. Get the skid shoes lowered down so that your scraper edge is not dragging on the gravel. Also, level the blower in accordance with the shoes.

Is this a 3pt. blower.??

You need to expect picking up some gravel as you are blowing if the ground is not frozen. It's really no big deal. My blower handles this sort of thing with grace. I've yet to shear a pin and it has thrown some pretty good sized rocks.

I can't imagine going back to a blade after using the blower. I've been blowing snow for 20+ years. I love a blower.

Do you have any previous experience with a snowblower.?? Sounds like you have to get used to the task and what it involves. Give it a chance.

 

[whynot162]

Yes it is a 3 pt. and a 2 stage. Maybe it is too much of a blower for my area, but after the major snow that we got a few years ago, we decided to get it.
This is the first time I have really tried to use it.

Maybe I am also going too slow? and down hill? Would I have better luck if I went to high range, and tried up the hill instead of down?
I am looking for how to get it set up the best. I do not think our snow is over....
Thanks..

 

[oldnslo]

Maybe I am also going too slow? and down hill? Would I have better luck if I went to high range, and tried up the hill instead of down?
I am looking for how to get it set up the best. I do not think our snow is over....
Thanks..

To slow is possible, blowers work best with a steady flow of snow being fed into them. Rule of thumb is try to adjust your speed so the snow is just being picked up and fed in without pushing a mound in front of the augers. Uphill vs downhill. Blower shouldn't care unless the hill is so steep it pushes or slides in front of the blower when going down. Don't think I would want to try going up that hill though.

Can you have a knowledgeable friend watch the blower as you try and use it. It is quite often easier for a person on the ground to watch the blowers angle in elation to the ground. They may also notice that some thing else doesn't look quite right.

PacNW, you may also get heavy wet snow which is more prone to pushing and plugging, here again try and keep a steady stream of snow, this reduces the tendency to plug.

Good luck

Roy

 

[JDGreenGrass]

No, you are not going too slow.

There is very little set-up involved with these blowers. So, no, it's not that either.

How much snow are you trying in to blow...how deep.??

Are your rpm's up to snuff.??(540)

Are you able to exit the seat to get a look at the blower with it up to speed.?? If not, use a bungee cord to "strap down" the seat so that you can give the blower a look from behind...DON"T even get near the blower...Understood.?? DO NOT get close to the blower. And, DO NOT walk past the chute.!!

Where as your original problem refered to picking up gravel, I am thinking you may have a sheared pin.

We are here to help. Keep the questions coming and more importantly, keep the answers from our questions coming..

These blowers are THE ticket to ride. You should be loving your blower. Let's get to the bottom of this.

Now, I have 9" of the fluufy stuff outside my door RIGHT NOW.!! It's a beautiful morning in Maine. Can you say...Seat Time.??....with the blower...It's going to be a joy.!!:thumbsup:

 

[rd_macgregor]

Every spring I spend a fair amount of time (at my wife's insistence!) picking rocks off the lawn. With the first couple of snows of the season, before the ground is well-frozen, its hard to avoid shooting some rocks. I have special problems with the transition of my driveway from flat to sloped...where the blower tries to dig in. Also, I re-gravel my drive every five to seven years and the problem is worst for a year or two after that, before the loose rocks get pressed/packed down into the surface.
I'd say in coastal Oregon the surface will never freeze into a hardpack, so that won't work. The best you can hope for may be setting the skids as high as possible and just living with the inch or so of leftover scum of snow.
I'll often blow as much as I can, then do a final forward drag using the blower like a plow; this isn't a good move just before a hard freeze, though...it just creates a nice, smooth driveway skating rink.
BOB

 

[rd_macgregor]

Every spring I spend a fair amount of time (at my wife's insistence!) picking rocks off the lawn. With the first couple of snows of the season, before the ground is well-frozen, its hard to avoid shooting some rocks. I have special problems with the transition of my driveway from flat to sloped...where the blower tries to dig in. Also, I re-gravel my drive every five to seven years and the problem is worst for a year or two after that, before the loose rocks get pressed/packed down into the surface...oh,yeah, the crown in the drive also gets scalped some!
I'd say in coastal Oregon the surface will never freeze into a hardpack, so that "solution" won't work too well. The best you can hope for may be setting the skids as high as possible and just living with the inch or so of leftover scum of snow.
I'll often blow as much as I can, then do a final forward drag using the backside of the blower like a blade; I've found this isn't a good move just before a hard freeze, though...it just creates a nice, smooth driveway skating rink.
BOB

 

[Jay4200]

I have a snow blower, and it is picking up a lot of rocks. If I tilt it back more it just pushes the snow. What am I missing here?
Also when the snow starts to melt, or it rains on top of the snow, it just clogs it up with ice in the chute. Anything to do on that? or just go back to the blade?

First, leave an inch or two of snow on the ground. That eliminates sucking up rocks.

Second, you're not driving the blower fast enough - you have to keep your RPMs at absolute full blast when the snow is even a bit wet. Make sure the blower has cleared out when you chop the throttle too - a too-quick drop in RPMs can pack up a blower solid.

JayC

 

[whynot162]

Thanks for the help.
The tractor is running at 540 rpm at the pto. I could switch it to 720, but that does not help.

I am trying to blow about 12 inches or so of snow. We ended up with 22 this past week and when I have tried to blow it after the snow turns to rain, it is pointless.. just plug up city..
This is the style I have.. Buhler Farm King Snowblowers

It is spinning and working as far as I can tell. The gravel I am piking up is just the high spots in the gravel road. nothing larger then 1.5 minus.

Think I got all the questions.. Thanks so much for the help, I just have to learn to adjust it and use it correctly, so thanks for your continued help.

 

[doxford jim]

Thanks for the help.
The tractor is running at 540 rpm at the pto. I could switch it to 720, but that does not help.


This is the style I have.. Buhler Farm King Snowblowers

It is spinning and working as far as I can tell. The gravel I am piking up is just the high spots in the gravel road. nothing larger then 1.5 minus.

Think I got all the questions.. Thanks so much for the help, I just have to learn to adjust it and use it correctly, so thanks for your continued help.

I also have an Allied-Farm King snowblower, but mine is a 1989 model with the three bladed fan.

I had mediocre performance when I first got it (bought used and abused ) but after some needy repairs, the machine now works very well.

At 540 RPM, the blower works well - the deeper the snow, the better it works. Ground speed is also a factor - too fast and it will clog up, too slow and it takes forever to clear.

At 720 RPM the (my) blower works extremely well but I prefer to use the 540 RPM speed as it is easier on the blower.

Having a four blade fan would be much better than the three blade fan.

Just thought I would add my experiences - learned the hard way !!

Winter is far from over, so you might get to be able to throw snow thirty feet or more before it ends :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Cheers

jim

 

[pak7819]

I've seen threads talking about an impeller kit. Does anyone have details about this? I believe it's a kit that reduces the clearance between the impeller and the drum. Does this kit ward off any damage when picking up small rocks? I have a gravel drive, and try to be careful, but have been picking some up due to a severe crown on my drive. Will need to get a grader next year.

Anyhow,...regarding rocks and this impeller kit; my reason for questioning is I would rather have a rock banging against this hard plastic impeller kit material versus the steel drum as it's trying to make it's way up the chute. I have adjustable shoes and have been adjusting, want to know about this impeller kit as added protection for when the inevitable happens. If only I could pave the driveway as soon as my wife and I want to.... 1,400' wont' be cheap.

 

[Jay4200]

I've seen threads talking about an impeller kit. Does anyone have details about this? I believe it's a kit that reduces the clearance between the impeller and the drum. Does this kit ward off any damage when picking up small rocks? I have a gravel drive, and try to be careful, but have been picking some up due to a severe crown on my drive. Will need to get a grader next year.

Anyhow,...regarding rocks and this impeller kit; my reason for questioning is I would rather have a rock banging against this hard plastic impeller kit material versus the steel drum as it's trying to make it's way up the chute. I have adjustable shoes and have been adjusting, want to know about this impeller kit as added protection for when the inevitable happens. If only I could pave the driveway as soon as my wife and I want to.... 1,400' wont' be cheap.

Don't worry about the crown - by the end of the winter it won't be excessive any more.

I'm not keen on the impeller kits. Snow packs into the impeller walls instantly, and it will fill right up to the blade position, so I personally don't believe blade/wall distance is all that critical (provided they are all the same).

I wouldn't worry about the wear from rocks too much. Sucking rocks is an early/late season problem - once the driveway freezes, it won't happen any more. Also, once you knock down the crown, that issue will be gone too.

We had a freak storm this past Halloween - 2 1/2 feet of snow and the drive was wet underneath. I tried my best to keep the blower 'just right' with my 3pt, but when all was said and done, I must've sucked up about a thousand pounds of gravel. I had to get out there the next week and shovel/rake all of it up so it didn't kill half of my lawn. PITA. I should've just left 3-4" of snow, but the ****-retentive in me took over and I tried to leave almost nothing. Everything froze up since then, and now I'm pushing over 1" of solid ice. No more flying rocks.

JayC

 

[leonz]

I've seen threads talking about an impeller kit. Does anyone have details about this? I believe it's a kit that reduces the clearance between the impeller and the drum. Does this kit ward off any damage when picking up small rocks? I have a gravel drive, and try to be careful, but have been picking some up due to a severe crown on my drive. Will need to get a grader next year.

Anyhow,...regarding rocks and this impeller kit; my reason for questioning is I would rather have a rock banging against this hard plastic impeller kit material versus the steel drum as it's trying to make it's way up the chute. I have adjustable shoes and have been adjusting, want to know about this impeller kit as added protection for when the inevitable happens. If only I could pave the driveway as soon as my wife and I want to.... 1,400' wont' be cheap.

About Clarences impeller kit.

If you look at clarences home page it explains it all in great detail and he has excellent pictures of the kit that is provided for your snow caster.

The rubber part of the kit sweeps the snow and ice out of the impeller drum completely when working to avoid ice buildup in the impeller drum

The edge of the rubber is in contact with the the impeller drum and that is what makes it ideal. it helps if you can heat the snow caster up or let it melt out completely to avoid having the rubber freeze to the impeller drum though.

If you have a warm garage or a kerosene space heater all the better as the drain hole or holes in the impeller drum will be plugged most likely.

I use my Kerosene fired salamander to warm up and dry out my tractor and snow caster everytime I use it.

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