snowblower and rocks

[Jay4200]

You DON'T suck an occasional rock through the blower. If you do, you sometimes bend an auger, and always smash the fan. Just don't do it. You have to PLAN AHEAD if you run a snowblower. While you're putting in the fiberglass markers to flag your driveway before the snow flys, spend the extra few minutes picking up any rock or stick that you see that you don't want sucked through your blower and throw it out of the way into the woods. Personally, I keep no less than a 6' buffer between my driveway and anything bigger than a golf ball. I live in "the granite state" (and there IS a reason its called that) and I've never broken a shear pin on a rock. I HAVE broken several by chopping the tractor throttle while there is still snow in the blower - it packs up like concrete and means 45 minutes of picking with a digging bar...so don't do that.

If you're talking about the actual crushed stone on the driveway, don't worry about it - a 3pt blower will blow your entire driveway 30' into the woods if you let it. Keep the pads down so you leave an inch or so of snow the first couple of times you run the blower. After the gravel freezes in, then you can drop it down and scrape it.

 

[billhoblit]

Front mount bs2750C on a bx23. It easily vacuums 2' dry or wet.
I added 1" under the stock skids to leave snowpack. I can angle the blower down to shave an inch if needed.
Buy LOTS of shear pins. Don't use soft bolts... they smear, can't get them out easily.
Being in the woods, I occasionally try to spit sticks and potato-sized rocks. Doesn't work.
The impeller finally bent. I'm going to re-fab/beef-up the impeller.
Any tips on disassembly?

 

[Threepoint]

Several posts have mentioned having to twist around to blow snow in reverse looking over your shoulder. I don't have a blower, but I plow in reverse and the contortions get old real fast. For members with cab tractors (and maybe even those with open stations), consider adding a backup camera, with a 7" monitor mounted on the dash or windshield. You can do it for about $50. 94BULLITT started a TBN thread recently on this: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/316927-backup-camera-50-a.html I did this following Roger's lead a few weeks ago, and you can see the quality of the images I get at post #120. I've reposted them below also. Really helps when grading. I'll be curious to see if it's as useful pushing snow this winter. The camera is waterproof. The monitor isn't, so with an open station, you'd for sure need to slip a clear baggy over it in rain and snow.

 

[PILOON]

Front mount bs2750C on a bx23. It easily vacuums 2' dry or wet.
I added 1" under the stock skids to leave snowpack. I can angle the blower down to shave an inch if needed.
Buy LOTS of shear pins. Don't use soft bolts... they smear, can't get them out easily.
Being in the woods, I occasionally try to spit sticks and potato-sized rocks. Doesn't work.
The impeller finally bent. I'm going to re-fab/beef-up the impeller.
Any tips on disassembly?

Modified my skids to about 2.5" X 10" and that solves that problem 'til the base is made.
Did the camera installation 2 wks ago and that looks like a sure winner.(I have a cab)
I also mucked up my impeller a few times but that is now beefed up.
Grade 5 shear bolts are the way to go! when they do shear they do so cleanly, so much so that they generally simply fall out when positioned just right.
Be sure that the auger shaft is well greased, add zerks if none exist.

 

[Farmer495]

Several posts have mentioned having to twist around to blow snow in reverse looking over your shoulder. I don't have a blower, but I plow in reverse and the contortions get old real fast. For members with cab tractors (and maybe even those with open stations), consider adding a backup camera, with a 7" monitor mounted on the dash or windshield. You can do it for about $50. 94BULLITT started a TBN thread recently on this: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/316927-backup-camera-50-a.html I did this following Roger's lead a few weeks ago, and you can see the quality of the images I get at post #120. I've reposted them below also. Really helps when grading. I'll be curious to see if it's as useful pushing snow this winter. The camera is waterproof. The monitor isn't, so with an open station, you'd for sure need to slip a clear baggy over it in rain and snow.

I think for snow usage, especially with snow blower or during a storm, that camera will be covered in snow. I do think it's a good idea, BUT if you NEED this to operate, i.e. because you can't turn around, then a rear mounted machine is not for you.

 

[BWSwede]

Maybe I missed it but I haven't seen anybody mention shortening the top link the first couple of storms. This causes the blower to rock back on the shoes but more importantly it puts the bottom of the blower at an angle to the road surface. When the blower is pushed it causes the bottom of the blower to slightly ride up on the snow with its weight packing the snow down. This makes a nice firm surface of snow.

BWSwede

 

[tcartwri]

You just need to resist the urge to get right down to the gravel until everything is well frozen. I use my blower as a back drag for the first couple of storms to pack everything down. Even then I never set the cutting edge less than an inch above the drive. I don't even know where my shear pins are.... 450 ft gravel drive.

 

[js5020]

The problem the OP is going to have in NE PA is any attempt with making a base to keep the rock at bay isn't going to work most years, our climate here is such that most years it gets warm enough between storms to melt your base and your back to rock again by the next storm. Personally here in NE PA on average I don't think we get enough snow to require a blower (key word, require). Best thing I have found is to get the drive free of loose stones before snow season and keep the blower skids adjusted for atleast 1.5" of clearance between the drive and the scrapper blade.

 

[Jay4200]

Maybe I missed it but I haven't seen anybody mention shortening the top link the first couple of storms. This causes the blower to rock back on the shoes but more importantly it puts the bottom of the blower at an angle to the road surface. When the blower is pushed it causes the bottom of the blower to slightly ride up on the snow with its weight packing the snow down. This makes a nice firm surface of snow.

Good suggestion. I have to remember to do that myself this year, although the way things are going, my driveway might end up frozen in by this weekend...bbbbbrrrrrrrrrrr

 

[PILOON]

Good suggestion. I have to remember to do that myself this year, although the way things are going, my driveway might end up frozen in by this weekend...bbbbbrrrrrrrrrrr

Yep, here also, minus 3 Celsius when I got up (Sept 19?), sure hope that this is not a sign of the upcoming winter. ( better buy thermal undies)