Snow Blowers


Snow Thrower Pre Season Maintenance

October 21st, 2017 ernie Posted in Snow Throwers No Comments »

Snow Thrower Pre Season MaintenanceYour snow thrower pre season maintenance is due. There is no better time to do this work than now before it gets really cold. Pre-season maintenance is easy when it is still warm. No one wants to be dealing with a snow thrower that will not run properly in cold weather. Especially after that first snow fall when it is really cold and there is lots of snow. We have listed a number of steps for consumers to consider. If you are uncomfortable doing this work yourself, at least test start your machine. Make sure that it is running smoothly. If not arrange for a mechanic to tune it up. The following are the steps to consider.

Snow Thrower Pre Season Maintenance Activities

Always refer to your snow throwers service manual for any details and questions. These are the areas you should be review as part of the pre season maintenance activities:

  • Check Spark Plug
  • Assess Belts
  • Measure Tire Pressure
  • Grease Auger
  • Confirm Light is Working
  • Assess for Loose Bolts
  • Test Start with Fresh Gasoline
  • Clean Carburetor if Needed
  • Test all Gears
  • Run Auger and Impeller

More Details

Check Spark Plug – Remove the spark plug and remove any corroded material. You will need to reset the gap of the electrode or install a new plug after setting the gap properly.

Assess Belts – All belts need to be at the proper tension. Replace if showing signs of wear.

Measure Tire Pressure – Make sure they are at the proper pressure. Tires seldom need replacement. However if they are showing cracks or losing air frequently, you may want to replace them.

Grease Auger – Add grease to the nipples in the auger with a grease gun. Always use regular grease for this purpose.

Check Light is Working – Check connections and / or replace as needed.

Look for Loose Bolts – Confirm all visible bolts are tight and secure.

Test Start with Fresh Gasoline

Start the engine and let it run for 5 to 10 minutes.

Clean Carburetor if Needed – If the engine runs rough, you may need to have the carburetor cleaned.

Test all Gears – Test all gears in both forward and reverse direction.

Run Auger and Impeller – Make sure the area is clear. Then engage the auger to test that it works properly.

Change the oil – Now that the engine is warm, you can change the engine oil. Place fresh oil in the machine as per the manufacturers instructions.

That is about it for basic level maintenance to get ready for the coming winter. Major repairs may need the services of a small engine mechanic if you are not comfortable doing this yourself.

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Snow Thrower End of Season Maintenance

September 21st, 2017 ernie Posted in Snow Throwers No Comments »

snow thrower end of season maintenanceIt is time to complete your snow thrower end of season maintenance if you have not already checked your machine. No one wants to do this kind of work in the cold of winter. Although you really do not want to think about winter it is really just a few months away at the time of writing this post. It is time to get your equipment tuned up and ready. Over the years we have found that regularly maintaining your snow thrower will add many years to its life and possibly to yours as well.

It can be quite frustrating to find that your snow thrower will not start on the first day that snow falls. Your snow thrower will run better, smoother and at full power with new spark plugs, properly tension-ed belts and fresh engine oil. Clean fresh gasoline can help as well. We put together a checklist that should be part of your standard review for end of season maintenance or preparation for the coming season. Don’t procrastinate, do it now and get your snow thrower ready for the coming season.

Snow Thrower End of Season Maintenance

This is our list of Snow Thrower End of Season Maintenance items to check on your snow Thrower to ensure it runs well and starts every time:

  • Change the engine oil
  • Properly Inflate the tires
  • Check the spark plug, clean and set the spark plug gap
  • Install a new spark plug if needed
  • Check the belt tension
  • Grease the auger shaft
  • Check the gear changer and adjust if needed
  • Spray the housing with rust inhibitor to protect the frame from rust
  • Ensure there is fresh gasoline in the tank
  • Add preservative to the gasoline as needed
  • Repair any other damage that may have been caused in the past year

For more information about repairs and maintenance for your snow thrower, click here.

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Why Would you Hire a Snow Clearing Company vs a Snow Thrower

August 7th, 2017 ernie Posted in Snow Throwers No Comments »

Reliable Snow Clearing CompanyWhy would you hire a snow clearing company vs. a snow thrower? There are many reasons to hire a snow clearing company, but many people resist because they know that it is less expensive to just purchase a snow thrower. There are conditions which make one or the other more attractive from a financial perspective. In addition there are other practical reasons that make it reasonable to hire a snow clearing company. We will discuss some of these concerns and issues in this post.

Bottom line, it is a very personal decision regarding which solution you pursue.  The decision involves both how much money you have and also how comfortable you are in operating this kind of equipment. If you are not very handy and do not like large noisy machines that you have to maintain, hire a snow clearing company.

Hire a Snow Clearing Company vs. Buy a Snow Thrower

These are the main areas that every person should consider before they purchase a snow thrower.

Financial – A snow thrower properly maintained should last many years. Take the cost of the snow thrower divided by the annual cost of hiring a snow clearing company to find out how long it will take you to break even on the costs. If it is less than the expected life time of the snow thrower, then it is a good idea from a financial perspective to buy the snow thrower. in most cases unless you buying an expensive snow thrower, the payback will be less than 5 years. Most machines that are well maintained will last for ten, to 30 years.

Transportation – If you cannot maintain it yourself, you will need to arrange transportation to take it to a repair shop. Factor in this issue to make sure that you can accommodate this need.

Maintenance – The oil should be changed every year or more often in high use situations along with the spark plug. Check the belt tension and lubricate as needed. If you can do this yourself, you can save a great deal of money.

Repairs – Most machines will never need repairs especially if they are maintained properly. Can you change tires, change belts, change spark plugs, etc yourself.

Operation – some people are just not comfortable operating a large noisy snow thrower. Although you want to save money, it may be better to just hire someone. This is a very personal assessment that everyone needs to take into account.

Convenience

If you travel, are away on business trips, or just do not want to be bothered clearing snow at 6 in the morning so you can get to work, then hire a snow clearing company. It is pretty nice to look out your window and see a clear driveway that has been cleared sometime during the night!

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Low Priced Snow Throwers

November 21st, 2014 ernie Posted in Snow Throwers No Comments »

Low Priced Snow ThrowersOur last post compared a high priced snow thrower at $2500 with one that was priced at $1400. This post compares our $1400 model with one that costs only $650 Canadian. Note that sales tax is extra for all of these prices. Our Low Priced Snow Throwers are shown in the picture on the left. It is a Troy-Blt 208 cc, single stage machine. This is the major difference between both of the machines we previously compared. A single stage machine does not have an impeller to drive the snow pulled in by the auger out the shoot. Instead the auger turns at a higher speed and blows the snow out the shoot. It is also only 21 inches wide compared to the 28-inch machine and has a 208 cc engine vs a 277 cc engine.

The lack of power and single stage really means that these types of machines are only suitable for light snow conditions. Any time you run into heavy wet snow or snow with lots of ice in it, you may find that this small machine will just not do the job.

Low Priced Snow Throwers – Other Considerations

We have compared a Troy-Blt 277 cc 28 inch dual stage snow thrower with a smaller 208 cc 21 inch single stage snow thrower  machine and a monster Troy-Blt 4200 cc machine dual stage machine with two additional tires and capability to deal with just about any kind of snow condition.

If you have light snow conditions, then the small 208 cc snow thrower will be fine as long as you are prepared to shovel, rely on a friendly neighbor, or hire someone to clear the snow when heavy wet snow falls. Storage can be an issue. The Troy-Blt 208cc snow thrower can actually be hung on the wall with suitable support.

All snow throwers in this case sold by Canadian Tire in Canada come with a 4-year warranty. Your choice of snow thrower aside from price really comes down to how much snow you have to deal with each year. Also whether you are prepared with a backup plan.

 Low Priced Snow Throwers – Dealing with Ice

These machines are just not set up to handle any amounts of ice. Often the city snow plow will clear the streets. As a result this means a large drift at the end of your driveway. This kind of snow is usually hard packed. It is even difficult even for some of the larger snow throwers to deal with. Let alone these smaller single stage machines. They simply cannot handle it and you are left to shovel the snow yourself or relay on a neighbor.

Another situation is when there is lots of slushy snow that are pushed off the road by the city snow plow. You do not get to it quickly and it begins to freeze. In this situation, these small snow throwers cannot chop up the ice and they cannot remove it from your driveway. If you encounter either of these conditions, don’t bother purchasing one of these small machines. They are suitable for sidewalks and as we said earlier light snow conditions.

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High Priced Snow Thrower

November 7th, 2014 ernie Posted in Snow Throwers No Comments »

snow throwerSnow thrower or snow blowers depending on what you call them come in different sizes and capabilities as well as the price varies a great deal. For example, the one shown in this picture is a Troy Built 420 cc, 45 inch snow thrower, and costs $2500 in Canada. A smaller machine, also Troy built costs $1400, almost half the price, and comes with fewer capabilities. We were wondering what the major differences are and why would you spend another $1100 to purchase the more expensive machine? When would you need a larger machine to clear snow, where would you store it, are they difficult to handle?

They both have 6 forward gears and two reverse gears, but the larger machine has four tires while the smaller one has only two tires. Speaking of size, and size matters in this case, you have to compare several different characteristics to full appreciate the differences. The engine is 420 cc vs, 277 cc, the weight is 461 pounds vs. 235 pounds and the clearing width is 45 inches vs 28 inches on the smaller machine. If you are going to clear a 45 inch wide path at one time, then you need more power and more weight to clear this kind of snow which the Troy-Blt 420 cc machine delivers.

High Priced Snow Thrower – Other Differences

On the Troy-Blt 420 cc machine, the clearing height is 22 inches, while on the smaller machine it is 21 inches.  A remote tilt and chute direction crank complete the major differences.  The real difference and what you are paying for really comes down to clearing width, power and ability to finish a larger area that much more quickly.  Consumers with long driveways or large parking lots will appreciate the size and power when it comes to clearing snow. Another factor consumers need to consider is the width of the machine and where you are going to store it.

Storage

Most people have a one or two-car garage. You may or may not have the room to store a 45 inch wide machine. A 28 inch machine, although only 17 inches different can make a huge difference when storing these machines. If you are thinking of storing it outside, the machine will not last nearly as long unless you protect it from the weather somehow. Before purchasing a snow thrower, give some thought regarding about where you will keep it when not in use.

Most consumers with short driveways and only one or two car widths will do just fine with the 28 inch machine. Having used both machine widths, I can definitely say that if you can afford it and have a place to store it the wider more powerful snow thrower is the way to go. Anytime you have a really long driveway or a large parking area to clear, the larger machine will allow you to remove the snow much more quickly. If time is important and it is to most people, then a larger snow thrower is something you may want to consider.

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