Snow Blowers

One of our readers left the following comment on one of our posts about Replace the Auger Drive Belt. We thought it was so valuable, that we decided to add it as a main posting on our blog. The picture on the left shows the cover removed as discussed in step 5. These instructions are available for those people that are handy with working on engines and machines. If this is not your thing, have a professional do the work for you. Above all, follow the appropriate safety instructions. Make sure the spark plug is disconnected so that the engine cannot start accidentally while being worked on.

Replace the Auger Drive Belt

Hard to find instructions: To replace the Auger Drive Belt on the John Deere Snowblowers (827E, 928E, 1028E, 1130SE, 1330SE, 1332PE), Contributed by terry_angers@hotmail.com

1. Lockout ignition so no accidental start (eg remove spark plug wire)
2. Ensure gas tank is closed tightly and fuel is turned off.
3. Raise unit into service position (onto face of auger) so you can remove the bottom plate. Bottom plate is held on with 4 bolts. It is not absolutely required to remove the plate, but it makes it easier to remove old and install new belt.

4. Return unit to normal position
5. Remove the plastic belt cover shroud (black plastic section between ejection Chute and the engine. This is held on with two bolts, one on each side
6. Lock Auger Drive engagement handle into ON position (easily down by using a squeeze clamp to hold it in place or tape / wire / other)

Careful Next Steps

7. Partially separate the main body of the snowblower from the auger housing to allow room to remove / install the belt. There are six bolts securing the two halves. ONLY REMOVE the top two bolts on each side. Then JUST LOOSEN slightly the bottom two bolts. The back half of the snowblower will tilt backwards; the auger housing forwards. You only need to let it tilt a small amount to be able to easily slide the new belt in place.
8. Once belt is around the lower large pulley, reattach the snowblower body securely with all six bolts before finalizing belt onto the small upper pulley.

9. If you have not forgotten to lock the auger drive handle down, it will not be hard to rotate the new belt with some pressure onto the upper pulley. Check that the belt is oriented around the idle pulley in the same manner as the traction belt.
10. The upper “belt guide” rod should be about 1/8” from the belt when the auger drive handle is down. Adjust position if needed by loosening mount bolt.
11. The amount of Deflection the new belt should have is a little more than ½” with moderate pressure.

Check Before you Reassemble

12. Check the Auger drive cable length adjustment to confirm it is not too tight or has excess slack.
13. Check Pulley alignment to ensure that the idler pulley is in alignment with the upper and lower pulleys. You may need to bend the pulley mount plate a very small amount in either direction to ensure alignment (there is not a direct adjustment) the plate can be pressured with two small lengths of wood (eg 1”x1” x 12”) when brace against the housing
14. Reinstall the Belt cover
15. Reinstall the bottom plate
16. Turn on fuel and enable ignition

17. Start the engine and test that the belts and auger are working properly

When it is cold outside and you need to start your snow blower, the last thing you want to deal with is a hard to start engine. The Quick Start Guide – Snow Blower provides some pretty simple things that consumers can do to ensure that their snow blower will start easily every time, especially when you need to clear the driveway to get out to work. We put this simple list together and if there are additional items that we missed, let us know. We think that these are the main ones and not only will you be able to start your engine easily and also develop maximum power as well with a smoothly running engine. The following is our list of quick start guide – snow blower tips including some safety-related tips.

Quick Start Guide – Snow Blower

• Always use fresh gasoline in your snow blower
• Treat it with gasoline stabilizer to protect fuel systems
• Change the oil after 50 hours of use and at the end of the season
• Clean the spark plug, re-gap it every year and change it as needed
• Start your snow blower once a month to circulate the oil and the fuel to keep stabilizer in the fuel system even in the summer time
• Always make sure you read the instructions and follow the safety precautions before operating a snow blower and completing any maintenance..
• They are noisy machines so wear hearing protection and safety glasses while operating these machines.
• Wear boots with excellent traction to avoid slipping while operating a snowblower
• Light snow is easier to deal with than heavy snow. You may want to clear your driveway several times to avoid dealing with lots of heavy snow

Clear Your Driveway

• Make sure that your driveway is clear of rocks, twigs, and stones before using your snowblower for the first time
• Point the chute away from people, objects, and buildings. A piece of ice ejected at high speed can really hurt and also break windows etc.
• Always shut the engine off before doing any work on the machine including clearing snow away from the auger and the impeller, you can lose an arm very easily by accident.
• Clear all snow away from the impeller and the blades when you are finished to avoid it freezing in place, after first shutting the engine off.

Many people would just prefer to hire a snow clearing company to get rid of the snow. Although it is an extra expense, having someone else do this work means you do not have to store the snow blower and maintain it. From an economic perspective, owning your own snow blower and doing your own maintenance is far cheaper than hiring someone to do the work for you. But if you need to pay hundreds of dollars for maintenance, or purchase a new snow blower every couple of years because you did not look after it, then hiring someone to clear the snow for you is the best way to proceed.

What features do you need and which ones would you pick if you are buying a snow blower? In our last post, we described each one of these and as promised in this one we will discuss our personal favorites. Note that each of the features will have value to consumers. Some feature more than others and it really depends on your personal situation and your own preferences. I have been using a snow blower for over 30 years in all kinds of weather. My driveway will hold four cars so that gives you some idea of the area to be cleared. We also live in a snow belt area and receive quite cold temperatures in the wintertime. My driveway is part asphalt and part interlocking stone.  I like doing my own driveway and have not or would not consider hiring a snow-clearing company at this time. So here is a refresher list of the features and our own personal preferences.

Typical Snow Blower Features

• Electric Start
• Single Hand Interlock
• Remote chute and Deflector Rotation
• Power Steering
• Track Drive
• Drift Cutters
• Skid Shoes
• Hand Warmers

Which Snow Blower Features Would You Pick

Our own preference for features is as follows in this order of preference:

Non-marking skid shoes – these will not scratch or mark our driveway, especially with the interlocking stone that we have on the driveway. Don’t want to ruin this investment. The nonmarking skid shoes cost $25 if you buy them separately, many machines come with them included.

Remote Chute and Deflector Rotation – this is important from an ease of use and safety perspective. Everything can be controlled from behind the machine

Electric Start – has been useful over the years especially when the machine has been hard to start. Some people may find the recoil manual starter difficult to use and prefer the electric starter for that reason

Hand Warmers – I do not have these on my current machine, but would really appreciate having them. On cold days even with warm gloves, your hands can get pretty cold.

The other features all rank the same and are not as important to me as the above ones. For readers, you may have a different priority. The only other comment is that larger more powerful machines make quick work of lots of snow so if you can afford it purchase a 28-inch wide 10-horsepower snow blower vs. one that is 26 inches wide with 8 horsepower. You will appreciate the difference. Speed of clearance and ease of use along with more features that are auto-included are some of the criteria that I would be looking for.

One other point is that a larger machine is a heavier machine. As long as you let it do the work, they are easy to use. A heavier machine will plow its way threw snow drifts much better than one that is lighter. I found that I had a little issue dealing with snow drifts etc with a larger heavier snow blower. Compared to my old one which was 25 inches wide, the new one at 28 inches does a far better job from this perspective.

There are literally hundreds if not thousands of snow blower models available on the market from a variety or retailers and manufacturers. How do consumers know which one to choose and what features are important to them? We decided to list the popular snow blower features here to help consumers make decisions on how much they want to spend. Typically the more features they come with the more expensive the snow blower will be. The other major factor associated with cost is obviously the size of the machine. The one shown in this picture comes with everything. It is a larger machine as well which means it is going to cost more.  Let us know what you think and if there are any that we missed on our list. We also have our own favorites on our wish list of popular snow blower features.

Popular Snow Blower Features

Electric Start – can be really handy for a couple of reasons. First, it is just easier to start these machines. They all come with a pull cord that can be used, however, if your snow blower is giving you trouble starting, the electric start will be much appreciated.

Single Hand Interlock – allows you to change the direction and angle of the chute on the fly. You can drive with one hand and adjust the chute with the other instead of stopping to change directions. This is really handy if you have tight situations where the snow must be blown at a different angle as you move along.

Remote chute and Deflector Rotation – most two-stage snow blowers have this feature and it allows you to adjust the chute from behind the snow blower machine.

Power Steering – even the smaller machines weigh over 200 pounds and the big ones much more. Instead of having to manhandle the machine to change direction, you can use the power steering option which will slow one wheel to make the machine turn in the direction you need.

Track Drive – provides much more traction than regular tires. You can use chains but they are troublesome to use. consumers dealing with slopes will appreciate the track drive when they are climbing up their sloping driveway over icy conditions. If you have flat slope tires should be fine.

Drift Cutters

Are handy if you receive lots of snow and drifting snow that create drifts higher than your snow blower.

Skid Shoes – come with your snow blower. However you can purchase nonmarking skid shoes. Which are great for people concerned about interlocking stone driveways and do not want them scratched. Some machines are now automatically equipped with these nonmarking skid shoes.  They can also be purchased separately for around $25

Hand Warmers – are really great if you are going to be blowing snow for longer than 15 minutes in extremely cold temperatures. No matter what kind of gloves you have, your fingers are going to get cold unless you have handles equipped with hand warmers.

Our next post in two weeks will indicate what our personal favorites are and why. In the meantime evaluate your own preferences based on your personal needs. Consider the cost to acquire a machine with the features you need.

Our 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.

Snow 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.

While the title of this post is titled lawn and snow removal, what we really want to talk about is how quickly landscape companies switch from doing landscaping to doing snow removal. We talked to one landscaper. He was doing a million dollars in landscaping business alone this year about what he was doing for the winter. As soon as the season is over for landscaping he switches all of his equipment over to snow removal services.

He takes on several commercial contracts for clearing snow from parking lots and roads for companies. Many of his employees will continue through the season with him. They are operating snow removal equipment. Some of the folks working for him will take the winter off to recuperate, travel and do other things. The owner on the other hand must continue working all year round to keep his business running smoothly and make the transition from one season to another.

Snow Removal Change Over

He already has a tri-axle truck which he needs to keep running all of the time in order to make money and he has a tractor with a front end loader and back hoe attachment. The back hoe comes off and he adds a wider front end loader, rents a second one and he is ready to go for the season. Several of his men stay on with him for the winter months while the rest take a vacation and collect unemployment until next year’s landscaping season starts.

This is not a bad way to do business and he has several large contracts in the wintertime.  He is grossing over $1.0 million in sales and is able to pay off the loans for all of his equipment within three years. Of course, he will need to replace some and buy additional equipment. It never seems to end but this guy has a viable business that he is running.

Snow Clearing

If you are a consumer, it is time to think about whether you need to or want to hire a snow removal company for the winter. They will clear the snow according to the contract that you strike with them and keep your driveway clear without the need to go out and shovel snow in the wintertime or purchase your own snow blower.  For some people they would rather spend the money on a snow blower. They know that it will pay for itself within 3 to 5 years depending on the size of the snow blower vs. the cost of clearing snow from their driveways.

In the writers case, my old snow blower finally gave up after 25 years, so I purchased another for $300 and it works great. It will pay for itself with the first year of operation compared to hiring a company to clear snow for me. Others just do not want to deal with any of this and prefer to have someone do it for them.

This cartoon is kind of funny and could be on a snow plowing flyer you might receive at your home or office. No one wants to be late for the office or have the kids miss their bus in the morning and be late for school. But if there is a large snowfall and the city plows have piled the snow at the end of your driveway, what are you going to do. If you have your own snow blower, it means that you need to get outside and clear the driveway before you go to work. Or do you call the phone number on one of those Snow Plowing Flyers you receive in the mail?

It means getting up 20 minutes earlier and clearing the snow. Also hoping that the city snow plow does not come along just after you have cleaned your driveway of snow. Also, you may smell from the fumes of the snow blower. So you may have to have a shower before you get dressed and go to work.

Snow Plowing Flyers Make Promises

The city plows may still fill your driveway with snow just before you leave for work. At least you can have something written into your contract to cover this situation. It should specify your driveway is to be cleared before 7 AM so that you can get out to work and the kids off to school on time.

If you decide to follow-up on a flyer that appears in your mailbox, also check with neighbors to determine who they have used. Are they reliable? Ask the contractor for recommendations and follow-up with his customers to ensure they are satisfied. You may also want to ask for several quotes. It helps to confirm you are paying a reasonable price for the clearing of snow from driveway, steps and walk ways.

If you require specific services, make sure they are in the contract. You do not want to miss anything. Or get a surprise when some service you were expecting is not delivered even though you had discussed it. If it is not on the contract, then you probably will not receive the service unless you are very fortunate.

Neighbor Snow Clearing

Our neighbors have used a snow clearing service for the past few years. They have received several competitive offers from a variety of companies this year. They were wondering if they should change for the sake of a lower offer. We suggested that if they are happy with the service, you should probably stick with their current provider. If they are concerned about the price, they can always try negotiating a better price. But in the end, you have to be prepared for them to say that their price is what it is. The worst that can happen is that they say no. While a positive answer can mean more service or a better price or both.

Use the snow plow flyers to compare prices. Make your decision regarding which is the best deal for your snow plowing needs.

What snow removal methods will you use this year? The picture on the left is a bit extreme! Obviously you will not be using these jet engines to clear snow off your driveway, but it is important to have a discussion about what method will be used and whether it will harm your driveway or not. For example if you have a brand new interlocking brick driveway, do you really want someone with a steel blade clearing snow off your driveway? Perhaps one with a Teflon blade would be better and will not harm your driveway. Where do you want the snow placed when it is removed? Will they dig up the grass in the process and damage your lawn. How do they mark the ends of the driveway or other important items that you do not want damaged?

These are all questions to take into account when you are discussing snow removal methods with your contractor. Do you want the steps cleared of snow? How often should they clear snow and when will they clear snow given snow falls, the routine of the city plows and your need to get out to go to work.

Snow Removal Methods – Do it Yourself

Clearing the snow yourself is probably the safest method in terms of protecting your driveway. After all you will take more care and time to make sure the job is done right. Still concern about the driveway and scraping it with the snow blower is a concern to be watched for. Then there are the health issues of people shoveling snow and dropping dead in the process. Take this aspect into account when you are making a decision to do it yourself or hire somebody to do the work for you. Buying a snow blower might be a better answer vs. shoveling snow.

Snow Removal Methods – hire a Contractor

When you hire a contractor, there are lots of things to discuss. Check on what equipment will be used and what damage could be done to your driveway. Also discuss how often the snow will be cleared. How much snow will need to fall before they will come to your home? Ask whether they will clear the steps or not. Many homeowners will save themselves a little money by clearing the snow off the steps with their own shovel. But this is something that can be arranged to be completed on your behalf as well.

We find that a tractor mounted snow blower with Teflon coated blades will do the best job and it will generally not damage or scratch your driveway. This is a discussion that you must have with the operator and it must also be clearly written into the contract as well to provide you with protection should there be any problems.

Another item to consider is getting some of your neighbors together and negotiating a common price. It is better for the snow removal contractor since he gets more work in one area and does not have as much travel time so he saves money. Sometimes they will pass along some of these savings and provide a better price for snow clearing services.

August and September is the time to lock in a snow removal company contract. While we are thinking of the end of summer and the coming fall, it might be a good time to lock in a contract for snow removal at a pre-season price. Many companies are still focused on summertime activities such as landscaping and lawn care. But they will have someone answering the phones who can set up contracts and negotiate the best deal. Whether you need driveway snow removal, steps cleared or even your roof cleared of snow. You might include these items in your contract.

If you are considering clearing your own snow, especially off the roof, you may want to reconsider this activity. It is very dangerous for a number of reasons to clear your own snow from driveways and roofs. Many consumers fall off their roof every year while clearing snow. They may be using the wrong type of boots and do not have the proper grip, they may not take sufficient safety procedures and they may have a heart attack while shoveling snow. Thousands of consumers suffer heart attacks every year. Because they have been a couch potato all year and then start shoveling snow. Too much exertion that their hearts cannot withstand and they get into trouble! Hire a contractor and reduce the risk!

Snow Removal Company – Contract

And you should have a contract rather than just an understanding. Even if your neighbor is the one clearing snow, your expectations should be written down and he should be reviewing and signing off on what will be done and importantly what will not be done. The larger snow removal companies will have proper contracts, but the message is still the same.

If the service is not on the contract, there is a pretty good chance that the service you are looking for will not be provided. You may want to add it as a service sometime later on If so you can be sure that it is going to cost extra money for that portion that was not included in your contract. Don’t make assumptions. Specify what it is you are looking for. Discuss it with the snow removal company and make sure that this service you need is included in the price.

Snow Removal Company – Payments

Payments for services rendered is a good approach. But most companies are afraid of nonpayment after having the services provided. A compromise is often a good approach. Perhaps 10% down, nonrefundable to show good intent, 45% at the beginning of the season. The remainder halfway through the contract. This protects both parties and if there is a disagreement, the homeowner has at least a method of getting the companies attention. Payment upfront for the entire season is definitely not a recommended approach. All of the risks are on the homeowners’ side and there have just been too many issues with companies not providing what the homeowner thought they had agreed to.