Snow blower thoughts

[kevm14]

Thought I would start to document walk-behind upgrades, just to look at availability and cost relative to the size of machine that might be good. Something in the 30 range or maybe into the low 30s would probably be what I'd want.

[kevm14]

https://boston.craigslist.org/nos/for/d ... 70476.html

Simplicity 32" Snow Blower - $750 (Kingston NH) hide this posting

32" commercial duty snow blower in good condition, runs great. Electric (120 volt cord) start. This is a $2500 machine new

PLEASE leave a phone number if you want to set up a meet

Looks like an 11 hp.

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So yes, on the surface, I would agree a 36" or 42" on my tractor, if I could do that complete for half this cost, would be seemingly a better value. But, I'd probably sell my current walk-behind. Something I could not do with the tractor setup. Given that I am sure I could get several hundred dollars, this is probably the way to go. I will add more examples.

[kevm14]

https://westernmass.craigslist.org/grd/ ... 72636.html

12/32 signature snow blower - $500 hide this posting

Works great
If Interested
Call or text

12 hp, 32", $500. I do like the heavy duty Simplicity one. But I think Bolens is also a good name.

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[kevm14]

https://albany.craigslist.org/grd/d/tro ... 54262.html

Troy Bilt snowblower 13 H.P. - $800 (Saratoga/Wilton)

Troy Bilt snowblower 13 H.P. with 32" cut. Runs, Blows, Looks like new. Not your average snowblower. Will blower through any snow no matter how deep. Wheels turn independently so turns are extremely easy. Headlight and electric start. Needs nothing. $800.00 or best reasonable offer.

Also seems like a good choice.

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These are some good samples which I found instantly. Now to post some comps on what my machine might be worth. Remember, I can sell it and be done.

[kevm14]

https://nwct.craigslist.org/grd/d/craft ... 44023.html

God life is so much easier with walk behinds. They are self contained. Anyway, look at this. My exact machine.

Craftsman snow blower - 7.75HP, 26" path, electric start - $395 (Oakville) hide this posting

Craftsman Snowblower - 7.75HP, 26 inch path, electric start, 6 speed forward, 2 reverse, very clean, $395 firm

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So if I could get $300-400 for mine, then I could get a pretty stout 32" with the power and traction I want for only another $400, or less. Given the maneuverability of a walk behind, I do not think a 36" blower on my tractor would be any quicker, and probably slower when you add up the overhead of getting it to the front yard. The 42" might be quicker to clear the driveway. Unlike the 42" (or even the 36") blower for my tractor, I could perform both of these transactions before Thanksgiving and be done with it. That has a large appeal.

[kevm14]

https://boston.craigslist.org/nos/for/d ... 70476.html

Simplicity 32" Snow Blower - $750 (Kingston NH) hide this posting

32" commercial duty snow blower in good condition, runs great. Electric (120 volt cord) start. This is a $2500 machine new

PLEASE leave a phone number if you want to set up a meet

Looks like an 11 hp.

00B0B_3r0sfVjQ52O_1200x900.jpg

So yes, on the surface, I would agree a 36" or 42" on my tractor, if I could do that complete for half this cost, would be seemingly a better value. But, I'd probably sell my current walk-behind. Something I could not do with the tractor setup. Given that I am sure I could get several hundred dollars, this is probably the way to go. I will add more examples.

Could be an 1180M.
https://www.partstree.com/parts/simplic ... owthrower/

I like either the Simplicity or the Troy-Bilt. I like the extra 2 hp of the Troy-Bilt. Wonder which is a heavier duty machine.

[kevm14]

I am noticing that older, heavy duty snow blowers in my price range all seem to have Tecumseh engines. They were the snow blower standard for decades but
A) I much prefer Briggs engines (my 2003 Craftsman with OHV Briggs is a one pull, always, even after sitting during the off-season) and I feel like I am biased against Tecumseh for vaguely technical reasons
B) More importantly, they went away after 2009.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tecumseh_Products

In 2007, the company's former gasoline engine and power train product lines were sold to Platinum Equity LLC. In December 2008, the company closed its engine manufacturing division. Later Tecumseh Power sold off its Peerless transmissions business to Husqvarna Outdoor Products. In 2009, Tecumseh Products completed a move from Tecumseh, Michigan to Pittsfield Charter Township, Michigan.[4] Tecumseh closed its doors on February 2009 when Platinum Equity LLC announced that Tecumseh Power Company had sold certain assets of its engine business to Certified Parts Corporation, including all existing and unfinished engine parts inventory, tools to make finished product and certain intellectual property assets.

I think parts are available and given the many Tecumseh products still in use maybe that is not a concern.

Interesting.

On September 1, 2010, Certified Parts Corporation (CPC) of Janesville, Wisconsin, announced it had entered into an agreement with LCT, (Liquid Combustion Technology) of Travelers Rest, South Carolina, to jointly manufacture air-cooled engines for the outdoor power equipment market. The agreement provided CPC with engineering, manufacturing, and sales capabilities allowing it to reintroduce the Snow King line of snow thrower engines and other engines formerly manufactured and sold by TecumsehPower. The engines are exclusively represented by LCT, and sold under the Snow King, Lauson, and LCT brands and serviced exclusively by CPC and the existing TecumsehPower dealer/distributor network. Traditionally, the Snow King line of engines had powered more snowthrowers than all other brands combined.[9] LCT's horizontal 4-stroke gasoline engine product offering was extended by this agreement, and allowed CPC and LCT to provide single cylinder and V-twin vertical engines to outdoor power equipment manufacturers.

Check out the bold sentence. Probably shouldn't be afraid of a Tecumseh snow blower engine...

[kevm14]

More rubber flap on impeller stuff:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMAgb3QNEE8

Before/after: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XLOCtrAYZc

I really think I need to do this to my walk behind. It might be enough to put off the thrower search for my Simplicity.

Finally did this today. Basically took all day, some of it driving around for supplies, the other part the job itself.

Ended up getting 6 5/16x1 stainless bolts, 12 washers and nyloc nuts at Ace. Then I had to buy a drill extension thing at Home Depot.

Bought this, a 12" impact-rated 1/4" hex extension
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-1 ... /203820394

And then I bought this to stick on the end of it, so I could use any of my drill bits rather than buy a single long one.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Makita-3-8- ... /100128244

Next I needed my rubber and I wanted a mud flap. Drove everywhere and no one sells them. Finally said screw it and drove out to the TA truck service garage in West Greenwich. Yup, plenty of mud flaps. Bought a 24x24 one for $19. I should have asked for a fully solid one as this one had some kind of pattern on it so not all pieces would be uniform thickness.

Remove chute. 4 bolts. Actually 3, but I removed all 4.

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Visually inspect impeller and clearances to get an idea about the piece you will be cutting, as well as where to drill the holes to bolt it in (watch back side of blade for interference).

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I have heard of much worse than this, but even this will decrease pumping efficiency in the slushy stuff.

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I measured and then cut out cardboard for my template. It was pretty obvious what shape and size to cut it after I inspected the impeller for a while.

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The holes would need to go toward the back to clear that support brace.

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I added some washers on the top (in some cases) to help spread the load. Probably should have made them all the same. I used an auto punch, a 1/8" bit and then the 5/16" bit. Broke my 5/16" but I had an even nicer set of bits so I didn't have to run out. The impeller metal was not particularly hard or of high quality imo. I did have to run a file underneath after drilling each hole so the washer would sit flat underneath.

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I ran mine on the tighter side so when they self-clearance it would be a nice tight fit. Turns out it was too tight...

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Now it was time to run it to break in each flap. I started the machine and let it warm up a bit. Engaged the auger, instantly stalled it. Started it up, stalled. Did this a few times. Uh oh. Then I tried slipping the belt. Smoked the belt, at least temporarily. So I basically kept trying to engage it and eventually I was able to. Like I said, it was too tight. I ran it for quite a while, even moved some snow with it. It does seem to throw farther from what little I tested so that is encouraging. But it stops almost instantly when I let go of the lever. Also it heats up the housing so hot that I can't touch it. It does cool down fast. I just made them too tight. Probably didn't account for expansion while spinning. I knew it would be too tight. I could rotate it by hand, only backwards, as you can see in one of the pics above.

Well, I guess nothing I can really do now but wait until I need to use it and keep letting it wear in. Hope I did not hurt the belt.

[kevm14]

Been watching this one.

https://nh.craigslist.org/for/d/simplic ... 49483.html

Down to $675. That is cheap for what this is. Unfortunately I have only gotten MORE indecisive.

1) Casually observing that 7117 in NY which has everything I need - I just don't have a great place to park it
2) Still thinking about upgrading my walk-behind and selling my old one
3) I guess getting a thrower for my machine is still on the table but that plan has issues, if only for the logistics of tracking all the pieces down
4) I don't know if my rubber impellers will suffice in which case maybe I don't need to buy anything else or drive to multiple places (saves money and time)

I like toys, but I also don't like spending money. So maybe I should just tough out one more winter with my current walk behind and see how those rubber flaps perform. Then maybe I'll know what I should pursue. I'm sure collecting and tinkering with multiple tractors would be fun but if I don't really need the machine, I do not want to buy it.

[kevm14]

So it hasn't snowed yet. This would really be an ideal time to buy since it is well into the season with no snow (at least not in southern new England). And yet, I think I am just going to run what I have with the rubber paddles and see what happens.