Petrol snow blower

Features of the choice of the design of a snow blower

You can choose between a one- or two-stage snow blower, that is, equipped with either only auger, or a pair of "rotor-auger". The presence of the rotor will allow the snow coming out of the gutter to be thrown at a much more significant distance, however, this design feature is available only for self-propelled models. However, when working in small areas, it is usually not necessary to remove snow for an impressive distance.

Augers are different. In powerful machines, the augers are steel, serrated or with aggressive toothed sharpening, they are necessary to break up packed snowdrifts

Hard rubber augers are designed for cleaning freshly fallen snow and are mainly installed on non-self-propelled, electric snow blowers

Gasoline or electricity

You will also have to choose between petrol and electric models. In many ways, this choice depends on the intended operating conditions. It is clear that it is not economically feasible to purchase a snow blower equipped with a powerful four-stroke gasoline engine for small areas. In this case, it is more logical to purchase equipment with an electric motor.

Wheels or tracks

Snow removal units can also be wheeled or tracked. Wheeled vehicles are suitable if frequent turns are expected during operation (after all, the wheels can be blocked). If, most often, work will be carried out on inclined surfaces (curbs, slides, steps, etc.), then a mechanism equipped with tracks is preferable (this technique also provides for the possibility of balancing).

The tracked snow blower is capable of working on uneven terrain, overcoming slides, curbs and even steps

Snow removal can be greatly simplified by the presence of a deflector, which allows the snow to be thrown exactly in the direction you need. In simple budget models, the deflector is adjusted manually, while more expensive options are equipped with special joysticks located directly on the control panel.

The outlet chute (deflector) serves to throw snow over a considerable distance. Depending on the model of the snow blower, the deflector can be either plastic (while the snow does not stick to the plastic) or metal. On all modern snow blowers, the deflector is always adjustable

The most expensive snow plow models are also additionally equipped with headlights, which allows work to be carried out even in the dark.

If we are talking about a snow blower for a summer residence, then you can give preference to the so-called universal models. Such equipment is equipped with additional sets of body kits that are attached directly to the body of the walk-behind tractor. These kits allow you to use the equipment not only for cleaning snow, but also as a cultivator, which will be useful when working with loose snow. This option will be ideal when it comes to clearing small areas (say, a summer cottage).

If we talk about manufacturers, then the most popular are the equipment of the following brands: Husqvarna, Craftsman, Partner and MTD. The cost of quality snow removal equipment ranges from several hundred to several thousand dollars. This factor depends on the configuration of each individual model.

Why do I need snow removal equipment for home and summer cottages and its varieties

A snowblower is a special technique that is designed to clear snow from paths and passages. The main thing in the design of such equipment is a rotating screw that captures the snow and throws it aside with the help of air flows.

Snow removal in front of the house

The snow blower will significantly reduce your effort and time spent on cleaning the required area. With him, you do not need to use a shovel, and you can clear the entire yard, and not just the path to the road.

There are a lot of options for such a technique and it is necessary to choose based on the amount of work. There are several classifications:

• Powered by electricity or gasoline;
• Way to travel;
• The amount of snow captured;
• Movement type;
• The presence of an electric starter;
• By performance (motor power);
• Optional equipment.

Let's consider in more detail the features of the main types of snow blowers.

By the type of engine operation

Snow removal equipment for home and summer cottages can be powered by electricity or gasoline. It depends on the type of motor selected. Moreover, each option has its positive and negative sides.

Option of gasoline snowblowers for summer cottages and houses

Gasoline-powered snow blowers have a high power rating, but at the same time, their dimensions are much larger. The disadvantages can also be attributed to the rather high price, however, in terms of performance, such costs are fully justified.

Gasoline model

At the same time, the gasoline version works autonomously, has a power of 5 to 15 hp, which allows you to remove snow that has lain for two weeks and managed to settle. This technique tolerates frost well (up to minus 20 degrees Celsius).

The petrol version is suitable for clearing snow from a large area, away from electricity. However, such equipment will not cope with narrow sections, and the costs of maintenance and fuel are quite high.

Snow removal equipment for home and summer cottages, powered by the network

The electric model is lightweight and small in size. Copes well with narrow and hard-to-reach areas. Such devices are equipped with rubberized augers, so they are even suitable for cleaning a porch or veranda. You won't hear any hum when you clear the snow, and the electricity costs are significantly lower than gasoline.

Electric option

However, there is also an opposite side. Due to their low power, their productivity is low, that is, they are unsuitable for large areas. They work only from the mains, which means that access to electricity must be constant, while the cord always clings to something during operation. And the functionality of such a technique is low, usually only one speed, there is no heating of the handles and headlights.

Snow harvester "Sibrtech"

Powerful small-sized snow-plow harvester from the company from Chelyabinsk. An electronic circuit for controlling the engine speed on powerful thyristors with a heat sink, a high-speed fan with a thermocouple cooling system, an electric DC serial excitation motor with windings cooled by a powerful fan, provide fast and high-quality cleaning of the surface of the asphalt or concrete pavement from snow and ice.

A beam of light from a bright moon-white laser LED with a prismatic lens and reflector illuminates the road at a distance of about five meters. To work in dense fog or when frost falls on the reflector rim, a yellow-green light filter is put on top, increasing the penetration range of the light beam from the LED, up to 5 meters. The device weighs 16 kilograms with a fully charged battery.

Advantages:

• high mobility and easy access to hard-to-reach places, despite the heavy weight;
• durable and reliable plastic case;
• large capacity lithium polymer battery;
• the presence of a built-in lighting device;
• significant distance of throwing snow from the device;
• the high handle allows you not to bend the spine during work, which relieves the back and speeds up work.

Disadvantages:

• thermoplastic rubber from which the auger is made loses its elasticity at temperatures below -30 ° C and may crack;
• in the process of work, strong vibration is transmitted to the hands through the handle;
• when the icy infusion is destroyed, the auger makes a loud noise.

How to choose the right one

1. Cleaning area. For clearing snow in a small area (up to 100 sq. M.), An electric snow thrower is suitable. For removing snow from areas from 100 to 500 sq. m. it is better to buy a unit with a gasoline engine. If the cleaning area is 500-2500 sq. m., you need a powerful machine with a wide grip.
2. Engine power. It is better to clean the paths near the house with an electric snow blower with a capacity of 1–2 kW. For cleaning the territory of 5-6 acres, choose units with a petrol engine with a capacity of 6.5-7 liters. with. If the area of ​​the site is 1–1.5 hectares, it is better to buy a gasoline snow thrower with a capacity of 8–9 liters. with. For large territories (more than 2.5 thousand sq. M.), You will need a car with a motor with a capacity of more than 9 liters. with.
3. Number of gears. The more of them, the better the snow removal will be, but also the higher the price of a snow blower. Inexpensive models have 2 forward and 1 reverse gears, medium-cost devices - 3 forward and 1 reverse. Both those and others are intended for cleaning fresh, wet snow and drifts. The most expensive ones are equipped with 4-5 forward and two reverse gears. Such units will cope with the packed snow mass and ice crust.
4. The type of snow cover. For removing fresh snow, choose a device with a plastic auger, for wet, stale - with metal rubberized, for icy snow and ice - with a steel toothed.
5. Grip width and height. Estimated according to the expected operating conditions. It is more convenient to clean pedestrian paths with a machine with a working area up to 50 cm wide. For cleaning the entire personal plot, parking, choose a machine with a grip from 50 to 100 cm. The height of the working area determines what drifts the snow blower can clear. It depends on the height of the bucket and ranges from 12 to 66 cm.
6. Automatic or mechanic. Self-propelled snow plowing equipment for summer cottages is heavy. If women or teenagers have to work with it, it is better to buy a light model, with a differential lock and a variator (speed switch). Strong men can choose heavy units with a manual transmission.
7. What is snow removal equipment intended for? If you need to clean a flat surface, choose wheel units with aggressive tire tread. For cleaning sloping, mountainous areas, it is better to buy a tracked snow blower.
8. Additional functions:
   • headlight (searchlight) - facilitates work in the dark;
   • heated handles - will not let your hands freeze in severe frost;
   • electric starter - speeds up the launch of the product;
   • differential lock - makes it easier to turn (turn) the machine.

Reliable manufacturers of snow removal equipment

Today snowblowers are produced in many countries of the world. According to consumer reviews, manufacturing firms have proven themselves well:

1. American: RedVerg, CHAMPION, PATRIOT (Patriot), MTD, etc. Advantages of their snow removal equipment: reliability, ease of maintenance, economical power plants, modern auger system, quality materials for the manufacture of parts, multi-stage gearboxes, high maneuverability, adjustable throwing direction snow. Disadvantages - often insufficient gripping height, large dimensions of the devices.
2. Russian: Interskol, Mobile K, Caliber, etc. Advantages of devices made in Russia: high quality, productivity, powerful gearbox, light plant. Of the shortcomings, only a slow reverse gear is distinguished.
3. Chinese: Denzel, Gardenpro, DDE, Sterwins, Macalister (MAC ALLISTER), Patron (PATRON SEVER), Elitech, etc. Chinese snow blowers have the following advantages: maneuverability, power, compactness. Their disadvantages: not always high-quality parts and assembly, unreliability.
4. German: Huter, AL-KO. Consumers choose them because of their convenience in work, ease of control, power, high quality, good cleaning of icy snow. The disadvantages include: low efficiency of some models, lack of spare parts for repair.
5. Swedish: Husqvarna, STIGA. The advantages of their products: high quality, performance, reliability, a large selection of models, unpretentious care. Disadvantages: high price.
6. French: MasterYard. Pros: high quality, easy plant, powerful engine, unpretentious care. Disadvantages: noise, heavy weight.
7. Korean: Daewoo, Hyundai. Advantages of Korean-made snow throwers: powerful motor, good snow throwing range. Disadvantages: low maneuverability, not always high-quality parts and assembly.
8. Japanese: Honda. The advantages of their snow removal equipment: excellent quality, efficient work. Disadvantages: high price.

Advantages and disadvantages of self-propelled gasoline models

For a correct comparison, it is necessary to consider the available alternatives. The simplest option is a manually operated technique, assembled in a one-stage scheme. In this case, you can count on a low cost, minimal operating costs. Simple, high-quality equipment rarely fails. Elementary breakdowns are easy to fix on your own without contacting a specialized workshop.

However, such solutions are only suitable for homemade products. Modern users prefer to carry out household duties with minimal physical effort, in a comfortable environment. The two-stage auger-impeller scheme is more efficient than the example above.

It is used to create inexpensive electric models.

Let's figure it out together what exactly the girl in the photo is happy about:

1. Positive emotional impressions are caused by the effort required to move the unit in the right direction.
2. The user loves the cable that gets tangled in the legs.
3. He does not experience any difficulties in performing work operations without headlights at dusk, as he is the owner of a "night vision" device.

Irony aside, the following real advantages of this type of technique can be noted:

• affordable price;
• no difficulty in starting in any temperature conditions;
• simplicity of design, reliability, reasonable repair costs;
• compact size, simplifying the choice of storage space;
• light weight;
• relatively low noise level.

Modification with a rechargeable battery is more expensive, but provides autonomy

Unfortunately, the insufficient capacity of the storage elements does not allow using powerful electric motors or connecting a wheel drive. Certain limitations are associated with a rapid loss of charge at low temperatures, the high cost of high-quality durable batteries.

These reasons explain the popularity of gasoline self-propelled snow blowers. Their price is higher in comparison with the listed options. However, such power units have enough power for a wheel / track drive, power headlights, and throw snow over a long distance. You can fill up a portion of fuel in a few minutes instead of waiting for a long time to charge the battery. This technique is suitable for clearing dense snow, cleaning large areas. For objectivity, we list the disadvantages of self-propelled gasoline snow blowers for summer cottages:

• noisy engine operation;
• additional requirements for the purity of fuel, air;
• the complexity of setting, troubleshooting, repair;
• the need for regular replacement of oil, filters.

For your information! For a small area, cleaning several footpaths, the capabilities of gasoline technology will be excessive. For small needs, they use an inexpensive electric snow blower.

How to choose?

The correct choice of a household or industrial snow blower is impossible without a clear understanding of the tasks assigned to it, as well as the characteristics of the territory in which it will work.

So, for home use in an area that does not exceed 100 square meters. meters, a non-self-propelled compact wheeled device is usually enough, which is inexpensive, but will fully cope with snow removal. You can store such a mechanism even inside the house, and with the timely cleaning of fresh snow, clearing paths and adjoining parking will not seem like a big problem.

Expensive and high-quality equipment, especially on tracks, is chosen only for clearing large areas and significant volumes of snow. A unit that can cope with such a task quickly cannot be light by definition, so you will have to spend money on an expensive self-propelled option

If difficult conditions caused by snow are not uncommon on the site, it is worth paying attention to the presence of several speeds of work (an important indicator for cleaning uneven snow cover, which is typical with irregular cleaning). For rough terrain, choose a model with a high level of maneuverability

In order to prevent the formation of snowdrifts from previously removed snow along the cleared path, consumers often pay attention to the range of discharge of the snow mass, but experts point out that this indicator is not of fundamental importance. Crushed snow can be quite light, and if cleaning is also carried out in windy weather, then the real indicator can be very different from that indicated in the technical documentation in any direction

If the choice between a wheeled and tracked model does not seem obvious, think about the specifics of the area to be cleaned. For an area with slopes, the tracked model is indispensable, it is also more practical when removing large-scale snowdrifts and more easily overcomes curbs. But, of course, there were some drawbacks. For example, due to the lack of wheels, the unit is difficult to push even a short distance, so it will either move strictly on its own course, or you will pay with enormous efforts for each meter.

In a sense, it is worth paying attention to the manufacturer as well. Well-promoted brands offer equipment somewhat more expensive than the average price, but you can be sure of its quality and durability, and service centers are always somewhere nearby

In addition, you can purchase new spare parts instead of the broken ones in any major city. At the same time, there are industry leaders both among premium vehicles (the American company Husqvarna and the Japanese Honda) and in the middle segments (MTD, Wolf Garten, Craftsman) and economy class (Champion and Patriot).

Finally, not every consumer understands what is expensive and what is cheap in this area. Unfortunately, absolutely cheap models of snow blowers do not exist - their minimum price on average starts from 20 thousand rubles, and all units costing up to 50 thousand rubles are considered budgetary. The middle class includes more powerful models with increased performance and slightly expanded functionality, their price can go up to 120 thousand rubles.

Choosing a snowplow

When purchasing rotary snow blowers, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of a particular model, paying attention to the design and workmanship. Today, you can find snow blowers from Russian and foreign manufacturers on sale, which differ in functionality, reliability and versatility.

It is necessary to decide which snow blower to choose and how to properly operate the equipment in the future.

Engine power

The main criterion for choosing such equipment will be the power of the power unit, which will determine the performance of work, as well as the possibility of both using snowblowers in small areas, and for clearing snow on streets and large areas.

Gasoline engines used on snow blowers can vary in power ratings. It can be both low-power models, the motors of which develop 4-5 horsepower, and professional equipment, which is equipped with a motor with a capacity of 10-12 horsepower.

For small plots of 6-10 acres, you can purchase inexpensive and compact models, the engines of which develop 5 horsepower. Such power will be enough for quick clearing of the site, and working with such equipment does not present any difficulty, therefore every summer resident and owner of a private house will cope with snow removal.

Wheels or tracks

If initially the greatest demand in the market was used for equipment that was equipped with passable tracks, today an increasing number of homeowners prefer easy-to-use wheeled models. Such a technique is simultaneously maneuverable, fast, which makes it possible to simplify the removal of snow from the personal plot and garden.

Caterpillar models are distinguished by better cross-country ability, respectively, it is easier to work with them on uneven surfaces, to overcome various obstacles and curbs of garden paths and all kinds of sites on the personal plot. Tracked snowblowers are not so fast and maneuverable, so they should be purchased only if there is a pronounced relief or various obstacles on the backyard territory.

Combine starting system

The ease of operation of equipment at low temperatures will directly depend on the launch system used. The simplest low-power models are usually equipped with a manual start system, but powerful and expensive snow removal equipment has an electric starter, powered by a built-in battery or household power supply.

Indicators of the working width of the auger

The performance of a particular model and the convenience of clearing the area from snow will directly depend on the index of the width of the auger. Currently, you can find various snowblowers on sale, with auger width of 45-100 centimeters. Models of snow blowers differ in functionality and ease of operation, the auger grip of which has a width of 55-70 centimeters. Machines with a large working width are professional and highly expensive.

When choosing, you must also pay attention to the design and material of the snow discharge pipe. Such a branch pipe can be made of plastic or metal.

When using plastic, there are no problems with corrosion, snow does not stick to such a gutter, and the cost of a snow blower will be lower than that of other models. Strong steel pipes are usually used on high power snow blowers, where the mechanism has an increased load and not too strong plastic can quickly fail, which will require appropriate equipment repair.

Choice of transmission technology

When choosing a specific model of a snow blower, you need to pay attention to the type of transmission used. The simplest technique is equipped with a single-speed transmission and does not have a reverse gear.

The main difficulty in using such simple snow blowers with a single speed transmission is the difficulty in handling snow of varying density.

Popular models of self-propelled snow blowers are equipped with mechanical gear transmissions that have up to six forward speeds, as well as several rear speeds.The presence of such a gearbox allows you to optimally select the performance of the snow blower, depending on the thickness and consistency of the snow. This ensures the ease of use of the equipment and improves its productivity.

Main technical parameters and features of various design solutions

If you need increased cross-country ability, you should buy a self-propelled gasoline snow blower with tracks

Sometimes the official accompanying documentation indicates the emission capacity in tons per hour. For a thorough evaluation and comparison of different models, they also check:

• the number of speeds forward and backward;
• the ability to lock the differential of a self-propelled gasoline snow blower;
• control of the direction of discharge and parameters from the operator panel;
• type of starting unit (manual / electric / combined);
• the presence of heated handles.

Two stage design

According to this scheme, standard self-propelled gasoline snow blowers (household and semi-professional series) are created.

Homemade "snow launcher"

Here, to simplify the project, a solution with one functional unit has been chosen. Snow is collected in the center by the sides of the bucket, which are fixed at an acute angle. From here it is thrown out by the shoulder blades. They can be mounted directly on the extended motor shaft.

Professional equipment is equipped with sophisticated screw mechanisms. This is necessary for effective cleaning of large areas with a large thickness of snow cover.