Author Topic: Snowblowers in Seattle (Read 1909 times)

MillCreek · « **on:** February 14, 2021, 04:17:45 PM »

So now I know why almost nobody buys a snowblower in Seattle. It is because our heavy, wet snow clogs up the discharge chute for every foot of travel. Therefore having to stop and punch down the snow in the discharge chute until it falls out the bottom. It took me two hours to do a 30' x 75' driveway covered with 16 inches of snow. If it wasn't for having to leave the house for Ms. MillCreek's Valentine dinner, I would have just waited for the thaw in a couple of days.

Kingcreek · « **Reply #1 on:** February 14, 2021, 06:05:32 PM »

There are big 2 stage units that might handle it but you probably don’t need one enough to justify the cost.
If we move from Illinois north to the northern Iowa southern Minnesota area I told my wife I get to keep the kubota loader tractor and get a front mounted snow thrower powered by hydraulics or the mid PTO.
I’m willing to shovel only a very little and I will not walk behind a snow thrower/blower.

brimic · « **Reply #2 on:** February 14, 2021, 06:41:42 PM »

I have a big 1-stage blower that I attach to my tractor, it also clogs in wet snow. 2 things help a lot- cooking spray or wd-40 coating on the inside and chute before starting, and getting the correct ‘feed and speed’, as in run it as fast you you can without bogging down the engine. The volume of snow will help the chute clear, too slow and it plugs.

Ben · « **Reply #3 on:** February 14, 2021, 06:43:55 PM »

Sounds like we need to talk Millcreek into a front end loader.

charby · « **Reply #4 on:** February 14, 2021, 08:10:22 PM »

Also modifying the impeller with rubber scrapers help. I'm going to mod mine this summer, seems like we are in a wetter snow trend.

charby · « **Reply #5 on:** February 14, 2021, 08:11:35 PM »

Quote from: Kingcreek on February 14, 2021, 06:05:32 PM

There are big 2 stage units that might handle it but you probably don’t need one enough to justify the cost.
If we move from Illinois north to the northern Iowa southern Minnesota area I told my wife I get to keep the kubota loader tractor and get a front mounted snow thrower powered by hydraulics or the mid PTO.
I’m willing to shovel only a very little and I will not walk behind a snow thrower/blower.

I'm just finished year 5 living in Mason City, I highly recommend living here.

230RN · « **Reply #6 on:** February 15, 2021, 01:42:11 AM »

Curious from an engineering standpoint: Would drastically increasing the impeller RPM help with this problem?

Dumb Terry

sumpnz · « **Reply #7 on:** February 15, 2021, 02:28:21 AM »

I was a little bit tentative clicking on this topic, given MillCreek’s history of posting double entendres.

230RN · « **Reply #8 on:** February 15, 2021, 03:21:45 AM »

Har-har-snicker-snort. "Impeller RPM!" Tee hee, get it? He said "impeller RPM !!" <elbow-dig, elbow-dig>

Fly320s · « **Reply #9 on:** February 15, 2021, 06:40:16 AM »

Quote from: 230RN on February 15, 2021, 01:42:11 AM

Curious from an engineering standpoint: Would drastically increasing the impeller RPM help with this problem?

Dumb Terry

Yes. Speed is life.

Quote from: Kingcreek on February 14, 2021, 06:05:32 PM

There are big 2 stage units that might handle it but you probably don’t need one enough to justify the cost.
If we move from Illinois north to the northern Iowa southern Minnesota area I told my wife I get to keep the kubota loader tractor and get a front mounted snow thrower powered by hydraulics or the mid PTO.
I’m willing to shovel only a very little and I will not walk behind a snow thrower/blower.

I have a PTO-operated snowblower on my Kubota. It works great in dry snow and pretty good in wet snow, but you have to run the engine around 3,000 rpm to keep the chute from clogging.

K Frame · « **Reply #10 on:** February 15, 2021, 07:28:52 AM »

I've found it easier to deal with heavy, wet snows with a garden hose. You simply melt it away.

Ron · « **Reply #11 on:** February 15, 2021, 07:31:15 AM »

Quote from: charby on February 14, 2021, 08:10:22 PM

Also modifying the impeller with rubber scrapers help. I'm going to mod mine this summer, seems like we are in a wetter snow trend.

Very little wet snow around here this year. Super light and fluffy is the trend.

They call for 1-3 inches and we get 3-5 inches of powder.

Much easier to move the powder for sure!

Ben · « **Reply #12 on:** February 15, 2021, 08:04:25 AM »

https://youtu.be/SqE5hP75jBE

WLJ · « **Reply #13 on:** February 15, 2021, 09:39:35 AM »

Quote from: sumpnz on February 15, 2021, 02:28:21 AM

I was a little bit tentative clicking on this topic, given MillCreek’s history of posting double entendres.

Snowblowing could be a "thing" in Seattle

RoadKingLarry · « **Reply #14 on:** February 15, 2021, 09:48:23 AM »

Quote from: Fly320s on February 15, 2021, 06:40:16 AM

Yes. Speed is life.

I have a PTO-operated snowblower on my Kubota. It works great in dry snow and pretty good in wet snow, but you have to run the engine around 3,000 rpm to keep the chute from clogging.

What engine RPM do you need to get a 540 rpm PTO speed.

charby · « **Reply #15 on:** February 15, 2021, 09:50:40 AM »

Quote from: Ron on February 15, 2021, 07:31:15 AM

Very little wet snow around here this year. Super light and fluffy is the trend.

They call for 1-3 inches and we get 3-5 inches of powder.

Much easier to move the powder for sure!

March, April, and sometimes May tends to be the wet heavy deep *expletive deleted*it here.