Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

I was reading about the Clarence impeller improvement online today. It attaches a rubber gasket to each impeller blade ceiling it against impeller housing. Most who tried it seemed to report outstanding results especially with heavy wet snow. The only place where some reported it may not be effective were on units, such as the Honda, that reportedly have very tight clearances tween the impeller blades and the housing from the factory.

Ariens snowblowers are well-known for their high-capacity high capacity. Well most large snowblowers at 12 inch diameter impellers, the Ariens have 14 inch. That is over 16% faster speed at the end of the impeller blade. Does that give them a decisive edge?

So the question is: how important is the design of the impeller to the overall system performance? Are tight clearances between the impeller and it's housing critical? If so, which brands have the tightest ones? Is the diameter of the impeller critical? If so, did he Ariens and others with large impellers have a distinct advantage? The Clarence kit is inexpensive if you can install it yourself. Should everybody be installing these kits? TheToro has a unique impeller housing. Partially plastic, it has a return for excess snow to be returned to scoop. The effective Toro and edge or is it a disadvantage?

Toro: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTAAaT_sFss

DavidNJ wrote:  
Don't sweat it. 

trouts2 wrote:

Just came across this Ariens spec sheet: http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/pdfImages/04/04f00473-2321-4eb8-8447-31daba809102.pdf

It gives the impeller speed as flows on all 14" models. Note: the Subaru and the Briggs and Straton engines have different 'sheeves' that run the betls to the drive and attachment from the engine. Without knowing their diameters it is hard to say if the 4000 rpm is extra speed at the impeller.

  Impeller

Impeller Diameter - in. (cm) 14 (35.6)

Impeller Speed (RPM) 1010

Impeller Tip Speed -

ft/min (m/m) 3702 (1128)

Well, a while ago around 2002-2004 they bucked the auger and impeller speeds.  I was aware they dropped later but somewhere in the last month I thought Snowmann posted that now they were at 1300.  I looked for the post but could not find it.

 

It’s hard to believe they now running so slow.  The new 9-11hp machines are at 1010rpm at the impeller.  The auger speeds are not given.  I had a 2004 11.5hp 24inch and it was fantastic.  Max distance is a factor here.  I don’t think I’d be as happy with the new machines.  The new speeds are back at the 80’s and 90’s levels.  There are now lots of improvements for tossing distance compared to the old models in chute, bucket and rake design which is great but slowing down the impeller is strange. 

 

1999 110 1100  8-13hp

 

2002 141 1410  7hp       10 inch impeller

2002 141 1410  8hp       12 inch impeller

2002 131 1310  9hp       12 inch impeller

2002 131 1140  13hp     14 inch impeller

 

2003 141 1410  8hp       12 inch impeller

 

2004 118 1150  8hp 

2004 131 1310  8-13hp  12 inch impeller

2004 131 1140 13hp      14 inch impeller

 

2005 120 1200  5-6hp    12 inch impeller

2005 121 1209  9-13hp  14 inch impeller

2006 120 1200  5-8hp    12 inch impeller

2009        1075  9-13hp  14 inch impeller Tip speed 3940ft/min

 

2010        1010  9-11hp  14 inch impeller

2010        1112  big hp   16 inch impeller

It adds a question whether prior Ariens performance can be used as a guide.

Was there an impeller change when the speed change was made? I see two possible reasons to make the change: 1) another design change was made and performance was still improved but couldn't handle the faster speed; 2) one or more components were redesigned, probably to reduce costs, and they couldn't withstand the higher loads while meeting safety, reliablity, and warranty requirements.

Do we have the numbers for their Professional models powered by the same 342 Briggs engine?

You have got to find a real hobby or get laid more often.  You may be suffering from analysis paralysis.

Seriously man, this OCD is not good.  Get some help.

Now we're gonna hear endless dribble about what hobbies are real, how do you define "real", how real can be mispelled, how the structure of the sentance can and may be misleading and how often is too often or perhaps not often enough....

Sad, the diatribe probably will include Marissa Tomei, Obama, a policeman, and an Uzi.

I guess I should brace myself for a 500 word dissertation.  I"m glad my tax money isn't funding this paper.  Or is it?  :)

trouts2, what machine was that with the 11.5 hp on a 24" bucket?  Would you have to build your own these days to have a power-to-chute-width ratio like that?  Is there something like that available?

1999 110 1100  8-13hp

2002 131 1140  13hp     14 inch impeller

2004 131 1140 13hp      14 inch impeller

2005 121 1209  9-13hp  14 inch impeller

2009        1075  9-13hp  14 inch impeller Tip speed 3940ft/min

2010        1010  9-11hp  14 inch impeller

It would seem the 14" impeller always had a speed 1200rpm or lower, and 1100 or under as often as not.

Husqvarna told me today their 'high speed impeller' on their Crown units is 1600 rpm. That would be 5000 ft/min tip speed vs. the 3700-4000 reported on the Ariens and Toro models.

Of course, it would depend on whether that information is accurate. All of the literature lists some models has having the high speed impeller 'feature' and others not having it. The only difference appears to be the pulley on the engine, which may be because of the ratio or because of engine differences.