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

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.

DavidNJ wrote:
I upgraded this on my Sears Husky.  Thead here:

http://www.abbysguide.com/ope/discussions/44687-A-1.html

The you measure the impeller speed before and after or the pulleys, top and bottom? Did you get a chance to try it on heavy, wet, snow?

On another note, really another thread, how was the deflector extension? Did it help?

And how are the Husky controls? I keep think that the Simplicity/Deere electric will be easier with no hand movement off the grips. However, the Husky's seem well made and smooth with that push release to hold them in place.

DavidNJ wrote:
• I didn't measure actual speed but could visually tell fan & auger were both spinning faster.

• I did test on some wet snow and it gave me another 10-15 feet of throwing distance.   I think I measured distance at around 45 feet.  I posted distance in that other referenced thread so I may be off.

• Deflector installed at end of season.  I never got a chance to test it out.

• I like my controls but I haven't really experienced others.  Keep in mind that if you don't keep your blower in a heated shed the cables can freeze up.  This can be mitigated with some methods but be aware it can happen.

snowmachine wrote:

Which cables froze? Every snowblower has cables for the auger and drive. This sounds a bit unusual.

DavidNJ wrote: One of my snowblowers has no cables.

The other one has only a throttle cable...

DavidNJ wrote:
Do a search on forum for 'frozen cables".  You will get hits.

I've had some freeze ups originally when my shed wasn't heated with the deflector chute cable.  Sometimes melted snow will get in the cable end near the chute and make its way down the cable and then freeze up.

Some have put small slits at bottom of cable to drain off water or feed a lubricant down the cable to keep water from freezing up cable.  Even when mine has froze engine heat usually frees it up in short order.

Shryp wrote:

How does it operate the traction control lever and the drive control lever?

snowmachine wrote:

Tried here and google with frozen cables. Here return your post in this thread, Google a hodgepodge, nothing about snowblowers.

The Husqvarna Crowns have "Premium Grade Cables". Could that be to address this issue?