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

Well I was finally able to get some video of my blower in action.  Went out to our family cottage and one of my neighbors was kind enough to operate the camera for me.
I'm pretty satisfied with the way it performs after the repower and other modifications to the impeller blades and housing. I had also increased the auger drive pulley size from
the stock 2 3/4" to 3 1/4". Powered chute controls work great.  I also came up with a way to use the old deflector control lever to operate the auger engage/ disengage.
So now I can pull on the lever engage the blower and not have to keep the right handle held down all the time.  It's so much easier to use the chute control joystick and hold on
to the blower.  I believe that it is also easier on the belt with fewer engage and disengage cycles.

I think it is still a little underpowered.  It could probably use a 13hp instead of the 11hp.  That 32" bucket takes in a lot of snow.  I'd also like to increase the auger drive pulley
to a 3 1/2" just to see what happens.  The one issue or component I still haven't come to a conclusion about is the impeller (14").  It has 6 blades, it's the only six bladed impeller I've
ever seen.  A lot of the newer blowers and the Honda's have only three blades.  I know how well the Honda's perform and I've watched a couple videos of the Ariens Compact 22
going through 14, 16" inches of light new snow without a problem.  So I've been wondering if six blades is just over kill and a lot of extra mass and weight to be turning. Once you get them
spinning I guess inertia is on your side.  But if three works well, and Honda first proved that they do.  Then what is the advantage of 4 or 6, just don't know.  One thing I do know is that.
The blade tip to housing clearance is a really important factor in blower performance. As is the impeller RPM.

Just a little information about the video.   In the first section the depth was about 18" deep in the plow roll of pile. And around 14 or 15" deep everywhere else. The snow was about three day old.
Had a bottom layer (2") of heavier stuff.  It had settled and was somewhat compacted and dense.  Not light power by any means but also not high in moisture and wet heavy.

     Great video of a great snow cannon.

 

>>>change the stock 2 3/4" to 3 1/4".

 

Are your final values: augers 1300, impeller 4762?

I think that’s with 14 inch impeller and rakes.

 

>>>That 32" bucket takes in a lot of snow.

 

I think the intake is 34.5 not 32.  Is that correct?   That’s what is listed for a 9240084 which was a surprise.

 

>>>I'd also like to increase the auger drive pulley  to a 3 1/2" just to see what happens.

Confused by this.  I would think you want a smaller diameter or increase the diameter of the lower pulley for slower speed.  I think that was the rub, having to feather the drive clutch for big loads.  The wide bucket is a drawback in tough snow for a slightly fast first speed.  The Honda hydro big – huge – advantage is having a super slow for some tough spots.  It’s certainly more comfortable to change the Honda speed rather than feather, wait, then proceed.  All in all not a killer but a very nice advantage for big snows if you have lots of rough spots in your area (which I do).    (There was a mention of smaller wheels but the wheel size on those models was great 16”.  BTW the 6 inch wide is very nice but depends on your area.  You’ve got diff so no big deal going bigger).  

 

>>>The one issue or component I still haven't come to a conclusion about is the impeller (14").  It has 6 blades, it's the only six bladed impeller I've ever seen. 

   Ariens put those on 10-13hp pro machines for a few years but dropped them.  I’ve had a couple and could not find any apparent advantage.  My guess is and it’s only a guess is they might be slightly better in throughput but not distance.  I tried comparing a 1028 4 blade to a 1028 6 blade and did not see any real difference but it was not a great comparison.  Certainly nothing stood out between the two.

 

>>>A lot of the newer blowers and the Honda's have only three blades. 

   So far from my evaluations I think the Honda advantages are in the higher speeds of augers and impellers AND the engine.  There is less sag in the Honda compared to the Tecumseh’s.  They can keep  the revs up with better high end torque.  You’re up there with impeller speed over a Honda, rake speed that is close and an engine that’s close or possibly as good.  The video seems to at least match or better a Honda 1132.  

   The Honda has three blades and they are small.  They are probably that way to work with the higher rake speed to get snow out quickly by being less mass.  If you put on an Ariens 4 blade I’d bet you would either see no difference or a very slight improvement in distance and if any probably too slight to measure.

 

   You posted a picture of an older 924 speed and attachment dash section which you might install on your machine.  That style at least for me is fantastic.  Your auger hand is free and it makes controlling the machine much easier.  It’s big and right there on the dash so very convenient.  It would be tough to meld that into the 084 dash but would be nice.

trouts2 Thanks for all your comments.

>>> Are your final values: augers 1300, impeller 4762?

I think that’s with 14 inch impeller and rakes.

Yes, that's is right at what I had calculated with the 14" impeller.

>>>I think the intake is 34.5 not 32.  Is that correct?   That’s what is listed for a 9240084 which was a surprise.

I just went out and measured the bucket opening at the top and bottom at 33"

>>>I'd also like to increase the auger drive pulley  to a 3 1/2" just to see what happens.  Confused by this.  I would think you want a smaller diameter or increase the diameter of the lower pulley for slower speed.  I think that was the rub, having to feather the drive clutch for big loads.

My thinking was that if I could increase the thruput a little more by increasing the auger and impeller speeds. Maybe that would match up with the forward speed in first gear. (which is just a tad to fast in certain snow type conditions). But as you know increasing the thruput by using a larger pulley will pull more power out of the engine. I think with a 13hp it wouldn't be a problem.  But I may already be at the border with the 3 1/4" pulley and the 11hp.  Using a 32" bucket.  I agree, having a hydro and being able to match the forward speed with the snow type/depth and the thruput is the beauty of the hydros.

Matching the forward speed with the blower capacity is what clearing capacity and efficiency is all about.  Keeping the rpm and power up and constant.

The big tires do perform well.  I've crawled out of some pretty deep holes almost dragging the bucket.

Thanks for your input on the impellers.  I just figured that as long as you can keep that big impeller spinning at a good rate.  The six blades are probably a little more efficient than fewer blades. Less weight on each blade and probably a little more of a fan effect at discharge.

I to, love the old dual control levers on the older Ariens. They are strong, easy to operate and when they are in a position you know and can feel it.

Since that post I have made a modification to the auger engage setup.  I reinstalled and shortened the old cable that used to move the deflector and was controlled by a handle on the left side of the dash.  I bent a hook on the end of the solid stainless wire inside the cable.  I then hooked the hook onto the chain above the spring that controls the auger engage levers.  Tightened up the fiction nut on the control lever on the dash.  So now I can pull back on the control lever to engage the blower and my left hand is free.  It works get, and I love having my left hand free to control the blower and operated the joystick for the chute.

I may this summer still see if there is a way to incorporate the older handles.  But for now the setup is a big improvement.

>>>I'd also like to increase the auger drive pulley  to a 3 1/2" just to see what happens. 

Sorry, I read that as drive pulley, not auger drive pulley.. 

I think you once mentioned a change for the drive pulley for a slower forward would cause a slower reverse which was already slow.  

You could have put on a smaller drive pulley and cut another slot for an added reverse position or shifted the speed set making 2 first, changed the link rod length and sacraficed the top speed.  I'm sure you thought of these already.  Why did you eliminate them?

I think the only one around who would know about the tradeoffs for 4 vs 6 blades in big machines is Snowmann.  He can probalby walk over to a fililng cabinet and pull out old engineering docs on that.

trouts2

>>>You could have put on a smaller drive pulley and cut another slot for an added reverse position or shifted the speed set making 2 first, changed the link rod length and sacraficed the top speed.  I'm sure you thought of these already.  Why did you eliminate them?

I have actually cut the reverse slot longer.  And adjusted the link rod length. The friction disk can't slid any further into reverse without  the linkage arm hitting the side
of the housing.  I have thought about flipping the fiction disk over which would move it about 1/2 to 3/4" further into the reverse range. I have a spare tractor section that I try things on before making changes to the 1032 but haven't tried that out yet.  I've also thought about just finding a 28" blower housing and doing the same modification to it that I've done to the 32" housing. I wish Ariens made a 30" housing.  But I don't think they do.  That would be a perfect size.

That would be great if Snowmann had access to that type of information.  I'd really be interested to hear what he had to say.

I'm hoping to someday take what I've learned from messing with a walk behind and scale it up to design and build a front truck or 4wheel drive blower.
In the 5 to 6' width range. Taking two 32 or 36" blowers removing all of the drive train, handle bars etc. Mounting the blowers together side by side and mounting them
to a snowplow A Frame.  The weight of the two blowers including engines would be very close to the same weight of a 7 1/2" plow blade. Controlling them from the
cab would be quite a an interesting project to tackle. But what a great EOD machine you'd have. You'd pick up power by not having to drive the traction system. Have to beef up the housing a bit but I think it would be do able?? 

I saw a video of someone who did the same type of thing and hung the two blowers from the front of a Toro Groundsmaster I think it was.  Both of the blowers were powered by the tractor and both blowers were single stage tractor types. It did a great job in moving deep snow. And he was all over the place with the Toro.
Or how about mounting one on the front of a Zero Turn mower. I've seen that done, talk about maneuverability. I'm getting carried away.
It's probably more of one of those, maybe someday projects. 

"Since that post I have made a modification to the auger engage setup.  I reinstalled and shortened the old cable that used to move the deflector and was controlled by a handle on the left side of the dash.  I bent a hook on the end of the solid stainless wire inside the cable.  I then hooked the hook onto the chain above the spring that controls the auger engage levers.  Tightened up the fiction nut on the control lever on the dash.  So now I can pull back on the control lever to engage the blower and my left hand is free.  It works get, and I love having my left hand free to control the blower and operated the joystick for the chute."

How about some pictures of your setup for the controls. You can't see them up close in the video.  Does that mean that your unit didn't have the automatic locking of the auger lever when you hold down the drive lever? I think your setup may be better though since they now operate independently? Was it difficult to install?

Cheers

jrtrebor wrote:

Having used a 32" snowblower the last 3 years,  I wouldn't want to go any wider and heavier for a walkbehind snowblower in a typical residential setting.  Not that would deter you, but it just takes too much man handling to be enjoyable, unless you're training to be a sumo wrestler.  The wider bucket just seems to amplify all surface imperfections and snag on pavement cracks that makes me slow down ground speed so that I can keep it going straight. 

It would be an interesting project for sure.  I would anticipate you need a heavier tractor section behind the bucket and some kind of power assist in turning the beast.

There was a mistake in one of my post.
 
" It works get, and I love having my left hand free to control the blower and operated the joystick for the chute".

It should have said "my right hand free" not left.

aa335
Sorry about that, I was talking about so many different things.  I wasn't thinking about using two blowers for a walk behind.  They would be used on some type of garden tractor or on the front of a
4 wheel drive vehicle.
I agree, a 32" walk behind is more than enough to handle.  Sometimes I'm not sure who's in control, me or the blower.

GtWtNorth
I did/do have the "automatic locking of the auger lever when you hold down the drive lever" But it can be kind of a pain.  I got spoiled by the controls on the old Ariens I had.

jrtrebor wrote:
I saw the video.  You don't need to increase anything.  The last thing you need is more power.  I saw one tree that was already knocked over...it probably couldn't stand up to the force of the snow you were hitting it with. 

Put down your wrenches, back away from your snow cannon, and lets save some trees. lol.