Abby’s Guide > Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) > Discussions > Snow Commander... Throwing distance answers coming soon, I hope!
Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions |
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jrtrebor
Location: Michigan - 3 hours north of Chicago on the lake
Joined: Feb 10, 2010
Points: 539
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Snow Commander... Throwing distance answers coming soon, I hope!
Original Message Feb 23, 2013 10:22 pm |
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Well I couldn't let it go. It was just bugging me why the thing was so pitiful when it came to it's throwing distance. So a few days ago I removed the steel that formed the center hub around the auger shaft. Then made plates to support the center of the paddles and welded them in place. Now it looks like most of the other Toro SS blowers out there. Tried it out, and it really didn't make much if any difference in the distance. And it had no effect on the engine performance. So back into the garage we went. Decided there was only one more thing to modify. So I removed the stock pulley and replaced it with a stock pulley from another Toro SS. Most of the pulley's are the same. But I think it may have come off a CCR 2000. The stock SC pulley is 7 1/2" in diameter. The replacement one is just a little less than 6" call it 5 7/8" So a full 1 1/2" smaller. Now the blower is set up just like most other Toros out there and the impeller will be running at the same RPM as those blowers. The really good news was that after I measured what new belt length I was going to need. I found a great and helpful belt supplier on line. vbeltsupply.comI gave them the measurements told them what I needed and they said no problem. $21.00 ($10 for the belt $11 shipping) and four hours later it was on it's way. I should get it Monday afternoon. So by Monday night I should know something. It will be interesting to see how the added auger RPM directly effects the throwing distance. And how the engine responds. Removing the center hub steel plates probably dropped off about 6 or seven pounds. We'll see!
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MN_Runner
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Joined: Dec 5, 2010
Points: 622
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Re: Snow Commander... Throwing distance answers coming soon, I hope!
Reply #12 Feb 25, 2013 8:43 pm |
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Well received the new belt this afternoon. Put it on, and gave the blower a try. It's better, but not enough to say "oh boy look at that". Not enough to get out my video camera.
After trying out the SC I sat it side by side with my 210R. So.... here are my thoughts up to this point. The interior of the blower housings are the same design and shape. The chute angles are the same. The chute holes are the same diameter. The width of the blower mouth on the 210 is 21" The width of the blower mouth on the SC is right at 23 1/4" So the SC cuts a path that is only about, let say 2 1/4" wider than the 210. But lets say 2 1/2 or 3" wider. The 210 has the 141cc R-tek which is let say putting out 5.5 hp. The SC has the 141cc R-Tek with the ported piston and cyl walls. Supposedly putting out 7hp. I changed the center paddle supports so it is like most any other Toro SS including my 210. The pulley is now the same size as most other Toro SS.
Granted the SC cuts a little wider path buts it's got 1 1/2 to 2 more HP than my 210. With that added power it should have no problem with taking in a little more snow. But the question is, why does it throw so poorly compared to my 210. And most other Toro SS in the 5hp range? The CCR 2000 with a 4.5hp throws better. Same auger design same pulley size.
There is only one thing left that I can think of. Maybe it's that third paddle. Maybe that third paddle is bringing in snow to often. Maybe it's in some way disrupting the flow of snow in the housing, who knows. I honestly don't know what else it could be. The third auger is the only design element that is different between the SC and the 210. It's the only thing that is different than any other Toro. And most any other SS I've ever seen. I would love to know what the engineers thoughts were behind thinking there was a need for a third paddle. Maybe I'm missing something, but it just make no sense to me. That a 7hp taking a 2 1/2" wider cut. Can't throw snow at least as well as a 5hp cutting a slightly smaller cut. Especially when blowing only 2 or 3 inches of snow. What do you think, pull the third paddle?
Is it possible to measure the wind speed coming out of the chute? 2 1/2" (volume is much bigger - you have to consider WxLXH) maybe enough to affect the aerodynamcs and not creating enough lift for the snow to shoot out. I doubt Toro designer looked into aerodyanmics. Can you change the opening size just above the auger?
This message was modified Feb 25, 2013 by MN_Runner
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borat
Joined: Nov 10, 2007
Points: 2692
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Re: Snow Commander... Throwing distance answers coming soon, I hope!
Reply #14 Feb 25, 2013 10:09 pm |
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I have to agree that it's likely the three paddle system being designed to move volume vs. velocity/distance. It makes me think of smaller bites being taken by each of the three paddles not having the benefit of rotational speed to achieve the same kind of kinetic energy as that's achieved by a two paddle system. The trade off would be that the three paddle system would likely be able to sustain a higher volume rate, (particularly with heavier snow) than a two paddle system would. That's my assumption. If you pull a paddle, won't that throw the balance off? You'll have to reconfigure the paddle placement if you go with just two. I'd be willing to venture that you'll get the distance with a two paddle arrangement.
This message was modified Feb 26, 2013 by borat
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jrtrebor
Location: Michigan - 3 hours north of Chicago on the lake
Joined: Feb 10, 2010
Points: 539
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Re: Snow Commander... Throwing distance answers coming soon, I hope!
Reply #18 Feb 26, 2013 12:24 am |
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The 3 paddle system is like a having more fine tooth on a hack saw. It takes smaller bites off hard snow more effectively. The trade off is distance.
By removing the center hub pieces, I think you may be defeating the original design intent, which is to limit the snow ingested by the paddles. The hub and the paddles creates small compartments to collect snow, no more than that. The amount of snow it takes in, the same amount gets propelled upward. Also, the center hub pieces acts like a flywheel, to keep the rpm consistent and not bump up and down under load. That is the problem. The distance trade off is too much. I believe most people would rather have a SS blower that will only take up to 12" of snow. And throw it 15 - 20'. Than one that will take up to 18" of snow but only throw it 6 - 8' When blowing small depths of snow, your lucky if it throws it 5'. Unless you run with it. For me having a 2 stage. I would be more than willing to sacrifice some volume for some distance. I actually really like this blower and some of it's unique features. But I just wish it would perform like a lot of the other Toro 5hp models. It's kind of a 2 stage want-a-be. But falls short there as well. Here is a video I found of a SC blowing some snow.
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