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Self-propelled snow blowers for summer cottages: an overview and help in choosing

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A snow blower is not a cheap purchase, especially when it comes to self-propelled vehicles. However, in some regions, climatic features oblige to make such a costly purchase. Our site will tell you what to look for so that the investment is fully justified.

Self-propelled snow blowers for summer cottages: an overview and help in choosing

Features of self-propelled snowblowers

Unlike “sidewalk” snow blowers, which need to be pushed by hand, self-propelled ones have a drive. If the thickness of the snow exceeds 20 cm in height, while the snowdrifts have time to pack up and contain ice, it will be possible to move the machine forward only with the power of mechanized traction.

The mass of a snow blower with a drive starts on average from 100 kg and can exceed a ton for heavy equipment. Large weight obliges to strengthen the structure of the chassis and stationary attachments, therefore, most self-propelled snowblowers are free from such diseases as insufficient frame rigidity, thin metal casing or low machine stability on uneven ground.

Self-propelled snow blowers for summer cottages: an overview and help in choosing

On the other hand, the presence of a sufficiently powerful power plant creates a great temptation to equip snow removal equipment with additional functional elements. These include a multistage gearbox or an electric drive for adjusting mechanisms. These options are useful, but they greatly complicate the maintenance of the equipment and reduce its maintainability. It is possible to make a choice based on extended functionality only if it is correctly implemented, otherwise frequent breakdowns and the lack of replaceable parts in the public domain will turn the operation of the snow blower into one continuous problem.

Self-propelled snow blowers for summer cottages: an overview and help in choosing

The price tag for self-propelled vehicles starts from $ 500-700 and can reach half a million rubles for heavy equipment. Such a machine is often purchased cooperatively for several farms, which requires versatility, reliability and ease of maintenance. It is very important that the snow blower feels good when moving both on the road surface and on frozen ground, is stable on bumps and bumps, can move freely on ice and work stably at low temperatures. These properties depend mainly on the layout of the attachments, but the use of special technical solutions also means a lot..

Motor part characteristics

The vast majority of snow blowers are powered by a carbureted internal combustion engine of up to 15 hp. Diesel units are installed in equipment weighing about a ton, having a seat for the operator and designed for long-term and trouble-free operation.

The engine in the snow blower must be of the winter type with overhead valves. It is preferable that the volume is at least 400 cm3, although some motors are capable of delivering impressive power with a very modest cylinder-piston group.

Self-propelled snow blowers for summer cottages: an overview and help in choosing

One of the fashionable trends is equipping the engine with an electronic ignition and injection system. You need to understand that such a decision is dictated by environmental standards, which are irrelevant for most of the CIS countries. The carburetor system is simpler and more reliable, despite the insignificant excessive fuel consumption, it has the advantage of high maintainability, including outside the conditions of the service center.

There is no definite advice on the country of manufacture of the engine. The flagship among the engines of the winter series are American MTD and B&S, as well as Japanese Honda, but their repair requires the order of original consumables. Here it is appropriate to give an example of Chinese mopeds, the engines of which can be repaired in an ordinary garage workshop, and finding cheap parts for them is not a problem even in remote regions..

Self-propelled snow blowers for summer cottages: an overview and help in choosing

A separate issue is the choice of power in the range from 5 to 15 hp. Strictly speaking, the number of “horses” affects only the speed of snow removal, because any of the machines is capable of capturing the thickness of the cover for which the bucket height is designed, regardless of the density and the presence of an ice crust. For independent use on a plot of up to 10 acres, you should focus on an indicator of 6-8 hp, for a cooperative – from 10 hp.

Transmission and control

The most important part of a snow blower is the drive system. Maneuverability, efficiency in various modes and ease of use depend on how the traction force is transmitted from the crankshaft to the drive axle..

Direct-drive snow blowers are the simplest technique in which power is supplied to the wheels only through the clutch package. Their main disadvantage is the difficulty of turning, which can be done only by the force exerted on the control levers when the clutch is depressed. This control method may be appropriate for vehicles weighing no more than 60-70 kg.

Self-propelled snow blowers for summer cottages: an overview and help in choosing

The friction drive is partially free from this drawback. Conventionally, the left and right wheels have separate clutch packages, which makes it possible to distribute power between them. This is a fairly simple scheme that does not lead to a significant increase in the cost of equipment, but at the same time does not provide full-fledged maneuverability, besides, the friction units have a limited service life.

The most convenient is the drive through a differential, as in a full-fledged automobile transmission. In this case, the snow blower can turn in place or move smoothly along a curved path, and the unit itself requires a minimum of maintenance and is considered extremely reliable. Problems arise when the grip of the wheels with the ground is uneven: one starts to slip and the car has to be pushed off the spot by muscle force. The problem is solved by the presence of forced locking of the wheels or using a differential with increased internal resistance, but this solution significantly increases the cost of equipment.

Self-propelled snow blowers for summer cottages: an overview and help in choosing

The three types of transmission described are relevant for wheeled snow blowers, but there are also tracked ones. They also have a differentials system, but much more sophisticated, allowing individual power transmission to each drive roller. Tracked snow blowers have no control problems, and due to the large support plane and special suspension, they behave well on bumps and when driving over obstacles. The only drawback is the cost, which can be 30-40% higher than that of a wheel analog.

Self-propelled snow blowers for summer cottages: an overview and help in choosing

There is also a choice of technical solutions for the powertrain. The number of forward gears can reach six, including low gear, reverse – up to two. The gearbox is integrated with the power distribution device, so when the speed of the movement changes, the speed and torque of the auger simultaneously change. If it is possible to remove the snow on time, two forward gears and one reverse gear will suffice. A larger number of them will be useful only when it is necessary to bite into icy snowdrifts, cut off ice near the roadside, or if the height of the snow being cleared is constantly changing.

Snow capture and ejection device

The snow blower has a bucket, the height and width of which determine the maximum possible cross-section for capturing the snow mass. Strictly speaking, this is not entirely true, because snow blowers with a capacity of over 7-8 hp cope well with fresh snow, the height of which can be up to 1.5 times higher than that of a bucket in the presence of shearing knives.

Self-propelled snow blowers for summer cottages: an overview and help in choosing

At the bottom of the receiving casing there is an auger that rotates relatively slowly, capturing the snow-ice mass in portions, crushing it and transferring it to the ejection device. The latter is most often represented by a pair of other augers rotating symmetrically at a higher speed necessary to throw the snow mass over a considerable distance..

The described scheme of work is fair for most snow blowers, but there are a number of solutions that affect the durability and efficiency of the equipment:

  • Adjusting the height of the augers allows you to drive over low obstacles and avoid removing the ice crust on the road surface;
  • The serrated edge provides easy crushing of caked snow and ice, significantly reducing the load on the ejection mechanism;
  • The wheel arrangement of the augers eliminates the jamming of large ice blocks, which are gradually ground inside the casing;
  • The presence of shear bolts allows you to avoid overloading and deformation of the auger when meeting a serious obstacle, this option is strictly mandatory for self-propelled snow blowers;
  • The shape of the screws and the material of their manufacture are of great importance..

Self-propelled snow blowers for summer cottages: an overview and help in choosing

The snow ejection device is represented by a shaft with a bent bell, through which the snow mass can be thrown up to a distance of 10-15 m. This part must be made of steel and have a high-quality coating resistant to abrasion. It also requires adjustment of the height, inclination and direction of the bell.

Useful additional options

In order to increase the apparent profitability of the purchase, many manufacturers equip equipment with additional bells and whistles. Most of them are optional, but some of them greatly improve the usability:

  • The presence of headlights will allow you to work in the dark, which is especially important for northern regions with short daylight hours. The preferred option is LED-based lighting, although no one bothers to replace lighting devices after purchase or install additional ones;
  • The electric starter will provide starting in any weather. It can be self-contained with battery power or run from household power. For regions with severe frosts, the latter option is preferable;

Self-propelled snow blowers for summer cottages: an overview and help in choosing

  • Heated handles are a very useful option. It is not known why this solution is not applied by all snow blower manufacturers, although, on the other hand, there is no obstacle to installing the warm handles yourself;
  • The mechanical control of the chute from the main panel will be very useful if all the snow from the clearing area needs to be dumped in one pile. Select models have a control handle lock allowing one-handed ejection to be adjusted on the go. At the same time, electrical adjustment of the chute can be called a clear overkill..
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Comments: 1
  1. Samuel Lewis

    Dear reader, as you delve into the world of self-propelled snow blowers for summer cottages, it’s essential to make an informed choice. What are the key factors one should consider when selecting the ideal snow blower for their needs? Is there a specific brand or model that stands out? Are there any features or specifications that are particularly important to ensure efficient snow removal? Additionally, are there any maintenance requirements or tips to prolong the lifespan of a self-propelled snow blower?

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