Snow blower earned it's keep today - CBAngler.com - Chesapeake Bay Angler

5th Tuition · #1 02-06-2010, 12:28 PM

Busted my way out the back door to find 20+ inches of snow leading to the garage. Luckily, I had placed the snow shovel near the back door last night. I did a quick shovel (only taking off the top 8-10 inches) to the garage. Once in the garage, I started the blower (the biggest Ariens makes- with headlight and heated hand grips) and scared the $hit out of the stray cats that had taken refuge in the garage. After the cats scattered, I blew the remaining snow from the original shoveled path. After I had one full path to the road, I just kept taking another 6-8 inches (width) of new snow off the 20+ inch deep snow. With this technique, the blower was not working too hard. It probably has a 20 inch blade, but by only doing 6-8 inches of new snow at a time, the engine was not working too hard.
I believe, if I had tried to use the whole blade, either the "chute" would have become blocked, or the engine would have overheated.
I just wanted to pass this along to those with blowers, so they didn't damage it in this heavy and deep snow. Now, since I live on a dead end street, it will probably be monday until my road see a plow and I can get out to do my 82 year old mothers house.
p.s
My fishing (tennis) elbow is sore from jockying the blower around this morning.
5th (Marty)

Stinkbait · #2 02-06-2010, 02:17 PM

Marty,
I'm gonna buy one ov' them snow chuckers as soon as I kin get my hands on one.

I had to call in the heavy artillery. My friend is on his way over with his plow truck.

My dumb arsed neighbor (that has several families in his house) and numerous others emptied their double wide driveway onto the street.

I now have a pair of 4 foot tidal waves of snow blocking my driveway from the county truck that plowed a couple of hours ago. I could see the driver was gettin' PO'ed. His Dump truck was getting stuck trying to push the mountain of crap down the street.

I am now late for a meeting with the fellers down at the local watering hole. Argh.....

I feel like inviting Rex over for some cold ones and a shot to get him to "facilitate their meeting with whatever deity they bow down to".

Jim

Hakuna Matata · #3 02-06-2010, 03:02 PM

It's not often that we need snowblowers in this area, but when we need them, we need them bad.

-JB

Skip · #4 02-06-2010, 06:13 PM

Stray cats and a snow blower -

trapshoot · #5 02-06-2010, 07:08 PM

Marty;

I have a B&S 5 HP snow blower. No bells and whistles on it . My driveway is over 1/4 mile long. and 9' wide. I snowblowed all freaking day. The SB worked its ass off but it got it done. The guy at the top of the road has a Kubota with a front end loader and he kept looking at my SB saying that works great.

It has definately earned a trip to the mechanic this spring for some TLC.

Vince