We will figure out how to choose a snowblower by going through all the parameters of these units. First, a fundamental point.
Which snow blower to choose - electric or gasoline?
Only gasoline of a classic layout. Electric - these are low-power machines that are unable to cope with wet, hard snow and crust.
Gasoline self-propelled or non-self-propelled?
The unit, which can overcome any snow, weighs 50 kg or more. Obviously, he should be on his own move. Such machines are equipped with reliable steel augers. Rubber and plastic augers that are used on electric and small-sized gasoline cleaners are not suitable for snow with water and solid snow.
See how the electric Stiga works
Country snow blower: how to choose according to power?
5 l. from. - what you need for a suburban area. The mass of such an apparatus is about 70-80 kg, the discharge of snow is 8 m and beyond. That is, it is able to easily throw snow over two parking spaces.
What width do you need a bucket?
Universal bucket width for simple-shaped areas: 50-65 cm. A narrower one is needed where you have to maneuver. Wide buckets are good for road and road applications. They will save you a lot of "walks". But if you rarely clean, then there is no point in overpaying for them.
Which snowblower is the best for flotation?
The larger the diameter of the wheels, the better their grip. This is especially true on tight corners, when one wheel is standing, and the unit is moving at the expense of the second. A good grip on the surface is necessary to deal with snow that is highly saturated with water (and this is very common in our winters) or caked.
The minimum acceptable diameter is 30 cm.
Which snow blower is better to buy - wheeled or tracked?
Caterpillars dramatically increase cross-country ability, however, to such an extent, it is needed only in high snowdrifts. For normal conditions, the wheels rule. Disadvantages of tracks: lower maneuverability and speed, less guaranteed mileage.
Which snow blower to choose according to the number of speeds?
Different speed modes allow you to adjust the sweeper's work to the snow that you have to deal with. Sufficient set of speeds (forward / backward): 3-5 / 1.
Snow blower: which one to choose for comfortable turns?
The steering control allows you to stop one of the wheels, which saves you a lot of effort. If you are going to change the direction of snow throwing at every turn, then you will not have enough hands to control the wheels.
What's the best way to manage snow throw?
The most reliable is a lever or a shaft with a handle. More "sophisticated" greatly increase the cost of the unit, and reduce the reliability of emission control.
Is it necessary to adjust the height of the snow intake?
This function is needed in order to protect the bucket from friction against the surface. The "clearance" of the bucket should allow unevenness: on gravel, the bucket should be raised higher, on tiles - less. For adjustment, the sides of the bucket should have bolted stop slides.
What's the fight around the cut-off pin?
The cut-off pin is a safety device in case solid objects fall into the cleaner. When the rotor is locked with such an object, the shaft cuts the pin and then turns idle. The nuance is that all machines use the same pins. They can be cut only by machines of high power - not less than 9 liters. from. Devices of average power will simply stall.
Are there any other nuances for advanced users?
- The headlight increases the cost of the unit and is located at the rear of the car - so it is almost useless. Therefore, it is better to adapt an ordinary lantern for lighting.
- Heated handles are nonsense.Normal people still work with gloves. But on the warm handles, the snow melts, and then freezes, forming a crust.
- Starter and cranking from the outlet are unclaimed functions.
- A knife for cutting snowdrifts is also not needed.
Watch a video of how the petrol-powered snow blower works
