Snowblower Chute : open vs partially closed

[Bentru]

I am really pleased with the way my rig moves snow. But I made an observation and got to wondering about a possible improvement. Most use so far has been on pretty deep stuff and I was done in 1st or 2nd gear and the 7 ft blower was running full. Today was different in that there wasn't much snow and I was running in 4th a lot of the time and even then the blower was no where near capacity. There also was very little wind to blow away the snow. This resulted in a constant snow fog around the tractor from snow that came out the bottom 1/2 of the chute. I got to thinking....what if the chute was enclosed a little higher than it is? Would this cause more of the snow to be in the stream and less to slow down and fall out of the stream?
Has anyone ever modified their snowblower chute by covering up some of the bottom part? I am thinking of making it look more like this:

I might try a temporary cardboard piece and tarp straps just to see what happens.

 

[Working on Rust]

On the red chute you have a picture of that is a Pronovost semi-industrial chute. I understand they are quite a good chute. The lower inside panel is removable with a catch.
From what I have seen having a door or inside panel on a chute will reduce the amount of fine snow that falls off of the rest of the snow. With a door there is still a fair bit of fines in addition to the main snow that gets blown out because the fan is blowing a lot of air and that still has to go somewhere and there will still end up being a bit of the fines blown around no matter what. The chutes with a door also will plug up more easily in wet snow or if the RPM is to low and the snow feed to high.

 

[Rustywreck]

I think the source of the problem is the amount of clearance the fan has within the shroud. With fine, dry snow in small amounts the fan doesn't throw the snow as much as blowing it: there simply isn't enough snow to make it work.
I have the same issue with my 3pt blower, it works great with larger snowfalls; but with only a couple inches it creates a dust storm of snow.
I have thought about adding some type of heavy rubber or plastic to the fan blades to somewhat close the gap between the fan and the shroud, but haven't got around to it yet.

 

[oosik]

When I had a snowblower, I had the same experience as Rustywreck. Small amounts of snow would created a snow storm/snow fog. The chute on my blower was enclosed as you show in the "red chute" picture. This snow fog probably "clouds" your rear window - on a open station tractor like mine was it was a very unpleasant, freezing situation. I would come in the house wet as a hound dog - I finally quit using the blower unless there was at least six inches of snow. I used the rear blade for anything less than 6". The blower was for 6" or more or if I had to move the berms back.

BTW - that is one serious looking snowblower.

 

[fishhead]

I have the chute you pictured i notice a somel difference with with the door closed versus open- i have noticed that when you are blowing small amounts of snow closing the diverter down makes a big difference

I am really pleased with the way my rig moves snow. But I made an observation and got to wondering about a possible improvement. Most use so far has been on pretty deep stuff and I was done in 1st or 2nd gear and the 7 ft blower was running full. Today was different in that there wasn't much snow and I was running in 4th a lot of the time and even then the blower was no where near capacity. There also was very little wind to blow away the snow. This resulted in a constant snow fog around the tractor from snow that came out the bottom 1/2 of the chute. View attachment 494637 I got to thinking....what if the chute was enclosed a little higher than it is? Would this cause more of the snow to be in the stream and less to slow down and fall out of the stream?
Has anyone ever modified their snowblower chute by covering up some of the bottom part? I am thinking of making it look more like this:
View attachment 494639
I might try a temporary cardboard piece and tarp straps just to see what happens.

 

[Bentru]

I think the source of the problem is the amount of clearance the fan has within the shroud. With fine, dry snow in small amounts the fan doesn't throw the snow as much as blowing it: there simply isn't enough snow to make it work.
I have the same issue with my 3pt blower, it works great with larger snowfalls; but with only a couple inches it creates a dust storm of snow.
I have thought about adding some type of heavy rubber or plastic to the fan blades to somewhat close the gap between the fan and the shroud, but haven't got around to it yet.

The clearance on my blower is about 1/4" at most, less in some places. I never get any buildup of snow in the housing. I wonder if the impeller mod is worth the work.

 

[Bentru]

When I had a snowblower, I had the same experience as Rustywreck. Small amounts of snow would created a snow storm/snow fog. The chute on my blower was enclosed as you show in the "red chute" picture. This snow fog probably "clouds" your rear window - on a open station tractor like mine was it was a very unpleasant, freezing situation. I would come in the house wet as a hound dog - I finally quit using the blower unless there was at least six inches of snow. I used the rear blade for anything less than 6". The blower was for 6" or more or if I had to move the berms back.

BTW - that is one serious looking snowblower.

It is a serious snowblower!! 7 ft seems well matched to my ~50 HP tractor. I needed at least 6 ft to clear my tires, and I am glad I got a 7 ft. I only have to clutch occasionally. Since the blower will lift about 16" off the ground, I can always make the first pass with the blower up away and then lower it for the second pass.

 

[drag_slick]

It is a serious snowblower!! 7 ft seems well matched to my ~50 HP tractor. I needed at least 6 ft to clear my tires, and I am glad I got a 7 ft. I only have to clutch occasionally. Since the blower will lift about 16" off the ground, I can always make the first pass with the blower up away and then lower it for the second pass.

Hey Bentru, bet you're getting a lot of use out of the snowblower this winter! I know I am.

 

[leonz]

The Mckee snow clearer you have has a series of piano hinge segments to control the arc
of the chute and spout to dispose of the snow.

if the chute adjusters still function contract the threads to make the chute vertical leaving the
spout the only method to create the arc to let the snow be cast away as fast as possible.
If your not filling the impeller completely when snow clearing that is part of the problem.

You would be wise to have wings built with angle iron and flat sheet stock and attach them to the side weldment's of the snow caster to increase the snow volume that enters the cross augers and impellers as the cross augers also chew up the snow as it enters.

You would our could have to have an extended chute made at a fabrication shop to permit the
snow caster to have the snow clear the tractor cab and the rear window but I would move the chute to vertical before I made any other changes and adjust the spout angle slightly.

Every manufacturer of snow casters makes the chutes too short and the manufacturers that make chute extensions should install them as standard equipment.

Even better a "manufacturer" in "North America" needs to build a single stage snow caster to eliminate these problemsor obtain a manufacturing license from the European manufacturer that builds single stage snow casters for farm tractors.

 

[Bentru]

Hey Bentru, bet you're getting a lot of use out of the snowblower this winter! I know I am.

more use this winter so far than the previous 2 winters combined. So glad I built the cab.

 

[Bentru]

The Mckee snow clearer you have has a series of piano hinge segments to control the arc
of the chute and spout to dispose of the snow.
QUOTE]
The chute on my blower only has one hinge.

 

[drag_slick]

more use this winter so far than the previous 2 winters combined. So glad I built the cab.

I just ordered a soft cab.. be delivered tomorrow!

 

[Industrial Toys]

My self powered blower is also a McKee "Blizzard".

A Mennonite who builds equipment (and snow blowers) told me the secret. The chute should be in a V configuration. So when there is only little snow, it all rides down in the V together in a narrow stream. When there is more, the V simply fills up.

You can accomplish this by welding in some appropriately formed sheet metal.

I think the round chutes work better, because this is kind of what happens anyway. The good news is that the V is easy to make in a square style chute.

 

[leonz]

The Mckee snow clearer you have has a series of piano hinge segments to control the arc
of the chute and spout to dispose of the snow.
QUOTE]
The chute on my blower only has one hinge.

What I ment was the chute has sections that are cut and bent
in place which makes it look like it had multiple hinges.

 

[Dave M7040]

You have a McKee 720 if I am not mistaken. Had one for years behind a yery heavy 2wd Nuffield 465.

The hitch pins on the blower would bend from the offset push from the tractor arms so I modified the blower to have the 3 pt arms go between two heavy plates with a pin connecting the blower to the 3 pt arms.

This picture was taken after I sold it and it had rusted considerably since I owned it.

McKee blowers had fans that were too small. The fan could not keep up to the augers rate of feeding the snow to it.

On my Nuffield, the reverse speed was too fast so I imported and installed a special low reverse gear and still the blower could not keep up to the tractor backing into the snow.

John Deere sold the same blower just painted green and can be a source of parts for you.

McKee has been out of business for years.

If you compare the fan diameter and # of blades with more modern blowers you will find larger fans on newer blowers.

With minimal snow, there is a large circulation of air into the fan, out the chute and back into the fan. That is why the snow fog hangs around. Shut the pto off and back up until the blower is almost full and then start the blower up. This will minimize the snow fog.

Sorry if this is not the encouraging opinion any owner of a piece of equipment likes to hear but it is best to recognize its basic limitations so you dont spend a lot of time only to still be frustrated with it's performance.

Everything is relative so having a McKee is a big step up from using a blade or FEL bucket.

Dave M7040