Allied blower not moving snow

nstractor · Feb 1, 2012

Let me start off by saying I am new to tractors, bought a MF 231 and recently purchased a Allied blower model SB73. Hooked it up today to try it out and was disappointed to find it barely blows the snow. It just kind of lobs a foot or two out of the chute. Everything seems to be moving and turning as it should, any ideas of what is wrong or what I could do to improve its performance? Thanks in advance

Craig Clayton · Feb 1, 2012

Was the snow wet or dry? Trying to blow wet snow is terrible. After you have cleared the chute several hundred times you will know what we all mean.
Please use a poker stick to clear the chute and turn off the blower.

Craig Clayton

nstractor · Feb 1, 2012

Nice dry powdery snow, everytime I jumped out to look the auger and chute would be pretty clear. I even tried pushing more into the blower by backing up and all it did was kind of pile up?

Jerry/MT · Feb 1, 2012

nstractor said:
Nice dry powdery snow, everytime I jumped out to look the auger and chute would be pretty clear. I even tried pushing more into the blower by backing up and all it did was kind of pile up?

How much snow were you tring to throw? Was the impeller turning?

nstractor · Feb 1, 2012

Not much snow, maybe 8-10", the impeller was turning, even when the tractor was off and I spin the auger by hand the impeller spins.

reggiejr · Feb 1, 2012

That's weird.Did you have your rpms up to full 540 rpm pto speed?And also be sure you don't have a broken sheer pin i would visually inspect them to make sure they are both intact.How fast were you traveling when blowing the snow and could you hear the engine straining to the load?

Craig Clayton · Feb 1, 2012

Could you be having trouble with the tractor PTO output shaft not spinning the blower fast enough underload?
Did you check to see if any shear pins are broken on the blower once again slipping underload.?

Craig Clayton

zzvyb6 · Feb 1, 2012

There was a blowercaster from Allied.
Whose impeller was acting a bit fried.
It behaves like the shaft,
is going backwards, I laughed ?
No wonder it acts like it died.

nstractor · Feb 1, 2012

The tractor was running in low range, at high rpm, the motor was straining (rpms not falling off). I will inspect the shear pins in the morning.

reggiejr · Feb 1, 2012

Yeah sounds like you've got a broken sheer pin.

gengine · Feb 1, 2012

Like what was stated, RPMs and shear pins. Is the top of your chute in the most vertical position? A lot of them on the top will adjust so you can throw the snow three feet from the tractor, or 30' out in the field. Your auger should be turning in a way to push the snow towards the center, and your impeller should have little clearance all around it. I think all of them at work have 1/4" of clearance not only all the way around, but front to back also. If your blower is new, then this isn't an issue. All that being said, my biggest suspicion is shear pins. They will have enough grab to spin everything as should until there is resistance, and when you have dry powdery snow, it will still throw some, but not enough speed to actually throw the snow.

Jerry/MT · Feb 2, 2012

nstractor said:
Not much snow, maybe 8-10", the impeller was turning, even when the tractor was off and I spin the auger by hand the impeller spins.

What rpm were you running the engine? Was the deflector all the way dwn or was it up?

slowzuki · Feb 2, 2012

Neighbours allied will barely clear the edge of the blower if you aim the chute down. Needs to be pointed up, and run wide open, and kept full of snow.

Ivan49 · Feb 2, 2012

If your impeller was turning with the tractor off was the PTO shaft turning? If you have a shear bolt broken the impellar will turn and the PTO shaft will not be turning with the trac off.

TGReaper · Feb 2, 2012

My Allied blower is smaller,but I believe the same basic design. If this is correct then the fan shear bolts are big twins that are in the PTO shaft and very hard to break. The auger is protected by a secondary shear pin smaller and easy to break.
From what I'm reading here it sounds to me like someone forgot to put the key in the fan/shaft conection, allowing the fan to slip on the shaft when it is under load.
I have been quit impressed with my Buhler/Allied , however this year so far there is no snow in Manitoba.
TGR

jpm1 · Feb 2, 2012

I believe your right TGReaper, I have run farm King/Buhler for years, and just bought a new one feb 2011. If the 2 shear bolts in the PTO are broke nothing turns. If the shear bolt on the chain is broke you have no auger turning. There is most likely a key missing on the impeller causing it to spin but with no power. If i remember it is locked down with a square head bolt which would still allow it to spin. . . That would be my first check .. . John
Picture is my old 60" allied in 2007 doing "storm cleanup"

nstractor · Feb 2, 2012

Shear pins are all good, none broken, How would I gauge if the PTO is turning fast enough?

reggiejr · Feb 2, 2012

540 rpm pto speed should be @2250 rpms on your tachometer.most tractors have a hash mark on the tac for ideal 540 rpm pto speed.

jpm1 · Feb 2, 2012

With your PTO unhooked from the tractor and the tractor shut off take a block of wood and wedge the auger so that it doesn't turn and reach in and turn the impeller. It the impellar turns and auger doesn't then No KEY was installed. . . .John

nstractor · Feb 2, 2012

So I decided to check things over again, all the shear pins checked OK, but after comparing with jpm1's photos I noticed the blades on my impeller have bent, they are not at "square" with the 90° hook on them. So I popped the impeller off, the key was in place, and will straighten it out tomorrow.

Question is how big of impact does this have on the performance of the blower? Remeber guys I am new to this LOL :ashamed: