Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Angle of attack for snow blower scoop

[jlolley]

Is there a recommended setting for the angle of attack of the scoop for a 3PH mounted snow blower? The angle is adjusted by the shortening/lengthening the top link, but the operator's manual doesn't say what the angle should be. It seems to me that the more the scoop blade is angled up, the more the blower tends to ride up on top of the snow, whereas the more it's angled down, the more it tends to bite into the ground, digging up gravel etc.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Let your experience and the type of the surface be your guide.

My driveway is paved so I am aggressive with keeping the leading edge on the surface, I try to have the edge scraping right on the asphalt.

I often blow the driveway for my neighbor (he works nights and they have a young child and no 4x4 vehicle) he has has a lumpy gravel drive with a high center and 2 well established tire paths so on his drive I tilt the blower back by shortening the toplink AND raise it up just a bit too. On his drive he is typically left with less than an inch of snow, but at least he can get his car out and I am not throwing gravel all over his yard.

You can also adjust the skid shoes so it keeps the leading edge slightly elevated if you have gravel, but not have the edge angled up so much that it rides up on the snow.

 

[PineRidge]

With a little experience you'll have it down pat although it sounds to me like you have a pretty good understanding of how to adjust the toplink. Our drive is gravel so we shorten the hydraulic top link to lean the blower, that way we are not as apt to pick up gravel. Once it gets hard-packed and frozen like it is now you can then lengthen the top link a bit to get a closer shave on the drive.

And remember the golden rule: Don't blow snow into the wind. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[jlolley]

Thanks!
Re. Don't blow snow into the wind, I loved reading about the various solutions members have posted on this, especially the sheet of PlexiGlass fixed to the RPOS and the snowmobile helmet! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[MadReferee]

PineRidge hit it right on the head.

Adjust the top link so the blower edge just skims above the gravel, usually just under an inch from bare ground. Once the gravel/snow freezes, be more aggressive and adjust the blower edge lower.