Snowblower No Distance

2516hst · Dec 30, 2011

I have A Mahindra 2516HST and I borrowed a woods 60 from a neighbor who went to Florida for the winter. Although we have no snow up in Northern Maine we have a had a few opportunities to use the blower. We had a few inches of powder and the blower would only throw maybe 8 - 10' at the very most. I have the throttle at full 540rpm at the 3 point. The blower is freshly lubed.

Is this a common issue with woods. I'm watching YouTube videos and such and see people blowers throwing snow 30+ feet. I'm wondering if I can do anything or is this just how it is.

Thanks,
Chuck

number two · Dec 30, 2011

Blowers work best when well fed!Wait until you get some real snow(none here yet?)and you will be impressed.Watch out for gravel until the ground is frozen,if you have a gravel drive.

arsenix2001 · Dec 30, 2011

2516hst said:
I have A Mahindra 2516HST and I borrowed a woods 60 from a neighbor who went to Florida for the winter. Although we have no snow up in Northern Maine we have a had a few opportunities to use the blower. We had a few inches of powder and the blower would only throw maybe 8 - 10' at the very most. I have the throttle at full 540rpm at the 3 point. The blower is freshly lubed.

Is this a common issue with woods. I'm watching YouTube videos and such and see people blowers throwing snow 30+ feet. I'm wondering if I can do anything or is this just how it is.

Thanks,
Chuck

Is it an older woods? Does it have a 3 blade or 4 blade impeller? The older 3 blade woods blowers werent so great, but they do need a constant supply of snow. Also check the gap between the blades and the impeller housing around the discharge area, it should be 1/4" or preffereably less.

Wyld Bill · Dec 31, 2011

Yeah it is because it is not full of snow. Another thing that will happen when you don't have enough snow is you end up getting whitewashed, covered with a dusting of snow blowing out of the snowblower.

I have a 2615 HST (same as yours basically) that I bought used up in Eagle Lake a few years ago.

Craig Clayton · Dec 31, 2011

The question is how far do you really need to throw the snow.
Yes it is great fun to have a rooster tail of snow landing in the next county, but is it necessary?
Just wait until you try to blow WET SNOW you will be HAPPY if it clears the end of the chute without plugging up.

Craig Clayton

ruffdog · Dec 31, 2011

Force feeding my Lorenz blower.

flyingcow · Dec 31, 2011

I live in the southern part of the "County". Haven't had enough snow to blow.

2516hst · Jan 1, 2012

arsenix2001 said:
Is it an older woods? Does it have a 3 blade or 4 blade impeller? The older 3 blade woods blowers werent so great, but they do need a constant supply of snow. Also check the gap between the blades and the impeller housing around the discharge area, it should be 1/4" or preffereably less.

Ya it is an older woods with 4 blades actually. I bought the tractor over in Caribou this past summer and love it. I didn't get a chance to buy a blower before winter so a friend graciously loaned me his. I had found a few new model Woods blowers on Craig's List that I almost bought but waited until I could see how I like this one. I'm not looking to necessarily throw it 40 feet but it would be nice to at least get it over a couple tractor widths to either side.

Maybe the newer models are geared differently? Does the blade turn to the same RPM as the PTO or is it geared? I'm not sure how far the auger is from the blade. I guess the real test will come when we get some real snow and not these dustings that we've been getting.

ruffdog · Jan 1, 2012

I saw a used woods blower before I bought my lorenz and noticed the impeller was about the same diameter but the blades were not very wide. My blades are 2 to 3 times wider(deep).
The Lorenz can blow snow great but it really eats HP too so you have to be careful on how fast you feed it.

drmac · Jan 2, 2012

If you look at the Woods diagram you'll see that the transmission has a through shaft with the fan mounted on it--so it is running at PTO speed. The auger power is geared off the side of that shaft, then through the sprocket/chain lash-up to give it a reduced rpm. Good luck.

DrMac

2516hst · Jan 2, 2012

I looked at this closer today. I think the owner really chewed this thing through rock because I got one fin totally flipped the wrong direction and a couple other one are fairly flat instead of cupped in the direction of throwing snow. Out of four fins one is properly positioned.

I guess this explains a lot and also give me an item to really look at if I find a used one to purchase.

ruffdog · Jan 2, 2012

My impeller is about 25" dia and the 3 blades are 6.25" deep.

scesnick · Jan 2, 2012

Since you stated that it looks like your neighbor has been through plenty of rocks/gravel I can pretty much guarantee the lack of performance is from the fan blade tips being worn down causing the gap between the fan blades and the housing to be too great and allowing snow to pass through.
My 64" Ber Vac has the same issue. I solved it with this kit. SNOWBLOWER IMPELLER KIT

calrox59 · Aug 29, 2012

If it wont pick up a dime on the up stroke of the fan? Then the impeller wear is the problem. Only fix is to have it rebuilt and balanced. Or some guys will bolt on 3/8 thick rubber pieces to individual fan blades in order to compensate for the wear. That ones a cheaper fix, and, will probably have to be replaced yearly.

RFB · Aug 30, 2012

I have found that snow quantity is a significant factor (keeping the blower loaded) for throw performance. That is usually not a problem here because we are usually moving 2 to 4 foot depths; a 6 inch snowfall is "kick aside" depth. I operate a Loftness 841S; a single flight 7 footer rated from 40 to 90 HP. Brand new the fan gap was at least 1/4" or better, and it easily throws 50 feet.

flyingcow · Aug 31, 2012

RFB said:
I have found that snow quantity is a significant factor (keeping the blower loaded) for throw performance. That is usually not a problem here because we are usually moving 2 to 4 foot depths; a 6 inch snowfall is "kick aside" depth. I operate a Loftness 841S; a single flight 7 footer rated from 40 to 90 HP. Brand new the fan gap was at least 1/4" or better, and it easily throws 50 feet.

RFB- That was my thoughts when I was reading this thread. I'm running a Lucknow 8ft unit. It's got 1/4inch gap and throws the snow a good distance. I'm very pleased with it. I think having 4 blades on the fan is a plus.

calrox59 · Aug 31, 2012

You could have that much air gap: Some manufacturers don't care! Also depends where you measure! Ideally however: On the fan upswing, exhaust side, the clearance should not be greater than a nickel thickness. The reason is: fan means to blow. These clearances also prevent rocks from binding / grinding in the fan shroud. I'm glad yours works: Volume feed is insignificant however! Now the older snow throwers required keeping the blower loaded. They were only single stage though! As long as it work for now right? The fellow I responded to? Didn't!

calrox59 · Aug 31, 2012

scesnick said:
Since you stated that it looks like your neighbor has been through plenty of rocks/gravel I can pretty much guarantee the lack of performance is from the fan blade tips being worn down causing the gap between the fan blades and the housing to be too great and allowing snow to pass through.
My 64" Ber Vac has the same issue. I solved it with this kit. SNOWBLOWER IMPELLER KIT

This author has common sense!

calrox59 · Aug 31, 2012

Trick is not blowing snow on unpacked surfaces. Adams tractor in Spokane makes a skid shoe kit for gravel operation. It is wrapped / bent to fit the front of blowers grader blade. I is 6 inches wide, and goes beneath the blowers. Protrudes back behind the blower 4 to 12 inches: This varies on the blower size. Idea being that the blower will ride up and over most of the rocks / gravel. Some guys never grade their gravel driveways in the fall! This leaves the hump in the middle; Then when it snows they try to move that hump of frozen rock with the snow blower. They don't last long: No hard steel in them they are all manufactured using cold black steel.