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ParadiseNfld


Today is the tomorrow I awaited yesterday.

Location: The "Far East" of Canada - Paradise, Nfld.
Joined: Jan 23, 2002
Points: 160

37 Years using a 2 stage AND < < <
Original Message   Feb 28, 2011 5:42 pm

After 37 years of using various 2 stage machines, I finally got around to buying a single-stage…..NOT intended to replace the 2 Stage, just to “compliment” it…

 As one gets older, it becomes a tad more difficult to handle the bigger machine ALL the time, even when there are lesser amounts of snow.

 So, I spent many hours searching thru this forum for help, advice and information on the pros, cons and capabilities of the SS.

 You guys may not even realize just how helpful a forum like this can be…..

 The various contributions that y’all have made over the years with your posts sit there like an encyclopaedia for anyone willing to do the research.

 From your posts I have learned a lot about a SS blower, and now feel more comfortable with my decision to buy one. They appear to be a much more capable machine than I had thought – this I learned from all your links to YouTube which enabled me to see various models “in action”.

 Which particular brand I bought was not a big part of my decision making – features, warranty, & price played heavily into my decision – all coupled with my own personal circumstances and how I plan to use the machine…..

 The machine that I bought has a 205 cc B & S Snow Series OHV engine with a gross torque of 8.0 T.P @ 3060 rpm. It has both the recoil and electric starters, an on-the-go chute rotation lever from the operator’s position and the quick adjust deflector. The clearing width is 22 inches, the intake height is 12.6 inches and the auger diameter is 10 inches.

 The machine has a 4 year warranty – repair only. I paid $500 + tax (Canadian $s)

 Just bought it on the weekend and have yet to use it - - here’s hoping that it works like some of the ones I saw in the videos !!

 I’ll post some pictures in a follow-up....

 Just one question at this time about using a SS – I noticed in a lot of the videos that the operator would release the auger start lever when they were backing up to make another pass – then restart the auger when going into their forward motion…and it seems like most operators did this ALL the time….is there a reason for that ?? Can one not back up while the auger is still engaged ?? (Other than for safety reasons)…

 Seems to me that the continual engage / disengage of the auger is unnecessarily hard on the pulleys / belt etc. etc. On a 2 stage, with the auger lock down feature, the auger runs almost continuously…

 As I’m anxious to learn the best way to use the SS, and the dos & don’ts, I’d appreciate any feed back on this question.

 Cheers = Roger

This message was modified Feb 28, 2011 by ParadiseNfld


Live long & prosper.
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ParadiseNfld


Today is the tomorrow I awaited yesterday.

Location: The "Far East" of Canada - Paradise, Nfld.
Joined: Jan 23, 2002
Points: 160

Re: 37 Years using a 2 stage AND < < <
Reply #14   Mar 5, 2011 1:34 pm
borat wrote:

Regarding the two fasteners that rattled loose. 

Take them off and drill a small hole through the plastic handles.   Attach the fasteners then string a piece of wire through the two holes and tie them off.   They will not loosen and fall out unless the wire is removed.

If you do the above, drill the holes off center to avoid the screw.


Thanks to Borat for the good suggestion.

Here's the solution as suggested:

No worry about loosing them now !!

Live long & prosper.
borat


Joined: Nov 10, 2007
Points: 2692

Re: 37 Years using a 2 stage AND < < <
Reply #15   Mar 5, 2011 5:08 pm
There you go. 

Nicely done. 
CharlesW


Joined: Jan 9, 2011
Points: 76

Re: 37 Years using a 2 stage AND < < <
Reply #16   Mar 6, 2011 12:13 am
ParadiseNfld wrote:
Thanks to Borat for the good suggestion.

Here's the solution as suggested:

No worry about loosing them now !!


If you had run the wire from the cap on the left to the lower portion of the cap on the right, (5 o'clock position), the caps would not only not be lost, they wouldn't loosen. Not too late to drill one more hole.

borat


Joined: Nov 10, 2007
Points: 2692

Re: 37 Years using a 2 stage AND < < <
Reply #17   Mar 6, 2011 9:15 am
How are they going to loosen?  They can't rotate.  

I've used similar set ups on the knobs for the quick release windshields on my ATVs.   I just tie off the wire from the knob to the handle bar.  They stay tight.   Prior to doing that, I had lost a couple due to vibrating loose.  The wire holds them in position very effectively.
royster


" It is the use of power tools that separates man from animals"

Location: New Brunswick, Canada
Joined: Feb 11, 2011
Points: 284

Re: 37 Years using a 2 stage AND < < <
Reply #18   Mar 8, 2011 5:28 pm
borat wrote:
How are they going to loosen?  They can't rotate.  

I've used similar set ups on the knobs for the quick release windshields on my ATVs.   I just tie off the wire from the knob to the handle bar.  They stay tight.   Prior to doing that, I had lost a couple due to vibrating loose.  The wire holds them in position very effectively.


   This is an excellent idea.  I have used a simiilar system on my top fuel dragster and all of the fasteners on my Lear are tied  like this.

Jake08


Joined: Feb 19, 2008
Points: 7

Re: 37 Years using a 2 stage AND < < <
Reply #19   Mar 8, 2011 6:48 pm

This message was modified Mar 8, 2011 by Jake08
borat


Joined: Nov 10, 2007
Points: 2692

Re: 37 Years using a 2 stage AND < < <
Reply #20   Mar 8, 2011 8:49 pm
royster wrote:
   This is an excellent idea.  I have used a simiilar system on my top fuel dragster and all of the fasteners on my Lear are tied  like this.

Yeah.......

Back in the day working at NASA, we had problems with fasteners vibrating loose on the launch vehicles.  I was assigned to figure out a way to stop it from happening.........
royster


" It is the use of power tools that separates man from animals"

Location: New Brunswick, Canada
Joined: Feb 11, 2011
Points: 284

Re: 37 Years using a 2 stage AND < < <
Reply #21   Mar 10, 2011 6:11 pm
borat wrote:
Yeah.......

Back in the day working at NASA, we had problems with fasteners vibrating loose on the launch vehicles.  I was assigned to figure out a way to stop it from happening.........


You probably saves lives  with your idea,  that is really great.

FrankMA


Location: Merrimack Valley/Northeastern Mass
Joined: Jul 1, 2010
Points: 587

Re: 37 Years using a 2 stage AND < < <
Reply #22   Mar 10, 2011 6:44 pm
Thank you, NASABoratNJ. Think you can do something about the potholes around here while you're back down here on Earth????
This message was modified Mar 10, 2011 by FrankMA


Toro Wheel Horse 522xi GT, Honda HS928TA, Honda HS621AS, Honda HS520A, Toro CCR3000 (work in progress), Honda HS624WA (sold 08/23/2010), Stihl BR550 Backpack Blower, Stihl MS250, McCulloch MS1635, Honda EM6500SX Generator
borat


Joined: Nov 10, 2007
Points: 2692

Re: 37 Years using a 2 stage AND < < <
Reply #23   Mar 10, 2011 6:56 pm
FrankMA wrote:
Thank you, NASABoratNJ. Think you can do something about the potholes around here while you're back down here on Earth????

No.  Can't help with the  pot holes but if you drill and wire every fastener down on your vehicle, it won't fall apart as quickly. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vqUdC-8nFY
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