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CTV Morning Live: Power Through Snow. Snowblower Guide & Safety

11/20/2014

Now that winter is upon us, cleaning snow can be a daunting task for most residence. Especially in more recent winters our region has received it’s fair share of snowfall and storms. It’s important to be prepared with the right tools to weather any storm safely.

Understanding different types of snow.

First, it’s important to note that there are different types of snow:

(a) There’s the light, fluffy snow on your driveway
(b)There is slush which is very heavy and sticky.
(c.) And then there’s the dreaded “Snow Plow Pile” , or as we like to call it the “SPP” . It’s the heavy snow pile at the end of your driveway.

For most people, the “Snow Plow Pile” (SPP) is the most challenging snow to manage because it’s very dense. In most major snowfalls it needs to be cleared before you can even drive in and out of your driveway. There are snowblowers that can help you tackle the SPP.

A recent survey conducted by Husqvarna Group reported that: “56 per cent of Canadians have either hurt their back or felt sore after shoveling snow”. There are serious risks to injury if we’re not prepared to tackle the snow with proper tools. Especially for people with health conditions. One of the leading causes of injury is trying to lift the snow with a shovel and throw it. You can minimize risk to injuries by being equipped with the right tools that will do the the throwing for you without exposing you injury. There are different types of snowblower specifically designed to help you do just that.

Snowblower Buying guide to get the job done:

Single Stage: Suitable for smaller areas covered in dry, powder snow ( walkways, decks, etc.)
Dual Stage: Most effective for deep, heavy and packed snow removal
With the right model, you can easily manage the “ Snow Plow Pile” ( SPP) at the end of the driveway . Dual stage snow blowers can handle this very well because they are designed with serrated metal augers, heavy duty impeller systems and powerful engines. Also, most modern snowblower now come with electric starters, power steering and even hand warmers to help you tackle any winter condition.

Safety while using a snowblower:

Pair of gloves: To keep warm and dry when using controls
Safety Glasses: Protect your eyes from ice, snow, or any foreign objects.
Hearing protection: Protect your ears with pair of earmuffs
Headlight: Make sure snowthrower is equipped with headlights so you can easily see in evening and inclement weather
Operating the Snowblower: Look carefully read safety label and operator’s manual. Turn engine off whenever doing any maintenance or checks on snowblower

Proper maintenance of your snowblower:

Proper fresh fuel: Avoid stale fuel. Try to buy high octane fuel that doesn’t contain ethanol. And use fuel stabilizer to prevent damage to fuel systems.
3 key components: Engine, Auger, Drive to be regularly maintained.
Spare shear pins on hand: In case of heavy snow falls, will make all the difference to continue using the snow blower

For more information contact your local snowblower expert: 1-800-610-5635 or www.OttawaSnowBlowers.com

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Seasonal Fuel Blends: What's the difference between summer and winter fuel?

11/24/2013

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Is it OK to blend fuels from season to season? What's the difference between summer and winter fuel?
Published 12/03/2012 11:47 AM | Updated 06/14/2013 12:12 PM

Depending on your state's regulations, there could be up to a 30+ blend of fuel each year depending on the outside temperature. Purchase fresh fuel for your lawn and snow equipment in smaller quantities and just prior to using it for the season. It is not recommended that fuel be used from the prior season. (This applies to all fuels with 10% ethanol or less.)

Winter fuel is blended to have a higher amount of vapor coming off the fuel. This helps winter equipment start in cold temperatures. However, this also causes the fuel to age quicker and if the fuel is not treated with a fuel stabilizer it will start to break down after (approximately) 30 days, causing the carburetor to plug.

(This is a common scenario between winter seasons when untreated fuel is left in the fuel system.)

Note: Winter fuel will breakdown at an accelerated rate, if not treated, when the temperature starts to rise in the spring of the year. So, winter fuel will work in summer engines because it is very highly volatile due to the high amount vapor coming off the fuel.

Summer blended fuel will give off far less vapors and is designed for warm weather equipment use. Summer fuel has a longer life span with less need for a stabilizer. Summer fuel doesn't work well in winter equipment when trying to start an engine in 30 degree weather.

Note: Fuel stabilizer is also recommended for summer fuel, due to its detergent additives that help to keep the fuel system clean at all times.

Source: http://ariens.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/434/related/1

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Fuel Problems- How to treat today's fuel?

11/12/2012

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Why do I need to pay attention to the fuel?

If you buy your gas at a gas station in North America then more than likely what you are buying contains corn-based ethanol.

Because today’s gasoline contains ethanol and alcohol, it absorbs water if exposed to air. In many cases the operator is unaware that their gasoline has become contaminated with water and unintentionally pours it into their unit. This is because your fuel mixture will separate into layers if it contains a high enough percentage of water. If you don’t shake your mixture, you may unintentionally pour a damaging concentration of water into your unit. Always vigorously shake the fuel mixture immediately before pouring. Always stabilize your fuel to minimize this problem.

Ethanol fuel or ethyl alcohol is an alcohol additive that is commonly used in nearly all gasoline. It is derived from renewable resources such as corn, sugarcane and wheat. We recommend using at least 89- octane which is the mid-grade between medium and premium gasoline. Fuel that is labelled E-15, E-20, E-85 and Diesel fuel are not acceptable fuels and will cause significant damage to outdoor power equipment.

Possible Symptoms related to fuel:
> engine is difficult to start
> engine starts but doesn't run smooth
> gas is leaking from carburetor
> Cracked/damaged fuel line

If any of these symptoms apply to your equipment, it may require a carburetor overhaul. After carburetor has been overhauled, follow the following preventative steps to avoid the problem in the future.

PREVENTATIVE ACTION STEPS RECOMMENDED:

1. DO NOT use any old gas sitting in your fuel container for more than 30 days.

2. Get some premium (at least 89 octane) fresh fuel. Only get enough for the season.

3. Add fuel stabilizer into the fuel container as soon as you get the gas.
(use stabilizer with advanced formula that can treat ethanol blend)

4. Storage procedure:
a. Fill up gas tank to the top
b. Add some more fuel stabilizer to the gas tank.
c. Run machine for 2-3 minutes to circulate fuel. Store machine safely.

Related Post: http://www.ottawachainsaws.com/1/post/2012/08/what-type-of-fuel-to-use-avoid-gas-with-ethanol.html

For more information contact the experts: www.OttawaSnowBlowers.com Ph: 613-724-4332

SERVICE REQUEST

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How to replace auger shear bolts?

11/23/2011

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You may find that during a snowstorm the snowblower auger (s) stops turning all of a sudden.

This may be due to broken auger shear bolts. Luckily it's a simple and inexpensive fix.The purpose of auger pins or bolts are to act as a safety mechanism to prevent any severe damage due to overload. So, if you were to go thru heavy snow or catch something in the auger, the bolts 'shear' to prevent any damage to the auger differential gears.

When you break a shear pin, make sure to replace it with the proper bolts or pin made for your machine. Don't use any ordinary bolt or nail because they may not break under heavy load and can cause major damage. It's always a good idea to keep couple of spares in case you need them .

Other causes of snowblower not throwing snow:

- Loose/worn Auger belt
- Worn impeller bearing
- Broken impeller bolts
- Worn differential gears

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CTV Morning Live: Power Through Snow. Snowblower Guide & Safety

Seasonal Fuel Blends: What's the difference between summer and winter fuel?

Fuel Problems- How to treat today's fuel?

Why do I need to pay attention to the fuel?

How to replace auger shear bolts?

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