Snowblower performance question

Topic: Snowblower performance question (Read 1371 times) previous topic - next topic

Snowblower performance question

February 25, 2011, 11:40:46 AM

I picked up an old snowblower at a storage sale for $5 that didn't run. I took the carburetor apart and found all kinds of gunk and larvae in there! The primer port was so plugged up I had to run a small drill bit in there to break up the clog.

Anyway, long story short, it runs now.

Let me start my line of questions by saying that I have never owned or even used a snowblower. So I am not quite sure if this thing just sucks, or I am just not using it correctly. When I start down a path, it seems to only throw the snow about 3' away. That's fine for a sidewalk, but when I go to do my driveway, it tosses the snow in a heap that ends up being too tall for the next pass (this is a smaller unit, maybe 20" wide, with a 9" diameter blade).

Can I do anything to get it to throw the snow higher? When I see the neighbors using theirs, it shoots like 6 or 7 ft in the air. Mine barely breaks 3ft.

Like I said, I know nothing about them. Do any of you fine gents know what the deal may be? It's a Gilson ST-320 from the 70s. Here are some pics (not my pics, but a unit just the same- http://www.mascus.com/Agriculture/Used-Other-road-and-snow-machines/gilson+st+320/gilson/images/58B7F170-EC66-48AF-B75C-5DF80E7B5CB9.html)

Snowblower performance question

Reply #1 – February 25, 2011, 11:50:36 AM

I just found a youtube video of the same snowblower http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRe_PjbIMSM

Hmm... mine runs just like that. Is that normal? Look how many passes he had to make... I mean, it's easier than shoveling, but I imagined less passes...

Snowblower performance question

Reply #2 – February 25, 2011, 12:53:31 PM

Thats only a single stage blower. Better blowers have a second stage to throw the snow farther

Snowblower performance question

Reply #3 – February 25, 2011, 02:41:31 PM

That's about it. you do know it's a 2 stroke ,right? You may improve on it some by cranking up the rpm's some. Not sure how fast yours is running now though.

Snowblower performance question

Reply #4 – February 25, 2011, 06:05:58 PM

Yeah, I know it's a 2-stroke, that much the guy at the sale told me. The one/two stage stuff I didn't know though...

I ran it on the sidewalk and it worked pretty good. I want to try it when the snow is not so deep. We got 12" last night and drifts up to double that... So that's another reason it's not working so well, heh, the snow is taller than the top of it's chute!

Snowblower performance question

Reply #5 – February 25, 2011, 06:28:28 PM

Their good for 4'' to 6" my buddy has one bigger than yours and big storms he goes out a couple of inches a time. There nice little machines till the banks get to high they sure beat a shovel any day.

Snowblower performance question

Reply #6 – February 25, 2011, 07:44:58 PM

For the $5 I have in it, I am happy with it :)

Snowblower performance question

Reply #7 – February 25, 2011, 07:49:49 PM

Yeah, a single stage sucks. I had one on a 16HP tractor and it couldn't throw the snow farther than I could throw the tractor. Two-stage snowblowers have a slow spinning auger that pulls the snow into a very fast spinning impeller that can chuck it well over 20 feet, even when it's over a foot deep.

Snowblower performance question

Reply #8 – February 26, 2011, 02:32:46 AM

i dont wanna give you any ideas but remove the input shot from a small mulch machine, make the opening bigger then make a horizontal input scoop, then flip the push handle the opposite side.

or get a snow plow blade for your riding mower like i did

or,, every couple inches, hop on your riding mower and lower the deck and cut grass,, or snow,,lol.