Modern snow removal equipment demonstrates high performance and functional equipment. Models with a gasoline engine have optimal power, which ensures sufficient traction and the ability to work efficiently in any conditions. At the same time, the developers of such equipment provide functional equipment with advanced attachments for clearing the territory. On the market, crawler snow blowers are available in a wide range of models with different functional contents, so both ordinary owners of country houses and employees of public utility services have the opportunity to make the best choice.
General information about tracked snow blowers
Equipping with a tracked undercarriage initially provides the vehicle with many advantages over wheeled vehicles. Such models have practically no barriers on the way through snow debris and on ice surfaces. In addition, a crawler snow blower is usually equipped with a two-stage auger-rotor mechanics. The cleaning principle itself is based on the functions of several working components. First of all, these are grinding augers, which beat the rolled crust, turning it into a crumbly mass. Next, the snow is sent to the impeller and thrown to the side.
As for control, it is implemented through mechanics with electronic elements. The cleaner operator can control the process with extreme precision, using all the resources of the gasoline unit. To ensure stability on the same ice floor, a crawler-mounted snow blower is also equipped with a center of gravity stabilization system. It is provided in premium, expensive machines designed for professional use in difficult conditions.
Advantages and disadvantages of wheeled and tracked snow blowers
For more convenient operation, the snow blower may be equipped with pneumatic wheels or tracks. Each of these options has an individual device, as well as its pros and cons. Anyone who plans to buy a snow blower for use in their local area needs to know about them.
Both wheeled and tracked snow blowers have a number of pros and cons. First of all, a car equipped with wheels weighs less. Due to this, the unit on wheels shows higher maneuverability, which makes it optimal for cleaning areas with hard-to-reach places. It is not recommended to use a wheeled machine on areas with slopes and slopes, however, if the snow blower is equipped with a differential lock mechanism as standard, this allows the operator to lock the wheels and place the unit motionless, even if it is stopped on a steep slope.
Among the disadvantages of wheeled snowplows, it is necessary to highlight their insufficient cross-country ability. If you use them in areas with a thick layer of dry, freshly fallen snow, the risk of the car plunging into the snow increases. In this case, it will be quite difficult to pull out the unit, even if the operator engages the first reverse gear to do this.
Unlike a wheeled snow blower, a crawler snow blower shows higher maneuverability in areas with a thick layer of snow or ice. The contact area with the surface of units with tracks is much higher, which prevents them from slipping or sliding on ice. In addition, each tracked snow blower initially has a higher traction reserve, so such a unit will be easier to climb up hills, even when moving through a thick layer of snow.
Among the disadvantages of machines on tracks, it is necessary to highlight their heavy weight, which is why these units consume more fuel and do not show such high maneuverability as can be observed when operating wheeled snow blowers. However, tracked snow blowers are best suited for clearing particularly large areas with a lot of snowdrifts and wet, sticky snow.
Main characteristics
The quality of a snow blower should be assessed primarily through its power indicator. On average it is 7-10 liters. pp., although there are more productive models. The width and length of the bucket also matter - these parameters are individual and most often selected for specific operating conditions. At the same time, there is not always a dependence of the size of a functional organ on power potential. For example, cleaners with 11 liter engines. With. can be provided with compact buckets, which allows them to cope with cleaning difficult areas efficiently and at high speed. Petrol tracked snow blowers also differ in the number of speeds themselves. In the usual configuration, the forward gear has 6 stages, and the rear gear has 2. From the point of view of performance, it would be useful to initially calculate the optimal snow throw range. This figure varies on average from 10 to 15 m.
Technical features of the crawler snow blower:
- Engine. If you need an inexpensive snow blower that can handle simple tasks, choose a power of 5-7 hp. For large areas and long-term operation, leave preference to 10-13 hp.
- Start. Such machines are started using a mechanical or electrical start. Electric start is provided by an electric starter, which is more convenient for beginners. Mechanics are considered more reliable and durable.
- Capture. If you want to quickly get the job done and clear a significant area in one pass, when choosing, pay attention to its width. The optimal option is 65-80 cm, but for everyday use up to 60 cm is suitable.
- Release range. Snow blowers on caterpillar tracks are capable of throwing snow at a distance of up to 15 m. For cheap mechanization, this figure does not exceed 5-7 meters, which is quite enough for a cottage or summer house. 8-15 m is enough for utilities.
- Headlights. Many manufacturers install 1-2 light units in snow blowers. They make it possible to work in the dark or twilight. This is convenient, especially if you need to remove snow in the morning or evening.
- Change in center of gravity. Some models of tracked snow blowers have a mechanism that allows for weight distribution. Thus, depending on the current operating conditions, the required angle of inclination of the bow of the machine is selected. So, for a hardened, compressed snowdrift, it is better to choose the lower position - in this case, cleaning will be carried out better. It would be wiser to remove fresh snow in a horizontal plane, and transport and park it with the bucket raised up. Moreover, there is absolutely nothing complicated in using such a system in practice - switching between degrees of inclination is done with a special handle on the body of the device.
- The presence of multiple gears on new tracked snow blowers also allows for more efficient workflow management. At a low speed, the area will be better cleared of dense snow; higher speeds can be used for loose and freshly fallen precipitation.
- Track lock switch. The operator can steer the direction of the snow thrower, making turns and turns, by turning on the drive of one of the tracks. So, the left track of the car is blocked when moving to the left, and vice versa.
Of course, a tracked drive also imposes some limitations - such equipment is heavier than wheeled models, less maneuverable, has rather large dimensions, which requires more space for storage, and a fairly high price. Manual movement is only possible with the motor running. Therefore, before choosing a device, we advise you to think through and evaluate not only the landscape of the proposed place for care, but also whether you need such powerful mechanization.
Technological features
Expensive models from large manufacturers receive additional equipment and advanced technologies in various parts of the structure and mechanisms. Thus, to improve the ease of operation of machines, developers provide in modern modifications hydrostatic transmissions, the operation of which excludes a fixed speed position. In addition to this, to increase comfort, the presence of an amplifier is also provided, which facilitates the maneuvering process. To make it easier to process hardened and dense coatings, designers are also improving the cover cleaning organs. In particular, the crawler snow blower is equipped with adjustable support plates and special slats for trimming snowdrifts. In addition, a wide range of additional protective equipment covers both control elements and critical structural parts of the machine. Special casings, heating devices, insulation of hydraulic lines - all these components are used to increase the operational reliability of such machines.
What to Consider When Choosing a Tracked Snow Blower
When choosing a tracked vehicle, you should immediately pay attention to the fact that it is better than a wheeled model, because it is not afraid of any barriers. It easily passes through any snowdrift and does not slip on ice. In addition, in addition to the engine, the auger also works, which ensures fast maneuverability and high performance.
The impeller collects crushed snow and sends it into the discharge pipe
The operating principle is the same for different models with tracks. The crusher breaks the ice crust, then the impeller collects the crushed snow and sends it into the pipe for disposal.
The machine is controlled using a mechanical system and electronic resources. A person simply controls the process of operation of a gasoline unit with an accuracy of a centimeter.
Important! The tracked unit has the ability to shift the center of gravity, but this ability is not available in all models. Only professional types have this opportunity, so you should not hope that by purchasing an inexpensive machine, the owner will receive all the benefits of a professional expensive unit.
When choosing equipment, you need to consider what the power rating is. Usually it reaches 10 liters. pp., although more expensive models have greater productivity.
The parameters of the bucket are of no small importance. They are fundamentally individual for each species. You need to select them according to the parameters of your site.
Important! There is no relationship between functional motor and power potential
For example, if the cleaner has 11 l. pp., then it will not necessarily have a large bucket; rather, on the contrary, it will be compact, which will give the machine more efficiency and increase the speed of snow removal in difficult dead-end areas.
There is also a difference in the speed of movement. Typically there are six speeds, and two gears for reverse. It is also important to pay attention to such an indicator as snow emissions. The power of the cleaner depends on how large this distance is. The flight range can reach 15 m.
Important! The more expensive the model, the more additional features.
Taking this into account, it is worth calculating all the costs and deciding whether these additional functions will be needed in a particular area. For example, some developers exclude the possibility of fixing speeds. This improves performance. The manufacturer can also add a booster that facilitates maneuverability.
Additionally, an adjustable skid plate is added to trim the snowdrift, making work easier and increasing productivity. Improved casing, redesigned heating, hydraulic isolation all improve performance.
Thus, when choosing between different models, it is better to choose a cleaner that will meet all the parameters of the area that he has to clean. Only after weighing all the pros and cons can you make a purchase, and then the summer resident will never have problems with snow again!
Regardless of the reliability and quality of the snow blower, its owner should carefully study the design and be able to repair the unit. This will help save a lot of time and money. Moreover, the owner will always know that he installed a really high-quality part, and he was not deceived during the service.
Reviews of the Cub Cadet 730 model
One of the most productive machines in the segment, which is a multifunctional self-propelled snow removal vehicle. The model is designed to serve large areas, park areas and garden plots. The power of the unit is 11.1 liters. pp., which is enough to confidently perform three-stage processing. The owners also point to the successful implementation of the design of the augers, which crush the snow, then feed it to the impeller and discard it. At the same time, the width of the snow cover also causes positive impressions among many users. It is a considerable 76 cm, but the most important thing is that the petrol tracked snow blowers of this brand handle massive equipment confidently and without delay.
Features of snow removal tracked equipment
If there is light precipitation in winter, it is not difficult to remove snow near the entrance. In the event of a serious snowfall, this can become a real problem for owners of summer cottages and country houses. For such a task, they prefer to buy a snow blower to quickly remove the snow, rather than spend half a day in the yard with a shovel in their hands.
Snow blower on tracks
There are a number of models and types of equipment. You can buy yourself a snow removal machine to suit every taste. It includes the following mechanisms:
- motor or power component;
- auger or rotating shaft;
- casings and body parts that throw snow on one side or the other of the machine;
- impellers that look like blades made like spirals.
A snow plow tracked machine works on a simple principle. The impeller lifts the snow, from where it enters the mass collection casing, where it is crushed. The snow is then thrown out using a pipe directed in a certain direction onto the ground.
Important! A manual gasoline machine on tracks throws snow at a distance of up to 5 m.
Before choosing equipment, it is first important to determine which design is suitable. There are single-stage and two-stage machines.
In the first case, equipment is used to clear small areas covered with both wet and fluffy snow, but without the icing phase. This design does not have a drive. If a person is in good physical shape, then such a car will suit him, since the main feature of the equipment is its movement at the expense of the owner. On the other hand, the single-stage design has good maneuverability and is lightweight.
As for the two-stage type, the power reserve is high. The car is self-propelled. It moves due to tracks or wheels. Even if the snow has already frozen over, there will be no problems with its removal. The principle of operation is that the bucket scoops up snow, and the rotor and auger throw it out to a distance of up to 15 m.
Reviews of the DAEWOO DAST 1590 model
In a sense, this is a record-breaking snow blower, since at least it has non-standard operational capabilities. According to the owners, the most noticeable difference of the model is the 15-horsepower power unit. With its help, the machine effectively processes the working area, throwing the snow mass 16 m to the side. Among the ergonomic and optional additions, many highlight the presence of LED headlights, an ergonomic operator position and the ability to adjust emission parameters. However, some capabilities depend on the configuration in which the tracked snow blower is purchased. Reviews also draw attention to some of the disadvantages of this model. The fact is that the machine turned out to be quite massive and is not suitable in all cases when it is necessary to clean hard-to-reach areas.
Reviews of the Honda HSS 655 snow blower
In this case, the developers offer an optimized design of the snow blower. Its users note the combination of compact size and average power. As a result, the model is optimally suited to the needs of a private homeowner who maintains the surrounding areas in a clean condition. On the other hand, the Honda tracked snow blower does not impress when handling large amounts of snow. Although even experts point to the cleverness of the dual cutting and ejection system, this principle does not compensate for the weakness of the 6-horsepower engine. But again, for simple household operations, this model is quite suitable. The lack of its power is also often compensated by high maneuverability, easy control and the ability to pinpoint snow cover.
How to choose the optimal crawler snow blower?
Preference should be given to models that are optimally suited to operating conditions. This applies to design, dimensions, power with a set of functions. If you plan to use the equipment constantly as a working one, then it would be useful to provide ergonomic accessories such as the mentioned LED lamps. For your home, it is advisable to choose self-propelled tracked snow blowers with low power. Such modifications are more economical in terms of energy saving and rarely disappoint users with their modest power potential - usually the same 6-8 liters. With. enough for a country house. In addition, they are easier to maintain and require minimal effort in organizing maintenance in warm weather.
Description
The track of the Champion STT1170E snow blower lays softly on the surface and, without compacting the snow, smoothly moves the snow blower weighing 135 kg forward. In addition, thanks to the excellent traction and increased maneuverability of the tracked device, it becomes possible to clear slopes and icy sections of the road.
The track-mounted Champion STT1170E is designed for cleaning:
- freshly fallen snow;
- icy;
- stale;
- dense crust, etc.
Peculiarities:
- The STT1170E model is equipped with a powerful four-stroke single-cylinder gasoline engine with an air-cooled engine function, which allows you to increase the operating time of the Champion snow thrower several times.
- Engine power reaches 11 hp. pp., therefore this unit is as close as possible to professional snow blowers, although it is still on the list of household self-propelled snow removal devices.
- The car has eight speeds, six of which are forward and two are rear.
- A powerful headlight allows you to carry out work even in the dark.
Important! It is necessary to monitor the quality and quantity of fuel and oil level so that during operation there are no problems with starting the engine.
The STT1170E gasoline snow blower uses A-92 gasoline as fuel.
The snow blower model STT1170E allows you to start the unit in the following way:
- manually using a handle;
- electric starter from a 220 V power supply.
The variability of the launch makes this model more functional.
