Any More Ideas About Clearing Away All the Snow?

Wait until the wind stops blowing!

You're a mean one Mr. Grinch! Ok, I guess I don't have any room to talk; my solution was to move to the desert!

Florida is nice at this time of the year. Even at the beach.

I'm watching CNN right now, and if you are anywhere where it has snowed more than a foot, you're not going ANYWHERE.

You can't walk, drive or fly out of many cities. Washington DC is deserted. The snow is a foot deep.

In short, you're screwed.

On a warmer note, we're going to watch the boys play football this afternoon. It'll be sunny and mid 70°F. We'll need a canopy for shade.

Bah! My brother lives in Western New York and 12" of snow is just a dusting.

When things get really bad they just use snowmobiles and skis.

I went to our house in Minn. (only once) in the winter. All the roads/highways have snow machine tracks groomed beside them.

Fortunately the neighbor blew a path through the two feet of snow from the street to our door or I would never have gotten in the door.

We received about 20 inches in the latest from Mother Nature here in the Annapolis area. Interesting that BWI, about ten miles away recorded 29 inches. While little more than an inconvenience to those in the snow belt, 20 inches around here causes extreme constipation. Nothing ever moves. I have a 1962 Snowbird S-261 that I use to help out neighbors who purchased toy snow blowers.

Snowbird S-261 was the 1961 model not 1962. 6 hp and 26" width of cut.

I have a Snowbird model 225 and it was the 1962 model. 4hp and 22" cut. Between it and a Gilson about the same age I always have one running. Yes, its the envy of the neighborhood with their $1,000 models with heated handles, electric start and all that junk. Give me a "first pull start" engine anytime like these are.

Snow Bird was my father-in-laws and the Gilson was my father's. Also have a Snow Bird 225 parts machine.

Good Luck, Old Salt

My 22" cut, self propelled Lawn Boy can cut a swath with the best, here in the desert!

Sometimes, I jump directly into the pool as it's cooling off after a hard day's work clearing the yard.

Here's my Snowbird (one of them, the other is still buried in the garage).

And yes, it started on the first pull. I always run the carb dry after each use. It's funny, the neighbors would come out to watch this beast run. It throws snow a good 20 feet into the air. Newer models seem to be lucky if they can throw it 8 feet. I have to wonder if the safety weenies cut the nads out of the newer machines.

Tim Taylor would be proud of you.

Do you know if the snow contact surfaces were the yellow color when it was new or were they a modification? All the snow birds I have seen have had these red like the rest of the machine.

Was it an improvement in performance or just that the yellow paint can was the nearest one to reach? I have found that the snow contact surfaces are hard to keep from eroding the paint and rusting. For that reason every few years I sand blast the rust and old paint off, prime it and paint with a color similar to the original for these surfaces. I also use a silicone spray several times a winter.

I would appreciate you comments on this and any other things that you do or have heard of to improve it's performance and lengthen the life.

Good Luck, Old Salt

My dad who had been living in southern New Hampshire (Hancock) painted the bejesus out of the snow contact parts with a high gloss paint to keep the surfaces slick so even slushy snow doesn't 'load up' in the chute. He then periodically treated the surface with silicone spray to keep it even more slippery. He probably has 20 mil or more coating on it. He got tired of the sanding, priming, and painting routine. Knowing my dad, he probably did it over a 6 month period to build up that thick a layer. When you're retired, you have lots of time to tinker. I'll ask him if it was a special paint or a paint he got on special. Me mum and me dad now live even further north in New Hampshire in an old folks community in Laconia. He's happy to have someone else shovel the walks and driveway to his garage so they can go out snowshoeing or whatever else.

One very important thing to remember on these old Snowbirds my father passed along to me when he gave me his. He told me to make sure that the axle shaft is free to spin if you pull out the shear pin. There is a 'ring' on the shaft that the shear pin passes through. If that ring rusts solid to the shaft and you hit an obstruction with the auger it will destroy the gearbox and you instantly have a parts machine. The gearbox is a common failure for these units so the chances of finding a replacement goes down every year. Same applies to the shear pin on the impeller. One of my dad's friends had his Snowbird die that way. It became a 'donor' for the machine above for various parts, brackets and so on that fatigued and broke over the years. Fortunately, we have never had to adjust or replace the points or condensor on this old B&S because getting to the flywheel on this unit is a bitch.

I just went to look at my other Snowbird. It is an S-263 but it doesn't have the dual chute controls like the S-261. My 263 has a flat tire and I think the carb needs some TLC cause it only likes to run on partial choke. I don't think the previous owner ran the carb dry every time. My 261 has been in my family since about 1975 when my older brother who worked at a lawnmower repair shop brought it home after it had been traded in for a newer model. I remember using that 261 to clear my parents' driveway of 39 inches of snow with the Blizzard of '78 in Hingham, Mass. With proper care, these things just run and run. I'm surprised that the 261 only has a 6 hp engine. Maybe that's real power and the HP ratings on today's machines are some sort accounting trick. Come to think of it, I have a Murray 6 HP push mower and if the grass gets a little thick, that thing becomes a gutless wonder and bogs down in nothing flat. Growing up we had a 4 HP mower that swung a longer blade that would run circles around the POS I have now.

I would like to show you the latest thing in avalanche protection....

I need that....!

Device in action...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hR7aAfuAOOQ

OK, I have a driveway sloping down toward the street, about 3/4 shoveled. I'm just taking a breather.

The thought crossed my mind...What would happen if I poured about a gallon of gasoline down the driveway and lit it? Would the heat of the fire melt all the ice and snow? (Don't worry, I have no intention of doing this.)

Doesn't seem to work....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1LEju-KmvI

I suspect the heated air rises and only surrounding replacement air is in contact with the ice and snow. Maybe one of these would work...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLhWzMOccTg

Great....unless the carjacking attempt is at a gas station then, not so good....

I was going to suggest a blow torch, but my God, a jet engine will work! LOL

A jet engine would only work on sand. Tarred driveways would melt.

Ahem - They have been used on aircraft runways.

Years ago that was test tried at a major airport in the US. Unit would melt some snow but not wide enough to clear the runway in a single pass.

Another problem was that it only worked satisfactorily on days above the freezing temp. Below that temp the snow would melt from the jet but would refreeze behind the jet/truck after it passed any point.

Good Luck, Old Salt

If you're in an area where fracking is taking place, could'nt you just turn on the hosepipe and, stike a match?

I moved to Florida. So far it has worked perfectly for the last eight years.

The closest thing resembling snow right now is the salt around the lip of a margarita glass.

Thank God I retired last year. Since I managed to get my 2WD Silverado stuck in my gravel driveway in 30" of snow today, I'm just gonna wait for the sun to do its job.

And, yes, I'm in one of the areas they predicted would get the most from this storm. I live in the shadow of the Blue Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley, VA.

Wonderful place to live. Usually.

Hooker

Put another log on the fire and relax.

30"? Make that two logs.

Good idea. Except I can't get out to buy a fireplace.

I don't plan ahead very well.

Welcome to the club! I live in New Castle, but we only got 14-15"

Howdy, neighbor! Seems you had to be up here in the Shenandoah Valley on the Blue Ridge side or further north to get the really heavy stuff. Just my luck here in Grottoes.

Really beautiful area where you live.

Wow. My buddy lives down the road a bit in Stuart's Draft. He's in Austin, TX at the moment. I guess he will have a nice 'surprise' when he gets back.

He better hurry. 40's and bright sun today took out a good bit and 50's and rain tomorrow will likely take out a whole lot more. I'm about 15 miles north of Stuart's Draft.

I don't think he will mind missing out on the 'fun'.

If I remember correctly, you are in the bustling metropolis of Grottoes. My in-laws live at the railroad crossing on Port Road.

I wish I was missing out.

Yup, Grottoes, at the northern end about two miles or so from the RR crossing on "Port Republic Road", I think you meant. That railroad passes about 100 yards east of my house on it's way there.

Exactly. My in-laws always just call it Port Road for short.

I'm in central Illinois and it's going to be 40 degrees today. It's a strange winter. We have snow on the ground but it's more a matter of getting stuck with wheels spinning than buried.

When snow threatens, I park at the end of the driveway. That way, I just have to shovel about 6 feet of driveway and whatever the plow deposits - assuming the plow even comes. We're usually last on the street-plowing list for some reason. Sometimes they forget about us altogether (which isn't always a bad thing) and we sit stranded a few days, listening to traffic zip around two blocks away. If I HAVE to be able to get somewhere, I park at the gas station and walk the two blocks between the house and the car. Sometimes, the neighbors and I take turns driving and sliding around, packing it down and pushing it out of the way as it falls to keep a path into and out of our little neighborhood open.

As far as I'm concerned snow is a dirty 4 letter word!

Thankfully we dont get a whole lot at one time in my area.

Buffalo snow storms are a joke. Try the "Tug Hill Plateau" which is Northeast of Syracuse and easterly of eastern Lake Ontario near Ft. Drum, home of the 10th Mountain Division! It's the Snow Mobile capital of New York State. It's not uncommon to get zapped with a 6-feet snowfall at one time up there.

I designed a water treatment plant up there 17 years ago, and the Ground Snow Load (Pg) was 95 PSF per the State Building Code Snow Map!!!!!

Originally we were forecast to receive around 12-inches of the White S**t, but didn't see a snow flake at all. YIPPEEEE!!!!!! Just south of us got hammered. NYC, Long Island, and NJ got the brunt of the blizzard. Hehehehhehhee!

Back when I was in high school in Jersey City, the forecast was for 'partially cloudy.' I walked home in 10" of 'partially cloudy' because the buses weren't running. Of course in normal street shoes! Yecch!

Another time, when I lived in Sussex Co. NJ I called the office to tell my boss I had 8 foot drifts in front of the house and couldn't get to work. My supervisor didn't believe me. We worked out of an office in Hoboken NJ, he lived in Pompton Plains, about halfway between there and my house and didn't gat a bit. I needed pix to prove my point.

...as good as it gets....

"...as good as it gets...."

Maybe in Florida.

In Minnesota that might not even get you to the corner store.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9vtype3TzM
Nuff said...

Not impressed! He's done before he hits anything (6:30) like he would with a snow plow hanging on front.

I've played in almost that much snow in Northern Ariz. with only a rear axle locker.

That's fluffy stuff too.

Hey, just sayin.

My elder brother who stays in Washington suburb has problem in clearing 3 ft. high snow from his driveway. It will be back breaking job.

Love it!

Ha!

I never cease to be amazed at the creativity of people everywhere. Good one.

I guess we will see a phone app soon on how to do it ....
and someone will spin off a multiple million dollar business.
So what are we doing wrong team? (Enjoying the creativity I guess).
And for another idea, there could be a further phone app
with more instructions on how to do 'rain dances' to reduce the snow's impact.
I'll leave you to think about that while I look around for the snake oil I bought last time.

We got mostly sleet. I don't need a snow shovel. I need a jack hammer!

Here's how we do it in Canada. Why fight Mother Nature when you can just work with here.

Are we missing a link like this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jke51TfIp_0

Can't seem to load the photo. Hmmm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4FSF8_mWBs

I have found this to be somewhat effective.

Move.

Let's not forget snow loads on roofs that might not have been engineered for this much white stuff: http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/99684/Should-I-Shovel-the-Snow-off-my-Roof.

A little off the subject but this is also about snow.

Years ago I drove a Triumph TR-6 and then a Datsun 280Z. After about 6" of snow fell they were impossible to drive on an unplowed road. As the vehicles travelled about a car length the snow would pack under them. This packed snow would lift the car high enough that the rear drive wheels would be lifted high enough that they would loose contact with either the road or the packed snow on the road due to the low road clearance of each of these cars.

With the arrival of children I was forced to convert over to station wagons as my primary vehicle. The TR-6 then became an "occasionally driven" car.

Good Luck, Old Salt

Actually a very good comment. Ground clearance is something that many SUV buyer's don't really think about until they are stuck with all four wheels spinning quite nicely just a fraction of an inch away from traction.

Here's great solution to make sure you never have that problem again.