Snowblower chute idiot bars…

[ejb11235]

Before attempting any work on the snowblower, make sure that the PTO is disengaged first. If there is a clog, just keep in mind that you never put your hands into the augers even if the machine is off and the PTO has been disengaged. There could be some stored-up energy on the augers that will cause them to move once you clear the clog with a broomstick or wherever your chosen tool will be. If you are changing a broken shear pin, also make sure that there is no snow build-up in the augers. Always clear the augers with a small plastic shovel first. As a retired EMT, I have seen way too many snowblower incidents from people slipping in front of a parked but running snowblower.

That is some great advice about stored-up energy. I'm not sure I would have thought of that. Now all I need is a snow blower.

 

[bird dogger]

My older Lorenz snowblower had a wide open chute on the day it was picked up. I can't ever remember having a clogged chute.....thankfully!!

@mcmxi your chute is ready for some "snow cone flavoring" and a spoon!!

 

[mikester]

The Lucknow blowers with the open faced round chutes never seem to clog, even with the wet sticky stuff. A dream to operate compared to my old AgroTrend with the rectangular chute which was plug city.

 

[Mowbizz]

The Lucknow blowers with the open faced round chutes never seem to clog, even with the wet sticky stuff. A dream to operate compared to my old AgroTrend with the rectangular chute which was plug city.

Yes! A round chute would have better snow moving capabilities! I wonder if welding plates in the corners of a rectangular to make it more “round” would be a worthwhile project? I do not weld however…looks like more PAM for mine…

 

[McMXi]

I wonder if welding plates in the corners of a rectangular to make it more “round” would be a worthwhile project?

If you look at the chute on my blower it doesn't have 90 degree inside corners but it still plugged up.

Maybe blowing the exhaust on the chute would prevent plugging! If the chute is warm there's less chance of snow sticking to the steel.

 

[Mowbizz]

If you look at the chute on my blower it doesn't have 90 degree inside corners but it still plugged up.

Maybe blowing the exhaust on the chute would prevent plugging! If the chute is warm there's less chance of snow sticking to the steel.

No…won’t be re-routing the exhaust to the chute! There’s supposed to be another “frozen mix” on Friday…we’ll see if my clogging problem is at least partially solved. Note to self: GET PAM!

 

[NoJacketRequired]

I have four Kubota blowers and NONE of them have the idiot bars. First blower had them and clogged when the snow was wet. None of my next three blowers were even mounted to the tractor before the idiot bars were removed!

 

[McMXi]

Yes! A round chute would have better snow moving capabilities! I wonder if welding plates in the corners of a rectangular to make it more “round” would be a worthwhile project? I do not weld however…looks like more PAM for mine…

I took some photos this morning to show the geometry inside the chute. Even with an interior angle of 135 degrees between surfaces, or thereabouts, the chute will still plug when the guard is on, and the snow is wet and heavy.

 

[skeets]

Its called LAWYERS,, stupid people sue over anything and there are good LAWYERS or so I have been told,, and then there are those that make a living out of stupid people suing someone. So a company will do what ever they can to protect them selves from STUPID people

 

[Hkb82]

The Lucknow blowers with the open faced round chutes never seem to clog, even with the wet sticky stuff. A dream to operate compared to my old AgroTrend with the rectangular chute which was plug city.

Good old lucknows. Great blowers and built right around the corner from me lol. I’ve got an old ih80 that’s 7 feet single auger with a square shoot. Never any probs clogging. No pam needed. Even after a broken sheer bolt if has no probs clearing the shoot. If I were clogging like crazy I’d think I’m going to fast to let the unit keep up or that I’m underpowered for the job. If that grill looking thing is the problem no clue why you wouldn’t take it off. If your dumb enough to put your hand in then you should probably not be operating any pto attachments. Just common sense to me I guess and not all.

 

[njpdlstar]

That thing is coming off tomorrow! Funny though, went all last season with no blockages…1st time this season blocked like concrete…

I think many folks do pull them out.

 

[DustyRusty]

I just removed them from my new to me BX2822 and installed them into the BX2816 that I just put up on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. Don't want to have the liability of someone sticking their hands in there. What they do with it once they buy it, is their choice.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

I'm waiting for some IDIOT to decide snowblowers MUST HAVE covers on the front of the auger for 'safety reasons'....

One of my pet peeves are lawn mowers that have had their 'chute deflectors' removed though. THAT can result in innocent people(kids usually ) getting hit with high velocity stones....
If YOU decide to clear a snowblower with engine running, you deserve to be called 'lefty'....

 

[number two]

After 15 years with my B2782 blower with only a few chute clogs,I'm changing my mind.
Had 30" of cement last week.
Had a clog after awhile,cleared it and clogged again right away.
Parked in the shop and waited for it to freeze up overnight.
Chute guard has to go!
Besides I have no safety switches bypassed and without weight on the seat,I can't even put my hand in there!
Good Luck!

 

[07wingnut]

Chute guard was turfed as soon as I cleared my first blockage. However, I did replace it with and easily removable solid piece of heavy gauge tin, fastened with wingnuts for convenience. An enclosed chute doesn't allow airflow to spill out of the column, and gives you better blowing distance.

 

[Mowbizz]

Chute guard was turfed as soon as I cleared my first blockage. However, I did replace it with and easily removable solid piece of heavy gauge tin, fastened with wingnuts for convenience. An enclosed chute doesn't allow airflow to spill out of the column, and gives you better blowing distance. View attachment 91333

The “wingnut” man! Whatever works for you!

 

[River19]

Those bars lasted about 1 hour of use on mine before I removed those.

I did have to work through a safety pledge before I did however.....

"Self, are you dumb enough to ask someone to put something in that chute while you sit on the tractor and keep the PTO going?"........I answered 'No' and promptly removed them once I was certified.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

oh, oh.. maybe we shouldn't have posted we HAVE removed them idiot bars.....
some' safety first' guv guy will read this and them mandate 'safety chute safety switches and computer' to every snowblower starting next year!!!! It'll be so dang complicated that none of use will be able to figure out HOW to bypass the 'safety feature'.
best keep our machine in good working order so we don't have to buy a 2023 machine !!!!

 

[DustyRusty]

Chute guard was turfed as soon as I cleared my first blockage. However, I did replace it with and easily removable solid piece of heavy gauge tin, fastened with wingnuts for convenience. An enclosed chute doesn't allow airflow to spill out of the column, and gives you better blowing distance. View attachment 91333

I am inclined to think that should it clog, you are going to have a difficult time removing that piece of tin in order to clear the clog. I have had my chute clog even though the bars were not on the chute, and it was very moist heavy snow, almost like a slushy. I attribute it to taking too much snow into the front of the snowblower and overwhelming the mechanics of the machine. Now if it is heavy wet snow, I use the highest speed that the augers will handle, and only take half bites of the snow. Takes a little longer to clear the driveway, but not as much time as it does to clear a clogged blower. Another thing that causes a clogged chute is breaking a shear pin and not realizing that it has broken.

 

[RCW]

I've been through 9 or 10 seasons with them in. Has never plugged.

Honestly, I always have intended to take them out, and forget. Bet they're gone first time it plugs....

I think many folks do pull them out.

I'm quoting my own post because I jinxed myself......

Blower plugged pretty good for the first time in 10 seasons. I've blown A LOT of snow in that time.

Two-day storm with about 9" of snow, with intermittent rain.... I also do road shoulders in front of mailboxes, etc. Bit it off in 3 trips when home from work, so not all 9” at once….

Can’t blame the blower. I was doing part of the lawn at the time, peeling right down to the grass, and pulling some real wet stuff with it.

The Idiot Bars are GONE!!

Said I should have done that before, but always forgot. Not an issue tonight…

Given conditions, not sure the bars caused the plug, but sure didn’t help….