How to use snowblower? (best method for clearing driveway)

[Zeze]

Got a 250cc snowblower. NJ is gonna be hit with a moderately strong snow storm tonight (12-18").

Let's say you have a 3 x 3 sedan driveway (a square) and 1 side has packed snow from plow trucks, let's say on left side of the square.

1. What's the best method for your driving path- 1 side up and down like a lawn mower? Or go down middle then clear left half & right half from center to outward? I need to be mindful of the chute throwing.

2. Assuming the throwing can't reach outside the driveway if you're at center, the chute should be throwing snow ahead of its next path beside you right? This is assuming it won't throw snow outside the driveway Then re-throw until they're out of your driveway, right? Behind your path obviously makes no sense.

 

[Anubis]

go up and down till its clear

its not fucking rocket science

 

[JTsyo]

Up one, down the other since it's hard to turn the bigger snowblowers in tight circles.

 

[shortylickens]

Do NOT wait until its piled 3 feet high.
Snowblowers arent tanks.

 

[NoTine42]

1) do you have extra sheer bolts?
2) I'd probably save the packed snow for last

I'd try avoiding building up snow in an area that you still have to snowblow.

 

[PottedMeat]

wait until it's done snowing
ram that motherfucker into the snow with all your might until the shear pins snap
replace pins with grade 8 bolts

 

[ctbaars]

Start upwind. Move back and forth downwind.

 

[eldorado99]

Make sure you push the middle side topwise, where the snow is the snowiest. The rest should take care of itself. There is quite a lot of technique to this method.

 

[Red Squirrel]

For small amounts of snow like say, anything below 10-15cm I shovel it all to the middle, then do several short passes with the snow blower to throw it in the yard. For more snow, I just do the entire driveway in normal strips, starting from the street, then backing the machine up to do next strip, and so on. If the road has not been plowed yet I usually do a good part of the road if I feel like it, so when the plow does go by I won't have as much of a snow bank to clear. Ex: if it passes overnight and I need to get up early.

For snow that is practically going over the snowblower's max capacity, I'll do half passes so it does not bog down as much. We don't seem to get much snow anymore these days so my snowblower hardly gets any mileage. We get the odd snow fall and that's it. Our winters are so weird now.

 

[waffleironhead]

Make sure you aim the discharge at cars and windows.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Get some common sense

 

[Billb2]

Start in the center and do circles until you get dizzy and tip over. Then go around the other way.

 

[MrSquished]

The best way to snowblow is to bring your fucking snowblower to where my car will be plowed into on the street and help me clear a path. You know, for practice.

 

[boomerang]

Some jobs should be left to the professionals. Know your limitations.

 

[Zeze]

For small amounts of snow like say, anything below 10-15cm I shovel it all to the middle, then do several short passes with the snow blower to throw it in the yard. For more snow, I just do the entire driveway in normal strips, starting from the street, then backing the machine up to do next strip, and so on. If the road has not been plowed yet I usually do a good part of the road if I feel like it, so when the plow does go by I won't have as much of a snow bank to clear. Ex: if it passes overnight and I need to get up early.

For snow that is practically going over the snowblower's max capacity, I'll do half passes so it does not bog down as much. We don't seem to get much snow anymore these days so my snowblower hardly gets any mileage. We get the odd snow fall and that's it. Our winters are so weird now.

Most useful here, thanks.

 

[SKORPI0]

 

[tynopik]

Some jobs should be left to the professionals. Know your limitations.

by which he means 'give the neighborhood kids 5 bucks and a snickers bar to do it'