Blowing Snow With Leaf Blower

Post by **franco b** » Sat. Dec. 30, 2017 5:31 pm

During the last snowfall I went to start the leaf blower to blow off the deck.

No go, no spark. Every McCulloch tool I have had, the spark fails.

Went and bought the Lynxx battery operated blower from Harbor freight which was on sale. Very pleased, works very well. As a test I blew off half the deck at one inch of snow and again at two inches. Total snowfall was three inches which still covered half the deck. As expected not as easy and wind was carrying snow back that I kicked up. Still worthwhile though and effective.

Told a friend and he asked me to research a corded blower for him, which I did.
What I came up with was the Worx 600 turbine blower. 600 CFM which competes with back pack blowers. $59.95. 12 anp which should have a 14 gauge cord. Bargain price from Harbor Freight at $20.00 for 50 feet or $30.00 for 100 feet. Most places list 16 gauge or 12 gauge at very high price, and not 14 gauge, which is right for 12 amps.

He used it today and is thrilled by the performance on outside stairs and on cars. Only inch and one half snow of course and no wind. Perfect conditions for the machine.

I used my battery operated as well for the deck and clearing my ash can. For light powdery snow and not over three inches a very worthwhile tool in addition to leaf blowing.

Hambden Bob · Post by **Hambden Bob** » Sat. Dec. 30, 2017 8:16 pm

You're the second Guy that I've heard this here Leaf Blower Adaptation Story from. My Buddy used a gas backpack model. It tore it up ! Being We've been so cold,the snow's the light and fluffy variety. He said he covered more ground(driveway) in less time,and his back never felt better !

New Tricks For Old Dogs !

VigIIPeaBurner · Post by **VigIIPeaBurner** » Sat. Dec. 30, 2017 10:54 pm

I did the same tonight at dusk. Use a Torro 51585, 7 amps. Did the job using 75' of 12/3 cord. I emptied the carb on my backpack blower last month and didn't want to fill it again. Backpack is an old Echo PB300E circa 1993 - 3 carb rebuilds because of ethanol but still going.

Pauliewog · Post by **Pauliewog** » Sun. Dec. 31, 2017 2:12 pm

That Worx 12 amp blower has some really good ratings. I decided to order one but so far every place I tried they were sold out.

Paulie

Post by **franco b** » Sun. Dec. 31, 2017 4:58 pm

Pauliewog wrote: ↑
Sun. Dec. 31, 2017 2:12 pm
That Worx 12 amp blower has some really good ratings. I decided to order one but so far every place I tried they were sold out.

Paulie

Go to the Worx web site. They don't have it either but it is on sale for I think $48. Maybe a raincheck?

I bought for a friend from Amazon just last week. The ratings on Amazon were the highest I have ever seen for a product. 14 gauge wire from Harbor Freight $20 for 50 feet. $30 for 100 feet.

windyhill4.2 · Post by **windyhill4.2** » Sun. Dec. 31, 2017 5:19 pm

franco b wrote: ↑
Sun. Dec. 31, 2017 4:58 pm
Go to the Worx web site. They don't have it either but it is on sale for I think $48. Maybe a raincheck?

I bought for a friend from Amazon just last week. The ratings on Amazon were the highest I have ever seen for a product. 14 gauge wire from Harbor Freight $20 for 50 feet. $30 for 100 feet.

If you are going to run a 12 amp motor with a 100' cord... it had better be 12/3 cord, 14/3 will drop voltage too much.

I blew my Explorer,F250SD,equipment trailer,sidewalks & a few other things off today. I have a 5 yr old, 2 cycle Tanaka blower.

Post by **franco b** » Sun. Dec. 31, 2017 5:37 pm

windyhill4.2 wrote: ↑
Sun. Dec. 31, 2017 5:19 pm
If you are going to run a 12 amp motor with a 100' cord... it had better be 12/3 cord, 14/3 will drop voltage too much.

The maker recommends 14 gauge for 100 feet. My friend uses 50 foot cord.

windyhill4.2 · Post by **windyhill4.2** » Sun. Dec. 31, 2017 5:42 pm

franco b wrote: ↑
Sun. Dec. 31, 2017 5:37 pm
The maker recommends 14 gauge for 100 feet. My friend uses 50 foot cord.

I recommend 12/3 based on yrs in construction work.

freetown fred · Post by **freetown fred** » Sun. Dec. 31, 2017 5:45 pm

Yep, the longer distance, the heavier gauge. You'll be fine for what you're doin Richard with the 14.

windyhill4.2 · Post by **windyhill4.2** » Sun. Dec. 31, 2017 6:02 pm

http://www.diybyexample.info/2010/07/what-size-ex ... do-i-need/

Hambden Bob · Post by **Hambden Bob** » Sun. Dec. 31, 2017 6:03 pm

I heartily recommend this model..... No arguments about cords,amperage or just what the Hell Your Neighbor might say !

Pauliewog · Post by **Pauliewog** » Sun. Dec. 31, 2017 6:34 pm

franco b wrote: ↑
Sun. Dec. 31, 2017 5:37 pm
The maker recommends 14 gauge for 100 feet. My friend uses 50 foot cord.

One thing a lot of homeowners fail to take into consideration is the wire size leading to the electrical outlet they are using and the distance this outlet is from the main panelboard.

My neighbor has a direct burial 14/2 feeding his garage. From there he plugs in his 100' 14/2 extention cord to run his garden tools.

He complained about tripping his 15 amp breaker when using an electric chain saw rated at 11.5 amps. Distance from his panel to the garage outlet was already 220 ' before he plugged in his 100'
14/2 cord in

........... He now cuts his wood closer to the garage.

Longer the distance larger the voltage drop.......... lower the voltage higher the amperage.

Paulie

Pauliewog · Post by **Pauliewog** » Sun. Dec. 31, 2017 6:38 pm

Hambden Bob wrote: ↑
Sun. Dec. 31, 2017 6:03 pm

I heartily recommend this model..... No arguments about cords,amperage or just what the Hell Your Neighbor might say !

Looks like that baby needs a little bigger Lokie

I can hear it panting........ I think I can.....I think I can......I think I can

Paulie

Hambden Bob · Post by **Hambden Bob** » Mon. Jan. 01, 2018 1:37 pm

True Story,Wogs !! Ya' Know,in all Honesty,I guess Ya' Gotta Run What Ya' Brung !

Generally,money sure isn't falling out of Guys Ears' on this here Coal Board. If You've got to go corded,bring enough current carrying capabilty to feed the Blower Animal all along it's full length of use. One of the Kickers' that strikes me is just how uncooperative cords can get in this frigid weather. The old SO cord always seemed to stay pliable during deployment and retrieval. It sure as Hell wasn't cheap,but You could sure make up a Custom Combat Killer Lengthed Cord with some stout Hubbell ends. You could rule the Electrical World with that set-up. The worst problem,as usual,was just what would that stout set-up cost You ? I guess if it saved You from the standard shovelling Health Risks and Maladies,then maybe it just payed for itself...... Ya' know,Stay Alive And Thrive !! Happy New Year,You Driveway Clearing Animals !!

windyhill4.2 · Post by **windyhill4.2** » Sat. Jan. 13, 2018 1:44 pm

top top wrote: ↑
Sat. Jan. 13, 2018 1:32 pm
Speaking of that, I have a question maybe someone can answer. I have a generator interlock in my panel, 60 amp breakers & about 45 maybe 50 ft #6 wire to the genny. From the panel it is a very short distance to the outlets serving the kitchen appliances, literally just a couple feet plus it has #12 wiring. The panel on one wall, the kitchen on the other side of the same wall. When running my 7kw portable genny the coffee pot is extremely slow, it just doesn't get very hot. If I leave the genny connected to the house and I run a separate 50 ft 14 gauge drop cord from the genny to the coffee pot it is back to normal. I also noticed the portable AC in my living room works better on a drop cord, but that kind of makes sense due to the 50 ft drop cord being a lot shorter than the genny feed plus house wiring. Any thoughts on why the big voltage drop to the coffee pot? I know it isn't loose connections on the genny feed.

Maybe you are right... maybe the issue is not loose connections on the genny cord.

! thing is for certain sure.... when you are using your genny, the full power is not available to both legs in the panel. You could even have 1 wire in the cord that is partially bad. The genny breaker could have a weak leg. A voltmeter would be your best friend while diagnosing this problem.

I am very skeptical that any leafblower will help correct this issue,skeptical enough to be quite certain.