Jan 28 - 30 minutes - snowfall
Jan 29 - 30 minutes - plow came by
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Skid Plate adjustments nightmare - Day 1
Skid Plate Adjustments: I forgot to mentioned that on day 1 I decided that I should adjust the skid plates.
Why: The curb at the end of my driveway is somewhat rought and raised and I did not want to have the blower get caught on it.
Nuts got Stripped: It was hard as hell to loosen these nuts. There are 2 on each side of the machine. Everyone of the nuts got stripped to a certain degree. The nuts are made of a very soft metal.
Hacksaw had to be used: One the bolts became stripped so badly that I had to use a hacksaw to cut it off.
Replaced skid plate nuts: Go to your local hardware store and replace the nuts with new ones.
Suggestion: apply a "lubricant" to the nuts and bolts prior to attempting to remove. I did do this but it made no difference that one nut !!
Why: The curb at the end of my driveway is somewhat rought and raised and I did not want to have the blower get caught on it.
Nuts got Stripped: It was hard as hell to loosen these nuts. There are 2 on each side of the machine. Everyone of the nuts got stripped to a certain degree. The nuts are made of a very soft metal.
Hacksaw had to be used: One the bolts became stripped so badly that I had to use a hacksaw to cut it off.
Replaced skid plate nuts: Go to your local hardware store and replace the nuts with new ones.
Suggestion: apply a "lubricant" to the nuts and bolts prior to attempting to remove. I did do this but it made no difference that one nut !!
First Street Plow mountain - Jan 9, 2009
So the street plow came by last night and there is about a 4 foot pile at the end of the driveway.
Get the blower out and methodically throw the snow.....and I did the end of my neighbour's driveway as well
To be honest, I probably could have shovelled it by hand quicker.....but I hand to experience how it works so that I can teach my wife on how to use it.
Next time I will take a picture.
So it does do the trick....but it probably is not as fast as you might like. It is only a 6 horsepower. Before I bought it, my brotherlaw suggested to get at least a 8 hp. If you want something that will do it faster...I would say go get a 10hp but of course, you have pay the extra $$$ for it.
Running time: 30 minutes
Get the blower out and methodically throw the snow.....and I did the end of my neighbour's driveway as well
To be honest, I probably could have shovelled it by hand quicker.....but I hand to experience how it works so that I can teach my wife on how to use it.
Next time I will take a picture.
So it does do the trick....but it probably is not as fast as you might like. It is only a 6 horsepower. Before I bought it, my brotherlaw suggested to get at least a 8 hp. If you want something that will do it faster...I would say go get a 10hp but of course, you have pay the extra $$$ for it.
Running time: 30 minutes
Its First Snowstorm - Jan 8, 2009
Start it up no problem.The snow is nice and fluffy and about 6 inches deep. The snowblower chews through it no problem.
It takes a bit to get use to the controls and speed and how to "throw" the snow. At one point I realize I was hitting my front bay window....oops.
Running Time: approx 20 minutes.
Poulan PR5524ES - Leaking Oil - Day 1 & 2
That night we come back from a hockey game aournd 10:30pm and there is oil leaking from the snowblower on the garage floor.
I look at it but can't figure out where the drain value is....but I noticed a "knob" that was loose and I tightened the know
All the oil was draining on the left side of the machine, so I put a small container around the area......off to bed as I will look at it the next day.
Get up the next day...re-read the manual. It talks about the drain plug but there pictures do not display where it is....I go online to the Poulan site http://www.poulanpro.com/ and find my make. Download the manual and yep it is the same...no picture shows the drain plug.
They have previous versions of the manual....so I look that each one...and the 3rd one back kind of shows where it should be.....it appears to be that knob I tighted last night.
Out to the garage....I open that knob fully as it screws right out....yep all the oil pouring out.
Now, I have two answers:
1. due to all the vibration with the blower, that is why the drain plug is on top
2. it is not the drain plug and I will have to find it later.
http://www.poulanpro.com/ really needs to better discuss and/or show how the oil drain works.
Remember: Tighten the oil drain knob !!
I look at it but can't figure out where the drain value is....but I noticed a "knob" that was loose and I tightened the know
All the oil was draining on the left side of the machine, so I put a small container around the area......off to bed as I will look at it the next day.
Get up the next day...re-read the manual. It talks about the drain plug but there pictures do not display where it is....I go online to the Poulan site http://www.poulanpro.com/ and find my make. Download the manual and yep it is the same...no picture shows the drain plug.
They have previous versions of the manual....so I look that each one...and the 3rd one back kind of shows where it should be.....it appears to be that knob I tighted last night.
Out to the garage....I open that knob fully as it screws right out....yep all the oil pouring out.
Now, I have two answers:
1. due to all the vibration with the blower, that is why the drain plug is on top
2. it is not the drain plug and I will have to find it later.
http://www.poulanpro.com/ really needs to better discuss and/or show how the oil drain works.
Remember: Tighten the oil drain knob !!
Poulan PR5524ES - Startup - some minor headaches - Day 1
So I review the manual as one should.
It says it ships with oil.....I check....best to top it up.
Add the gas. Follow the startup procedures using the electric start......no problems. It says run for a few minutes. I run it for about 5 minutes.
I decide to go eat a piece of a snow bank. Damn thing barely throws the snow out the shoot.
I decide to shut it off, take a break. Tell my wife we bought a piece of junk.....and as I say this I think....I did not turn the choke off.
Go back out and restart it.....throws the snow 25 feet :)
Remember: Turn the choke off !!
Manuals can be found at http://www.poulanpro.com/
It says it ships with oil.....I check....best to top it up.
Add the gas. Follow the startup procedures using the electric start......no problems. It says run for a few minutes. I run it for about 5 minutes.
I decide to go eat a piece of a snow bank. Damn thing barely throws the snow out the shoot.
I decide to shut it off, take a break. Tell my wife we bought a piece of junk.....and as I say this I think....I did not turn the choke off.
Go back out and restart it.....throws the snow 25 feet :)
Remember: Turn the choke off !!
Manuals can be found at http://www.poulanpro.com/
Buying Our First Snowblower
So I was away twice and we got hit with Big snowstorms each time. My wife requested that we get a snowblower to deal with the pile the Street plow leaves at the end of the driveway.
So in Dec 2008 just prior to Christmas, I go looking around......guess what...not a snowblower in the city left...you could back order one and it would show up in late Jan. Home Depot indicated that they might get some around Jan 5.
In Canada we have Boxing Day sales, which is Dec 26th. All kinds of bargains. The Sears store indicates that have a 24 inch snowblower as a "door crasher"...regular price $899 on sale for $699.
I have never attempted these crazy door crasher specials.....but decided I would try. Doors open at 7am. I show up at 6:58 and by the time I got to the door, the crowds ..or should I say mob...was already in. I walk over to the snowblower section, there are over 50 people buzzing around. There is only 1 snowblower on display and all "tickets" related to it were gone. Other people are grabbing tickets off of snowblowers worth $1400......keep in mind that most are there for a $700 snowblower.
Oh well....I leave the store..it is about 7:10am
As I drive away I remember the Home Depot guy tell me about they might be getting some in early Jan. I decide to swing over to Home Depot....3 cars in the parking lot....is it open? I can't see anyone...so I park and go to the doors...they open...then to the next doors...
Wow...they have at least 10 brand new shining 24 inch snowblowers staring at me. Price is $800.
I ask the guy...these ready to go...Yep. Will it fit in my van...yep.
Off to the cash register....in my van....home by 7:40am.
So in Dec 2008 just prior to Christmas, I go looking around......guess what...not a snowblower in the city left...you could back order one and it would show up in late Jan. Home Depot indicated that they might get some around Jan 5.
In Canada we have Boxing Day sales, which is Dec 26th. All kinds of bargains. The Sears store indicates that have a 24 inch snowblower as a "door crasher"...regular price $899 on sale for $699.
I have never attempted these crazy door crasher specials.....but decided I would try. Doors open at 7am. I show up at 6:58 and by the time I got to the door, the crowds ..or should I say mob...was already in. I walk over to the snowblower section, there are over 50 people buzzing around. There is only 1 snowblower on display and all "tickets" related to it were gone. Other people are grabbing tickets off of snowblowers worth $1400......keep in mind that most are there for a $700 snowblower.
Oh well....I leave the store..it is about 7:10am
As I drive away I remember the Home Depot guy tell me about they might be getting some in early Jan. I decide to swing over to Home Depot....3 cars in the parking lot....is it open? I can't see anyone...so I park and go to the doors...they open...then to the next doors...
Wow...they have at least 10 brand new shining 24 inch snowblowers staring at me. Price is $800.
I ask the guy...these ready to go...Yep. Will it fit in my van...yep.
Off to the cash register....in my van....home by 7:40am.
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