Quote:
Originally Posted by jetwarog
You're going to have to explain that one in a little more detail. The QA36 auger is moving awefully fast and as soon as it touches the snow is has to accelerate the snow across the whole width of the unit. That takes a lot of power. There is probably 15 pounds of snow flying around and around in there which also takes a lot of power to maintain. All that snow is centrifugally pushed against the housing until it reaches the shute. The 2 stage unit has a fairly slow moving auger that does not contain the snow; it rakes snow into the unit. The impeller accelerates the snow to the exit velocity at the chute. There is far less surface area in the impellor of a 2 stage unit than a single stage = less loss. If both units take in the same amount of snow and throw it the same distance, how is a single stage unit more efficient?
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I wont claim to be some mechanical engineer that measures the velocity of snow as its churning inside of a blower/thrower, lol....but, these 2 styles of equipment are almost like comparing apples to oranges. Sure the thrower requires the high speed of the auger to "throw" the snow, but I 'm pretty sure the gearing and ratios of the gearbox and sprockets allow for maximum efficiency while using the smallest amount of power. The same is said for blowers, as they in turn are operating 2 mechanisms compared to 1 on the thrower, the slow moving auger, and the impeller. It only makes sense that the hp required to operate these 2 very different pieces is very similar...not to mention the style of operating these 2 is very different as well...with a thrower you need just the right amount of speed to properly "feed" it..usually more than what is required to operate a blower..there are soooo many factors like condition of the blower/thrower, bearings, gearbox, condition of the belt(s), the PTO, engine speed, overall engine strength,is it worn out blowing smoke, or a fresh rebuild, hydro or gear drive..so many factors.
Ive used a qa42a on my tired and worn out 73 which has a stock, well worn and smoking 7hp engine, and I have cut through wet, heavy 12" of snow before..it takes practice to figure out how it works best, but it works very well for me. just my
:biggrin2.gif:
Jeff (teet)