I have done this mod on three machines so far. Works great. One problem I hit is that if you do all the impeller blades at once, sometimes you can create so much resistance that the belt can't turn the auger. The answer is to do one blade at a time, then run the blower briefly before doing the next one. Each paddle will trim itself to a perfect fit.
I did this to my'05 MTD and it worked wonders! Tripled throwing distance. Trimmed pads for less resistance. And ran it for awhile in garage to break them in. Bet we won't have snow rest of season!!!
I used a truck mudflap I got from a truck repair shop for free and had the bolts , washers, metal straps and lock nuts laying around in the garage. So parts were free and about 20 mins labor. Did it about 4 winters ago and so far it's working great, and I still have the rest of the flap for whenever I need to replace them. Great video , thanks for sharing.
First. Great idea that you know, from your own experience, works 2nd: very well made, all explained in a clear way, video. 3rd. I think that manufacturers will pick up on this great improvement. I used to work on a ranch in Ontario and, as an English man, LOVED "blowing the snow" with our Massey-Furgusson tractor. GREAT STUFF !
Loved the video. Going to retrofit my 2nd hand 1970s Ariens snowblower this weekend. Got an old Peterbilt mudflap from my neighbor in a trade for an antique tool. Going to prime and paint impeller before installing, and paint the holes after drilling. Got glossy orange enamel spray paint. In coastal Connecticut, we mostly get heavy and wet snow. Looking forward to the next storm, for my driveway and 180' long sidewalk!
I plan on doing this to my "new" (old, like 40 years old) snowblower. By the time I'm done with it, it should send the snow from Bathurst all the way to Fredericton. Great tips dude, appreciate the video!
Terrific tip! I used rubber pieces from the sidewall of a junk tire I had hanging around. Closing the gap between the impeller and the drum around the impeller made an enormous difference. Thanks for the tip!
I thinnk a lot of the people who have commented below may have lost sight of the main benefit of this modification and I don't think Rob made the point enough, despite a great overall video. The main advantage of this mod is not having the wet snow and ice build up and clog the bottom of yoiur chute. Plus the mod will allow the machine to throw wet snow much further than an unmodded machine. With dry snow, as in this video, the throwing distance doesn't change by that much but the volume does. Compare the first unmodded run with the second modded run and you'll see Rob is moving a lot more snow thgrough the machine. Thanks Rob, great video.
Thank you! Yes, I probably should have explained it a bit better or waited until I had a better example of snow where this really helps. Here is a video I did after in really wet snow and it showcases this mod perfectly. What do you think? ua-cam.com/video/KWZ1Sr1_OK4/v-deo.html
Bought a mudflap on sale at Can Tire for $2.50. Followed the advice in this video. My 20 year old MTD now throws snow like new. Quite impressive. Many thanks for the tips.
That is one of the first mods I make to all my snowblowers. I pick them up used and rebuild them to sell for the next snow season. I did about 10-11 machines in the past year and they all got an "impeller kit" installed. I use thin reinforced conveyor belting and two small bolts to hold them in place. I mount them tight against the housing an run till they get worn in (like piston rings in an engine) then I spray the inside of the housing with silicone spray so they slide easily. I have never had a problem with them and they really help throw the snow farther and keep the blower from plugging up when blowing wet, heavy snow.
I have a 2 stage self propelled and added angle to each side at the feet with a notch for aplate to cover intake of blower and use blower to push slush burham at end of drive. Slush being about 80 percent water then pick it out and continue to blow snow. This is a very good video and I will be making this mod to my two stage. THANKS FROM KALAMAZOO MICHIGAN
Using a side wall of an old tire works amazing it's more reinforced with fibers. I've also seen people use the rubber from in single stage snow blower impeller as well.
Thank you for this great video because it definitely improves important performance. I used conveyor building and then thru bolted them with castilated lock nuts. I also use stainless steel hardware. One thing everyone should do is check the tension on the auger belts to make sure that they are tight. And then lastly, be aware of your engine horsepower. Because it will be maxed out most likely when you hit wet heavy or slushy snow. My 208 cm³ MTD Cub cadet. Snow blower will stall because it's simply doesn't have enough horsepower. I will solve this problem because the next machine will be in ariens!!!
I've heard that modifying the impeller really helps a lot, preventing clogging and the snow throws further. I have an older Snapper, the impeller is very similar to yours. I'll have to do this mod to mine when it gets a little warmer her. I hear that you can use sidewall from an old tire, they say that works pretty good. I think using the metal support plate for the screws is a is a great idea, looks like it helps support it.
So many options for paddles, I visited my local NAPA auto parts store and asked to see what they had in the back for truck mud flaps. I picked out a huge one made of 3/8" nylon fiber reinforced rubber for $12. While I was installing the paddles I decided to repaint the inside of the chute where the original paint completely wore off, I used chassis and grill epoxy paint which holds up very well, it's gloss black but don't even really notice the color difference since it was bare metal anyways. Now all I do is wipe down the machine after each use with silicone spray lubricant which I feel helps prevent rust.
Did my troybilt a few years ago. Made a huge difference not only in distance thrown but never clogs in the wettest of snow. I have people question the performance of my snowblower all the time!!!
I made these impeller mods in fall 2019 initially using a truck mud flap, but the rubber did not hold up long. So via Amazon I ordered a replacement MTD flapper strip for a light-weight snow blower. Importantly I made sure this rubber strip had fiber layers reinforcing the rubber layers. So far, so good for winter 2019/2020. Many thanks, Bill
Excellent video, quite clever and well done. However, I wouldn't think that repair would cost $50, unless mud flaps are considerably more costly in Canada than here in the U.S. Not criticizing, just stating an observation. Thank you for sharing this with the world. :)
Pretty cool trick! I think I'm going to try this out on mine. Another tip that some people don't know is to always try to throw the snow, with the chute pointed in the direction of the impeller discharge. If you look at the direction the impeller rotates from the front, if it's clockwise, the chute should point right for instance. Just avoid an "S" bend on discharge if that makes sense? That and hosing it down with WD-40 or some other lubricant as well. I like your idea though. It just seems to make sense having the impeller as efficient as possible.
Fluid film is a even better option for lubes, after it cures for 2 days it's a completely rust repelling/hydrophobic surface that will last 1000x longer than any others I've tried. My entire jd 3039r is coated in it. People even under coat their vehicles with it.
Thanks for the information on the video. I am in Canada too, however I picked up my mud flap from Princess Auto for $15. I found the ones you used at Canadian Tire and they were $40. I can't believe the difference in snow throwing performance this impeller modification made and I have a basic 179cc (5hp) motor on my 2 stage snow blower.
Put in SKU # 1005723447 on their website. They don't carry in stock. Special order. Just realized it's 1/4" and not 3/8" thick. Works just fine. Plenty sturdy for the job
Good video. I did the same or similar fix to my single stage craftsman snow blower and worked great with a small sample of snow. Not much snow left to test. Only issue was the extra noise from the flaps hitting the housing. I am told that the more I use it, the rubber will mold to the right size. A friend suggested that I use silicone spray. Thanks for your video.
That was a very solid idea, in that the gain of your throwing distance has easily increased 2 foot or more and that is the sheer reckoning! I must admit though, by using the so-called rubberized plastic, durability may be of a shortfall! depending on the composition of the material, plastic in itself does not fair well in the cold temperatures and has an absolute tendency to crack with ultimate ease! I would most likely use the sidewall of an old tire for material plus i would use stainless steel screws, along with heftier backing plate to secure the fresh made rubber materials! That backer plate could be made of perhaps ridged aluminum. Another thing to ponder would be is that in the event that one of those screws should come loose, you just might end up in your driveway for your car tire to run over! I would perhaps tap some threads into the impeller, use stainless bolts of a bigger diameter and use both the red thread locker and lock washers and stainless nuts to insure that nothing could come loose though! Other than that, I though it was an outstanding video Rob! Thank-You!!
Done this for a while and is the best easy upgrade anyone can do to their snowblower as it makes a dramatic difference! Like someone else also said the rubber from old snowblower paddles works great if u can get ahold of any, or any other rubber that has reinforcements in it as they last much longer and don't tear half as easy. They do also make rubber sheets u can buy online of reinforced rubber. Either way it's just a fantastic idea! Now if I could just find a solution for my current snowblower so the shut control isn't such a giant turd!🤣 Thanks Cub Cadet for the terrible chute control design! Especially after owning better brands! 🤪
I never did any measuring. I simply made a cardboard template to fit the actual impeller blades being they are identical for each one and put 2 holes in the template for bolt location and used the template to cut the rubber as well. This made all impeller bolt hole locations almost identical and used SS carriage bolts x 2 per impeller blade.. A template is the only way to go without any guessing . Good luck trying to get in there and measure with any accuracy. Balance can be a issue if this is not done properly. Just take the time to make a good template. It will save you the time in the long run as well is as accurate as you can get.
I just did this to my blower, I only had a 3/16" gap about. So I closed that up to about a 1/16" gap where it launches and it just touches the wall in a few spots as it goes around as the tub isn't concentric to the paddles perfectly. Overall I'm very happy with my blower before I did this as it throws about what your's does with your rubber paddles added. Mine is old and has a techumseh 5 HP engine. So I'm guessing Im not going to get much additonal throw as my gap wasn't too large to begin with. Yet it should be a little more. I'm expecting not to have to deal with the clogging that I've had to with spring snows which are just around the corner. I will put it to the test here in a few days as we are suppose to get our biggest storm of the past 7 years this week. Hopefully we get that snow and I can give a a try with good results.
I did mine here in Nova Scotia recently as well, used some stainless plates I made, a flap from the local heavy truck shop, and some bolts with nyloc nuts, makes a difference, they should come like that from the factory. Vid on my page
Tip: Before using, spray the entire front housing, impeller and chute with silicone, cooking spray, or the expensive spray made for this purpose. And when blowing thru slush, windshield deicer spray works great.
Have the same blower, issue is that is very light snow. When you get into heavy wet snow there isn't enough power and it bogs down. I fixed the situation with a Honda snowblower. Not an issue and it throws like a beast.
I too have upgraded to an Ariens as my main snowblower but checkout this followup video I made to show how the mod works in the wet stuff. ua-cam.com/video/KWZ1Sr1_OK4/v-deo.html
I did that to one of my machines 5 years ago and yes it does work. I used conveyor belt. Its was way too difficult to run behind a transport truck with an exacto knife trying to cut off the mud flaps at 60 kilometers an hour. LOL Where did you get the idea? Off you tube no doubt.
Go to your local snowblower repair shop and ask them to save you the old paddles from a single stage thrower. Plenty of good, stiff rubber to cut and it's free!
That's EXACTLY what I do as those reinforcements make a gigantic difference! They tear much harder but are still flexible for safety reasons, plus if they're too stiff it puts more wear on the motor...
Nice video. I did this modification a few years ago on a 12 year old MTD machine. I used a $7, 1/4" thick rubber door mat to make the paddles out of. It increased the throw by quite a bit (especially with wet/slushy snow) and very rarely gets clogged anymore.
Kits can be purchased online for this - google 'snowblower impeller kit'. Or try Amazon They're about $25 to $30 per kit and you get pre-cut rubber and MUCH better metal plates. I used stainless screws and lock-nuts instead of the sheet metal screws to attach the impeller blades.
Originally I was going to order the kits and test them out but I could not wait a few weeks as the snow was coming and I wanted to test it out. In the end it still worked out to $25 each snowblower since I have two.
Richard Fallstich I do that modification for free using the best material they make. I use a Big Rigs mudflap which are made to hold up to the harshest conditions, self tap screws and metal plate bracket material. Done deal, cost, zero, free.
There are 2 Things that we do each time it Snow :(((... Although it SUCKS, but it makes Life a bit easier :))). 1. Use OLD Tires.... Cut it to FIT as a Mud Flap and best of all, they are FREE, when they worn, next year replace them again. My Dad use a Band Saw to Cut the Flap... He also make a Template for easy replacement each year :))). 2. Once your blower is Clogged or Freezes Up... We use a Garden Hose with HOT Water and Spray the Hell out of it. NOTE: Use a BIG Bucket, after cleaning, fill the Bucket with HOT Water, then put your Hose in there for the Next Clogged so the Garden Hose won't freeze during waiting :))).
Holy cow,now that’s quite an improvement. I like the installation with self taping screws and strap. My snowblower is brand new so I won’t be modifying it till next year. But I will take videos this winter to compare to next year. Does modifications put any added stress on the engine?
One the rubber takes shape it should be fine. You should drive at a slower speed for a bit but overall seems fine. I have done this to 4 different snowblowers now and they have all worked perfectly with no issues.
I did my Ariens 253cc and depending on the consistency of the snow we measured 32’ without and 53’ with the mod. In my walkway i was able to shoot the snow over my roof to the backyard mind you I have a single family ranch. It def works and works well.
Makes me wonder why they do not come from the factory this way. Seems simple - 1/2 gap = issue = simple fix. Thanks you sir for this video. I am going to modify my 2007 Craftsman (MTD) this summer. Got my butt kicked recently with slushy snow.
There is a very good reason the flaps don't come on the machine new. If the engineers who have been designing this equipment for the last 50 years or so thought the benefit was worth the extra cost, liability and machine longevity, they would all have these flaps.
Those are self-drilling screws, not self tapping screws. There are two types of self tapping screws: one has a very sharp point that can be used to pierce thin sheet metal, and the other type have an actual tap on the end that cuts threads into a pre-drilled hole in material. Self drilling screws have a drill like end on them and actually drill a hole into the material.
yes it is. I got 4.5 feet in One Night and subsequently 5-8 inches 3 days prior and 4 days after. The banks were so tall the blower couldn't throw the snow over them it would just fall back into the drive way
The snow we had that day was really fluffy and not the best example as to why you want to make this mod. Check out this video I did in really wet heavy snow and you can see the benefits. ua-cam.com/video/KWZ1Sr1_OK4/v-deo.html
@@chumleye1112 I was just talking about when he was drilling and putting in the screws. Then when the flaps are secure you have to take the vice grip/clamps off. I should have been more clear. Thanks.
@@mitchstaff8281 space is limited because youre working through the chute hole.and teh impeller arms arent flat. amany of teh have curves, so that would make it very hard to clamp.
This rubber is available super cheap because it did not go through process of shaping or packaged with graphics on Amazon, just search for Styrene Butadiene Rubber SBR, you're looking for 1/4" with hardness rating shore 70
@@physiques the stuff i bought came in a 12"x12" square. and you need about that much because at 1/4" thick you stack them two per blade and there are a few blades.. so you end up using most of that square
This sounds like a good idea, but let me tell you what i did i purchased a cub cadet 30 inch 3 stage HD two years ago. when it comes to wet snow and plow mounds this thing is an animal i must admit i got cocky with it instead of using first or second speed in wet snow i put it fourth gear. smoked the belt so now its first gear only in the wet snow but it never clogged once.
3 stage blower would be awesome! But they tend to come with a higher price tag. This mod helps even the cheapest blower perform well. Here is another video I did with my other blower on a really wet rain-snow mix. ua-cam.com/video/KWZ1Sr1_OK4/v-deo.html
A friend with a snow removal business bent the augers up on one of those when he ran a chunk of hard frozen snow through it the third snowfall he used it on.
This mod is also designed to save th eowner from going out and spending a good grand or better on a new machine when they can simply upgrade theirs for minimal money.
Hey I installed this on my MTD. It does help throwing snow father as clearances in my stock machine is 1/2 inch. So that is the pro. Cons I noticed the drivetrain is more loaded for same cut. Do you have to pay more attention going forward like replacing anger belts more often as impeller is now more efficient pumping snow?
MrQuispamgolfer I noticed that too on my machine. I rotated my impeller to check the spacing and found it was different all around. I reset my flaps to the shortest spacing and that seemed to help
Mine has different clearances around housing as well. I used lightweight conveyor belt I got at tractor supply and made all touch the same. They rubbed for a bit but wore down till no longer rubs. That was 6 years ago and not a single issue! Also I use mine commercially!
I've seen this mod before, but your video is very thorough. Good job Rob. Curious if self tapping screws need a pilot hole, or if they'll cut right through the impeller?
Self tapping screws work for thin sheet metal, but what you really need are self-drilling screws. Seems like everyone is confused about the difference.
He is using self-drilling screws, not self tapping screws. Self tapping screws either are the type used for thin sheet metal, or are the ones that actually have a tap like end that cuts threads into a per drilled hole.
I just bought my first house that has a large 4 car driveway behind the house so I actually have a driveway, they] driveway is actually up a steep hill. The previous homeowner told me the base of drive way/little hill is where you usually get a large collection of snow. Simple answer, I just bought a larger more powerful snowblower. My view on modifying anything is the same as a car, don't modify a depreciating asset.
The idea behind this mod is that not everyone can afford the bigger and more powerful blowers and there is a simple and affordable fix to make even the cheapest of blower perform well. The snow we had that day was really fluffy and not the best example as to why you want to make this mod. Check out this video I did in really wet heavy snow and you can see the benefits. ua-cam.com/video/KWZ1Sr1_OK4/v-deo.html
I've seen one of the biggest and best blowers, a $3,500 Ariens fail miserably in heavy waterlogged snow. If you live in an area with curb and gutters on the street, the melting snow means lots of water in the curb area.
That is not to best test for the mod but checkout this followup video I did with my other snowblower. Compared mine to my neighbor who had the same blower. ua-cam.com/video/KWZ1Sr1_OK4/v-deo.html
Briggs and Stratton sell a package if 2 pads holes ore drilled. Not expensive. Makes life easier. Get a long 1/4 drill bit mark your position and you're home free.
I agree with many of these posters- why not just buy a higher quality machine to begin with? My 45 year old Toro 824 has less than 3/16 clearance and Has never clogged, no matter what I blow.
it will clog only if you stop the auger while in the slush...pull the machine backwards before stopping the auger. it allows the chute to clear its throat. So pull back and let the auger run for about 5 seconds and you wont have any clogging.
I don’t think mine has plugged up even once since I did this years ago. You would think that the manufactures would put this on if only to be a safety feature to keep people from losing their fingers. How many people have gotten the tips of their fingers chopped off in the infamous place where they always get clogged🤬.
40 years ago you bet! Today , eh no thanks. Why is simple ; everyone went there and sort of ruined the place. It’s getting easier to live in the Tundra every year . For the record., no I don’t as many delude themselves “ like the cold “....
I have done this mod on three machines so far. Works great. One problem I hit is that if you do all the impeller blades at once, sometimes you can create so much resistance that the belt can't turn the auger. The answer is to do one blade at a time, then run the blower briefly before doing the next one. Each paddle will trim itself to a perfect fit.
Bob McL They wear right in.
I did this to my'05 MTD and it worked wonders! Tripled throwing distance. Trimmed pads for less resistance. And ran it for awhile in garage to break them in. Bet we won't have snow rest of season!!!
I used a truck mudflap I got from a truck repair shop for free and had the bolts , washers, metal straps and lock nuts laying around in the garage. So parts were free and about 20 mins labor. Did it about 4 winters ago and so far it's working great, and I still have the rest of the flap for whenever I need to replace them. Great video , thanks for sharing.
First. Great idea that you know, from your own experience, works
2nd: very well made, all explained in a clear way, video.
3rd. I think that manufacturers will pick up on this great improvement.
I used to work on a ranch in Ontario and, as an English man, LOVED "blowing the snow" with our Massey-Furgusson tractor.
GREAT STUFF !
Loved the video. Going to retrofit my 2nd hand 1970s Ariens snowblower this weekend. Got an old Peterbilt mudflap from my neighbor in a trade for an antique tool. Going to prime and paint impeller before installing, and paint the holes after drilling. Got glossy orange enamel spray paint. In coastal Connecticut, we mostly get heavy and wet snow. Looking forward to the next storm, for my driveway and 180' long sidewalk!
I plan on doing this to my "new" (old, like 40 years old) snowblower. By the time I'm done with it, it should send the snow from Bathurst all the way to Fredericton.
Great tips dude, appreciate the video!
This is the best video I have seen in the actual install of this modification. Thank you and well done.
Terrific tip! I used rubber pieces from the sidewall of a junk tire I had hanging around. Closing the gap between the impeller and the drum around the impeller made an enormous difference. Thanks for the tip!
I thinnk a lot of the people who have commented below may have lost sight of the main benefit of this modification and I don't think Rob made the point enough, despite a great overall video.
The main advantage of this mod is not having the wet snow and ice build up and clog the bottom of yoiur chute. Plus the mod will allow the machine to throw wet snow much further than an unmodded machine.
With dry snow, as in this video, the throwing distance doesn't change by that much but the volume does. Compare the first unmodded run with the second modded run and you'll see Rob is moving a lot more snow thgrough the machine.
Thanks Rob, great video.
Thank you! Yes, I probably should have explained it a bit better or waited until I had a better example of snow where this really helps. Here is a video I did after in really wet snow and it showcases this mod perfectly. What do you think? ua-cam.com/video/KWZ1Sr1_OK4/v-deo.html
@@robhamel-exitrealtyadvanta9649
Hey Rob, you should add this link to the wet snow video in the description.
You will most likely get more views.
Bought a mudflap on sale at Can Tire for $2.50. Followed the advice in this video. My 20 year old MTD now throws snow like new. Quite impressive. Many thanks for the tips.
Awesome to hear!
That is one of the first mods I make to all my snowblowers. I pick them up used and rebuild them to sell for the next snow season. I did about 10-11 machines in the past year and they all got an "impeller kit" installed. I use thin reinforced conveyor belting and two small bolts to hold them in place. I mount them tight against the housing an run till they get worn in (like piston rings in an engine) then I spray the inside of the housing with silicone spray so they slide easily. I have never had a problem with them and they really help throw the snow farther and keep the blower from plugging up when blowing wet, heavy snow.
Did it and it works much better. Used sidewall of a tire with no steel belt.
I have a 2 stage self propelled and added angle to each side at the feet with a notch for aplate to cover intake of blower and use blower to push slush burham at end of drive. Slush being about 80 percent water then pick it out and continue to blow snow. This is a very good video and I will be making this mod to my two stage. THANKS FROM KALAMAZOO MICHIGAN
Using a side wall of an old tire works amazing it's more reinforced with fibers. I've also seen people use the rubber from in single stage snow blower impeller as well.
Also adding a washer help hold it down and less likely to tear over the surface area
Thank you for this great video because it definitely improves important performance. I used conveyor building and then thru bolted them with castilated lock nuts. I also use stainless steel hardware. One thing everyone should do is check the tension on the auger belts to make sure that they are tight. And then lastly, be aware of your engine horsepower. Because it will be maxed out most likely when you hit wet heavy or slushy snow. My 208 cm³ MTD Cub cadet. Snow blower will stall because it's simply doesn't have enough horsepower. I will solve this problem because the next machine will be in ariens!!!
Princess Auto
1/4 rubber matt $10/ft x 48” wide. Worked great, and now I have 44” of matt left over 👍
Robin R. Koykka hey can u send me a piece?
Get a junk used donut tire. Donut Tires is really thin and easy to cut as well. FREE !!!
Conveyor belt is what I used along with stainless bolts, Washers and locking nuts. Regular screws will rust away.
rust away and then fling out the white at you car window lol
Are used pieces cut off of an old treadmill. They are getting scuzzy but I put them on five years ago to nuts and bolts each
New drinking game you have to take a shot every time he says rubberized plastic
I've heard that modifying the impeller really helps a lot, preventing clogging and the snow throws further. I have an older Snapper, the impeller is very similar to yours. I'll have to do this mod to mine when it gets a little warmer her. I hear that you can use sidewall from an old tire, they say that works pretty good. I think using the metal support plate for the screws is a is a great idea, looks like it helps support it.
So many options for paddles, I visited my local NAPA auto parts store and asked to see what they had in the back for truck mud flaps. I picked out a huge one made of 3/8" nylon fiber reinforced rubber for $12. While I was installing the paddles I decided to repaint the inside of the chute where the original paint completely wore off, I used chassis and grill epoxy paint which holds up very well, it's gloss black but don't even really notice the color difference since it was bare metal anyways. Now all I do is wipe down the machine after each use with silicone spray lubricant which I feel helps prevent rust.
The edges of the rubber can be feathered on an angle / so they touch but don't create great resistance, especially when it really cold.
Cold shrink metal!
Did my troybilt a few years ago. Made a huge difference not only in distance thrown but never clogs in the wettest of snow. I have people question the performance of my snowblower all the time!!!
I made these impeller mods in fall 2019 initially using a truck mud flap, but the rubber did not hold up long. So via Amazon I ordered a replacement MTD flapper strip for a light-weight snow blower. Importantly I made sure this rubber strip had fiber layers reinforcing the rubber layers. So far, so good for winter 2019/2020. Many thanks, Bill
Excellent video, quite clever and well done. However, I wouldn't think that repair would cost $50, unless mud flaps are considerably more costly in Canada than here in the U.S. Not criticizing, just stating an observation. Thank you for sharing this with the world. :)
Pretty cool trick! I think I'm going to try this out on mine.
Another tip that some people don't know is to always try to throw the snow, with the chute pointed in the direction of the impeller discharge. If you look at the direction the impeller rotates from the front, if it's clockwise, the chute should point right for instance. Just avoid an "S" bend on discharge if that makes sense? That and hosing it down with WD-40 or some other lubricant as well.
I like your idea though. It just seems to make sense having the impeller as efficient as possible.
Fluid film is a even better option for lubes, after it cures for 2 days it's a completely rust repelling/hydrophobic surface that will last 1000x longer than any others I've tried. My entire jd 3039r is coated in it. People even under coat their vehicles with it.
Thanks for the information on the video. I am in Canada too, however I picked up my mud flap from Princess Auto for $15. I found the ones you used at Canadian Tire and they were $40. I can't believe the difference in snow throwing performance this impeller modification made and I have a basic 179cc (5hp) motor on my 2 stage snow blower.
Glad you found this useful!
Home depot sells 3/8" thick 2" by 36" rubber strips for $5 that works perfectly
misterfakeid What department?
Put in SKU # 1005723447 on their website. They don't carry in stock. Special order. Just realized it's 1/4" and not 3/8" thick. Works just fine. Plenty sturdy for the job
Actually don't buy. Not strong enough. Ripped in half
Good video. I did the same or similar fix to my single stage craftsman snow blower and worked great with a small sample of snow. Not much snow left to test. Only issue was the extra noise from the flaps hitting the housing. I am told that the more I use it, the rubber will mold to the right size. A friend suggested that I use silicone spray. Thanks for your video.
That was a very solid idea, in that the gain of your throwing distance has easily increased 2 foot or more and that is the sheer reckoning! I must admit though, by using the so-called rubberized plastic, durability may be of a shortfall! depending on the composition of the material, plastic in itself does not fair well in the cold temperatures and has an absolute tendency to crack with ultimate ease! I would most likely use the sidewall of an old tire for material plus i would use stainless steel screws, along with heftier backing plate to secure the fresh made rubber materials! That backer plate could be made of perhaps ridged aluminum. Another thing to ponder would be is that in the event that one of those screws should come loose, you just might end up in your driveway for your car tire to run over! I would perhaps tap some threads into the impeller, use stainless bolts of a bigger diameter and use both the red thread locker and lock washers and stainless nuts to insure that nothing could come loose though! Other than that, I though it was an outstanding video Rob! Thank-You!!
As fletch said in the airport hangar it 's all ball bearings now and two gallons of Prestone
I did this to mine and it really works.
Great video! I just picked up a used machine and I plan on doing the same modification. Thank you
Done this for a while and is the best easy upgrade anyone can do to their snowblower as it makes a dramatic difference! Like someone else also said the rubber from old snowblower paddles works great if u can get ahold of any, or any other rubber that has reinforcements in it as they last much longer and don't tear half as easy. They do also make rubber sheets u can buy online of reinforced rubber. Either way it's just a fantastic idea! Now if I could just find a solution for my current snowblower so the shut control isn't such a giant turd!🤣 Thanks Cub Cadet for the terrible chute control design! Especially after owning better brands! 🤪
i can't wait to try this! hopefully it works with heavy wet slush. thx for the detailed video! merry christmas and happy new year! :-)
I never did any measuring. I simply made a cardboard template to fit the actual impeller blades being they are identical for each one and put 2 holes in the template for bolt location and used the template to cut the rubber as well. This made all impeller bolt hole locations almost identical and used SS carriage bolts x 2 per impeller blade.. A template is the only way to go without any guessing . Good luck trying to get in there and measure with any accuracy. Balance can be a issue if this is not done properly. Just take the time to make a good template. It will save you the time in the long run as well is as accurate as you can get.
I was kinda hoping that this video was you putting a super charger on it... but this works.
thanks for the info Rob. Also like the before and after examples. Wish all videos were this well done. Can't wait to try it.
But didn't Red Green use a small block Chevy V-8 as well?
Work superb , done this with old motorcycle tire to make the square ,
3 metal screw 1 1/4 per square
+Yannick Brochu - Yea or even small Car Donut Tire. I used the Small Donut Tire and Cut it and it lasted a long time.
Next, we will show you how to add a turbo.
What a great upgrade,thanks for the video and trick
Well done vid. Huge difference for a relatively small cost.
I just did this to my blower, I only had a 3/16" gap about. So I closed that up to about a 1/16" gap where it launches and it just touches the wall in a few spots as it goes around as the tub isn't concentric to the paddles perfectly. Overall I'm very happy with my blower before I did this as it throws about what your's does with your rubber paddles added. Mine is old and has a techumseh 5 HP engine. So I'm guessing Im not going to get much additonal throw as my gap wasn't too large to begin with. Yet it should be a little more. I'm expecting not to have to deal with the clogging that I've had to with spring snows which are just around the corner. I will put it to the test here in a few days as we are suppose to get our biggest storm of the past 7 years this week. Hopefully we get that snow and I can give a a try with good results.
The side wall of an old tire word great for this
Very clever. Thank you !!
Nice and I was expecting a super duper turbo modification or a blower.
It IS a super duper turbo modification!
That’s what I thought I thought he was installing the supercharger on there
I did mine here in Nova Scotia recently as well, used some stainless plates I made, a flap from the local heavy truck shop, and some bolts with nyloc nuts, makes a difference, they should come like that from the factory. Vid on my page
Tip: Before using, spray the entire front housing, impeller and chute with silicone, cooking spray, or the expensive spray made for this purpose. And when blowing thru slush, windshield deicer spray works great.
Have the same blower, issue is that is very light snow. When you get into heavy wet snow there isn't enough power and it bogs down. I fixed the situation with a Honda snowblower. Not an issue and it throws like a beast.
I too have upgraded to an Ariens as my main snowblower but checkout this followup video I made to show how the mod works in the wet stuff. ua-cam.com/video/KWZ1Sr1_OK4/v-deo.html
Video is informative and straight up lit like a ransom video.
I did that to one of my machines 5 years ago and yes it does work. I used conveyor belt. Its was way too difficult to run behind a transport truck with an exacto knife trying to cut off the mud flaps at 60 kilometers an hour. LOL Where did you get the idea? Off you tube no doubt.
Go to your local snowblower repair shop and ask them to save you the old paddles from a single stage thrower. Plenty of good, stiff rubber to cut and it's free!
I agree, also the paddles have cords in them, so they will last longer.
That's EXACTLY what I do as those reinforcements make a gigantic difference! They tear much harder but are still flexible for safety reasons, plus if they're too stiff it puts more wear on the motor...
LOCAL SNOWBLOWER REPAIR SHOP ??????? AS IF
I’d love to do this mod to an old Gravely snow cannon. Those attachments were known for throwing snow really far to begin with.
Nice video. I did this modification a few years ago on a 12 year old MTD machine. I used a $7, 1/4" thick rubber door mat to make the paddles out of. It increased the throw by quite a bit (especially with wet/slushy snow) and very rarely gets clogged anymore.
Kits can be purchased online for this - google 'snowblower impeller kit'. Or try Amazon They're about $25 to $30 per kit and you get pre-cut rubber and MUCH better metal plates. I used stainless screws and lock-nuts instead of the sheet metal screws to attach the impeller blades.
Originally I was going to order the kits and test them out but I could not wait a few weeks as the snow was coming and I wanted to test it out. In the end it still worked out to $25 each snowblower since I have two.
Richard Fallstich I do that modification for free using the best material they make. I use a Big Rigs mudflap which are made to hold up to the harshest conditions, self tap screws and metal plate bracket material. Done deal, cost, zero, free.
Thanks for nice instructions, but You did not mention removing the key or spark-plug to prevent unintentional engine starting. Thanks.
Or you can use an old piece of conveyor belt that works better because it has serrated sides and it will take and clean it a lot better
Not if you cut it straight!!
There are 2 Things that we do each time it Snow :(((... Although it SUCKS, but it makes Life a bit easier :))). 1. Use OLD Tires.... Cut it to FIT as a Mud Flap and best of all, they are FREE, when they worn, next year replace them again. My Dad use a Band Saw to Cut the Flap... He also make a Template for easy replacement each year :))). 2. Once your blower is Clogged or Freezes Up... We use a Garden Hose with HOT Water and Spray the Hell out of it. NOTE: Use a BIG Bucket, after cleaning, fill the Bucket with HOT Water, then put your Hose in there for the Next Clogged so the Garden Hose won't freeze during waiting :))).
I have a spray bottle with deicer on hand to spray it down after each use, as needed.
@@widetrackerinkazoo6559 - Well you have a drive way that is LONG.... Like 600+ Feet.... Garden hose is the only way!
Rob Hamel is awesome!
Holy cow,now that’s quite an improvement. I like the installation with self taping screws and strap. My snowblower is brand new so I won’t be modifying it till next year. But I will take videos this winter to compare to next year. Does modifications put any added stress on the engine?
James Sharier it can add stress to the belts but it’s not to bad
One the rubber takes shape it should be fine. You should drive at a slower speed for a bit but overall seems fine. I have done this to 4 different snowblowers now and they have all worked perfectly with no issues.
Nice teaching video
Thank you! Stay tuned for more!
Self tapping screws vs bolts? Metal? How about Stainless Steel or Monel?
Which engine is on that machine? I’m wondering if the little 179’s can handle the increased resistance, especially while the rubber is breaking in.
I did my Ariens 253cc and depending on the consistency of the snow we measured 32’ without and 53’ with the mod. In my walkway i was able to shoot the snow over my roof to the backyard mind you
I have a single family ranch. It def works and works well.
Good job!
Makes me wonder why they do not come from the factory this way.
Seems simple - 1/2 gap = issue = simple fix.
Thanks you sir for this video.
I am going to modify my 2007 Craftsman (MTD) this summer.
Got my butt kicked recently with slushy snow.
There is a very good reason the flaps don't come on the machine new. If the engineers who have been designing this equipment for the last 50 years or so thought the benefit was worth the extra cost, liability and machine longevity, they would all have these flaps.
Wouldn't the build up of ice on the casing take up that 1/2" space until the clearance was practically zero?
Yes.
How long does using mud flaps and self taping screws last on the snowblower
Nice job!
riding mower and plow …. coffee cup holder GREAT JOB
Do you know what a "supercharger" is?
Those are self-drilling screws, not self tapping screws. There are two types of self tapping screws: one has a very sharp point that can be used to pierce thin sheet metal, and the other type have an actual tap on the end that cuts threads into a pre-drilled hole in material.
Self drilling screws have a drill like end on them and actually drill a hole into the material.
I DID THAT 10 YEARS AGO AND STILL HAVE THE SAME PADDLES ON IT BUT YOU NEED BELTING MATERIAL FROM A CONVEYER BELT 1/4 INCH THICK
You're right this rubber does wear down over time and a belt material is the better way to go.
I cut extra material and sprayed with armorall. In case I need to replace in future.
Great modification
New subscriber
Cheers
thanks for the trick.
Good video and good end result. But is it really beneficial to throw the snow further? For my application, not really. Still - good job.
yes it is. I got 4.5 feet in One Night and subsequently 5-8 inches 3 days prior and 4 days after. The banks were so tall the blower couldn't throw the snow over them it would just fall back into the drive way
The snow we had that day was really fluffy and not the best example as to why you want to make this mod. Check out this video I did in really wet heavy snow and you can see the benefits. ua-cam.com/video/KWZ1Sr1_OK4/v-deo.html
Good job! She now throws twice as far.
I hate to bring this up, but PLEASE> PLEASE add a safety reminder to remove any chance of the unit starts. best method is to remove the spark plug!
Good I wonder why the snow throwing manufacturers don't do this, is it possibly a bad reason or ?
Clearance " Gap " for Rocks + Etc.... Regular " Stoopid " User Prevention! LMFAO
I got a transport mudflap for $18 and its thick and tough. Plus gives you enough to do about 10+ snowblowers
Get a junk used donut tire. Donut Tires is really thin and easy to cut as well. FREE !!!
why not use a clamp to hold the rubber?
The clamp will loosen and come off and I wouldn't want to be around it when it does.
@@chumleye1112 I was just talking about when he was drilling and putting in the screws. Then when the flaps are secure you have to take the vice grip/clamps off. I should have been more clear. Thanks.
@@mitchstaff8281 space is limited because youre working through the chute hole.and teh impeller arms arent flat. amany of teh have curves, so that would make it very hard to clamp.
How you doing bro
This rubber is available super cheap because it did not go through process of shaping or packaged with graphics on Amazon, just search for Styrene Butadiene Rubber SBR, you're looking for 1/4" with hardness rating shore 70
I found what you mentioned, is 2" wide wide enough?
@@physiques the stuff i bought came in a 12"x12" square. and you need about that much because at 1/4" thick you stack them two per blade and there are a few blades.. so you end up using most of that square
Spay some WD40 in there where the pads make contact until they are broken in
Should Remove spark plug wire from spark plug before doing this
osi2484 It’s not going to start by its self.
@@300zxdriver i was about to say the same thing....theres always 1 person that has to say that just to put their 2 cents in
This sounds like a good idea, but let me tell you what i did i purchased a cub cadet 30 inch 3 stage HD two years ago. when it comes to wet snow and plow mounds this thing is an animal i must admit i got cocky with it instead of using first or second speed in wet snow i put it fourth gear. smoked the belt so now its first gear only in the wet snow but it never clogged once.
3 stage blower would be awesome! But they tend to come with a higher price tag. This mod helps even the cheapest blower perform well. Here is another video I did with my other blower on a really wet rain-snow mix. ua-cam.com/video/KWZ1Sr1_OK4/v-deo.html
A friend with a snow removal business bent the augers up on one of those when he ran a chunk of hard frozen snow through it the third snowfall he used it on.
This mod is also designed to save th eowner from going out and spending a good grand or better on a new machine when they can simply upgrade theirs for minimal money.
Hey I installed this on my MTD. It does help throwing snow father as clearances in my stock machine is 1/2 inch. So that is the pro. Cons I noticed the drivetrain is more loaded for same cut. Do you have to pay more attention going forward like replacing anger belts more often as impeller is now more efficient pumping snow?
MrQuispamgolfer I noticed that too on my machine. I rotated my impeller to check the spacing and found it was different all around. I reset my flaps to the shortest spacing and that seemed to help
Mine has different clearances around housing as well. I used lightweight conveyor belt I got at tractor supply and made all touch the same. They rubbed for a bit but wore down till no longer rubs. That was 6 years ago and not a single issue! Also I use mine commercially!
I've seen this mod before, but your video is very thorough. Good job Rob. Curious if self tapping screws need a pilot hole, or if they'll cut right through the impeller?
I did this last year. Self tap didn't need pilot holes. I used a heavy truck mud flap and used a pair of razor scissors.
@@rywolf01 Great. Thanks for the reply. :)
Self tapping screws work for thin sheet metal, but what you really need are self-drilling screws. Seems like everyone is confused about the difference.
He is using self-drilling screws, not self tapping screws. Self tapping screws either are the type used for thin sheet metal, or are the ones that actually have a tap like end that cuts threads into a per drilled hole.
I have a 3 stage snowblower. Would this same mod work on that type of machine?
Typically 3 stage blowers are better machines and the gaps in the impeller are smaller so you probably do not need the mod.
I just bought my first house that has a large 4 car driveway behind the house so I actually have a driveway, they] driveway is actually up a steep hill. The previous homeowner told me the base of drive way/little hill is where you usually get a large collection of snow. Simple answer, I just bought a larger more powerful snowblower. My view on modifying anything is the same as a car, don't modify a depreciating asset.
The idea behind this mod is that not everyone can afford the bigger and more powerful blowers and there is a simple and affordable fix to make even the cheapest of blower perform well. The snow we had that day was really fluffy and not the best example as to why you want to make this mod. Check out this video I did in really wet heavy snow and you can see the benefits. ua-cam.com/video/KWZ1Sr1_OK4/v-deo.html
I've seen one of the biggest and best blowers, a $3,500 Ariens fail miserably in heavy waterlogged snow. If you live in an area with curb and gutters on the street, the melting snow means lots of water in the curb area.
Do you pick up
Barely a foot difference in snow throwing(keep in mind he moved over for next 2 passes), but worth every penny if it prevents clogging of wet snow!
That is not to best test for the mod but checkout this followup video I did with my other snowblower. Compared mine to my neighbor who had the same blower. ua-cam.com/video/KWZ1Sr1_OK4/v-deo.html
true , its more about not clogging than distance. Anyone can throw powder..how many ban throw the slush every time withought a single clog.
Briggs and Stratton sell a package if 2 pads holes ore drilled. Not expensive. Makes life easier. Get a long 1/4 drill bit mark your position and you're home free.
I agree with many of these posters- why not just buy a higher quality machine to begin with? My 45 year old Toro 824 has less than 3/16 clearance and Has never clogged, no matter what I blow.
It's NOT for " Clogging "..... It's mainly for throwing FAR !!!
I think I saw this fix on a Red Green show but they used duct tape 🤪 only n Canada
Here I thought we were gonna be putting a blower on my snowblower motor. Guess I bought this super charger for nothing
After done, it's going to throw FAR !!! That is what they called " Super Charge " !!!
Just use a old paddle from a S-200 or from a power curve paddle.
I did the modification as instructed, but for some reason I still get clogs with wet snow. Any suggestions?
Send me a couple of pictures of the install and I will have a look. info@hamelrealty.com
it will clog only if you stop the auger while in the slush...pull the machine backwards before stopping the auger. it allows the chute to clear its throat. So pull back and let the auger run for about 5 seconds and you wont have any clogging.
I don’t think mine has plugged up even once since I did this years ago. You would think that the manufactures would put this on if only to be a safety feature to keep people from losing their fingers. How many people have gotten the tips of their fingers chopped off in the infamous place where they always get clogged🤬.
$ thats what its all about. The manufacturers saving money
I supercharged my snowblower and got a speeding ticket
$50? For some hunks of rubber, and some self tapping screws? C'mon
Hi, I'm struggling to find any "uniform" chunks of rubber, any ideas??
You guys wanna know the best snow clearing Mod there's ever been?
Head South.... 🍻🍻🍻
No thanks. I'll enjoy my peace and quiet instead.
And burn in the heat....No thanks.
40 years ago you bet! Today , eh no thanks. Why is simple ; everyone went there and sort of ruined the place. It’s getting easier to live in the Tundra every year . For the record., no I don’t as many delude themselves “ like the cold “....