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Home My WebLink AboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-12-02, Page 66wirqnyeirestmas deny ee ► s(Merry efaisfina4c' e°; ras Page 21 With all the snow, you may consider a snow thrower Can I afford a snowthrower? Will I use it of snow can the machine handle in a single `activates the forward and reverse action, enough . while the other controls the auger and high of unit to I need? the a1 handlesei What type Pas speed impeller. Make sure that the clutches of unit do I need? Can I it? Rotors And Multi-Positionalare easy to grip and close. If they're too Eachwinter, first-time ques snowthrower Axles taut your hands can become fatigued while buyerss ask themselvess these questions. The rotor is the spinning part that gathers snowthrower. And the i Even so, many end up spending too much on snow into the machine. Among thep newest o oeeratdatin tension- the in your arms can translaten machine too powerful for their needs. The types of rotors is a bell -curve shaped rotor to sore muscles and back pains. Chutes A chute controls the snow stream. Well- designed chutes should concentrate the snow "plume" into a stream instead of a fan -shaped • discharge pattern that can be easily blown about by strong winds. Look for a model with an easily manipulated direc- tional chute and a handle for turning the key to buying the right snowthrower is to thoroughly research the options. Snowthrowers are more popular than ever, according to the Outdoor Power Equipment. Institute. "In the past, snowthrowers were con- sidered a luxury item," says Bert Thomp- son, Toro marketing manager for snow pro- ducts. "Our research indicates snowthrowers are taking on a role similar to the family lawn mower." Single Or Two -Stage The first choice in buying a snowthrower is between single -stage and two-stage models. There can be several hundred dollars difference between these two types of snowthrowers. Small andmid-size snowthrowers referred to as "single -stage". They gather snow with a high-speed rotor and throw it out of the machine in a single action. Larger models are called two-stage. A two-stage model breaks up snow with a slow -turning auger, then passes the snow to a high-speed impeller system that blows it out through a chute. Single -stage units costs about $230 to $500 and weigh 17 to 75 pounds. Two-stage machines weigh 140 to 300 pounds and usual - 1 ll for about $650 to $1500 Of the two that improves the performance of some new single -stage snowthrowers. The bell -curve type rotor also has a self-propelling action to pull the machine along, making it easier to push. On two-stage units, the rotor or auger turns more slowly than on single -stage models. The auger is designed to break up ice and crusty snow. Be sure an auger has thick spiraling metal, strong enough to break up the crusty ice packs left by snowplows at the bottom of your driveway. On crusty snow, snowthrowers frequently ride up and over drifts instead of plowing through them. A new feature on some two- stage snowthrowers eliminates this problem. A multi -positional axle enables the operator, with the shift of a lever, to move the wheels to the rear of the machine from directly underneath the engine. This adds 55 to 65 lbs. of additional weight on the front of the machine, keeping it down in the toughest snow. In light snow, the wheels can be returned to normal center position for easier maneuvering. Two Or Four -Cycle "Compare snowthrower engines to lawn mower engines," says Thompson. "Toro in- troduced the first snowthrowers when y se realized that lawn mower engines types, two-stage units are the most powerful engineers frame and can throw as much as a ton of snow per §P!d�g padd ted onto a wheel to throw sn w. ", fast - minute. This season, however, a new generation of Two types of engines are used on mid-size single -stage models is available snowthrowers,Two-cycle enl two-cycle and common on le. with performance equal to smaller two- n -cengines snowthrowers are most and use an oe snowthrowers.utThese new models can soil/gasoline mixture. Four-cycle engines throwhigsnow up to 30 feet and up to 15 feet h. armost often used on two-stage snowthrowers. The newer two-cycle and four-cycle engines have vastly improved starting ease, durability and fuel efficiency compared to conventional motors. Electric start is usual- ly not needed on these models. But if you want it, add $80 to the pricetag. Clutches Two-stage units have two hand grips. One How Far And How High - These are the most important factors in measuring the performance of a snowthrower. You'll want a model that will throw snow clear of wide driveways, not part of the way across where it will need to be removed again. Almost as important is how many inches Follow these steps for a safe Christmas December 23,1976 Clinton News -Record Make sure you and your family have a happy Christmas by taking a few precau- tions to avoid accidents:that can mar your enjoyment. St. John Ambulance provides the following check list of things to do for a safe and injury free holiday season. 1. Be sure your Christmas tree is standing in a_pail of water to keep it from drying out. 2. Make sure yourtreelights are in good condition with no frayed cords. 3.When decorating the tree be sure to use a sturdy stepladder instead of a chair or stool. 4. Make sure children's toys are sturdy and suitable for their age group. chute that you can reach easily from the 5. For small children, get presents that have no sharp edges. 6. Don't use flammable articles for decorations. 7. Keep your tree a safe distance from a fireplace and be sure to use a fire screen to keep sparks from your floor and rugs. 8. Keep your sidewalks and steps free of ice. 9. Ifyou and your or, children s, skate, make snowshoe, toboggan sure you do it.in a designated area. 10. Avoid painful frostbite by wearing the proper protective clothing. 11. Drive carefully when winter road condi- tions are icy or snow causes poor visibility. operation position. Where To Shop Most snowthrowers are sold at power equipment dealers or hardware stores says Toro's Thompson. "The most important thing is to buy your snowthrower from dealers who stand behind the products they sell and offer service and maintenance. The most reputable dealers are usually the ones authorized by snowthrower manufacturers." One of the best ways to avoid getting snowed when buying a snowthrower is to do background research. Check the November 1985 issue of consumer Reports for the magazine's most recent snowthrower test article. 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