A walk down the hill to my car.I drive to town and chat.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
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Saturday, December 10, 2011
Apartments.com Stoney Creek Highlands Apartment Homes Community in Rapid City, SD
View Property Details on Apartments.com: www.apartments.com CommunityStoney Creek Highlands Apartment Homes 2710 Wilkie Dr. Rapid City SD 57702 Please contact the leasing office at Stoney Creek Highlands Apartment Homes for detailed driving directions. As you look for your new home, you can have all the amenities and conveniences of the rich and famous without signing up for a 30-year mortgage. Who wouldn't love to use their free time doing things they enjoy instead of going out to mow in 100-degree heat, or shoveling snow in minus 0 temperatures before starting their day? How can these chores possibly compare to coming home to relax in the hot tub or infrared sauna before taking a cooling dip in the heated outdoor pool?Stoney Creek Highlands Apartment Homes offer all the latest upgrades you would choose in building your house--brushed nickel hardware, granite counter tops, garbage disposals, icemakers, doorbells, central air, 9' ceilings, wired for high-speed Internet/digital cable, undermount bath sinks, and many more--we've done the choosing with you in mind. Stop in to choose your apartment home today.Future residents must provide completed applications for each adult, proof of income, and 50 security deposit. Application may be completed online at www.stoneycreekhighlands.com with proof of income faxed to the leasing office at 605-718-2220. Please call the leasing office with any questions. Stoney Creek Highlands Apartment Homes offer all the latest upgrades you ...
Friday, December 2, 2011
Go Green Winter: Heat
Think there's nothing you can do to Go Green this winter in 1 Minute? Starring: Noah Diamond Written by: Julie Tortorici & Jessica Arinella Shot, Edited and Directed by: Alicia Arinella Produced by: On the Leesh Productions Music by: Banana Whale What You Can Do Logo Created by: SCG Siddharth Creative Group Statistical Information from: The EPA - www.epa.gov Additional Footage Provided by: Shutterstock, Inc. Used by Permission Special Thanks: Dennis Arinella For more information, please visit - www.whatyoucando365.com
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Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Life in the Philippines
Living in Asia has its rewards, but also unique drawbacks. I am a retired engineer from America, who decided to move to the Philippines for the rest of my life. Living in the Asia may not be the best choice for everyone, but for me, this is paradise. Since I cannot yet speak Tagalog, I found someone to be my life partner who has studied English and used it regularly. Her dad was a high school principal and also taught English. She has been my lover, my closest friend, my confidant, and my guide. We have rarely been apart since I arrived. I thank God everyday for her and her family. They have made sure that my adjustment to this island has been safe and happy.
The Pro's
Winter Escape: There is no winter and no snow here! Personally, I did not like the snow, or the cold weather for so many months of the year. Here in Luzon, we have two seasons, Summer and Rainy season. Through both seasons, it's in the high 70's to low 90's Fahrenheit; 24-34C. We need no heating system like we did in America. It cost over 0 to top off an oil tank every 5 weeks during the winter of 2010 in America! No heating system required in the Philippines is, all by itself, a huge savings. Being an American, I still like to have a warm shower. I use a hot water heater for the shower that works on electric energy. We'll discuss that more later.
English: Many people understand and speak English. I have traveled to many places in Luzon and have spoken with so many people in various career fields, from doctors to carpenters, plumbers, electricians and farmers. Most of the people understand and can speak enough English to carry a conversation. Finances: The dollar to peso ratio fluctuates constantly, however it has been between 47-42:1 and it remains such that even on a retirement income you will be able to live your life in relative comfort and without the constant worry of "just not enough" that I was facing in America. I had some savings when I came to the Philippines, now I wish I had more. My income has been limited to my retirement income for the most part. I have found that my income is enough for a family to live on if I use a good budget. So, we have developed a weekly and monthly budget for food and necessities and it includes the utilities and gas for our motorcycle and other transportation we use.
Less Regulation: I look forward to starting a business here in the Philippines. In order to start any business you must go to the local Barangay and present the idea to them. If approved to perform your business where you would like it, you will receive a Barangay certificate. Once your business takes off, the government wants to collect taxes. Therefore, you must apply for a VAT ID, "Value Added Tax ID". Using this number will alert the government of your income status and they will expect a regular deposit to cover your taxes. The tax rate won't come close to what it is in America, so don't worry.
Hopefully the business I choose to start will make my retirement income a "second" income. When that happens, we will be able to enjoy traveling and relaxing. We have performed market studies and developed spreadsheets to evaluate about a dozen new enterprises over the last year. One of the primary Keys to success in the Philippines is much less business regulation from the Federal, State (Provincial) and Local governments. Entrepreneurs are actually encouraged here!
Life Pace: I don't know about your life, but mine was extremely stressful because of the fast-paced American lifestyle. We constantly hurried from the time we woke up, until the time we crawled in bed. Work must start on time; meals must be taken at particular times; meetings must be accomplished on time; weekly reports are due on time; we had rush hour traffic going to work at speeds above 80MPH and coming home from work at nearly the same speed. Once home, we must do whatever is required so the next day is not jeopardized by what needs to be done. Cut a half acre of grass, or shovel 4500 square feet of snow! Make sure to get up at 3AM so you don't miss a work day!
Thank God, ALL of that is over! Life in the Philippines is much slower. It has taken me over a year to slow down, and I am still learning. We joke about "American" time vs. "Filipino" time. National highway speed is marked 60KPH, about 37MPH. The expressway tops out at 120KPH, but in actuality it is hard to do 100KPH, about 62MPH because of so much traffic. It is rare when someone demands that you are on time for an appointment. I don't want to let go completely, but I sure like those days I am able to sleep in late and not worry about having to meet someone or be somewhere. Just as life is slower here, I am learning that family is VERY important. I never learned that lesson in America, perhaps because we never gave ourselves time to listen to each other. Yes, the pace of life here is a definite PLUS.
Transportation: I love the flexible methods of transportation here. Public transportation by bus and jeepney and tricycle are all readily available, even well into the night hours, most anywhere on Luzon. You can take a 3 hour air conditioned bus trip to Manila for 130 pesos. Travel to local markets on a jeepney or tricycle for under 50 pesos. Use the jeepney for long distance traveling and then use a tricycle to bring you to the door for very little money.
For private transportation; I use my motorcycle (motor) as much as possible. I usually ride with my wife and have driven by the back roads to Manila, a 6 hour ride by small motor. Finding a good place to stay for the night is not hard, and we have done that on longer trips. We enjoy riding and spending that time together. We have taken 100km trips on the motor and had lunch and dinner while on the road, enjoying the island and each other. Traveling by car is not a bad idea, but the price of gas is going up all around the world. Filling my motor costs about 300 pesos about US, and it lasts me all week. Filling a car on the other hand is over 1000 pesos and that lasts about one day if you travel to Manila and return that day. We now have good reason to use a diesel engine, although the fuel costs are about the same but the mileage is higher for the diesel.
You can't beat the price of a trip by bus, and then use either jeepney or tricycle.
Con's
Drivers: I have quickly learned that just because driver's take tests to obtain their license, does NOT mean they follow the written or rules of the road for driving in real life situations. I have found that among all of the driver's NOT to trust on the road are:
1) Tricycle driver's; who pull in front of you and either stop or do not allow enough room for you to slow down, forcing you off the road quickly. This is made MUCH worse when the roadside is made from gravel and your on a motorcycle that is now going too fast for the gravel.
2) Jeepney driver's; who without warning pull off the road, usually to the right side. This may not sound bad until you are caught on their right side in the slow lane when they decide to cut you off the road.
3) Motorcycle drivers; who will find any tiny space to fit their bike into and pass you quickly and without warning. This may not sound like a bad thing, until you hit one of them, even after you checked three mirrors to assure no one was there and in a flash - boom, there they are! I believe this nation needs to be made aware of the rules of the road and safe driving habits.
Electric Rates: I have found that the electric rates here are twice what I paid in America per kWh! Does that seem right? People here are forced to reduce their electric light bulb wattage so that it is not dark, but extremely difficult to read, unless you want to spend over 100 times what the average Filipino spends on electricity. Just using the shower water heater I spoke of earlier adds significantly to the electric bill as it draws 6kWh. I am seriously thinking of building my own sun heated water heater, with a small aquarium water pump to circulate the water and bring it to temperature and a gravity feed for domestic use. Job Availability: While some jobs will always be available, knowing someone is the best way to secure a job here. Even college graduates find obtaining any job, entry level or above, a very difficult task. For so many common jobs, you must be between 20 and 25 years of age. If not, your application just sits and you do not find work. This is why the best jobs are actually found abroad for the average Filipino. Places like Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, a seaman's job and other domestic helpers are sought in Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, etc.
Local Pay Rates: Local pay rates leave much to be desired in the American's eyes. Working all week for 1200 pesos, about is not our cup of tea. How can they even pay the electric bill much less feed and cloth kids and pay school rates? It's these conditions that drive the Filipina to go abroad and seek employment so that the rest of the family can get along. Sometimes, the rest of the family becomes relatives, etc. who may have emergency needs.
Finding Supplies: Finding a source of supply is very difficult for many mechanical parts, electrical fixtures, tools and other most common things found in America. You would think that the proximity to China would lend to being able to get anything you want in the Philippines. But the truth is; I can't even find replacement ink fillings for my pen! Tools that were always available and mainly made in China are not even offered for sale here.
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Saturday, November 26, 2011
The Summer Style of Hawaiian Shirts
The days are stretching, becoming longer, shrinking and warming the nights. The dreary days of winter are finally behind us. No more ice hanging from the roof. Pack the snow shovel away, the driveway won't need cleared for months. The wet afternoons of spring have evaporated in the shining sun. As we put on sunglasses and relish in the warmth we've been missing since last September, a new found appreciation swells inside. If we could, we'd hug the sun; thank it for giving us the sunny days and a reason to hit up the pool or beach. The plausibility of doing this is non-existent; we'd burst in the vacuum of outer space and fricassee ourselves on the sun's surface. But there's a way to share in the warmth and brightness of the sun: Hawaiian shirts.
Summer Fashion
I mentioned Hawaiian shirts, and you're thinking, "Dude, I'm not going to a luau." Maybe you're not, and perhaps you should reexamine your life. After thorough introspection, if you still feel that there are no luaus on the horizon, don't dismiss the fashionable quality of Hawaiian shirts. Their bright, tropical designs are an affirmation of the summer sunshine, and are tantamount to fun. I'm not talking about the Hawaiian shirts you'll find at Target, they lack the dignity that a true tropical shirt aspires to. Authentic island shirts are designed through a process known as Batik.
Batik Designed Hawaiian Shirts
Batik is the ancient art of hand painting fabrics. While its exact origins are unknown, the earliest surviving artifacts of this craft date back 1500 years to Egypt and the Middle East. While batik's roots can be traced back to the Middle Eastern region of the world; the islands of Indonesia have perfected this delicate art. Batik is a rigorous process that requires patience and a steady hand. Cotton, silk or rayon with a high thread count is used because they absorb the wax best during the dying process. A white cloth is placed on the table, and a stencil is used to create the design. Once the design is drawn, wax is applied to the stenciled design.
The cloth is then placed in a dye bath. The waxed designs stay white. A second application of wax, this time darker, is applied to add color to the design. The cloth is dyed again. The waxed designs are then heated and scraped, removing all the wax but leaving the designs. Two new coats of wax are added for color and defined edges. A third dye bath is given. Afterwards, the wax is again removed. The batik process is complete; the original white cloth has been transformed into a beautiful crafted shirt. If properly cared for, a batik designed Hawaiian shirt will last for years; it's only threat is an expanding waist line.
Vacation
It's summer time and open season for family vacation, time to sit by the pool or tan on the beach. What better what to cherish the rays than with a breathable Hawaiian shirt? Bright and bold, it tells the world you're ready for fun but understand the importance of style. Don't be worried about designs, with a multitude of hand painted batik styles to choose from, you'll be ready for any situation. Flower or bamboo forest designed shirts are made for relaxing dinners and late nights. For the days lounging by the ocean, seaweed, turtle or wave designs express the weightlessness of the ocean.
Hawaiian Style
Step into the summer fun with a gorgeous Hawaiian shirt. Enjoy the relaxation and sunshine in style. Tropical styles allow you to be classy and laid back simultaneously; something every man is looking for as they take to the beach or head to the pool. Don't get left out this summer, find the Hawaiian shirt that's right for you and get ready for the fun and excitement.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
A Look at the 2009 Arctic Cat ATV Line Up
Got a need for a specialized ATV or UTV? Arctic Cat is trying to fill it with its dynamic 2009 model lineup that was unveiled at its hometown 2009 dealer meeting in Thief River Falls, Minn., in early June.
The company has several new models featuring more power, and some featuring less power.
Most of its machines ride a little bit lower for 2009, though one purpose-built mud machine rides a lot higher.
Cat engineers built more machines for two-passenger riding, and at the same time expanded options for younger riders. They rolled out a new Prowler UTV that's going to bring sheer joy to performance junkies, and another new working-class Prowler that screams "utility."
Cat's got a new engine of its own, a 545cc liquid single, that is found in an H1 model, a 2-up TRV and a Prowler, and expanded the Thundercat engine. It also introduced new 150- and 300-class engines shared with KYMCO that are placed in a machine aimed at a new "transitional" market and a new sport quad, respectively.
All totaled, Arctic Cat eliminated 9 machines for 2009, including the 700 Diesel, 400 4x4, two DVX models (400 & 250) and two TRVs (650 & 500), while creating 13 new models. New machines include:
o Two new Prowlers, headlined by the Prowler XTZ 1000, featuring the 951cc liquid-cooled twin introduced in last year's Thundercat, plus a Prowler 550 flatbed, featuring the new 545cc single and a flatbed rear.
o Three new TRV (Two Rider Vehicle) models, including a full-featured TRV 1000 Cruiser, plus a TRV 550 and TRV 400.
o An exciting, custom-made-for-mudding 700 MudPro, featuring huge tires, a snorkel and 14 inches of ground clearance.
o The scaled down Arctic Cat 150 - the first in an emerging class of quads aimed at teenagers 14 years and older.
o Three sporty new DVX models, including a DVX 300, plus new kids DVX 90 and 50 models.
o Two other new kids quads, 50cc and 90cc utility machines.
Plus, all full-sized Cats except the MudPro get new ergos and ride height this year, taking advantage of the suspension sit-in and lower seat that made the Thundercat ergos so popular in its debut last year. So sit down, Barack, because Arctic Cat appears to have cornered the market on change.
Not For Mr. Lonely
In these tough times in the ATV market, only one segment is experiencing growth: multi-passenger vehicles. Whether the seating is front-and-back or side-by-side, ATVs and UTVs that allow drivers to share the experience with a passenger are hot, and Arctic Cat is aiming to capitalize.
For traditional ATV riders, Cat is expanding its TRV Cruiser line while tweaking the engine options on the standard TRVs.
"We're one of only three manufacturers offering 2-ups, and now we're offering the best of the best," explained Ole Tweet, general manager of Cat's ATV division and VP of new product development.
There are two Cruiser models - a TRV 1000 H2 EFI Cruiser featuring the Thundercat's big 90-degree twin, and the TRV 700 H1 EFI Cruiser featuring Cat's 700-class fuel injected single - and both are glorious. They have a long list of standard features that includes a tall windshield connected to a new 2-piece fairing; mirrors; a cup holder; a comfortable 2-up seat with heated hand grips and a comfy backrest for the passenger; heated handlebars; a huge, lockable touring/storage case in back; and classy looking, 12-inch machined aluminum wheels. The 700 even comes standard with a winch.
We only had a brief chance to ride the Cruisers on a small test track set up for the demos, so our evaluation is far from complete. But, from what we saw, our now one-issue-old 2008 ATV Of The Year - the Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI Touring - already has stiff competition.
The other two 2-up ATVs are the TRV 550, featuring Cat's new engine, and a TRV 400, featuring a 366 air-cooled single. On the new 550, Cat is claiming the top horsepower in its class, though they were unaware of the new Yamaha and Polaris mills being released when they made that claim. We'll be sure to run them off and name a winner for you. The standard TRVs don't have quite as long of a list of standard features as the Cruisers, but still make nice 2-up buggies, thanks to an expanded wheelbase and a nice seating setup.
On The Prowl
Like the TRVs, the side-by-side Prowler UTVs benefit from two of Cat's newest powerplants - the 1000 and the 550.
The Prowler XTZ 1000 truly delivers ecstasy when you plant the gas pedal to the floor - it accelerates harder than any UTV on the market, bar none.
Driving over consecutive bumps, we were able to get this big dog to wheelie, but that's not to say that it's unstable.
Cat engineers redesigned the suspension systems on the Prowler 1000, lowering the ride height. With it, ground clearance dropped from 12.5 inches to a still respectable 10 inches, but it also stabilized the machine. Dual A-arm front and rear suspensions each offer 10 inches of travel.
As fun as the XTZ is to drive, it's also easy on the eyes. It gets "sunset orange" paint with flame graphics. A hood scoop in front is all aesthetic - it connects to nothing - but it creates a real boss look. Foot rails, box rails, a custom-looking steering wheel, high-end shocks and a wide rear-view mirror all come standard.
The popular Prowler XTX 700 H1 EFI and Prowler XT 600 HI return largely unchanged. Features like aluminum wheels, tilt steering and a turf-saver setting come on the 700, and both have 12.5 inches of ground clearance and 10 inches of travel.
New for 2009 is a Prowler 550 H1 EFI Flatbed. As the name implies, it gets the new 550-class single from Cat, plus a flatbed in the back instead of a box. It was described by Cat officials as the work/utility-oriented "price buster" in the Prowler lineup.
Custom Build For Muddy Bob
Literally moments after the first wave of dealers saw the new 700 H1 EFI MudPro, message boards on mudder sites were going wild with buzz over the most ready-for-action mud machine ever built by any manufacturer.
The MudPro is far more than a name and cool graphics. It's got multiple features that make it ready for the soupiest, sloppiest sink holes around. Starting from the ground up, it rides on giant, 28-inch High Lifter Outlaw MST tires mounted on 12-inch machined aluminum wheels. They attach to a raked suspension that features 14 inches of ground clearance.
Most notable at a glance, however, is a high-water snorkel that sucks in air higher than the handlebars. It also comes standard with front and rear bumpers, wide fenders and a 3000-pound winch "for pulling the other guys out," a Cat official quipped.
The clutching and 4.0 gearing on the machine are specifically set up for mudding, Cat officials said. We didn't get a chance to go bogging on it yet, but even taking it for a test drive on the small dealer demo course, the MudPro felt very tall, strong and competition-ready.
A New Class For Emerging Riders
Cat's other class-breaker is the all-new 150 2x4. For years, riders and some factory officials have complained that there aren't any machines for teenagers who are too big for a 90 but not old enough for a full-sized utility quad - in fact, all factory warning stickers tell owners that their full-sized quads are for ages 16 and up only. But sticking a 180-pound 15-year-old on a 90 is ridiculous.
Finally, after the manufacturers worked with the Specialty Vehicle Industry Association, a class was created for these "tweeners" or, as Cat called them, "transitional riders." The first model released for them is Cat's 150.
It features a smallish chassis, smaller than the 200s and 250s on the market, yet notably larger than the 90s. Its 149cc KYMCO-built engine is twice-governed through the CVT transmission. In stock form, it'll top out at about 20 mph. Remove one spacer, and it'll reach up to 30 mph. Remove both spacers, and the climbing belt will allow the machine to max out at 38 mph.
The machine comes with twin headlights and taillights, digital instrumentation and forward and reverse gears, and it weighs in at a claimed 334 pounds.
The 150 is fun. We took it for about 15 laps around the demo course and didn't want to get off - it's like a mid-sized go-cart. We tortured it over bumps and jumps and rollers, and it kept asking for more, and we could envision our own kids transitioning from their little quads to this machine in the future.
What Else Is New?
The DVX lineup changed significantly. Cat officials dumped both the Suzuki-based DVX 400 and the KYMCO-based DVX 250 and settled on a DVX 300. It's closer in substance to the 250, featuring a dual overhead cam 270cc that's got the same bore as last year's 250, but with a longer stroke and two additional valves (now 4).
At 44.7 inches, it's 3 inches wider than last year's 250 but an inch narrower than the 400. A dual A-arm front suspension and swingarm in the rear handle the moguls, with new shock calibrations and adjustable preload up front. Power is put through a CVT tranny.
Like the 150 2x4, it feels like a transitional model more than anything. It won't be confused with a race quad, but it's fun and sporty nonetheless. Cat also expanded its kids quad lineup. The 90cc sport and utility machines are governed through the CVT to allow them to be certified for a Y10 category (ages 10 and older), with two settings - 15 mph and 30 mph. That eliminated the need for a 70, so Cat launched utility and sport quads. The 90s feature reverse gear - a rare feature for kids quads.
- John Prusak
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Monday, November 21, 2011
Heating Your Homemade Greenhouse With Active Solar Energy - Part I
If you had a large commercial greenhouse, you'd probably heat it with natural gas or propane in the winter, and write off the expense as part of doing business. This just isn't feasible with a homemade greenhouse. The cost of fuel would be prohibitive.
Let's discuss greenhouse heating in the winter with active solar energy that can be stored for release when the sun isn't shining.
First of all, a homemade greenhouse is usually much smaller than what you might find in a commercial operation. This makes it more difficult when it comes to regulating heat. Any heat that you get built up can quickly be released through leaky seams and doors that are opened too frequently and for too long.
Second, it is typical for a homemade greenhouse to be made of a single layer of plastic film. This provides little insulation value, so when the sun goes down, the temperature drops like a rock and quickly matches outside temperatures, or only a degree or two warmer.
Now, add a couple of days with limited sunshine, and you have a cold greenhouse that probably is the same temperature as outdoors. It only offers protection from the wind and snow, but doesn't have the ability to release stored energy to help moderate temperature swings.
One way to tackle this problem is an active solar heating system that makes use of solar energy during the day, and stores it for use when the sun isn't shining. Here is one approach.
Bury hot water piping under the floor of the greenhouse walkways and beds, and pipe warm water through it from one or more solar collectors. This warms the floor and allows the soil to act as a "thermal battery" to keep greenhouse temperatures elevated during the night and when the sun isn't providing warmth during the day.
In my first greenhouse, I buried hot water piping about one foot deep in all areas where it was possible to lay a trench. A foot or more deep protects the piping from shovels and roto-tillers, and gives you plenty of moist soil above for storage of energy. If you can keep the piping a foot or closer together, the heat will have a good chance of saturating the soil with heat on its way up to the surface. Use smaller piping, like one half inch or three quarter inch to provide lots of surface area for releasing heat.
The next step is to create an insulated reservoir about 4 to 5 feet deep. The reservoir needs an inlet near the top for adding water, venting, and to allow water to return from the circuit. It also needs an outlet near the bottom for the pump that will circulate water through the system. I used a stainless steel tank as the reservoir so plumbing fittings for the pump would be secure.
I attached the temperature probe from an indoor/outdoor thermometer low on the side of the tank so I can keep an eye on tank temperatures using the remote display mounted on the greenhouse wall. The tank was then placed inside of a 55 gallon plastic barrel and insulated with paper and fiberglass material.
The pump was mounted outside the plastic barrel and plumbed through to the steel tank. The pump was covered with a 5 gallon bucket mounted horizontally. Everything was strapped in place and sealed against dirt and water intrusion.
This deep reservoir design allows warm water from the system to drain back into the reservoir after the system is shut down. This large volume of warm water provides freeze protection to the reservoir and pump.
The system can be operated manually or set up with a high temperature switch to activate it when the sun is shining. All said and done, the system heats the ground to about 106 degrees in the spring over several hours of operation. It has worked flawlessly, and clearly showed its benefits once when nighttime temperatures dropped to just below freezing and the inside of the greenhouse stayed at 43 degrees.
The system costs about 0 to construct, using a pump, insulating materials and about 150 feet of three quarter inch Pex piping that were new from the home improvement store. The balance of the system was used or obtained at the scrap yard. There is no fuel bill for this heating system, and the electricity costs for the pump are about 20 cents a day. That's a cheap way to use active solar energy for greenhouse heating.
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Thursday, November 10, 2011
Looking After Your Snow Blower
Have you ever went out to shovel or snow blow your driveway and not be able to start your snow blower? Most likely your snow blower would not start because the motor was to cold. Put a portable heater by the crank case and warm up the oil and it should start. That takes about an hour depending on how cold it is.It works the same as a block heater in a car. If you do not have a portable heater use a hair dryer.
If you have a garage or a shed keep your blower in out of the weather and make sure that you remove most of the snow and ice before storage. Otherwise wet snow will cause it to freeze up. Also make sure your auger is free of snow or ice. If the auger is frozen it could cause you to break a shear pin or a belt.
If you have a heated garage make sure you have a gas line antifreeze not the regular one but there is a special one that you can use. Check with your dealer. There is one that you can use in snow blowers and snowmobiles. Condensation might build up in your gas lines or tank in a heated garage causing the snow blower to back fire and maybe freeze up in the cold. The gas line antifreeze should take care of that problem. You should change oil regularly. That will help starting and your snow blower will warm up faster, It is easy to change the oil on most. Use a light weight oil 5W30. If you don't want to change oil (I highly recommend this anyway) use synthetic oil 0W30 OR 5W30. Your dealer should have synthetic oil. I believe that using synthetic oil and changing oil regularly is the life of a machine.
When you start your machine don't start on full throttle. You could blow your motor as it takes a few seconds for the oil to circulate especially if you use regular 5W30 oil or if it needs an oil change. When it is real cold the motor is stiff and the oil could be thick. I have two snow blowers. I had 5W30 regular in one and synthetic 5W30 in the other. Last week it was minus 34 and a windchill in the minus 40's The one with the regular oil would not start. The one with the synthetic did.I changed the oil in the other one, used synthetic and it started.
Keep your throttle on a little over half when starting and let you machine warm up. Test your auger before snow blowing. Also when you shut down your machine turn the throttle of slowly. Don't blow snow at full speed. Use first gear for heavy snow and second or third gear for light snow, I recommend only first and second but a lot of people use third. The higher gears should be used only for travel ling your snow blower from one point to another. For instance I have two driveways on both corners of my house 40 ft apart so I use high speed to travel the blower to the second driveway. You should see you a dealer and have you machine checked over Make sure your belts are not worn. I always try and keep spare belts on hand.
Life could be a little miserable if you don't look after your snow blower especially in Northern Canada where we get a lot of snow, wind and cold. A couple days ago it went from minus 30 to 0 degrees in 36 hours and we had rain. We also had a foot of snow. The next time I went to start my snow blower It would not move. The wheels were frozen I hit the wheels with a rubber maul a couple of times before the blower moved. I hope you find this information helpful.
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