Convenient and functional equipment: Alco snow blowers and their characteristics

Convenient, functional snow clearing equipment helps you cope with drifts without much effort.

A large number of companies are involved in the production of snow blowers. Among the world leaders is the AL-KO trademark.

An overview of the Alco snow blower model range is presented in the article.

Manufacturer's description

AL-KO KOBER GROUP is a company that produces:

• air conditioning and ventilation systems,
• agricultural and garden equipment,
• automobile components and other goods.

The history of the company begins in the 30s of the last century. At the beginning of its existence, the company was a small metalworking workshop in Grosquetz, Germany. AL-KO has been around for almost 100 years.

AL-KO models produced include gasoline, electric and battery versions of varying power and functionality. This allows each consumer to choose the appropriate option for themselves, taking into account the conditions and requirements.

Advantages and disadvantages of snow removal machines

AL-KO snow blowers are popular products sold all over the world.

Their main advantages are:

• variety of models;
• ergonomics of the organization;
• functionality;
• attractive design;
• Ease of Management;
• not difficult to maintain;
• headlights on most models;
• convenient adjustment;
• the presence of an electric starter on gasoline models;
• high quality;
• reliability.

The disadvantages of AL-KO include the following factors:

• cost of highly functional models;
• Not all snowfields have headlights;
• There may be difficulties with original spare parts;
• Not all equipment sales points have all models in stock.

Popular models

Among the popular AL-KO models in demand are snowmen that run on gasoline, batteries and electricity. Each option has its own strengths and weaknesses.

SnowLine 46 E

The electric snow blower has a power of 2000W. This is a compact model with a low weight of 15 kg. The snow plow is designed for removing loose snow that has not yet compacted. The width of the snow mass is 46 cm. The height of the snow intake is 30 cm.

A special feature of this model of snow blower is its fairly quiet operation. The screw is a combination of metal and rubber.

The maximum range of snow throwing is relatively small, up to 6 meters. There are no heated grips, and there is no headlight either. The cost of AL-KO is from 16,000 rubles.

SnowLine 760TE

Gasoline quite powerful self-propelled snow blower AL-KO ensures clearing of a snow strip 76 cm wide. Bucket height – 54 cm.

The type of cleaning is two-level. The motor is a four-stroke, designed to operate at low temperatures. The gas tank holds 6.5 liters of fuel.

Crawler. For ease of operation, AL-KO is equipped with a headlight and heated handles. There is a possibility of electric start. Cost – from 150,000 rubles.

ST 4048

AL-KO cordless snow blower allows you to clean up to 200 m at a time? territories without intermediate recharge. The device is compact and portable. Its main purpose is to regularly remove freshly fallen snow. Such a snowfield is not designed for large drifts.

The advantages of this model include high maneuverability and low noise level. The weight of the device is 15 kg. The set includes a spotlight. The handle can be adjusted to suit your height. It is not heated.

For each pass, the snow blower clears a strip 48 cm wide. The height of snow capture is 20 cm. The cleaning system is single-stage. The snow blower is suitable for batteries: 4 Ah and 5 Ah.

Full charging of the first lasts 1.5 hours, the second – 2 hours. Price – from 20,000 rubles. Batteries and chargers are also available for purchase. They are not included in the delivery.

Preparing for launch

At the stage of preparation for launching the AL-KO snow blower, it is necessary to unpack the unit and further assemble it, installing some parts. They come included but are not attached. Assembly is carried out according to the instructions that are included with each device.

Further preparation depends on the type of snowfield. Electric models are ready to use, but require the purchase of an extension cord. You should choose it taking into account the fact that the snow blower will operate at low temperatures outside.

Cordless models require pre-charging the battery. Gasoline snowflakes require refueling and oil filling.

How to launch and use?

The AL-KO snow blower is started outdoors. For electric models, an extension cord is prepared in advance.Taking into account the upcoming work site, the required wire length is determined.

Snowflakes must be used strictly for their intended purpose., taking into account what kind of cleaning they are intended for and working conditions. If the snow is cleared immediately as precipitation falls, and the surface is flat, without complex terrain, you can use lightweight versions of snow removal equipment.

AL-KO petrol snow blowers allow you to clear even significant snow drifts. They are not tied to a source of electricity, so they can perform work away from buildings with outlets. In terms of cross-country ability, such models are more functional and can even cope with snow removal on uneven surfaces.

Maintenance and storage

Maintenance of AL-KO snow blowers also depends on the type of device.

For gasoline devices It is recommended to use SAE 5W-30 engine oil. Gasoline must be filled with an octane number of 86 or higher.

The snow blower must be cleaned after each use. It is advisable to do this with all models. It is necessary, if possible, to carefully remove salt from roads and other substances. It is also important to maintain a maintenance schedule.

Electrical

Electric models require regular visual inspection. At this stage, the condition of the device is checked and it is determined whether there is any damage. Worn parts are replaced. Once a season, it is advisable to carry out maintenance in a workshop.

Rechargeable

To determine the battery charge level, you need to analyze the status of the indicator. After operation of the snowfield, the battery should be removed and transferred to a warm place.

Gasoline

Periodic maintenance of gasoline models is the most difficult. Before each use in the snowfield, you need to check the oil level and conduct an external inspection, monitoring the condition of the shear bolts.

After the first 5 hours of operation, the oil in the device is changed. Every year you need to lubricate the auger and replace spark plugs, maintain the wheel drive and auger, replace shear bolts and keep track tension under control.

Where to buy, at what price?

You can buy an Alko snow blower in online stores, hypermarkets and specialized sales points.

The cost of the device depends on the type of model and place of purchase. The cheapest are portable electric ones. snow blowers, the cost of which starts from 16,000 rubles.

Gasoline highly functional snowflakes are much more expensive. When purchasing a snow blower at official sales points, a warranty is given for the equipment.

Reviews

Buyers of AL-KO snow removal equipment note the high build quality and ease of operation of the device. Disadvantages include breakdowns due to stones and other objects getting into the auger.

The electric model is not always able to overcome large snow piles.

Alternative options

In addition to AL-KO devices, other snow removal equipment is also in good standing with customers. For example, Carver, MTD, GreenWorks:

1. Carver STG-756. Carver is a self-propelled snow blower with a 7 hp engine. Fuel tank - 3.6 liters. The snow capture for each pass is determined by the size of the bucket, and is 56 x 43 cm. Snow is thrown away up to 12 meters. Price – from 37,000 rubles.
2. MTD Optima ME 76. ME 76 is a powerful snow blower with a 10.5 hp engine.With its help, it is not difficult to clear even a relatively large area. For each pass, the bucket clears a strip of snow 76 cm wide and 53 cm high. Fuel tank - 4.8 liters. 8 speeds (2 of them are reverse). The ejection range of collected snow is up to 14 meters. Price ME 76 – from 170,000 rubles.
3. GreenWorks GD82. GreenWorks - electric snow removal equipment. This model has a medium-sized bucket that captures snow with a volume of 56 x 33 cm. There is a headlight. Throws snow up to 8 meters. The device operates from a battery. The cost of GreenWorks is from 40,000 rubles.

A review of MTD snow blowers is presented in this article, GreenWorks - in this.

Repair

Breakdowns and malfunctions can happen with any snow removal equipment, including Alco.

Some of the problems can be solved on your own. The most common is violation of snow emission.

Difficulties in throwing snow can occur for various reasons. Most often this is a clogged ejection pipe or a foreign object getting into the auger. A stuck stone, wire or other object can not only make it difficult to throw away the snow mass, but also lead to breakdowns.

If a blockage is suspected, work should be stopped.. Using a special tool, clean the discharge pipe and augers.

Also, poor snow throwing may be due to a malfunction of the auger drive, setting the wrong speed, or when trying to clear snow of a consistency for which the snow blower is not designed.

If the AL-KO engine does not start, the battery may be low or out of gas.. But not all problems can be solved on your own.In case of serious malfunctions or if it is impossible to independently diagnose the breakdown and repair it, you should contact companies that repair snow removal equipment.

Video on the topic of the article

Review of Alco snow removal equipment - on video:

Conclusion

Alco snow blowers are a group of snow removal equipment with different characteristics and capabilities. When choosing a device, it is necessary to take into account the conditions in which it will work.