This is the second pass from a 3" storm. Since it can’t do just a perimeter cleanup, I need to send it out again. You can see where it gets pushed into odd directions at the very beginning and then getting stuck in the piles it made doing zero turns at the end of row.
After a while the chute gets clogged because the auger design has way too much of a gap between the inner fans and the fan housing, so it just can’t propel the snow/slush.
After 20 minutes, I end up cancelling the job and using my push snowblower.
I have noted that the Yarbo snowblower is a notch or two down from the Ariens Compact 24, and Yarbo’s CEO agreed with that assessment on an AMA a while back and said that Yarbo is working to find ways to improve future versions. He says the Compact 24 is a great benchmark.
“End of row” strategies I have tried:
Have you tried slope mode in your situation? Slope mode ain’t just fer slopes.
Give Yarbo room to work. Pre-work the ends of Areas where the unit turns with a Sidewalk or overlapping Area. Get rid of the snow that’s there at the turns by way of some simple mapped items first. Turns then become a non-issue. (My driveway is split into 3 Areas. I do the end 2 Areas first as “slopes” and then the big middle Area. The turns are within the spots already cleared. Turns don’t bother the unit anymore, and the snow piles are smaller. A Sidewalk at the end of the Work Plan can be used to clean those if you like.)
I don’t try to scrape to the pavement (or grass). My bucket is up usually .35" or .39" on pavement and higher on grass or rough surfaces. I let the sun do the rest. I just need to be able to walk around and pull my log carts, so having some snow left isn’t a biggie.
Remove slush mounds, berms, and other potential ice obstructions before they freeze and become a nightmare for Yarbo, your Ariens, or your shovel in the next storm.
The snow we get here is usually wet, so I have learned:
Prep the bucket/chute with ceramic coating (and the old stand-bys of WD40 or Fluid Film if you have to).
Get Yarbo out early and often, especially if you have somewhat workable snow at the moment but expect things to go downhill.
Try different Snow Intake Effect settings, speed, auger speed, etc.
If the snow is heavy/wet and starts clogging the blowhole, call it a day. This is the Achilles Heel of the unit, unfortunately. You’re done for that storm at that point. What you can try:
– Try Plow Mode (with or without the plow blade).
– Try waiting overnight. I’m having luck with this, as it lets the snow dry out and crystallize a bit, and Yarbo can throw that stuff like crazy.
– Avoid areas under the snow where there is water, like near where water drains out from your driveway (throw a No Go Zone there). This may let you do “most” of the driveway with Yarbo. This often gets me on one side of my driveway.
– There was someone looking into adding flaps to the end of the 2nd stage paddles (people reportedly do that on regular snowblowers with pretty good results). I don’t know how that turned out, but it is one potential for shoving garbage snow through the blowhole.
I do struggle with the unit and find I look for suitable snow conditions or let Yarbo do final clean-up after I’ve hit everything with the Big or Baby Ariens. Anything wet/goo may be a no-go, especially the blowhole.
This season in my area has been better than last with Yarbo. The first few storms have been powdery, and Yarbo has done well with them. I believe they have improved the escape routines to get Yarbo back going again without intervention. With heavy/wet/packable snow, though, the blowhole can clog and the unit can get high-centered (especially if you’ve removed your studs like I have, so I kinda blame me for that) – as you’ve seen.
I agree 1000% with you. After having limited success this snowy season with the Yarbo snowblower module, I’m getting the Ariens Compact Rapid track 24 for the next season. The Yarbo snowblower module is nearly useless in anything other than fluffy snow. I have a 150 foot sloped driveway and once it starts to head down the driveway it usually doesn’t return and I’m constantly “rescuing” it. So much for autonomy. If I have to be out there anyway I might as well get something that will actually work in all types of snowy conditions.
My last big storm in southeastern Massachusetts was a blizzard. 3 feet of snow and when the skies cleared I was down to blacktop. I did remove the diverter, have blower on maximum speed and travel to slow. I’ve also sprayed the chute and housing with wd-40 silicone to lessen the chances of snow build up. I have a longer clip, but file size to large
