A friend who does snow has a Sears 8.5hp 27" 2 stage snowblower with
120v electric starter. It doesnt seem to have an option to put on a
12v battery for the starter, since its commercial use off a truck pull
starting is difficult. Is there an easy way to hook up a battery or
could a inverter off the truck be used, its a large starter for a
snowblower, I dont know what amps it takes but could a inverter handle
a surge load like a starter and would the magneto burn our charging a
battery continously. It has an electric headlight option so its made
to do some charging. Its commercial use getting started maybe 20 times
a day when it snows, its a hard machine to start so the load and use
would be great. Why do they even make 8.5hp 800$ snowblowers you have
to pull start, I guess to save money.

On Jan 1, 7:38*am, ransley wrote:
A friend who does snow has a Sears 8.5hp 27" 2 stage snowblower with
120v electric starter. It doesnt seem to have an option to put on a
12v battery for the starter, since its commercial use off a truck pull
starting is difficult. Is there an easy way to hook up a battery or
could a inverter off the truck be used, its a large starter for a
snowblower, I dont know what amps it takes but could a inverter handle
a surge load like a starter and would the magneto burn our charging a
battery continously. It has an electric headlight option so its made
to do some charging. Its commercial use getting started maybe 20 times
a day when it snows, its a hard machine to start so the load and use
would be great. Why do they even make 8.5hp 800$ snowblowers you have
to pull start, I guess to save money.

I'll bet an inverter would do it, you might look he http://www.invertersrus.com/
I'm mister overkill, but the top of the line ones are over $400. you
could give them a call & see where the sweet spot is for your
application.
I have a little motor generator 12v in 120v out, that I use with an
electric chain saw, but that is old school.
There used to be a kit to put an electrical outlet on your vehicle
alternator for running power tools, but I haven't seen one since
battery powered tools became popular.

On Jan 1, 9:26*am, Eric in North TX wrote:
On Jan 1, 7:38*am, ransley wrote:

A friend who does snow has a Sears 8.5hp 27" 2 stage snowblower with
120v electric starter. It doesnt seem to have an option to put on a
12v battery for the starter, since its commercial use off a truck pull
starting is difficult. Is there an easy way to hook up a battery or
could a inverter off the truck be used, its a large starter for a
snowblower, I dont know what amps it takes but could a inverter handle
a surge load like a starter and would the magneto burn our charging a
battery continously. It has an electric headlight option so its made
to do some charging. Its commercial use getting started maybe 20 times
a day when it snows, its a hard machine to start so the load and use
would be great. Why do they even make 8.5hp 800$ snowblowers you have
to pull start, I guess to save money.

I'll bet an inverter would do it, you might look hehttp://www.invertersrus.com/
I'm mister overkill, but the top of the line ones are over $400. you
could give them a call & see where the sweet spot is for your
application.
I have a little motor generator 12v in 120v out, that I use with an
electric chain saw, but that is old school.
There used to be a kit to put an electrical outlet on your vehicle
alternator for running power tools, but I haven't seen one since
battery powered tools became popular.

Let's start with what we know. The starter is made to plug in to any
120V outlet, which means it must draw less than 15 amps. I would bet
that it draws a lot less than that. Given that you can get 12volt
inverters that are 1500watts or more, means that it should work. I'd
start by measuring how many amps the starter draws. Or if you're
real lucky, maybe there is a rating label on it that you can find or
info in the manual, website, etc.

The magneto charging question leads me to believe that you want to
mount a battery and inverter to the snowblower. While in theory I
would think that it would work, that wouldn't seem to be the easiest
solution to me. Why not just use the inverter connected to the truck
to start it? Once started and warmed up, mine will re-start with one
easy pull of the recoil. It's the initial start with a cold engine at
20F that is harder.

On Fri, 1 Jan 2010 05:38:51 -0800 (PST), ransley
wrote:

A friend who does snow has a Sears 8.5hp 27" 2 stage snowblower with
120v electric starter. It doesnt seem to have an option to put on a
12v battery for the starter, since its commercial use off a truck pull
starting is difficult. Is there an easy way to hook up a battery or
could a inverter off the truck be used, its a large starter for a
snowblower, I dont know what amps it takes but could a inverter handle
a surge load like a starter and would the magneto burn our charging a
battery continously. It has an electric headlight option so its made
to do some charging. Its commercial use getting started maybe 20 times
a day when it snows, its a hard machine to start so the load and use
would be great. Why do they even make 8.5hp 800$ snowblowers you have
to pull start, I guess to save money.

Why not just have the snowblower fixed so it starts on one easy pull
like everyone elses? Mine is about the same size as what you describe,
and has the electric starter. I never use it. If you don;t have the
strength to pull start an 8.5 hp snowblower, you don't have the
strength needed to operate it safely, either.

Van Chocstraw wrote:
. Its commercial use
getting started maybe 20 times a day when it snows, its a hard


I have a Yardman 8.5hp with 120 volt electric start Tecumseh. Why
don't you park it near an outlet? I have an extension cord out to my
shed that works great. It also starts equally well with the pull
cord; one pull and it starts. Maybe you need a tune up.

Yeah, a really long extension cord that reaches to where all his customers
are.

On Jan 1, 8:38�am, ransley wrote:
A friend who does snow has a Sears 8.5hp 27" 2 stage snowblower with
120v electric starter. It doesnt seem to have an option to put on a
12v battery for the starter, since its commercial use off a truck pull
starting is difficult. Is there an easy way to hook up a battery or
could a inverter off the truck be used, its a large starter for a
snowblower, I dont know what amps it takes but could a inverter handle
a surge load like a starter and would the magneto burn our charging a
battery continously. It has an electric headlight option so its made
to do some charging. Its commercial use getting started maybe 20 times
a day when it snows, its a hard machine to start so the load and use
would be great. Why do they even make 8.5hp 800$ snowblowers you have
to pull start, I guess to save money.

Like others have said, get it fixed. I also have a 9 hp with the 120
electric start and pull start. It has a primer bulb that I push about
3-4 times, put the choke on full, flip the on/off to ON, then one EASY
pull and it is running. Snow blowers are built to start in cold
weather ( rich fuel settings, heavier flywheel, igniton timings, valve
timing and etc). I think it is operator error or the snow blower needs
repaired. Fixing it would be cheaper than putting in a battery,
starter switch and the labor to do it, if it can be done.

About the converter..........again what would it cost as compared to
the cost of getting the blower fixed? If it would work at all.

Hank

On Jan 1, 10:06*am, Van Chocstraw
wrote:
On 01/01/2010 10:53 AM, Ed Pawlowski wrote: Van Chocstraw wrote:
. Its commercial use
getting started maybe 20 times a day when it snows, its a hard

I have a Yardman 8.5hp with 120 volt electric start Tecumseh. Why
don't you park it near an outlet? I have an extension cord out to my
shed that works great. It also starts equally well with the pull
cord; one pull and it starts. Maybe you need a tune up.

Yeah, a really long extension cord that reaches to where all his customers
are.

In that case a portable generator if he is too lazy to get a tune up and
pull start it.

Why not replace the 120V motor with a 12V motor. I have both types in
my scrap motor bin and they both mount identically.

On 1/1/2010 7:38 AM, ransley wrote:
A friend who does snow has a Sears 8.5hp 27" 2 stage snowblower with
120v electric starter. It doesnt seem to have an option to put on a
12v battery for the starter, since its commercial use off a truck pull
starting is difficult. Is there an easy way to hook up a battery or
could a inverter off the truck be used, its a large starter for a
snowblower, I dont know what amps it takes but could a inverter handle
a surge load like a starter and would the magneto burn our charging a
battery continously. It has an electric headlight option so its made
to do some charging. Its commercial use getting started maybe 20 times
a day when it snows, its a hard machine to start so the load and use
would be great. Why do they even make 8.5hp 800$ snowblowers you have
to pull start, I guess to save money.

As others have mentioned an inverter will work.

I would question the wisdom of spending money on that snow blower.
I'm not knocking Sears, but their products aren't really built for
commercial use. I have owned many Sears products and have always been
satisfied with them. I would not hesitate to recommend their products
to a friend for average use.

A homeowner would likely get many years of satisfactory use out of
that machine. I would be surprised if the thing lasted the season
being used twenty times a day. I live in western Canada and have a
300' driveway. Your friend will probably use that machine as much in
one day as I would use my snowblower in a year.

If your friend is just trying to make a few bucks on the side then go
for it. If he is trying to run a successful business maybe he should
be looking at equipment built for the
task.

LdB

LdB wrote:
On 1/1/2010 7:38 AM, ransley wrote:
A friend who does snow has a Sears 8.5hp 27" 2 stage snowblower with
120v electric starter. It doesnt seem to have an option to put on a
12v battery for the starter, since its commercial use off a truck pull
starting is difficult. Is there an easy way to hook up a battery or
could a inverter off the truck be used, its a large starter for a
snowblower, I dont know what amps it takes but could a inverter handle
a surge load like a starter and would the magneto burn our charging a
battery continously. It has an electric headlight option so its made
to do some charging. Its commercial use getting started maybe 20 times
a day when it snows, its a hard machine to start so the load and use
would be great. Why do they even make 8.5hp 800$ snowblowers you have
to pull start, I guess to save money.

As others have mentioned an inverter will work.

I would question the wisdom of spending money on that snow blower. I'm
not knocking Sears, but their products aren't really built for
commercial use. I have owned many Sears products and have always been
satisfied with them. I would not hesitate to recommend their products to
a friend for average use.

A homeowner would likely get many years of satisfactory use out of that
machine. I would be surprised if the thing lasted the season being used
twenty times a day. I live in western Canada and have a 300' driveway.
Your friend will probably use that machine as much in one day as I would
use my snowblower in a year.

If your friend is just trying to make a few bucks on the side then go
for it. If he is trying to run a successful business maybe he should be
looking at equipment built for the
task.

LdB

For snowblowers, Sears = MTD, last time I looked. Like you said, good
enough for homeowner, but not likely to live long used for full shifts.
I'm quite happy with my Toro-labeled MTD (24" 2-stage), but my driveway
is only 20x60.

--
aem sends...

On Fri, 01 Jan 2010 09:42:03 -0500, wrote:

On Fri, 1 Jan 2010 05:38:51 -0800 (PST), ransley
wrote:

A friend who does snow has a Sears 8.5hp 27" 2 stage snowblower with
120v electric starter. It doesnt seem to have an option to put on a
12v battery for the starter, since its commercial use off a truck pull
starting is difficult. Is there an easy way to hook up a battery or
could a inverter off the truck be used, its a large starter for a
snowblower, I dont know what amps it takes but could a inverter handle
a surge load like a starter and would the magneto burn our charging a
battery continously. It has an electric headlight option so its made
to do some charging. Its commercial use getting started maybe 20 times
a day when it snows, its a hard machine to start so the load and use
would be great. Why do they even make 8.5hp 800$ snowblowers you have
to pull start, I guess to save money.

Why not just have the snowblower fixed so it starts on one easy pull
like everyone elses? Mine is about the same size as what you describe,
and has the electric starter. I never use it. If you don;t have the
strength to pull start an 8.5 hp snowblower, you don't have the
strength needed to operate it safely, either.

Not necessarily true. My bad shoulder made starting my big blower a
problem last year, but operating it was never an issue. I replaced it
with a smaller blower that is easier to start, but takes more work
over-all.

I'd be looking at putting a 12 volt starter on it instead of the 115 -
with no charging system. I'd plug it into the truck for charging. The
battery doesn't need to be very big.. Tecumseh does make 12 volt
starters but I'm not sure if the tooth pitch is the same.

On Fri, 1 Jan 2010 05:38:51 -0800 (PST), ransley
wrote:

A friend who does snow has a Sears 8.5hp 27" 2 stage snowblower with
120v electric starter. It doesnt seem to have an option to put on a
12v battery for the starter, since its commercial use off a truck pull
starting is difficult. Is there an easy way to hook up a battery or
could a inverter off the truck be used, its a large starter for a
snowblower, I dont know what amps it takes but could a inverter handle
a surge load like a starter and would the magneto burn our charging a
battery continously. It has an electric headlight option so its made
to do some charging. Its commercial use getting started maybe 20 times
a day when it snows, its a hard machine to start so the load and use
would be great. Why do they even make 8.5hp 800$ snowblowers you have
to pull start, I guess to save money.

I doubt an inverter/battery on the blower itself would make sense.
I'd start by putting synthetic oil in the thing, that should make it
easier to start. If you still want to keep using it after that and
need easier starting, small generators are made that are two cycle
and can be carried in one hand. I'd spend the money on one of those,
then you could use it for other things.
---
A computer is] like an Old Testament god, with a lot of rules and no mercy. -- Joseph Campbell

On Friday, January 1, 2010 8:38:51 AM UTC-5, ransley wrote:
A friend who does snow has a Sears 8.5hp 27" 2 stage snowblower with
120v electric starter. It doesnt seem to have an option to put on a
12v battery for the starter, since its commercial use off a truck pull
starting is difficult. Is there an easy way to hook up a battery or
could a inverter off the truck be used, its a large starter for a
snowblower, I dont know what amps it takes but could a inverter handle
a surge load like a starter and would the magneto burn our charging a
battery continously. It has an electric headlight option so its made
to do some charging. Its commercial use getting started maybe 20 times
a day when it snows, its a hard machine to start so the load and use
would be great. Why do they even make 8.5hp 800$ snowblowers you have
to pull start, I guess to save money.


I have added lead acid batteries and 12v starters to a few machines I have and ones I have sold. I used 1 or 2 batteries with plastic cases and bought weatherproof push buttons. I have a video on youtube under "snowblower impeller kit" which is part 6 of 6 of my videos. Check it out. I show some of the machines. I do not have charging on board so I just charge them before and get a few/several good starts. I have not discovered how many though. You can always put more, or bigger batteries for more starts. You may call me or email me if you have any other questions. 484-557-8519..