If you are looking for a lightweight electric snow thrower that can clear a paved driveway, then the Snow Joe SJ627E might be an option. It has a 22-inch wide clearing path and LED headlights so that you are not without light in the cold darkness. My Snow Joe SJ627E review answers a few questions about its auger, clearing width, assembly, operation and headlights.
Is the SJ627E a single stage or two stage snow blower?
The Snow Joe SJ627E is a single stage electric snow thrower. It only has the steel auger, with rubber tipped blades, which throws the snow out through the discharge chute.
Where does it get power to turn the auger blades?
The Snow Joe SJ627E has a 15-amp electric motor and a rated voltage of 120V, 60 Hertz. It requires power from a receptacle with GFCI protection and an outdoor extension cord. Do not use an extension cord that is longer than 100 feet. The wire gauge for a 50-foot cord should be 14 while the wire gauge for a 100-foot cord should be 12. You should loop the cord through the extension cord restraint hook.
The snow thrower has a polarized plug which means that one blade is wider than the other blade. Therefore, buy an outdoor extension cord with a polarized electrical plug that will fit into a polarized electrical outlet!
Do you have to assemble the snow thrower?
A small amount of assembly is required after removing the snow thrower from the box. Follow the instructions in the Snow Joe SJ627E manual to assemble the handle, discharge chute and chute crank. You should also check if all the nuts, bolts and screws of the snow thrower are still tight. See if the cord plug is in a good condition.
Do you need to lubricate this snow blower?
No, the electric motor and the auger is lubricated at the factory. It will last for the whole lifetime of the electric snow thrower. You do not need to worry about that.
How much does the Snow Joe SJ627E weigh?
It weighs about 35 pounds, which is at least 50% less than a 22-inch gas powered snow blower. You should be able to carry it on to a deck if necessary.
How wide does it cut through the snow?
The Snow Joe SJ627E has a 22-inch clearing width which is wider than most other electric snow throwers, except for the ION8024-XR cordless two stage snow thrower which is 24 inches wide!
The Snow Joe SJ627E electric snow thrower prefers to chew its way through light and fluffy snow at an absolute maximum rate of 840 pounds per minute. Wet snow is another matter because it tends to get stuck inside the snow chute. Nevertheless, you can always use the included chute clean-out tool to remove icy obstructions from the discharge chute.
How do you switch the snow thrower on and off?
The electric snow thrower has both a safety lock button and on/off switch lever for safety reasons. You have to depress and hold the safety lock button before pulling the switch lever towards you. You can release the safety lock button once the auger is turning. The electric snow thrower does not start if you only pull the on/off switch lever. You need to follow the right sequence to get it to start. Release the switch lever when you want to turn the snow thrower off.
Please note that the Snow Joe SJ627E electric snow thrower has a 60-second automatic reset function. If the auger blades hit a big obstruction during operation, you might have to unplug the snow thrower. Remove the obstruction and check for any damage it might have caused. If the electric snow thrower is undamaged, then plug it back in and restart it.
How far can it throw the snow?
The SJ627E has a maximum throw distance of 25 feet if the snow is light and fluffy. Wet snow will significantly decrease the throwing distance. Be careful in which direction the snow thrower discharges the snow. Avoid throwing the snow at windows, vehicles or innocent bystanders. This can be dangerous if the snow contains small objects such as rocks or nails.
You can point the snow in a safe direction by rotating the chute crank from behind the handlebars. This will adjust the direction of the discharge chute in an arc of 180 degrees. However, you need to adjust the angle of the chute deflector to control the height at which the snow is discharged. Remember to use the knob to loosen and tighten the chute deflector. Be careful not to press the chute deflector too far forward because it might reveal an opening at the back where snow might escape.
Does the Snow Joe SJ627E have headlights?
Yes, it has two LED lights on the left and right side of the auger housing. These small 3-watt LED lights can be turned on or off with a small light switch which is located at the back of the snow thrower under the lower chute crank. However, the product manual says that the LED lights only turn on when the snow thrower is running. Does that mean it only lights up when both the light switch is on and the auger blades are turning? I do not know.
Snow Joe SJ627E: Verdict
You should not push this electric snow thrower to its limits by trying to clear a 13-inch deep snow drift. It will work fine for light snow that is less than 13 inches deep. You should definitely use the right gauge extension cord so that the electric motor gets all the power it needs without overheating.
The only problem I could find was that the wheels might be a little flimsy. If the belt drive gives you problems, then you should check the product manual for instructions on replacing the belt and pulley.
In conclusion, the Snow Joe SJ627E offers you the convenience of a 22-inch snow thrower with LED headlights that does not require oil or gasoline (buy on Amazon).