I need a snowblower

[KaRLiToS]

Plastic like that on a snowblower? No thanks.

I don't see why people are accepting that for snowblowers. Pretty ridiculous if you ask me.

What do you propose?

 

[LegendKiller]

What do you propose?

Metal?

My ariens has very limited plastic parts and none of them are related to the actual functioning of the two stages.

 

[KaRLiToS]

Ok, I'm now torn between the Honda I linked in the OP : http://powerequipment.honda.ca/snowblowers/dual-stage/HSS928tcd

And Ariens, I need to find an Ariens for around 2000$

I will buy the Honda only as last resort if I cannot find an equivalent for cheaper.

 

[Zivic]

Ok, I'm now torn between the Honda I linked in the OP : http://powerequipment.honda.ca/snowblowers/dual-stage/HSS928tcd

why do you keep linking the TCD model?

you may or may not want the tracks, but you absolutely don't need the electric start. it is a waste! it is a $600 premium to the regular TC model. and a $1000+ premium over the WC model. You are getting the same engine and hydrostat drive....Both will clear the same amount of snow

at the 3899 price of the HSS928TCD, you might as well step up to the the HSS1332TC and get the larger clearing path. You don't need the bells and whistles.


go to ~3:40 and watch this guy uncover his and start his. electric start is a waste for what it costs you. then @~5:00 you can watch him throw snow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfOQJXPZlD4

 

[KaRLiToS]

Oups, it is the wrong link.

I meant this one here http://powerequipment.honda.ca/snowblowers/dual-stage/HSS928wc

So gorgeous.

Or this one.

It is 3000$ vs 1900$

 

[seepy83]

karlitos - you may also want to consider your proximity to a dealer that does service. I'm sure both of those are great machines, but if you may need to travel significantly further with one to get it serviced (if you ever need to), then that should probably play into your decision.

 

[KaRLiToS]

karlitos - you may also want to consider your proximity to a dealer that does service. I'm sure both of those are great machines, but if you may need to travel significantly further with one to get it serviced (if you ever need to), then that should probably play into your decision.

Thank you for that information, that is why I came down to Honda and Ariens.

Honda is at around 3-5 KM.

And Ariens (only for parts and service, not a dealer) is at around 2km.

 

[sjwaste]

I live in southern Maine. I bought a 24" PowerSmart from Amazon for around $500. It's basically a Chinese snowblower with an LCT engine. I only have one season on it so far, but I will say this - it ate a metal mailbox out of a snow drift and still works.

Has an electric start that I've never used. It took 3 pulls to start it the first time when I changed the oil about a month ago, but over the winter it started on the first pull every time.

I look at it this way, even if it only lasts 5 years, the price is right. I have a long, steep driveway, but it's relatively narrow. If it were wider, something bigger than a 24" would have been good.

 

[KaRLiToS]

I'm heading to an Ariens and Honda dealer today. :thumbsup:

 

[Raizinman]

Parking lots are difficult to clear with a walk behind snow blower because:

If you start in the middle and blow outwards, by the time you get 15 or 20 feet out, you are now blowing twice as much snow. When you get another 15 to 20 feet out, you are now trying to blow three or four times as much snow. As you get to the outer perimeter of the parking lot, it will be almost impossible to blow. Of course, you can blow the outer 15 feet of the parking lot, and then come back and redo that as you go, but you are doing twice as much work. A plow on a pickup truck would work much easier and quicker.

 

[stinkynathan]

I just don't understand this post..... You want to spend up to $3000 on a walk-behind snowblower? That kind of money puts you in the range of buying a John Deere riding lawnmower with a 44" snow blower attachment. Then you won't be stuck with a one-trick pony that doesn't get used during the warm months.

Seriously, I have a 24" Ariens that I absolutely love. I just don't think it's going to get used any more now that we have the JD mower.

 

[Zivic]

Parking lots are difficult to clear with a walk behind snow blower because:

If you start in the middle and blow outwards, by the time you get 15 or 20 feet out, you are now blowing twice as much snow. When you get another 15 to 20 feet out, you are now trying to blow three or four times as much snow. As you get to the outer perimeter of the parking lot, it will be almost impossible to blow. Of course, you can blow the outer 15 feet of the parking lot, and then come back and redo that as you go, but you are doing twice as much work. A plow on a pickup truck would work much easier and quicker.

the honda will throw the snow far enough where that isn't an issue. that said, I see the advantage of a plow truck.

 

[KaRLiToS]

I just don't understand this post..... You want to spend up to $3000 on a walk-behind snowblower? That kind of money puts you in the range of buying a John Deere riding lawnmower with a 44" snow blower attachment. Then you won't be stuck with a one-trick pony that doesn't get used during the warm months.

Seriously, I have a 24" Ariens that I absolutely love. I just don't think it's going to get used any more now that we have the JD mower.

You mean this?

http://www.deere.ca/en_CA/products/...wn_tractors/select_seriesx300/X304/X304.page?

For your information, it is almost 4,500$CAD
It is also the cheapest one.

Then now, add another at least 1500$ for a 44" snowblower.

Also, I don't have a big enough yard to use that big machine.

FRONT

BACK

I don't see myself using such a huge tractor for such a small yard.

 

[KaRLiToS]

the honda will throw the snow far enough where that isn't an issue. that said, I see the advantage of a plow truck.

The honda throw the snow 52feet away, I don't see a problem there.

And this is my parking lot.

It is a snowblower or a showvel. I opted for the snowblower, that will last me at least 20 years.

 

[snoopy7548]

The honda throw the snow 52feet away, I don't see a problem there.

And this is my parking lot.

It is a snowblower or a showvel. I opted for the snowblower, that will last me at least 20 years.

Your driveway (parking lot) isn't that big. Get a 28" Ariens Deluxe (Platinum if you really feel like spending your money, or 30" Platinum if you really need to get rid of some cash); heck, even a 24" Ariens model should be fine. My driveway's area is a bit less than yours, and I'm looking at a 24" Ariens Deluxe this year for $1000 which is likely a bit of overkill. I don't really feel like shoveling anymore. We typically get between 70-120" of snow per winter (178-305cm) and shoveling isn't terrible if you do it a few times during each storm. I live alone, but it has only been a major pain in the ass when we get those huge storms that dump 2-3' overnight. I'm still considering shoveling this year.

Your driveway is also very flat, so tracks aren't necessary and the Hondas you're looking at are overkill. I highly suggest buying a 24" or 28" Ariens and spending the extra $2-3k on your house or savings account... or put it towards a winter vacation.

BTW, it doesn't look like you have a garage. I think you should buy a cheaper Ariens and spend the money you saved on some sort of covering for the back part of your driveway, which could house your car and shiny new snowblower; you don't want to have to shovel out your snowblower from under 2' of snow every time you need to use it, unless you're planning on storing it in your shed; would the larger ones even fit through the doorway? Then again, you'd need to trudge through snow just to get to the shed. Some covering for your car would also decrease the area of snow you'd need to clear out.

Also, I wanted to point out that you should keep an eye on those low basement windows. Keep the snow away from them or you might have problems when it all melts. It's a good idea to shovel/snowblow all the snow away from your foundation (about 1-2' in width) to protect it from moisture.

 

[Zivic]

Your driveway (parking lot) isn't that big. Get a 28" Ariens Deluxe (Platinum if you really feel like spending your money, or 30" Platinum if you really need to get rid of some cash); heck, even a 24" Ariens model should be fine. My driveway's area is a bit less than yours, and I'm looking at a 24" Ariens Deluxe this year for $1000 which is likely a bit of overkill. I don't really feel like shoveling anymore. We typically get between 70-120" of snow per winter (178-305cm) and shoveling isn't terrible if you do it a few times during each storm. I live alone, but it has only been a major pain in the ass when we get those huge storms that dump 2-3' overnight. I'm still considering shoveling this year.

Your driveway is also very flat, so tracks aren't necessary and the Hondas you're looking at are overkill. I highly suggest buying a 24" or 28" Ariens and spending the extra $2-3k on your house or savings account... or put it towards a winter vacation.

BTW, it doesn't look like you have a garage. I think you should buy a cheaper Ariens and spend the money you saved on some sort of covering for the back part of your driveway, which could house your car and shiny new snowblower; you don't want to have to shovel out your snowblower from under 2' of snow every time you need to use it, unless you're planning on storing it in your shed; would the larger ones even fit through the doorway? Then again, you'd need to trudge through snow just to get to the shed. Some covering for your car would also decrease the area of snow you'd need to clear out.

Also, I wanted to point out that you should keep an eye on those low basement windows. Keep the snow away from them or you might have problems when it all melts. It's a good idea to shovel/snowblow all the snow away from your foundation (about 1-2' in width) to protect it from moisture.

Ill just say you cannot go wrong with the honda. sure it's more money, but I can promise you it will outlast and be more trouble free than than the ariens.... and that isn't to say the ariens isn't a decent machine. looking at the pics, you can tell it isn't as well built as the honda, but again, doesn't mean it isn't still good.

will you regret spending the extra money on the honda? probably not
will you regret not spending the extra money on the honda and buying the ariens? maybe....

 

[seepy83]

Ill just say you cannot go wrong with the honda. sure it's more money, but I can promise you it will outlast and be more trouble free than than the ariens.... and that isn't to say the ariens isn't a decent machine. looking at the pics, you can tell it isn't as well built as the honda, but again, doesn't mean it isn't still good.

will you regret spending the extra money on the honda? probably not
will you regret not spending the extra money on the honda and buying the ariens? maybe....

Have you ever owned an Ariens? I've never known an Ariens owner to think that they are anything less than robust, solid, workhorses.

"...looking at the pics, you can tell it isn't as well built as the honda..." - I honestly can't take that seriously.

 

[KaRLiToS]

I will copy paste what I wrote at www.snowblowerforum.com

Ok, so today I went at an Ariens dealer and a Honda dealer.

The Ariens dealer didn't seem to be convinced he had the best machine when I ask how it was compared to Honda.

I was looking at the Ariens Platinum 30 SHO and it was 2241$ CAD.

Then after that I went to the Honda Dealer (Pridex Mercier) it was just an hour before their closing time so I had the chance to speak with the owner of the place.

He was very convinced that he had the best machine available on the market, he was also very convincing. I asked him about Ariens and he told me he used to sell some at his place but for MANY reasons he stopped selling them.

He said that when all the Honda were sold, he was selling Ariens but people were complaining of many issues. The quality of the machine is not the same and looks more robust.

The ariens seemed to have more gadgets (that I really don't need anyway)

I was eyeing the Honda (HSS928TC) and it was 3,424$

The SHO is 414cc while the Honda is only 270cc (damm I'm better with Computers)

 

[Zivic]

I will copy paste what I wrote at www.snowblowerforum.com

What you learned today is the truth. The ariens isn't the best machine on the market. Does that make it garbage? nope, but it puts it on a lower level than the honda. The honda dealer can be confident he is selling the best machine, because it is.... and carries a premium price to reflect that. If you saw the two machines in person there is a difference in quality

Do you need or want the best? IMHO you might not need the best, but it sounds like what you want.

You have to take into account that the engine CC is all manufacturer BS. I'll take a honda GX engine over an ariens brand engine every day of the week; even at a lower spec. this is some of the price difference....

the other major differnce comes from the hydrostat drive. Look underneath the ariens and you will see a bunch of discs and belts that are cheaper manufacture. The hydrostat is a major difference and IMHO worth the price premium -> I have experience with both machines.... as far as I know, honda is the only one using the hydrostat in a blower. if you are curious, look at the difference between a hydro and non hydro walk behind mower.

Have you ever owned an Ariens? I've never known an Ariens owner to think that they are anything less than robust, solid, workhorses.

"...looking at the pics, you can tell it isn't as well built as the honda..." - I honestly can't take that seriously.

I never said they weren't decent machines. More so they aren't one I would cross shop against a honda. When it comes to blowers, it is a given honda stands alone and they are priced accordingly.....

as far as an ariens -> I have an older ST350 actually... with a 3.5 tecumseh

They aren't the machines they used to be. The fact they are now sold at the home depot is proof of it (look at the JD lawn tractors sold there vs the implement dealer X series). If you took another look at the pics of the two machines you might notice there are some differences. For example when you look at the two machines you can see the auger shaft goes all the way through housing on the honda and only bolts to the inside of it on the ariens

When my older Bolens died on me a few yrs back (again with a tecumseh engine), I researched these machines a lot. see the reoccurring theme of the engine manufacturer and it not being an ariens man'd engine? What I found was that honda was the best available. Nobody disputed that. IMHO the next best machines are simplicity. That would be my second pic if the honda is too much money, not an ariens machine.

I am not bad mouthing the ariens, just saying they aren't the machine the honda is.

KaRLiToS.. it's your money, buy what you want. Like I said before, you most likely won't regret spending the money on the honda and you can be confident you bought the best machine on the market. The ariens is cheaper for a reason... is it enough machine for your use/needs, it very well could be.

edit:
try the track model vs the wheel model before you buy. it has a very different feel than a traditional blower.

 

[snoopy7548]

KaRLiToS,

Of course the Honda dealer is convinced that the Honda snowblower is the best on the market... it's his job to sell it to you. I have no doubt that it is among the best on the market, but are you clearing 3' snowfalls from a 3000 sq. ft. area with a 20 degree incline? I highly suggest reading the reviews of both machines, and paying particular attention to how the machine is being used. If the majority of the Honda reviewers are clearing inclined 200'+ long 2-3 car width driveways in Buffalo, NY, is it really necessary for your 60' long two car width driveway with a 120" seasonal snowfall?

Ariens were, and still are, quality machines. It's when you start getting to the Ariens Sno-Tek line that you should start to worry about quality. Would you avoid Dewalt or Milwaukee just because they're sold at Home Depot?

The Ariens Platinum 30", IMO, is overkill for you, but that's certainly a more reasonable snowblower for your application than that beast of a Honda. The two machines you're comparing are very different from each other, and have very different applications. The one more suited to your situation is the Ariens.

Anyways, that's just my advice. At the end of the day it's your money and if you're comfortable and in a position to spend that much on the Honda, enjoy it. It looks like an awesome machine that'll make your neighbors jealous.

 

[NetWareHead]

You cannot go wrong with a Honda. The engine is the first reason. Honda GX engines are legendary. That is one of the reasons for the cost. You are getting a commercial grade engine that is tougher and more powerful than comparable engines. Take a walk over to an equipment rental place, even Home depot. All of the lawn seeders, sidewalk edgers, bed edgers, rototillers etc... I'd venture to say that practically every piece of equipment for rent has the familiar red engine and labeled Honda GX. There are comparable commercial engines out there Such as brigga & Stratton Vanguard series (not your typical B&S engine).

Second reason for the cost is the hydrostatic transmission. No gears, instead you have a lever that controls the snowblower speed. Push forward to move ahead, pulll back to slow down or pull back more to reverse.

For what its worth, my dad purchased 2 Honda snowblowers in the 1992, also with GX engines. One for his home and the other for his business. He sold the house in 2001 and put that snowblower in storage. it sat in his basement untouched until this Fall when I moved it to my house. (I sold a crapppy craftsman snowblower). 13 years in storage. It needed work. Tires were flat. The gasoline had gone stale in the tank and in the carb. Carb needed to be replaced, oil change, internal cleaning the works etc... Small engine guy delivered it to my house this week and it started up on the first pull. Took about $275 worth of work but that's expected when you let it sit for so long. BTW the other snowblower purchased for the business has been in use ever since purchase date (1992) and never failed.

All of this being said, I dont think Ariens is a bad brand but it doesnt compare to a Honda. You are getting a true commercial level machine in a Honda.

I'd avoid the tracked snowblower unless you have a inclined driveway or severe traction problems. You can always add tire chains to a wheeled snowblower if need be. The tracked models are such a pain to move when the engine is off, you really cant push them around. The wheeled ones can be moved quite easily without starting the engine.

 

[NetWareHead]

Metal?

My ariens has very limited plastic parts and none of them are related to the actual functioning of the two stages.

I have to emphatically support this. Plastic should not constitute a structural part of a 2-stage snowblower, especially a gas powered one. This was the reason I sold my craftsman. Bought it for $250 second hand on craigslist. The engine was decent and it did the job fine but the discharge chute was plastic. One day I ate a rock or some sort of debris. The force of the rocks being accelerated out of the chute made it rock back and forth so much that it snapped itself off of the snowblower. Without a chute, the snow launched straight up and landed back on the engine. Useless. I was even more pissed to realize that a replacement plastic discharge chute was $100. :thumbsdown: I had no choice, mid winter season last year, but to buy another one. The replacement one started showing the same wear and tear and was going to break so I sold it. My new Honda is all steel.

 

[Zivic]

KaRLiToS,

Of course the Honda dealer is convinced that the Honda snowblower is the best on the market... it's his job to sell it to you. I have no doubt that it is among the best on the market,

I'm curious to hear what blower you think is the best on the market if it isn't the honda.

I've been reading reviews of the ariens machines....

the auger shoots wonder and the auto turn feature makes it difficult to keep in a straight line......and that's if you can keep/get it running due to issues with the carb

"the "Auto turn" feature for the chute and the "Auto turn" for steering are poorly named. Neither feature works well. The chute is buggy and you have to struggle. The machine hardly "auto steers" and in fact you've got to wrestle with the thing to get it where you want "

"The product was not designed as well as older models."

" I have had a problem with the autoturn feature of the unit since I got it in December 2013. The problem is you can't control where it goes during snow removal. It is erratic, it can't be held in a straight path"

"The machine is extremely difficult to keep in a straight line as the maching wants to dart around."

"The drive train slips internally with no wheel motion when encountering dense snow"

"This shoot couldn't lock in place if MY life depended on it and the auto-turn turns at the slightest slip of the wheel, catch on a sidewalk lip or chunk of ice on the ground."

"when you want it to turn, it doesn't or it fights back. Or, when it finally does turn on a dime, it won't disengage. I fought this blower through ever inch of an 8" snow fall we got overnight. They made it lighter upfront too (probably in China) so now I have push all my weight on the control panel to keep the scoop on the ground"

"1)Unit is also hard to track and pulls to one side on uneven surface.
2)The auto chute is a big problem even when pulling up on the controls to turn it still locks in the middle of the turn other times it will not lock at all."

"I would not buy another simply because of lack of power at wheels."

"the auto turn steering is a nightmare, the machine jerks around almost out of control when it hits an uneven surface(ice chunks, etc). the chute adjustments do not always lock in for the direction you want to blow the snow, and the chute angle adjustment seems to go from low to high and nothing in between. the tires do not grip in the snow, they seem to clog up and do not deliver any traction"

"I only made 2 passes down my driveway before the Quick-Turn chute control locked up for the first time. While researching online how to fix it I found MANY people with the same complaints/problems.
As for the Auto-Steer, I am constantly fighting with this machine to keep it going in a straight line."

"My only major gripe with this model so far is the Autoturn feature. I think it gets confused really quick if you are not on a "perfect" surface."

"I'm not a big fan of the Auto Turn feature, if the unit is on a nice flat surface it drives pretty smooth, but if the surface is a little irregular, like my neighbors driveway, you have to fight the unit to keep it going straight. Also I'm not a fan of the chute rotation control, it seems to have a mind of it's own, sometimes it will stay in place and sometimes it won't."

"the auto-turn feature worked very poorly. It was nearly impossible to operate the machine in a straight line"

" I don't know what to say about the ATC. Have had a few snowfalls and it's been quite a struggle to keep this thing moving straight ahead"


I guess you get the point

 

[stinkynathan]

I'm curious to hear what blower you think is the best on the market if it isn't the honda.

I've been reading reviews of the ariens machines....

...
I guess you get the point

Look: the Honda blowers probably ARE the best on the market. But here's the thing: It just doesn't matter in most cases. The Ariens stuff is generally above most of the other consumer-grade stuff and is all that is really necessary in most cases.

OP: Based on the pictures you will do just fine with a mid-range 24-26" blower from Ariens, Simplicity, or Honda. Do get a B&S engine (or Honda). Go for all-metal if it matters to you. In that neighborhood you'll likely never see a rock that will crack a plastic chute. If you feel like you want to spend your hard-earned money on a 30" behemoth with tracks, then by all means, go ahead.

 

[KaRLiToS]

Yep, I got the Honda HSS928TC

My girlfriend was really mad at me because I spent so much time and effort trying to get the best purchase and like 4 days ago she told me, why do you keep searching when you know you'll get this one. I think she knows me well. I went to Honda to buy the gaskets for my carburetors (lawnmower and pressure washer) and I saw a couple of young people looking at the one I wanted. I analysed the Honda again and again and tried every features on it then I went to the Ariens dealer and at this point I was sure what I wanted after playing with the Ariens. The Honda is like a tad above in quality. I'm not saying the Ariens is not good. When I want something I just want the best.