Snow blower

[pmark]

Winter is coming...so I need to start thinking of a snow blower. I'm looking for a two-stage gas blower, but I'm not sure if anything else is really important feature wise. Any brand to look for or avoid?

 

[monkeydelmagico]

I used to work snow removal for some extra money. The toro blowers were indestructible.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Required:
Electric Start

Optional:
Reverse - Heavier unit - harder it is to pull it
Multi-speed - Saves having to hold the unit back when doing heavy/deep
Light - Much easier when doing night work
Chute rotational control - convience

 

[bruceb]

Snapper is very good as is the Toro brand. Just remember, if you are in an area with a lot of snow, you want to get the most horsepower you can in the width you need. If possible, try to size the width to your walkway or sidewalk width. That way you only need one or at most two passes to clean it. And be sure to buy some extra shear bolts for the auger. If / when one fails, without the spare to install, you will not be doing any snow blowing. Also look for a model with a large chute opening and a way to aim the chute from the handle area. Maybe also a headlight, if you use it before daylight.

 

[Meghan54]

First, how large an area are you looking to work? Will make a difference in what you buy, esp. the width of the auger. Just a driveway and walkway? A 24" wide blower probably will suffice. Lots of area? You're probably going to want to move up to a 30".

I went through the looking stage a couple of years ago up on Cape Cod. Got recommended quite a few brands...seems quite a few are good.

But I heard time and again to avoid track drive blowers. While they'll work great in the snow, they absolutely suck on ice, which you always end up with after a few days post snowstorm.

Cub Cadet seems to make good ones, some Craftsman are good I've been told, Honda is a great choice, Troy-Bilt has some good units, along with Toro, John Deere, Ariens, etc., etc.

 

[Zivic]

Top two choices are Honda and simplicity IMO. Ariens and toro are good as well. In my experience Honda will throw the snow further than any other machine.

 

[Zivic]

First, how large an area are you looking to work? Will make a difference in what you buy, esp. the width of the auger. Just a driveway and walkway? A 24" wide blower probably will suffice. Lots of area? You're probably going to want to move up to a 30".

I went through the looking stage a couple of years ago up on Cape Cod. Got recommended quite a few brands...seems quite a few are good.

But I heard time and again to avoid track drive blowers. While they'll work great in the snow, they absolutely suck on ice, which you always end up with after a few days post snowstorm.

Cub Cadet seems to make good ones, some Craftsman are good I've been told, Honda is a great choice, Troy-Bilt has some good units, along with Toro, John Deere, Ariens, etc., etc.

FWIW, I have the big dog honda that I bought a few winters ago. it is a track model. would I buy it in a track setup again? not sure. I am learning those that speak down on the tracks are probably used to using a wheeled machine. You wrestle and pivot a wheeled machine where as you let a track model do the work. it takes some getting used to. the biggest con to track model is turning it around which can take a little muscle or time. they definitely don't spin around like a wheeled unit

I clear a 100'x40' ice rink for my kid with my track model. they do not suck on ice

 

[waggy]

Required:
Electric Start

Optional:
Reverse - Heavier unit - harder it is to pull it
Multi-speed - Saves having to hold the unit back when doing heavy/deep
Light - Much easier when doing night work
Chute rotational control - convience

I would also add in powered turning.

I have huge Toro that has electric start, reverse, multie speed, light (never used it) chute control. the only think i wish i got on it was the powered turning. It was just another $200

I replaced my odl Toro (roughly 15 yr's old) with a new one about 5 years ago. got the unit in the summer for $1200 and am still very hapy.

Was it a expensive unit? yes. but i expect it to last me another 10-15 years. I have purchased cheap units that die in 2-3 years.

Though been thinking of getting a snow thrower addon for my lawn tractor.

Top two choices are Honda and simplicity IMO. Ariens and toro are good as well. In my experience Honda will throw the snow further than any other machine.

lol my toro throws snow a long way. far longer then i really need it to.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

I just bought the Ariens 28 Deluxe and that all but guarantees no snow for Central Illinois this year.
It's a beast and a half.
And the gearing ratio for turning the chute is ridiculous (in a good way). Nearly turns 180 degrees in less than a full rotation.

 

[Meghan54]

FWIW, I have the big dog honda that I bought a few winters ago. it is a track model. would I buy it in a track setup again? not sure. I am learning those that speak down on the tracks are probably used to using a wheeled machine. You wrestle and pivot a wheeled machine where as you let a track model do the work. it takes some getting used to. the biggest con to track model is turning it around which can take a little muscle or time. they definitely don't spin around like a wheeled unit

I clear a 100'x40' ice rink for my kid with my track model. they do not suck on ice

Just speaking from experience during several winters in Maine. Track machines suck in real ice. No traction.

 

[Zivic]

I would also add in powered turning.

I have huge Toro that has electric start, reverse, multie speed, light (never used it) chute control. the only think i wish i got on it was the powered turning. It was just another $200

I replaced my odl Toro (roughly 15 yr's old) with a new one about 5 years ago. got the unit in the summer for $1200 and am still very hapy.

Was it a expensive unit? yes. but i expect it to last me another 10-15 years. I have purchased cheap units that die in 2-3 years.

Though been thinking of getting a snow thrower addon for my lawn tractor.




lol my toro throws snow a long way. far longer then i really need it to.

I've yet to see anything throw snow like a Honda. That is nkt to put other machines down

Also with a quality machine electric start is a waste. Not to keep going back to Honda but ask a Honda dealer if you should spend the extra money for an electric start unit...

Also keep in mind a top model 2 stage Honda is well in the 3000 buck range so they better be good.

 

[EagleKeeper]

I've yet to see anything throw snow like a Honda. That is nkt to put other machines down

Also with a quality machine electric start is a waste. Not to keep going back to Honda but ask a Honda dealer if you should spend the extra money for an electric start unit...

Also keep in mind a top model 2 stage Honda is well in the 3000 buck range so they better be good.

As one gets older, having to use a pull rope when cold is not something to look forward to.

With my electric, I plug the cord into the wall outlet beside the garage door, hit the prime button and then the start. 10 secs, not even time to get cold or break a sweat.

 

[Zivic]

As one gets older, having to use a pull rope when cold is not something to look forward to.

With my electric, I plug the cord into the wall outlet beside the garage door, hit the prime button and then the start. 10 secs, not even time to get cold or break a sweat.

my honda starts in 1-2 pulls and doesn't pull hard. not going to break a sweat. I understand pulling on a machine for a while isn't easy, but on a quality machine, you won't have to.

heck, my old monster bolens had an electric start and can remember only using it 1 time

 

[waggy]

my honda starts in 1-2 pulls and doesn't pull hard. not going to break a sweat. I understand pulling on a machine for a while isn't easy, but on a quality machine, you won't have to.

heck, my old monster bolens had an electric start and can remember only using it 1 time

lol talk to me when you have had shoulder surgery a few times.

electric start is great. Also who gives a flying fuck how far it throws snow? long as it goes at least 10ft everyone is good. My toro does twice to 3-4 times that (depending on the snow).

 

[pmark]

Great information guys! I have to just clear out the walkway and driveway so it sounds like a 24" would be fine. As I get busier and busier, I'm finding that I don't really have to time to shovel snow anymore so I figure it is time to get a snow blower.

 

[michal1980]

I have a smaller corner house that has a lot of sidewalk. And the single stage is just a pain in anything over a few inches.

Thinking of getting one of the following machines:

1) club cadet 24" 2 stage w/power steering.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Cub-Cade...202938393?N=bxc5Z1z0wwdxZ1z0uxk9#.Un7OP9h3uM8

2) Husqvarna 24" 2 stage w/power steering

http://www.lowes.com/pd_496179-6331...qty_sales_dollar|1&page=1&facetInfo=Husqvarna

I really wanted to get an ariens, but part of the reason I want a bigger machine is to be lazy. to get an ariens with power steering I have to spend 1400 on a 24", or a 1000 for a 28". Don't think I can fit the 28" in the garage next to the cars.

any opinions on the two machines?

 

[mmntech]

I have a Craftsman 24" snow blower that I've had for a number of years. Can't really say anything negative about it, though it's starting to show its age. It's got a problem with the differential where only one wheel turns now. It also backfires now.

Electric start would be a good option to grab. Though not necessary. They're not hard to get going. Depending on the size of your driveway, you don't need anything too complicated. I wouldn't get one with a lot of frills on it. Get one with multiple speeds and a reasonably powerful engine, for chomping through wet snow. Though you don't want one that's too heavy either.

 

[EagleKeeper]

I have a 24 that is wheeled to the garage door when more than a fee inches are predicted. I can keep it at the other end when not needed, but it blocks access to tool chest and misc storage area.

Normally, under the porch.

If I park the two jeeps very close to walls, I can maneuver it between them.

It is easier though to move the blower when one vehicle is out of garage. There is no way I could move a 28 or larger with two vehicles parked.

 

[Zivic]

lol talk to me when you have had shoulder surgery a few times.

electric start is great. Also who gives a flying fuck how far it throws snow? long as it goes at least 10ft everyone is good. My toro does twice to 3-4 times that (depending on the snow).

It matters when you have limittied areas to put snow. I have had to use mine to throw snow over a garage before.

 

[bruceb]

24 inch is a good size. It is also about the width of a sidewalk or walkway.

 

[jumpncrash]

I was thinking snowblower earlier thios year, but I have a 280ft long driveway plus 4-5 car parking space to clear, how long would that take me to do with the average snow blower?

I can usually get it done in about 2 hours by hand but I'm pretty worked up at the end.

 

[olds]

Last snow blower I ran.

 

[EagleKeeper]

I was thinking snowblower earlier thios year, but I have a 280ft long driveway plus 4-5 car parking space to clear, how long would that take me to do with the average snow blower?

I can usually get it done in about 2 hours by hand but I'm pretty worked up at the end.

Much will depend on the width of the blower and also of the horsepower of the unit so you can use the majority of the width. With multi-gears; you can adjust the forward speed to the workload and not be pushing the unit or holding it back.

I have a Craftsman single forward speed that I have to move to keep up with when there is a 4" dry snowfall and can use the full width.

For a wet snow; I have to hold it back and only use half the width to prevent clogging (even though it is a two stage).

 

[LegendKiller]

1. Don't touch anything that doesn't have a Brigs&Stratton that isn't made in the US or a Honda.

2. Don't touch anything that doesn't have a steel gearbox, sheer bolts, and a grease plug to fill the gear shaft after the winter.

After a pretty large amount of research I settled on an Ariens Deluxe 28"+. This was a special model from a couple years ago when Ariens ran out of B&S 250cc engines and ran a line with 305cc engines. Hand warmers, electric start and a manual drive disengage mechanism to make turning a lot easier. I got that for $1k. The whole thing, engine and all, is made in the USA, machine is made in WI.

I can't stand the joystick chute control, it never quite locks in where you want it.

My brother's Toro has done OK but the reliability hasn't been great.

I wouldn't touch anything Craftsman with a 10' pole, engines and overall quality is getting worse. Nor would I really touch anything else. Having an unreliable snowblower completely defeats the purpose of it.

As far as Honda, I'd love to get one, but the price premium over everything else is huge. I just couldn't justify it. I love my Honda lawnmower, but paying 2-3k for a snowblower just isn't practical for me.

 

[Soapy Bones]

I have a 4 ft wall on each side of the driveway.. what are the chances that a snowblower will be useful for my driveway which is also on a pretty big slope?