Go Back   Winnipesaukee Forum > Winnipesaukee Forums > General Discussion
Home Forums Gallery Webcams Blogs YouTube Channel Classifieds Calendar Register FAQDonate Members List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 12-29-2015, 08:12 PM   #1
surfnsnow
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 173
Thanks: 133
Thanked 52 Times in 29 Posts
Default snow blower

hi all, got a newbie up here from the south . needs a cheap snow blower. help is appreciated.
surfnsnow is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-29-2015, 08:46 PM   #2
thinkxingu
Senior Member
 
thinkxingu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 5,939
Thanks: 1,152
Thanked 1,959 Times in 1,210 Posts
Default

Not sure how cheap you're looking, but I'm very much a fan of Craftsman for value. We've got five in the family, ranging from 9-15 years old, and none have needed more than gas and oil in that time. Good luck, and welcome to New Hampshire!

Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk
thinkxingu is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to thinkxingu For This Useful Post:
surfnsnow (12-29-2015)
Old 12-30-2015, 07:05 AM   #3
AB_Monterey
Senior Member
 
AB_Monterey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Alton Bay
Posts: 290
Thanks: 86
Thanked 78 Times in 49 Posts
Default

85% of all snowblowers on the market are made by the same company, MTD, including Craftsmen.

Depending on how big the area is that you will be clearing, there are a couple Craftsmen models that are Consumer Reports best buys, a 24in with a 208cc for around $680 (model 88173) and a 26in with a 208c and zero turn steering for around $899 (model 88694). Those are current prices from yesterday when I was in-store. They were $599 and $799 not too long ago....

I bought the 26 in November to replace my old Ariens. That zero turn is neat.
AB_Monterey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2015, 07:09 AM   #4
thinkxingu
Senior Member
 
thinkxingu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 5,939
Thanks: 1,152
Thanked 1,959 Times in 1,210 Posts
Default

Here's a review on the abovementioned recommendation (this site says it's the best value, after 75+ hours of testing): http://m.thesweethome.com/reviews/best-snow-blowers/.

Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk
thinkxingu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2015, 07:51 AM   #5
AB_Monterey
Senior Member
 
AB_Monterey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Alton Bay
Posts: 290
Thanks: 86
Thanked 78 Times in 49 Posts
Default

I forgot about the quiet engine. I was really surprised at how quiet it was compared to my old Ariens.
AB_Monterey is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Old 12-30-2015, 08:20 AM   #6
JanN
Member
 
JanN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 43
Thanks: 174
Thanked 20 Times in 11 Posts
Default

With snowblowers you get what you pay for. Don't short change yourself. A premium snowblower is well worth the price when it comes to heavy wet snow. The more horsepower the better for throwing snow.
JanN is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2015, 08:33 AM   #7
VitaBene
Senior Member
 
VitaBene's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Moultonborough
Posts: 3,527
Thanks: 1,561
Thanked 1,599 Times in 820 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by surfnsnow View Post
hi all, got a newbie up here from the south . needs a cheap snow blower. help is appreciated.
How big is your driveway?
VitaBene is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2015, 09:03 AM   #8
moose tracks
Senior Member
 
moose tracks's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Loudon, Tennessee, foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains
Posts: 283
Thanks: 340
Thanked 41 Times in 33 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by JanN View Post
With snowblowers you get what you pay for. Don't short change yourself. A premium snowblower is well worth the price when it comes to heavy wet snow. The more horsepower the better for throwing snow.
JanN is right. A cheap snow blower will not handle heavy snow and will need repairs after a few years. A quality blower will be dependable and will handle the heavy snow. I recommend the Cub Cadet 930. It has a 357cc engine and handles heavy snow. If you are going to be up north for a while it will be worth the price difference. Good Luck
__________________
Moose Tracks
moose tracks is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2015, 09:22 AM   #9
Phantom
Senior Member
 
Phantom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Berlin, Ma / Gilford
Posts: 1,931
Thanks: 445
Thanked 604 Times in 340 Posts
Default

Little known fact (perhaps) --

If you buy a "Name Brand" machine at a Big Box store remember that it is not going to be of the same quality you would get from a dealership or dedicated retail store. This is true of not only for snow blowers but also major appliances.

The models that the Big Box stores carry are typically a negotiated priced/ features piece of equipment (or appliance) that is mass produced exclusively for that chain.

I am not saying that this is either good nor bad to most .... but I got burnt when parts weren't available for an Ariens I had purchased many years back ---- I have since moved over to a dedicated Retail store.


.
__________________
A bad day on the Big Lake (although I've never had one) - Still beats a day at the office!!
Phantom is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Phantom For This Useful Post:
secondcurve (01-01-2016)
Old 12-30-2015, 09:23 AM   #10
SAMIAM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Moultonborough
Posts: 2,834
Thanks: 326
Thanked 1,625 Times in 561 Posts
Default

Friend of mine bought a pretty high end John Deere runs good but it has electronic controls to turn,raise and lower the chute and they freeze up every time he uses it.A total waste of $$ and he has to blow snow in only one direction because the chute won't move.
SAMIAM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2015, 09:57 AM   #11
brk-lnt
Senior Member
 
brk-lnt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: South Down Shores
Posts: 1,937
Thanks: 532
Thanked 568 Times in 334 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Phantom View Post
If you buy a "Name Brand" machine at a Big Box store remember that it is not going to be of the same quality you would get from a dealership or dedicated retail store. This is true of not only for snow blowers but also major appliances.
.
This is not a universal truth my any means. Yes, large retailers sometimes negotiate to have a model made specifically for them. Many times this is for "price matching" guarantees. If Home Depot is the only one selling the Home Depot model of an Ariens snow blower then of course they can guarantee they have the lowest price because nobody else has that model.

In some cases cheaper/alternative parts may be used. A dishwasher might have a plastic tub instead of stainless steel. A snowblower might not have heated handgrips or might not come with an accessories kit (shovel to clear clogged auger, spare shear bolts, etc.).

As others have said in this thread, a snowblower is one of those things that if you try to get the absolute cheapest model or version, you'll likely pay for it in the long run. Major brands also don't want to risk their brand image on selling garbage products, so it's not like every product at Lowe's or HD is going to be cheapified unit that can't be repaired.

I bought my latest snowblower, an Ariens, at Home Depot about 8 years ago. I've purchased replacement parts (belts mostly) at the local outdoor equipment place that also sells Ariens without a problem. I've also repaired an MTD unit I had in the past, as well as done some repairs and tune-ups for friends and neighbors on snow blowers. They all have pretty much the same auger drive components, same mechanisms and setups for the transmission and so forth. I took apart a 25 year old Ariens that was pretty much the same basic guts as a modern Craftsman or MTD.

If I were buying a new unit today, I'd look for power to width ratio (eg: biggest engine for a given clearing width) and the engine itself. I've had very good luck with Tecumseh cold-weather engines, so that's my personal preference.
__________________
[insert witty phrase here]
brk-lnt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2015, 10:16 AM   #12
Puffin
Member
 
Puffin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 43
Thanks: 10
Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts
Default

I just bought my first snow blower after many years of plowing my own driveway. Simply couldn't justify the cost of a new truck and plow just for my own use.

I was looking closely as the Husqvarna ST330T track model but could not get one locally without ordering. This made me nervous if/when parts are needed for maintenance or repair.

I opted for the Ariens Hydro Pro 28" track model. This has a 420CC engine and will be no problem handling the heavy wet snow that we so often get here in central Ma.

Because it's the track model the cost is significantly more than a wheeled unit ($3k), however my driveway is over 500 feet long on a hill with a couple of bends, a turnaround/parking spot and 3 cars wide in front of the garage. the tracks will provide much better traction on the hill. I wanted to make sure that I didn't undersize the unit only to regret it later.

So this year I'm pretty much guaranteed that we won't have any significant snowfall. We only got about 1.5" here yesterday, not enough to fire up the new blower especially after the wife and kids drove up and down the driveway several times before I could even attempt too get out and clear it. Therefore my shiny new blower sits patiently waiting in the garage for the next chance to try it out.
Puffin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2015, 10:33 AM   #13
Just Sold
Senior Member
 
Just Sold's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Suncook, NH, but at The Lake at Heart
Posts: 2,612
Thanks: 1,082
Thanked 433 Times in 209 Posts
Default

4 years ago I purchased a Simplicity 11224e 2 stage snow blower. I got the smaller of the 2 fames offered with the largest engine, Briggs & Stratton 1150, available. This combination works great for my steep but short driveway. I bought this from a local retailer in S. NH who also provides service and not a big box store. It has been a great investment for me.
__________________
Just Sold
At the lake the stress of daily life just melts away. Pro Re Nata
Just Sold is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2015, 10:49 AM   #14
BroadHopper
Senior Member
 
BroadHopper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Laconia NH
Posts: 5,504
Thanks: 3,113
Thanked 1,089 Times in 783 Posts
Default Snapper

I have a Snapper 26" and extremely reliable! Bought in 1982 and still put to good use! Driveway is 50 feet long and two cars wide. I even clear the neighbors every year!

I bought an Arien 28" a few years ago and never liked it. Sold it for half what it is worth as no one wanted a used one. Even if it is only used one winter.

Best accessory I bought was the tire chains. Worth it!

Snappers are not made by MTD. Last I heard they are USA made including USA parts. My Snapper lawn mower is just as old and still use today!

Pays to go to a dealer, service and sales are second to none!
__________________
Someday may never be an actual day.
BroadHopper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2015, 11:03 AM   #15
songkrai
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 723
Thanks: 35
Thanked 145 Times in 98 Posts
Default

The Big Box Stores.

Skip the big box stores. Purchase from a local authorized dealer that also has an on sight repair. Yes, warranty work is warranty work. Fine. Just purchase for a local shop.

Craftsman.

Skip anything Sears. All of the Craftsman snow throwers have engines made in China. Yes, some do have good luck. All Sears warranty work is done in Connecticut. The local Sears repair shops are long gone.

I'd also skip any brand made by MTD.

Stick with a snow thrower with an engine Made in USA.
songkrai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2015, 01:21 PM   #16
Merrymeeting
Senior Member
 
Merrymeeting's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham
Posts: 2,216
Thanks: 299
Thanked 795 Times in 365 Posts
Default

Clearly you are already getting opinions that run the gamut. But I'd echo a few consistent ones.

Bigger and more hp is always better. This is an area where some extra money will save you in the long run. Handles bigger, heavier storms better and will last longer due to not straining so much. Not to mention the extra hp you need to expend just using a smaller machine.

Not sure I agree with avoid the big box stores. As has been mentioned, most machines are actually made by the same company. The difference is in the bells and whistles that most of the time either don't matter or break soon thereafter.

My snowblower is a Noma (made by Murray, used to be the OEM for many, including Sears). I bought it at Home Depot. It is a monster, 12HP, 30" wide. I had a 400+ foot driveway at the time and needed to move a lot of snow. It was the same as the comparable John Deere and Chraftsman models, and made by the same OEM, but not as "fancy" and therefore cheaper.

30+ years later it is still going strong, despite being used for almost every New England snowstorm since that time (27 of them doing that 400' driveway). Started yesterday on the first pull.
Merrymeeting is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2015, 02:58 PM   #17
Lakeboater
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 391
Thanks: 20
Thanked 130 Times in 93 Posts
Default Tecumseh

Quote:
Originally Posted by brk-lnt View Post
This is not a universal truth my any means. Yes, large retailers sometimes negotiate to have a model made specifically for them. Many times this is for "price matching" guarantees. If Home Depot is the only one selling the Home Depot model of an Ariens snow blower then of course they can guarantee they have the lowest price because nobody else has that model.

In some cases cheaper/alternative parts may be used. A dishwasher might have a plastic tub instead of stainless steel. A snowblower might not have heated handgrips or might not come with an accessories kit (shovel to clear clogged auger, spare shear bolts, etc.).

As others have said in this thread, a snowblower is one of those things that if you try to get the absolute cheapest model or version, you'll likely pay for it in the long run. Major brands also don't want to risk their brand image on selling garbage products, so it's not like every product at Lowe's or HD is going to be cheapified unit that can't be repaired.

I bought my latest snowblower, an Ariens, at Home Depot about 8 years ago. I've purchased replacement parts (belts mostly) at the local outdoor equipment place that also sells Ariens without a problem. I've also repaired an MTD unit I had in the past, as well as done some repairs and tune-ups for friends and neighbors on snow blowers. They all have pretty much the same auger drive components, same mechanisms and setups for the transmission and so forth. I took apart a 25 year old Ariens that was pretty much the same basic guts as a modern Craftsman or MTD.

If I were buying a new unit today, I'd look for power to width ratio (eg: biggest engine for a given clearing width) and the engine itself. I've had very good luck with Tecumseh cold-weather engines, so that's my personal preference.
Pretty sure that Tecumseh is no more....they are out of business unfortunately.
Lakeboater is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2015, 03:08 PM   #18
thinkxingu
Senior Member
 
thinkxingu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 5,939
Thanks: 1,152
Thanked 1,959 Times in 1,210 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lakeboater View Post
Pretty sure that Tecumseh is no more....they are out of business unfortunately.
This is accurate--most machines I've seen use Briggs, Honda, Kohler, or a Chinese engine (which, according to my non-big-box mom-and-pop high-end repair shop, are "gosh darn good values.").

Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk
thinkxingu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2015, 03:11 PM   #19
Airedale1
Senior Member
 
Airedale1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Laconia
Posts: 594
Thanks: 557
Thanked 1,569 Times in 274 Posts
Default

About 7 years ago we bought a Poulan Pro dual stage that has 11 h.p. a 30" cut and electric start. We have never used the electric start as it always starts on the first pull. We have been very happy with it. It's a beast!
__________________
"The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit." Nelson Henderson (1865-1943)
Airedale1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2015, 05:56 PM   #20
tbonies
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Anchorage, Al
Posts: 141
Thanks: 56
Thanked 59 Times in 30 Posts
Default

Ask yourself how long you need the blower. The reality is that an MTD big box blower, if you take care of it (change oil, etc.), will typically last 12-15 years with an average driveway. If you want it to last 30 years, go with one that is 3x the cost. As stated earlier, the resale value will be low so consider it a disposable asset.
tbonies is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2015, 06:28 PM   #21
Slickcraft
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Welch Island and West Alton
Posts: 3,211
Thanks: 1,166
Thanked 1,999 Times in 913 Posts
Default

To answer the original questing as stated, my wife recently got a very basic Troy-Bilt Storm 2410 to do the walks and our large wrap around low deck.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_189194-270-3...d=3255746&pl=1

It is a 24" two stage with elect start and that is about it. Small enough so that she can handle it and it appears that it will do the job. Probably could handle a small short drive way. Will have to wait and see how the Troy-Bilt Chinese engine holds up. She did really like it in the 1st small storm.

OK this is just a BTW talking about snow blowers. Towards the other extreme I do the 600' steep driveway and have used a plow truck for many years. Not a typical homeowners situation. As I already have a JD 3320 tractor, I picked up a 64" Frontier PTO snowblower this fall. Waiting for a real storm to see if it can replace the plow truck.
Attached Images
 
Slickcraft is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 7 Users Say Thank You to Slickcraft For This Useful Post:
chipj29 (01-02-2016), CTYankee (01-01-2016), DRH (12-31-2015), ghfromaltonbay (12-31-2015), Resident 2B (12-30-2015), surfnsnow (12-30-2015), upthesaukee (12-30-2015)
Old 12-30-2015, 07:12 PM   #22
ishoot308
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island
Posts: 5,907
Thanks: 2,279
Thanked 4,924 Times in 1,906 Posts
Default Nice!

Now THAT'S a snowblower Slick!!
__________________
It's Always Sunny On Welch Island!!
ishoot308 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2015, 09:37 PM   #23
AB_Monterey
Senior Member
 
AB_Monterey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Alton Bay
Posts: 290
Thanks: 86
Thanked 78 Times in 49 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by BroadHopper View Post
I have a Snapper 26" and extremely reliable! Bought in 1982 and still put to good use! Driveway is 50 feet long and two cars wide. I even clear the neighbors every year!

I bought an Arien 28" a few years ago and never liked it. Sold it for half what it is worth as no one wanted a used one. Even if it is only used one winter.

Best accessory I bought was the tire chains. Worth it!

Snappers are not made by MTD. Last I heard they are USA made including USA parts. My Snapper lawn mower is just as old and still use today!

Pays to go to a dealer, service and sales are second to none!
Snapper is made by Briggs.
AB_Monterey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-31-2015, 07:43 AM   #24
tis
Senior Member
 
tis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,386
Thanks: 716
Thanked 1,375 Times in 951 Posts
Default

Do you have to drive backwards to make that work Slick???
tis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-31-2015, 07:53 AM   #25
Slickcraft
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Welch Island and West Alton
Posts: 3,211
Thanks: 1,166
Thanked 1,999 Times in 913 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by tis View Post
Do you have to drive backwards to make that work Slick???

Yes but not too hard to do. A front mount blower would require adding a mid power take off (PTO) $$ and removing the front end loader (FEL). The tractor already had the standard rear PTO and I did not want to lose the use of the FEL. We use the FEL all winter for driveway sanding and other things. The rear mount blower won the trade off.
Slickcraft is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Slickcraft For This Useful Post:
tis (12-31-2015)
Old 12-31-2015, 12:20 PM   #26
VitaBene
Senior Member
 
VitaBene's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Moultonborough
Posts: 3,527
Thanks: 1,561
Thanked 1,599 Times in 820 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Slickcraft View Post
Yes but not too hard to do. A front mount blower would require adding a mid power take off (PTO) $$ and removing the front end loader (FEL). The tractor already had the standard rear PTO and I did not want to lose the use of the FEL. We use the FEL all winter for driveway sanding and other things. The rear mount blower won the trade off.
Yes, I have a Kubota L3430 cab model with front. I can leave the frame on and put tbe loader on but it is a bit of pain! Thedriveway and barn roadare 1/2 mile sodoing t hat in reverse would get old fast!!
Nice rig Slick!!
VitaBene is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-31-2015, 12:57 PM   #27
Kamper
Senior Member
 
Kamper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Thornton's Ferry
Posts: 1,295
Thanks: 67
Thanked 165 Times in 125 Posts
Default

Tips:

Get a couple packages of "Shear Pins" when you buy your machine. They lock the blades to the turning shaft and will break if you hit something hard. If you replace them with regular screws, you may break a belt or a key-way instead. Both of those jobs are a pain...

There are usually two belts in a snow blower. A drive belt (makes the wheels go 'round) and an auger belt (makes the snow go away). You may want to get one of each at time of purchase. Not just so you have them if needed but so you will have the part numbers on the sleeve if you need to get them twice.

Power is your friend. I suggest at least 5hp unless you are doing just a little bit. If you get bogged down, shift the drive to a lower gear and stop the drive to allow all the power to be used for clearing the mouthful it has. Start off slow then use the higher gears until you are comfortable with what your machine can do.

Don't clear the minimum area. If you have space, do it wide so there will be space for the melt-water to drain.


Good luck!

PS: I have a "Yardman" from Home Depot. It's identical to most store-brand machines regardless of HP. If anyone needs a copy of the manual send me a PM and I will forward it as an attachment.

Last edited by Kamper; 12-31-2015 at 01:08 PM. Reason: extra info
Kamper is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Kamper For This Useful Post:
pondguy (01-01-2016)
Old 12-31-2015, 01:25 PM   #28
Little Bear
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 559
Thanks: 104
Thanked 237 Times in 126 Posts
Default

Here's my entry into the virtual snow blower show. Complete with a heated cabin and tunes.
Attached Images
 
Little Bear is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-31-2015, 03:03 PM   #29
Slickcraft
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Welch Island and West Alton
Posts: 3,211
Thanks: 1,166
Thanked 1,999 Times in 913 Posts
Default

Nice LB, I can't get a cab into the garage so I am jealous. I do have chains on all 4 for the winter.
Slickcraft is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-31-2015, 03:36 PM   #30
Dave R
Senior Member
 
Dave R's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,974
Thanks: 246
Thanked 736 Times in 438 Posts
Default

Best value in a cheap snowblower is a well maintained used Toro from the 80s to mid 2000s, IMO. They are ruggedly built, easy to work on, powered by Tecumseh, have real transmissions, and don't use shear pins. The mechanisms for shifting, chute movement etc. seem far superior to MTD/NOMA stuff.
Dave R is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-31-2015, 04:02 PM   #31
Dave R
Senior Member
 
Dave R's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,974
Thanks: 246
Thanked 736 Times in 438 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by VitaBene View Post
Yes, I have a Kubota L3430 cab model with front. I can leave the frame on and put tbe loader on but it is a bit of pain! Thedriveway and barn roadare 1/2 mile sodoing t hat in reverse would get old fast!!
Nice rig Slick!!
My neighbor has a B3030 with the front mount blower. Really slick setup. Envious... That said, it seems to waste a lot of power throwing the snow quite far (I'd estimate it at 80 feet). I would have designed it for less distance and more volume so you could go a little faster.
Dave R is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-31-2015, 07:05 PM   #32
Blue Thunder
Senior Member
 
Blue Thunder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Eastern MA & Frye Island/Sebago Lake, Maine
Posts: 935
Thanks: 247
Thanked 323 Times in 148 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Phantom View Post
Little known fact (perhaps) --

If you buy a "Name Brand" machine at a Big Box store remember that it is not going to be of the same quality you would get from a dealership or dedicated retail store. This is true of not only for snow blowers but also major appliances.

The models that the Big Box stores carry are typically a negotiated priced/ features piece of equipment (or appliance) that is mass produced exclusively for that chain.

I am not saying that this is either good nor bad to most .... but I got burnt when parts weren't available for an Ariens I had purchased many years back ---- I have since moved over to a dedicated Retail store.
This is spot on and we've debated this many times over the years. The BB stores have name brand manufacturers make power equipment and appliances specifically for them. They are not of the same quality. As it relates to the subject of snowblowers, less expensive components are used allowing the BB stores to sell for less. Buyer beware and shop around from your local power equipment vendor. You'll be better off in the long run.

BT
__________________
" Live for today because yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come"
Blue Thunder is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-31-2015, 08:35 PM   #33
ursa minor
Senior Member
 
ursa minor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Tuftonborough & Franklin MA
Posts: 265
Thanks: 99
Thanked 143 Times in 64 Posts
Default

My first snow blower was a 1971 Ariens 24" with a 7 hp Tecumseh engine. I bought it in the early 90's when it was already 20 years old. Other than a throttle cable, some tire chains, belts and spark plugs, it always answered the bell. It was built like a tank. I retired it 2 years ago after 40 + years of service. It still ran but everything from the engine, bushings, etc was worn out. I replaced it with a another Ariens, this time a "Deluxe 28" from a power equipment dealer.

After two biblical winters, I give the new machine two thumbs up. It throws snow twice as far as the old machine did on its best day and while it has electric start, I haven't needed it as it will start on the first pull easily. The "auto steer" feature took some getting used to, replacing the stock skids on the bucket with after market "Armor Skids" made a huge difference in how it performs. (I'm pretty sure the tractor blower that Slickcraft has has them, look very similar to mine)

Ariens still makes the machines in Wisconsin, however there are no more USA engines, all Ariens engines are by LCT made in China. So far so good after two seasons. I'm a freak about maintaining my equipment so I'm hoping it will be with me for at least 20 years. Good luck!
__________________
" Any day with a boat ride in it is a good day"
ursa minor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-01-2016, 01:07 PM   #34
DickR
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Moultonborough
Posts: 734
Thanks: 4
Thanked 254 Times in 166 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave R View Post
Best value in a cheap snowblower is a well maintained used Toro from the 80s to mid 2000s, IMO. They are ruggedly built, easy to work on, powered by Tecumseh, have real transmissions, and don't use shear pins. The mechanisms for shifting, chute movement etc. seem far superior to MTD/NOMA stuff.
I may agree to a great extent with that. Back in the mid-late 90s, I bought a used John Deere 826 (8 HP, 26" width cut) machine, built back in the mid 80s as best as I've been able to find out. And, yes, it's green and yellow. The thing is a beast, ruggedly built. The engine is a Tecumseh, and it starts easily after a pull or two, even after sitting in the garage for 9 months. The tires came with chains on them.

During a period last year when I was having trouble getting it started and running well, I did use the electric starter for the first time. I had to remove that first and work in some lubrication, as it had been a couple of decades since it had been used, if at all. The starter itself ran well after that, except when I tried to use it during a power outage. Wondering if the cord had failed, I plugged a light into it, which is when I felt really stupid, as I had known the power was out before I went out to move snow.

Thinking that the carburetor might be gunked up from ethanol fouling, I replaced the carburetor, which it turns out was not the problem. Later, in troubleshooting a failed clutch linkage spring, I found a small spot on a wire connecting to the on/off key switch that had been rubbing on a threaded rod connected to the forward speed lever over the years. There was an intermittent grounding of the electrical system, and that was the source of all the trouble. It starts and runs well again now. Although the carb didn't need replacing after all, I've taken to shutting off the gas valve at the tank and letting the engine run through whatever is left in the bowl.

Over the years, I've replaced the drive friction wheel and a couple of belts. Parts are still available for it, so I've no particular reason to get something newer. My only complaint is that with very wet snow, practically slush, the chute clogs, and I have to shut down and clean the chute. Any wetter and I have to get out the shovel.
DickR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-02-2016, 08:06 PM   #35
chipj29
Senior Member
 
chipj29's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Bow
Posts: 1,874
Thanks: 521
Thanked 308 Times in 162 Posts
Default

I bought a 10HP (Tecumseh), 24" MTD at Sam's Club back in 1997 for $697. I used it until 2012. It handled everything I threw at it, and only busted 1 shear pin. I sold it for $200, and it always started on the first pull.
__________________
Getting ready for winter!
chipj29 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-03-2016, 08:16 AM   #36
Dad sold the C * C
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 273
Thanks: 119
Thanked 62 Times in 40 Posts
Default Keep it clean

A few tips That I'm sure most know, but if it helps one person ....

I have an old hunk of Parrifin wax that I use to rub down the shoot and auger area. I have also used Pam, but get questioned by the wife at dinner time. (ONCE I went and got the cold can from outside and when she pushed the button, it just sputtered and dripped down the can)

Always clean the machine when your done, no matter how tired or late you are. Lost 2 hours last year because the wheel axels were frozen. Heat gun on mid temp made me nervous near the gas.

On wet heavy stuff turn the shoot in the same direction as your discharge auger rotates, since it's all the same direction it clogs less. Not always convenient but neither is the snow in the first place.

I've had 2 Ariens and very happy with both. I help a friend that has a horse farm and clears over a acre each storm, all grass, dirt or crushed stone; she has a 24" Honda for the tight spaces and I really like it. For the bulk of the yard she has a Honda tractor with a 40" blower on the front. Unfortunately they stopped making them years ago, we had to go to NJ last spring to buy a used blower attachment, we limped through last year, but only with the help of the service guy at the Honda dealer in Manchester. Can't say enough nice things about him.
Dad sold the C * C is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Dad sold the C * C For This Useful Post:
pondguy (01-03-2016)
Old 01-03-2016, 11:44 AM   #37
Kamper
Senior Member
 
Kamper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Thornton's Ferry
Posts: 1,295
Thanks: 67
Thanked 165 Times in 125 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dad sold the C * C View Post
... Always clean the machine when your done, no matter how tired or late you are. Lost 2 hours last year because the wheel axels were frozen. ...
Last year I was lazy and that happened to my augers. By an odd twist of fate, I had a spare snow-blower on hand and whenever my primary machine had a 'casualty' I was able to switch to a functional unit. This year, my wife 'loaned' #2 to some friends who moved to a place where they have to do their own cleanup. I really hope they look at Craigslist sometime in the next 9 months!
Kamper is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:35 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.

This page was generated in 2.66706 seconds