We just had about 15 inches of snow. Have some drifts in the driveway around the cars and in front of the garage door about 3 feet high. Have a new neighbor who moved in last year from Montana. He has a snow blower. After he finished his yard, he came over and helped me. WOW, I have never seen a snow blower used before. I was very impressed. Mrs. Waldo says buy one. So does any one here have a snow blower? Any advice on buying one? What to look for? What to avoid? Best brands? My neighbor's is about 10 years old. A Murray, 5 horse power, 24 inch. It worked really well. Thanks, Waldo

Alot depends on the width and length of your driveway. Mine is 200' long and 10' wide, mostly flat. I have an Ahrens 926LE, 9hp and 26" width.
I don't wait for too long to go out and do the drive, depending on total accumulation forecast, about every 6 inches or so. Less strain on the motor. But it will go thru a foot+ with not much issue, I just like going out often.
Used it this morning, but only had 5 inches.

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Sure you did

I have had 2 snowblowers over the last 20 years. The first was "auger driven" where the auger has tire-like treads to propel the blower as well as throw the snow. It might be fine for a small, level area but our diveway is pretty large and on a steep incline. Every time I used it, I was exhausted because I had to lift the back end to get enough traction on the augers to pull it up the driveway. After 10 years, I gave it away and bought a 9 hp with 30 inch wide, electric start and huge "nobby" tires. I just finished clearing almost 20 inches in a little over an hour and my back is fine! I have had this for 5 years or so. Both models were Sears - my basic advice is to get one for the worst snow you experience and get more power, big tires, dual stage (separate augers for collecting and throwing). My next one will be even bigger with a heated seat, stereo and maybe the kid next door to run it

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Lou

I have a Honda and love it.

tire chains might be a good addition as well, I have a set on order.

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Sure you did

A thoughtful husband will bring his wife with him when he shops-you want to make sure you get her one she likes and can use properly

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Forum consigliere

The last two winters here in eastern WA saw nearly 100 inches of snow each winter. I quit shoveling after last year. I bought a Sears blower which is made by MTD.

I am a firm believer in getting what you need and then going 50% over. Mine is a 28" ,277cc (maybe 8-9 hp), dual stage. It has electric start, 6 fwd and 2 reverse gears.

We have only had 2 snows this year that required it, but it sure beat the heck out of shoveling.

After doing my drive, I will do the sidewalks up and down the street and my neighbors drive if he hasn't gotten out yet. He did mine several times last the last 2 years.

bob

I have an older Honda HS928 : 9 HP and tank treads, not wheels. I have a very steep driveway and needed the extra traction.
I was actually looking at the smaller 7 HP model, but my wife insisted we get the larger model! For my situation, I'm glad I got the bigger one. My Honda seems like its built for commercial use, rather than residential use. Way more expensive too. We love it!

I bought a used Ariens and ran it for many years. No real problems except for linkages freezing due to snow falling on it. It was mostly kept in a garage. Finally the motor seized.

Got a TORO three years ago. It has been kept outdoors and I've have had some problems starting it. Once started, it worked well.
This year we began using a gas additive called SeaFoam and starting has been much less of a problem. SeaFoam dries out the gas and cleans the carb also. The carb was where most of our problems were occuring.

A friend has a John Deere snowblower and likes it. He doesn't have nearly as much snow to deal with as we do and also has a garage to keep the thing in.

I have had a 28 inch MTD for the last 20 years or so. It is a 4 cycle, 8 horse, electric start, 5 speeds forward and 2 in reverse model. It is a two stage and has chains on big tires. It will throw snow clear across the street if I choose.

You know, I'd buy one right now after shoveling 18" of snow for 6 hours today. But if I did, I have just guaranteed that Northern VA won't get more than 3" of snow again in my lifetime.

reveiw the "consumer reports" magazine and see what they suggest are the better machines.

if you don't have an extra large area to clear, you dont need to buy a monster machine. the smaller ones work just fine.

i live in the chicagoland area and have a driveway big enough to park eight cars.

about five years ago i bought a "yard machine", 4.5 hp, 21", auger type, single stage, with electric start(much easier to start with this feature)

it will eat through 18" of snow and throw it 30+ feet without hesitation. if we get more than that, (which doesnt happen very often) i just walk a little slower and let the machine take its time to do its thing.

Horsepower! When you get that nice and fluffy light snow any old snowblower will work. When you get the wet heavy and wet sleet mix ya better have more than five horse's a workin! The only problem with this is the price really goes up. Oh yeah, whatever you buy make sure it's a two stage!

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Stay safe people!

living where you do this may be overkill, but i have a john deer 8hp with a 28" cut. i bought it 13 years ago and only had to replace the chute control cable. my neighbors all wish they had one, can't kill the thing.

OK, move south!

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not limited by 30 characters

Ding. Ding. We have a winner.

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Had a corner lot in Madison WI (remember giving 86 year old widows tickets for not clearing snow; when the city park nearby was full?) Had a 3 hp sears that I abused for 10 years. It wasn't enough but beat the shovel. Got a 5hp Toro. Worked well. Moved outside the peoples republic. and all is well except the drive is on an incline. Need a slef propelled.
5 hp I would consider minimum any more. Single stage worked fine for most city use. I would also suggest electric start. Most blowers will have that option with a cord one plugs in to that handy outlet in the garage. Gives one a sense of satisfaction that the power company is on your side when all is white.

I don't know anything about snowblowers. I've never seen one. I suspect that with "climate change" I may need one in a few years. Even though he didn't say anything about it I noticed that Max is demonstrating that a proper amount of personal anti-freeze may be needed to operate one of these machines. Can they be converted to a graden tiller or maybe an outboard motor when the weather warms up?

Snowblower= $$$$$$
with convict in jailhouse jumpsuit to run it= priceless

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

Looks like he was doing community service (during hunting season) for SWI (Snowblowing While Intoxicated). Some people never learn.

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NRA Life Member

I have the Sears 28" model that was referred to above. Looks just like the convict powered one in the picture (without the chains). Have no complaints (other than don't lose that little plastic plug-key -- Sears don't stock it at the stores and it will take a few days and dollars to replace, and won't run witout it).

You definitely want electric start, self-propelled and two-stage (which means it has an auger in the bucket to pull the snow in and an impeller to push it out the top).

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NRA Life Member

I say forget the snow blower,convince the wife what you really need is a new four wheeler with a plow.

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Chad

Two stage,7.5 HP Craftsman, 24" wide, Self Propelled with track drive and electric start, 6 forward , two reverse speeds. Best thing I ever bought. Had it 3 years before I got enough snow to use it. I thought that was a good trade off. I have gone through snow that completely filled the entrance and never killed it.

That's what 12 year olds who want to buy an XBox are for.

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- The Federalist #46 -

Waldo, just make sure that whatever you buy is appropriate for the amount of snow you usually get. I think a lot of people make the mistake of buying a snowblower that is too small for what they need it to do.

I have experience with both Toro and Honda snowblowers...I don't think you could go wrong with either one of those.

Also, make sure you follow the manufacturer's recommendations for storage...good luck to you!

Whats a graden??????

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Forum consigliere

Ariens. Snow Throwers, Products and Equipment by Ariens®

We've got the Pro 26 Snow Products, Ariens® Pro 26 Sno-Thro Overview

Make sure you keep extra shear pins on hand. Charlie got some steel stock and made skids to keep the bottom from digging into the gravel drive if it hasn't had the chance to freeze up yet.

Went through three snowblowers over the years and then bought a Honda. One of the best pieces of power equipment I've ever owned. Easy starting (usually first pull) and very robust design. IMO worth the extra money.

That looks like my driveway. I sure needed that yesterday!

Pull??? What's that???

Electric start baby!!!

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NRA Life Member

I like that Barb! That thing throws the snow three houses down! They'll never figure out where it came from!

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Misty

You'll have to get RBurg to relate the story of when an individual (who shall remain nameless to protect the guilty) snow-blowed his rotten neighbor's car in.

What I want to know is how both Max and Barb got residents form the "county farm" to do it for them. At least that's what it looks like from the orange jumpsuits. I didn't know you could rent convicts anymore.

As to Max's, his driveway is maybe 40 feet long. His probably gets its only workout blazing a trail to the VFW.

Burt, my driveway is every bit of 50' I am sure. In addition, because of my kind and generous nature, I do about 7 other drives in the neighborhood. Last year I got paid in beer and a hot apple pie. I went back to the house where I got the apple pie and offered to clean the snow off her yard.

Thirty years ago, I sold and repaired snow-blowers at a power equipment store. We sold Ariens, Toro, International Harvester. I was a factory-trained Ariens and Toro technician. Tried all kinds of blowers. Back then, I was a die-hard Ariens fan. They're still good, but I think some of the others caught up. I have a John Deere that I bought new about eight or nine years ago...but it's really an Ariens with green and yellow paint. At one time, Deere made their own good machines, but not any more. My machine is 8HP, 28" cut, two-stage...plenty for Central New York winters with lake-effect snow. I see some old Ariens that are 40 years old still working.

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'Merica!

There is a lot of great advice here. My main plugs are for the dual stage feature and as much horsepower as you can afford.

I have an Ariens about the size of G-Mac's and it does the job unless the snow is really heavy. My Dad has the top of the line Honda with tracks and it would make Tim The Toolman Taylor drool.

Brian~

Modest, don't forget to add in modest.

It ain't cheap but at least he's serving a life sentence.

Another happy Ariens owner here. It has electric start, a locking differential and a headlight. The electric start is never used (heated garage) but the headlight comes in handy. With 8 horsepower and a 2 stage auger system it gets the job done quickly...

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"Shall not be infringed"

rburg's snow blower adventures

Post#13 is where he tells his sordid tale.

Get the Toro, 9 HP 2 stage, 28" cut. Don't forget the electric start, and heated handlebars (wish I got those!). Another great feature is individual wheel steering for those sharp turns.

This thing is the greatest machine ever invented, whoever thought of it should be given a medal. I've lived up here for 5 years and it gets a workout every season, clearing a double width 85' driveway, 75 ' of walkways and side parking spaces in about 40 minutes of leisurely work.

One thing to remember, drive it, don't push it.

ouuuu. Busted.

Yes to a lot of this so far. Electric start is the only way to go. If you test start it in the fall, you're good to go. Horsepower is relative. How much you need is dependent on a couple of factors, like how much snow you've ever gotten, how dedicated you are in blowing it away before the clouds stop their magic. And most importantly, how wide the swath it eats. In our most recent home burglary (5 years ago they got my unalarmed garage), they took my wide swath 4hp. So I replaced it with a narrower 5 hp. Of course electric start, like the old one.

And when it gets really cold and doesn't want to start (a function of me not test starting it in the autumn), start up the torpedo/salamander heater and direct it at the machine. Go inside for a half hour. Then in summer like conditions it fires right up, flooded or not!

The proper size and power is one that will throw small foreign cars, tricycles and other objects across the county road out front. Just like all power tools, horsepower is king. If some is good, more is better, and too much is just right.

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Dick Burg

More HP is always good, but if you're going to buy one, a minimum
of 5 HP, some type of self-propulsion, and electric-start are essential.
Also, depending on the surface you're trying to uncover, like gravel,
get a TORO with the hard-rubber auger. No shear-pins to replace,
because you won't need to. When I had a TORO SNO-PUP, it had flappers of hard rubber instead of an auger, and was single-stage.
Both that and the new one, when they got down to gravel, would throw
stones far enough that you'd have to stop when traffic went by.
When it got down to 15-below, I didn't mess with the salamander,
I just took it into the house for a while and had more coffee.
Snowblowers are wonderful!!
TACC1