Retired LTC USAR
US Veteran
Who has one?
Manufacture?
Pros/cons?
Thanks.
Manufacture?
Pros/cons?
Thanks.
Snow throwers/blowers?
- Thread starter Retired LTC USAR
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
bigwheelzip
Absent Comrade
I doubt this is very helpful, but a friend who is very mechanically inclined (aircraft & car mechanic) bought a Honda lawn mower and was so impressed he got one of their snow blowers.
The only thing I know about it, is that it's 2-stage and has rubber tracks.
He's had it for at least five years, and still swears by it.
As a con, he did say it was expensive.
The only thing I know about it, is that it's 2-stage and has rubber tracks.
He's had it for at least five years, and still swears by it.
As a con, he did say it was expensive.
Targets Guy
US Veteran
I have one; it is a two stage Poulan. Going into it's sixth season.
Pros: electric start (a must IMHO)
Cons: haven't found one yet.
Pros: electric start (a must IMHO)
Cons: haven't found one yet.
Two stage Troy built
Should have bought it ten years ago (7 yrs old)
drain the tank and run it dry at the end of the season
start the next season with fresh fuel
Should have bought it ten years ago (7 yrs old)
drain the tank and run it dry at the end of the season
start the next season with fresh fuel
I have a Sears garden tractor with a mower deck, 4' plow blade, and a 3' snow blower. I use the blade for small snow work (up to 18") and put on the blower for anything deeper.
For traction on the rear tires I use chains, a wheel weight, and a 50 lb canister of sand on the rear -- sometimes that's enough.
Pros: still going strong after nine years on the job
Cons:
1) requires great patience (and time) if I'm trying to clear snow deeper than about 42"
2) absolutely useless if it's a heavy, wet snow (early fall, late spring)
If this rig fails me at some point I'm going to replace the blower with an Ariens Hydro Pro Track 28.
For traction on the rear tires I use chains, a wheel weight, and a 50 lb canister of sand on the rear -- sometimes that's enough.
Pros: still going strong after nine years on the job
Cons:
1) requires great patience (and time) if I'm trying to clear snow deeper than about 42"
2) absolutely useless if it's a heavy, wet snow (early fall, late spring)
If this rig fails me at some point I'm going to replace the blower with an Ariens Hydro Pro Track 28.
Been using a Troy-built for the last 10 years. 24" wide and about 20 high. Still going strong.
Self propelled - mine is wheeled. the tracks are a bit slower and harder to maneuver.
Two stage - single stage are usually smaller and not self propelled. There are three stage versions but I don't know much about them.
Electric start - mine uses a detachable extension cord. No battery. It can also be manually started with the pull cord but is hard to do with a cold engine. Once it warms up, no problem. Because of this I bring it down from the shed and put it the garage before the snow season starts. No electric out in the shed. Didn't do it one year and when the first snow came had to run a looong extension cord out to get 'er running!
Bought it at Lowe's, and as said, run the gas out at the end of season and keep the oil fresh and you will get many years of good use.
My drive way is about 70 feet long and has a large parking area in front of the house. Takes me about 1/2 hour to clear, unless we really get dumped on as in last winters 30" over night storm. Then its a bit longer. Drifts were up to 6 feet around the vehicles but the old Troy was up to the job.
John
Self propelled - mine is wheeled. the tracks are a bit slower and harder to maneuver.
Two stage - single stage are usually smaller and not self propelled. There are three stage versions but I don't know much about them.
Electric start - mine uses a detachable extension cord. No battery. It can also be manually started with the pull cord but is hard to do with a cold engine. Once it warms up, no problem. Because of this I bring it down from the shed and put it the garage before the snow season starts. No electric out in the shed. Didn't do it one year and when the first snow came had to run a looong extension cord out to get 'er running!
Bought it at Lowe's, and as said, run the gas out at the end of season and keep the oil fresh and you will get many years of good use.
My drive way is about 70 feet long and has a large parking area in front of the house. Takes me about 1/2 hour to clear, unless we really get dumped on as in last winters 30" over night storm. Then its a bit longer. Drifts were up to 6 feet around the vehicles but the old Troy was up to the job.
John
YogiBear
Absent Comrade
Aloha,
True Story
25 years ago, we were married at the Coco Palms on Kauai.
My bride's best friends came in from Minnesota for the wedding.
They were happy because it was a snowy winter.
On the morning of the ceremony at 4:30AM,
his son called asking about the snow blower.
The son called 3X about the snow blower.
The last time, Dad told him to Buy another one.
Son replied NONE to be had in Minneapolis.
They did get it running, finally.
That was the year of "The Perfect Storm"
They received 3' Plus of snow in one day.
My question was, "What's a snow blower?"
Drove our friend NUTS trying to explain that to me.
I have No Experience with snow and could Not comprehend his explanation.
After he returned home, he sent me a 10 minute video of a snow blower in action.
We still get a laugh about that.
Being from an island in the middle of no where,
I am a constant source of amusement when I visit the mainland.
Can you see me in Texas for our 25th Anniversary(visiting Wife's family)?
My BIL works at a gun store/range, I can't wait........
True Story
25 years ago, we were married at the Coco Palms on Kauai.
My bride's best friends came in from Minnesota for the wedding.
They were happy because it was a snowy winter.
On the morning of the ceremony at 4:30AM,
his son called asking about the snow blower.
The son called 3X about the snow blower.
The last time, Dad told him to Buy another one.
Son replied NONE to be had in Minneapolis.
They did get it running, finally.
That was the year of "The Perfect Storm"
They received 3' Plus of snow in one day.
My question was, "What's a snow blower?"
Drove our friend NUTS trying to explain that to me.
I have No Experience with snow and could Not comprehend his explanation.
After he returned home, he sent me a 10 minute video of a snow blower in action.
We still get a laugh about that.
Being from an island in the middle of no where,
I am a constant source of amusement when I visit the mainland.
Can you see me in Texas for our 25th Anniversary(visiting Wife's family)?
My BIL works at a gun store/range, I can't wait........
I used my first Ariens for almost 25 years. The first year was spent traveling between my house, a fiend with back surgery, and my in laws. After that, it was just my house and typically a neighbor or two, plus an area in the back yard for the dogs. We have Dachshunds and more the three inches and they are dragging something in the snow I wouldn't want to have dragging there. Only things I did to it over the years was replace the sparkplugs, change the oil and replaced one drive belt. It also ate a number of shear bolts, especially then the local newspaper was left in the driveway and froze. But the pins are there for a reason and are easy to replace.
After the differential housing broke, I was going to fix it until I found out it was going to cost nearly a third of a new machine. I couldn't see putting that kind of money in a machine that old, so I bought another Ariens. Over 10 years on it and zero problems. I did get electric start on it and highly recommend that option.
All this is based pm where we live, and how much use the machine gets. It's a big machine - my friends were asking if I was going after a contract to clean I-75, but it still takes me an hour to do a couple of drives and paths for the dogs and mail box. If I lived somewhere where snow was a rarity, I'd get a smaller machine, maybe even an electric one. Two stage machines (tines in front that force the snow back into an impeller that throws the snow out the chute) are far better in heavy, wet snow and deep snow, where as the light weight paddle types are great with light snow falls, and are much easier to maneuver. With a paddle machine, if you are expecting 4 or more inches of snow, you'll want to go out there early and often to keep up. With the larger two stages, just wait until the weather gets it out of it's system and then go move the snow.
After the differential housing broke, I was going to fix it until I found out it was going to cost nearly a third of a new machine. I couldn't see putting that kind of money in a machine that old, so I bought another Ariens. Over 10 years on it and zero problems. I did get electric start on it and highly recommend that option.
All this is based pm where we live, and how much use the machine gets. It's a big machine - my friends were asking if I was going after a contract to clean I-75, but it still takes me an hour to do a couple of drives and paths for the dogs and mail box. If I lived somewhere where snow was a rarity, I'd get a smaller machine, maybe even an electric one. Two stage machines (tines in front that force the snow back into an impeller that throws the snow out the chute) are far better in heavy, wet snow and deep snow, where as the light weight paddle types are great with light snow falls, and are much easier to maneuver. With a paddle machine, if you are expecting 4 or more inches of snow, you'll want to go out there early and often to keep up. With the larger two stages, just wait until the weather gets it out of it's system and then go move the snow.
Last edited:
Timetripper, that looks awful all that snow. Can't count all the times I got home from work or woke up in morn and saw that scene as I started to clear snow from the drive. That snow accumulation is pretty deep, U.K. Which ever you choose, make sure it can handle heavy wet snow. I have an 8 hp for the wet stuff. When I worked it could be a deep all day snow, the Toro I had couldn't handle it. Larry
coltle6920
Member
Troy Built 2 stage 9.5hp ...
Might be overkill for small residential lots but I find myself doing the neighbors as well.
Electric start is a must for a lot of us older folks.The "pull" on a snowblower is a lot harder than your average lawnmower so why kill yourself.
Wet snow can be a real issue if your snowblower is under powered.
Everyone's need will vary based on among other things...
Lot size...Average snowfall...Elevation...
Just my opinion but it never hurts to get one that might be more than what you'll think you might need.The less effort it takes the quicker you'll be back in the house.
Might be overkill for small residential lots but I find myself doing the neighbors as well.
Electric start is a must for a lot of us older folks.The "pull" on a snowblower is a lot harder than your average lawnmower so why kill yourself.
Wet snow can be a real issue if your snowblower is under powered.
Everyone's need will vary based on among other things...
Lot size...Average snowfall...Elevation...
Just my opinion but it never hurts to get one that might be more than what you'll think you might need.The less effort it takes the quicker you'll be back in the house.
model70hunter
Member
Sears Craftsman 2 stage, ELECTRIC START!
3 years no problems but then we are just south of the artic circle stuff in Iowa and MN.
My wife and I were getting to old to enjoy the snow shovels. The neighborhood kids usually waited until the snow was too packed to shovel.
When we bought it it was sweltering hot in Aug, on sale. I practiced driving in my front yard, folks driving by would slow down to see what I was doing to my yard.
I told my wife I wanted to use it after the 1st snow. She said, sure Bub.
Months later she got up to make coffee, I snoozed in.
Then I heard it, the snow beast was growling like a dragon. I jumped up and ran to the drive. There she was in her hunting boots, my terry cloth robe over hers blowing snow. She beat me to it. She had fun till she was done. We stood in the garage door smoking and drinking coffee and discussing her stealing my turn. She said don't worry I saved the side walk for you. We lived on the 1st curve into a cul de sac, the sidewalk was on our side of the street, our part looked like 1/2 of an old flat track.
Gentlemen start your engines, there is getting to be chill in the night air, dove season in 2 weeks, deer season close at hand, snow is coming.
3 years no problems but then we are just south of the artic circle stuff in Iowa and MN.
My wife and I were getting to old to enjoy the snow shovels. The neighborhood kids usually waited until the snow was too packed to shovel.
When we bought it it was sweltering hot in Aug, on sale. I practiced driving in my front yard, folks driving by would slow down to see what I was doing to my yard.
I told my wife I wanted to use it after the 1st snow. She said, sure Bub.
Months later she got up to make coffee, I snoozed in.
Then I heard it, the snow beast was growling like a dragon. I jumped up and ran to the drive. There she was in her hunting boots, my terry cloth robe over hers blowing snow. She beat me to it. She had fun till she was done. We stood in the garage door smoking and drinking coffee and discussing her stealing my turn. She said don't worry I saved the side walk for you. We lived on the 1st curve into a cul de sac, the sidewalk was on our side of the street, our part looked like 1/2 of an old flat track.
Gentlemen start your engines, there is getting to be chill in the night air, dove season in 2 weeks, deer season close at hand, snow is coming.
Last edited:
large area and or heavy wet snow = two stage
standard drive way = single stage
i have a single stage, electric start, troy bilt....very good performance and throws snow a good distance (about 25 feet) with little effort......i have a driveway that will accommodate six cars.....
OLDSTER
Member
John Deere 28" 2 stage. 
Great blower. The only one I know of with an electric discharge shoot directional control
Great blower. The only one I know of with an electric discharge shoot directional control
model70hunter
Member
Col. I am pretty sure my Sears Craftsman is a Troy bilt.
Been using snowblowers since 1958. We had one of the only ones in the Albany area back then and cars used to stop to watch the machine in operation. My father was a businessman and we HAD to keep our area open. We had lots of sidewalk and it was too narrow for a plow truck! + we had a ten car parking area!
Went through 6 different snowblowers and without a doubt I recommend a 2 stage Torro Had one for about ten years and upgraded to a bigger new model (believe it was 36'') which I had till 2006.(that was about 15 years.
In 2003 we moved here to the upstate NY lake and I put a plow on my 3/4 T 4X4 and I keep the Torro for a back up. Had a 1/4 mile driveway and large parking area. Never used it and a neighbor offered me a good chunk for it and I let it go in 06. FWIW my neighbor is still using that machine!
I now also have a 32HP diesel 4x4tractor for back up and specialty snow work.
Went through 6 different snowblowers and without a doubt I recommend a 2 stage Torro Had one for about ten years and upgraded to a bigger new model (believe it was 36'') which I had till 2006.(that was about 15 years.
In 2003 we moved here to the upstate NY lake and I put a plow on my 3/4 T 4X4 and I keep the Torro for a back up. Had a 1/4 mile driveway and large parking area. Never used it and a neighbor offered me a good chunk for it and I let it go in 06. FWIW my neighbor is still using that machine!
I now also have a 32HP diesel 4x4tractor for back up and specialty snow work.
V1 Rotate
Member
All good replies. Mine is a Simplicity 2 stage with a Tecumseh engine. Snow throwers quite often don't have an air filter since they don't operate in dusty environments. With luck yours should last your lifetime, mine's 16 years old with no signs of wear. The info about gas being drained is absolutely on the money. Remember, at the end of the day you will sit one in your garage covered in snow which will soon turn to water and get in everything, including the fuel tank. If you can get an optional light you should, you WILL be using it at times before daybreak. Also, get the windshield or canvas shield for the handlebars; you WILL hit your self in the face with snow at times when the wind blows right. Wear a waterproof parka and face protection.
Other critical device is oversized skids on the front; if you hit a raised sidewalk joint going full speed behind a big thrower, you could seriously damage it or hurt yourself. I've seen it happen. Find them on the internet. Good luck, operating a big snow thrower is about 10 times more exercise per hour than mowing your yard.
Bill S, the Texan who now loves Ohio and Lake Erie winters
Other critical device is oversized skids on the front; if you hit a raised sidewalk joint going full speed behind a big thrower, you could seriously damage it or hurt yourself. I've seen it happen. Find them on the internet. Good luck, operating a big snow thrower is about 10 times more exercise per hour than mowing your yard.
Bill S, the Texan who now loves Ohio and Lake Erie winters
Toro Powermaster w/ electric (110 volt) starter, 8 horse Tecumsha Snow King engine. I love this machine, its my second new 2 stage snow thrower and really gets the job done.
About the only con is the fact that this is a big heavy machine, it is a handful for my wife to operate, she is very slow with it but capable of getting the job done as she proved a few years ago when I had knee surgery.
The pros are its a powerful well designed unit, the "Joy-Stick" snow control is terrific once you get used to it. You can put snow right were you want it with the stick, once you have engaged drive the drive handle locks, so you are free with that hand to adjust and move the joy stick to put snow where it needs to go. If your the kind of person that goes to any trouble at all to keep the snow away from your house this type of machine is what you need, I park large piles of snow in my backyard onto an area that is rock covered with lots of drainage. If we get an inch or less I usually shovel it off our sidewalks and driveways, including the shop and back yard. With more than a inch or so I do our yard and down to the end of my block on two sides as I live on a corner, I also keep an elderly couple's parking area clear as well as another woman's that was always kind to my son. We get on average around 40" of snow a year, obviously it never falls at once but it is not uncommon to get a foot overnight, a big machine like this makes short work out of that much snow. It will clear our driveway after the plow comes and berms us in, you just have to go slow. It will throw snow that is as high as the intake chute, again just go slow. I've operated professional quality equipment and couldn't justify the extra purchase price, this machine is all the average homeowner needs. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone that picked up large rocks, like rocky driveways, it does have some plastic in the discharge chute that large rocks could be a problem, it is supposed to be resistant to hard blows in sub zero weather but I wouldn't want to test it out. I've thrown a couple of good sized rocks from out backyard and made me wince, but everything held up, thats were professional grade stuff is better...but those guys need a tractor anyway.
About the only con is the fact that this is a big heavy machine, it is a handful for my wife to operate, she is very slow with it but capable of getting the job done as she proved a few years ago when I had knee surgery.
The pros are its a powerful well designed unit, the "Joy-Stick" snow control is terrific once you get used to it. You can put snow right were you want it with the stick, once you have engaged drive the drive handle locks, so you are free with that hand to adjust and move the joy stick to put snow where it needs to go. If your the kind of person that goes to any trouble at all to keep the snow away from your house this type of machine is what you need, I park large piles of snow in my backyard onto an area that is rock covered with lots of drainage. If we get an inch or less I usually shovel it off our sidewalks and driveways, including the shop and back yard. With more than a inch or so I do our yard and down to the end of my block on two sides as I live on a corner, I also keep an elderly couple's parking area clear as well as another woman's that was always kind to my son. We get on average around 40" of snow a year, obviously it never falls at once but it is not uncommon to get a foot overnight, a big machine like this makes short work out of that much snow. It will clear our driveway after the plow comes and berms us in, you just have to go slow. It will throw snow that is as high as the intake chute, again just go slow. I've operated professional quality equipment and couldn't justify the extra purchase price, this machine is all the average homeowner needs. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone that picked up large rocks, like rocky driveways, it does have some plastic in the discharge chute that large rocks could be a problem, it is supposed to be resistant to hard blows in sub zero weather but I wouldn't want to test it out. I've thrown a couple of good sized rocks from out backyard and made me wince, but everything held up, thats were professional grade stuff is better...but those guys need a tractor anyway.
41
Member
Similar threads
