HOUSTON RICK
Member
South of I-10 snow blowers or even shovels are something that you see on TV. I left my last snow shovel with a big red ribbon on it in my former house in northern Ohio for the new owner.
Snow throwers/blowers?
- Thread starter Retired LTC USAR
- Start date
Best Snow Blower??
Two Words
ELECTRIC START!!
Two Words
ELECTRIC START!!
slickracer
Member
Toro single stage are tough to beat unless you get huge amounts of snow.
I have a Ariens that never fails to start when plunged in to a 110 v cord and hasn't failed me yet.
Works great where I live.....
Works great where I live.....
Squarebutt
Member
We get some heavy snow here now and then, and my Ariens 8.5 HP handles it well. But I really want one of these: [ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk13mZq06PI[/ame]
Best Snow Blower??
Two Words
ELECTRIC START!!
I though the two words were going to be MOVE SOUTH!
carpriver
US Veteran
I read the title of the thread and my mind went some place else, so I just say I bought a Poulan snow thrower, I have had it about four years, runs great, does the job. I have owned several craftsman snow throwers, I wear them out pretty fast they shake them self apart and wear the belts out. I had a 22 hp craftsman tractor with a 48" thrower on the front. It took longer to move the snow with the tractor then it did with a 36" walk behind. the trick is get a machine big enough to do the job. I used small machines and worn them out and paid for it
meaneyedcatz
Member
Toro
18 yrs old.
I have used it so much the primer bulb rotted off, the choke vibrates out of position so the engine dies unless I tie it closed and the electric start does not work.
BUT, starts on the third pull
They sure beat shoveling and possibly vapor locking.
18 yrs old.
I have used it so much the primer bulb rotted off, the choke vibrates out of position so the engine dies unless I tie it closed and the electric start does not work.
BUT, starts on the third pull
They sure beat shoveling and possibly vapor locking.
101 degrees here today. No thoughts of snow removal.
rburg
Member
I wanted to replace mine last fall. I didn't feel like it and we had a mild winter. When you're retired, you can sleep in and let nature take its course. If you've got a jeep or two, you can just drive over it. Yes, I've got a Toro. I bought it to replace the one that got stolen in November of 2004. Its been enough except for the one winter when the city plowed us under a berm. Lee won't let me use the correct terms to describe the city and their workers. But they are and their mothers and fathers weren't married.
Did anyone mention electric start? Another hint is to test fire it in August when its hot outside. Let it run for maybe 15 minutes. Then again in maybe November. Its foolish to try to start it when you need it.
Oh, and get electric start.
Did anyone mention electric start? Another hint is to test fire it in August when its hot outside. Let it run for maybe 15 minutes. Then again in maybe November. Its foolish to try to start it when you need it.
Oh, and get electric start.
Cub Cadet, bought new about 10 years ago at the local Case-IH dealer.
Was in the $800.00 range then I believe.
Tecumseh 8 horse motor. Electric start if you plug it in.
Self-propelled. Six forward speeds and 2 or 3 reverse.
Headlight.
It works great, I'd buy another just like it. Starts and runs every bit as reliable as my Honda self-propelled push mower.
Was in the $800.00 range then I believe.
Tecumseh 8 horse motor. Electric start if you plug it in.
Self-propelled. Six forward speeds and 2 or 3 reverse.
Headlight.
It works great, I'd buy another just like it. Starts and runs every bit as reliable as my Honda self-propelled push mower.
TGaryT
Member
It took me 18 years to wear out a Honda snow blower. It broke shaft on the front differential for the second time. So purchase new machine, rather then replacing it. The new one came with center support on the differential, so suspect it was design issue.
As for engine, wish I had new use for it.
As for engine, wish I had new use for it.
gdnagle
US Veteran
Not sure where in KY you live so don't know how much snow you get and how you driveway layout is, long, incline etc. but here is what I have.
They don't make this model anymore but we have had this MTD Yard Machine 8hp/26" cut with tracks
, since 1993 been through lots of deep snow some over the top of the chute scoop, and some ice. Never had a problem I couldn't fix in a few hours, stop wire lug rusted off and doesn't work, no problem it's easy to shut down, lost a bolt in the snow off the auger because I never checked the bolts for tightness found it in the snow luckily, this is something you need to do with the bolts because of vibration, replaced one track sprocket, there plastic, and the past winter I caught a garden hose and had to replace a shaft in the transmission always use shear bolts in the auger. Parts for everything only cost me about $40. Some will say MTD are junk but I have had good experience with mine.
I would recommend if you have a long drive or a hill try to find a track drive. It will cost more but mine was worth it, I have never been stopped by any snow and as you can see I have a 500' drive which has a 20 foot incline (20 foot not inches) from the road to the garage/car port area. This past year I had to blow the area from the garage to the propane tank another 50 foot in the grass and a 4 foot high steep berm so they could deliver propane. The berm gave a little trouble with the 18 inches of snow on it but it got done. It only takes me about 45 minuets to do my drive and my neighbors drive which is more flat then mine 5 foot rise, and is only 50 foot.
Keep spare shear bolts, check tightness on the bolts on the blower or put blue locktite on them don't leave gas in it over the summer without treatment and the Tecumseh engine will last. You will need to repaint the chute when the snow and ice grinds the paint off.
I can't recommend a mfg. as the MTD is the only one I have owned except to one for the front of the tractor, but just giving you an idea as to what to look for in a blower if you have a problem driveway.
Yes, electric start is nice, especially when your machine looks like this:
But for those who say "Go big or go home", I present:
Pushed by one or more railroad engines, this was used to clear the White Pass railroad in Alaska/Canada.
But for those who say "Go big or go home", I present:
Pushed by one or more railroad engines, this was used to clear the White Pass railroad in Alaska/Canada.
I might have missed it, if so sorry, but I want to mention something that could be very important.
This goes for snow blowers, tractors, chain saws, lawn mowers ETC.
You go to a big box store and you will find they can beet the prices a specialty shop sells at what looks like its the same item..
The model number will normally be off by one letter or number. The reason is the big boxes order in the thousands and the manufacture builds them cheaper to their specks.
Most times this means they use aluminum in high stress areas rather that the tougher iron like in differentials or power using areas. You get what you pay for! Many times there are other not noticeable differences till the part breaks, suddenly at the worst possible time!
Go to a store that sells the item like the big box does and you will find out why it so much cheaper at the Big Boxes. You get the right stuff only a few dollars more and it will out last the big box store specials by a big number.
This goes for snow blowers, tractors, chain saws, lawn mowers ETC.
You go to a big box store and you will find they can beet the prices a specialty shop sells at what looks like its the same item..
The model number will normally be off by one letter or number. The reason is the big boxes order in the thousands and the manufacture builds them cheaper to their specks.
Most times this means they use aluminum in high stress areas rather that the tougher iron like in differentials or power using areas. You get what you pay for! Many times there are other not noticeable differences till the part breaks, suddenly at the worst possible time!
Go to a store that sells the item like the big box does and you will find out why it so much cheaper at the Big Boxes. You get the right stuff only a few dollars more and it will out last the big box store specials by a big number.
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If you happen to snag the newspaper [emoji35]
dump a couple buckets of water on it to soften it up then attack it with your sawzall.
If you catch it just right,it'll launch about 30' [emoji38]
dump a couple buckets of water on it to soften it up then attack it with your sawzall.
If you catch it just right,it'll launch about 30' [emoji38]
The need for one is the reason we built a Condo when I retired. Let someone else worry about it. It's nearly always cleared of by the time we get going in the morning, unless it's one of these 2-3 Ft. snows that happen ever 5-7 years.
Got a 10 year old Craftsman compact 20 inch with electric start. Goes just fine and on deep snow it rides up and You have to back up and get the bottom. In the wet snow I wax the inside of the chute with bowling alley wax, seems to work fine.
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