SUGGESTIONS ON A NEW SNOW BLOWER
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SmokeStack Lightning
Member
My 7hp two stage Ariens will be on it's 35th season this year.
It's been into the shop one time in all those years for the addition of an electric starter in 2002.
The shop had one on the shelf which they were gonna trash, but sold it to me instead for $150 installed.
7 hp Tecumseh 'Sno-King' motor. $795 when I bought it new.
So, if this one ever goes bad, I'm buying another Ariens.
It's been into the shop one time in all those years for the addition of an electric starter in 2002.
The shop had one on the shelf which they were gonna trash, but sold it to me instead for $150 installed.
7 hp Tecumseh 'Sno-King' motor. $795 when I bought it new.
So, if this one ever goes bad, I'm buying another Ariens.
Last edited:
Brian41
Member
I have an old one built by Ford years ago. I've replaced the motor and it's still running but of course no longer made.
One tip I learned from my FIL I'll pass on about sticky wet snow in two stage machines. Spray the inside mechanism with Pam cooking spray and you won't be plugging up the chute as much. I had to buy my own can as my wife objected to using hers and learned it doesn't spray as well if left in the cold either. It works much better than silicone spray which I used to use.
One tip I learned from my FIL I'll pass on about sticky wet snow in two stage machines. Spray the inside mechanism with Pam cooking spray and you won't be plugging up the chute as much. I had to buy my own can as my wife objected to using hers and learned it doesn't spray as well if left in the cold either. It works much better than silicone spray which I used to use.
SmokeStack Lightning
Member
I was getting ready to toss my 1998 'cross-cut' shredder for a new one until I lubed the knives with a good dose of Pam.
That was 3 years ago and it's still running like new.
I spray it about 3x a year now.
I used Silicone spray for that purpose for years until the shredder motor threw a spark one day and I had my hands full of a 3' flaming bin of shredded paper.
Used Pam ever since. And still using the same shredder! (Just a deformed)
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reddogge
Member
My Toro is about 10 years old now and still goes. One thing I liked was it has a joystick for controlling the chute, both direction and elevation. You work it with one hand instantly.
I have a 1991 Honda 8 HP 28" Tracked snowblower with hydrostatic drive. It will throw snow 60-80 feet and pump slush. It has never let me down.
It cost over $1600 in 1991 and a new one is about three grand now. Odds are I will never need another one even though it is 23 years old.
It cost over $1600 in 1991 and a new one is about three grand now. Odds are I will never need another one even though it is 23 years old.
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Honda equipment is very very good ( I have one of their power washers ) but they are out if their minds as to what they are asking price wise! Unfortunately, Dealers tend to shy away from Honda because of that, so service would be a pain if I ever needed it.
I have narrowed it down to either an Ariens Deluxe or a Toro but tend to be leaning towards the Ariens because of their reputation, dealers in the area, and their reliability. I currently have a Toro and have nothing bad to say about it (just too small for my needs now), but the Ariens (dollar for dollar) would give me more height, a bigger impeller, a better warranty and larger wheels. I kind of like the orange color too........
I have narrowed it down to either an Ariens Deluxe or a Toro but tend to be leaning towards the Ariens because of their reputation, dealers in the area, and their reliability. I currently have a Toro and have nothing bad to say about it (just too small for my needs now), but the Ariens (dollar for dollar) would give me more height, a bigger impeller, a better warranty and larger wheels. I kind of like the orange color too........
We have a big blower we put on the three point hitch on our 200hp tractor for the big snow storms... It's 6 feet tall and 8 feet wide.
For most snow I use a Deere tractor with a 48" two stage blower with hydraulic controls.
For little snow I'd get an Airens. Good name in snow blowers.... I don't use one. If it snows less than 6 inches I wait for the next storm.
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For most snow I use a Deere tractor with a 48" two stage blower with hydraulic controls.
For little snow I'd get an Airens. Good name in snow blowers.... I don't use one. If it snows less than 6 inches I wait for the next storm.
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The first two stage I ever owned was a Canadian built Noma, they were bought out by MTD and parts are kind of hard to get. I bought a two stage Toro with the joystick control a couple of years ago and am very happy with it. I am the only guy on the block that can clear the berm that the plow leaves in my driveway usually on one pass. I think you need at least 8 horsepower and I really like electric start, mine must be plugged into the wall for electricity but thats OK because I don't have to worry about a battery. One thing I learned was once the thing was running and warmed up, when shut off for a period of five minutes or so I click the choke to the first notch, full throttle and it will pull start on the first stroke. I added a little guide to the left side of the front which extends about 6" forward, I noticed mine would throw a little bit of snow out there, the guide stops that and provides me with an aiming point when clearing the sidewalk after the plow shoves all that snow over. I used all kinds of snow machines while working in building maintenance for a transit company, clearing all the park and ride facilities. One thing I learned is that there is no substitute for horsepower and always carry plenty of extra shear pins and the tools to change them. Chains are nice...The big Ariens models are top flight, the best motors are Tecumsah Snow Kings, they have a little stove for the carb to keep the air warm.
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