Snow blowers/throwers

[D.Hayden]

I know it's not the time for year for one, I thought I'd look for one in the off season before I need one and the prices go up.

I just need one big enough for my driveway and the walkways.

looking for recommendations on types and brands.

Thanks, Dave

[NoSteel]

Ariens dual stage.... How large driveway / walk?

[Jman]

Here's a site with some good info...I think

http://www.snow-blower-guide.com/index.html

[Jim Rusert]

I have a 5 hp John Deere for a 100' concrete driveway here in the notorious Buffalo NY area. It handles pretty much any snowfall with ease.

[D.Hayden]

Driveway is ~ 35 feet, cars wide.. walkway is about 60 feet.

That's a good site.. thanks.

Most people get 2-stages, electric start? The electric starts seem to be 110V? I'm guessing that means yo plug them in to start, rather than have a battery? (which makes snese with the cold)

I do like the remote chute control.

[Nik Habicht]

Typically, you can either wrench your shoulder out of socket for the first start of the year, or you can plug in the power cord and use the electric starter. In my limited experience, once it's run for the first snowfall, it's much easier to fire up for the second one using the pull cord....

Two stage throwers are nice if you have a lot of area to clear, or if you like to do it once, after the snow stops falling. That said I'm running a single stage, auger propelled, 5 hp Craftsman that clears about 23" wide and about 8" high. Considering that my driveway and sidewalks are almost all new concrete, it does the job.

In the old house it was used strictly to do the walkways and patio. I used a 9 hp Craftsman dual stage that would clear more than a foot of snow and 28-29" wide at a pass, to dig out the 250-275 feet of badly paved alley behind my house. The beast's transmission helped -- but there was no getting it through any of the gates to do the patio/walkways/sidewalks -- so that's also something to plan for. Once we moved here, I sold it to one of my neighbors; he's enjoying it....

[LT45]

I know this is a bit off topic, but I couldn't resist sharing this story.

A good friend of mine lived north of Green Bay for 18 years. Very cold, lots of snow.

He finally moved back to Atlanta, where he created a memorial in his back yard.

As a reminder that he would never have to blow snow again, he cemented his snow blower right into the middle of his garden area in his back yard.

Can't say I've seen anything quite like it before.

[Rolex]

Can you say "HONDA" Had the bigger of the two for 20

years,the one with the rubber tracks. Never broke,started

after sitting all summer long and would throw that snow

like no other. Think of it this way-do you want to shoot

OPEN with a LIMITED gun, or OPEN with an OPEN gun!

O and yes I did live in the north for 54 years!

[NoSteel]

No matter what you get for a blower you will find with todays fuel the most important thing you can do is to take the right precautions when you put it away.

(Full tank of fuel, stabilizer, run,etc)..... Todays fuel with ethenol left in a carb over the summer can make you a real mess!!!

[Putty]

+1 on Honda. HS724 rubber tires. (Trax too slow).

[D.Hayden]

So it looks like around 200 cc's? I don't see any that reference horsepower.

The single stage is probably enough after reading Honda's site.. but I think I'd rather have to much than too little.

We don't get that much snow, I'm sure a lot less than some of you.

24" seems to be a good size.. it'll get through the smaller gates ok.

Putty - That Honda looks too nice for me!

[Putty]

Your in Bozeman! Treat your self. Starts one pull, every winter. Pulls me up the driveway throwing snow in a huge arc down the mountain...I just hang on.

(partial driveway)

[lynn jones]

i am glad i have no opinion on this matter.

lynn

[D.carden]

Not so fast Dave........."rookie season" gets this set-up.....!!!!...Snow thrower.......

Edited July 26, 2010 by D.carden

[D.Hayden]

Dan.. I'll certainly have one of those too.. but at my age... that's not the way I'm going to go out

[G-ManBart]

Driveway is ~ 35 feet, cars wide.. walkway is about 60 feet.

That's a good site.. thanks.

Most people get 2-stages, electric start? The electric starts seem to be 110V? I'm guessing that means yo plug them in to start, rather than have a battery? (which makes snese with the cold)

I do like the remote chute control.

When I bought my snow thrower I was in a part of the country that gets some snow, but not consistently large amounts, so my choices were limited. I bought a Troy Bilt 24" that is listed at 5.5hp, two-stage. It worked for my driveway that was normal width, but 100ft long. Now that I've moved to an area where we get a lot, I only use it to clean up right around the garage and the 35yd loop in front of the house and it does a good job. No, it's not likely to last as long as something more expensive, but with as little use it gets, I expect it'll last a while and only cost $550.

http://www.troybilt.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10001_14102_523260_55003_-1

I've gone to something a little heavier duty for the rest of our driveway (100yds).

http://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceball.gif

Edited July 26, 2010 by G-ManBart

[Sarge]

A simple single stage thrower works well if you keep ahead of anything over 6-8". I am not always home when it snows so the electric start and light weight of the single stage Toro works great for my wife.

[XD Niner]

Your options:

1. Single stage snowblower that will make you swear anytime there is more than six inches of snow.

2. Two stage blower that will make you swear when trying to cold start it or put out more $$$ for electric start.

3. Pay a neighbor kid to do it for you.

4. Move to Florida and laugh at these kinds of posts while sitting in your shorts and drinking a beer on your rear porch.

I took Option 4.

[maineshootah]

When it comes to snowblowers... bigger is always better.

Small throwers have all sorts of issues with wet snow, as in it puts it only 4" to the left or right of the thrower which means... you get to move the same snow over and over again, spending "quality time" out in the driveway.

Get something with some power. You don't want to be dickin' around with those chores all day, remember you mighty still have to roof rake after you are done with the driveway.

Get chains for the wheels, worth every penny when you have any ice to deal with, or when you are at the bottom of a 200 yard driveway and you throw a shear pin after throwing a 2lb rock 30 feet into your neighbors driveway..

What I picked up.

http://www.snowblowersdirect.com/Ariens-921018/p3243.html *(mine is an older model, same specs).

It will throw snow 50'. It will eat snow 12 - 16" deep all_day_long.

It spin the back tires faster than I can keep up with it when set at level 5. Plenty of power.

Run the tank dry every spring, change the oil every fall. Plug in start turns over every time.

Get something to get the job done: done quickly and done well.

[NoSteel]

Ok, I made a decision on the size matters scale for you.

http://craziestgadgets.com/2008/12/22/v8-engine-powered-snowblower-really-blows/

[maineshootah]

Ok, I made a decision on the size matters scale for you.

http://craziestgadgets.com/2008/12/22/v8-engine-powered-snowblower-really-blows/

No way you can be listening to your favorite music and still hear it with that monster churnin' along.

[D.Hayden]

Anyone know who makes the Craftsman ones?

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10155_12602_07188957000P

On sale, seems like a very decent price.

Maybe Troy?

http://www.consumersearch.com/snow-blowers/two-stage-gas-snow-blowers

[G-ManBart]

Anyone know who makes the Craftsman ones?

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10155_12602_07188957000P

On sale, seems like a very decent price.

Maybe Troy?

From looking at the pic, and the few details (engine size etc) I'd be willing to bet that's the exact same model as the Troy Bilt I linked above.

I still recommend the model with heated seats, key start, CD player, GPS Nav and bluetooth phone connection:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lauriebartolo/4345581501/

Edited July 29, 2010 by G-ManBart

[mpeltier]

Your options:

1. Single stage snowblower that will make you swear anytime there is more than six inches of snow.

2. Two stage blower that will make you swear when trying to cold start it or put out more $$$ for electric start.

3. Pay a neighbor kid to do it for you.

4. Move to Florida and laugh at these kinds of posts while sitting in your shorts and drinking a beer on your rear porch.

I took Option 4.

Me to.

When i lived up north though we had a Honda. Sure beat the snow shovel it replaced.

[D.Hayden]

From looking at the pic, and the few details (engine size etc) I'd be willing to bet that's the exact same model as the Troy Bilt I linked above.

It does look just like it.. That's a nice pricepoint too.

Florida - I've been to Jacksonville too many times in July/August After having lived 50 years in a state where cold is considered 40 (or 50) degrees.. this is going to be an adjustment. But the fishing will be worth it