What to look for in a snow blower?

seabert said:

For me I love my Toro 2 stroke snow commander. It is the biggest paddle based unit they make. It is easier to handle and faster than my neighbors who struggle with oversized 2 stage beasts. The Toro sweeps down to the pavement beautifully so when the machine is turned off my driveway is done. My neighbors still have to clear a layer of ice or snow by hand because those big 2 stage units cannot get as close to the pavement. Mine also works better in wet slushy snow than the ones with a metal auger that jams up. I have been able to clear up to 28 inches with my Toro. Of course I cannot run straight through it but neither can most 2 stage machines.

My blower is now 10 years old and has had maintenance done 3 times over its life. Shoe runs and starts like new every season. In fact I have had others ask me where I got mine from. If mine ever dies I would buy another in a heartbeat.

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I love my Toro but I'm not sure you can get the 2 strokes anymore which would be too bad. The power to weight on them is great and they can do much more than you would guess just by looking at them.

So be nice to it.

I look for a blower with big wheels. My two John Deeres have 11 and 10 inch tires they go through anything. The Airens I had had chains on its six inch wheels and would get stuck in anything over 7 inches.

Jim H. said:

I have never had a snow blower.....but 40 plus inches so far for the season with another big storm coming for the weekend has me thinking. Probably won't happen this season as far as getting. I always like to do my homework 1st. I really do not know what separates one from another? I was even thinking of adding a lightweight plow (snowsport hd) to my f150. Driveway is 70' wide by about 150 long. I don't worry so much about my truck, just the wifes car. thanks.....and good luck out there!

Jim

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Honda!

Either a 928, or even better a 1132. Best blowers on the market!

I used a 10 HP MTD on my 800' gravel driveway for years. It worked good but it took a couple of hours if the snow was deep. I packed down the first snow with my truck to make a hard base before I used the snow thrower on it. It keeps the rocks from getting thrown and jamming the auger. If you go to MTD web page there is a long list of their makes. Over 25 I think including Husqvarna. I use a 60" plow on my ATV now, it's fast and does a nice job.

Sounds like now would be a good time to take the plunge for a lot of us on the east coast. I'm going to hold off and look for a used one this spring or summer.

ShenValSteve said:

Sounds like now would be a good time to take the plunge for a lot of us on the east coast. I'm going to hold off and look for a used one this spring or summer.

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That 10hp thrower in the picture above was lightly used when I bought it for $350. I had a 8hp just like it that I got new from Home Depot on clearance in a snowless year for just a hundred more. I gave that one away to a needy person.

Here's my 2 cents: define your budget and look within your means. Personally, I would NEVER buy MTD, Poulan, Crafstman, Mastercraft, Yard Works, etc etc. 20 years ago the quality was top of the line and today they are made of plastic. I have seen the gearboxes myself (I am friends with the ONLY local technician that repairs small machinery). Ariens machines now ALL have cast iron gearboxes. 5 year gearbox warranty, 3 years bumper to bumper. The ratio of CCs and Torque is great. Mine can throw the snow 45 feet or so (dry) which prevent piling. SO far my blower has easten: 1 kids shovel, 2 extension cords (I never seem to really remember where the END of one is...I catch that and the rest is gone), 1 wooden handled shovel, 1 digital timer. And I broke 1 shear pin.

I have a 30 inch deluxe and my first winter it stayed outside all winter. 1 pull and it started. We normally get 420-480 of snow within a winter. I live in the snowbelt of Canada.

I will admit that sometimes it takes time to clean my driveway (and yard)..up- to 2 hours when there's 20-24 inches of snow.

Also, in Canada, Ariens offer 3 years 0% interest financing (I like 0%....)

Check out snowblowersdirect.com for reviews/prices (plus no taxes and free shipping in the continental US). I don't think you get that much snow where you live, I believe this machine would do the job perfectly. Not too heavy, decent engine, etc
http://www.snowblowersdirect.com/Ariens-921024-Snow-Thrower/p11235.html

Andrew

I almost ended up with an Ariens - it was what I was looking for to start with (well, first was a cheap Honda, but they're non-existent). I just happened to find the Toro I got first. I did find one Ariens I almost moved on, but it had a Tecumseh engine & I had pretty well decided against one of those (discontinued) - even though my old blower [MTD] had one & it never missed a beat.

There's one-stage and 2 stage. One stage sucks up the snow and moves with the same motion. Two stage has augers and a doohickey that throws the snow once it's picked up. 2 stage is generally beefier- you will want big for a 70' wide space! That is a commercial parking lot, not a driveway.

Are you sure it's not 7' wide?

Anyway- yopu will want 2 stage because you will be moving snow that you already moved a couple times trying to move it half 70'. In fact- a plow would be a serious consideration here.

I have an ariens 724 for the past 12 yrs. Only issue has been my fault. Very reliable unit.

Bought the ex wife a small one stage Toro when she got the house (best trade ever)- it was an excellent little unit, but would not be appropriate for reaol snow on 70' wide.

70?

There was a measurement revision back on page 1 - we're at 40x75 now.

greg13 said:

If it is quality that you want, Ariens, Toro, Honda are on the top. Ariens about pioneered the walk behind snowblower. Toros are also well built. MTD Buys a name brand and then sees how cheap they can build it, so if it is built by MTD expect a cheap machine.

Greg

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I bought a 70's Ariens 24" for $300. Starts up quickly, throws normal snow very far, the heavy slushy stuff not so far. Driveway is about 50 x 30. With 4 storms so far this year, I haven't had to lift a shovel yet, the Ariens throws it on the lawn, and I push the remaining snow to the edges with a wide shovel, now that's good exercise, using the legs and arms. Its a real lower back saver.

Here's my solution. No worries about your wife's car, this will move it for you. Blower width is 64".

maple1 said:

There was a measurement revision back on page 1 - we're at 40x75 now.

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Ahh- I suspect that a crosseyed OP saw double dimensions.

maple1 said:

it had a Tecumseh engine & I had pretty well decided against one of those (discontinued) - even though my old blower [MTD] had one & it never missed a beat.

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That's what I have in my old Mastercraft - since year 1 it is a PITA to start but once running it's been bullet proof. The only thing that ever stopped it (and I've worked it hard) it was a big rock in the impeller this year. I thought from the noise that night that I'd be looking for a piston somewhere in the snow. Got the rock out, some on-the-fly re-bends to the auger and impeller blade, and right back at it. If that machine went up in smoke tomorrow, it owes me nothing. But there's 15 years between that machine and the new stuff which appears to be getting some bad reviews.

Sounds like a lot of Ariens and Toro fans here. Good to know....

Ariens used to use only Briggs engines but have recently split half and half....

I like the Briggs on my Toro. Found out it won't burn water though a couple storms ago - still not sure where that came from.

Swedishchef said:

Ariens used to use only Briggs engines but have recently split half and half....

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All of the older Ariens (60s-80s) ran Tecumseh motors. I think they switched over when Tecumseh went out. Toro I think always ran briggs.

Swedishchef said:

Ariens used to use only Briggs engines but have recently split half and half....

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My old Ariens is Tecumseh.

I've had an Ariens now for about 7 years and I love it. My old Ariens was a used unit I bought not working for $125 and did some work on it and got it running. Turned around and sold it 5 years later for $275 towards the new Ariens I have now.

The new unit is a 24" with a headlight and so far I have no complaints. I had to change the belt this year after a newspaper incident but that was literally a 10 minute job which impressed me.

The local Tractor/power equipment shop sells mostly Ariens and Toro and recommends either.

I think I would pick up a used one to get you through the year and trade it in next year.

Greg

Hate to break it to you - but now that you're on the hook for one, it's not going to snow on you any more.

Too bad he doesn't like this way.

I just blew for 1.5 hours and I am halfway done. no decks are cleaned off yet. And I now have a 4 foot drift on the back of my house that I will shovel off of the roof and blow once packed on the ground.

The joys of winter!

Andrew