Old snow blower has seen better days + no parts available so I am looking for recommendations on a new one please. 24”w X21”H, 208cc or better, two stage, electric start option. Hoping to catch a sale. TIA for your assistance!
It's alarming what is happening with prices.
If people believe we have a 7.9% inflation that is dropping, people are easier fooled than I thought ever possible.
That said, if you must buy right now, look online at all the options available at the big box stores - then go find a local dealer that sales the stuff and buy from them. You'll pay probably the same price, you probably wont find a sale what so ever right now and will even be lucky to find one as the weeks go on, and please keep in mind that buying from a local dealer means usually that you will get serviced before people that bought elsewhere and are bringing their big box store repairs to the local dealer where they didnt buy if you catch my drift.
I dont really like Kohler engines. I think they are finicky, but alas they are the only option in many consumer lines. Most of the problems I have are with surging, hard starting etc. But they also get much more complicated with their craziness as well. However Kohler engines seem to be in everything. Seafoam, carb cleaners etc - are a must.
I ended up buying a Husqvarna last year. It was $725 out the door, last one. I bought it to clear a pond for hockey. It also does our gravel driveway/pathway, but not without getting some gravel and other stuff and throwing it, really causing havoc on the paint so we've resorted to having this either just smashed down the snow or waving down a guy plowing and have him plow a little area for a few bucks. This is for our cabin, at my house I just shovel the snow because we have a southern facing downward sloped short driveway.
208cc is definitely on the lower end. I bought the lowest end Husqvarna that they had. But it has electric start if you dont want to pull the cord a few times. Beyond a few times and you know something is off.
Does it clear the snow? YES!
Is 208CC enough? Well yes, but you have to work for it.
The first pass, even with 8" of heavy snow it will throw it a decent distance. Say 20'. The problem is, that eventually you have to go over that area you just tossed snow, and then the next area you just tossed snow, and the snow gets heavier and heavier and you move slower and slower with your machine until you are only doing half passes then 1/4 passes.
Now for a single length driveway, followed by a larger parking pad, you could probably just go back and forth on the parking pad slightly twisting the chute back and forth each pass to going mostly forward toward a yard or something to avoid shooting snow onto your driveway, and then for the single lane driveway part it should throw the snow easily to the sides without needing to pass back over what you already did.
If this wasnt such a luxury item for me, I would have gone with much more powerful. If I had a large driveway, I would absolutely buy one that has lights, heated hand grips, and a 3 stage system!
Dont let the large chute in the front fool you. It's all about the power of the engine and a 3 stage system that will clear the most snow. My little 2 stage works fine but we do need to work at it.