Another for ariens.

Had a 724 compact for 10 years ran great until one of the oil plugs backed out and i didnt notice.
They dont like to run with no oil.

Bought a replacement with a subaru engine. 12 years later, first pull starts and chews thru
EOD snow.

If you go Ariens get the mid to upper level models from a lawnmower type store. Not the box store variants.
They have better components.

What is this "snow" you all speak of?

I prefer Toro. I have a powermax 928 and it’s great. I had an 826 that ran for 10 years before I got divorced and my ex is still using it 5 years later. Cast iron gears so no dealing with shear pins busting. I paid $1500 or so for the 928.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: frayedends, December 21, 2020 03:00 PM

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
Toro SnowMaster.

Single-stage usually doesn't have the power you seek, but are much more maneuverable. Due to their simpler design they're far more maintenance-free. Two-stage has the power, but they're heavier, not as maneuverable, and, due to the increased mechanical complexity, more trouble-prone.

Enter the Toro SnowMaster: A single-stage snowblower that has nearly all the maneuverability of a single-stage but the clearing capacity to rival, or even exceed, many two-stage snowblowers. And because it's still a single-stage: None of the maintenance issues common to two-stage machines.

We've had ours for two seasons and it rocks! Our driveway is 100 feet long, two cars wide, and our lot 90 ft. wide. Other than straight-out slush, our SnowMaster will throw snow half-way across the front yard from the far side of the driveway. It goes through drifts and end-of-driveway crud with no problem. Starts so easily the only time I plug it in to use electric start is the first start of the season.

Check the reviews and YouTube videos.

I think we paid somewhere in the vicinity of $1200 for ours, two years ago.

I've got one of these as well. First time I used it was this past storm, where we got over a foot, with 24" end of driveway pile-ups from the town plow. I had to nibble away at the 24" end of driveway berm, but it handled my property, and also that of three neighbors.

What sold me on it were the good reviews, and the fact it has a "personal pace" transmission system: you push down on the handle bar and the machine matches your pace.

Now that I've had the chance to practice with the machine, I'm confident it can handle the next Nor"easter, or less.

I paid $850 for mine, on Massachusetts tax-free day, last summer.

quote:

Originally posted by Edmond:
What is this "snow" you all speak of?

Never gets old.

I went with a Simplicity 27" dual-stage, Briggs & Stratton engine. It was $1,050; worth every penny. My last snowblower was from 1978, and had become a burden rather than an asset. The new one is a joy - I don't quite look forward to heavy snowfalls, but I don't dread them, either.

Given any options (I don't know what's available to you right now) I'd go with more horsepower and narrower swath, since you have to hurl the snow further. Knobbier tires are better. Electric start is a must.

I had an ancient 1970's Ariens ST350. That rotted away and I junked it and kept the motor. I upgraded to an early 90's ST524.

That left the fleet last year as I was given a Toro two stage with more power and a bigger cut for free.

I still keep a smaller Toro CCR3650 around too. The CCR3650 gets the majority of the use and the Ariens (when I had them) and my big Toro only come out for the real deep stuff.

PA, btw how old are those boys. Sounds like your wife thinks they are too young for hard work. If they are out of diapers I would be getting each one a snow shovel for Christmas. To be honest I have never heard of boys being to young to start working. Just saying a work ethic starts at a very young age. A couple of snow shovel is way cheaper than a snow blower.

quote:

Originally posted by frayedends:
I prefer Toro. I have a powermax 928 and it’s great. I had an 826 that ran for 10 years before I got divorced and my ex is still using it 5 years later. Cast iron gears so no dealing with shear pins busting. I paid $15000 or so for the 928.

I would've given you the friend's discount, delivered, and assembled for $7500

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:

quote:

Originally posted by frayedends:
I prefer Toro. I have a powermax 928 and it’s great. I had an 826 that ran for 10 years before I got divorced and my ex is still using it 5 years later. Cast iron gears so no dealing with shear pins busting. I paid $15000 or so for the 928.

I would've given you the friend's discount, delivered, and assembled for $7500

Oops. Fixed my typo. My eyes are getting worse. Lol

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
PA, btw how old are those boys. Sounds like your wife thinks they are too young for hard work. If they are out of diapers I would be getting each one a snow shovel for Christmas. To be honest I have never heard of boys being to young to start working. Just saying a work ethic starts at a very young age. A couple of snow shovel is way cheaper than a snow blower.

They are 6 and 3 and have their own shovels but it's more work supervising them and I can't have them digging out cars that are plowed in under 2+ feet of snow in the street.

I have a single stage Toro and it does a great job, for five years now ,

I only have about 900 sq ft to do though.

I found some great prices on two stage blowers , and was very tempted, but!

I have no truck or trailer to move them around with.

I can toss my single stage in the mini van or heck even the trunk of the Le Saber. Easy peasy.

quote:

Originally posted by bigeinkcmo:

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Ego Power Snow Blower - electric, no ethanol, no fuel or oil storage, just roll out and go.

Nice thing is if you get yourself an ego mower, edger, trimmer, whatever you can use the batteries from them in the winter on the snow blower, and visa versa.

Ego Cordless Snow Blower Amazon $600 $

Includes blower, two batteries and charger...

I'm glad you posted this. We converted over to EGO this last summer and I couldn't be happier. Our gas mower and blower needed some work. I got 20 years out of them so I put them on the curb. I sold my gas trimmer to complete the deal. We decided on the backup power supply, and then three 5.0Ah batteries, one with each yard tool. We have a .2 acre yard and I never run out of power. I was thinking if I didn't already have an Ariens snow blower I'd be all over this unit. Though I would only probably consider it for somewhere that didn't get a ton of snow. EGO sent me something the other day that they even have a zero turn mower that does 2-3 acres on one set of battery charges. It's pretty incredible. The battery tech they use works well in my experience. Reasonable charge times too with a rapid charger. And my mower is so quiet!

Come back in eight years and let us know how all the original pieces work then! Lol.

Buy once cry once. Get a Honda. I currently have 4 the oldest now 18yo. total number of operational years experience now over 80. Total number of maintenance parts...gas cap, gas gauge, shift cable, one plug, ignition switch. They live outside 365 even in the summer. I live in an area with snow so they are used pretty constantly in the winter. always start. do a great job. My local metal recycle has a separate area for dead snowblowers (I presume to get the oil out of them before processing), normally there are nearly 50 out there, I have never seen a Honda one there. filled with just about every other brand.

whatever you do - get electric start!

I have a small Hobby shop and I garbage pick or purchase from FB marketplace used and abused equipment. I fix it up, sell it for beer money and enjoy the time spent in the shop.

I agree with the others on the buy once cry once adage and would recommend an Ariens or a Honda two stage for sure. If you have any mechanical ability and enjoy tinkering, try to find an older, neglected model. Typically a carb rebuild for $12 and a few new belts is all that they need. My current blower that I brought with me when I moved to NC (because I love it so much) is a 1982 vintage Craftsman three stage! The thing is made out of way thicker steal, has actual steel gears, and can chuck the Sunday paper 20 feet.

They are very simple machines that always suffer from the exact same neglect failures.

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
What a nightmare.
No off street parking.
I am sure you are used to it but,
I can't wrap my head around the whole ordeal.

You spend an hour getting your car dug out,
Where does the plow take all the snow that's on the street?

Or
Where do you put the snow ?
Then! THEN !
You gotta get rid of the snow that's on the side walk !

Where does THAT go?

And
If you do get your space dug out, what happens when you get home ?
Do you have to hope that some one is not in the space you cleared out?

It vey

When I was still with my PD in northern NJ it was comical afetr a snow storm. Everyone would clear out their cars that were left on the street after the plows went through. Spend a few hours cleaning then out only to move it when you went off to work.

The variety of "markers" was comical. Garbage cans, lawn furniture. Of course trying to get it through to those that found their "spot" misusing when they returned that they don't own the street.

When I bought my first home off street parking was a requirement because they didn't allow overnight parking on the street. But when it snowed plows could easily clean the streets. I had a great two stroke Craftsman 3hp that did sidewalks and moved the snow off the driveway.

Now up here in Epping I bought the largest snow blower I could. 17 years later my Craftsman still starts with one pull. 250 feet of driveway is not getting hand shoveled. Of course sucks to clear the deck off for the dog.

Throwing wet slushy snow over the car off the street? Probably not happening. Getting a huge snow blower to just clear a car may be more trouble than it's worth. Maneuvering it around a car is going to be difficulty. You then have to store it and get it out after the storm stops...or during.

You might be better off with a smaller lighter unit and during these storms make a few runs.

I hear ya!
When I first moved into my new house I shoveled by hand once when we got about 6" of the wet and heavy stuff. I have an extra wide driveway that can park cars 2 wide and 3 deep and 60" wide sidewalks. I'm also the corner house so I have about an 1/8 mile to clear.
My back was jacked up for weeks.
The following week I picked up a 24" deck Troybilt and it's served me very well for the last 7 years.

Try Craigslist PASig. I bought my gas powered blower from there about 6 years ago for a decent price (I think it was about $325.) I used it for 4 or 5 winters and just sold it 3 weeks ago for $100. Last year I bought a Kobalt 80V battery powered blower/thrower from Lowes to match my lawn mower, weed whip and leaf blower.

Ariens clears all my Buffalo snow like a champ. I'm sure Honda's are great but the only way it could be worth double Ariens price is if it ran itself while I sat in the house.