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What do we like for snow blowers?
July 28, 2018, 05:02 PM
maxwayneWhat do we like for snow blowers?
I have had an MTD 2 stage for 20 years or so. It takes about $100.00 in maintenance every couple of years. It always starts on the first pull and works great.
July 28, 2018, 05:02 PM
EdmondFlorida.

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July 28, 2018, 05:12 PM
ensigmaticquote:
Originally posted by Edmond:
Florida.
Hurricanes

"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system,,,, but too early to shoot the bastards." -- Claire Wolfe
"If we let things terrify us, life will not be worth living." -- Seneca the Younger, Roman Stoic philosopher July 28, 2018, 06:14 PM
Jimbo54quote:
Originally posted by ensigmatic:
quote:
Originally posted by Edmond:
Florida.
Hurricanes
High heat and humidity. No thanks!

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"If you can't be a good example, then you'll have to be a horrible warning" -Catherine Aird
July 28, 2018, 06:40 PM
YooperSigsAriens.
End of Earth: 2 Miles
Upper Peninsula: 4 Miles
July 28, 2018, 06:58 PM
GustoferI have a little electric jobber for clearing my roughly 50' sidewalk. Plow on the 4-wheeler and bucket on the tractor for the driveway.
It can sometimes be a pain, but I figure the year I decide to either buy a blower for the tractor or spend a few thousand on a decent walk-behind blower, we won't get any snow worth blowing for roughly five years after that. Then, I'll be kicking myself in the ass for spending all that money.
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"Great danger lies in the notion that we can reason with evil." Doug Patton.
July 28, 2018, 07:09 PM
P210quote:
Originally posted by Some Shot:
Toro CCR-2000 (single-stage) replaced a handful of parts over 31 years. Starts easy. Clears snow down to the pavement.
I guess we bought them at the same time. It was what the dealer for several brands and models was using for his parking lot that was bigger than my driveway. No regrets ever and like you said, it takes it completely down to the pavement.
July 28, 2018, 07:13 PM
tatortoddquote:
Originally posted by Gustofer:
It can sometimes be a pain, but I figure the year I decide to either buy a blower for the tractor or spend a few thousand on a decent walk-behind blower, we won't get any snow worth blowing for roughly five years after that. Then, I'll be kicking myself in the ass for spending all that money.
The gal that worked for me in Alaska said the same thing. Her husband lived in their house prior to getting married, and had been through 1 mild winter alone and 1 mild winter as a couple. The army sent him to A-stan and I tried to talk her into buying a snowblower, but she said shoveling was good exercise. That was the winter we set the record with 11'-2" of snow so she got lots of good exercise.
Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity
DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer. July 28, 2018, 07:30 PM
hrcjonNot enough info to size or recommend. But I snowblow a lot and I prefer the Honda tracked machines (at the moment I have 4). They are utterly reliable, better than the tired ones on actual terrain, etc. But of course if you don't get actual snow, need to move serious amounts, etc. etc. there are lots of other way less expensive choices.
“So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak.”
July 28, 2018, 08:04 PM
cne32507Snow blower? I like Shugart.
July 28, 2018, 08:47 PM
armoredAbout 20 years ago I bought a Craftsman with tank treads thinking I would be ready for anything.
What I was not ready for was what a total POS it was, clog O matic! Suffered with it every snow fall, belts constantly breaking and snow constantly clocking in the chute.I finally bought a plow for the lawn tractor.
I keep the snowblower only so I can remind myself to NEVER by Craftsman again.
July 28, 2018, 09:08 PM
petrDepending on the size of your driveway and property for that matter, you may want a garden tractor that can use a snowblower and or plow as well as a mower deck. Our old house had a half mile driveway that I needed to clear. A 36" blower mounted to the front of my tractor took 2 hours to clear with 10" of snow. A two foot storm took about 3 hours. Our new place has a small drive that takes about 45 minutes to clear with a 48" blower, but that includes playing and making sure it is totally clear 12"-18" of snow.
July 28, 2018, 11:05 PM
ATLASToro power max 2 stage with steering control, joystick chute control, and headlight. Its very easy to operate and maneuver, lots of power and I enjoy using it. The downside is it’s huge and takes up a lot of space.
July 29, 2018, 07:56 AM
apf383quote:
Originally posted by greco:
Arien’s 28” Deluxe works fine up here in Michigan. It caused me to Park my Ford tractor with plow for the winter.
Same here, great unit.
Foster's, Australian for Bud
July 29, 2018, 08:19 AM
Oz_ShadowIf most of your snows are 4" or less and you do not have a lot to snowblow, a Toro single stage is the preferred machine. A lot here still use them if they only have a tiny area to do. You just do it throughout the bigger storms.
For everything else, an Ariens 2 stage. I have an older 824 that works great on my drive which is 2.5 wide and about 100 ft long. It's moved every snow we have had.
The engine is no longer made but it is a Tecumseh in 318cc which was used on their 8 and 9 hp.
Avoid tiny engines on a 2-stage. I've only used the plug in electric start once or twice. Mine is stored in the garage and starts in a pull or two.
July 29, 2018, 08:36 AM
LargefarvaI bought a leftover model Toro 2 stage from Home Depot last year. I purposely went with overkill so I could be prepared for the occasional blizzard we get every few years here in northern Illinois. A couple of snowfalls last winter were very wet and heavy snowfall and the thing just chewed right through it like butter. Didn’t even have to use the choke to start it. Started on the first pull every single time.
July 29, 2018, 09:02 AM
CliffThanks & apologies are in order. Thanks for the suggestions. Apologies for forgetting to update my status. I am now retired as of past April, packed up and moved back to my hometown of KCMO. Winters here are potentially not as mild as in Virginia. I'm quickly learning all over again that you can experience all 4 seasons over the span of one weekend in the midwest. Asking about snowblowers in July? Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. Screw that. Prepare for the worst. It will come eventually.
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"The world is filled with violence. Because criminals carry guns, we decent law-abiding citizens should also have guns. Otherwise they will win and the decent people will lose."
--James Earl Jones
July 29, 2018, 09:22 AM
Excam_ManThe one that someone else is using.

July 29, 2018, 09:42 AM
ensigmatic Kansas City Snowfall Totals & Accumulation AveragesToro single-stage Power Curve will be more than you'll ever need. I used one up here in Michigan for ten years or so. For heavier snowfalls I'd have to get out there and do intermediate clearing because of its depth limitations, but it handled most snowfalls in a single clearing with no problem.
You
certainly don't need a two-stage, that's for sure.
"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system,,,, but too early to shoot the bastards." -- Claire Wolfe
"If we let things terrify us, life will not be worth living." -- Seneca the Younger, Roman Stoic philosopher July 29, 2018, 10:21 AM
WarhorseLet me throw my Simplicity brand out there for consideration. I always used a two stage when I lived in the snow belt of northern Michigan. Since moving back downstate to the metro Detroit area, this has ben more than sufficient for my needs.
https://www.snowblowersdirect....-Thrower/p69945.html
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