I bought a used snowblower recently, but it didn't have the sack to do the job today, it's only 5hp. So, I am going to get a real monster, but I know nothing about these things....

What brands are the cat's ass in snowblowers? How much horse power do I need do really tear it up the next time we get 30" of snow?

Thanks, Hooper!:D

the cats ass is the one I got Baby. Husqverna 10.5 HP. This machine through 20-36 inches of snow 20-30 feet across my yard. She has power steering, single hand controls. hydrostatic shifting and just all around kicks ass. She is the Patriots of snow blowers!!!

Ariens makes a good one. When we bought our house the owners left me theirs.. they were moving to florida and had no use for it. I thanked them for it but didnt realize how awesome it was until the first big snow.. Our driveway is about 120 feet long and I can do it in about 20 minutes.. Only problem is that if you have one, all your neighbors will become your best friend when the snow falls..

Hooper,

I forget exactly what I have maybe a 27" Murray. maybe 6.5 HP. My wife should know :D :D...I'm away. It is ok but when it is really heavy and sticky you have to take thin cuts.

What I want to say is no matter what brand it is the "SnowKing" engine set up's are pretty good. Allot of companies use this.

Hooper...go to flyfishsaltwaters.com....Jeff's site..lots of good info on blowers......I tried alot of places yesterday to find one[any] all sold out.

Go Ariens, they are the best. DO NOT buy from Home Depot, they modify the blowers w/cheaper parts and less quality to lower the prices. Buy from a dealer, it will cost you more but its worth it

Thanks Guys,

I'll do some looking into the brands you have mentioned. I may have a tough time finding one locally, but maybe for the next storm down the road.....

I don't think you can beat what duke said, but it is not cheap. I have an Ariens, also good, but that big Husky... :drool:

I like the Dukes sounds sweeeeeeeeet:drool:
I have a Craftsman 26" catch 8Hp cast Iron pistion w/ a 6speed It's got some balls.I just mounted a six pac sized cooler to it,it makes it easyer on me now I can get the whole neighbor hood with out stopping.
Hummmmmm maybe I should wear a pair of depends.

Thank fully I never had to shovel growin up. We had a big ride on Airiens tractor that had a mower deck with 4 blades and a 4 ffot wide snow blower that could throw snow over the neighbors house. We also have 2 8 horse power aieriens snow blowers that have been work horses for about 20 years. One did have a new motor put on it a few years ago.
We plow now though, so the tractor has been retired but we still use the smaller self propelled Aireins' for the walkways and stuff.
I want one of the truck mounted snow blowers they use at the airports.

I don't have a Snow-Blower..........I have a Son :D

I bought a Toro last year from a power equipment dealer that sold Toro, Ariens, Husqvarna, and Troy Built. I asked the salesman, all things being equal (price. they all have comparably priced models), how do you know which one to go with. He told me that Toro has the best warranty and they get fewer back in for repairs than all the rest. They also have the strongest gear boxes (you can see that they are almost double in size of the comp).
All I can say is that I have two driveways to take care of and this machine didn't miss a beat throughout this or any other storm we've had since I got it. I did both driveways once Saturday night, then again late Sunday morning. Then one final cleanup of the end of each drive late afternoon because the plows came by again.
Saved me a lot of back breaking work.

Originally posted by The Dad Fisherman
I don't have a Snow-Blower..........I have a Son :D

I've got three teenage sons, 16, 18, 21 and yet I'm sure my arms, shoulders and back are the sorest of the lot and not because I'm the oldest:(. I came close to putting down a deposit and then I remember one son flagged a plow to hit the front drive free and I flagged one down yesterday for $20 to hit the back, then I look at the $1100 for a small Huservana. Then I think of what I could upgrade on the boat for that and then I look at this as gym time.

8 hp, 24" cut 2 stage Ariens. Went through this stuff like a hot knife through butter. The only problem I had, is when the snow caved in arround the engine, it didn't really run well with the melting arround the spark plug, that's the only thing that stopped it. This is the first time the snow was higher than the chute.
:D

Pete

same with me - got a 8 hp, 32" cut, John Deere. Built similar Ariens, lots of Ariens parts. 300 + feet of driveway, no problems.

I looked at the Toro as well. The Husqverna was the same hp and features built just as tough and $300 less. I had a 7 hp toro for 20 years and it kicked ass unitl the engine blew because I didn't check the oil. Dagnappit. :smash:

Originally posted by Eben
Only problem is that if you have one, all your neighbors will become your best friend when the snow falls..

I'm the only one with a BIG snowblower (Ariens). My neighbors are A-holes, but when this time of year comes they look at me with puppy dog eyes like I'm going to spend time on their freakin driveway.

I use a laser pointer to draw the line between my property and theirs...... I dont touch one flake of their snow. I throw only onto my side as well.

I do help my Mom's neighbor they share a double driveway with her (and my boat), but they are always helping my elderly mother so they get the gold star treatment. I'll clean it right to their stairs.

PS.
I added some weight to the front of the blower to keep it from rising in heavy stuff.

Does anyone have the problem with the front of the blower starting to climb????

Just got to take it slow. I know that my dad has chains and he melted down lead to form plates that he has bolted inside the tire rims for added weight/ traction.

I got plenty of traction, its the front that tends to rise even going slow. I bolted two big chunks of steel bar stock right up near the top of the auger housing. The weight really helped, I was just wondering if this is a common issue with blowers.

same problem with me. their all made of tinfoil nowadays. I had an old 10 hp Bolens before this. Kept it in repair for almost 15 years till parts were no longer available ... sure was bummed out when i scrapped her :(

The guy who does my neighbor's driveway has a snowblower that has tracks, like a tank, instead of wheels. Didn't get close enough to see the brand, but with the driveways in my area, wheels ain't gonna get it done without chains.

One benefit of living in NYC - no shoveling......

Originally posted by BEETLE
same with me - got a 8 hp, 32" cut, John Deere. Built similar Ariens, lots of Ariens parts. 300 + feet of driveway, no problems.

Looked online for John Deere snowblowers but couldn't find them.... I thought they didn't make them.... where can I find one?:confused:

I got a big driveway, a fourteen dollar shovel and a hurtin body.....
Calgon take me away

Hooper - Fox Run Equipment - Pembroke Rt. 53.
www.foxrunequipment.com

Bought mine in 96 at Parlee Brothers in Quincy. They went out of business and went to work for Fox Run.

Fox Run is where our Aeriens' came from as well.

I got a 9hp 2 stage Craftsman, which is made by Ariens. I bought it last year on sale for 980. This thing has paid for itself in these past 2 winters no problem.



Slow and steady keeps the blower from going up in the front.

Originally posted by Hooper
Looked online for John Deere snowblowers but couldn't find them.... I thought they didn't make them.... where can I find one?:confused:

Hey Hooper .... We talked about this on CSC site a while ago ...John Deere SnowBlowers (http://www.deere.com/en_US/ProductCatalog/HO/category/printableversion/HO_WBSB_printableVersion.html)


Of course there is always this option …..
Now this baby throws snow !! :btu: :happy:

http://www.kubota.com/f/products/images/bxsnowblower1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v382/finesse/PC260078Small.jpg

This is what is needed in the New England area.

here is a another model of a "snowblower" (sorry John)















how's everyone ? I have been absent for a bit. Got my issue of OTW the other day and just like that I am back reading posts on S-B
:happy:

this place is no fun sometimes....:crying:

Welcome back beachwalker... :D

:) If anybody had a problem with their snowblower throwing that powder snow then I recomend that they get a better blower !!! That snow was very dry and fluffy!!! It's the wet snowthat ya want to see how your snow blower works!!!
I've only owned an ariens so can not compare to others but am very happy with mine and it is 12 years old !! Might be time for a new one!!!

On the north shore I deal with a company called Manstranzi Brothers they have free pick up & delivery and they maintain mine every 3 years and gaurranty the work or they will fix for no cost!!!