SNOWBLOWER
 

OK after today I have had it. I almost bought one last year and didn't pull the trigger. Now I am fully decided, even though they are probably priced at peak right now. Anyone have any brands they give a thumbs up to? My situation:

4 car length flat driveway that also gets all the snow from one whole side of my neighbors roof as its a steep pitched slate roof. And when that stuff comes down its always comes down LOUD and heavy. I also have a walkway probably 12x3.

I don't need the Minnesota Mama edition but I really don't want junk or something that will end up being more frustrating than its worth because its not powerful enough.

Thanks in advance.

Ariens is sold at the Home Depot. I got one two years ago and it is reliable.

I have a 20 year old Ariens and a 130 foot driveway. It is as good as it ever was, except for the busted belt yesterday. A high quality brand and well worth it

husqavarna rules

I just got an Ariens a few days ago in time for this storm so I am a rookie. All I know is it ate up everything that fell no problem, and as you may have read, I was in a hurry!

I did talk to a lot of people while researching. Ariens has a very good name and is known for its reliability.

You're gonna get a lot of answers. But, I love my Toro very much. 7-8 years old and all I've done is change the oil.

Ariend. Ariens. Ariens. Eight years and strong as it ever was. Its made beter and will last longer. Not knocking what evryone else has, but if you want something that last this is the one. I change the plug every fall and put Gas Stabl in it in the spring when I put it away.

I just bought a Craftsman and it was on sale, it seems to be working out ok but it is only 2 days old. alot of plastic on it though so only time will tell

I used an 5 hp Ariens for 7 yrs that belong to my father for 10 yrs before I got it and I gave it to a coworker who in turn gave it to another former coworker - it still runs like a champ at 23 yrs old! :) Trick was if you couldn't get it to start after the 3 rd pull you had to let it sit. Prime it and yank .... usually first pull.

The 7 hp Honda I use now is a super machine. My only regret is I didn't buy the 9 hp one. :D Starts on first pull EVERY TIME - no priming. Hydrostatic tranny gives me infinite speeds which is a nice feature (NO BELTS to worry about). It is heavy enough that I have to use the reverse speed to back up and can't just whip it around like I could with the smaller 5 hp Ariens.

You have to change the oil each season and check the plug and squirt some grease into the certain locations.

One big difference I notice is the Ariens does a better job at cleaning down surface better than the Honda. Blade on Honda has some hooks which it does better with icy stuff than the Ariens.

Pay attention to different grades of machines for example there are two models between the Ariens 8HP - std and pro (beefier and more $ by almost 25%)

I would go to a True Value HDWR store to buy one or specialty store just because the machines are better quality IMHO. Home Depot doesn't get the same stuff as True Value does. Go to store and compare constuction, MOTOR and thickness of metal at spots - don't believe me ............... go LOOK! :)

There is no such thing as TOO BIG of a snowblower IMHO. 8 HP is safe for all of our screwy New England weather. 5 hp size is OK, but that heavy snow you will be glad to be running the 8 hp. My former neightbor had a Snow King that was like 13 hp + it made my 5 hp Ariens look like a toy - one path was all it needed for the biggest snow drifts/plow piles period (he use to do an 200'+ driveway where he use to live .....LOL).

Don't skimp on cost because it is an investment that you will be using for 20+ yrs and it will save your back big time!!!

Stick w/ Honda, Ariens or Toro (I had purchased an used 5 hp one for my mother in law and even thought it was 15 yrs old it ran like the bomb).

My toro was built in 78 and I've had it for approx 5 or 6 years. Drain the fuel at end of season, refuel following season along with a new spark plug and everything was great.

Until this year....... No spark. So either the points are stuck or the condensor is bad. I guess I should have looked at earlier; like in before the snow started:)

The shoveling was good exercise though. Now to try remember the small engine class I took in school 30 something years ago...

A very important thing to watch out for is mice. I store in a shed but the buggers get in. I have a bad problem and had another 2 nest in there this year. I had to pull the flywheel off, again, just to get the nest out . Not a simple task. PIA. I asked the dealer as I was getting a belt the other day what to do and he told me a few of the strongest bounce dryer sheets. So I will try it.

My grand father always used "naphthelene (sp?)moth balls" to keep critters away. musta worked he never had mice in any place they didnt belong.
put them in his gas when he said it was bad too. used pinetar soap on belts to keep them working like new.... i miss him

I have heard that one too

I think one of the key things to look for is a steel piston with a cast linner,you want a solid investment.I would bet my bottom dollar the Ariens would be the best for your money.

Mines a 19 year old a Craftsmen 8.5Hp.26" cut & 11" impellar my Dad owned it for 17yrs & since he moved I now own it,ten yrs ago the carb had some problems and the chains keep comming off so I took them off other than that I love it.
Paul I to store mine in da shed I forgot to put moth balls in it & apparently one nested in around the muffler,I found out after I fired it up & I can smell the Chit burning and also smell Ammoinia:cens:


Bob

Hey Bob. I usually can tell when I grind up a few live ones and it stalls the machine. Blood and guts everywhere.:gorez: The flywheel is not a nice place to be at 1000 rpm's:bl:

I think I have posted this here before but here is some more footage of my tractor snowblower from this year. The first clip is what was leftover last week when we got 3-4" that turned to rain/ice. There was about an inch of snow and an inch of ice on top. It just chewed it right up. Would have been impossible by hand.

The second clip is of the 6" I got on Saturday's storm. Went right through that light snow like butter. The really good thing about the tractor is that it doesn't ever veer off to the side like a walk behind unit.
I'm sure everyone has had one of those go off to one side or start climing up a big mound that is too big for it. It's got a lot of weight and as long as there is traction just keeps going through. Best thing of all is that this unit I put together from stuff people threw away. Besides new belts, battery and some bolts it was free.

I have also said like MD above there is no such thing as too big. I've used 5, 7, 8, 9 and the 13 hp tractor, and could see having one bigger each time. I am seriously thinking about getting the attachment for my other 20 HP tractor. Get what you can afford and buy quality. I tinker with a lot of stuff and have many old units and the quality is just not the same these days.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCFzcvaE-_Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Dk7NWjCc7g

Quit yur job and work for Logan Intl.Airport that thing kicks Arse:musc:

Paul I had that happen once man that's gotta hurt:kewl:
Talk about a short eviction notice:conf:

My father gave us an Ariens about 5 years ago. Hubby was curious how old it was and no one knew. He called Ariens and got the low down.......it's 40 years old! And still running strong!

too funny.. I have a 20 year old ariens as well and busted the belt the other day as well..
any tips on changing the belt???

Wow

Thanks for all the good comments, it sounds like Ariens it a winner. Great tip on the "Depot" version vs others as well.

One other thing about Hoome cheapo or Lowes is that customer service is on existent once you buy something- lets say a few years from now you need a new part.. good luck getting any help from them.. If you buy from a local place that actually works on the equipment that they sell, you will be better off in the long run-

Believe it or not your local dealer isnt making their money when they sell you a snowblower. They make their money in parts & service. Home Cheapo makes their money because they sell volume. They want to sell a product, get it out the door and replace it with more to sell. They want you to come back to buy more....they DONT want you to come back when you have a problem. Thats not their bread & butter.

Pretty simple, unless it is snowing to beat the band and 20 degrees and you are kneeling in snow.:cens: Sorry I am over that.
Yes you need to undo the 2 bolts holding the front tine part to the main engine part. 1st take off plastic housing cover and then 2 bolts as mentioned above, and it sort of bends up and in half, still attached at bottom, allowing access to the belts. Pretty simple. Probably worth doing both belts while you are at it.Good luck if you get stuck ask away.

I thought I could hear you all the way over here that day :hidin:

I never owned a snowblower, had plenty of shovels though.
Maybe I'll have to get one someday.