Snow Blower
 

Small driveway and path, really want to put less miles on my back this year.

Any suggestions for a smaller and inexpensive snow blower? Figure one and a half cars as I just go in in 4WD

Lots on craigslist. I got an older Ariens 24" repowered with a 7hp Tecumseh. Fresh fuel and oil change just done. I am happy I got one with electric start. My back thanks me every storm. You should be able to find the same for $300-450. Or make Mr Moriarty an offer he can't refuse.... he has two!

You'll regret smaller! Look for the best deal you can find on a 2-stage, 24" at least 8Hp IMO.

get 2 stage and electric start.... you want a blower that can throw heavy wet snow without getting clogged in the chute....spray the chute with PAM anti stick cooking spray for heavy wet snow

You'll never regret it, once you got it, even the dogs what paths now.

DEAR JOHN R

PLEASE purchase the BIGGEST Narliest
roughest most heavy duty wicked MOTHER
of all snowblowers ever created so it won't even snow....:uhuh:

Sunday

John, you've seen my driveways. I'm guessing roughly the same size as yours? I have a Toro 826 Power Max for close to 10 years now. Never any problems and it just chugs right on through stuff that's deeper than the bucket. 8hp, 26" two stage with electric start.
I went to a power equipment dealer that sells most of the major brands. They had Toro, Ariens, Husqvarna, Troy Built. They all have comparable models in both size and price. So, I asked the guy, "all things being equal in size and price, which do you choose?" He told me Toro. They have a 2 year warranty vs 1 year for the others. A more rugged gear box and they see fewer Toros returned for problems than the others.
So, I bought the Toro and have been happy with it. Honestly, I think they're all okay and you can't go wrong with any. Unless you're buying a machine with an OHV twin motor, they all use the same motors.

How much Professor of meteorology? :huh:

.IT PROBABLY WILL AT LEAST BE COLD
ENOUGH FOR PERIODS OF SNOW/ICE ACROSS THE INTERIOR, NEED MORE RUNS ANOTHER 96 HOURS.

Don't think small. For years I had an old 8 hp toro. Well year before last if STB. Bought a like new Ariens 5.5 following summer and it wasn't big enough. So I sold it last April for the same price I paid.

In June I bought a used 9hp Ariens with very low hours for 500. (not sure it was ever used. (it's 2 years old)

Bigger is better when it comes to snow throwers.

JR< something like this:

YouTube - V8 Snowblower

I have had good luck with my 2 year old Craftsman, 26" 8 HP

4-wheeler
 

Guys,
I prefer the polaris 500 with a plow....

Toro ST724

get a small frame machine john. It will be more than enough to do it. Won't kill your back because it's lighter. Stay away from big box stuff though. Cheaper stuff inside. Plastic vs cast gears.

The Model I use is a Sean 1.0....runs rough when I have to start it early in the Morning, But it is pretty dependable :hee:

I understand you have a Liam 1.0.....good solid Model too.:hihi:

I have a Thomas 1.0 and Jeremy 2.0 and I find they make alot of whining noises, also both tend to start the job and never finish so DAD has to finish. Very unreliable and they're both out of warranty :rotf2:

Anyone got a fix for the whining? :grins:

I DON'T LIFT SNOW ANYMORE.....i JUST PUSH IT AROUND

AND THAT is the strategy

I am like totally Psyched because the Toro Snow Blower SALTY sold me
just started with ONE pull

and is out there idling right now....

i was dismayed because i had left some gas in the TANK
and was thinking Oh "F" :point: carb rebuild , but the gas additive i used
worked like a charm... so now , i can work on other stuff instead.

Lots of good suggestions.
I've had a lot of luck with an equipment/lawn mower dealer in my area.
Bought an old Bolens snowblower for cheap. Electric starts the way to go. Its a beast. Does the job.
Over the years I've picked up a chipper and one of those large walk behind leaf blowers. This thing is the shiz.
I guess the guy takes these things in on trades, works them and sells them.

I looked at some recently in Hommies and was suprised how cheap they were when you consider what it cost to have your driveway plowed and the time it saves. The payback periods prob. about 2 winters. I wish I had room in the garage for one.

I've had an Ariens for 10 yrs. Starts the first pull every time, even after sitting idle all summer. I think it has an electric start but I never bothered.
Its probabaly a small to mid size model and does the trick. I think I paid $900. Worth every penney.

One of the very few things I enjoy about winter is using the snowblower to clear the driveway

Ever think about putting a plow on your truck John?

Like rain ponchos for the outside for this weekend. glad you bought the snowblower that steered the storms south for the WINTER

That was the best damn snowblower I ever owned. One pull. Tecumseh motor. None of this sissy 5w30 oil bs. Real man's oil

Raven have you kept good care of my baby? That thing got me through many many storms in Central Ma.

roflmao

So John you want used or new?

YES SIR ! Mr Bugger SIR ! :grins:

Next , i'll spray her done with some NANO wax and give her a massage

Briefly, but much rather do the snow blower. Don't want to mess up a fish truck with a plow ;)

I've got an 826 toro that i bought for the company for doing the walk way and hydrogen dock 16 winters ago... I fired it up just before Thanks giving and it came to life with one pull...... It's big enough to hangle a 50' walk way , but small enough to get it in and out of the main building to clear the dock and entrance ways...just run stabilezer in what ever you buy all the time and you will never have an issue with sour fuel...

smaller trucks
 

are great to plow with anyways

because they aren't as wide
and when you have your blade at an angle
you can plow between parked cars
without scraping them.... and that's a PLUS
when cleaning out parking lots for some extra cash

the next time i "lift" snow
will be with a KUBOTA tractor bucket
or something similar :uhuh:

Plows cost at least three times as much as a snowblower, and they won't do your walkways or sidewalks. i bought an 8 horse 28 inch Ariens last year. Takes the pain out of snow. Now, bring on the ice!

My Bolens about 20 years old. My family still has an Ariens that has to be close to 45 years old.