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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 16,125
Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 16,125 |
Looking for the good, the bad, and the ugly for the best value in a two stage snowblower under a grand.
I'm googled out trying to decipher what I'm finding online.
Too bad Stihl doesn't make a snowblower......
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 923
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 923 |
If you hunt with your kids. You should not have to hunt for your kids.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,159
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,159 |
What are your choices and prices? How much snow, what kind of snow, how often, how big an area, and where does the snow go? Are you mechanically inclined? What can you handle physically?
It takes a village to raise an idiot.
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 346
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 346 |
I have a Troy Built Storm 30 inch 357cc. Great machine.
Christopher Columbus, the greatest Democrat of them all.
He left not knowing where he was going, and when he got there he did not know where he was. He returned not knowing where he had been, and did it all on someone else's money.
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 86,168
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 86,168 |
What are your choices and prices? How much snow, what kind of snow, how often, how big an area, and where does the snow go? Are you mechanically inclined? What can you handle physically? These questions. If on a hill or very wet/heavy snow, consider tracks.
If you take the time it takes, it takes less time.
--Pat Parelli
American by birth; Alaskan by choice.
--ironbender
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 16,125
Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 16,125 |
What are your choices and prices? How much snow, what kind of snow, how often, how big an area, and where does the snow go? Are you mechanically inclined? What can you handle physically? Flat concrete driveway, 30' long, 50' wide. Hell, I'm in Wisconsin, who knows how much.....stats say 4' average per year, could be double, triple, or quadruple that. We've already had a foot and a half in Oct. I could blow it in the street if nobody's looking til the plow makes it's first pass. Otherwise I can go both directions, unless the wind's howling. I rebuilt the whole topend of my Harley Fatboy in my breezeway by myself. Not wanting to want to wrench if I don't have to. Imma tough m'erfuker til I get out of my pajamas......
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,669
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,669 |
I have an Ariens. I'm happy with it only had to change a couple of shear pins. My advice is get at least an 8HP. Get electric start. Tire or Trac---either one is fine. If it's tires get a set of chains. Be sure to get a plastic scoop to clear all clogs in the snow shoot. Never put your hand down it to clear anything!!!!
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 38,852
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 38,852 |
And then prepare to back yourself up into garage doors, garbage cans, walls, and that sort of thing after you back up, change the direction of the chute, and then re-engage the forward drive without remembering to shift back into forward. (I've heard people say that this can be a problem.) Further, every snowblower that I have ever had occasion to deal with has been a real bitch about starting, then having the engine die after only a minute or so, solely because you, as the operator, neglected to turn the fuel valve open.
Last edited by 5sdad; 11/26/19.
Not a real member - just an ordinary guy who appreciates being able to hang around and say something once in awhile.
Happily Trapped In the Past (Thanks, Joe)
Not only a less than minimally educated person, but stupid and out of touch as well.
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 16,125
Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 16,125 |
Let's approach it from a different angle.....
Which brand(s) would you look to first? (Think Stihl)
Which brand(s) would you avoid?
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 86,168
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 86,168 |
Honda. Not the cheapest, but the best. Mine started on 2nd pull always. So easy I’ve never used the electric start.
As much snow as you do/can get, get the widest with the most hp you can spend.
I have an 8/24 I’ll sell you. Honda.
If you take the time it takes, it takes less time.
--Pat Parelli
American by birth; Alaskan by choice.
--ironbender
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,641
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,641 |
What is this "Snow Blower?
Imagine a corporate oligarchy so effective, so advanced and fine tuned that its citizens still call it a democracy.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,159
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,159 |
Get at least 28" wide, and 8hp. If you go wider, also get more power. I had a 10/32" for a while and it was a beast. Great at the cottage, too much in town. If you often get heavy wet snow, get more power. Electric start is great when its -20. (Oh, always use the lightest synthetic oil you can get away with). Tires and chains would be fine, no need for tracks. Reverse is nice to have but I rarely use it. Oh, and only use premium/no ethanol fuel.
Snowblowers rarely wear out, unless you're a commercial user. I've resurrected a half dozen used machines with simple repairs like carbs, belts, bearings, etc. Usually it's simple things but people couldn't be bothered. And snowblowers are simple machines, clearly they'd pose no challenge to you.
What brands do you have available?
It takes a village to raise an idiot.
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 16,125
Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 16,125 |
Honda. Not the cheapest, but the best. Mine started on 2nd pull always. So easy I’ve never used the electric start.
As much snow as you do/can get, get the widest with the most hp you can spend.
I have an 8/24 I’ll sell you. Honda. I bought a new Troy Bilt lawnmower 3-4 years ago, and went up in models to the 1st one with a Honda motor. Their snowblowers are not in the mix, with the cheapest 2 stage at $2500 MSRP. Shipping be a bish on that 8/24....... 
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 961
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 961 |
I'll vouch for Ariens too mine is 10+yrs running fine.and yes get electric start
Sorry,I drank the Sako-Aid.My opinion may be biased.
bh444
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 16,125
Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 16,125 |
Get at least 28" wide, and 8hp. If you go wider, also get more power. I had a 10/32" for a while and it was a beast. Great at the cottage, too much in town. If you often get heavy wet snow, get more power. Electric start is great when its -20. (Oh, always use the lightest synthetic oil you can get away with). Tires and chains would be fine, no need for tracks. Reverse is nice to have but I rarely use it. Oh, and only use premium/no ethanol fuel.
Snowblowers rarely wear out, unless you're a commercial user. I've resurrected a half dozen used machines with simple repairs like carbs, belts, bearings, etc. Usually it's simple things but people couldn't be bothered. And snowblowers are simple machines, clearly they'd pose no challenge to you.
What brands do you have available? I was figuring on 24 or 26. Not sure I wanted the extra weight of the bigger units. It will be kept in the garage, but options I planned on was electric start, wheels, not tracks(cost), probably not need reverse. Most anything could be available any direction an hour away, so that had me spinning in circles. And no dealers close (relatively) to consider for repair.
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,834
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,834 |
Used a Simple-icity for years. Still use it. Now, more often than not, I use the skid-steer.
I never thought I'd grow up to be a grumpy old man, but I did, and I'm killin' it.
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,698
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,698 |
If you get heavy wet snow you are better off with a plow.
The blower will plug up and be useless.
I like to do my hunting BEFORE I pull the trigger!
There is only one kind of dead, but there are many different kinds of wounded.
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 31,234
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 31,234 |
Allow me to give THE best tip ever for them: Replace those steel skids with wheels. Nothing makes maneuvering, backing up, or just regular forward movement easier than NOT trying to push steel skids across concrete! HERE is what I buy. My Husqvarna blower has metric spacing on the skid bolts, so I had to widen the grooves in the replacement brackets a bit. They're structural nylon, so it wasn't difficult. One more thing: For heavy snow, spray the chute and auger with PAM or WD-40. Greatly reduces clogs.
Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 16,125
Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 16,125 |
Well I used my Honda Foreman with a manual lift plow for years. I sold it this summer and bought a new Foreman, with the intent of buying a new plow and winch for it, which will run a grand, give or take. So while I've been waiting for the holiday sales to kick in, I've been thinking a snowblower might be the better option.
I'm out of the loop on brands.....
Ariens, Cub Cadet, Toro, Troy-Bilt, Husqvarna, etc.....
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,882
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,882 |
Where I live in the snow belt of MI Ariens is the most popular, I have the 28" Deluxe, elect. start, tires.
It starts just as easy with the pull chord. I've been here 40 years, this is my third Ariens, my last on is still being used by my son.
Dealer and most of my friends who have snow throwers find they run best using non-ethanol gas.
"The older I get, the better I was"
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