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Posted By: ol_mike Snow Blor worth having ? - 01/13/24
Bad weather ...
Wards.
Posted By: ol_mike Re: Snow Blor worth having ? - 01/13/24
They closed back in the 60s
You asking about a snow blower?
Dang.


Probably go buy one from Gambles then.
Posted By: Osky Re: Snow Blor worth having ? - 01/13/24
Originally Posted by Jim_Conrad
Dang.


Probably go buy one from Gambles then.

Gambles, Skoog hardware stores if I recall. You’re too young for that one Jim.

Osky
Posted By: 7mm_Loco Re: Snow Blor worth having ? - 01/13/24
in Arkysass?... hold on, it'l melt soon...
Originally Posted by Osky
Originally Posted by Jim_Conrad
Dang.


Probably go buy one from Gambles then.

Gambles, Skoog hardware stores if I recall. You’re too young for that one Jim.

Osky

It sold out and became a Coast to Coast here in town.

They had all the new bicycles in the basement.
Posted By: ol_mike Re: Snow Blor worth having ? - 01/13/24
Originally Posted by Osky
Originally Posted by Jim_Conrad
Dang.


Probably go buy one from Gambles then.

Gambles, Skoog hardware stores if I recall. You’re too young for that one Jim.

Osky
Reputable outfitt? gambles?
I trust honda..
They were.

Our store was a Gambles when I was a kid.


No honda from what I remember. Tecumseh and B and S.
Posted By: hardway Re: Snow Blor worth having ? - 01/13/24
Jake shuvels our druveway 😛
Posted By: ol_mike Re: Snow Blor worth having ? - 01/13/24
I'll take a Briggs -what's their phone number
Originally Posted by hardway
Jake shuvels our druveway 😛

Ha!
Sears Craftsman. Mine is 23 years old with an old Tecumseh 9 hp engine. Just replaced the carb (cheaper to do that than rebuild mine) and she starts first pull if you don’t want to use the electric start. Get your catalog out.

Oh wait. . .

Failing that, they’re all identical in how they work. Get one with some HP. Other than Honda, they all pretty much come out of the same factory too so pick whatever color suits you.
Posted By: hardway Re: Snow Blor worth having ? - 01/13/24
Country snow bl0w4r in Town.
Originally Posted by ol_mike
I'll take a Briggs -what's their phone number

I'll ask Mavis. She runs the switchboard.
Posted By: ol_mike Re: Snow Blor worth having ? - 01/13/24
I think a yella & green would look good in the sno.
Posted By: ol_mike Re: Snow Blor worth having ? - 01/13/24
ok
Posted By: Valsdad Re: Snow Blor worth having ? - 01/13/24
Toro, 24"

Worked rather well today, even on the gravel driveway. left about 1.5" as I didn't want my expensive gravel out in the weeds.

This

[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]

looks like the spot my friend did for me. All the way out to the county road about 30 ft past the power pole.

[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]

i found out it works really well.....................................................especially with someone else running it laugh
Posted By: Osky Re: Snow Blor worth having ? - 01/13/24
Originally Posted by Jim_Conrad
They were.

Our store was a Gambles when I was a kid.


No honda from what I remember. Tecumseh and B and S.


Got it. They were based out of St. Louis Park MN in their final years. People called it Skoogs but it was actually Skogmo.

The company was sold to a big furniture company somewhere along the line.

Osky
Originally Posted by Osky
Originally Posted by Jim_Conrad
They were.

Our store was a Gambles when I was a kid.


No honda from what I remember. Tecumseh and B and S.


Got it. They were based out of St. Louis Park MN in their final years. People called it Skoogs but it was actually Skogmo.

The company was sold to a big furniture company somewhere along the line.

Osky


They must have kept the name for a few years before they changed to Coast to Coast.
Ariens rule here. Had a foot of heavy snow today nothing phases them. Now all my neighbors have them I should get a commission. Used to be all metal parts I think the motor is a Tecumseh around 9hp 24” wide and will blow snow 40’ if I crank it up.
Posted By: Fenton Re: Snow Blor worth having ? - 01/13/24
Check out the Hondas. They don’t come cheap, but they work great. Dependable & reliable. Never ever a problem. Typical Honda product.
Posted By: slumlord Re: Snow Blor worth having ? - 01/13/24
Originally Posted by 7mm_Loco
in Arkysass?... hold on, it'l melt soon...


Yea if its powdery, just use a leaf blower

👍😸
Not worth the trouble having one.

Use once every 5 years and have to store it in the meantime. Work on the damn thing to get running because it hasn't been used in a few years.
Posted By: BigNate Re: Snow Blor worth having ? - 01/13/24
Ariens are the best. But I use a JD4044 for cleaning my driveway. The only thing my snow blower gets used on is the walkway and patio.
Posted By: slumlord Re: Snow Blor worth having ? - 01/13/24
Do they make anything with electric start?

Heck with yankin on something that’s been sittin for a year.

My ginormous john deere pressure washer is a somebitch. Fight a lot of compression
Posted By: 19352012 Re: Snow Blor worth having ? - 01/13/24
You can get snowblowers with electric start. You plug an extension cord into the starter, hit the button and they fire right up. One they are warm, it's not worth plugging it in but when you first start, it's pretty nice.
Posted By: RockyRaab Re: Snow Blor worth having ? - 01/13/24
When we first moved here from Florida, our neighbor was the age I am now. He shoveled his driveway one winter morn, went in, sat in his easy chair...and died.

I bought a blower. Have had one ever since, from single-stage two-cycles to my current Beast Husqvarna.

Gonna snow hard all weekend, they say. Probably do the first run this morning and then as needed.
Posted By: cs2blue Re: Snow Blor worth having ? - 01/13/24
Yes, When we had back to back blizzards one 3 feet the second 2.5feet , I was envy of my neighbors. five feet snow in a week and half and everyone was out shoveling for hours and hours. I was done in one hour. I then went to the older folks on my street and did their driveways. The looks I got were awesome. Especially, from the two neighbors that declined to go in on the purchase of the snow blower. They were sad faced for awhile. Later the two of them bought their own machines. Money well spent. Snow blowers are nice to have but not need.
Posted By: cooperfan Re: Snow Blor worth having ? - 01/13/24
Originally Posted by Fenton
Check out the Hondas. They don’t come cheap, but they work great. Dependable & reliable. Never ever a problem. Typical Honda product.
Airens are made in Wisconsin, USA and are better than Honda
Posted By: Orion2000 Re: Snow Blor worth having ? - 01/13/24
Originally Posted by Valsdad
... i found out it works really well.....................................................especially with someone else running it laugh

When we were first married, had 100ft driveway plus three parking spaces. Older gentleman next to us had 30-40 ft driveway, AND a snow blower... smile He offered that I could keep the snow blower at my place and use it all I wanted as long as I kept his driveway clear. Deal !
Posted By: slumlord Re: Snow Blor worth having ? - 01/13/24
Originally Posted by RockyRaab
When we first moved here from Florida, our neighbor was the age I am now. He shoveled his driveway one winter morn, went in, sat in his easy chair...and died.


Succubus in the house probably riding his ass about it.

That’s what kills B-Type men. He should have back handed her, he might still be alive.
Posted By: Fenton Re: Snow Blor worth having ? - 01/13/24
Originally Posted by cooperfan
Originally Posted by Fenton
Check out the Hondas. They don’t come cheap, but they work great. Dependable & reliable. Never ever a problem. Typical Honda product.
Airens are made in Wisconsin, USA and are better than Honda

I’d say the Airens are in the #2 slot. Good machines I’m sure.
I bought my Honda 8hp, track drive about 24 years ago. Never a problem, never been back to the shop, never more than two pulls to start it. Still throws snow across the street.
Buy once, cry once, then blow snow for the rest of your life trouble free.
Airens or Honda. Both work, and both will have dealers around that stock parts.

Keep ethanol away from them, run all the fuel out at the end of the season, and they should start easily for years.

My daughter has a Husqvarna that’s in its 12th season, and it runs like a beast… when it runs. None of the places nearby that are listed as dealers on the Husqvarna website, still carry the brand. In fact, many of them never did. 🤬

FC
Posted By: las Re: Snow Blor worth having ? - 01/13/24
Originally Posted by Fenton
Check out the Hondas. They don’t come cheap, but they work great. Dependable & reliable. Never ever a problem. Typical Honda product.

I've had a 928?? for a year now. Battery Start. Tracks. Avoid any wheeled POS. BTDT

U are right on both accounts: "not cheap/ works great". Ordered it in May, got it in Feb., promised for Sept or early Oct. Wasn't too happy about that. Cost me half as much for the plow truck guy before it got here!

Get plenty of shear pins: very easy to change. I try not to get below 5 spares on hand. Chunks of shed, frozen car ice, shed twigs, string etc . /pretty tender. Does not like rocks or tall grass at all! Get fewer if it never gets off a dressed sidewalk or civilized pavement. I go through 1-3 every use, clearing 2 good sized gravel drives, at least until a covering base gets laid down.

Oh yeah, stuffed dog toys.... throws frozen turds well tho. Usually.

10mm socket and a screw driver is all one needs for shear pin change- screw driver is to clear snow for access and occaissionaly remove old pin part.

Love the variable speed drive and tilt feature!
Posted By: 7mm_Loco Re: Snow Blor worth having ? - 01/13/24
The Blizzard O'24 just ended in NE Wi... snow drifts look to be 24"+(maybe 36?) in places... bought an old MTD 26" blower a few yrs back from the local Baldwin sisters, they used it once, too much for them... looks like best $150 i ever spent...
Posted By: Windfall Re: Snow Blor worth having ? - 01/13/24
Mostly correct there las, except for that "Avoid any wheeled POS" part. Honda 928WAS here with the wheels, Hydrostatic drive, electric start... I looked at the track model, but was told that moving them around in the garage was way more difficult. I had chains on my old wheeled Toro, but don't need them on the Honda. The neighborhood is full of Ariens blowers and I'm not impressed. The Honda is so geared up in that second stage that it throws snow half again farther than anything I've seen. 13.1" of snow here yesterday and that Honda made easy work of it across a three stall driveway. Get enough horsepower or you'll be reworking what you've already blown. That Hydrostatic drive is worth what ever they want you to pay for it. The rubber disc drive and manual gear box on most blowers is a wear item. I've had two Toro's (seized up the little one), an 8 hp John Deere and a 8 hp Simplicity. None of them throw snow like that 928WAS. The Honda is probably 10 years old now and starts on the first pull even after sitting for a year. I have never used the electric starter. Agreed on the easy change shear pins, mine are special soft bolts. Ice chunks from the plow got me a time or two, but it mostly goes through anything that I feed it. Highly recommended. Watch the rest, then buy the best.
Posted By: 7mm_Loco Re: Snow Blor worth having ? - 01/13/24
just finished snow removal (Knee deep+ in places)... the 8 hp Tecumseh (sitting for a yr) started on the second pull (only because i didn't push the prime button enough on the first try)... this old MTD was built early 90's?... i keep the oil changed and use non ethanol gas... hard to beat that for $150...
Posted By: las Re: Snow Blor worth having ? - 01/14/24
7mm - you fugger! I have 3500 into the Honda!

Windfall... I've had wheeled .... with chains!, and my tracked Honda leaves them in the dust. er- snow/iced... Works even better in the garage...and just how much are you using it in the garage? I do keep mine there... Did spin it out on the iced up up-ramp early this year tho. Got a snow base layer over that now tho.

It's got track retards for turning like a CAT. Nifty!

Especially when I remember to use them. smile
Posted By: 7mm_Loco Re: Snow Blor worth having ? - 01/14/24
Originally Posted by las
7mm - you fugger! I have 3500 into the Honda!
)
Las, i've been eyeing up those tracked machines from Honda & Airens, but i just can't justify the $$$ at this point... if/when my cheap old warhorse dies i will probably look to the Airens as they're made just a little east of me in Brillion Wi... lest i run across another sweet deal!...
Posted By: las Re: Snow Blor worth having ? - 01/14/24
Yeh, i've got a rental....half off. Wife idoes the books and is way too honest.
Posted By: Szumi Re: Snow Blor worth having ? - 01/14/24
A working one is the best kind to have.

My 8HP Craftsman was a beast but the odd sized tires rotted away so I replaced it with a Husqvarna ST227 which isn't bad but it isn't the beast the Craftsman was.

Anything good or bad to say about snow blowers with hydra static transmissions? Mine have both been puck and disk types and if this one dies on my I might be willing to spend a bit more if it is worth it.
My Troy Bilt Storm has been going for 8 years now without a hitch and works great. Every winter I put fresh gas in it, plug it in {electric start} hit the go button and she fires right up. I paid 250.00 for it from a co worker who was moving South and no longer needed it. It was like new. Still have my old Craftsman as backup but haven't needed it since I got the Storm.
Posted By: Osky Re: Snow Blor worth having ? - 01/14/24
I have two Toro single stage units with the 4 stroke Honda motors. Light agile and handle whatever snow that falls their way. I think they are 24” but maybe a bit bigger? I’d have to go look at the one here.
No complaints, work great. This will be my second year with them.

Osky
I think it's a Troybilt, just a cheap thing dad bought somewhere, than have to me
when he got a plow on a 4wheeler.

13hp, 2 stage, wheels, electric start.

The electric start isn't worth the effort.
if you pull 3 times and it doesnt start, you screwed up on the,
fuel shut off,
Choke,
Throttle,
Switch,
Or safety switch.

The choke works opposite of the pictographs?
🤬🤬🤬
Gotta remember that!


I need to cobble some chains up for it, mostly it's fine but sometimes it spins out.

Ethanol free only, drain it and run it dry every year.
Starts right up.

Summers in the shed, lives under the pine tree in the yard after the first snow.
Snow Blower- - - - -a q u e e r Eskimo with a shovel?
Posted By: KFWA Re: Snow Blor worth having ? - 01/14/24
living in Southern Ohio, I have an 8HP Craftsman two stage - nothing special, but I've had it maybe 10 years, bought it used.

I've used it maybe 4 times. I get it out every year around Thanksgiving , maybe clean the carb, change the oil, and put it off to the side of the driveway ready to go. It usually sits in the same spot until April when I put it back under the deck.

I'm popular with the neighbors when we do get the occasional 8 inch snowfall
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