Great White North - Who's got what snow blower/thrower? [Archive]

JMarsa

02-22-2010, 05:59 PM

After this latest storm I think I'm going to buy a snow blower. I live on a cul de sac and keep getting screwed over by the snow plows as they dump more than my share of snow in my driveway.

I've been trying to buy US made products lately and Arien's and Snapper are both US made. What's been your experience with snow blower/thrower's and what brand do you recommend?

Thanks,

--JMarsa

dlrepmn

02-22-2010, 06:49 PM

I have no snow equal. Shaft Drive, snow cab, lights, windshield wiper, kohler 20hp with no chains and a steep driveway. I sometimes do the neighbors just to extend the fun. It ate a contractor extension cord at the neighbors the other day and I only knew it by "hey, what is that flying around?)

http://www.walkermowers.com/Mtspecs.htm

Made in the USA. Bring the platinum though.

You would need a bobcat (doesn't everybody need a bobcat?) to do better.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/02/IMG_2318-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/02/IMG_2317-2.jpg

I never hooked up the the heater I bought since I don't need it even in frozen Minnesota.

Frank the Crank

02-22-2010, 07:05 PM

Nothing beats a HEMI...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/02/HEMISnowblower-1.jpg
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e388/riversidepartsdepot/Blog%20Pictures/HEMISnowblower.jpg)

JMarsa

02-22-2010, 07:09 PM

Oh no, this is going the way of "Storing Magazines". lol

--JMarsa

JMarsa

02-22-2010, 07:11 PM

OK - You da Man! :hail: lol

Nice rig, I like all the implements available for it, nice integration on a zero turn.

--JMarsa

I have no snow equal. Shaft Drive, snow cab, lights, windshield wiper, kohler 20hp with no chains and a steep driveway. I sometimes do the neighbors just to extend the fun. It ate a contractor extension cord at the neighbors the other day and I only knew it by "hey, what is that flying around?)

http://www.walkermowers.com/Mtspecs.htm

Made in the USA. Bring the platinum though.

You would need a bobcat (doesn't everybody need a bobcat?) to do better.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/02/IMG_2318-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/02/IMG_2317-2.jpg

I never hooked up the the heater I bought since I don't need it even in frozen Minnesota.

Scott Parkhurst

02-22-2010, 07:32 PM

I have a riding mower, and got the 2-stage snowblower setup for it. All John Deere stuff. Works great and keeps the mower working year round...

dsittler

02-22-2010, 08:27 PM

I also needed a new snowblower this year. Did a lot of research and ended up paying more for a John Deere. Why? all metal construction, made in USA, Briggs & Stratton motor, better warranty and cast iron gear housing. Be careful, almost all new snowblowers are now made in China, they are equiping them with cheap off shore engines which look like a Briggs motor. I got this info from one of the larger manufacturers of yard equipment (MTD), they moved all their production overseas and he warned me it is very cheaply made. Very few snowblowers are made in North America anymore.

Derek

JMarsa

02-22-2010, 08:55 PM

Derek,

Thanks for the input. It's had to really know what your getting with home/garden power tools. Since the 70's so many brands have been painting another company's product their own color. I have a green tractor that was actually orange when it left the factory where it was made. :)

Looks like you must have a 928E or better, bang for the buck seems like a decent product.

--JMarsa

helzbelz888

02-23-2010, 12:29 AM

lol we dont use these "snow blowers" as you call them... up here in the greater Seattle area we just shut down everything when we get two inches...

trapin

02-23-2010, 07:58 AM

I have a 5 horse Craftsman that I bought about 13 years ago. The plug-in/electric start failed just as soon as the warranty expired and for the past 9 years now it won't start unless I bring it into the house to warm up a bit. ....but it's still going.

However, I wouldn't buy anything from Craftsman as far as power tools.

jocko124

02-23-2010, 08:01 AM

Ariens 824--8Hp--24"

JMarsa

02-23-2010, 08:27 AM

Ariens 824--8Hp--24"

Lee,

How do you like yours?

--JMarsa

moreHP

02-23-2010, 09:10 AM

Oh no, this is going the way of "Storing Magazines". lol

--JMarsa

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

jocko124

02-23-2010, 09:14 AM

Lee,

How do you like yours?

--JMarsa

I like it a lot. I purchased it when I was in PA and used it probably a total of 10 times. Worked great. Really haven't had any use for it here in Oregon the last couple of years. Heck I probably should sell it!

John Wright

02-23-2010, 10:21 AM

<read with a Tim the Toolman voice>
Ar...Ar...Ar...the binford 4000 snow blower with optional BBC power.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

monteboy84

02-23-2010, 11:18 AM

I've got an older Craftsman 5 horse unit with tracks. It's a Tecumseh engine, always starts by the 3rd pull and will torque its way through anything I can throw at it. Price was right too, bought it from a coworker for a case of beer (cheap beer too)

Looks similar to this (not mine pictured):
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/02/Snowblower_2-1.jpg

Yelcamino

02-23-2010, 12:07 PM

I recently picked up an Ariens 27". There are pictures of me using it for the first time in the snow of 2010 thread (https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=64993). It works really well IMO though I've never used a snowblower before! It's made in USA and I ordered it through Home Depot online. I got it in about two weeks -just in time for the second big snowfall.

JMarsa

02-23-2010, 12:33 PM

So far Ariens and JD are at the top of my list.

--JMarsa

69Pony

02-23-2010, 04:39 PM

I have the Ariens 624 (father of the 824) and it works great. Has the electric start option but it's so easy to start on the 1st or 2nd pull I never need it. Though only 6hp it ate up the 28" and 22" snows we had without issue.

BTW: JD was not rated well in Consumer Reports for what that's worth.... Ariens was #1....

JMarsa

02-23-2010, 05:39 PM

Which consumers are you looking at?

I have the Oct '09 online report and there seems to be a lot of them missing. No JD or Snapper. Seems that they only buy certain ones. Ariens 927LE was #4 in this report which is still good enough for me.

--JMarsa

I have the Ariens 624 (father of the 824) and it works great. Has the electric start option but it's so easy to start on the 1st or 2nd pull I never need it. Though only 6hp it ate up the 28" and 22" snows we had without issue.

BTW: JD was not rated well in Consumer Reports for what that's worth.... Ariens was #1....

Jim Nilsen

02-23-2010, 08:31 PM

I have a Craftsman 28" 8hp with the lever steering and I really like it. It is basically your deluxe MTD model but it has an engine that after 6 yrs still starts on the first pull if you prime it enough to begin with. I never worry about the gas being left in it when I store it beccause you can run it dry and then push on the bowl drain to empty it out with no problems and I have only needed to change the oil 3 times in it. I think it is a kohler engine but it could be a tecumseh, both are good engines.
It started out life doing a drive 1/4 mile long 2 passes wide and it will move a drift 36" high by 40 deep in about an hour or so. I has a good chain drive system that doesn't all go thu belts but there is one belt. Belt drive blowers are a pain to maintain.

Cost was $900 on sale with a light.

I would get another if I ever need to but I think this one will last forever with a bit of tlc.

plus you can get parts forever for it without a pain to look for a dealer.
Goodluck and if you are lucky you can get a big blower for about $750 come spring.

Twentyover

02-23-2010, 08:37 PM

shortrack

02-23-2010, 10:04 PM

I have an old early 90s 10hp Tecumseh Craftsman 2 stage with the tracks & a light....has plug in elect start, never use it starts 1st or 2nd pull......I love the tracks...has levers so you work it like a bulldozer....and nothing like HP to clear the snow left by the plow.....bought it 3 yrs ago for $500

cupcar

02-24-2010, 01:56 AM

JMarsa

02-24-2010, 08:19 AM

Jim,

Do you work for MTD or are they local to you? Just curious where it's built.

--JMarsa

I have a Craftsman 28" 8hp with the lever steering and I really like it. It is basically our deluxe MTD model but it has an engine that after 6 yrs still starts on the first pull if you prime it enough to begin with. I never worry about the gas being left in it when I store it beccause you can run it dry and then push on the bowl drain to empty it out with no problems and I have only needed to change the oil 3 times in it. I think it is a kohler engine but it could be a tecumseh, both are good engines.
It started out life doing a drive 1/4 mile long 2 passes wide and it will move a drift 36" high by 40 deep in about an hour or so. I has a good chain drive system that doesn't all go thu belts but there is one belt. Belt drive blowers are a pain to maintain.

Cost was $900 on sale with a light.

I would get another if I ever need to but I think this one will last forever with a bit of tlc.

plus you can get parts forever for it without a pain to look for a dealer.
Goodluck and if you are lucky you can get a big blower for about $750 come spring.

Jim Nilsen

02-24-2010, 10:05 AM

Jim,

Do you work for MTD or are they local to you? Just curious where it's built.

--JMarsa

That should have read " YOUR basic MTD" instead of "OUR" LOL

MTD used to be very close to where I live in Harvard ,Il. until they moved it to CHINA or Mexico. It was a sad day for the people around here. I am not really sure where they are made now. The engines still come from companies made in America fortunately. The plant made a lot of brands so where all of the business went for them probably got a bit diverse. Looking up MTD would probably let you know. For me it just makes me mad to think of it.

If I had my way, any company that produces more than 50% of their product in a foreign country ,we would deport the owners and their families to the country they do the business from and take away all of their citizenship and other benefits they had paid into and give them what they gave their workers, NOTHING to look forward to!

Jim Nilsen

02-24-2010, 10:12 AM

I have a crappy tire MTD 10.5 hp 27 " it's 11 years old and still looks new . It works very well after 11 seasons and the driveway is 120' doublewide +
I have had three services on the unit , two were just checkups .
.02

I had one they called the "snow wolf" made by MTD and it preceeded the Crafstman. It lasted for 13 yrs before the wife bought me the newer one. I would have fixed it but it did about 10 times what yours has to do for work with the 1/4 mile drive and 40' x 70' parking lot plus anothe drive to the back of the house sometimes and even a place to drive up to the house some years. I can't complain about how long it lasted, it just seemed to break a belt at the worst times. I always kept spares after the first time one went.

It was better than a plow by the time the 3rd snowfall came and a plow wouldn't have anywhere to put the snow!

I have found that big tires work better than small ones with chains and that tracks can be a pain in the butt to drag back to the garage when the blower breaks for any reason

John McIntire

02-24-2010, 02:17 PM

I have a Snapper that I just bought used off of Craigslist. Only a year old, the guy was moving to Florida.
Its got an 8.5HP Briggs and a 26" clearing path. Works like a champ and so glad I got it cause we've been getting hit pretty hard here in NJ this winter! Might have another opportunity to play with it tomorrow and Friday!

dsittler

02-24-2010, 03:05 PM

We also had a MTD plant close to where I live, it had been there for 25+ years with hundreds of employees. They pulled the plug on the manufacturing and sent it to China. It was a huge blow to the local economy to have them close shop. The building still sits here almost empty, they now use it for a parts warehouse with a counter so you can go in and purchase parts for thier units.
MTD makes many snowblowers for different companies, different paint, decals and options. I spoke with a company sales rep and he told me very soon that all the engines will be offshore products (Chinese), no more Briggs & Stratton motors (North American) and they will all become disposable. So keep those older ones in good repair because the new stuff is cheaply made.

It bothers me when companies like that had their start here in North America and where probably given tax breaks and incentives by the respective cities that they operated in to expand and keep workers employed and add to local economies to quickly "pack up shop" and move overseas when the going gets a little tough.

Derek

Chevrolaine

02-24-2010, 04:30 PM

Some good info in here as I'm looking for one also! Can't decide between new or used. Thanks everyone!

Jim Nilsen

02-24-2010, 07:56 PM

Some good info in here as I'm looking for one also! Can't decide between new or used. Thanks everyone!

Find a good old one and make it new again. There is really nothing to them you can't buy or make new parts for them. If it needs a new engine just buy one from Northern Wholesale and bite the bullet.

An old one will not give money to the chinese and it will still stimulate the economy here. The *******s that moved away are not selling them any cheaper and the quality went down , so F**k Em.

Paint it to match your car!!

PT_79_TA_461

02-24-2010, 08:14 PM

shortrack

02-24-2010, 09:29 PM

Toro 2 stage Snow King, 8 HP Tecumseh, electric start, 26" primary stage, shaft drive. For those of us who like the snow blowing back in ourfaces, similiar to http://www.toro.com/home/snowthrowers/gastwostage/826oe.html

you have the joystick chute control???.....hows that working out???......cool idea as I spend WAY too much time stopped adjusting direction and hieght......I have a huge dway but very specific spots to put the snow.......be interesting to see how it holds up in yr after yr.....

JMarsa

02-25-2010, 09:49 AM

Seems like tracks were all the rage a few years back.

--JMarsa

itsals1

02-25-2010, 03:24 PM

Still are the best, no chains required so your not marking up your concrete or blacktop driveway.
Travis

protour73

02-25-2010, 05:15 PM

Home Depot used to have these, 5 hp Tecumseh pull start, 22" width. Starts first pull everytime, and does a great job here in Chicago!!
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

Twentyover

02-26-2010, 02:33 AM

you have the joystick chute control???.....hows that working out???......cool idea as I spend WAY too much time stopped adjusting direction and hieght......I have a huge dway but very specific spots to put the snow.......be interesting to see how it holds up in yr after yr.....

5 years in the joystick is still working good. I can engage the auger w/ the RH lever, when I engage the drive (LH lever) it locks the auger on, and my RH is free to adjust the chute on the fly

John Wright

02-26-2010, 05:06 AM

Here is what we have and use here at work.....seems to do a good job.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/02/827E_large-1.jpg

rob07002

02-26-2010, 11:12 AM

Craftsman 24" 2 stage with 5.5 hp motor. Getting ready to use if for the 5th time tihe winter with about 18" and counting on the ground.

Morgan

02-26-2010, 12:10 PM

Well I'm currently getting another 3 or so inches right now so mine will get used tomorrow morning. I bought a 36" Ariens 6 years ago and it is still going strong. It even has handwarmers built into the handlebars!

77thor

02-27-2010, 10:26 AM

I have an Ariens 624E with a Tecumseh Sno King engine.... Love it.

LS6 Tommy

02-28-2010, 12:15 PM

Just an FYI-

I was a factory certified Snapper & Ariens tech for a few years before I went into HVAC. I've worked on LOT of equipment. In the past I would have said any Snapper, Ariens, Iron Horse or similar unit will do you proud. Unfortunatley, the "real" Snapper is no more. They are now owned by Simplicity, who also owns Ferris Industries. Briggs & Stratton owns Simplicity & that's why you can get semi low-buck units with the Snapper name on them at Sears. It's also why there's so many "new" parts on John Deere walk behind mowers that are identical to the older Snapper parts.

I may be wrong, but AFAIK, Ariens is still family owned & they also produce Gravely products.

On a separate note, Tecumseh is no longer in business, but parts are available. No one knows how long they'll stay available, so if you're thinking of repowering an older machine, I suggest you get a Briggs & Stratton or some comparable engine from a fiscally solid company that should be around a while.

Tommy