Snow Blowers

[VatorMan]

This was me a couple of snows ago. Let's see your single stage do this.

[StaticCling]

Originally Posted by VITE1

At 40.00 per plow that's 20 snow storms just to cover buying a 800.00 machine.

Add in your time, gas and maintenance it does not sound like that good a a deal to me.

Very Good Point.

[Admiral Blue]

Originally Posted by ZipZap

The second stage is in the chute.

I know. I didn't want to trim it too closely to the brick so that the augers hit it. On the flip side, I didn't want to let it sit to high so as to leave a thin film of snow.

No doubt it would be nice to have a two stage for the big storms. I live in Chicago. We have plenty. But I am okay with maybe having to do mine twice instead of getting it all in one sweep, maybe once a year. Plus, for the normal storms, I can push/manuever mine and clear the snow a heck of a lot faster.

My neighbor has an Ariens two stage and went out and bought mine last year. Of course, if you have the room in the garage and the wallet, it would be nice to choose your weapon depending on the snow.

[ZipZap]

Originally Posted by Admiral Blue

I know. I didn't want to trim it too closely to the brick so that the augers hit it. On the flip side, I didn't want to let it sit to high so as to leave a thin film of snow.

No doubt it would be nice to have a two stage for the big storms. I live in Chicago. We have plenty. But I am okay with maybe having to do mine twice instead of getting it all in one sweep, maybe once a year. Plus, for the normal storms, I can push/manuever mine and clear the snow a heck of a lot faster.

My neighbor has an Ariens two stage and went out and bought mine last year. Of course, if you have the room in the garage and the wallet, it would be nice to choose your weapon depending on the snow.

Doesn't your single stage have an auger?

[lspencer534]

I don't want to live anywhere that requires a $700-$3,000 piece of equipment to maintain the status quo.

[Dan Dlabay]

Originally Posted by Mike Mercury

over the past 25 years, I'm now on my third one. Bought this 3 years; best one by far of the previous ones:



bought it at Lowes.

28", dual stage, electric start (no battery.... uses 120vac to run the starter)
heated grips, headlight (no battery for them either; the engine has a small generator to run these).

Even the cheap ones hold up well if you run the gasoline dry at the end of the season.

I have one just like that. Also bought it at Lowes.

[JRD77VET]

Originally Posted by chinaski

Well, the winter season is almost over, but next year I really need to acquire a decent Snow Blower for the Cabin. Paying 40 bucks to have the driveway plowed is gonna get old fast...

I have a Gas Stihl Hedge Trimmer that I barely use (I've used it 2 times in 5 years), so I think I am gonna sell that and parlay it into a blower.

I don't wanna spend more than 1k. I have seen Craigslist deals locally for around 500 for Craftsman, Ariens etc. My shed is small up there, so I can't get anything too big.

What should I be looking for? Never had to buy one of these?

Make sure you get either newer brand name or a well built vintage snow blower. If going with the better built vintage units, Tecumseh and Clinton engines are more difficult to get parts for.

Both 60s/ 70s John Deere and Cub Cadet walk behinds are well built and do a good job.

Originally Posted by CertInsaneC5

A single stage blower is good for about 6" at the max. It will only throw snow about 3-4 feet if your lucky.

A two stage blower I have no experience with yet. I will be shopping this year for one.

I have been able to use my little Toro 5hp less than a shovel for the past two years. My shoulder cannot handle it anymore. Deals on 2 stage blowers around here can be found it the 500-750$ range. I will be getting one this year.

And the 40$ per clearing is pretty fair. I pay 50$ for what amounts to a 15 minute job.

Originally Posted by VatorMan

This was me a couple of snows ago. Let's see your single stage do this.

Challenge accepted. Oh, you lost

[Kerrmudgeon]

VITE1 says....
At 40.00 per plow that's 20 snow storms just to cover buying a 800.00 machine.

Add in your time, gas and maintenance it does not sound like that good a a deal to me.

Originally Posted by chinaski

Very Good Point.

Not really a good point, considering that next year you have to pay the plow all over again and year after year! A good blower will last at least 10 years.

[Sneaks]

Originally Posted by Kerrmudgeon

Not really a good point, considering that next year you have to pay the plow all over again and year after year! A good blower will last at least 10 years.

Not if you feed it wedding cake. Quit on ya after six months.

[VITE1]

Originally Posted by Kerrmudgeon

Not really a good point, considering that next year you have to pay the plow all over again and year after year! A good blower will last at least 10 years.

Spending an hour each Storm to clear the driveway VS having a plow guy do it.

I'll take the plow guy.

[Kerrmudgeon]

Originally Posted by VITE1

Spending an hour each Storm to clear the driveway VS having a plow guy do it.

I'll take the plow guy.

But think of all that fresh air, exercise, and vitamin D you'll be missing!





















.

[Admiral Blue]

Originally Posted by ZipZap

Doesn't your single stage have an auger?

No, a paddle.

[LT4fun]

I bought a snow blade from Sears for my lawn tractor a week ago and have used it 3 times already.

It did about what I expected and it's fun! I couldn't justify an actual snowblower attachment as we don't get snows that often, but it sure beats shoveling 125' of driveway.

It doesn't really work all that great on packed snow or ice, but it does fine otherwise.

I don't think it would do too well with a foot of snow. It works fine on 4 inches at least though.

[VITE1]

Originally Posted by Kerrmudgeon

But think of all that fresh air, exercise, and vitamin D you'll be missing!

I spent nearly 40 years shoveLing and snow blowing my parents home and my homes. When I moved to NH I hired a plow guy. Best move I ever made.

One thing I strongly suggest to anyone with a good plow guy is the day you get the bill, pay them. Most people screw around and pay them late. They LOVE getting paid quickly.

[6spdC6]

Originally Posted by Admiral Blue

I know. I didn't want to trim it too closely to the brick so that the augers hit it. On the flip side, I didn't want to let it sit to high so as to leave a thin film of snow.

No doubt it would be nice to have a two stage for the big storms. I live in Chicago. We have plenty. But I am okay with maybe having to do mine twice instead of getting it all in one sweep, maybe once a year. Plus, for the normal storms, I can push/manuever mine and clear the snow a heck of a lot faster.

My neighbor has an Ariens two stage and went out and bought mine last year. Of course, if you have the room in the garage and the wallet, it would be nice to choose your weapon depending on the snow.

Any good snow blower I’m familiar with has adjustments on the front to raise the unit up so you do not hit or scoop anything. When I moved I went from a blacktop driveway to gravel and in 2 minutes I raised it so it did no damage.



Use it for a couple years up here in serious snow country and then hung a plow on my 4x4 PU. That way I can do my own work when I want it done not wait for a paid snow plow to do the work. Nothing beats having you own equipment so it’s done when you want it done.

Five years ago I bought a 31HP diesel New Holland tractor with a bucket and that is great for a back up and using on special circumstances. My hilly curvy driveway had so much snow piled up on it looked like a bob sled run. Use the scoop on the tractor and fixed my problem and now have more room to plow snow again. Thinking about putting a snow blower on the back. Nice thing about a tractor like that there are over 40 different attachments you can put on. I live in serious snow country in the Adirondack Mountains of NY state and being well prepared is the way to go.

I stuck my truck badly in high snow when plowing and got my chained up tractor and pulled the truck loose no problem. Also pulled my neighbor out of a problem with the tractor.

[Madmikeee]

Originally Posted by chinaski

Typical storm will dump at least a Foot, and up to Five Feet on rarer occasions. Max snowfall per storm up to 7 feet. So averaging, lets say 2-3 feet per storm.

Mostly driveway work and snow berms.

Just picked up an ariens 28premium + That thing is a hell of a work horse.

1300 bucks but WELL worth it.

[CeeFour]

I found this old Wheel Horse on the side of the road in the trash several years ago. I threw a new auger belt on it and it has done a respectable job on the major snowstorms. It has electric start but I haven't had to use it since this old Tecumseh reliably starts with no more than two pulls.



For the 6" or less storms I have a couple of the old Toro S200 machines.