Snow blower purchase help.

[Truckie]

Snow blower purchase help.



I want to purchase a snow blower this year and not really sure what type to get, single stage or 2 stage??

How well dose a single stage handle the snow? How deep? How little? Will it handle the heavier wet style snow or not?

How well dose a 2 stage handle the snow? How deep? How little? Will it handle the heaver wet style snow or not?

Thanks for any and all advice.



MIKE

 

[MFalkinham]

I've never owned or used a single-stage blower, so I can't comment on those. My 8HP Simplicity (www.simplicitymfg.com) is a two-stage that can handle anything from 2-inches up to 16-inches of snow. When it's really wet/heavy snow, you just have to go slower and it won't throw it as far. For less than 2-inches, it's faster for me to shovel than to manuver the blower around. I'd highly recommend getting an electric start option for those REALLY cold mornings!



Like any kind of machine you will get what you pay for. Mine is almost 15 years old, yet it still runs and looks like new (I store it indoors and maintain my equipment well). Expect to spend $800-$1000 for a quality 8HP 2-stage.



One final tip (if you can wait) is to buy a new one in the spring when the dealers are trying to get rid of last winters models. This is especially true if the winter snows were light and they still have a lot of them left in stock!



- Mike

 

[TboneMan]

I live in an area that averages over 200 inches of snow a year, and my driveway is about 4000 sqft and I clean another 1000 sqft area of the yard so my dog has a place to do her business. Needless to say I do a lot of snow blowing.



I agree completely with MFalkinham, buy on quality, not price.



First off, analyze your need.



How much snow do you get?

How do you get it? (frequent small amounts, heavy dumpings followed by no snow at all, constant snow of all depths)

How far can you throw the snow? (you probably don't want to fill your neighbors' dirveways with your snow)



Most single stages are small and not rates for large areas or thick snow. I see you are in Pittsburg. I bet you get a few good lake effect storms down there. My guess is that a single stage would be too light duty for your area.



My guess is that a two stage will handle your snow better, especially if your are is prone to high snow banks.



Look for a blower that has good balance. I've seen cheap ones that tip back very easily. This make it difficult to keep the blower down on the driveway (read, sore ams and back).





Other hints: keep extra belts and shear pins handy and make sure you have gasoline on hand. There's nothing worse than a break down or running out of gas before you have the driveway cleaned out enough to get your vehicles in/out.

 

[BNH4221]

I, too, agree with both previous posters.



2 cycle, at least 8 horse is the way to go. I have a 14 yr old Toro which has never let me down. It has the wheels that move rearward to transfer weight to the front of the blower. Goes thru anything.

In the fall, I wash and wax every painted surface. Makes the snow slide right off the outside. Also, hose the daylights out of the impeller and auger area with silicone spray in the fall. Keeps that slippery too Keep extra shear pins and gas with you... . I speak with experience on both issues :{

Heavy snow, go slow. Take half bites and launch the snow into your neighbors yard. Great fun!



Steve

 

[Bertram65]

I have a one year old Ariens, this model http://www.ariens.com/snow_products/deluxe_sno_thros/11528_le/ it is pretty awsome for snow removal, I had a 7. 5' Fisher minute mount plow I got rid of an got this. The plow was just too much work taking it on and off and everybody wanting me to plow them out, this may take a little longer but I also can do my walks with it.

 

[Truckie]

Well, I have read the replies and am going to do some web searching on different models. I will let you what my final decision will be.

Thanks for the help.





MIKE

 

[Jdimig]

cool topic

well since i work at a mower repair shop, and work on snowblowers ill give ya some input. single stage 2cycle snow blowers are nice if you have a small driveway, and recieve minimal amounts of snow per year. im guessing since you brought this topic up that you recieve a good amount of snow. personally i feel 2-stage snow blowers are the only way to go. there are many good companies, (airens, simplicity, troy-bilt, toro), that offer diferent models. if i were to recommend a company, it would be toro. they offer many single stage, and 2-stage units. i have one of toro's new power max 1028 snow blowers, (10hp techumseh 4cycle motor, 28" clearing path) and i just love it. it tears through snow. on featue i like about it is on the augers, they have teeth that allow the snowblower to cut through snow that has a layer of sleet, or freezing rain on it. most other snow blowers have a difficult time with this, and the user has to almost force the unit to clear the snow. check them out, (http://www.toro.com/home/snowthrowers/gastwostage_powermax/index.html)



wes

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Pittsburgh, PA doesn't get enough snow to justify anything bigger (or fancier) than a 5hp 2-stage model you can buy just about anywhere. I have a lot of relatives in that area that complain when they get 6" of snow... that's not snow, it's a dusting. Besides, around there the snow usually melts within a few days anyhow.



Dad (and I... ) have been using a 10hp MTD for at least 15 years now... besides normal maintenance, it has needed very little over the years. Like typical New England winters... some have been pretty bad and some have been a joke - but that old MTD has never let us down.



I will admit that Ariens makes a darn good snowblower... but the bargain basement MTD has been a very solid performer for what it is and what Dad paid for it brandy new so long ago. I'll be the first one to admit that I love snowblowers and would really like to have a 15hp hydrostatic beast... but it just isn't cost effective.



I would like to build a beast with a small VW or Kubota diesel engine, though.



Yanmar makes some pretty sick snowblowers... all the way up to some ~225 ton/hour models (3-cylinder diesel ~30hp). That's about as big as they get for an OEM 'walk-behind'. :-laf



Matt

 

[TboneMan]

WOW! I need one of those!

 

[JLEONARD]

I have an 8 hp Toro that I bought new about 7 years ago. While it does an adequate job most (90%) of the time, when it comes to the wet heavy stuff my neigbor's 7 hp Ariens chews it up like nothing, and I'm spending lots of time clearing the chute when it ices up.

The Ariens also throws the snow farther.

Next time... well there's always next time!!

My $. 02

Jay

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Good comments, Jay.



I've noticed the same thing with the stuff made by Ariens... a good 5hp Ariens throws snow further than a 8hp 'ACME' snowblower.



Matt