Snowblowers

[SJSFarm]

I have a 100 foot long driveway. The plow service is $350 for the season.
I'm thinking it would be better to pick up a snow blower and do the job myself.

Can you suggest a reliable blower?

[pheasantplucker]

Is your driveway gravel or paved? If gravel, you definately want a two stage snow thrower. If paved, you could use a single stage snow thrower. Troy built has a 24' two stage snow thrower for $599 right now, that has received quite a few good reviews.

[SJSFarm]

That was an important detail to leave out! Yes it's paved, blacktop not concrete. That part I love because once its clear and the sun hits, I don't have to worry about the daytime light snow, it stays clear.

I was thinking about used ones. There are several brands and I wanted to know which is most reliable. I'm a single woman who does not know much about engines! I've changed the oil, spark plugs and filters on some things, but other than that I'm clueless and don't have someone to help. I'll be checking out youtube for how to videos!

[farmerj]

Get the narrowest 8 HP two-stage blower you can find and nothing less than 8. I'd avoid anything bigger too. They get too cumbersome. Anything smaller and jr has problems in heavy wet snow.

I prefer the Tecumseh snowking engine with electric start.

I personally have a. 8 HP 21" toro two-stage

[fishhead]

Do you get the heavy lake effect snow? If so I would get one that throws the snow a good distance so that you don't end up with a tunnel for a driveway.

I shovel my 100+' driveway but we don't usually get snows deeper than a foot at a time and our snow is usually pretty dry.

[Jim-mi]

I like my 30" Huskvarna (sp?) - - - electric start Tecumseh
throws snow 50-60' . . .no tunnel . . .which you will get with the weaker powered units.
Small lever on each handle-- when pushed --removes power from that side drive wheel. Helps when turning around.

The electric start is a real big help.
You can jockey around a larger--wider--unit . . . . starting can be a pain on a decent size unit........

Or for that matter even starting a 8hp engine will be very hard if it is not up to snuff.

Do NOT get one of those single stage toys.

Check to see what brand has a dealer in your area . . . . service

[Glacialtill]

After much research and deliberation we finally got a Troy-Bilt 26" a couple years ago. About $700 from Lowes. Our driveway is about 100' feet too and we shoveled for years and finally we had enough. I like it.

Advice I got was, get more of a machine than you think you'll need. Because you will need it sooner or later. Two stage is the way to go without a doubt. I don't know if there's much a difference between the major brands. I believe most of the motors are made by the same manufacturer. MTD?

Used might be fine, but you never know. And if you're paying $350/year for plowing your payback time is only two years for a new one.

[mnn2501]

$350 to have someone else do your driveway all year and you don't have to go out in the snow or cold? thats too good to pass up.

[Snowfan]

Here in Minnesota, $350 would be a deal. I'd take it. Maybe. It depends on what they'll do for the money and how often you've had to plow in seasons past. Would you park the blower in an attached garage and want electric start on the unit?

[SJSFarm]

The snow is usually a wet heavy snow, and we have a lot of wind so drifts are always an issue. I may put snow fence up for that.
Generally, plows work up to twice a day and don't do drifts.

I'm not in a band where I'm at, but it can be quite unpredictable. And yes, lake effect snow can be a pain.

I saw a jd listed http://buffalo.craigslist.org/grd/4159063751.html

Was considering it, but I've got $1500 going out this month for some legal fees in my divorce; trying to keep my kids.

[rambler]

You want at least this:

An 8 hp engine. This makes them a little heavy to move around, but you will use it far far less. At 8 hp they throw the snow far enough out of your way. With those smaller ones, you will be blowing several times to get the snow far enough away. A lot more work with those smaller ones, and can hardly blow the snow high enough on those bad winters.....

An electric plug in start. With this you pump the gas bulb, set the choke, plug it in, push the button, and it starts. You do not want a pull cord start in winter to try to turn them over in the cold. They do not start well when cold, any engine. You don't really want the weight of a battery and the fuss of a key start either, batteries are trouble in cold weather. You want one that plugs into the wall to start.

Beyond that, it will come down to the care and abuse an engine has had, luck of the draw. One sorta like the other mostly. MTD makes most all the blowers around it seems....

Paul

[Rustaholic]

I love the JD 826 snow blowers.
If it is in good shape that is a great price.
Even though mine is an electric start one pull is way faster.

[fireweed farm]

Heavy snow and drifts with a snowblower is a pain. Really really slow, even with a commercial grade walk behind snowblower. Faster than a shovel yes, but still painfully slow.
I clear snow for a living in a heavy snowfall area.
I use honda snowblowers that cost me about $2500 or so (I think), these are great machines.
Either way, $350 seems cheap to me.

I'm not good at math, but in my case, $2500 for a snowblower, about $80-$120 per season for service including new parts incl skidplates etc, shear pins etc etc.
I'd say have someone do it for $350 to save money.

[farmerj]

Originally Posted by farmerj

Get the narrowest 8 HP two-stage blower you can find and nothing less than 8. I'd avoid anything bigger too. They get too cumbersome. Anything smaller and jr has problems in heavy wet snow.

I prefer the Tecumseh snowking engine with electric start.

I personally have a. 8 HP 21" toro two-stage

Pulled mine out of the shed today. Hasn't seen the light of day now in 6 years. I put it in there in 2007. Bought it in 2005 for $250.

It's actually a Tecumseh 8 HP 24" wide Toro two-stage.

The gas had all been drained way back when and the carb was rather stiff. The throttle and the choke wouldn't move. Played with it for a bit and it fired off with the electric start (110 volt type) Tires still held air, the gearbox was good and the belts looked find.

It'll start on the second or third pull of the rope now even.

[arabian knight]

I really like my MTD with a 10 hp Tecumseh. It is a two stage 24" wide. And I like that when I get to the end of the driveway and the road plow has filled the end with snow. That 10 horses really is nice, and with a electric start makes it a breeze to start. Had this one now for over 12 years, and I do a lot of blowing as when I had critters making paths etc. for feeding, and even mow I make my driveway wide enough to back up and tureen around. I even blow snow up against the house as a good insulator against the cold winter nights, keeps the floor in this old mobile nice and warm.
So with that kind of use all winter long that MTD has had little maintenance.
In fact just now the tires are starting to weather check, but I just put ion tubes so it is ready to go this winter.