Snow Blower Recommendations

[Mike in Horseheads]

@Gugny  ... my street is as wide as 4 lanes so I get a lot of salted melting slop at the end. Moving that crap is awful with my 1 stage or 2 stage snowblower. A part of me since says ***** it and hire a guy to plow when its over a certain amount.

[Gugny]

1 hour ago, Augie said:

@Gugny I have two recommendations:

 

A) Move south

 

B) If you aren’t able to make “A” happen, keep your damn fingers away from places they shouldn’t be. I had a buddy in college from Cleveland, and he did NOT have the full compliment of digits due to a snow blower. Saw that more with construction workers, but the snowblower does a fine job of it too. 

 

I’m sure you are well aware, but what a nasty event! Early adulthood I had a friend who lost a finger and a half early in life working construction. He became a shop teacher and drove himself to the hospital after losing a couple more at school on the weekend. “Professional” carpenters I worked with during summer breaks were both missing some digits. It almost seems “normal” to them! 

 

When I bought my first house back in 2002, I bought an old (OLD!) Toro snowblower for like $100.  Thing was a tank.  I brought it out to clear some of the wet, heavy, slushy stuff and it kept getting clogged.  My dumb ass went to clear the chute with my hand and I got nailed pretty good.  Lucky I didn't break some fingers, let alone lose any.  Bloodied them up really good and they were a little chewed.  All four fingers.  The thumb was spared.  But I was young and resilient, so I went inside and ran them under cold water, then put four band aids on and finished the driveway.  Explaining why I had bandaids on all of my fingers was a little embarrassing when I went to work.  That was a painful lesson and I've never come close to making that mistake again.

 

 

58 minutes ago, Mike in Horseheads said:

@Gugny  ... my street is as wide as 4 lanes so I get a lot of salted melting slop at the end. Moving that crap is awful with my 1 stage or 2 stage snowblower. A part of me since says ***** it and hire a guy to plow when its over a certain amount.

 

 

My snowblower (same one I have now) didn't start last year when we got 36 inches of snow.  I had to call someone to plow.  They destroyed my lawn and completely uprooted a bush.  Never again.

 

[RaoulDuke79]

On 1/17/2022 at 4:05 PM, TheCockSportif said:

Cub Cadet.  https://www.snowblowersdirect.com/Cub-Cadet-3528SWE-Snow-Thrower/p11995.html?gclid=CjwKCAiAxJSPBhAoEiwAeO_fP50eMt7DXvNJtY8ta4rE0XKd2-i3GnB5yEXDfqlY4TjxpMqd6VEMURoCVzYQAvD_BwE  I have a cheaper version of that one, but yeah, brand is on point.

 

What I say is don't buy the Craftsman crap.  The fabricator (MTD) totally sucks for that price point, and I endured 15 years of a horrible snow blower (the power drive was hot and steaming poop), which I would service during blizzards and so on, and I got sick of it.

MTD fabricates quite a few brands. I believe Cub Cadet is one of them too.

[TheCockSportif]

1 hour ago, RaoulDuke79 said:

MTD fabricates quite a few brands. I believe Cub Cadet is one of them too.

Yes, I believe they do Husq, Craftsman, and Cub Cadet.  However, my point was around the quality at the price point rather than MTD themselves.

[Steve O]

9 hours ago, Gugny said:

 

When I bought my first house back in 2002, I bought an old (OLD!) Toro snowblower for like $100.  Thing was a tank.  I brought it out to clear some of the wet, heavy, slushy stuff and it kept getting clogged.  My dumb ass went to clear the chute with my hand and I got nailed pretty good.  Lucky I didn't break some fingers, let alone lose any.  Bloodied them up really good and they were a little chewed.  All four fingers.  The thumb was spared.  But I was young and resilient, so I went inside and ran them under cold water, then put four band aids on and finished the driveway.  Explaining why I had bandaids on all of my fingers was a little embarrassing when I went to work.  That was a painful lesson and I've never come close to making that mistake again.

 

 

 

 

My snowblower (same one I have now) didn't start last year when we got 36 inches of snow.  I had to call someone to plow.  They destroyed my lawn and completely uprooted a bush.  Never again.

 

Old Polish saying, Experience is an expensive teacher, but a fool will learn from no other (actually it's a Japanese proverb but it was told to me by an old Polish guy)

[BillsFan4]

On 1/17/2022 at 8:11 PM, ExiledInIllinois said:

I never use Stabil.  Just keep the tank filled right to top!

 

Always keep the gas tank full!!! Store it full with fuel! I know it sounds odd... But I've never had a problem.  I do everything to destroy my lawn mower except keep an empty tank.  

 

https://www.berrymanproducts.com/reasons-to-keep-your-gas-tank-full/

 

Dirt in the Fuel Tank

"Yes, you read that correctly. Dirt and debris can find their way into your fuel tank over time.

Sounds bad, right? 

When you leave your gas tank partly full — especially for an extended time — it allows for dirt, rust, sediment and other pollutants to build up in your tank and mix with the gasoline. ..."

 

 

Condensation & Corrosion

"You leave a water bottle half full in the sun. What happens next? 

>> Answer: It gets condensation in the top of the bottle that then drips down into the bottle. 

The same thing happens in your fuel tank. ..."

I can confirm the above. Used to work at motorcycle shops and we would tell our customers to store their motorcycles with a full tank of gas plus fuel stabilizer.

I’ve seen a number of tanks rusted out on the inside from being stored with too little fuel in them.

 

We always recommended topping the tank up, adding stabilizer and then letting it run long enough for the gas w/stabilizer to fill the carbs (to prevent clogged jets).

 

I think it’s worth adding fuel stabilizer for peace of mind (esp. in case it ends up sitting longer than planned). It can be a huge PITA if fuel clogs the carb jets.

[ExiledInIllinois]

6 minutes ago, BillsFan4 said:

I can confirm the above. Used to work at motorcycle shops and we would tell our customers to store their motorcycles with a full tank of gas plus fuel stabilizer.

I’ve seen a number of tanks rusted out on the inside from being stored with too little fuel in them.

 

We always recommended topping the tank up, adding stabilizer and then letting it run long enough for the gas w/stabilizer to fill the carbs (to prevent clogged jets).

 

I think it’s worth adding fuel stabilizer for peace of mind (esp. in case it ends up sitting longer than planned). It can be a huge PITA if fuel clogs the carb jets.

Yup! Not disagreeing with Stabil.  Can't hurt... But leave tank full to the rim with Brim! 😉 

 

Now... Not sure when there's a stop-#### on fuel line.   I am torn leaving open or closed and running dry.  If possible, like to keep fuel in there, so it's not dry and leaves a layer of varnish... But that's where the Stabil helps!

Edited January 19, 2022 by ExiledInIllinois

[BillsFan4]

I know you want a bigger snowblower Gugny but if anyone’s looking for a small single stage snowblower you should look at Honda. They make great 2 stage snowblowers as well but they’re big money ($2000+ iirc. Probably even more now).

 

I used to sell Honda motorcycles + scooters + power equipment (generators, snowblowers, etc) and they make excellent stuff. You treat a Honda motor right and it’ll run damn near forever.

 

Their little 1 stage snowblowers can really move snow too. Customers used to be amazed that little 1 stage blower would throw snow 25+ft.

[dpberr]

A vote for Toro purchased from a dealer.  Purchased one in 2015 and I've had no issues.  It's quite the machine.  It hasn't rusted, and the welds and shear bolts are strong.  Welds are intact and I haven't replaced a bolt yet.   

 

I think there are differences in the Toros between the ones you get at the dealer vs the ones you get at the Home Depot/Lowes stores.  

 

I only use ethanol free gasoline in my small engines.  I think it makes a difference.  I've been told by several small engine mechanics that putting your typical ethanol-added gas into small engines just kills them slowly.  It's just too much moisture.  

[4BillsintheBurgh]

2 hours ago, dpberr said:

A vote for Toro purchased from a dealer.  Purchased one in 2015 and I've had no issues.  It's quite the machine.  It hasn't rusted, and the welds and shear bolts are strong.  Welds are intact and I haven't replaced a bolt yet.   

 

I think there are differences in the Toros between the ones you get at the dealer vs the ones you get at the Home Depot/Lowes stores.  

 

I only use ethanol free gasoline in my small engines.  I think it makes a difference.  I've been told by several small engine mechanics that putting your typical ethanol-added gas into small engines just kills them slowly.  It's just too much moisture.  

I recently cleaned a fuel bowl full of deposits from my lightly used garden tractor, supposedly from ethanol. The engine would start fine by spraying starter fluid but was not getting gas. I was surprised at how much stuff was in there. I had also tried dumping cleaner type fluids into the carb, but to no avail.

 

Like most, it turned out to be an easy fix once the solution was known. I'm using ethanol free for the foreseeable future, will be interesting if it happens again.

[ExiledInIllinois]

3 hours ago, dpberr said:

A vote for Toro purchased from a dealer.  Purchased one in 2015 and I've had no issues.  It's quite the machine.  It hasn't rusted, and the welds and shear bolts are strong.  Welds are intact and I haven't replaced a bolt yet.   

 

I think there are differences in the Toros between the ones you get at the dealer vs the ones you get at the Home Depot/Lowes stores.  

 

I only use ethanol free gasoline in my small engines.  I think it makes a difference.  I've been told by several small engine mechanics that putting your typical ethanol-added gas into small engines just kills them slowly.  It's just too much moisture.  

Glad you mentioned this!

 

There's the key!  FROM A DEALER.  The crap you get at a big box store may be the same brand... But made cheaper.  Like Deere, Cub Cadet, etc... 

 

Same with the junk at Walmart... Going down to the simplest of things.  Brands are made cheaper for Walmart. Take a Hershey Bar... Hershey makes them with cheaper ingredients for Walmart.  They probably do the same with all kinds of brands. 

Edited January 19, 2022 by ExiledInIllinois

[mead107]

So, will Gugny be the king of blowing in his neighborhood? His next door neighbor will have a huge smile on his face if Gugny does  him. 

[Beerball]

20 hours ago, Gugny said:

 

When I bought my first house back in 2002, I bought an old (OLD!) Toro snowblower for like $100.  Thing was a tank.  I brought it out to clear some of the wet, heavy, slushy stuff and it kept getting clogged.  My dumb ass went to clear the chute with my hand and I got nailed pretty good.  Lucky I didn't break some fingers, let alone lose any.  Bloodied them up really good and they were a little chewed.  All four fingers.  The thumb was spared.  But I was young and resilient, so I went inside and ran them under cold water, then put four band aids on and finished the driveway.  Explaining why I had bandaids on all of my fingers was a little embarrassing when I went to work.  That was a painful lesson and I've never come close to making that mistake again.

 

How times have changed. Now a tiny blister on your finger puts you out of work for a month. 

[Just Jack]

16 minutes ago, Beerball said:

How times have changed. Now a tiny blister on your finger puts you out of work for a month. 

 

I remember during Cal Ripken's consecutive game streak, around the time he was going to break the record, the local paper listed what injuries other players had that day that prevented them from playing. One player (sorry, don't remember the name) was out because of a cut on their finger. 

[Gugny]

2 hours ago, Beerball said:

How times have changed. Now a tiny blister on your finger puts you out of work for a month. 

 

I think you're somehow confusing me with @LeviF!

[ExiledInIllinois]

2 hours ago, Just Jack said:

 

I remember during Cal Ripken's consecutive game streak, around the time he was going to break the record, the local paper listed what injuries other players had that day that prevented them from playing. One player (sorry, don't remember the name) was out because of a cut on their finger. 

Staph and MRSA are very real in the locker room.  Worse today.  😉 😜 

 

https://sportsturfnw.com/locker-rooms-pose-perfect-conditions-for-mrsa-staph-and-other-infections/

 

Same with artificial turf:

 

https://sportsturfnw.com/turf-manufacturers-need-to-come-clean-to-schools-and-parks/

 

 

[dpberr]

On 1/19/2022 at 3:32 PM, ExiledInIllinois said:

Glad you mentioned this!

 

There's the key!  FROM A DEALER.  The crap you get at a big box store may be the same brand... But made cheaper.  Like Deere, Cub Cadet, etc... 

 

Same with the junk at Walmart... Going down to the simplest of things.  Brands are made cheaper for Walmart. Take a Hershey Bar... Hershey makes them with cheaper ingredients for Walmart.  They probably do the same with all kinds of brands. 

I've had a satisfying experience buying equipment from a dealer (in my experience, Toro, JD, Stihl and Generac) after frustration with Home Depot purchased equipment that no matter how diligently you maintained it, always died.  

 

I had to get over a hurdle in my own head - buying cheap five times or spending more money once.  For the longest time, I was committed to buying cheap, thinking I can beat the odds until I learned the lesson.  

 

 

[Beerball]

22 hours ago, Just Jack said:

 

I remember during Cal Ripken's consecutive game streak, around the time he was going to break the record, the local paper listed what injuries other players had that day that prevented them from playing. One player (sorry, don't remember the name) was out because of a cut on their finger. 

Baseball players like their few remaining geriatric fans (MiH excluded) are highly pampered.

[Helpmenow]

How many of you have a snowblower over twenty years old. 

[RaoulDuke79]

12 minutes ago, Helpmenow said:

How many of you have a snowblower over twenty years old. 

Do wives count?

[f0neguy]

Used to live on top of a hill outside of Holland.   Went to BarChel in EA and bought the biggest snowblower they had.  It’s a White 13 horse with a 33 inch cut.  Had it over 20 years and it still runs like a top.   Live around Albany now so I use it couple of times a season.

Correction, Bar-Chel in Springville…

[Greybeard]

   Mr Gugny, I include a link to a Craftsman unit that would not start.   The reason I include it is so you can see the layout of the unit.  I am guessing this is a new layout for blowers because it is more complex and a little bit harder to work on than all the other video's I have watched.  This blower had major dirt in the jets issues.  Several comments below the video seem to indicate a few others had the same issue, with basically 3 year old or less blowers.  One guy stated he left it he put stabilizer in it one year and the other he siphoned the gas out.  Both years he had issues. 

      

   

 

  

 

    I use straight gas on both my blower and my lawnmower.  I used to use ethanol gas because it was left over from by gas bonus points.  I use noise cancelling headphones when I cut the lawn and when I made the switch there was a noticable change in the way the mower sounded.  With ethanol gas there was a high pitched knock that disappeared when I was running straight gas.  I had to have the noise cancelling on to hear the difference.  Straight gas just sounds smoother.

 

You never said what your issues were, so were they with the starting/running?

[Irv]

On 1/17/2022 at 7:20 PM, ExiledInIllinois said:

Ariens invented the modern snowblower IIRC... Good Wisconsin company, Mecca of the small engine.

 

Then there's that douche in Tampa.   Oh wait,  wrong spelling.   That's Arians...

Put drift bars on it:

 

Are those home made out of metal studs?  Home made right?  What do they do?  I'm curious.  

[ExiledInIllinois]

6 hours ago, Irv said:

Are those home made out of metal studs?  Home made right?  What do they do?  I'm curious.  

Here's another DIYer version... They cut and knock down high drifts:

[Gugny]

On 1/20/2022 at 7:11 PM, Beerball said:

Baseball players like their few remaining geriatric fans (MiH excluded) are highly pampered.

 

You should try using commas.

[Gugny]

On 1/21/2022 at 4:13 PM, Greybeard said:

   Mr Gugny, I include a link to a Craftsman unit that would not start.   The reason I include it is so you can see the layout of the unit.  I am guessing this is a new layout for blowers because it is more complex and a little bit harder to work on than all the other video's I have watched.  This blower had major dirt in the jets issues.  Several comments below the video seem to indicate a few others had the same issue, with basically 3 year old or less blowers.  One guy stated he left it he put stabilizer in it one year and the other he siphoned the gas out.  Both years he had issues. 

      

   

 

  

 

    I use straight gas on both my blower and my lawnmower.  I used to use ethanol gas because it was left over from by gas bonus points.  I use noise cancelling headphones when I cut the lawn and when I made the switch there was a noticable change in the way the mower sounded.  With ethanol gas there was a high pitched knock that disappeared when I was running straight gas.  I had to have the noise cancelling on to hear the difference.  Straight gas just sounds smoother.

 

You never said what your issues were, so were they with the starting/running?

 

It's the fuel lines getting gunked up.  I did (I thought) everything necessary to avoid this from happening.  After it happened last year, I decided to fill it with ethanol-free gas AND I started it every 2-3 weeks throughout the spring, summer and fall.

 

Started right up earlier this winter.  Started right up the other day, too, and I was able to finish about 99% of my driveway before it just died.

 

Repair guy told me that's all good stuff, but to start adding stabilizer to the gas on top of those measures.  I'm also going to keep the tank full at all times to avoid condensation (also his advice).

 

I haven't experienced any changes with the ethanol-free gas vs. regular unleaded.

 

These problems really do seem to only apply the newer machines.  I have a Troy Bilt lawnmower that I've had for 12 years and have done nothing to it but add gas and a little oil over the years.  Runs like a top.

 

If this snowblower sh!ts the bed one more time, that'll be it for me.  I just don't know how confident I am that buying another make/model will be any better.

[Beerball]

24 minutes ago, Gugny said:

 

You should try using commas.

How the ***** is a comma gonna blow snow?

[Nextmanup]

Without question, Gugny, you are going to want one of these babies from German company Beilhack.

 

The problem is you will need to build train tracks on your property and you will destroy your neighbor's houses on either side, so they'll probably be mad at you.

 

But just watch this thing clear snow! 

 

 

[Gugny]

On 1/23/2022 at 11:20 AM, Beerball said:

How the ***** is a comma gonna blow snow?

 

With pause.

[ExiledInIllinois]

On 1/26/2022 at 5:05 PM, Nextmanup said:

Without question, Gugny, you are going to want one of these babies from German company Beilhack.

 

The problem is you will need to build train tracks on your property and you will destroy your neighbor's houses on either side, so they'll probably be mad at you.

 

But just watch this thing clear snow! 

 

 

Will my Toro dealer be able to fix it?  I need it ready by Saturday! 

 

[Nextmanup]

12 hours ago, ExiledInIllinois said:

Will my Toro dealer be able to fix it?  I need it ready by Saturday! 

 

You might need to fly technicians in from Germany, and I would imagine that could get a bit pricey...

 

But the thing clears 16,000 tons of snow in an hour.  😂

 

Where was this thing when I was out shoveling the driveway at 6:00am in the cold and dark before going to school on so many winter days as a kid?!

 

The snow plow would come by overnight, and create a slush/ice wall of really HEAVY snow (if conditions were right for it) blocking in the driveway, about 3-4 feet high and 3-4 feet thick...and we had a side-by-side "2 lane" driveway too...

 

It was my job to get rid of the slush wall so we could get the cars out of the driveway.

Ah, such happy memories...

 

 

 

Edited February 4, 2022 by Nextmanup

[Beerball]

Any update on this?

[Mike in Horseheads]

22 hours ago, Beerball said:

Any update on this?

He pry has his GF shovel it

[Mike in Horseheads]

This will solve your problem @Gugny

https://www.thesnowbot.com/products/snowbot-s1-snow-blower-robot?utm_source=GOC-Lead-USA%2FCA&utm_medium=housekeeping&fbclid=IwAR1W2KOcWU2x1odJ9y1vismkwlMGQYcVmeuCwiL7o4_eo2po0AMInEks51A

[ExiledInIllinois]

13 minutes ago, Mike in Horseheads said:

This will solve your problem @Gugny

https://www.thesnowbot.com/products/snowbot-s1-snow-blower-robot?utm_source=GOC-Lead-USA%2FCA&utm_medium=housekeeping&fbclid=IwAR1W2KOcWU2x1odJ9y1vismkwlMGQYcVmeuCwiL7o4_eo2po0AMInEks51A

But... Why not heated pipes in the driveway?

http://www.heateddriveway.com/

[Just Jack]

18 hours ago, ExiledInIllinois said:

But... Why not heated pipes in the driveway?

http://www.heateddriveway.com/

 

My driveway slopes down to the road, I can envision a big puddle of water in the road at the base freezing, and I get ticketed for causing a road hazard.  

[Mike in Horseheads]

6 hours ago, Just Jack said:

 

My driveway slopes down to the road, I can envision a big puddle of water in the road at the base freezing, and I get ticketed for causing a road hazard.  

A friends family had a driveway that went up a hill. it had heat in stripes up the short hill. they would melt the snow but they were two far apart and froze in between lol

. We never made a comment as he was pissed

[ExiledInIllinois]

On 2/6/2022 at 10:10 AM, Just Jack said:

 

My driveway slopes down to the road, I can envision a big puddle of water in the road at the base freezing, and I get ticketed for causing a road hazard.  

If one has the coin for heated pipes under their road leading into their empire... I'd sure bet one of these wouldn't be to terrible of an engineering problem: 😉 

 

[That's No Moon]

On 1/19/2022 at 8:20 PM, Just Jack said:

 

I remember during Cal Ripken's consecutive game streak, around the time he was going to break the record, the local paper listed what injuries other players had that day that prevented them from playing. One player (sorry, don't remember the name) was out because of a cut on their finger. 

Go slice your finger near the finger print and then go throw a baseball hard and accurately.

[Beerball]

20 hours ago, That's No Moon said:

Go slice your finger near the finger print and then go throw a baseball hard and accurately.

How about these? https://www.pitcherlist.com/20-of-the-weirdest-injuries-in-mlb-history/