Snow thrower advice needed...

I would like to pick a few brains here about snowthrower preference/reliability. I live in the north east (Long Island NY). My driveway is paved, aprox 20 X 40 feet. I had an Ariens 2 stage 5.5 horsepower snow blower, but wasn't satisfied with its wet snow performance. (thrower chute clogging up). We don't get heavy snow as a rule, only occasionaly. What I think would be better is a single stage/paddle type snow thrower. My budget is $400.00. Can anybody make a recommendation based on personal experience. I saw a Yard machine 179 cc 21 inch snow thrower at Home Depot. Any reviews.recommendations out there? Thanks, Mitch.

I wouldn't consider a single stage snow blower unless I lived in Florida.

Chute clogging with a single stage would be worse IMHO. The secondary stage helps
push the stuff up and out.

My laneway is 100 Meters long and I absolutely hate it when I have to stop for a clog
with the heavy wet stuff. I only get them when it's been raining and the snow is almost
all slush.

$29.99 snow shovel. Spend the rest on beer.

If you are clogging, you could me moving too fast for your blower, try a lower gear.

"I wouldn't consider a single stage snow blower unless I lived in Florida. " spot on !! (and pretty funny)

Buy the biggest engine you can with a smaller width. More torque/power per inch of width. I use a 10hp 28 cut and it throws water (Toro FWIW).

I have a dual stage 10 Hp, 28" Murray that I have had for over 10 years. Other than the crappy plastic gears on the chute, it has been fine. My son in law has a 6.5 hp 26 inch 2 stage MTD and hasn't had any trouble either.

I live 20 miles south of Buffalo, in the 'lake effect' country, and I"ve used single stage snowblowers for 20 years. The trick with heavy, wet snow is to clear the driveway more often. My advice is to buy the biggest engine you can get for your $400. I buy Toros, but mine are in the $600 range. You might want to go to a reputable small engine dealer/repair place and see if they sell used models. 20' x 40' isn't too bad. Mine is 15' x 120', and my single stage Toro does it with ease.

Don't buy a plastic toy "power shovel", a neighbor of mine had one. It was okay for 3-4 inches of powder, but useless for 10-12 inches or more.

I've a 11.5 HP 28" cut Ariens. It's fairly new. Two years or so. The auger and impeller are 14 inch and will throw dry snow 50 feet. Wet snow about 35 feet.
Most other brands have 12" auger and impeller and throw snow like an arthritic, 80 year old woman. The key is the faster tip speed of the impeller.
The new JD is now reported to have a 16" impeller.
My neighbours are now getting the picture and are following my lead this year. They stood around in awe last year as I cleared my driveway.

Bob

I have a single stage Toro I think. It will not blow wet snow that is deeper than say 1/8". The shoot clogs ALL the time. My drive is probably 50' wide and about 20' long. I wanted a 2 stage when I moved to Salt Lake City, but the guy in the shop talked me out of it. Go figure. I had an 8hp, 2 stage, sears at the cabin for about 30 yrs. Nursed it along and it probably would have lasted another 30 yrs with me using it. Dumb ass son in law killed it the first winter he used it. It would blow ANYTHING. I use to not be up there for 2 weeks at a time. Blew snow 4-6" deeper than the scoop was tall. Had to go back and forth until I got through the 200' driveway once. Then I'd put the wife out in front knocking the snow down and just get er done. I'd NEVER own a single stage again, even if someone gave me one.

Any teens/college kids in the neighborhood? Use them on the wet heavy days, and the snow shovel + beer on the other days. My neighbor has this thing, with what looks like a bicycle wheel under the handle of a snow shovel. You push the snow, kind of like a plow, then when you get to your grass/edge of the driveway, you use the wheel as a fulcrum and the handle as a lever, and sort of flip the snow out in front, on to the grass. Looks funny as hell but it seems to get the job done. My other neighbor has one of those electric snow shovels by Toro. It seems to work better on the wet snow than my single stage, but you have to not let the snow get too deep, or you're using the man powered snow shovel again.

Try spraying the chute and impeller with WD40 before you start blowing. Works like a charm on preventing build ups and clogs.

When I was selling lawn equipment the only problem we ever had with snow blowers was people not running them full throttle. Once a customer learned they weren't going to hurt going to hurt the engine by doing that their trouble was over.

20 X40 feet, Higher the neighbors kid. Na, clean and paint the shoot real good and spray with PAM before you clean your postage stamp. It will work fine.

Dave

Buy a large 2 stage, at least 8 or 10 HP, even if it's a used one, even if you think it's a bit much...you won't regret it. Keep it well maintained, and it will serve you well for decades, kinda like our 30 or 40 year old MGs . :)

What JD said...full throttle and what Tony said...WD40 in the chute. The big Ariens are nice. Stay with two stage. I'm running a big two stage 12 year old Toro. Hope it keeps on keepin' on because the cost of new machines it too high. (Bought mine at a pawn shop for $150 bucks.)

I never have any trouble taking care of the snow in my driveway (15X800ft).
I've delt with snow up to 30in deep with nary a problem....
of course I wouldn't reccomend this equipment in a residential driveway........

Here's my primary snow remover... (8ft cat blade and Farmall "M" tractor) and yes, that is me on the tractor.....

I posted this here last year, but here it is again. Big block Chev snow blower for those really nasty days.