Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

I am looking to purchase a new 2-stage snow thrower. The small single stage old-hand-me-down one I have leaves me with a lot to hand shovel. I have a 125' driveway in the snow belt with a wide pad at the bottom (3 cars wide). Some of the models have a plastic impeller and some (more expensive) models have a metal impeller. One salesman suggested that the plastic impellers can be prone to breakage when it gets cold and some ice or a rock is sucked up by the auger. Does anybody have any advice for or against getting a model with the plastic impeller? Is the salesman just trying to sell me a more expensive snow thrower? I really like the unit that happens to have a plastic impeller. Assuming I settle on the unit with the plastic impeller, how important is it to have multiple speeds? The unit I am looking at in Sears (Craftsman model 88255) has 3 speeds, but similar models at Home Depot (Yard Machines) and Lowes (MTD #96098) are only single speed (and I can get 10% off there). None has reverse - is this important? My current snow blower is single speed, but is a LOT lighter and easier to maneuver than the models I'm looking at. Will I notice a 2" difference in clearing width? Some of the models I am looking at are 24" (Craftsman) and some are 22" (the equivalents in other stores). The next model up is the Craftsman #88355 (or the Troy-Built #96177 at Lowes or similar Yard Machines at Home Depot). All have 24" clearing widths and metal impellers. They have larger impellers and augers than the ones I listed above. Is this a noticeable difference? They are also heavier than the above models. Will this make it harder for me to control? It seems so in the stores, but it is really hard to tell without actually running one. Another possibility is the Ariens model #5520 in the Home Depot ad, but it hasn't hit stores yet for me to look at. Other threads here seem to like the Ariens brand. According to their website, it has only a 20" width. Is the Ariens that much better quality that I should sacrifice clearing width? Other than that, it sounds like a great machine on par with the "next model up" ones I listed. They are all the same price. Basically, I'm looking at the lower end of the 2-stage snow throwers. All that are on my list right now have 5.5HP Tecumseh engines. I'm not so concerned about features like electric start and lots of speeds (although I think more than one speed might be useful?). My current one had electric start. I found it to be easier to start by hand and never fixed it when it went bad. Sorry this got so long. Thank you for any advice! Lisa

I'm not an expert on 2 stages, (I have a Toro single stage) but I did look at them 2 years ago when I still lived in the snow country.

Your budget will be a big determining factor. The sears unit you are looking at is on sale for $500. At 125 lbs it will be quite a bit harder to manuever than the single stage you are used to. Reverse would be nice to have, multiple speeds would be nice to have(you WERE the multiple speed on the single stage!) I would recommend you at least look up to the Sears model #88185.  It has a Briggs OHV 4 cycle, 6 forward speeds and 2 reverse. It is even heavier duty but by having so many speeds, the machine can do more of the work and you merely control it. It is built by Murray and many on the board consider Murray built sears units to be better than the MTD built sears. The hardest part of blowing as you know is EOD or end of driveway. This big unit would not struggle with the piles of snow.

There may be others come along with more advice later, they may suggest spending a $1000 or more and to look at Toro, Ariens or Snapper/Simplicity. These units are built heavier than the Sears and make for good long-term investments. I don't know your budget, but the Sears would certainly meet a price point but if you can go for the extra $, you usually get what you pay for in the long run.

HTH.

Emmo,

I'm one of the ones that would say $1000 would be a good budget number for a two stage machine.  If you need a two stage, I think I would lean toward Pete's advise and say that 8 HP is about the place to start.  Maybe a little less for a two stroke.

I would look at the 926LE Ariens and the 826LE/828LE Toro at a dealer.  IMO Home Depot and Lowes are not the type of store to buy something like a snowblower because they do not offer service and the help from the sales people is more likely to spotty than from a dealer.  When you look at the machines you and Lisa have been discussing and then at the 926LE and the 826/828LE I think the reason for the higher price will be easy to see.  I personally feel that more money spent carefully can be a better value sometimes, and this is one of them.

I am not an expert or even close, just posting my opinion.