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

Going to get a snow blower and keep changing my mind faster than I can eat a burger at a greasy spoon. Like to be able to load the machine in my van and transport it to do some sidewalks for some disabled friends. I was thinking of a used Honda,(if I can find one) with it's lower profile could fit. Anyways, the goal is to get an excellent machine for a gravel driveway, good for slush. The other half of my brain tells me to get a steerable unit like the Toro or Craftsman. Though not track driven read some nice reviews about the steerable snowblower. I guess I will get the measuring tape and check out the clearences in the van. Would like your advice or comments. BTW, my driveway is long and tired of the plow guy making a mess every year, thus seriously thinking of doing it myself with a blower.

Amount of snowfall? Budget?

Initially my budget was $1000.00 but in the long run, after reading posts on this forum, I think my best bet is to go for $2500.00 taxes in Canadian  thus have something that will last, thus cheaper in the long run.  The reason Honda pops in my mind is the dealer said it moves slush better than any blower. A new Honda is out of the question, but if a used one comes up in excellent shape I may consider it. I read a lot of reviews that the Honda track models are a bit to handle, so the steer able wheel models like Toro etc. look good.  I don't mind a bit of work but hate to spend 2k to find I'd be better off with brand "A". Snow fall varies. Two years ago, had a massive snow storm, honestly, my plow guy could not handle it, and needed a back hoe. The kicker is the mess and time it takes for my plow guy to perform. Had new gravel on my drive way 3 years ago. The first winter my regular plow guy couldn't make it so he subbed it out. The new guy was a toothless redneck whose idea of plowing was to create a new driveway. He plowed (his truck had no muffler) my new gravel in a big pile at the end of the driveway, got stuck, made a mess. I got more stressed out by my wife freaking over the mess he made than dealing with the redneck. The slush removal is important because when that stuff freezes in the driveway it makes it difficult to exit the premises. The plow guy doesn't cut it for slush.  Learning allot from this forum so your responses are well appreciated. As a side note, bought a Craftsman 10hp/32 some 16 years ago. The forth season, the bucket separated from the housing, and its ability to throw snow is not good, as the bucket was re welded to the housing. I moth balled that clunker years ago and went the plow route. But now seriously thinking of getting a quality blower, and not going the cheap equipment or money route. So to put it in a nutshell, a quality machine, a slush mover, good for a gravel driveway, maybe the steerable feature.

Not many choices for track drive. There is Honda, and then everything else is a MTD or MTD clone, including Sears with one, and Cuc Cadet. The Honda is nice that it can have the bucket off the ground, saving your gravel, Honda reliability and all that. But most people agree honda parts are EXPENSIVE, and can be tough to come by in certain parts of country.

You could buy a wheeled blower form the big 3 ( Toro, Ariens Simplicity) and fabricate some nice large skid shoes to ride over the gravel, alowing you more power at a lower price.

drumsonly

 I have a honda 928 (HS928TAS=track drive with electric start).  It will work very weel for your needs.  pricey?- yes.  but you have a specail need.  Like the guy with a big lawn needs a rider. ( I have a small 22 degrees lawn=smallest push mower on a rope). The honda has 3 positions- the highest one floats the auger  about an inch off the surface. 

 I think the high cost is in the HYDROSTATIC DIVE.   It is a great feature!  

If  you find a new honda for sale, plan to buy it that day ,because they only seem to build so many a year(and you would have to wait untill neaxt year).

18 degrees

I would stay away from track drive unless you really need it, such as with a steep incline. Track drive hard to manuver, which will make it more work to use. It's also more complex and expensive to fix if it breaks. Wheel drive is the way to go, and there are various options available.

Howdy,

I have the 9hp 28" Honda wheeled snowblower.  Love It! I really like the hydrostatic drive.

Because I blow a long gravel driveway I have my skid-shoes way down. So when I do my blacktopped driveway I do leave a 1" layer of snow that I shovel up.

My father has a step driveway and has the smaller tracked honda.

So having used both now, what would I recommend?

The Tracked Honda, it's dual height will give you the clearance for gravel yet scrape right down on your sidewalks and paved stuff.

Good Luck, John

Jwcamp wrote:
Why not just adjust the skids? Get two pieces of  1/8' thick wood, place them under the scraper bar and loosen the nuts on the skids until the scraper comes down on the wood. Tighten and away you go on the black top. Do the same thing with thicker wood for the gravel.  It takes more time to type in the description than to do it.

Howdy,  

In reply to nibbler: QUOTE "Why not just adjust the skids? Get two pieces of  1/8' thick wood, place them under the scraper bar and loosen the nuts on the skids until the scraper comes down on the wood. Tighten and away you go on the black top. Do the same thing with thicker wood for the gravel.  It takes more time to type in the description than to do it."END QUOTE

Hey! Thats the way I adjust my skids too,  though only at the beginning of the season.

I do not have any faith in the soft Japanesse nuts and bolts to keep adjusting them a couple of time each time I go out snowblowing. I don't think I'd want to have to mess around carring different wood spacers and wrenches out with me while I'm snowblowing either.

Good Luck,

John

FYI: Three Canadian Craftsman snow blowers have auto/hydro transmissions:

http://www6.sears.ca/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&categoryId=10155&langId=-1&rrc=1&productId=158231164

http://www6.sears.ca/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&categoryId=10155&langId=-1&rrc=1&productId=158345637

I'm seriously considering the 11.5HP/30" and 13.5HP/27" models. These are the only snow blowers I can find with Briggs & Stratton OHV Intek snow engines. Has anyone had any experience with these models? Thanks.

I seen the 13/27 B&S at Sears last Friday. Seems like they put some nice features on that blower. With the 13/27 it should blow snow exceptionally well. Looks like their flagship of their blower line. It was well balanced and easy to push (on the showroom floor). The chute control was smooth, almost as good as the Toro, but Toro's chute control is the best.