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.

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.

You go from Honda to a Sears?

You will be a satisfied as eating at a "greasy spoon" than you would like to admit.

LordVader,

I believe that Drumsonly is on a budget like myself. Here's what I think:

Honda --> Good, but over my budget (need at least a 10.5HP)

Ariens --> Loud Tecumseh OHV engines; To pricey for the features it has; Steel substitute for non-critical parts doesn't impress me and they are over priced compared to the equivalent HP models from other brands. Toro and Craftsman models which have plastic have been great over a number of years as per owner reviews at epinions.com

Simplicity --> Truly a good blower with a good price point, but not widely available in Canada.

Toro --> Good choice, but I'm looking for a B&G OHV engine.

Craftsman --> Chockful of features, great price, Sears service, same as the reliable Husqvarna brand (AYP/Electrolux). Despite people knocking Craftsman/AYP here, long term owner reviews at epinions indicate they are no different from Honda, Ariens & Toro in terms of reliability.

Bolens / Yardman (MTD) --> Good choices and have great chute control rivaling Toro. Affordable and easily available here in Canada.

I've never owned a blower before, but the above is what I've gathered from reading up extensively and looking around the stores.

Cheers, Sabesh.