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

I will premise this with the statement that I have just found this site today, and did as much power reading as I could on snowblowers do for about an  hour straight.  I have needed,  and known I needed a more powerful snowblower for years now.  I currently have an inherited 1979 Toro, 2.5 hp (yes I said 2.5 hp) true paddle (not rubber auger) single stage 2 cycle.  Unbelievably it has functioned as my main method of removing snow, albeit it usually took me about 2 hrs to snow blow my moderate to large paved drive way.  (I live north of Detroit, where we've been hammered by heavy snowfall the past few years.)  Anyway, anticipating heavy snow again this year, I went out and placed on order a Ariens 7524 from home depot yesterday.  I made the choice primarly on the information I found on other websites as well as the Ariens website.  I now wonder  after reading the other  posts here, if I made the right choice.  It would seem If I could clear the drive way with my little 2.5 hp, anything bigger and more advanced would be better, even if it's not one of the leviathan I've read about in some of these other posts, i.e 9.25 to 11 hp.  I'd consider the 926DLE but its 2X the cost.  I guess my question is: Does anyone own this model or something comprable ever have any "real" trouble removing snow with theirs?  I've gotta believe this 2 stage 7.5 hp would make a world of difference over what I've got.  I do get this EOD build-up as I'm off a main road, but even my lil' Toro could manage through 18" of that...it would just take 45 minutes.  I just don't want to spend all this money and wish I would have purchased something bigger, although I can't see that happening.  Any advice would be appreicated while I can still change my order.

My 7hp Toro has handled everything well for the past two years (I'm about 80 miles SW of Detroit), so I'd say your choice of the Ariens is a very good one.

AZ

Hi Sno.
I live in Detroit (the city) also.
If you are south of Port Huron......you have a little different situation than those of us that live 30 miles south of you.
You guys have been hit with those freak snows where you get 12" and we get 4"....the last couple of seasons....but generally our situations are about the same.
I have 3 car long drive....with a double approach....and do about 150' of sidewalk. I have no problems with a 16" Toro Powerlite.
I generally keep up the stuff......4-6" depths at a time. But if I get caught with a big overnite dump....It just takes me a little longer. No big deal.
You might be happy with a Toro 2450 or 3650 single stage. They are the biggest sellers in our area......and they have plenty of power too handle the bigger loads.
One of the advantages of these is that they dont take up half of the garage all year long....and if you get a call from friend or relative.....or if you have too take them in for service....you can just throw them in the trunk of your car....and be on your way. You dont 3 neighbors and a truck too move one.
If I can handle the stuff with a little Powerlite.....I'm sure you could do the same with something larger, like a 2450 or 3650.

You will BE VERY pleased, no doubt!

I think your order for the Ariens is a good move. As Home Depot doesn't do the initial run-in on the machines,  you will want to do it yourself. Sometimes they may not make some of the initial adjustments properly, so I'd suggest you check them as well.  Last winter I was a greenhorn when it comes to snowblowers and found that there are alot of people on this site who can provide adcvice as you go along.

sno

read my posting about taking delivery of my new 7524 under "End of Driveway (EOD) and smaller machines"
thread. I'm happy w/mine so far and it does a good job. I haven't experienced the worst of the winter yet (live in the Georgian Bay snowbelt), but after encountering 3 "snow clearing" incidents, I'm not dreading snow nearly as much as when it was all shovel. my driveway is about 15' wide 60-70' long and in a moderate 2-4 incher I'm done in about 20 min. including EOD. I think you'll be happy. Just remember to follow all of the instructions and do that first oil change after 2 hrs of ops. The sales guy said that, as w/all snowblowers but especially smaller ones, the sooner you get the EOD done the better, before it gets all compounded.

As with Lint, I keep up with the snow, so I am usually doing 4-6 inches because I like snow, and being in it. 

My 3650 handles that very well (aka- no trouble at all).  I do 12" EOD pretty well too.  Standard 12" depth isn't any problem, and an incline of 1-3/4" per foot isn't any trouble.  My driveway is 2200 square feet. 

The portability of the machine is great. Lower maintenance is also good.  My trimmer uses 50:1 oil, as does my 3650, so "mixing" isn't a problem, I always have it on hand anyway.  (The labor involved with mixing 1 gallon of gas is far less than replacing augers and gear housings)

My .02