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Abby’s Guide > Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) > Discussions > Who makes the best snowblower?

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ntrtouch


Joined: Dec 14, 2005
Points: 4

Who makes the best snowblower?
Original Message   Dec 14, 2005 11:15 pm
Who makes the strongest, most powerful, most durable snow blower?  Price isnt an issue.  I want to buy a new one and wanted to know who is the best of the best
Replies: 3 - 12 of 37Next page of topicsPreviousNextNext page of topicsAllView as Outline
loudsubz


Joined: Nov 25, 2005
Points: 77

Re: Who makes the best snowblower?
Reply #3   Dec 15, 2005 12:06 am
BBgarage wrote:
Ariens. Go with the best pro model if money is really not an option. That will set you back between 2 and 3 bucks.

If you are eco friendly you could have a honda hybrid blower imported from Japan.

Ingresol Rand has some nice kits(5-10k) for the bobcats(40k)



That crazy honda blower isn't going to be anymore eco friendly than the like, because it still has a rather large engine (15hp) to charge the batteries on board etc. so its no eco friendly model for sure.

newjerseybt


You want it done right?...You better learn how to do it yourself!

Ariens 1128DLE
Ariens 8526LE
Honda HRC216
Bosch 3221L
Craftsman DYT4000
Stihl FS90R


Location: Honesdale, PA
Joined: Dec 19, 2004
Points: 171

Re: Who makes the best snowblower?
Reply #4   Dec 15, 2005 11:14 am
Honda makes the most impressive LOOKING machine. The 1132 track model is impressive looking but hard to handle because of the tracks especially maneuvering  in tight places. The servo electric driven wheel models are not available in the USA.

The Ariens 1336DLE  can throw 96 tons per hour and has a 12v battery start and I would consider it more reliable than the Honda due to the complexity of the Honda  hydro (or servo driven wheels). In my book, reliability is more important than impressive looking.

But....if you got the money and a large property...then go for it!.

loudsubz


Joined: Nov 25, 2005
Points: 77

Re: Who makes the best snowblower?
Reply #5   Dec 15, 2005 12:24 pm
newjerseybt wrote:
Honda makes the most impressive LOOKING machine. The 1132 track model is impressive looking but hard to handle because of the tracks especially maneuvering  in tight places. The servo electric driven wheel models are not available in the USA.

The Ariens 1336DLE  can throw 96 tons per hour and has a 12v battery start and I would consider it more reliable than the Honda due to the complexity of the Honda  hydro (or servo driven wheels). In my book, reliability is more important than impressive looking.

But....if you got the money and a large property...then go for it!.



Complexity is one thing, but if its built right and doesn't have issues I don't see it being an issue about reliability.
newjerseybt


You want it done right?...You better learn how to do it yourself!

Ariens 1128DLE
Ariens 8526LE
Honda HRC216
Bosch 3221L
Craftsman DYT4000
Stihl FS90R


Location: Honesdale, PA
Joined: Dec 19, 2004
Points: 171

Re: Who makes the best snowblower?
Reply #6   Dec 15, 2005 3:56 pm
Hi Loudsubz:

I guess the reason I am wary is that I own a 2003 Honda HRC216 commercial 21" hydro mower and I have been losing ground speed for the last 2 years. I never lost fluid and have made a hydro cable adjustment already. It seems I lost about 1 mph  the last  2  summers. I expect the ground speed to be 3.5MPH to make the hydro cost effective. A new Hydro is about $350. ...

jubol


Location: Dover, De
Joined: Oct 3, 2003
Points: 1558

Re: Who makes the best snowblower?
Reply #7   Dec 15, 2005 4:03 pm
You ought to look at the Simps and Snappers for quality also!!

They make great equipment!!

                                                     Fred

Husqvarna STE927(11.5HP) snowblower,  MTD Pro Series 18/42 Lawnmower, MTD 6.5 HP  Self Prop Lawn Mower,  Weedeater 1500 Blower, Web Gensis  2000 
PCPC


Honda 1132 snow thrower, Simplicity 1060 snow thrower, RedMax EBZ8000 leaf blower, older Snapper self propelled mower, Echo weed wacker, 20 + year old 16" McCulloch Chain Saw, wheel barrel with a flat tire, and a rusty shovel!

Joined: Nov 26, 2005
Points: 26

Re: Who makes the best snowblower?
Reply #8   Dec 15, 2005 4:04 pm
I wonder if the fluid breaks down? I wonder if a fluid change would help. New fluid may retain viscosity when hot? I would assume that this type of drive generates quite a bit of heat. I know on my Honda blower, the level raises quite a bit from cold to hot.
newjerseybt


You want it done right?...You better learn how to do it yourself!

Ariens 1128DLE
Ariens 8526LE
Honda HRC216
Bosch 3221L
Craftsman DYT4000
Stihl FS90R


Location: Honesdale, PA
Joined: Dec 19, 2004
Points: 171

Re: Who makes the best snowblower?
Reply #9   Dec 15, 2005 4:18 pm
Regarding fluid breaking Down:

The mower is only used for residential use so I don't think that is an issue for a 2 year old mower.

Maybe it is more noticeable in the Fall. I like to use the mower at 25 degrees to suck up leaves. I have snow right now so I am going to wait till next year.  Maybe I should have bought an Arien's commercial mower with the disk drive instead. (20/20 hindsight) Nothing cheaper than replacing a friction disk for $6.00 on a snowblower or mower. 

PCPC


Honda 1132 snow thrower, Simplicity 1060 snow thrower, RedMax EBZ8000 leaf blower, older Snapper self propelled mower, Echo weed wacker, 20 + year old 16" McCulloch Chain Saw, wheel barrel with a flat tire, and a rusty shovel!

Joined: Nov 26, 2005
Points: 26

Re: Who makes the best snowblower?
Reply #10   Dec 15, 2005 4:42 pm
That's a nice drive (the Hydro) for a snow blower, but it does seem like a bad idea for a lawnmower. You really don't even need for a mower to be self propelled. I have an old Snapper, I think it's like a 3.5, or 4 HP Tec. (I can't tell), with the disc set up, and I adjusted it, so I almost have to run with it in high gear. I moved the adjustment, so that the disc is as far to the end as It could go, and it really goes.
MountainMan


Overpowered is Usually Adequate


Location: Connecticut
Joined: Feb 19, 2003
Points: 1564

Re: Who makes the best snowblower?
Reply #11   Dec 15, 2005 4:55 pm
I see no need for a infinatly variable spped transmission on  a snowblower.

The regular 5 speed disk drive is robust, inexpensive to maintain, and ofers plenty of low end torque for deep snow or high speed for transport.

And yes, try to move a teack honda without starting it . Its a fight. Disk drive units will roll easily.

Ariens 1128PRO- Honda Generator_ Husky 480-257 Jonsered 2050Turbo- Shindiawa T2500 SCAG Mower -little wonder blower-Sears track blower-Coleman Generator- Bombadier ATV-Stihl HS-45 Etc-Etc-Etc
Bill


Joined: Mar 13, 2005
Points: 13

Re: Who makes the best snowblower?
Reply #12   Dec 15, 2005 10:43 pm
Have you ever actually tried out a Honda snowblower?  That infinitely variable hydro tranny is light years ahead of "disk drives".  No use for a CVT tranny on a snowblower?  What if you want to crawl beside the house and then take off at a faster speed?  The disk drive requires that you come to a complete stop, shift in to a higher gear, then start again.  With the Honda, you can seemlessly shift speeds on the fly, no stopping.  There really is no comparison.  I could never go back to a disk drive tranny.  Everyone who has tried out my Honda says the same.

Just the crawl factor of that Honda tranny is amazing.  As slow as you want to go, awesome.  Is there a chance of expensive failures?  Sure, there's a chance.  But my friend owns a Honda dealership, and has not seen one single failure since Honda introduced the Hydro tranny in 97 or 98.  They are bulletproof.
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