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

We live in Cleveland and get dumped with snow rarely, but when it happens it is 6-8 inches. I got a MTD single stage 5.5 HP 21" that rarely is able to throw the snow off our driveway. Major considerations before this buy was : garage space is limited, driveway is small, 2 car wide, 4 car long. small sidewalk. Need only for our home. I plan to return to HD because it is not having any punch to the snow throwing from the center of the driveway, all it does is dumps it on the side of the driveway and I have to re do the sides again. Everyone is out of ariens here and was thinking of buying a 5.5 HP Ariens, 2 stage 21". Read the forum and got concerned bec I have paid 400 for MTD and Ariens is 680 for the 5520. Not in stock anyway, expected next week. Alternative is my neighbour bought a craftsman 5.5 HP 2 stage from Sears for 450. With sears warranty, can get it fixed locally. Dont know if Ariens dealer will fix if I buy from HD. Any thoughts, maybe other models: Toro? Cost, repairs and garage space are major considerations. Thanks in advance for any input

Consumer Reports Magazine

RNB213 is quoting the results of the single stage review done last season and updated 9/5. It appears from the original poster though that the single stage machines don't really do the job for him. By all means lets hear the rationale. The two machines he mentions are also 5hp 20" single-stage machines like Dasaras already has. In fact, the MTD manufactured Tro Built Squall 521 was rated 4th in that same test.

In the two-stage ratings, the Honda HS928 was rated 7th; Simplicity 9560E rated 8th; and Ariens 8524LE rated 10th of 12.  They were all large machines with 8.5 to 10hp, which again does not address his needs.

If the Ariens Compact is not available , Simplicity makes an "intermediate" machine.

But the 160lb Compact series really seems to be a good fit for your requirements of power, light weight, and size. I'd stick with the limitations of your old machine until you got exactly what you want. Thre are now two models of the 5520E Compact listed, one with Tecumseh engine that is sold out, and model #932043 with the Briggs engine that is not.