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

Trying to pick a replacement for my Craftsman single stage snowthrower that I am replacing due to difficult starting and since it is generally inadequate in clearing my drifts,EOD, and heavier accumulations.

Background:

I have an 80ft flat, paved driveway, appx 20ft wide and a bit of side walk to clear.  Although NOAA says my average snowfall is 24"/yr, some years we don't seem to get any and other years (such as last year), we get about double that, some times in the 12"-14" range.  I live in a windy area where drifts get in the 2' + range.  Storage of unit with clearing width to 30" is not a problem.

Choices:

Budget $1000-$1500.

Toro 826LE or 828LXE-I have several good service/dealer locations nearby (price $1099/$1399)

Simplicty L10530E-Having a Simplicity Tractor, I know the dealer fairly well-average as far as service/support (price $1499)

Ariens 824E or 1027LE-Dealer is about 20mile away, don't really know him. (price $999/$1200)

These were the ones I was considering, I see +/- to each.  Let me know what you think or if you need more info.  Thanks

toro all the way.  the auger design is superior to any ive seen.  it will out throw all on market.  no tranny on the toro.  just good old fashioned gears.  keep them clean and lubed during summer, keep rust to a minimum.     these have the tecumseh engines on them,  which have proven very good engines on the snowblowers.  im not a summer tecumseh engine fan,  summer engines belong to briggs.  there is a reason snowblowers for 50 years run tecumsehs. if you do go back and look at the simplicity,  which briggs and stratton owns as well as snapper,  ask the dealer if the specific unit you are looking at has had the recall kit installed on the carburetor.  they have an issue with staring on fire.  its service bulletin  #738.  if you look closely at snapper and the simplicity lines the are the same units only one is orange and the other red.

Probaly Mech is right for today's market, because some companys had change their quality and design not for the best sometimes, but in my book, I think Ariens blower are the best before 1990. Well thats my oppinion, and I knbow that TORO is a very very good machine too.

Thanks for everyones input thusfar.  I visited my dealer today.  They've got 3 828LXE's in stock.  That's the way I'm leaning right now.  I'll post when I've made my purchase.....Thanks again.

EdwardoKarochio wrote:
I just grabbed a Ariens 926DLE - still in the box from last season.  Sweet machine...can't wait for the first snow!  - I have heard good things about Toro as well.  Either brand should last for 30 years easily.

I'm still mulling my options.  I's also like to consider the Simplicity L9528E.  This was the model I was first drawn to.  Size and power wise, it seems to be in the right range for me. .....The problem is this:  The new models will not be equipped with the 9.5 intek engine....I'm told it will have a 14hp engine, but noone can tell me which Briggs engine it will be (intek or power built).  I'm looking for anyone here that might know.. I called simplicity today and the tech didn't know.  I know the HP thing is kind of arbitrary with these, engine type isn't.

Also after talking with the owner of my local Simplicty dealer, I'm feeling alot better about dealing with him.  I would put him and my Toro dealer on nearly equal footing..with toro slighty favored.

I don't believe Briggs and Stratton makes a 14hp PowerBuilt engine. They do however make a 13.5 intek so i would say that is your engine. It's develops 17.1 ft-lbs torque@2500 rpm

Jesus, that's a helluvalot of engine for a 28"

That's actually gross hp-- the net is only 11hp

Anyway hp really doesn't mean much. . it's the torque that is the important number. And by the way, it's from which the hp is derived

    

 Hmmmm...I'm not seeing a 14hp Intek Snow engine (only a 14.5).  I'm more interested in intek vs power built than HP.  Although I hear that a cast iron sleeve isn't all that beneficial, it's still my preference.

Ok...I see the 13.5 hp intek snow.  Getting a little weary from too much research. 

Briggs doesn't rate their engines in horsepower anymore. You're getting horsepower confused with their new bewildering torque rating. See this link: http://www.briggsandstratton.com/display/router.asp?docid=98287

Their horsepower used to be measured at 3600 rpm. Their torque rating is measured at 3060. It's likely that this was arbitrarily selected due to to it's close RPM proximity to peak torque. This isn't the torque at the operating RPM. These are the same engines they always were, just rated differently. The silly thing is if some other manufacturer rates in torque (I don't believe anyone does currently) the RPM at which their peak torque occurs will be at a different RPM so the ratings will not be directly comparable. For example, Tecumseh's L-heads peak torque is typically at a lower RPM so they would rate their gross torque at some other RPM.

So Tecumseh still rates in hp, Briggs in a made-up Torque standard, and most others in cc's. Nothing like confusing customers. The best think to look at is probably cc's.