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

I'd like to buy a snowblower (for $1,500 or less if possible).  I have a normal sized driveway (10 feet by 80 feet) and get pretty heavy snow as I'm in the snowbelt here in northeast Ohio.  If you guys could help me witih the exact brand/model to get, it would help me out a lot.

1.  I read that the Briggs & Stratton engines are better than Tecumseh -- how true is this?

2.  Research has indicated the best brand names (in approximate order) are:  Honda, Simplicity (Snapper), Ariens, Toro -- is this fairly accurate?

3.  However, since my budget is $1,500 I'm looking for the best VALUE too (not necessarily the best blower).  I'm thinking the best value might be: Simplicity, Toro, Ariens, Honda -- is this accurate or am I way off?

4.  If I spend an extra $500 will I get something SUBSTANTIALLY better than what a $1,500 (or less)  snowthrower can give me? 

I'm not into bells and whistles (i.e. I don't want hand-warmers or electronic shute controls).  If you can offer any advice on the exact brand/model to get, I'd appreciate it!!

(P.S.  I also have a 600 squarefoot deck - is it OK to use a snowblower on a deck?)

IntrinsicValue wrote:

Of course you realize that this is a subjective matter and "opinions"  will vary.   I have extensive mechanical experience and would say I know quality/value when I see it.   I will try to answer your questions as objectively as I can.

1.  Not necessarily true.  Recently more snow throwers have been equipped with B&S over head valve engines which are better in performance than the predominant L head engine which Tecumseh have provided for  tens of thousands of machines.   Their L head engines are relatively crude but certainly reliable.  Tecumseh now is offering over head valve snow engines on certain models of snow throwers.  Do I have a preference?  Yes.  I would take the B&S ohv engine ahead of a Tecumseh of the same design simply because I think B&S  is more available and as a company they're going forward while Tecumseh flounders.

2.  I agree with that.

3. I rate it as follows:  Simplicity, Ariens (be careful of which model you choose), Toro (do not pay a cent more for it than the price of any equivalent Simplicity or Ariens.  You should also look at Husquvarna and John Deere.   I think they are made by AYP but to higher standards than other brand names made by the same manufacturer.  As far as Honda goes, forget it.  I have nothing but praise for the machine but for that kind of money, it insults my intelligence to pay such an extreme premium and not get the same percentage in reliability and performance.   I'd have to live for 200 years for a Honda to pay for itself.   My preference is Simplicity/Snapper .  Hands down.  It was the best value that I could find for the money. 

4.  Considering your caveat to no. 4, I'd say no.

I have used a snow thrower on a wooden deck.  If your skids are worn or scraper bar is too low, you will gouge the wood.  If I were to use it on a deck, I'd manufacture a pair of plastic or Teflon shoes to put under the skids while working on wood.  It would be simple enough to do.  Just look around for anything of suitable material that will fit and fasten it to the skids with quick release pins.   Even a couple of pieces of molded   ABS plastic pipe would work.  Just split it lengthwise to fit it over the skid,  heat it to make it pliable and drill holes and fasten it. 

Hope this helps you with your decision. 

IntrinsicValue wrote:
What matters is how often you get that pretty heavy snow. I can't imagine myself buying a $1500-$2000 machine that I would use only occasionally (10 times a year or less) unless the average dumping was of obscene proportions, 12 inches or more. But that's just me, after all having a big machine can't hurt (except perhaps your deck). What you definitely don't need in your area is a large tracked machine, those are for colder areas that have months-long snow cover, ice and frequent precipitation. I just described my hometown. Tracked Hondas are worth their price tag up here but like Borat says in Ohio that would be overkill and you'd never get to use it often enough to justify the expense. Same goes for tracked Ariens Pro, they cost almost as much as a Honda anyway.

If I were you I'd get a reasonably good quality 8 to 10hp in the $1000-$1200 price range and buy a little electric Toro for the deck. The plastic auger is definitely more deck-friendly than metal. Now you just lost any justification for a tracked machine , in case you were thinking of having those tracks climb the deck stairs. It CAN be done but it's not as practical as it sounds and having the snowblower climb down the stairs once the deck is done can be VERY tricky.    

Hey Gelid:

I see you own a Honda.  As I mentioned, it's probably the best machine out there but certainly not the best value out there.   I cannot justify that kind of money.  I live in Northwestern Ontario.  We get plenty of snow.  I have a 110' long driveway with a 35' x 35' turn around at the top.  It has a 10% grade with the road being 11 feet lower than my garage.  I have used two wheeled snow throwers for almost twenty years and never once felt like I ever needed a tracked machine. The new Simplicity I just bought will throw snow much further than I need it to go and it's pleasant to operate.  For the price of one equivalent Honda, I could have two Simps sitting in my garage.  If I wanted to, I could have a Honda.  And, as much as I respect and appreciate the brand, I have trouble coming to terms to spend that kind of money for the difference.  Hell, I could have a two week vacation in Costa Rica for difference in price between the Honda and the Simp.   Well, this year it will be Panama instead.   Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that the Honda dealer here is the slimiest gouger the world will likely see.   Here's a picture of one over-night snow fall a couple weeks ago.

  

Hi,

I'm also looking for a snow blower for under $1500.  Never owned one before so you'll have to forgive any dumb questions.

I have a pretty standard driveway; fits 2x2 cars with a 5 degree slope.  I also have an L shaped walkway to the front door that is approximately 35-40 feet if you add the two lengths together and its 4 feet wide.  There is also a walk way to the side door that is approximate 40 feet in length and 2 feet wide.

I'd like to be able to use the snow blower to clear all of these areas so I think what I'm looking for is:

- In place turning both left and right as I have 90 degree turns for both walkways

- ~26 inch clearing

Things I think are worth having:

- OHV engine

- Bearings

- 2 stage

- Steel instead of plastic.  But this is only because I don't know if the plastics are proven.

- Simple chute control as I'm going to have to move the chute a fair amount with the 90 degree turns

- long term durability.  I don't want to have to fix it in the first 10 years.  I don't mind doing 'wearable' components but I'll pay for things like bushings versus bearings

Lower priority but I'd like to have them:

- low noise

- ability to be left outside.  I'm assuming this isn't a problem :)

- upgrade path.  Not a deal killer, but it would be nice to pay for a solid chassis and add things over time to make it better.

The Simplicity L9528E seems like a good buy any other suggestions?

You're on the right track.  Stay the course.  Go with the Simplicity or Snapper.  

See you in Panama.....

borat wrote:

Thanks! Mostly your comments lead me to his conclusion anyways!

What about the left/right turning though?  I don't understand how the Simp can turn both directions.  It seems like it can only pivot one way.

Is this true?

What about this?  Any good?

http://international.husqvarna.com/node1556.aspx?pid=1214

I have a Simplicity witht he "easy-turn" feature.  I don't know why, but it turns easier in either direction when the trigger is activated.

FW,

Which Husqvarna model are you looking at ? ?

I have a 927STE OHV engine, with trigger steering.

Squeeze right, turn right, squeeze left, turn left !

It is a very solid machine!!

Would buy it again!!

                                       Fred

EdwardoKarochio wrote:

How exactly does this work?  I take it it doesn't power itself around a turn?  You have to push it left or right?

I have to make 90 degree turns while in the snow.  How would it handle this?

fireworks wrote:
You pull a small lever on the left side handle.  It dis-engages two wheel traction drive to allow one wheel traction drive.  One wheel is still driving but turning is much  easier in either direction.  Trust me, it's simple and it works very well.  You will also like the one handed operation feature.  When you depress the wheel drive lever after depressing the auger drive lever, you can take you right hand off of the handle to operate controls and the auger keeps turning.  Releasing the wheel drive lever also disengages the auger drive.  The mechanics of it are simple yet effective.  Not too much to adjust or go wrong.

jubol wrote:

Maybe this one?

http://www.prestonhardware.com/estore-product-details.asp?id=24682

The part I find difficult is finding the details of things like bearing/bushings, belt change difficulty, etc.  It looks good for the cash.  Especially the power steering.  I assume this means it actually will use power to turn versus a wheel disengaging and you pushing it around?

It's the 90 degree turn in the snow that I unsure about.

borat wrote:
 How well does it turn when it's in 12 inch or more of snow?
The one hand thing sounds good. I think simple has merit!

Almost the same blower as mine!!

Difference, yours 10.5 Tec L head, mine 9.5 Tec OHV.

It is a great machine that is user friendly!!

Turns on a Dime!

The one hand allows you to work chute controls without stopping!

Also has infinate speeds.

I would buy mine again!!

                                                    Fred

jubol wrote:

Husky's web site doesn't even list your model and all of the blowers are Fixed Disc.

I don't get it.

Mine is 3 years old!!

All have disk drives, just that Huskies are infinite and others 2, 3 5, or 6 speeds.

                                 Fred

fireworks wrote:

It's like any other snow thrower in deep snow.  If the snow is heavy there will be resistance regardless of what machine you are using.  I used my Simplicity a couple of weeks ago after a big 20+ inch snow fall of heavy drift snow.  It just ate it up.  If I have trouble getting it to turn in very deep snow, I just use the machine to make a big enough hole to turn it around.  You'd be doing the same regardless of one or two wheel drive. 

borat wrote:

Do you think this http://www.prestonhardware.com/estore-product-details.asp?id=24682 is comparable to the Simplicity L9528E ?

fireworks wrote:

Without physically inspecting the machine, I'd say it's a respectable effort but I'd still swing toward the Simplicity. 

The Husqvarna has a number of features that the Simp doesn't but, I can live without them.  The Simplicity on the other hand has desirable features that I prefer.  For instance it has the ohv B&S engine.  It's one horse power short but being an ohv it will likely outperform the Tecumseh engine and will certainly be more pleasant to live with due to less vibration and quieter running.  Another couple things on the Simp that I like are the chute control rod and the huge cast iron auger drive gear case.  I cannot compare build quality between the two machines because I have not physically inspected the Husky.  I will however take  Fred's word that it's put together well.  Dollar for dollar, I'd still go with the Simplicity. 

 

borat wrote:

True about the OHV.  Is the cast iron gear case that big a deal? Aluminum can be strong if done right.   I see what you mean about the rods.  Less maintenance I take it?

BTW are all the Briggs engines on the Simp OHV?

Guys,

The most important  factors when buying a blower as I see it are:  Location and amount of snow received!

Where I live, an MTD 8 HP is almost overkill. Blower might get 1 hour of use per year on the average.

So MTD is great here, would last 40 to 50 years !!

If you get pounded with huge amounts and frequency of snows, then invest in a Very high HP quality blower!

What do you buy, I like Chevys, you like Fords, buy any of the better blowers for your area and dealer support and you will enjoy having  to blow snow!!

Every blower has different Pro's and Con's, However  I would stay away from MTD blowers in heavy snow areas!!

I bought my Husky for large snow dumps, about once every 5 years,  tight easy turn capability,  great  chute control,  Tec OHV Engine, weight, and very good construction,

My Husky weighs 266 Lbs, fueled ready to go!!

It was weighed on a commercial scale!!

                                                      Fred

                                            

Fred has pretty much summed it up. 

Match the quality of the machine to the demands of the work it will be required to do.

However, if you're spending X amount of money, get the most value you can get for it.

So is the Ariens differential concept unique to them?  I seems like a good idea.

Does the Simp or Husky have something similar, or are they posi traction (is this what it's called in snowblower land? :) )  and can be unlocked to turn?

FW,

On my Husky, squeeze left trigger, turns sharp left, squeeze right, turns a sharp right!!!

Squeeze both, free wheeling for transport!

                                                                   Fred

Just to follow-up on my post,

First, thanks for all of the advice.  I ended up buying a Simplicity 8526E for slightly less than $1000 and have used it several times already -- it's been a rough winter up here in Ohio!

For those that may be looking, I have only owned my machine for a little over two months, but so far I highly recommend it.  My driveway is sloped, wide, and long, but the Simplicity has had no problem at all with clearing.  I never did try it on my deck, because basically I'm afraid to. ;)

The only strange thing is when you engage the auger, it makes a weird "skidding" noise - I"m not sure if this is normal or not, but it doesn't seem to be causing any problems at this point.  Also, I did not get the "easy-turn" feature and wish I had!  The machine is fairly heavy and not the easiest thing to turn -- but if you put it in 1st gear and turn, it's still manageable.

Thanks again!  And good luck to those who are looking.

I also am in the market for a new or used snowthrower.   I have a cabin at 6,800 feet in the Sierras.   We currently have about 6-7 feet of snow piled up around our cabin.  Storms can bring 2-3 feet of snow at a time.   For the past 4 winters I have been using a Craftsman (made by MTD) 9 HP 27 inch.   I have decided I need to upgrade.    I have been thinking about the simplicity or snapper based on the reviews on this website.   There is a used 8 hp tracked newer Honda on craigslist, that I also was thinking about, but I am wondering if it is big enough for the job I have.    The intake height is not that large.     I also was wondering about Poulan Pro and Husqavarna...  but they are made by AYP?      Probably wait until spring /summer and get the simplicity or snapper if I can find it on sale.  

But does anyone have experience with a tracked 8 hp Honda dealing with 2-3 feet of snow at time?

I pasted a few links from epinons.com regarding Honda track snowthrowers.   Some are positive, some negative...just like you'll find with any brand.  There's a total of 15 reviews on the site.  The one recurring negative in the reviews notes the tendacy of the Hondas to break shear pins.  Maybe their current models are designed differently...but worth checking out.  I never owned a Honda but they look well built.  I've heard that track blowers are not the easiest to move around when their not running.  Personally with the serious snow that you get I would opt for the most powerful machine I could buy in terms of HP.  11 to 13HP.

http://www.epinions.com/review/Honda_Snowblower_HS928TA/content_303599226500

http://www.epinions.com/review/Honda_Snowblower_HS928TA/content_161279479428

http://www.epinions.com/review/Honda_Snowblower_HS928TA/content_9106067076

Here is some advice it may help it may not .I purchased a Husqvarna snow thrower with 11HP Tecumseh Snow King engine. I always felt that Tecumseh had the better engines for show throwing equipment and Briggs & Stratton had the better engines for the Lawn equipment. Well my $1000.00 Husqvarna  which is 2yrs 4  myhs old just blew the engine . The rod gracked the block . How  the techs don't seem to now for suer Maybe  some moisture got in there or the throtle frooze up.Regardless it 's going to cost $475.00 to replace just the short block or i can buy a completlry new engine for around $500.00  which will give me another 2 yr warranty (ha Ha) Here is the killer for 13 yrs i had a Murray that i purchase through Home Depot back around 1996 It had a Tecumseh engine. That unit was still working  when i gave it to my plumber to help cover some extra cost on some work i had down .Now that unit I paid around $250.00 which was far less than it was origonally going for $549.99 but since that year i brought it we had no snow and Home depot wrer stuck with a lot left over. That unit i kept outside under my back deck never covered and it ran good On the heay snow did take some time. But the newer thrower  i kept covered on my front deck. check the oil evertime i used it . Let it run down   before burn off extra gas in carb.  bUt 1 day this week when  we had about 8 inches of snow it failed  and 2 days before ran alright. About the same time i brought mine  My older neighbor brrought a Sears Craftsman. it had a brigs and Stratton engine on it .I beleive this was a first time that the Sears models some were going with Briggs. Oneday he asked me if i could try to start his machine .I couldn't the engine had seized up. Moisture had seep down into th eengine. That what he told me . They said it was of a poor muffler design the condensation after you turn the unit off ran back down . Since then they have corrected the porblem along with trying to correct the ethanol in the gas which  means you have to take some extra precautions.

Whatever you decide research  and ask around  after what happen to me i' would still stick with what i brought

Good luck

djhaase wrote:  
Sierra = Honda.

I used to live near Tahoe and my 20-year-old HS80 took everything thrown at it which was quite a lot. I have since moved to Maine and bought a newer larger HS928 but the HS80 is still serving duty as a backup and it's been dang good at it.

Tracked Hondas are specifically designed for serious snow conditions. They can be difficult to maneuver in areas with mild winters and frequent snowfall/melt cycles throughout the cold season and in fact I noticed that a majority of people who complain about their tracked Hondas on the Net happen to be using them in conditions where such a machine is overkill or even completely inappropriate. Apparently some people have difficulty  grasping the concept  that on pavement or gravel wheels work better than tracks since they offer much less resistance and friction but this is done at the expense of traction, obviously. That's the reason why when it comes to areas with months-long snow cover and ice/packed snow base wheels are no match for tracks, not even close. Tracks will keep on providing traction in conditions where using a wheeled blower turns into a skid-push-pull-curse fest.  

In such conditions the Honda's fixed axles are an asset rather than an annoyance, providing even traction for years whereas many blowers with unlockable axle have a tendency to develop a pull on one side under intensive usage because operators tend to always lock the same side causing uneven wear patterns. In deep snow tracks perform better than wheels regardless of base because they can ride on top of the deepest layer without sinking much meaning you can clear snow via multiple passes vertically as well as horizontally. This also allows clearing "old growth" hardened snow regardless of depth or how long it's been laying there, however this requires some patience, but it can be done. 

The best is yet to come. By  "8 hp tracked newer Honda" I am assuming you mean the HS828 and not the older HS80. Like all newer Honda blowers rated 7hp and above the HS828  comes with deep snow's worst enemy: the hydrostatic transmission. This means it has no fixed gear speed ratios, instead it has an infinitely variable speed control both in forward and reverse. Tackling deep snow at too high a speed can overwhelm the engine of even large snowblowers and with some really serious snow even the first gear can be too fast. Honda's hydro tranny allows to operator to set the speed as slow as he/she wishes, down to a few inches a minute.  Doing this I am able to deal with even the nastiest  EOD mess at a pace that  allows the machine to get the job done without bogging down and/or imposing undue stress to the engine. In these snowy climes, short of a 30hp utility tractor II can't imagine using any other blower than a Honda.