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

I'm looking into a snow blower/thrower.  I live in upstate NY (near Albany) and would estimate we get about four to five storms a year with about 8".  There are the rare NorthEasters that may drop 15" every three or four years.

My driveway is on about a 3 degree grade, one car length in width for about thirty feet, then it opens up to about three car lengths wide (in an L shape) for about twenty feet.

Is a single stage thrower too small, or will it work but just take more time to clear the snow?

I see CR reviewed models recently and liked the single stage Toro CCR-2450 which I can get online (free shipping, no tax) for $537 at SpeedWaysales.com.

The two-stage model they liked was a Craftsman 88790, which Sears has on sale for $949.

I would love to hear what people think about the two-stage versus one-stage, especially if you live in the Northeast near Albany, and what models you think are the best.

Lastly, I HATE maintenance, and the Ariens web site scared the bejeesus out of me with their maintenance section (You must tighten the drive belt after 20 hours of usage.  Then in the drive belt section it says, "Be careful, if this is not done right you may be injured or killed").  

Snowdude,

As I said, you came here asking for opinions, you got em. If you're requiring MTD Craftsman complaints you will not find many of them here because, there are very few MTD Craftsman owners here. Geeze, the assumptions you made are partly why I accused you of having an agenda and the other reason is becuase you became extremely defensive of the Craftsman and started dissing the Ariens and in turn, dissing everyone that's tried to help you. That looks like someone with an agenda to me and I'm still not convinced you don't have one. And, having an agenda doesn't necessarily mean it's bad thing but, taking those you're asking for help and throwing their opinions around with no care, isn't the best way to make friends and influence enemies.

Be that as it may, you have the members responses and information. Take them and use them or throw them away, your choice.

Good luck

ps thanks dave

Go to the old WTB forum.

Click on the search option.

In the "Search For" Type "MTD"

Leave user name blank.

Go to "Max days from last Post" and in the "days" area change 7 to 365.

Go to "Display How many results" type 300.

This reading will give you the "horse" for this year that I was referring to, it is up to you to do the work, not me.  I've already done it.

You can also type in to the "Search For"  "Junk" and get some useful info also.

"ChrisS sophmorically replies  " OK Snow, Then get the Craftsman.""

That was not "sophmoric" that was me assuming that you made up your mind and telling you to get the machine you like.

You have not  liked what you have read here and I am beginning to wonder why you came here....

My last bit of advice is that I recommend that you spend some time tonight reading the posts over there on the old forum before you buy.

My advice has remained the same for years, research the machines, on line and in person, pick what you feel is best for you, buy it take care of it and be happy, if you do that regardless of what you buy I am happy for you too....

Good luck and Best to you Snow....

C

EMMO,

        Thank you for including me, I feel so left out!

  I have an MTD blower, which for me for  where I live is like hitting a tack with a sledge hammer.

   I use it about 1 to 2 hours a year. So it should last me 20 to 30 years with good maintenance! Murrays would be overkill here also!

                           Fred

I think I'm starting to have deja vu all over again.....

Didn't we do this whole dance at the old place not too long ago??

Emmo wrote:

Yes......We did.......

C

Original poster...

I understand you asking WHY? WHY? WHY?....  wanting details to back up information/opinions  given...
I'm very detailed orientated... and like knowing the finite facts...
I can get them... if I put in the effort to uncover as many as I choose... just as you are starting...

Folks here are not trying to sell you a particular brand/makemodel of  snowblower...
...no hidden agenda...

People who responded... put in quite a bit of the time and effort on this one post...
All for free !
...although our commission on Ariens is more than Craftsman brand  $$$     LOL...


If you want details... details... details... backing up the opinions given here...
I dunno' how you will proceed to do this... some suggestions have been given...
It may be time to go and check out 1st hand...

Most don't provide all the details of  WHY? even though you wanna' know...
I'm 1st in line...

It's just too time consuming to answer the WHY? in detail hundreds of times from different posters...


At some point we were asked to choose between 2 machines... We all know which one won the vote-of-long-term-value... and best-potential-fit for you...
...even if we don't understand all the details behind it...


Choosing a shovel will be easier...

Dave...

Hi SnowRemover,

I was going to suggest that you call some local small engine repair places that don't sell machines to get their opinions based on their repair experiences, but now I second Richie's post. Going back to your original post you indicated that you didn't want to do be concerned with doing maintenance. Having the Sears in house protection plan will take care of that for you. You will also have time to look at other brands, compare workmanship, weld quality, metal thickness, etc. while you are using the Craftsman. You will have a well maintained machine that can be easily sold via Want-Ad Digest or the TU if you decide to go with another brand or get another Sears. Now let's get some snow.

Dave_in_ct

In choosing a shovel would you recommend a snow shovel,sand shovel, square nose, or spade?
Long handle or short??
Fibre-glass or wood??
Straight handle or d-shaped
Ergonomic or regular??
Straight or curved blade??
Plastic or metal??
SSSSSSSOOOOOOOOO many choices !!!!! Not much time will snow someday????

(ALL IN FUN!!!!!!!!)   HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!!!!

T.J. terry

Dave_in_CT,

Thanks for the information.  It seems everyone was a lot nicer after my tirade.  You did say "People who responded... put in quite a bit of the time and effort on this one post...
All for free !"

I spend countless hours on experts-exchange.com helping people for free with their programming problems, so I know what its like.  I also spend a lot of time on the car/truck bulletin boards, and I will never berate a brand or specific vehicle model without evidence of the problem (backed up with a link to the story/article).

Now I know that there is a ton more information on cars than snow blowers - or my Google searches would have provided much better results.  The only reliability stats I can find on lawn equipment is in CR's buying guide.  Craftsman is highly regarded in everything (and so is Kenmore), but there isn't any information on snow thrower reliability.

From what I can tell, I get all the features I want in the Craftsman, I get the Service contract and if its anything like there lawn mowers/garden tractors it will be very reliable (though the Honda's are even more reliable, just cost twice as much).

I do appreciate what effort people have been put in, but don't enjoy (as a newbie) being called "Snowdude".

Lastly, and this is partially off topic, on another thread in abbysguide a person asked about computers.  I provided a link backing up my assertions, the Administrator (Peter) who was arguing the other point, removed the whole topic.  And the guy throwing names around on this topic is a Full-Moderator accusing me of an agenda (Marshall).

So I can't apologize for going off on a tirade when supposed Moderators and Administrators are berating me and deleting posts/topics (this after I complained no one backs up their statements - then I do it and get the whole topic removed!).

I'm done ranting.