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").  

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.

Hey, this site is currently in beta mode. For a while, the Lawnmower forum was the end-all place to post things, but as we are going live tomorrow, we are removing irrelevant topics and moving others to their proper homes, now that all of the sections are up and running. Since there is no computer board, the entire topic was removed. As I explained in a private message to you, once the computer section is up, you can discuss things there to your heart's content.

SnowRemover wrote:

One of my neighbors  bought a Crafstman with the plastic chute last year and it broke during  the first storm.

Another neighbor bought a Crafstman a few years ago with the in home protection plan and had a lot of trouble with it.  The 48 to 72 hour turn around time turned out to be a week and it didn't help much since the machine broke twice during storms.   He got so upset he went back to Sears and tried to get them to take it back.  They ended up giving him a 10% refund.

By the way I have to say I like your pragmatic approach to deciding which machine, if any, is right for you.  My advice would be to get someone else to clear your driveway.  You seem to have a fear of machines and if your not the type of person who can do minor repairs and make simple adjustments your probably getting in over your head with a snowthrower.  They work in a harsh environment which means they'll break. And they'll most probably break at the worst possible time.

Edited: Removed my personal opinion on Crafstman vs Ariens.

Snowremover, You like to call em as you see em, I decided to take you up on it. Why don't you like it? It's how you came across!

You never did say you were going to go to Sears, Ariens, Simplicity, Honda, Toro, etc. and look at the differences in person. Not everything can be done on a computer screen.

You don't like to maintain and service them yourself? 3 year service contract? What are you doing the 4th year and beyond. Gonna trade it in and buy another, service it yourself, pay someone to service and fix the 4 year old MTD or renew the agreement at the then current price on the old MTD?

I just got off the phone with Sears and learned that the service agreement is for 3 years on all lawn and garden equipment, snowblowers included. You know that it doesn't cover oil and filter changes, spark plugs or blades if it's a mower, correct? That's the vast majority of your maintenance! Oh, they'll do it but they'll charge you $50 bucks. You know it may take up to two weeks (max) for them to come to your place to fix your snowblower too, right? Maybe it will wait to snow for two weeks after it breaks?

So, for the price of the Craftsman plus the service contract price, give or take, you could have a Premium machine that has a history behind them of longevity and great performance. You still have to do your own maintenance regardless which way you go. The warranty on the Ariens, for example, is three years, the same length of term you're covered for if you pay extra for the service agreement.

So I guess you get either an MTD that someone drives to your house to fix, and pray they actually get to you first or, for the same money, you get a premium machine and have a machine that has better odds of serving you reliably for years to come.

Quote........

"""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")."""

I guess you're assuming this won't be needed on the MTD? If it is needed, I hope it's not needed right before it's getting ready to snow and you're waiting on the Sears man to come.

 And finally, Consumer Reliar magazine doesn't test snowblowers for 7-15 years to come up with an opinion, they don't have the longevity factor figured in at all, if they say they do, it's a mere guess. Frankly, I'm not so sure about there testing for the days they actually do it.

I could care less which you buy but, I suggest you listen to the majority of these dudes on the forum that have been doing this for many, many years. It's their experience they are giving to you, not their ego!

SNOWREMOVER, Consumer Reports 2005 Buying Guide-Page 301-#4-Craftsman 88790 "CR Best Buy" (meaning value for what you are paying, not overall quality best buy), Last place in the 2 stage catagory-#12 Craftsman 88700. Page 302 last place in the single stage Gas Snowblower category #20-Craftsman 88140. They do not appear anywhere in the electric category. I am reading my data and statistics and am seeing Craftsman rated at best 4th place, and then last throughout the rest of the report. This is not to say that they do not work, and/or work well; it is just not showing well as a brand in the C.R. report. However, I also agree with the others and you should follow your gut, otherwise you will never find contentment. Thanks, Walt

I tried to past some stuff from the old forum and it didn't post right here.

Nevermind anyway. Buy the Craftsman. It's what you want.
hickster

My advice would be to get someone else to clear your driveway.  You seem to have a fear of machines and if your not the type of person who can do minor repairs and make simple adjustments your probably getting in over your head with a snowthrower.
--plugger

Nice first post - though I would bet my house this is only your first post under that user name.

I've ripped trannies out of chevy's, old datsun's.  I know my way around any pre-pollution car, especially those with points (anyone remember messing with points?).

You bring nothing to this topic except for venom and spit.  Now go away.

glad to see chopper made it over.................

Marshall,

Sorry I didn't actually say I looked at the models.  I went to Home Depot and spent an 1/2 hour with a guy who said he owned the Ariens 8526.  I used my neighbors Craftsmen 88790 to clear my driveway a week ago.

AFTER looking at the models and using one of them, I came here.

I hope that clarifies everything.

Marshall wrote:
As stated in my previous post, Sears will cover the Snow Thrower for $150 for five years - in home service.  Simply go to their website and add any snow thrower to your cart.  Then you will be given the three or five year protection plans.

And you're completely missing my point.  I have no problem doing maintenance.  But the Ariens manual clearly, undisputably says, if you screw up the belt maintenance it can cause injury or death.  Doesn't that mean that the belt assembly, if it breaks will destroy the housing surrounding it and possibly kill the person using the machine!  That's the only reason the Ariens service worries me - poor housing surrounding their belt assembly.

But the Sears protection plan gives me piece of mind if the unit is not of "high quality".  What if it breaks down, as many hear feel MTD products are not up to Ariens quality - now, for the same price as the Ariens, the unit will be repaired or replaced for five years.