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

I have made a few comments about this machine in a couple of other posts, but wanted to do a review on a stand alone thread. 

I want this thread to be a place where I can log some ongoing experiences with this machine since it is really new.  I purchased it 12-1-08.  First let's look at the specs.  I pulled these right off of the Sears website:

Product Overview:
Stages:	Two stage
Stages:	Two stage
Item Weight:	293.0 lbs.
General Warranty:	2 year limited
Chute System:
Directional Chute Control:	Yes
Chute Material:	Steel
Chute Rotation:	Yes, single motion
Maximum Chute Rotation:	180 deg.
General Features:
Impeller Diameter:	12 in.
Auger Style:	Serrated drum
Auger Type:	Curved blade
Number of Rotor Blades:	3
Snow Dispersal:	Impeller
Drive System:
Propulsion Type:	Wheel engagement
Speeds, Forward:	6
Speeds, Reverse:	2
Motor-Engine:
Amps:	1.5
Engine Brand:	Briggs & Stratton®
Series:	1450 Series
Electric Start:	Yes
Starter Type:	Electric
Torque Ft./Lbs.:	14.5 ft. lbs.
Wheels & Tires:
Material:	Rubber
Type:	X-trac
Capacity:
Clearing Path:	30 in.
Controls, Overall:
On/Off Type:	Lever
Primary Location:	Consoles
Primary Type:	Lever
Controls, Safety:
Safety Override:	Yes
Safety Lock:	Yes
Convenience:
Starter Mitten Grip:	Yes
Handles:
Handles Fold For Easy Storage:	Yes
Color:
Overall Color:	Red
Dimensions:
Intake Height:	23 in.
Installation Requirements:
Setup:	Fully assembled
Included with Item:
Accessory Type:	Starter mitten grip

Have you heard of other pulleys failing?  If not, it was probably just a one time deal.  The pulley was more than likely defective from the get go. 

I'd keep a spare auger belt handy.  That's for sure.  Drive belts seem to last for ever but auger belts don't.  You might want a spare set of skids too.  Working on a big paved driveway, that was the big wear item on my machines.  If you know a welder,  I'd look at welding a piece of 1/4"  x 1" x 6"  flat bar on the bottom of the skid a little less than flush with inside of the mounting side.   Curve the ends up a bit.   If you're working on gravel, you might want to make the skid a little bigger.      It will last much longer and give you a bigger contact patch to slide over stones etc.  .

Under reviews on Sears website for the blower there was one other person who spoke of pulley shearing. Really only two incidents that I am aware of and that includes Rick's experience. It sounds like other failures were just common shear bolts as expected.

I am keeping the following spares on hand:
-auger belt
-drive belt
-12 shear bolts & nuts
-4 impeller shear bolts & nuts
-One impeller pulley (on order)
-Extra Lube, grease and synthetic oil

Great idea on skids.
This blower is located at my cabin. You have to ride snowmobiles in with a cargo sled. I actually have skids set at lowest position. I am trying to keep 2-3 inch base of snow in areas so sleds have easier time crossing over entrance to property. We often get so much snow it is even challenging to not get stuck with the sleds.

borat wrote:

I wire loomed all of my cabling today. Not sure if there will be any negatives to this. Just trying to prevent and potential abrasion. I know it doesn't look like it in the pictures but cables cannot easily touch muffler without physically pushing the cables down.

Love your pictures Snowmachine, nice documentation with the photos.  Will be nice to see how all of the preventative steps will help in the long run.

Rick

I've only got a few hours on her now so decided to swap out the oil today. Manual said 5 hours but that seemed like too long.

I am using Amsoil 5W-30.

I notice manual says 18 ounces but mine took 22 ounces.

You don't want to over fill it.  If you do, you'll see indications of too much oil by evidence of oil being blown out of the the crank case ventilation tube which is routed from the valve cover to an exit near the intake of the carb.  Too much oil can cause seals to blow.   Chances are it will be fine if you confirmed your oil level with the dipstick. 

I put in 18 ounces and waited a few minutes. It still wasn't at top of dipstick so I slowly added and checked on one minute intervals until it was at top of dipstick.

I will double check again before next use. Changing the oil is sure easy on this B&S.

Thanks!

Duplicate post.

I downloaded the B&S engine manual.. even more confusing.

For my engine B&S says: Oil Capacity 26-28 oz (0.77 -- 0.83 L)

Snowmachine, I'd like to thank you for the inspiration.

I recently tore down my perfectly good garage in order to facilitate the strategic parking of more vehicles in my yard. It's a long story but I do not regret the demolition, aside from the fact that I have nowhere to store or work on anything.

Last week I bought a 2008 Craftsman 14.5 Torque Rating Snow Thrower (917.881063) as a "scratch & dent" model from Sears. I brought it home, where it sat, unceremoniously parked in the backyard under the shoddy coverage of a blue tarp. The yard has changed from frozen ground to mud and back several times already and the snow blower just sank further in every time. It has been with much despair (and much ribbing from my old man, with his climate controlled attached garage and home to his newly acquired Ariens) that I've been reading these posts. It was quickly apparent that there are various maintenance items and general tinkering that can and should occur with this machine. Since I had nowhere covered, heated, or lit, I was at a serious disadvantage in terms of working on machinery in an area where it's always god awful cold and pitch dark by 5pm every day.

Last night just before bed I was checking the pictures you posted on Picasa of your "cable looming" job. Not only were the pictures very detailed and well displayed, I couldn't help but notice the blue tarp on which your machine was parked and the odd patterned wall paper in the back ground - not typically what one would find in a garage. Those people blessed with proper storage for mechanized gadgets would probably overlook these small details but for me it instantly screamed out "HE'S GOT IT IN THE HOUSE!!!. "BRILLIANT!!!"

So at 11:30pm I hastily transplanted the entire contents of my mudroom into the basement with a few jumbled armloads. I laid out a blue tarp, ramped my 293lb machine up the back steps, across the deck, and through the door into the mudroom. I now have lighted, heated, electrically equipped storage and working space! It was really the first time since the Sears showroom that I've even gotten a good look at the damn thing. I'll no doubt be spending the coming days pouring over it, manual in hand, cold beer close by, til all hours of the night, just because I can. I'm thrilled. My wife, on the other hand, may not be quite so enthusiastic but that's besides the point.

Thanks again for the inspiration!

The machine, btw, was purchased at a fairly substantial discount at Sears as "Repaired - Defect Unknown". It had never been used and I can't find any signs of it being worked on or any damage. Odd. I did make a few passes with it the first night home and everything seems to be in good working order. The factory warranty is the same as a new one and for the first time ever I purchased the 5 year service plan. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

I'm looking forward to the next good storm so I can really put it to a worthy test before wheeling it back inside....