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

  I haven't seen any posts about small throwers.  I want something narrow that will fit in a single-car garage that actually has a car in it.  24" would be the maximum, but less would be preferable.  The driveway isn't large, and it is paved, but once I have my hernia operation I'm not going to be interested in shoveling any more snow for a while.
  In particular I'm hoping for a machine that can gnaw through the ice build-up that occurs because I tend to just drive over the snow for a while until I get around to dealing with it.
  It needs to be able to throw the snow a decent ways... there's a retaining wall beside the driveway and by the end of the winter the drift might be 8' above the driveway.  It really sucks to fling the snow up there with a shovel.

  Any thoughts?  I'm not afraid to spend money on a good machine.

  I'm assuming the serrated augers are for ice?  Do they work?

I.M.Mike

I don't think there's anything that will fit your requirements.  Especially the bit about packed snow
and ice from having driven over it.  For that you need something really heavy and strong enough
to force its way through.  Something like a plow blade on a pickup, tractor or skidsteer loader.

Do you have a service in your area that can come and clear your driveway for you ?  In my town
it  costs about 250$ / year.  We have corn fields nearby and I presume that is where these huge
tractors come from.  There are several different companies working the same streets.  Takes
them about 15 seconds to do a driveway.

Paul

The Ariens 520EC or 520E fit your description.... Something like $599 and $699 I believe....

  Who stocks Ariens in the SW Ontario area?  I'm near Brampton.   I tried the Ariens  website and the dealer locator was broken (you can specify provinces and postal codes, but it doesn't have an option for "Canada" as the country).

I.M.Mike

What if you try one of these small 24 inch gear driven snow blowers. I have no experience with them but they look like they will throw snow a long ways.  http://www.vimeo.com/2410249

Another option would be a 6hp single stage blower. Now the benefit of this single phase machine is that it is extremely easy and quick to use. And while it will not dig through the packed ice or throw snow a tremendous distance it will provide you with an incentive to clear the snow before you tramble it.  These blowers are light and fun to use in small storms. Why I have one that I whip out before I leave for work in the morning.  Its electric start, it takes me all of 2 minutes to clear my driveway and away I go. Its so fast that I litterally run up and down the driveway.  Bingo, back into the garage and off to work.  More than 4 inches and I need something bigger. 

  Those BCS jobbies are interesting, but they seem to be a 'system' where you buy a base unit then bolt on stuff to turn it into a wood chipper, roto-tiller, or whatever.  It's pretty large.  They push the notion that other units 'need' to use two stages because of belt slip.  Well, from what I can see in that video, their unit *is* a two stage unit, as is the big 3-point-hitch unit (no belts involved) for the tractor at the folks' farm.  So either I'm confused about what differentiates between a single and dual stage thrower, or they are confused.

 Anyway, along that same line, the single stage units aren't likely to be able to fling the snow high enough to get over the retaining wall drift, I wouldn't think.

  Actually, maybe I *am* the one who is confused.  I assume that a single stage unit is something like one of those electric Toro snow-shovels which fling show straight forward using rubber fins on a rotating drum, whereas a dual-stage uses an auger to collect snow to the center of the unit where an impeller flings it out a chute in whatever direction the chute is pointing.  Am I confused?

I.M.Mike

  I'd second the Ariens suggestion.   I've used a few 5520E's which I think are not available anymore.  They were smoking machines, chopped snow very well, and could easily throw an honest 25 to 30 feet and more in very good conditions.  I think the 520EC has one gear and something at least I would stay away from.  The 520E has forward and reverse speeds I think 6 and 2.   They are available in 20 and 24 inch widths.  The 20 is small and will require more time out in the driveway.  They spill snow to the sides a bit but if you need a small footprint the 20 is fine - 24 a bit more convenient. 

   Possibly you could check with a dealer to see which would be closer to the 5520E - a 520E or a 624E.