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

I have to say, you guys are one hell of a group.  I was doing a search for snow thrower a couple weeks ago when I found the WTBL site.  Just as it was going down.  I've always been a shoveler, love snow, love to shovel it.  I just take my portable CD player, put on some hard rockin' music and I swear I can shovel the planet.  People could never understand why I liked shoveling and told me I should get a snow thrower.  I would tell them "I'm the snow thrower."  No need for a weenie machine.  I just finished building a home, moved in just before Christmas.  Lived in an apartment for too many years, but still used to shovel out the senior citizens in my building and walk arond the complex helping to dig people out.  I would also shovel my mom's and still do.  Two years ago I actually tried the snow thrower that was in my mom's garage.  It was an old Toro and would backfire among other problems.  But even in it's sad condition, I could still see the appeal of using one.  That's why it would drive my dad nuts when I would go out to shovel the snow because he wanted to use the thrower.  And he would get carried away.  I would be shoveling in the back and he would disappear.  I would go out front and wonder where the hell he was, then all of a sudden here's this big plume of snow up above the tall bushes by the house at the end of the block.  Yeah, it's a lot of fun.  When it comes to snow I guess...no, I know I'm still a kid, always will be.

I still don't own one yet, but was definitely considering one.  That's how I ended up here.  I could see a lot of people finding this site, reading the posts, and thinking you guys are all nuts.  But you're a good group.  In one of your posts, someone brought up the ised of having a big snow party where everyone gets togther with their throwers and just goes to town.  What a killer idea. 

I haven't bought a thrower but have definitely been looking at them and have been using a lot of what I read here as criteria to make a decision.  So thanks to all of you. 

Anyway, snow.  I live in northwest Indiana, aka the Chicagoland area.  Were supposed to get 6" to 8" tonight followed by 4" to 6" tomorrow, looks pretty promising.  That's more like it, and it's about damn time.

James

James........Welcome to the Nuthouse



Merrillville  or Valpo perhaps??

I'm glad I found this site before the move.

MountainMan is ready to party...I'm in agreement.  I'll bring my shovel and the drinks.

Dave_in_CT thanks for inviting a shoveler.  That's really cool, not like that skier/snowboarder feud that goes on at the runs.  And I have to apologize for spelling idea i-s-e-d, man, how much more could I have possibly screwed that up?

AJace thanks for the recommendation, it is very much appreciated.  I was going to ask for a recommendation, but I've been trying to gather as much info from the previous posts as possible.  Didn't want you guys to have to rehash things if you didn't want to.  I'll go to the Ariens' website to check it out.  I see a number of mentions concerning flat-head engines vs. overhead valve.  I'm going to have to look for more thoughts on the two on this site.

Emmo, Merrillville, almost a bullseye.  Just a tad southwest of there.  I'm in Crown Point, but it's actually unincorporated St. John as it's considered St. John Township.  Didn't move too far.  Lived in Schererville before that.  Are you from that area originally, or just familiar with it for some other reason?

Thanks for the welcomes you guys.  This is a very informative site.  I find the opinions on Consumer Reports Magazine interesting.  I've been a subscriber to that publication for about 3 years now.   

Have a good one,

James  

I'll take an OHV engine over a side valve any day. However, if the OHV engine is on an inferior piece of equipment, I will probably opt for the side valve and the better made machine.

The best for your money is the Ariens 926 DLE, and it has the OHV engine on it.  Great Sno-Thro. 

Torch wrote:
James.....I used to drive from Ohio to Wisconsin about 2X/month for several years.  I took US30 across Northen Indiana and picked up I 65 at  Merrillville.  This was a good place to stop for fuel and food.  Broke the trip up, nearly the half way point.

Again welcome!

Welcome Torch! to www.abbysguide.com (is your name from unreal tournament?)

We usually don't get alot of snow where I live, but this year when we did, it was a record in several years! Can you believe for years we were missing 6 to 10 inches of snow! Well, we got it this year and it stayed for about 3 days than it was gone. Well, I made use of it with my snow granade launcher. Kids loved it too. We have been getting warm breese out of the blue lately! We are talking like in the 50's I think its got to do with global warming. What do you guys think? Is that what you think it is?

Welcome!,

Once you start blowing you never go back to shoveling lol.....

C

Welcome Troch,

Enjoyed you post, your Dad sounds like a lot of us once you get going you can't stop.

We had about 4" here yesterday and I was doing all my neighbors, plus four new ones...

Wait till you get one...Just wait

Again Welcome to the board

Robert

Sure wish we had a post preview...

Welcome Torch.  I love the snow but hate shoveling. Since I got my snowblower a couple years ago, it can snow all it wants! I think it's a feeling of power, man and machine against the elements. Happy shoveling, and let us know if you decide to get a snowblower. You won't regret it

Dave

I have shovled snow and that is a piece of cake! Why don't you try shoveling threw clay and rock dirt soil

When it snows here, shoveling is easy. There is not a ton to do and it does not take too long. Now, I will admit that a snowblower would be alot of fun using on my small driveway, but would be overkill. But the reason I hate shoveling is not because of snow, its because of the digging I do in landscaping. That is tough work and you know it after doing a full hours worth or more.