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

I am looking to get the craftsman 2 stage snowblower. Anyone have this or have heard about this model?
It is a 305cc Briggs & Stratton engine with 13.5 torque.
CRAFTSMANŽ/MD 24" Wide Dual Stage Snowblower
http://www.sears.ca/gp/product/B002KS9RE0/sr=1-13/qid=1251694816/ref=sr_1_13/179-4957276-6470238?ie=UTF8&searsBrand=core&mqnodeid=396784011

How is the craftsman brand compare to Toro or Ariens? I am getting mix reviews on craftsman, some say it they are good, and some said to stay away from it.

Any suggestion or comments will be appreciated.

Joe.

Greetings Joe:

I put in an order to buy this snow blower. 

I wanted a 24 inch wide snowblower with a powerful name brand motor.  I found that there are very few 24 inch snowblowers with the 'big motor'.  A couple that are much more expensive that have the 305 cc B&S engine are the pro models from Simplicity (P1524e) and the Husqvarna 13524sb-xls. 

If you want a 305 cc engine with an Ariens you will need to go to a 26 inch wide machine.  With Toro,  you will have to opt for a 28 inch wide model.

Looking at the intake housing (from the photo), it looks like a Husqvarna built machine, which has a good reputation. 

I believe that some other models of the Sears snowblowers (with the plastic chutes) are made by MTD.

I was told by Sears that if anything goes wrong with the snowblower for 2 years after delivery date (that cannot be fixed with phone advice),: Sears will send out a technician to repair the machine at your place of residence.

A 13.5 (305 cc) B&S motor on a snow blower with a 24 inch wide cut should easily be able to get through the mess left at the end of the driveway. 

The price of $1199 looks like a good value.   By the way, Sears Canada is offering 100 dollars off on a purchase over $1000 (until Sept 20).  If you use their discount coupon, item # 941612386   (with an on line purchase) you will be able to buy this machine for 1099.99 (plus taxes). 


Regards.....Dan

Joe:

I just went to the Sears store today to take a close look at this model.

It has variable speed controls - just like the Husqvarna machine (check at Husqvarna.ca).

It has finger tip power steering (not clearly shown by picture at sears.ca).  It has a clean out tool as well.

Like Husqvarna, it has an all metal chute and a similar intake design.  It felt like a solid unit with a 1350 B&S Snow Series motor.

I look forward to getting this snow blower home, and especially to the first snow storm!

Regards...Dan

A lot of people think that Husqvarna makes their own snowblowers (which I did), when in fact they are produced by AYP (American Yard Products). Hence a lot of people believe that Husqvarna makes some of the Craftsman models when in fact it is AYP. MTD also makes some of the models for Craftsman as well. AYP also produces Poulan Pro I believe.

Thanks for the information!  Perhaps we are both right.

It appears that AYP does assemble snow blowers with the names Husqvarna, Poulan Pro and some Sears models.  But, from what I see Husqvarna owns American Yard Products.  In other words, Husqvarna is the parent company to AYP.  I found this information at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Husqvarna_AB

Sounds similar to a Corvette, that is assembled by Chevrolet, a division of General Motors.

Regards.....Dan

I never knew that AYP was owned by Husqvarna. You learn something new everyday.
Thanks for this Dan.

Thanks for the response "krank" ...my pleasure to help :).

For Joe... Sears has posted more information about their Craftsman 24 inch 13.5 snow blower (model # 52907) on their website.

A pdf file is on there that show the features and differences between the models.

The link is located at:

http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/00/00/05/60/68/76/560687630.pdf

Something that is nice about this 305 cc machine is that it has throttle control, which is great when you are letting the snow blower idle.

76monte wrote:
What do we teach our children? Don't speak your mind until you know your facts. 
I should listen to myself sometimes.

Cheers

Personally, I'd buy a cheap 24" 8hp piece of junk before I bought an expensive, 28" 10HP piece of junk.

None of the snowblowers built today (save honda) will last the 20 years like the oldies. Either get a Honda or save your money. Go to craigslist and get a snowbird's old machine.

i disagree.I have a 2006 simplicity pro and its as solid as a honda.All steel, cast iron gear case,etc. etc..I dont have electric chute which makes my machine more reliable.And it will last 20 yrs with proper maint..

I also think the robo-chutes are a waste of money, and a pain when they break. Most of us do driveways, and if you start in the middle and work out how often do you turn the chute?

I've never used a Simplicity, but I like their balance and the channeled handlebars. Pretty much everything else I see is the same sh*t in a different wrapper. I picked up a Honda 1132tas last Winter and can't wait to pull the tarp off it. Headlight is a little weak, but other than that I think this is the snowblower I'm going to be with for the rest of my life. Yes I know they're stupidly expensive, but I bought used at 50% off.

Im not a mechanic but I think the Simplicity uses better components than some of the other brands.Such as cast iron auger gear housing on their pro and large frame models.I was told also the internal components are of higher grade.Of course it has a friction disk like all the other brands.And now 99% will have B&S engines which is not a bad thing.Honda is a great machine but I'll take my pro which is built like a bull and has easy turn and throws snow a mile and wouldnn't clog even when the bucket was full with wet snow.

I can spray water 20' with the Honda. I'm not even talking slush. I can clean a 4&quot; deep puddle at the end of my mailbox. In 10 years I've never had a Honda clog, except for a blue tarp. Last year I got too close to the house and ate a gutter downspout. It chewed it up and spit it out.<BR><BR>The easy turn is a nice feature, but wheeled Hondas are so light I don't see the point. A 724 honda is very light, and will do the job (and then some) of a machine weighing twice as much. I've got a track model now and, yes, its hard to turn on dry pavement in the Fall, but there's nothing it can't do in the Winter.

I tried to get a simplicity, but their owners just don't give them up! And I'm not a new-price kinda guy.

I

I saw a Honda snowblower on youtube with a shovel blade in the front instead of a bucket.Has anyone else seen this video.The demonstrator had  cinder blocks on a pallet and was pushing it with the front of the blade.I assume to show that snow wont bog it down.I guess if someone doesnt need a tractor  w/a blade,this would be an alternative.

The blade was there to protect the cinderblock from being eaten.

Seriously, I broke a couple shear pins getting too close to things. Because it digs SOOO GOOOOD you're able to chomp through areas you can't get with a lesser machine. Two examples for me were the corner of my wood pile and a shovel my daughter left in the yard. It chewed the 1" dowel handle up and finally broke the shear pin when it reached the plastic blade. You could seriously chew the first 4" of sod off your lawn if you feel like it.

I don't think there's a machine out there that won't clear a driveway, at least once. Just don't buy an Ariens. My driveway is paved, and about 6000sqft. The tracks are a sacrifice on flat pavement, but now I don't have to shovel to my wood pile or my oil tanks, and the little rat dog gets a dog track in the back yard. For a "standard" 40 x 20 flat driveway I'd get a 724 Honda, or 824 toro or comparable simplicity. Smaller is better when you've got cars in your way, and an extra 4" in the bucket isn't going to save you any real time. Better to get a smaller bucket/engine ratio. Anything is going to seem an amazing improvement compared to a hand shovel.

This is very similar to unit to mine that I bought last year. A few differences from mine includ 30", 14.5, and obviously the color. Video in my signature at bottom. It worked well for me last winter.


jclub wrote: