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

Hi guys,

I just want to thank everyone in advance fot there thoughts and opinions. I currently live south of denver, co. this is going to be my third winter here. this is the first winter owning a home. my driveway is about 40' by 25' plus side walks and stuff. i have never own a snow blower and only plan on buying one. i have been to the local John Deere store whrere the salesmen recommended the JD over the Troy Bilt. then at Lowes tonight i get the opposite opinion. i am leaning more torwards the JD because it seems like more of a beast and has all metal construction. but there is about a $500 dollar price gap. all of the features seam about the same.

is the money worth buying the JD?

is the plastic going to freeze and break or is the JD metal shoot going to freeze and jam?

is the B&S engine better than whatever is in the Troy Bilt?

should i go for a smalled JD 928 to narrow the price gap?

any thing else is should know or consider??

Thanks
Nick

I just bought the JD 1130 SE. I have not moved any snow with it but it looks like good quality and good customer service support from the JD dealers. The price was also good. Jim

Youe would be better off with the JD, it is the same as the Simlicity that I just bought. My simp is slightly more hard core i think, steel chute, iron gears, bigger shafts, and the like, but as for the engine, you will not go wrong with the B&S engine. But i am not too famaliar with the Troy Built. My conversations were with Mechanics and guys that service the things, not just sales guys. I went to direct dealers though, not a box.

Think of it this way. Would you ever think that you are happy with buying smaller? I have about the same drive, and a 75' sidewalk in SE Wisconsin near lake Michigan, and have never worried about leaving snow in my neighbors yard or drive, it acutally lets me play longer, and I get to keep cleaning up from myself...

Just bought a 1130se and I think its great I was tinkering all day with it. No snow yet but it works great. Good luck on the purchase Im very happy with mine. I vote 1130se
Jason

Just look at the chutes.The Troybilt has plastic, JD is steel.I have never had a clog on my Simp all steel chute.Just put some wax on it before the snow season starts.JD has cast iron auger gear house vs that anemic looking gear case Troybilt has.Also look at the auger blades.Troybilt uses that cheap looking 4 piece auger blade setup JD doesnt.The choice is clear....

I was looking at some Yard Machine snow throwers at Chinadian Tire the other day. I swear, the auger gear drive looked like it came off a can opener! It looked as though the least amount of material possible was used for the gear case. Can't see too much lubrication fluid capacity there either. I can only imagine how flimsy the gears are. The large frame Simplicity machines are tanks compared to their mid size machines. Even though the mid size machines use an aluminum auger drive gear case, it's much more robust than what I saw on the Yard machines.