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

I was at a local Honda dealer yesterday and I was stunned by the prices on their snowblowers. In Canadian dollars, they were: 928 wheels: $3000 928 track: $3400 724 track: $3400 1132 track: $3500 I know they have tracks, hydro tranny, honda engines, etc. but they're at least $1000-1500 more than equivalent toro and ariens models. Is it gold, they re making?

  The design flaw in the MTD track was no dash mounted Idiot Light that flashed when over taxing the friction disk with those fine gripping tracks.

  Most people would know to let up on the drive clutch but some would not causing a flat spot on the friction disk.  That would then cause more problems and more rapid wear leading to a spiral of operator discontent. 

 In blizzard conditions one might not notice the blower stopped moving forward so a 6 inch flasher would have been useful.  Worse, in bad conditions the operator might even continue walking right into the dash and rupture his stomach or impale himself on the handlebar ends.  MTD is a cheap machine but you'd think OSHA would have caught this one.  They should have designed a more robust system in place of that stupid friction disk design.  Something like a 2 inch steel chain transfer system that would never slip like a poorly conceived friction disk.  The machine would always go forward no matter the obsticle and crush the bucket which would have been much better at getting the danger away from the operator.    

  To make matters worse MTD has a fuzzy service manual.  It leads many to believe the machine is at fault when being overtaxed and exceeding the design limits.  It mistakingly leads some to believe service is needed when none is needed.  More clarity is needed in the manual to square this point away and inform the servicer that slip is normal when exceeding the design limit. Many have applied the unneeded service and some often therby overly roughing the drive plate surface to the extent that, as hard to believe as it is, wear their friction disk out every year or two.  MTD has shot themselves in the foot on this one and should take care of it.

borat wrote:

I would only buy one of these in good conscience if I won the lottery but these always get my heart a pattering.

snowmachine wrote:
Forget the conscience.  :)  That's a nice machine.  For those prices, I was hoping there was a place to sit or stand while operating that thing.  Something like a Toro Dingo.

Again, for those prices, I'd like a yard tractor with front end blower, back end blade, and an enclosed cab with some tunes.  :)

aa335 wrote:

Considering the cost of this machine would'nt  you rather hire 1/2 a dozen laborers to shovel you out for about for about the next 15 years?

Starwarrior

aa335 wrote:
I wish my property was configured in a way that would make it more conducive to a tractor mounted snowblower/blade type set-up. I could make it work for the most part but would still need a walkbehind for certain areas and can't justify the expense (at least at this time). Perhaps one of these days.....

starwarrior wrote:

That's a tough one. I do enjoy clearing snow so I'm not sure if I'd pay someone else to do it. Although the thought of having perfectly manicured long winding driveway using only hand shovels by a large labor group is quite appealing. Nice perfectly shaped windrows on the sides.

FrankMA wrote:

There isn't one tool perfect for all jobs. Unless all you have on the property is a large parking lot. I would not give up any walkbehind equipment for home use. But having a tractor set up is fun, some times you want to blow snow, some times you want to plow.

I thoroughly enjoy blowing snow by myself so the laborer option is out.... a tractor mount sounds appealing though.

snowmachine wrote:
Snowmachine,

Looking at your sig, I see you have two electric snow shovel/blower.  What's your views on these two products?