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

So I've had a 26" MTD track drive snowblower for about 14 years, and these past few snows have started knocking the thing apart.  I purchased the MTD for price, and I can say have I have no issues.  It's just that snowblowers take a beating and I'm at the point now where I'm fixing it too much in between snows. 

I have a very long driveway, with one short, steep hill, all paved.    Since I want this to be my last snowblower, I'm looking at the brands that I believe will simply work well.   My first thought is to get an attachment for the front of my tractor, but as this winter is unusual (I hope so), I think that may be clumsy and overkill.   I guess it comes down to that I believe I'd still need a hand blower even with the tractor.

I'm not sure if I want another track drive or not.  I have no issues with it, and I've finally gotten used to how to make it move in tight quarters, make it turn on a dime.  I like that you can hold onto it on the one or two steep hills.  But I think I could live without it.

So, I'm leaning heavily in favor of Ariens.  I like the all-steel construction, and they have a great reputation.  I'm thinking of something either in the prosumer or pro line.  I'd like something with at least a 30" clearing width.  I have experience with Honda portable generators and I consider they beautifully made, and so it makes me consider Honda seriously as well.   Their lineup seems smaller than Ariens, but all in all, I'd have to include them on my list.

I'm interested in folks recommendations here, keeping in mind that I want something that will be serviceable for a very long time.

I've got a few years left in my 'blower and I'll be probably looking for a replacement around the time I retire. I think I've decided that (unless I move) I'll probably go for a small garden tractor with a good HP:size ratio and put a blower on it. Not that my clearing area is all that huge (110' driveway tapers from 10' at the end to 40' up by the garage plus a turnaround) but we do get a decent amount of snow here. I'm figuring when I'm in my 60's I'd rather drive and get it over with faster and easier. It's gonna cost a whole lot more since I don't currently have a tractor, I know that. But post-65 years old I don't think I'll be happy with both a mower and snowblower that are walk-behind models. I'll have plenty of time for fiddling and extra-picky maintenance after retirement, there's no reason that setup shouldn't last me forever. Those are my thoughts now. They may change by then. But it's something for you to think about since it's a similar situation. Consider a tractor-mount (especially if you already have the tractor) and one of those Toro single stages for light or tight-area cleanup. Hmmm, I was proofreading (my typing sux) and just noticed you're in Maryland, a very different situation than here in Maine. You guys get a 16-20" or so heavy wet whopper every 7-10 years or so and small (8" or under), infrequent snowfalls the rest of the time?

Well, I just bought a nice JD540 for mowing, and I would consider an attached blower, but here in Maryland, we generally get about a 12" snow and a few smaller snows each season.   Nothing big.  I'm afraid that the tractor will be a clunky way to blow snow around the garages themselves, although it would be a big advantage on the 400' driveway back to the main road.

Having used the MTD through 3 major snowstorm in 6 weeks (and through many snowstorms over the past 14 years), I can say that the big issue with it is (a) lack of throwing power (b) chute gets clogged too quickly when you hit slush (c) the rubber friction wheel transmission wears out every few years,  it's an expensive part and it's too hard to replace. 

The first issue is the real killer because it means that when I get close to my garage, there's no good place to put the snow, and so you end up blowing it across the driveway and then more more time.

For all the discussion of MTD's being really terrible, they're not.  the "big stuff is mostly bulletproof, it's made okay for the price, and there are a few design decisions that make one or two things fussy.  But all-in-all, it certainly kicks most snow blowers butts around here.  I really have beat the crap out of it going into snowbanks that plows put by main roads plowing 48" snowbanks, and yet it keeps going.

So that was a long way of saying I think I'm coming to the conclusion that a walk-behind blower makes the most sense, but I want something that will chew through 12" of snow at it's fastest speed and throw the snow 50'.   I don't know if anybody makes one of those.

Right now, everyone has snow-fever, so I'm going to wait until May/June and then start looking.  I decided I want track drive (same as I have now).  I've gotten so used to it, that I can control it with good precision, and yet on icy hills, I just hold on and let it go without worrying about slipping.  Plus turning on a dime is a matter of letting go of one trigger.  More powerful engine is better for deep snow, and I don't like the rubber disk transmission (although it has the virtue of being fixable pretty easily).

The Ariens and Honda I think are the ones that fit the bill.  Probably will go less than the 30" I originally said.

i love the mtd tracked , no other snow blower has the dual turning control. mostely all just lock 1 wheel . i almost cryed when mine threw connecting rod this week during our 26in storm(2 days after 30in storm) .Tecumseh is out of bussness so it hard to find part,  the hondas (tracked) ive played with have the power needed and are 1/2 as lound ,and easier move around then ariens.  (dont trash your old one many of us that like our mtd would like parts and be will to pay for them..

I'm not trashing it.  I have a bunch of spare parts in my parts box.  I'm going to lube it and replace a couple things on it and either sell it or give it to my sister and her husband who are retired and got snowed in real good.  By March our snow is done, so I'll probably spend a Saturday afternoon fixing it and selling.  People will still have snow fever, so they'll still be thinking snow.  The motor is strong, doesn't burn a drop of oil so that is not a concern.

As I read people trashing MTD, I don't quite get it.  I've had this snow blower since '96, and it has gone through 36" drifts and hard packed snow, Yeah, I've replaced a few things on it, but that's true of every piece of power equipment I own.  It's built like a tank.  The plastic chute has never give me any trouble (I don't like the manual deflector angle setting, but that's a nit).  And now that I've used track drive, I'm pretty convinced it was the right choice, although it took me a few years to get used to it.  So people who use it once or twice who say "it's clumsy", they don't get that once you get good at steering it, you can make the thing dance.

Since I've only ever used a track drive, I was surprised to learn this week that most of the wheeled blowers only turn one way, so I'll still look at how the Ariens differential works on their pro unit.  But I'm adding Toro to the mix because it appears it allows you to control wheels individually.  But I'll likely end up with a Honda as it comes closest to my "wants".

tkrotchko wrote:
Maybe most but Toro has dual steer so it will turn either left or right. Ariens and Simplicity only turn one way as you say, although I'm not sure why. The Toro is very easy to steer and will compare favorably to your tracked MTD with dual steer. I had a tracked Honda and gave it up for the Toro because of the steering and the awesome chute controls. Honda is quality but there is no steering on it at all so it's a bear to move around. The honda does have the really nive transmission and very easy to start. tracks are awesome but need dual steer. If they had dual steer I would have kept it. Because my wife would have been able to use it. The Toro is easy to move around when it's off just squeeze both triggers and it's easy but the Honda had to be used under power for everything.

xmastruck - Your track probably has an HMSK80 and takes a 35373A rod which is hard to find.  It's been superceded by 36897A which is available.  Check your crank journal which could be .1.1860 or 1.1865.

You mean most track drives do not have dual steer?  That does change things considerably.

tkrotchko wrote:
Some might but I know for a fact that Honda doesn't, at least not until you spend $8,000+ and import it from Canada. I'm not sure about Ariens tracked models since the dealers here don't carry them. They say they have problems with the tracks.

In any case, I plan to visit the dealers before I make a decision.  I want to try them out first.

tkrotchko wrote:

That really is the best way. I know it swayed us. I hope you have the chance to try a Toro with the dual steering and their joystick chute controls. We really like ours and have videos up on YouTube. You really can't go wrong with any of the top brands.