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

This is what Husqvarna says:

The deflectors vary in size by brand. Does their length make a difference?

The length will  make a difference for sure. It will alter the balance to some infantesimal degree. Also do not forget that while the deflector is in use and in motion the weight shift will be playing havoc with machine dynamics. Even if equipped with a well designed deflector i would advise against using it. Study at length perhaps the many different snow removal methods that can impact efficiency.

O

From what I'm told...it's the girth that really matters... 

No, it's the angle.

aa335 wrote:
Plainly, you have skills.

re: the extension. I see it as an aid to extend the confinement of the slow before it enters the air and thus allowing it to get slightly further away before wind can affect it. Based on that assessment, I see it only helping with light snow.

JimmyM wrote:
Thank you, I'll take that as a compliment.  It's quite easy actually, I just have to point it up and it shoots all by itself.  Just pull this orange lever on the console. 

re:  those flappy things are only useful with the light powdery snow in windy conditions.

aa335 wrote:
It was a compliment.
"Shoots all by itself". WOW you DO have skills. I don't have an orange lever on mine. It's a CubCadet.

I agree. Light snow on a windy day.

Now blowing back is a problem. Even with a cab it is problematic, coating the clear plastic and blocking the view. This should keep the snow stream a little tighter. From the pictures it looks like it double the length on the Husqvarna.

Husqvarna marches to a different drummer in snowthowers. Their handlebar design is similar to Simplicity, but taken a step further. They use cables to remotely rotate the chute. Their friction wheel control is variable instead of notches. Their scoop has reinforcing beads on its back surface. And they decided to spend the money to manufacture and add this part that is probably similar in cost to drift breakers.

In many areas a great product isn't one thing, it is the sum of lots of little things.

DavidNJ wrote:
No problem with my cab, just a light tap on the clear plastic and the snow just shed right off.

DavidNJ wrote:
I would say that Toro beats its drum louder and faster in that regard, IMO.  They have closed drum auger (discontinued) , pivoting scraper, powershift models (discontinued)  which moves the wheel axle rearward to put more weight on the front bucket, and their PowerMax auger system.  Just to name a few out of the box innovations.

The problem I have with Husqvarna product is the dealer network.  Around here, finding a dealer who carries Husq products is harder than a BMW dealer in Detroit.  You can get some valued priced Husq products at Home Depot, but not the higher models.  While Husq webpage shows quite a few products, I can only find 10% of those locally.  They are the Peugeot of snowblowers.

aa335 wrote:

Peugeot has dominated the World Rally Championship:

The local Ariens dealer is also a Husqvarna, the others are about 30 minutes away. They are much more common for mowers than snowblowers. Porsche was once a similar boutique brand.

In the Deere/Husqvarna one seems a little better designed in the details, a little higher quality components, maybe a much faster impeller speed, has left/right freewheel steering and hydrostatic drive with both its advantages (low speed, moisture tolerance) and disadvantages (astronomincal maintenance costs). The other is appears more rugged, has a limited slip differential, very slick electric chute controls, and is $400 cheaper.