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drifter


Joined: Oct 13, 2010
Points: 115
Snow thrower noob, Need advice please.
Original Message   Oct 13, 2010 12:06 pm
Hi Everyone, snowblower noob here.

First off, GREAT forum. :vg: I've spent the last few days researching here, and the amount and quality of information is superb.

I live in SouthWestern Quebec.(1 hour n/w of Montreal) Our annual snowfall averages around 7 feet. We rarely get storms that'll dump 1 foot of snow, but it does happen.

My driveway is roughly 135' long, double-width, and a "Y" that extends around the front of the house. Total sq. footage of paved surface is over 4000 sq.ft. My driveway has a sloped entry of approximately 15-20 degrees, and 50' long, and the mouth of the entrance is roughly 40' wide. That 40' mouth is a bear to shovel out after the friendly snow-plow dude buries me in.

About me, I'm 62, and just recovering from a back injury which has kept me off work for just over 4 months now. In the past, I've been shoveling the driveway with a snow-scraper. This year, I'm going to buy my first-ever snow-blower.

After reading through many threads here, I realize there are many Ariens fans here. Although I've looked at the Ariens machines in the past, I think I'm going to go with the heavy-duty Troy-Bilt 33" machine. I'm still flexible at this point, and I'm also considering the Ariens 30"/305cc machine, but I intend to purchase by next weekend. (Oct.17th) I'm interested in your comments and opinions.

The Troy-Bilt unit I'm presently looking at has a 357cc OHV PowerMore engine w/electric start, 16" impeller and augers, 16"x6.5" tires, halogen light/hand-warmers, remote chute direction-deflection, and a 4 year warranty, for $1899. CDN. At 379 lbs, it strikes me as being a much more robust machine than the smaller 30" Ariens unit that I'm also considering (305 cc/$1599./245 lbs). Financing for the Troy-Bilt is 0% interest, no payments, no fees, for 1 year. I'm looking for a unit that can throw at least 30', and preferably over 40'. While the Ariens "32" Pro" series looks interesting, it's also $800. more than the Troy-Bilt here in Quebec, with a shorter 3 year warranty.($2699.)

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/2 ... ?locale=en


http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/stor ... PartNumber

I have no intention to use this machine commercially btw, otherwise, I might consider the Ariens 32" Pro series. The smaller Ariens unit (30") has smaller tires than the Troy-Bilt(15"??), no hand-warmers, manual chute deflection, smaller motor, smaller frame, shorter warranty, smaller augers and impeller, but it's $300. less than the Troy-Bilt. Doesn't seem worthwhile. What do you guys think?

The Troy-Bilts' "PowerMore" 357cc engine is manufactured in China, by the same folks who manufacture Harley-Davidson engines. It has a cast-iron cylinder-sleeve, cast-iron cam-shaft, and forged-steel crank-shaft. I'm presently awaiting confirmation of the16"  impeller rotation-speed from MTD..If it's the same as the 12" model, it should be 1123 rpm. That would put it at roughly the same tip-speed as a 14" impeller, turning at 1300 rpm. (roughly 53-54 mph.

Thanks in advance for your input.

Bob
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drifter


Joined: Oct 13, 2010
Points: 115
Re: Snow thrower noob, Need advice please.
Reply #91   Oct 19, 2010 11:41 am
That's not the same Yamaha. That video is for the 6hp Yamaha, the YS624.
aa335


Joined: Nov 29, 2008
Points: 2434
Re: Snow thrower noob, Need advice please.
Reply #92   Oct 19, 2010 11:46 am
drifter wrote:
I'm having trouble relating to the "difficult to handle" argument. I have no trouble throwing these machines around on a dry concrete floor, and I'd imagine it's even easier on snow,,, especially when the machine is in motion.

It is possible the tracks on the showroom were greased with silicone.  They slide around easier and does not leave rubber marks on the floor.

Outside of the showroom and on the driveway, especially on slippery surface such as compacted snow or ice, your footing determines whether you have enough traction to turn it.  In addition, when you're close to sides of the house or cars, you are closer to the snowblower, which gives you less leverage.  130 lbs additional over the HS928 is significant, I don't know what secret sauce Yamaha have to make that thing easier to turn.  But unless I can see how, I'd go with my gut feel on this one.

One other thing to consider is the bucket width, the best setup is to have the bucket /skid shoes just as wide as the outside of the tracks or wheels.  When the bucket is wider, when the skid shoes catch on a surface irregularities, it will want to turn the snowblower off course.  Unfortunately, that means only the 24" bucket is as wide as the side of the tires.  For these reasons, I don't like snowblowers that are larger than 30", it wanders around a lot more and takes more effort to counter act it.

At the showroom, the Honda HS1132 is significantly more impressive, macho looking compared to the HS928.  It comes with a price, it takes more manhandling to operate it.

Hope I've given you enough to consider before dropping $4K.
aa335


Joined: Nov 29, 2008
Points: 2434
Re: Snow thrower noob, Need advice please.
Reply #93   Oct 19, 2010 11:49 am
giocam wrote:
Here is a video of the yamaha at work:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6CaB4npNug
Not much snow in the video so you can't really see what it can do though.

That video does not do justice to the caliber of that Yamaha.  Not enough snow, operator does not have good control of speed, direction, and chute.
giocam


Joined: Sep 18, 2010
Points: 74
Re: Snow thrower noob, Need advice please.
Reply #94   Oct 19, 2010 12:15 pm
drifter wrote:
That's not the same Yamaha. That video is for the 6hp Yamaha, the YS624.

I know. I can't find a video of the new 9hp yamaha, but its performance is going to be the same as the 9hp honda which you can readily find videos of on youtube. The 9hp in both are extremely impressive but the 11hp blow them away. The 11hp honda performs almost comparably to the 12hp yamaha which will cost you over 6k with taxes!
drifter


Joined: Oct 13, 2010
Points: 115
Re: Snow thrower noob, Need advice please.
Reply #95   Oct 19, 2010 12:18 pm
aa335 wrote:
That video does not do justice to the caliber of that Yamaha.  Not enough snow, operator does not have good control of speed, direction, and chute.

That's the wrong video. That video is the 6hp Yamaha, not the YS928J.

Here's the only video I could find on the YS928J, and for some reason, part of the video has been blacked out, so you don't see it in action.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf7wbGr2Wt8&feature=related
drifter


Joined: Oct 13, 2010
Points: 115
Re: Snow thrower noob, Need advice please.
Reply #96   Oct 19, 2010 12:24 pm
Here's the Yamaha 1132

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HH2fnu1GRNY&feature=related
Steve_Cebu


Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 888
Re: Snow thrower noob, Need advice please.
Reply #97   Oct 19, 2010 1:05 pm
drifter wrote:
Here's the Yamaha 1132

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HH2fnu1GRNY&feature=related



They didn't say "eh" enough in the video. So it probably wasn't filmed in or near Montreal or Quebec province.

Great unit but it did ride up on that banking a bit.

"If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you live in New England."  "If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in New England."
drifter


Joined: Oct 13, 2010
Points: 115
Re: Snow thrower noob, Need advice please.
Reply #98   Oct 19, 2010 1:15 pm
Steve_Cebu wrote:

Great unit but it did ride up on that banking a bit.


At the speed they hit that hard-packed EOD, I'm not surprised. That machine weighs over 542 lbs too.
Steve_Cebu


Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 888
Re: Snow thrower noob, Need advice please.
Reply #99   Oct 19, 2010 1:54 pm
drifter wrote:
At the speed they hit that hard-packed EOD, I'm not surprised. That machine weighs over 542 lbs too.


No doubt it would chew it up. My Toro would but I'd have to go slowly. That Yamaha is an amazing machine, that's for sure.

"If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you live in New England."  "If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in New England."
drifter


Joined: Oct 13, 2010
Points: 115
Re: Snow thrower noob, Need advice please.
Reply #100   Oct 19, 2010 2:34 pm
OMG. I just heard from the guy that used to do my driveway. His price is lower than he used to charge in 2004. He's offered to do my driveway for $300./year, possibly $320.,,,,,, I'm crushed. This guy has a HUGE fricken tractor, with a monster blower that has 3  rows of augers.as I recall. Takes him roughly 5 minutes to do the whole yard.

I gotta confess, that after all this research, I have "new toy fever" and I'm chomping at the bit.
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