Abby’s Guide > Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) > Discussions > Snow thrower noob, Need advice please.
Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions |
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drifter
Joined: Oct 13, 2010
Points: 115
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Snow thrower noob, Need advice please.
Original Message Oct 13, 2010 12:06 pm |
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Hi Everyone, snowblower noob here.
First off, GREAT forum.  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
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Re: Snow thrower noob, Need advice please.
Reply #100 Oct 19, 2010 2:34 pm |
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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.  |
Steve_Cebu
Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 888
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Re: Snow thrower noob, Need advice please.
Reply #103 Oct 19, 2010 8:07 pm |
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He's always been very prompt and efficient, so no problem there. Seems his business has grown considerably since we last worked together. He now has four of those huge tractors, and he's now into excavation and landscaping. I went to his house to give him a cheque this afternoon, but his wife now handles the contracts, and she has to come and measure my yard tomorrow. That estimate I had earlier, might change. Better not be too high, or there may be a new toy in my driveway after all. I should have the final price by tomorrow afternoon.
I had a guy who did my driveway, but he'd often be late, do it wrong, pile up the snow 12 feet high. It did not work out for us and because it's a plow his skid shoes are set roughly an inch high so that means we always had an inch of snow after he plowed. Plus all the snow got built up in 2 places because you can't move it to the sides with a plow and then I'd have to shovel out the driveway in front of the garage because he wouldn't backdrag. So that was 1.5 hours of shoveling after a bad storm to clear out the stuff he'd plow up to the door. He'd usually only plow once per storm unless it was really bad. Needless to say I'm done relying on other people to do my driveway. Oh and sometimes he'd come after we had to get to work and we had no way to get out.
So I'll gladly do it myself to avoid all that hassle. Hopefully the guy you are hiring will not be the same way. But as you have said you are retired, so plan on being done last. You might end up wishing you had gotten the snowblower.
"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."
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Steve_Cebu
Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 888
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Re: Snow thrower noob, Need advice please.
Reply #104 Oct 19, 2010 8:07 pm |
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He's always been very prompt and efficient, so no problem there. Seems his business has grown considerably since we last worked together. He now has four of those huge tractors, and he's now into excavation and landscaping. I went to his house to give him a cheque this afternoon, but his wife now handles the contracts, and she has to come and measure my yard tomorrow. That estimate I had earlier, might change. Better not be too high, or there may be a new toy in my driveway after all. I should have the final price by tomorrow afternoon.
I had a guy who did my driveway, but he'd often be late, do it wrong, pile up the snow 12 feet high. It did not work out for us and because it's a plow his skid shoes are set roughly an inch high so that means we always had an inch of snow after he plowed. Plus all the snow got built up in 2 places because you can't move it to the sides with a plow and then I'd have to shovel out the driveway in front of the garage because he wouldn't backdrag. So that was 1.5 hours of shoveling after a bad storm to clear out the stuff he'd plow up to the door. He'd usually only plow once per storm unless it was really bad. Needless to say I'm done relying on other people to do my driveway. Oh and sometimes he'd come after we had to get to work and we had no way to get out.
So I'll gladly do it myself to avoid all that hassle. Hopefully the guy you are hiring will not be the same way. But as you have said you are retired, so plan on being done last. You might end up wishing you had gotten the snowblower.
"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."
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FrankMA
Location: Merrimack Valley/Northeastern Mass
Joined: Jul 1, 2010
Points: 587
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Re: Snow thrower noob, Need advice please.
Reply #105 Oct 19, 2010 8:37 pm |
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I had a guy who did my driveway, but he'd often be late, do it wrong, pile up the snow 12 feet high. It did not work out for us and because it's a plow his skid shoes are set roughly an inch high so that means we always had an inch of snow after he plowed. Plus all the snow got built up in 2 places because you can't move it to the sides with a plow and then I'd have to shovel out the driveway in front of the garage because he wouldn't backdrag. So that was 1.5 hours of shoveling after a bad storm to clear out the stuff he'd plow up to the door. He'd usually only plow once per storm unless it was really bad. Needless to say I'm done relying on other people to do my driveway. Oh and sometimes he'd come after we had to get to work and we had no way to get out. So I'll gladly do it myself to avoid all that hassle. Hopefully the guy you are hiring will not be the same way. But as you have said you are retired, so plan on being done last. You might end up wishing you had gotten the snowblower.
Before I bought my own home, my wife and I rented a house from a very nice couple for a few years. They had a plow guy come every storm and plow our (their) driveway. I never realized how much damage a plow does to your driveway and surrounding areas until after the snow melted away that season. These guys can't remember the layout of every home and the landscaping took a beating.
Long story short... this aspect and the one Steve_Cebu layed out would easily justify the purchase - that and not being reliant on someone else to clear you out. I've got 150' just to get to the EOD and then deal with whatever the town plow guy left behind. If I ever shoveled it once because I had to, I'd make sure I'd never have to shovel it again! Plus I have a bunch of walkways/runways leading to the back of my property, woodpiles, sheds, etc... that represents about 1/2 the amount of area I need to keep clear. It's definitely your call to hire someone or do it yourself - I'm sure you'll make the right decision when it's all said and done.
Toro Wheel Horse 522xi GT, Honda HS928TA, Honda HS621AS, Honda HS520A, Toro CCR3000 (work in progress), Honda HS624WA (sold 08/23/2010), Stihl BR550 Backpack Blower, Stihl MS250, McCulloch MS1635, Honda EM6500SX Generator
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drifter
Joined: Oct 13, 2010
Points: 115
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Re: Snow thrower noob, Need advice please.
Reply #106 Oct 19, 2010 9:41 pm |
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This contractor used to do my driveway for the previous owner of the house. He did so for 17 years, so he knows the property well. He's always been very prompt, back-drags where it's required, and has that monster blower, which doesn't leave me with huge snowbanks. I was always 100% satisfied with this guy. He's also just down the road from me, about 1 1/2 mi away. This guy used to do my driveway for the first few years I lived here, so I know him well.
When the other guy who gave me the freebies came with the huge highway plow, he had only the bucket (no blower), and that created a big problem insofar as snowbanks limiting visibility when trying to exit my driveway. He did eventually push back those banks a few times, but the corners of the huge bucket on his machine often dug out huge chunks of turf, even though it was frozen. He also left deep ruts from the tread-marks of his tires. It was so bad that I had to ask him to do only the mouth of the driveway, and I would do the rest by shovel.
This saga is still not over though, until his wife hands me the final figure. If she gets greedy, I'm going ahead with the purchase of the snow-thrower. If gas prices rise again when the economy starts to turn around, those snow removal contracts will follow suit.
That said, I also went to the local drivers' liscence bureau today, and started the process that will give me the necessary paperwork to cross the US border. Plattsburgh New York is less than 2 hours away. It'll probably take a few weeks to complete because I need a new birth certificate, but I should have it well before the snow flies. I'd save at least $500. on a new Honda HS1132
In the meantime, I'm still looking for a nearly-new still warranteed snow-thrower, and some of the dealers I spoke with are calling me. This thing ain't over 'til the fat lady sings.
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