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

I live in Calgary - we get a moderate amount of snow, rarely more than 8 to 10inches at a time, usually in the 2-4" range. The issue here is snow drifts.  I live in a north facing house at the south end of a cul de sac and get drifts all the time on the bottom half of driveway.  My driveway is for a 3car garage - not super long (probably 25ft, but easily 40 ft wide. I have been reading lots about single stage throwers - i like the fact they clean to the pavement, but am concerned if they can throw the snow far enough or can chew through a foot deep snow drifts a few times a year.  The other option of course is the 2 stage throwers - they seem a bit big and I've read they don't get down to the pavement. I am also not the  most mechanically inclined individual in the world...

Help?? Any thoughts on what my best bets would be?  I need something that my wife would be comfortalbe using as well. Any comments are appreciated...

I would have to lean towards a 2 stage as well. The EOD garbage that I deal with is tough for a 2 stage let alone a single. I realize you can chop it up a bit with a shovel but even that can be a task sometimes. I guess the best of both worlds would be one of each! Money being tight these days however, would push me towards a small 2 stage like the previous poster stated - a nice compact 22" or 24".

The reference to muscling the single stage would be the effort required to get through the EOD mess. A 2 stage will simply work it's way though a heap of compacted snow, where the single stage typically requires a lot of pushing and pulling while slowly taking small bites out of a pile. Not being self propelled means you are physically pushing it into and through deeper drifts and piles. While I agree that a single stage is a perfect partner for smaller snowfalls as they are typically very light and maneuverable.

Keep in mind I have never used a more modern higher powered single stage and like I said, my previous neighbor before I moved had plenty of luck only using his toro single stage but for the heavy snow that we tend to get in New England on the coast of MA I am better served with a smaller 2 stage. FYI I picked up the compact 22 referred to above with the subaru engine. While I haven't had a chance to try it out, I wouldn't think that it would cost much more than a better single stage. $699 at the HD, and it seems like a quality machine. Hopefully this is confirmed when I get it out in the snow.

FrankMA wrote:
I agree with FrankMA.  I have both a single stage and 2 stage snowblower, as well as various shovels and ice chippers.  Depending on the snow or temperature, you pick the tool best for the job.  My single stage gets 75% of the work around sidewalks, paver walkways, and near the house or flower beds.   The 2 stage takes care of end of drive and sidewalk intersections, as well as helping out neighbors.

If you must have just one and EOD is a big issue, get a compact 22-24" 2 stage.  They have metal auger to break down hard EOD, and that is their only advantage over a single stage, IMO.   I would venture to say that a 22" compact 2 stage with 200cc engine is unlikely to have more throughput than a 21" single from Toro or Honda.  21" singles have better efficiency.  Their auger/paddle drivetrain is lighter and simplier and no self propel to sap power that should be going to the auger..

Thanks for all the advice.  I went for the 24" 2-stage...ended up buying a Craftsman/MD with a 249cc B/S engine, 11.5 lbs of torque. Wish me luck!

Good Luck!

superbuick wrote:

Here in Upper NH they use Honda and Toro at the colleges for clearing the walks for the students. They do not use singles stage blowers that I have seen or heard of. Single stages are limited and up here when you might get 12+ inches of snow a single stage won't cut it. They are good for places where you get a lot less snow.

I'm in northeastern MA on the NH border and I don't see many single stage machines around these parts. I think if you have small areas to contend with or if working a 2 stage is a problem then a single would be the best way to go. For a property owner with a substantial amount of snow clearing needs, a 2 stage is really the most practical way to get the job done. I'm not trying to start a single vs. 2 stage war - just stating that a single stage would not be the tool of choice for most of the storms in this area.

superbuick wrote:
Not where I live. Single stage is useless here.

The purpose of the forum is to help people.  Giving advice with exaggeration and miss information is not so helpful to the poster or others who’ll search the forum for information.

 

>>In fact, tipping over a 300lb behemoth to change the oil once a season

    Is “tipping over” a machine required for an oil change?  I could not tip over any two stage but can still do oil changes. Machines average 300lbs?   Why do you tip your machine over to do an oil change?

 

>>It takes about 15 years to wear out a rubber paddle here in New England,

The big machines have not been around that long so how do you know that?

 Single stages used as a main machine have their paddles wear way before 15 years judging from the many single stages I have purchased from owners with worn out paddles.

 

>>Check out the commercial snow guys and see what they're running - 2 stroke single stages....fast, powerful, effective, and basically maintenance free.

    I deal with quite a few commercial snow guys and none of them use single stages to do their main clearing.   A couple clear with two stages but most have plows.  Many have small single stage 3-5hp’s because they are light and very good at cleanup, paths and walkways.  I don’t know any that have the big single stage machines 6hp or above.  A few have come here to buy two stages from me and I guide them to single stages.

 

I have met a few people who have very small driveways that use single stages, 5hp or lower and like them.  They were fine with putting up with the shortcomings of a SS on bigger storms and EOD, no problem for them. 

A few around Boston with parking spots or condo owners that clear parking spots like the single stages.  I have only met one guy west of Boston who gets the same snow as me, had Ariens 5hp or larger and loved it.  I bought his Ariens ST724 two stage which he did not use anymore.  He had a double wide drive about 8-10 cars long.  I quizzed him quite bit and he said he had zero problems with EOD or any large storms in the last several years.  Hard to believe but that’s what he said and he stuck to it.

You must use a siphon pump or other device to drain oil.  Most of the 4 stroke engines I've worked on (a few hundred or so) have required tipping to get the oil out.  Short of removing the engine from the snowblower, this means tipping the unit for me.  The bottom line here is that it is a FAR more difficult and laborious procedure than mixing oil and gas, which is basically as messy and complicated as putting sugar in your morning coffee.  Perhaps 200 - 250lbs would have been a more accurate figure, but my point still remains the same regarding maintaining 2 stroke vs 4 stroke.  In your defense, changing the oil on a 4 stroke single stage is even WORSE.