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...

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.

The blowers I have seen all have oil drains on the bottom of the engine.  The older ones had it on the side and it could be easier to drain after removing a wheel.  The newer blowers all seem to have an extended drain tube on the back and look easy to change the oil on.  The old Toro I have with a Honda clone engine on it I did tip on its side slightly so I could get the oil drain bolt out without making a mess.  After tipping it a bit it made all the oil go to the other side and I slid an old oil quart cut into a funnel with the tip sticking out between the engine and frame and it made it easier to change without making a mess.

Superbuick - Easy on the wax and chrome polish. You're blinding me here

Makes me want to get polish out the chute controls but methinks that after this season, I may be flipping as I figure out a 'ole blue model

How did you ever find a 22 year old snowblower that looks as  good as that?

We owned it since new so we were able to maintain it and keep it nice and shiny :)

superbuick wrote:

Well to be honest it really depends on your needs. For certain If I had to use a big single stage, I could probably get it to work. The EOD would be a royal pain as it's a LOT of snow. But I'm in the middle of NH. Years ago when I lived in Mass, a single stage would have probably sufficed for my apartment there. For some people overkill is the way to go. No idea if a big single stage 2 stroke would be best for heavy snow but for most storms in Mass depending where you are in relation to Rt 128 you could manage.

The colleges do the walkways and they all use tracked Hondas or Toro's, of course they have major stuff for the parking lots. Some of those walkways are very long and would take 2 passes with a 2 stage. If you have a plow you can't do walkways without tearing up all the grass. I looked at getting a single stage Toro the 221 I believe but it would not have had enough oomph!

No doubt your single stage does the job for you and that's good. Mixing gas and oil is no big deal unless you mix it wrong some how. I don't think there is any one right answer, but for a big heavy EOD it's tough to beat a 2 stage.

superbuick wrote:
I get one of the highest annual snowfall amounts in my Country(Canada).
Not only have I never seen commercial guys use a single stage, I have never seen them in residential use either LOL. No doubt it serves you well, but they just won't cut it here.

Steve_Cebu wrote:

I hope so. This will be my first winter with one.

NotMoneyGuy: Nice picture.  Could you please reformat it smaller so it won't blow out the page formatting?

>>Commercial snow removal guys who need a snowblower don't drive around with a 2-stage in the back of their truck - they'd need ramps or a team of guys to get it in and out.

 

    Are you saying commercial guys can’t have ramps or have helpers?  Are you saying the commercial guys who were here and had two stages they used for their main clearing device were not here and I did not talk with them or see the two stages in the back of their trucks and on flatbeds?   Are you saying the ramps I saw or the helpers that were with them were not there?  You can’t figure out how to get oil out of an engine so getting a two stage out of a truck is way beyond that and not a surprise you have trouble with that also.  Today a guy picked up one of my high price premium expensive snowblowers and I got it into his trailer by myself while he was getting something from the cab.  Are you going to challenge that also?

 

 

>>required tipping to get the oil out.

   A slight angle and gravity work fine.  I don’t have to tip them over to get all the oil out.  I don’t have to lift them while they drain.  Are you lifting and waiting for them to drain?  That’s not a good way to do things.  You must be very strong if lifting for a side drain.  A board on one side does the job fine or roll it to a spot with a slight angle.  Changing oil should not be a labor as it seems to be for you.  If you were not exaggerating then you need to change your method.

 

   The comments about easy of maintenance merits on a two vs four stroke was not made by me.  They are different ball games and not enough trouble to be concerned about.

 

>>Here's a 22 year old single stage that has been used basically every storm on a 4 car driveway for 20 years.

     You’ve used a CR20E for your main clearing all the time for 20 years until 2007?  I’m very familiar with the  CR20E .  It’s cool but only for small storms.   It won’t handle much and if you claim it does fine.  The only way that machine would be viable is to go out many times before any buildup.  It’s a bit of a pain to use for the very limited low angle toss and very restricted side angle toss but if you like it fine.

 

>>It has never had new paddles and the paddles are identical to what you would get on a brand new single stage Toro.

    So no wear after 20 years of extensive use.  Great, you’ve got a winner there that beats your 15 year limit.  That’s a vane type with straight paddles isn’t it?   I thought flat paddle vain types were scrapped years ago.  What new Toro models have straight paddles these days?  I’m not familiar with any.   I’ve seen a few 20E’s with very worn paddles but they were probably doing 30-40 driveways per storm and not like the light load 3-4 driveways you have been doing for 20 years resulting in zero wear.   

   

   I use two stages and single stages every storm and plenty of times using a 20E.  If you want to claim it’s a great snowblower to use with no hassle for the amount and type of snow we get then fine.  If you want to claim it will even do big storms as implied by what you said, fine.   It can’t.  No worn 3hp CR20E is capable of the miraculous clearing in eastern Mass as you claim.  Your the one who said it was lacked power right?   

#1 "You’ve used a CR20E for your main clearing all the time for 20 years until 2007?  I’m very familiar with the  CR20E .  It’s cool but only for small storms.   It won’t handle much and if you claim it does fine.  The only way that machine would be viable is to go out many times before any buildup."

Yes, I have.  You also said "’Im very familiar with the  CR20E" and "That’s a vane type with straight paddles isn’t it?" - if you were very familiar, you would know that the CR20E has curved rotors - thus the CR.

#2 "Are you saying the ramps I saw or the helpers that were with them were not there?  You can’t figure out how to get oil out of an engine so getting a two stage out of a truck is way beyond that and not a surprise you have trouble with that also."

I'm not saying what you did or didn't see - I wouldn't be so ignorant as to make those assumptions.    95% of the guys around here using pickup trucks keep a small single stage for walkways, etc. that they toss in and out of the bed.  Are there guys who use 2 stages? Sure, but in my experience it is much less prevalent due to the time spent getting it in and out of the truck.  That cuts down on productivity, obviously.

To say I can't figure out how to change oil (or remove a snowblower from a truck) is a reflection of your own anger and ignorance that someone would dispute your knowledge.  I have no doubt you are an intelligent man and good at what you do.  Your experience and opinions may differ from mine on the performance of snowblowers, but I won't doubt your intelligence or ability to perform simple tasks - please show me the same courtesy.   I've probably (very probably) rebuilt more motors in more types of things than you've even heard existed (or maybe not?).  Adequately getting all of the oil out of a small engine with no oil pan requires tipping - we both know that - especially an L-Head tecumseh which is extremely dependent on regular oil changes for longevity.  You can put it up on boards, or tip the unit as I do, or use some other approach.  The same thing goes for lubing the friction disk assembly and tractor drive.  It requires getting the unit into a position other than sitting flat on the ground.  Not a big deal to you perhaps, but I'm not imagining it either.

#3 "I use two stages and single stages every storm and plenty of times using a 20E.  If you want to claim it’s a great snowblower to use with no hassle for the amount and type of snow we get then fine.  If you want to claim it will even do big storms as implied by what you said, fine.   It can’t."

I never said it was the best choice for all storms, but I disputed and will continue to dispute the fact that a single stage cannot handle larger snow.  The CR20E was used as an example of the life of the paddles (you also claimed I said it had "no wear" - I said it hasn't needed the paddles replaced due to wear - meaning they are still within spec).  Were I to point to a single stage that IS a great alternative to a small to medium 2 stage, I would point to the Toro 221QR, not the 22 year old CR20E.  The 20E is an extreme example as pointed out by both you and I, but for its size it is pretty capable, especially for a 22 year old machine.