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

So who exactly is still making snowblowers with the best parts?I keep reading about ball bearings as opposed to metal bushings or plastic bushings etc?Is it Simplicity?Or Honda?Do they use the better more reliable parts?A store next to me is selling a left over Simplicity Pro model 28" width with the crank handle for the chute rotator not the electric rotator.Would that have the better internal parts?

In the two years since this thread was last active, I wonder what kinds of comments anyone has about their particular experiences with Chinese engines.  I think it would be especially good to hear from small engine mechanics and dealers. 

I think reliability is directly related to use, need and conditions. If you have light to average snowfall a few times a year and perform proper maintenance then many of the cheaper snow blowers will work well. I bought my first 'new' snow blower in 96 for $900, MTD, and it is running great, with original parts. This year, I will put new belts in it before giving to my Dad. Now in my current situation, way more snow, drifting, hard packed snow, etc, I needed an upgrade. I also needed something my wife could start and use in -30, when I travel. So I went with a more expensive model, that I know is reliable. No experience with Chinese products, but Japanese are very well built and reliable. There are 20 - 30 year old Japanese models out there, still running strong!

coasteray wrote:
I think that some B&S engines are made in China now.  I recently purchased a new power washer with an 8hp B&S Intek engine on it.  I have to say that if that engine was made in China then they're doing something right.  First pull starting every time, smooth power, etc.

As far a snow blower reliability I think that the older machines were very reliable but then again they were mostly featureless machines so there wasn't a whole lot to fail.  My Ariens ST504 has never needed anything, not even an adjustment, in 20 years. Of course it was a very simple two stage and as basic as can be.  My newer Ariens 11528 has a lot more features that can go out of whack.  Headlight, remote axle lock, remote chute controls, hand warmers, etc.  So while I would be thrilled if I get 20 years of trouble free service out of it, I won't be disappointed if something needs replaced or adjusted on it.  Just so the transmission, gearbox, and engine hold up. 

Speaking of engines, what usually blows out first...the snow blower or the engine?

Paul7 wrote:

if proper maintenance and usage is performed, I would expect the motor to outlast the blower, esp with a 4 cycle!

rubinew wrote:
Especially with the cheaper build quality of the newer blowers. With an older blower -- say mid-80's or earlier -- I would say the opposite.

Bill_H wrote:

Depends on what is considered normal maintenance. For me, anything beyond Cleaning, Lubrication and Belts, and Spark Plugs is extra. I would be surprised to see a blower, even one from the 80's, go 30 years without a pully, bearing, etc, being replaced.

The problem is, most average ppl can change blower parts on their own, sometimes with a little direction. When it comes to the motor, these can sometimes be repaired with cheap parts, but can be knowledge and labor intensive.

Ex. I had a Honda CRX that had a timing belt fail premature, bent a few valves, needed a tow home. The average person would have taken it to a shop, cost around $1000 to fix. For me, it was <$200 and a day in the garage, better than before the damage.

Tthe average 4 cycle motor 'should' be good for 1000 - 1500 hours of use(likely more, just a conservative average), with proper maintenace and proper use.

With an average of 50 hours/year, that is 20 - 30 years that the motor should be good for. I would be surprised to see the rest of a snow blower go 20-30 years without some form of repair.

I'd consider replacement of wear items (bearings, belts, drive wheels, etc) as normal maintenance, along with the usual clean/lube/oil change/etc. for "us".
In regards to "average" person? I don't think the average person would be here. Most of us will get 10+years out of a machine, the average person will get  ... 8, 6? The thin sheet metal on many newer machines will rust through in 4-5 years if not taken care of. Trouts sees a lot of old machines that need repair, he could probably give us a better idea of what the average homeowner gets.

rubinew wrote:

50 hours a year with a snowblower I'll bet is way more than the average homeowner puts on a snowblower. In fact, I don't believe that engine wear is the leading cause of snowblower failure. I'd be stunned if that were true. If I had to do a guess on small engine failures, #1 would be clogged carburettor. After that, you probably see failed/failing belts and rust/corrosion damage of some sort.

tkrotchko wrote:

Oh Yes, 50 hours is way high! I just used a high number to show that even with that kind of use, the motor should outlast the snow blower.

For the record though, I did put ~50 hours on mine, Oct-Dec of 2010, but my case is extreme.If I was to guess, the average is probably closer to 20, depending where one lives.

Well Just seen Paul7 post, so I guess maybe 50 hours isn't high for some other people.

tkrotchko wrote:
I don't know about that.  I live in an area that has less snow relative to others on this forum.  We get a few 5-10 inch snowfalls plus a few times a season we'll get the noreaster that will dump 12 to 18 inches of snow.   When we get a sizable snowfall my driveway takes around 1.5 hours by the time I hit the EOD and clear the mailbox.  THEN I do the driveway for the divorced woman across the street.  Then my snow blower gets passed around between 4-5 other able bodied neighbors that don't have snow blowers...sometimes I don't see it again until the next day.  I'd guess that each snow storm results in around 10 -12 hours of use on my machine.  Four to five storms a season and I'm at the 50 hour mark.