snowblower reliability question Original Message Dec 14, 2008 10:00 am
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?
Location: Maryland
Joined: Feb 9, 2010
Points: 143
Re: snowblower reliability question Reply #29 Jan 19, 2011 12:34 am
Paul7 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.
Fair enough, but do you consider that "average use"? It seems that you fall into that "extreme" category that is almost a commercial use.
Re: snowblower reliability question Reply #30 Jan 19, 2011 12:47 am
tkrotchko wrote:
Fair enough, but do you consider that "average use"? It seems that you fall into that "extreme" category that is almost a commercial use.
Considering that we only get a handful of snowstorms all season I thought that it was average. I guess not though. It's just that I'll often read about posters here using their machines to clear one 10 inch snowfall after another. We get nothing like that where I live. But I see what you mean...if it was just my driveway then it would be well below twenty hours a year.
Re: snowblower reliability question Reply #31 Jan 19, 2011 9:30 am
I live in central Canada. No stranger to snow. We get an average of 83", just under 7' per year. My snow blower sees approx. 20 hours of use per year. I, on the other hand see considerably more because if the snow doesn't warrant a machine, I'll shovel it.
I've yet to see a snow blower with a blown engine. I've seen quite a few in the scrap yard with the engine removed but seldom if ever with a damaged engine. Not saying it doesn't happen but one would have to be very neglectful to let an engine destroy itself. From what I've read, the old Tecumseh Snow Kings didn't like to run low on oil and gave little or no warning when they let go.
