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

For single stage users, can these be used on end of driveway hard chunks? I hear you can break it up first with a shovel but seems there would still be hard chunks. Would it beat up the machine? I live in New England and because of several different factors I have to compromise and the single stage Toro 621 would be my best compromise right now. I have a driveway that is a little over 2 cars long and do a run of about 10 yards by the mailbox all EOD and clear out an area going to the deck in back on one side and for the oil man on the other that would both be over grass one about 10 yards long and the other about 15 yards long. Have you ever done EOD with one of these.

The grass is a difficult surface for a single stage - they tend to like nice flat paved surfaces the best.

I have used a John Deere TRS21 5hp two cycle single stage snowblower for the last 15 years for all my snow removal. I live 25 miles south of Minneapolis. I clear 20x35 feet of asphalt driveway, 400 sqft of cement sidewalk and a 4 foot wide by 70 foot path over grass. We also have the mailboxes on our side of the street. Once the snow banks on our side of the street are 2 feet high the city plows do not plow to the curb for fear of damaging the mailboxes. So we end up with 70x5 feet of EOD. The TRS21 handles all of it. Sometimes I have to push it through but most of the time I tip the TRS21 forward and let it do the work. The grass path requires pushing since the auger chews up the grass if tipped forward. When the snow is heavy EOD the TRS21 needs to take partial passes in order to maintain throwing height and distance.

My jacked up Craftsman does a pretty good job on EOD under most circumstances.  However, trying to tackle a frozen pile of snow/ice with it will be a challenge.  Rubber paddles don't quite have the chipping/grinding ability of steel augers.   If you hack the EOD down to small enough pieces, the SS machine with throw it alright.  Otherwise it will certainly be a chore.

Dosnt seem like much a  compromise you are asking a SS machine to do 2 out of 3 things that dosnt do the best. It can handle EOD pretty good if you get it right away with in reason. By going sideways on it taking bites instead of wasting time trying to blast a full bucket straight through to the street if have a normal one car drive.  It takes some of your muscle to do that and add that your doing 30 feet of street also. Compromise going away pretty fast. Doing the grass just as much or more muscle trying not to tear up the grass too much. A snow scoop push in and pull back a chunk works way easier on a grass path. No lifting and can dump it on hard surface and blown it with your machine would be a compromise

I have a Toro 418 it had a hard time handling the hard chunks at the EOD so I had to break out the 2 stager, although the 621 is a bit larger and powerful so it might do a little better.  If you keep up with the snow and don't let if freeze overnight you should be okay.  I understand you need to make a compromise and if your situation is purchasing new then there are 2 stages available in the same price range (i.e.; Snow-Tek 920404).  I would suggest looking at a 2 stage in the same price range, you wouldn't want buyers remorse when your using a SS when you could've bought a 2 stage for the same price.

if you live in an area that gets a lot of snow and e.o.d. accumulations are an issue, a two stage is likely your best bet.  Better to have a machine that can do the most difficult job effectively.   I used nothing but two stage machines for going on 25 years.  Always got the job done but I also did a lot of shoveling of too.  Small accumulations of snow just isn't worth hauling out the big two stages machine.  A rink shovel or SS machine is often a better choice.

First off, it's always easier to spend someone else's money, but.....

Get both a single stage and a two stage.

Buy them used and it shouldn't break the bank. Take your time and maybe just buy one now and wait for a deal on the other one. It's possible you might find that whatever unit you buy now will do the job for you.

Two drawbacks I think of other than the expenditure:

1. Storage for two machines.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. There's a good chance you will end up with both a four cycle engine and a two cycle engine so you will need two gas cans.

I would get a 21" single stage, the most capable one with decent power and best ergonomics you can afford.  The Toro 621 is an awesome machine, despite people's reservation about Chinese engines.  Toro will stand behind their products and you won't find Toro badging someone else's snowblowers.  A Toro is a Toro and nothing else. 

A snowblower is a long term use equipment so make sure you get something you are happy with and never have remorse that you should spend more.  These are more useful than most people think.  EOD can be tough on them, break them down with a spade to the consistency that a single stage can ingest,  just make sure you don't try to throw chunks of frozen sheet ice, they will and bend the auger.  Plus, this projectile is very dangerous to people and property.  You hear and know when you are beating up the machine too hard with the chunks.  For 2 years, I've used a tiny Toro Powerlite and a spade on a double car wide x 50 feet driveway, this took quite a while.  Then I got a Honda HS621 and this was perfect size for most applications.  With a good spade and the HS621, EOD was no problem, smart technique and patience is key.  Also getting out there frequently and dealing with the EOD so they stay manageable and doesn't overwhelm the machine or the operator.

Spend $50 and get a good snow scoop to try on the EOD.  Works well for me.  I like the scoops with the ergonomic handles, like this one: http://www.acecalumet.com/snowtool.html

You should be able to find them at your local hardware store - I've even seen them at my local WallyWorld.

Maybe this might help put things in perspective...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FI-AFIA56yo&feature=related