JohnWI

carlb wrote:
i.e. the "plastic" shoes. 

They're around $35 and seem to hold up pretty well and will NOT leave rust marks on your floor, either.

I won't add pressure to the handlebars as I want the machine to dig into the snow instead of riding up over it.  But I tend to slightly use my hips against one of the handles to keep it pointed in the direction I want.

Must disagree on the main logic.  I'll agree that a bit of slippage or chirping occurs upon engagement and is indicative of slight wear.

But there's no way that will compare with tossing a full load of heavy snow against the tension of the mechanism.  Most wear must happen with poor adjustment combined with a load.

Just my opinion.

Paul7 wrote:
Sounds like a perfect way of avoiding a warranty!  "what? you didn't drain the gas?...sorry dude, that GTS is null and void!"  And it saved them $3 by not having to install the shutoff and drain valve.

Shryp wrote:

Worked for me.  I tested by heading into a "wall" without the auger on and the wheels slipped instead of stalling.  At first my linkage was actually quite loose.  Now it's only barely loose. 

I think that the manual called for measuring the spring length before and after applying the tension.  It should stretch the spring about 1/2" (if memory serves me).

While I like my wheeled Pro28, I don't know if I'd stay with it in a tracked version from the money perspective?  I wanted a SOLID, American-made, blower at a (somewhat) "reasonable" price.  I got that with both my wheeled Pro28 and the Toro 210R.  And I won't lie to you that the little Toro gets more use (but the Pro28 saves me from a hernia/heart attack at the EOD almost every storm).

But now that we're in the $2500 range, I'd probably look at the Honda.  MOSTLY because of the hydro. 

If the Husqv w/hydro was near me, I would have loved to felt that in my hands.  But I didn't have one near enough to me.

"The Husqvarna 16530EXL features a hydro drive system and can easily consume 23” snow drifts, while clearing 30” swaths through even the wettest of snowfalls. Its 16.5 gross torque Briggs & Stratton Endurance engine is designed to start reliably in cold weather. Standard features include a drift cutter, weight bar, power steering and a deflector extension. In addition, the 16530EXL comes with a halogen light to illuminate your pathway when the days are short. Hand warmers add comfort while tackling your chores in adverse weather conditions."

Of course that is also wheeled, but at the same $ level as my Pro28... ???