there is a sears forum available and it has all kinds of folks telling it about their sears and some are x employees who can tell you best ones to get and sales etc..do a search like SEARS LAWN EQUIPMENT FORUM,that might work, you get the point..
i used to be on their all time,they know their stuff..
i would by SEARS on sale,best deal..
i have sears 7.75 hp brigs ohv.i think its 26 inch wide..
it clears snow as deep as 22 inchs. so far..
if i had a lot of snow and deep i would get like a 11 hp one and nice and wide.
most snow we get here in pa is like 12 inchs latety and my 7.75 works fine....