I got tired of shoveling my driveway 3-4 times per snow with the wind drifting it over again within a few hours. I went to the local Ace and bought a cheap, homeowner model. I bought a MTD branded Yard Machines 21" with a 123cc Honda knock-off on it. Save the MTD & clone bashing, don't want to hear it.
I have been impressed with the thing so far. The little 123cc is probably in the 3 HP range and it has a lot of guts. It only starts to bog down when you stuff it into drifts taller than it is, but then that is me just testing the limits of an already anemic machine and isn't the fault of the machine. The thing starts on the 2nd pull, every time. The first pull brings about a stutter and second pull it roars to life.
I am amazed at how little fuel it uses. It holds 2 quarts and for my driveway that is a healthy 2 cars wide and 3 cars long it uses about 8-10 ounces to move 6+ inches of snow and eat through the 12+ inch drifts.
Oil is 5w30 and some of the literature recommends a 5w30, some stuff specifically calls for 5w30 synthetic and then the chart shows 5w30 or 0w-30 synthetic. For no more use than this thing will see I will probably just use left over 5w30 M1 from my uncle in it and change every spring when I store it. I will be doing a few short changes to flush out any garbage from the manufacturing that some of these clones are claimed to have in them.
I figure for $350 if it lasts a few years and I can make $20 a driveway for neighbors, I won't be hurt.
I have been impressed with the thing so far. The little 123cc is probably in the 3 HP range and it has a lot of guts. It only starts to bog down when you stuff it into drifts taller than it is, but then that is me just testing the limits of an already anemic machine and isn't the fault of the machine. The thing starts on the 2nd pull, every time. The first pull brings about a stutter and second pull it roars to life.
I am amazed at how little fuel it uses. It holds 2 quarts and for my driveway that is a healthy 2 cars wide and 3 cars long it uses about 8-10 ounces to move 6+ inches of snow and eat through the 12+ inch drifts.
Oil is 5w30 and some of the literature recommends a 5w30, some stuff specifically calls for 5w30 synthetic and then the chart shows 5w30 or 0w-30 synthetic. For no more use than this thing will see I will probably just use left over 5w30 M1 from my uncle in it and change every spring when I store it. I will be doing a few short changes to flush out any garbage from the manufacturing that some of these clones are claimed to have in them.
I figure for $350 if it lasts a few years and I can make $20 a driveway for neighbors, I won't be hurt.
