Gonna Buy a Snowblower

[boraticus]

That's a lot of driveway for a single stage snow thrower. My driveway is similar to yours other than being 110 feet long with a slightly smaller turn around at the top. The house is on a hill with a 10% grade.

If the snow isn't too deep, say, less than 2", a single stage will work fine. Get into wet or deep snow and you'll be looking for a dual state with 8 to 11 h.p.

I use a 28" Simplicity with an 11 h.p. engine. It gets the job done effortlessly.

I strongly recommend you think hard about the single stage.

 

[oily boyd]

Quote:
I strongly recommend you think hard about the single stage.


+1

I have an 8HP, 24" Simplicity and my neighbor has a single stage Honda. That Honda is a little beast and can keep up with my Simplicity about 90% of the time. When we get to a heavy amount at the end of driveway, that Honda takes 3X the effort to clear it.

 

[JTK]

I agree that the single stage machines are great. I had a Toro CCR2000 along with my larger MTD 2-stg machine. Some driveway clearings I preferred the Toro, others, the larger machine. It depended on the depth and consistency of the snow. The narrower with and shorter height of the single stage machine can make a lot more work for you depending on the storm. If I were to go the single stage route, it would have to be a Honda or a high dollar Toro (as opposed to the cheaper ones).

Joel

 

[Milkman]

Joel,
Being that you are from Bflo, I imagine you have removed your fair share of the "white menace". We only got 49 inches of the stuff in February.

Anyone have an idea as to MSRP of the Honda ?

Any diffferences if I bought at "Big Box" or a OPE Dealer ?

Thanks

 

[dwendt44]

Quote:
as Mrs Milkman might want to do some snow removal in her spare time.


Now that's funny.
My brother thought so too! Wify claimed she could horse the old, big heavy blower around, so brother got a hydro Honda 8hp; she hasn't used it in eigth years. (too complicated?)

With that size area, a two stage 7hp and up are the ticket.
Get a small one and you'll regret it after the second use in the winter.

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: Milkman


Anyone have an idea as to MSRP of the Honda ?

Any diffferences if I bought at "Big Box" or a OPE Dealer ?

Thanks



I believe they MSRP at $599 and you can only get them at dealers that sell Honda OPE.

Joel

 

[Best F100]

I already gave my best suggestion earlier - a used 2 stage, 2 cycle, Toro Snowblower. (Toro Powermax 6000 or Toro 826LE).

My second best suggestion, if you are open to buying a used model - and the one I personally own, is this:

A used, Toro CCR 3000. This is a 5HP, SUZUKI powered, single stage snowblower. Mine has been good for up to 10 or 11" of snow (even wet snow). Even makes short work of the end the the drive, snowplow build up - with moderate effort. The Suzuki engine is a Superior engine and more powerful than the more common R Tek, powered, Toro single stage models. The best part, is that this single stage snowblower is light enough to be picked up, and stored on a garage hook, by your wife.

Again, poke around on craigslist or ebay. It has been out of production for at least 6 years, so if you can find one, you can buy it on the cheap.

 

[VNTS]

Dont buys used, most are units people get rid of because of problems. Only caveat would be if you find someone moving to Florida and is getting rid of their equipment.

I cant emphasis enough buy quality, 2 stage and max HP. Size of drive way does not matter but if you get wet heavy snow that is what seperates the good units from the junk. Pay once, buy once also buy it from a reputable dealer. wiht 80 ft long drieway I would get at least 10 HP s 2 stage and simplicity and areins are the best.

 

[boraticus]

I'd buy a used quality brand snow thrower (Simplicity, Honda, Yamaha, Ariens, Toro) five years or older. Why? They're built better than new machines. They're made of heavier steel, many have bearings in places where new machines have plastic bushings and components are generally more robust. New machines regardless of brand (other than Honda/Yamaha) have taken the quick route to profits by building their products to a much lesser degree of quality. Sure they look good on the show room floor but don't be fooled by that. Look at the thickness of the steel, the diameter of the shafts and axles. Many have electrically controlled actuation for chute and deflector.

Don't want to sound like a Luddite but complicated electronics on a device to do the work of a snow shovel does not impress me. Cranks and levers are more suited to the job than electronics.

I do agree that a quality unit will make the difference between getting the job done with much less effort. Last April, we received a 30" dump of heavy wet snow. My 11 h.p. Simplicity powered through it and was working fairly hard. My neighbour's vehicle was snowed in at the bottom of her driveway, the snow ploughs had deposited a five foot high berm behind it and she was out trying to dig out with a snow shovel. I walked over to see if I could help and noticed her 10 h.p. Craftsman sitting in at least three feet of snow. It was out of fuel. I gassed it up and started clearing snow. I made two passes up the driveway with it then parked it in her garage. I went home, fueled up the Simplicity and finished the job with it including the five foot bank at the road. Nothing against the Craftsman. They're fine under reasonable circumstances. However, when things get real tough, a well build, well designed machine will make the job much easier. I did three big driveways that day with the Simplicity.

Even at the end, it was throwing snow high and far. I was impressed to see how it plastered the heavy wet snow 15 feet and higher up the sides of the light poles down at the street.

 

[Pete591]

I have a Toro 2-cycle with a Suzuki engine and a Honda 2-stage 8HP.

The Toro paddles right down to the pavement and is great especially in lighter and lower amounts of snow...once the snow gets heavy and wet or you get a 8"+ snowstorm...the Honda rules.

If the Honda goes...it's all I need.

I also had an Ariens 8 HP that was every bit as good as the Honda...except the Tecumseh could be temperamental with the float sticking now and then...but a good machine. Now they come with Briggs engines. Ariens actually invented the self-propelled 2-stage snowblower I believe.

 

[Warstud]

The best one is here:


http://www.gizmag.com/for-the-man-with-everything-the-v8-snowblower/4889/picture/17578/

 

[Milkman]

I called around a bit.

The Honda's are going for $650

Is this a fair price ? (Pull Start)

Thanks

 

[Quattro Pete]

$650 is MSRP, right?

I got mine for $599 last August - the local dealer was having a small sale. I guess you could wait around a bit and see if they put them on sale, but don't wait too long - they tend to sell out by the time the first snow storm rolls in.