I like the dill pickle chips!!!!

 

I apologize in advance for the long post. I thought about starting a new thread on either here or an f150 forum but remembered about this one and you guys are pretty close geographical to know how much snow we can get.

Let's talk about snow blowers. I'm thinking about picking one up this year. I'd be using it on a couple properties. Mine is a single car uneven ashphalt that is 25' long. We're on a corner so the plow dumps a shit ton of of slush in front of our place as the neighbors all park in the road.
My mother in law has a driveway that is 20-30' wide and 150-200' long. It's cement and flat. She is in her late 50's and also has my wife's grand parents (her parents) who are in the late 80's living there.
My parents have a 20' by 40' cement drive with a pad at the side of the garage. My step dad is 50, my mom is 58 and has bad knees. I'm doing theirs to help them out. He is capable but I know it would make it easier.

I talked to the lady at Sears the other day and they have 20% off since they are closing the store in Canada. She suggested a smaller 24"-34" width with a larger motor. This way it'll fit thru doors into a shed or won't take up the entire garage but will still have the power. Some of theirs had Briggs & Strattons or Powermores, sized between 208cc and 250cc.
She also told me the difference between single stage and dual stage.

After my visit to Home Hardware (Canadian equivalent of Ace) today and the Internet homework I started, I realized two things today. My budget ballpark which is around $1k plus taxes and Sears marked up their prices so there isn't really a deal.

The Sears ones are Brutes or Craftsmans. The prices might be off as it's a US site and not Sears but it shows what I'm looking at. They also have a Yardworks one.

I forget how much this one was. Sears has it tho, this site is US.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Briggs-...iggs-Stratton-27-in-Dual-Stage-Electric-Start-Gas-Snowthrower-1696619/300434291

This one is $1349 with 20% off.
http://m.sears.com/craftsman-24-in-208cc-dual-stage-snow-thrower/p-07188173000P

This one is $999 at Sears.
https://m.canadiantire.ca/products/productDetail/0603700P/false/false/false?selectedSku=0603700

Ok, Home hardware has these two. Both are dual stage but the snowmaster is light enough they class it as a single stage too. They are also the same price at $999.

https://www.toro.com/en/homeowner/snow-blowers/snowmaster-724-qxe-36002

https://www.toro.com/en/homeowner/snow-blowers/power-max-724-oe-37779


I'm liking the powermax from what I've read but am curious about the snowmaster as it's lighter and has a tight turning radius.

The powermax would be nice as I don't have to push it up the ramps as much.

Any input would be appreciated.

 

I'm questioning the parts availability of the Craftsman lineup after Sears is gone, I'm sure it cross references to MTD or some other brand.
The snowmaster seems odd, I wonder how it would throw wet and heavy snow.
Powermax looks pretty beefy, a conventional 2 stage is what I've seen work best in all conditions. The older toros (early 2000s models) I have worked on have been pretty well engineered

 

Maybe they have worked it out now, but the joy stick control was problematic and tended to break on the Toro's back when I sold them 2002-2005, but I think that was when it was first introduced. Between the cables and the plastic joystick itself there were issues. The Home Depot Ariens models (then) were far more heavy duty and built to last.

 

People said snowmaster handled wet stuff good.

Conventional is what it seems I'm looking for. Wet stuff, stamina for my MIL's runway. Powermax seems to be winning.

My wife is also leary about Sears. Home hardware said they service it. He also said Home Depot sells Toro but a different and similar model but they don't service. Makes sense that's where big box can suck. I'm sure replacement parts or similar replacement parts could fit and work. As far as motors, B&S have a reputation and any small mechanic should be able to repair/rebuild it.


The joystick seems to be difficult for older people to use. From what I got outta the comments. The rotating should have been kept gears and a rod (or traditional). I told my wife my first thoughts were of my childhood in the arcade. I'm 37, I don't see it being a huge learning experience. But yea it is plastic, I'm curious how it'll hold up.

Only thing with powermax (I'm sure all blowers) is I can't run fuel over 30 days old and can only have 15% ethynal as a maximum. Plus running it empty so there is no old gas in it.
The other thing is stabilizer, I am not a fan of two strokes and mixing fuel. I'm sure I'm making a mountain outta a mole hill. It's just one extra step I would have to get used to.


If the guides are metal, can I swap to poly or similar? Are they pretty universal or do I need to buy specific replacements?

One other thing I wondered, is down the road we plan on buying another house. One of my musts is a larger driveway leading to a 2 car garage. Is it possible to swap front ends and augers for a larger one? Is it worth it?

 

I would recommend a husqvarna. My buddy has one and it's a beast he spent right around 1k for it. Has trigger brakes that make it turn on a dime, led headlight, and joystick chute control.

 

Wait is your budget 1000 Canadian pesos or 1000 USD? Lol

 

People said snowmaster handled wet stuff good.

Conventional is what it seems I'm looking for. Wet stuff, stamina for my MIL's runway. Powermax seems to be winning.

My wife is also leary about Sears. Home hardware said they service it. He also said Home Depot sells Toro but a different and similar model but they don't service. Makes sense that's where big box can suck. I'm sure replacement parts or similar replacement parts could fit and work. As far as motors, B&S have a reputation and any small mechanic should be able to repair/rebuild it.


The joystick seems to be difficult for older people to use. From what I got outta the comments. The rotating should have been kept gears and a rod (or traditional). I told my wife my first thoughts were of my childhood in the arcade. I'm 37, I don't see it being a huge learning experience. But yea it is plastic, I'm curious how it'll hold up.

Only thing with powermax (I'm sure all blowers) is I can't run fuel over 30 days old and can only have 15% ethynal as a maximum. Plus running it empty so there is no old gas in it.
The other thing is stabilizer, I am not a fan of two strokes and mixing fuel. I'm sure I'm making a mountain outta a mole hill. It's just one extra step I would have to get used to.


If the guides are metal, can I swap to poly or similar? Are they pretty universal or do I need to buy specific replacements?

One other thing I wondered, is down the road we plan on buying another house. One of my musts is a larger driveway leading to a 2 car garage. Is it possible to swap front ends and augers for a larger one? Is it worth it?

I can't get the link for the Snowmaster to open, so I don't know anything about it. You could make poly guides I am sure, I've never seen a reason for it except maybe a deck. The scraper on the little suitcase 2-strokes is usually poly though.

It is not possible to swap front ends, it's definitely not economically feasible if it were. That said, I have a large driveway, it is at least 1000'. I use a blade 90% of the time (jeep or tractor). I haven't had the blower on my tractor in years. I just use my little 2 stroke for the decks, sidewalks and driveway. I sold my walk behind 2 stage a year after moving in here.

I usually drain my blowers and run them dry at the end of the season. It's not a big deal and usually only takes a few minutes.

 

Wait is your budget 1000 Canadian pesos or 1000 USD? Lol

Euros, I do have $9 in Canadian tire money tho. Shits like gold up here.

I'll look into the Husqvarna. See if there's any dealers around here.

 

Look at the Ariens too, the gearbox/transmission in the bottom was heavier duty, the chutes are actually metal, and the directional crank was stout last I knew. They were good machines when I sold them.

 

We got my father in law one for Christmas a couple years ago, it's a Cub Cadet from Tractor Supply Co. I did a bunch of research and found it to be the best bang for the buck at around $800-850. He's been very happy with it so far.

 

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Cub-Cad...08cc-2-Stage-Electric-Start-Gas-Snow-Blower-with-Power-Steering-2X-24/207161450

this is pretty much what I have. Wasn't worth it to me to get 2 more inches for the price difference. On my third or 4th winter this year, no problems, no complaints, no issues. The headlight is in a dumb spot and you are pretty much just looking at the chute the whole time. Hasn't bothered me enough to add a front light bar though :sonicjay:

 

Question about adding lights. It needs a stator, correct? If it has an electronic start it should have one correct? If not how hard is it to add? I'm thinking a couple led pods or a 18-20" bar. Nothing too draining.

 

Ones with electric start will have a stator, and will usually hold up to 35 watts if I remember correctly

 

Ones with electric start will have a stator, and will usually hold up to 35 watts if I remember correctly

Not really true on snowblowers... most of them with electric start use 110v and an extension cord.

If they have a light they should have a stator I think.

 

Well one with a battery, I mean. Lol

 

Decided I'd put insurance back on my Blazer I can't even get $1500 for, figure if I start driving it to work maybe it will sell, since I work on a busy road. Cost for 6 months insurance on a $38,000 truck for 6 months, $385. Cost for 6 months on a 15 year old I'd be lucky if they gave me $2,500 for if totaled, $311. PLPD would be $10 less a month, but if someone test drives and crashes I'm SOL.

 

That sucks ass

 

Decided I'd put insurance back on my Blazer I can't even get $1500 for, figure if I start driving it to work maybe it will sell, since I work on a busy road. Cost for 6 months insurance on a $38,000 truck for 6 months, $385. Cost for 6 months on a 15 year old I'd be lucky if they gave me $2,500 for if totaled, $311. PLPD would be $10 less a month, but if someone test drives and crashes I'm SOL.

Michigan's wonderful unlimited medical coverage that is REQUIRED.

 

Maybe we should make everyone buy car insurance, even people who don't have cars, then give it for free to people who can't afford it. It would surely be cheaper then.