Single stage snow blower

[bighonkintuba]

Does anyone have experience (good or bad) with specific single stage snow blower?

This would be for a 4 car driveway, front of the house sidewalk and front walkway. I had the use of an Ariens double stage blower for a much larger work area (longer sidewalks plus the equivalent of a 12 car driveway) that I think would be overkill for my current house.

I'm looking at a few Honda and Toro models rated for 9-12" snow (typical high amounts in NYC the past few years; not a big deal if I have to make a few passes during a heavier storm) with a pull starter. Easy oil and shear pin changing (and easily accessible spark plug during pin changing) is important. I'm looking to keep the cost under $800. I will be purchasing from a local, independent brick and mortar dealer that provides pick-up/delivery for a reasonable price should service be required (sold my pick-up truck).

Thanks.

[tofu]

I've had a Honda Single Stage since 1997 with electric start. It is simply outstanding. Before that I had an expensive powerful two stage with a cast iron Kohler engine. It lasted a long time and was very good except in heavy wet snow which always bogged it down. Two stages that are self propelled I think are best for schools/businesses with long stretches without a lot of turns. They are more difficult to maneuver due to the weight/size. My Honda single stage actually works better than the two stage in really deep snows and manages quite well in heavy wet snow. It also throws snow further than other single stages. It starts easily and the chute is easy to change direction and it is heavy duty. The ones with crank chutes like Toro etc. that you see always end up breaking.

We get a lot of snow and this thing has never broken down. I've got a 150 foot driveway and about 200 feet of sidewalk so there is a fair amount to snow blow. Maintenance is easy to do and oil/spark plugs are easy to access - I do this every year. Pads and the scraper bar I replace about every 5 years. I have not had to repair or replace anything else on it in 16 years other than the regular maintenance stuff.

One caveat: I know that in order to keep the costs down on lawn mowers (I have an Xenon deck 1995 Honda lawnmower as well) that Honda has cheapened some of the parts in the mowers that I've looked at in the box stores nowadays - I don't know if they have done the same to the snowblowers or if they are as powerful as mine. I bought at Honda dealers and who were willing to haggle on the price. I like small dealers run by the owners because they stock parts and assemble stuff properly which doesn't always happen at the box stores. For what it's worth all of my neighbors buy Toro's and those things seem to last about 5-7 years, are not as powerful, don't start easily after a few years and seem to bog down in wet snow. There are more sizes and they are less costly than Honda. Personally I think Honda makes the best small engines these days. My Honda commercial grade 5500 W backup generator I bought for the house in 1986 still starts every time on the first pull - runs like a champ - which it has to since Com Ed manages to have a power interruption every couple months.

[alloybrass]

I've had a number of snowblowers over the years, and by far the best one is my 6 horse Toro Power Clear. I have a 2 car pad and front and back sidewalks here in Minneapolis and can get a 6" snow cleared in about 45 minutes without working too hard.

I'm not sure about the spark plug location because I've never had to address it. I use Sea Foam in the pre-mix and then run it dry in the spring and it starts right up next season.

The Toro has good power, isn't too heavy to muscle around (or lift into a truck should you decide to get another one) and the rubber-edged Power Curve blades are easy on irregular terrain, such as transitions from concrete to brick or over sidewalk seams.

It's also easy to direct the snow direction while working.

[tbn.al]

Maybe you should watch this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FI-AFIA56yo#t=27" target="_blank

Of course I claim to know absolutely nothing about the issue being from Georgia.

[Rick F]

Looks like the two-stage blower would be much better at getting the snow into your neighbor's yard.

[bisontuba]

Hi-
I bought a Troy-Bilt 26" 2 stage elec. start snowblower last year from Lowes for under $800--and it did the job with the awful Winter/snow/cold of last year. I have two garages/driveways and my walkways/sidewalks. I also have a halogen light on the machine for blowing snow at night. The 26" is the minimum size I 'd buy-- probably should have bought the 28" for when the street plow goes through and snow is up over your shoulders...
Mark

[bisontuba]

[quote="Curmudgeon"]Mark,

What do you know about snow...?




Bwahahahahaha! [/quote]

I lived through the week years back where from Dec. 24 to Dec. 31, we got 83.1 inches of snow-just under 7 feet in one week. And then there was the Blizzard of '77 and '85--and last year we had 2 Blizzards--and numerous Code Reds ( no driving, but transportation only allowed by foot, Emergency Vehicles, Snowmobiles, and horse....)..
I know snow!
Mark

[tofu]

Maybe you should watch this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FI-AFIA56yo#t=27" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

Of course I claim to know absolutely nothing about the issue being from Georgia.

Wow a youtube from the manufacturer of the two stage - Ariens - and guess which one wins? Really - are you kidding? First off, that is the ideal condition for a two stage - dry - tall - packed snow. I would expect it to handle that well - especially being self propelled. The guy using the single stage purposely jacks it around and doesn't let the machine do the work. He operates it as if he is a moron. If this was wet snow that two stage would have clogged the chute every 15 seconds - you would give up and get the shovel out. Then there is the fact that the downstroke to a heavy 2 stage is turning the heavy beast. Notice that Ariens has the test be a continuous straight line. Yeah - most people will have property that never requires turns and manueverability. Quality Two stages have their place but most home owners will be much better off with a single stage with a powerful engine - the small single stages are not going to have the heft to throw heavy snow. And honestly $600 for a two stage buys you a constant repairs nightmare. A quality two stage starts at $2500 these days.

With way more moving parts and the self propulsion that 2 stage is going to have major expensive repairs. Especially Ariens which is really very poorly made machine these days. After 3 years it will be parked permanently in your garage.

[tbn.al]

And so........................I repeat.

I'm from Georgia. I do own a snow shovel, which I have used exactly 5 times since 1983, but I know absolutely nothing about snow...............................

2nd verse.................................I d'wanna.

[bisontuba]

And so........................I repeat.

I'm from Georgia. I do own a snow shovel, which I have used exactly 5 times since 1983, but I know absolutely nothing about snow...............................

2nd verse.................................I d'wanna.

Hi-
Go to Lowes or Home Depot and check out the different models. Heavy wet snow can clog a snowblower--just turn off the blade--and on my Troy-Bilt, they provide you with a little shovel which clips onto the machine--clean out the wet snow, turn on the blade, and you are ready to go. Also spray silicone inside the rotating blades before using--helps keep wet snow from sticking (old trick)....
Good luck!
Mark

[bighonkintuba]

Thanks for the replies/reviews so far (please keep 'em coming!).

My local independent dealer carries Honda and Toro models, so I plan to check those out very soon. I've only used a two-stage machine, so I'd need to ask specific questions about operation/maintenance with the machines in front of me.

[NCSUSousa]

And so........................I repeat.

I'm from Georgia. I do own a snow shovel, which I have used exactly 5 times since 1983, but I know absolutely nothing about snow...............................

2nd verse.................................I d'wanna.

Hi-
Go to Lowes or Home Depot and check out the different models. Heavy wet snow can clog a snowblower--just turn off the blade--and on my Troy-Bilt, they provide you with a little shovel which clips onto the machine--clean out the wet snow, turn on the blade, and you are ready to go. Also spray silicone inside the rotating blades before using--helps keep wet snow from sticking (old trick)....
Good luck!
Mark

Mark, Down here in the south, Lowes and Home Depot don't stock snow blowers until around Thanksgiving. Even then, the selection is VERY limited.
I'm in Raleigh, NC. We've gotten snow more than 5 times in the past 30 years, but not many.
Our reaction is similar to Georgia's - If there's snow, it glazes (melt and re-freeze) the roads and driving becomes a nightmare.

And yes, this really happened a few miles from my house - http://www.wral.com/-oh-my-gosh-raleigh ... /13390109/

Of course, it's probably better if folks from the south stays out of 'off topic' threads involving snow blowers instead of posting youtube links...

Edit - here's the image from the story linked above:

[tbn.al]

Blizzard cartoon.jpg

[Uncle Buck]

I live in Utah which gets pretty regular snow throughout the winter. I've got a modest driveway, but a corner-lot long sidewalk.

There are never more than a couple days a year when I wish I had a snow blower instead of my shovel. With a few inches of accumulation, when I get outside about the time my neighbors do, I'm halfway done shoveling before they get their snow blowers out of the garage, gassed up, and running. I never have to stop and unclog a shovel.

But like I said, there's always a couple of days a year when the accumulation is more than 12 inches or so, and I become covetous of my neighbor's equipment.

(And about a year ago the neighbor who has an ATV with a plow attached, who considers it fun to ride the neighborhood clearing the sidewalks, moved away. )

[NCSUSousa]

Sometimes folks in the South do things purely in jest.

Indeed. We find excuses to call our Madison (Wisconson) office during the month of December.
Somehow, we end up mentioning that we can still see the sun at closing time in December and the temp is closer to 54 (Fahrenheit, which sounds really warm to those guys).
That or we mention how Golf is a year-round sport here.
A few have moved here each year.

It may be better for me to stay out of snow/cold topics too, but I'm a Tuba player and there are lots of things I 'know better' than to do that somehow still get done.

[bighonkintuba]

We bought a leftover (new) 2014 Honda at a 'we don't expect snow any time soon' discount from a Honda dealer. Spark plug, oil check/fill, oil drain plug and carburetor drain are all within easy reach, so regular maintenance will simple. Simple, basic controls. Fits nicely in the back of a Honda Fit (funny how that works).

[Dan Schultz]

I live in southern Indiana and we get frequent snows between November and March. Not a lot but just enough to be an aggravation if you have to leave the house. That's the REALLY nice thing about semi-retirement and having a shop at home. When there's ice and snow I don't bother to leave the house. I don't even own a snow shovel.