Snowblowers

[mnstang]

1 minute ago, 800renegaderider said:

Jealous I’d love one of them with loader and hoe. Pretty cool he’s owned it all this time too 👍 

friend had a zl500 in high school I use to think that thing was so fast but I was also on a 380 lol

He has a loader and blade too, a back hoe would be nice.  Maybe I'll buy one someday if I get a money tree

[Zambroski]

50 minutes ago, mnstang said:

I'll never buy a cheap chainsaw or string trimmer again.  Did that once.  I don't care if they're free I don't have time to mess around with junk.

i think most go through this and realize, some things just cost more...and there is reason for it.  

[Not greg b]

I find the best way to clear snow is to sit in a chair and let the plow company do it 

[jdsky]

Made it to the cabin to clear out the first snow of the year.  Moved half a foot and looks like more on the way for Sunday. 

 

80's era JD blower with Tecumseh but electric start get's it going and it still runs decent.  Picked it up at a yard sale for $50.  All it needed was new fuel line and shutoff valve.  Also added some rubber belt to the impeller blades so it throws snow a bit farther.  Figured when the motor gives up I will slap a cheap chinese honda clone on it.

Not many Toro fans in this thread but this elon musk powered unit is nothing short of impressive.  Overpriced cheap chinese plastic but it weighs next to nothing and the 60V 6.0AH battery runs long enough to do all the walkways, fire pit area and decks. Have the leaf blower, line trimmer and chain saw as well.

[CFM]

What war snowmachine (behind jd snowblower) is that ?

Edited December 3, 2021 by CFM

[jdsky]

That's my 1970 Johnson Rat Sled. 

[Rigid1]

On 12/2/2021 at 11:44 AM, Zambroski said:

I read that too.  Good ratings on consumer reports also.  I thought that joystick thing to control the chute was nice.  Then I bought one.  It cracked the first winter…then broke soon after.  Not to fear though, a new one was available fo only $90 and putting it on was a simple as a half days work!  Which I did…then craiglisted it.  Also, went through three shear pins on the Toro.  Back to Ariens….where I’ll now stay.

Still, the Toro was a nice piece when it worked.  Very light and nimble.  I think for lower snow/shorter winter areas, it’d work well.

Problem with most mfg's now including toro is they are using "their own"  Chinese engines and parts are hard to come by and expensive..

[Crnr2Crnr]

finally had time to fire up the Ariens this afternoon, primed, light choke, first pull... victory.

all ready for Snowronavirus tomorrow  

 

[polaris7541]

gonna tell ya , find that round u dropped in the snow, my blower is not  happy

[snatchslayer]

I'm still rocking my 15 year old Mastercraft 29"  10hp

[Crnr2Crnr]

just got done doing ours and the elderly neighbors.  5" - base was a tad sloppy on the driveway so I jacked up the shoes a 1/4" and scraped the rest off when done.  good start, hope it keeps coming.

of course the plow hasn't been past yet to fill the end of those driveways with snow poop.

[CFM]

39 minutes ago, Crnr2Crnr said:

just got done doing ours and the elderly neighbors.  5" - base was a tad sloppy on the driveway so I jacked up the shoes a 1/4" and scraped the rest off when done.  good start, hope it keeps coming.

of course the plow hasn't been past yet to fill the end of those driveways with snow poop.

We have to pack down our first storm or two before shooting rocks or continually breakin pins with a snowblower or having a plow push a pile of gravel onto your yard.

#dirtroadliving

 

[800renegaderider]

7 minutes ago, CFM said:

We have to pack down our first storm or two before shooting rocks or continually breakin pins with a snowblower or having a plow push a pile of gravel onto your yard.

#dirtroadliving

 

Yup, found that out last year first winter with dirt driveway. I had to make a custom set of skid pads for my tractors blower so it sit up about a inch off the ground and they are long too so it slides over the gravel  easier. Basically cut the old skid pads straight at the bottom welded on some 2x3 square tube bent the ends up so they don’t catch on nothing. Works pretty sweet.

[polaris7541]

26 minutes ago, CFM said:

We have to pack down our first storm or two before shooting rocks or continually breakin pins with a snowblower or having a plow push a pile of gravel onto your yard.

#dirtroadliving

 

guess u r in the woods ,  got any zebras

[SayatodaU.P.eh?]

1 hour ago, Crnr2Crnr said:

just got done doing ours and the elderly neighbors.  5" - base was a tad sloppy on the driveway so I jacked up the shoes a 1/4" and scraped the rest off when done.  good start, hope it keeps coming.

of course the plow hasn't been past yet to fill the end of those driveways with snow poop.

I clear a good length of road in front of my driveways. 10-15’ past both far ends of both drives. Helps to empty their plow a bit. 
 

Found a small puddle of gas under the old Ariens, when I was out in the barn yesterday. I always shut the fuel off and run it until it quits because it’s always had a small leak from somewhere that I am too lazy to look for and fix. Guess I don’t have a choice now. 

[snatchslayer]

56 minutes ago, CFM said:

We have to pack down our first storm or two before shooting rocks or continually breakin pins with a snowblower or having a plow push a pile of gravel onto your yard.

#dirtroadliving

 

I do the same. But gave up and replaced the shear pins with bolts lol

[CFM]

41 minutes ago, snatchslayer said:

I do the same. But gave up and replaced the shear pins with bolts lol

Smush the 1st storm or two down with your truck (tires) or etc. psvk her down !

i did bolts once and boy did it bend the fuck out of one of the snow sugers in frt. granite vs thin steel says grsnite wins. Boy was that s pain the azz.

Edited December 6, 2021 by CFM

[CFM]

54 minutes ago, polaris7541 said:

guess u r in the woods ,  got any zebras

Tons of other animals too. How about this neighborhood kitty and little doggy? 
 

I did drive by a Ostrich on my dirt bike many years ago. Different stiry though. Lol.
 

 

Edited December 6, 2021 by CFM

[polaris7541]

wondered where i left those two

[SkisNH]

On 11/29/2021 at 9:55 PM, Zambroski said:

Yep.  We’ve all tried other brands and end up back where we belong.  I see. I reason to buy anything other than Ariens.

Simplicity>Ariens

[awful knawful]

My father and I bought new blowers in 2008? He bought a ariens pro 28, I bought a Honda 928. The Honda was $3400, the ariens $2800

Hands down the Honda is a better machine. I've got three times the yard and a broken shear pin was my only issue. The ariens has about $500 in parts already.

They throw snow about the same distance but the engine in the ariens shakes and rattles while the Honda is smooth as silk.

About 5 years ago my father and I went halvsies on this.

New Holland 1920 (32hp)

This is how you remove snow. Hands down one of the best things I've ever bought. Makes my life easier.

 

Edited December 14, 2021 by awful knawful

[Deephaven]

On 12/2/2021 at 2:05 PM, mnstang said:

I use my trimmer alot with a brush blade to clear trails I don't think an electric would hold up or last

That was my thought too.  I have a contractor grade Echo and can easily burn two tanks of gas and a nylon reload everytime I pull it out.

On 12/2/2021 at 2:12 PM, Zambroski said:

i think most go through this and realize, some things just cost more...and there is reason for it.  

Everyone who buys a nice chainsaw has used a cheap one.  Out of all tools that is the most memorable fuck up purchase I have ever had.

On 12/3/2021 at 4:10 PM, jdsky said:

Not many Toro fans in this thread but this elon musk powered unit is nothing short of impressive.  Overpriced cheap chinese plastic but it weighs next to nothing and the 60V 6.0AH battery runs long enough to do all the walkways, fire pit area and decks. Have the leaf blower, line trimmer and chain saw as well.

How far does it throw?  I use the leafblower to clear 4000' of patio/deck and while it works, once the snow is over 3" it takes too long.  I assumed those things wouldn't work.  I have a 60v Toro battery already though as I bought their big leaf blower to use as a broom.  Impressive.....for 6.5minutes.  Enough to clean the patio though and saves me from breaking out the big Shindaiwa.

40 minutes ago, awful knawful said:

My father and I bought new blowers in 2008? He bought a ariens pro 28, I bought a Honda 928. The Honda was $3400, the ariens $2800

Hands down the Honda is a better machine. I've got three times the yard and a broken shear pin was my only issue. The ariens has about $500 in parts already.

They throw snow about the same distance but the engine in the ariens shakes and rattles while the Honda is smooth as silk.

About 5 years ago my father and I went halvsies on this.

New Holland 1920 (32hp)

This is how you remove snow. Hands down one of the best things I've ever bought. Makes my life easier.

 

 

 

Guy who does my driveway uses a kubota with a blower on the front and blade in the back.  SUPER fast he rips through stuff.

[jdsky]

It throws surprisingly far.  About the best way to visualize is on a video.  This one is fairly representative of how far it will throw snow.  I have put 8-10" through it.

 

[SayatodaU.P.eh?]

Jesus Christ. My Ariens is still down waiting for a new fuel tank and I had to use that pos lowes husquvarna of my brother in laws that he’s storing in my barn. Yes the snow was wet but it literally plugged up every 5’. My ariens would have chugged that shit 40’ away. 

[ckf]

On 12/14/2021 at 6:36 PM, awful knawful said:

My father and I bought new blowers in 2008? He bought a ariens pro 28, I bought a Honda 928. The Honda was $3400, the ariens $2800

Hands down the Honda is a better machine. I've got three times the yard and a broken shear pin was my only issue. The ariens has about $500 in parts already.

They throw snow about the same distance but the engine in the ariens shakes and rattles while the Honda is smooth as silk.

About 5 years ago my father and I went halvsies on this.

New Holland 1920 (32hp)

This is how you remove snow. Hands down one of the best things I've ever bought. Makes my life easier.

 

Good to see you back. How's things?