Snow Blowers

ablumny wrote:Do you hire taller mailmen at that point?

Our mail person doesn't get packed in with the snow. She stays on top with the rest of us.

OK, you got me. I use an 11.5 HP walk behind Ariens snow blower. I used to think 8 HP was all you'd even need until I got this one. It chucks the snow in a big way & very rarely gets clogged up with slush, it just pumps it out! Last year, for the first time ever, I had to change oil half way though the season. The snow just kept coming and coming and coming.

ablumny wrote:Long Island
43 degrees
No snow down here. (matter of fact, last year we had one snow storm, 2-3 inches, that was it!)

..... but I still feel like a weenie with my craftsman 5hp snow thrower But it's warm inside!!


THATS RIGHT!!

ablumny wrote:That your wife's snow blower?
(thought they came in pink??)

O THAT HURTS! Im off to buy me a Hemi powered blower !!!

12/27/09 UPDATE
Old thread but I had to go back to it after this past weeks monster storm we had here on Long Island. After I painfully used my "Weenie" labeled snow thrower to dig out me and three neighbors out, I jumped on Craigslist and picked up a Toro Power Shift 824 manly snow blower........but it rained all night and it's 50 out today so Ive got nothing to practice on now! Anyway, what a deal, The original owner now pays a plow service. Its in great condition, but he said it wouldnt start after 2 years of old gas an no use. (big surprise). He wanted $500, I offered and got it for $350. When I got it home the fuel shut off was closed. Opened it, adjusted the carb a biy, plugged in power, pushed electric starter and it started right up and runs great! Shout out to my friend and forum member BIGJAM. Without his pickup truck and snow blower knowledge and help I wouldnt have gotten it so easily!



I DARE IT TO SNOW HERE AGAIN!!!

ablumny wrote:Long Island
43 degrees
No snow down here. (matter of fact, last year we had one snow storm, 2-3 inches, that was it!)

..... but I still feel like a weenie with my craftsman 5hp snow thrower But it's warm inside!!

THATS RIGHT!!

I bought a snow blower like this one last summer at a yard sale for $20.00. Last week I did my drive and my neighbors, It paid for itself X2

That reminds me ..... I should get an engine for my old Ariens that's been sitting out back for 6 years!

$$$!

I started out with a 3.5hp Bolens single stage "weenie" snowthrower when we bought our first house 15 years ago. It was the paddle style with the vanes to direct the snow, not a chute. It was an interesting machine because it was a 4-stroke Tecumseh, not the typical 2-stroke. It worked great until I hit the packed, half-frozen stuff at the end of the driveway and then I ended up shoveling anyway. It also was lousy at directing the snow where you wanted it to go (and usually always INTO the wind..... ).

So I sold it and bought a Troy-Bilt two-stage 6hp, 21" blower. I think it's on it's 8th or 9th season now. Only thing I've done is replace a set of skid shoes...concrete drives really eat 'em up. Troy-Bilt bought out Bolens back in the late 80's, IIRC. Bolens was in Port Washington, WI along with Simplicity. In 2001, MTD bought Troy-Bilt and aside from the famous tillers, killed off everything else that was decent and now a Troy-Bilt is just a P.O.S. MTD with a different name. My unit is still the old Bolens design that used a 3-speed GEAR drive transmission and big cast iron auger gearcase. Nice, thick steel and fully welded seams everywhere. It doesn't blow as far as some, but with 6hp and "only" 21" wide, it just doesn't bog or clog, and is really easy to maneuver.

Talk about being easy to maneuver, my craftsmen thrower with it's all plastic body was a dream. I could get right along cars and in tight spaces. I was playing around with this Toro and Im starting to question its functionality for me! Its a monster! Im thinking I'll keep the old Craftsmen around for clean up after the Toro....

Wow, I missed this thread.
Meet my little friend..... SnowBlower 12-21-2009.wmv

I have two questions:

1. Is that the "dog-eater," Chris?

2. I knew and used Gravelys in the '60's, back when you started it with a strap and kicked the blade engagement pin to start the blade. But I've heard the name pronounced both ways. So how do you guys pronounce "Gravely?" Is it (a) "Grave-lee," or (b) "Gravel-ee"?

We call it (a) here .....

... but I come from a state that calls pizza, PIZZER & car, CAAAHH.

That's the way I first learned it. Then there was this superintendent at this apt complex where I worked in high school ... must have handled too much "gravel" in his time, and not enough grass.

stockingfull wrote:I have two questions:

1. Is that the "dog-eater," Chris?

Yeah, I make sure the kids, the dog, and the chickens are all in their repective houses before I start snowblowing the driveways.

2. I knew and used Gravelys in the '60's, back when you started it with a strap and kicked the blade engagement pin to start the blade. But I've heard the name pronounced both ways. So how do you guys pronounce "Gravely?" Is it (a) "Grave-lee," or (b) "Gravel-ee"?

(A) My grandfather always said "GRAVE-LEE"

Here's mine. Just took the pic. It's a 2007 Cub Cadet 5264D. 26 hp, Diesel, 4X4. 48" Puma Snowblower.

Gotta be fun driving those backwards......

Bought this on the day of the big snow in 96, it was the only one left to buy they were sold out of everything. Yard machine 10HP

WNY wrote:Gotta be fun driving those backwards......

Actually it's not too bad. I should have bought a front blower but it was twice the price. I can also do a great deal more with a rear mount. I can lift it about 20" off the ground to really get into snow banks. A front mount only raises about 6"-10" off the ground. All I can say is that it beats the heck out of a walk behind snowblower.