 ptrowskiGot Helix?Premium
join:2005-03-14
Putnam, CT
kudos:4 | reply to alkizmo
Re: Snowblower replacement... Saw that link, very nice setup! |
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ptrowskiGot Helix?Premium
join:2005-03-14
Putnam, CT
kudos:4 | reply to Chinabound
Wow, you have some real toys! |
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 alkizmo
join:2007-06-25
Pierrefonds, QC
kudos:1 | reply to ptrowski
said by ptrowski:Saw that link, very nice setup!
It will be better in the new thread I'll make as things will be finalized. The only "unfinished" stuff are add-ons like lighting and receptacles in the shed that were made possible since I ran a second raceway to bring in power TO the shed through 30A 3-wire. |
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 ChinaboundPremium
join:2002-12-21
Antioch, IL
kudos:3 | reply to ptrowski
Thanks - but I need them.  |
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alkizmo
join:2007-06-25
Pierrefonds, QC
kudos:1 | And what do you NEED out of a recreational plane kit?  |
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ChinaboundPremium
join:2002-12-21
Antioch, IL
kudos:3 | Check for squatters?  |
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 DraimanLet me see those devil horns in the sky
join:2012-06-01
Kill Devil Hills, NC
 ·Verizon FiOS
| reply to alkizmo
said by alkizmo:And what do you NEED out of a recreational plane kit? I'm sure it's to spread fertilizer or to see the deer for hunting season.
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IF YOU FIND ANY MISTAKES IN MY WORK...Please consider that they are there for a purpose. I try to please everyone and there is always someone looking for mistakes! |
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ChinaboundPremium
join:2002-12-21
Antioch, IL
kudos:3 | I spread enough fertilizer here, don't I? 
It's great for the occasional topless sunbather in her backyard, although one almost made me vomit this past summer. |
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 SwedishRiderRider on the StormPremium
join:2006-01-11
Connecticut
kudos:1 | reply to Chinabound
said by Chinabound:A little more than he needs, wouldn't you say?
He asked what we all use, not what we recommend for his particular situation. Given his question phrasing, my answer was appropriate. |
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ChinaboundPremium
join:2002-12-21
Antioch, IL
kudos:3 | Fair enough. |
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 burner50Proud Union THUGPremium,VIP
join:2002-06-05
Texas
kudos:1 | reply to ptrowski
I found a great snow removal option...
Move somewhere snow rarely ever falls. |
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ptrowskiGot Helix?Premium
join:2005-03-14
Putnam, CT
kudos:4 | I did that for a while. TX, KY, and Fl. |
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DraimanLet me see those devil horns in the sky
join:2012-06-01
Kill Devil Hills, NC Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
| reply to burner50
said by burner50:I found a great snow removal option...
Move somewhere snow rarely ever falls.
I just moved up here from Florida 5 years ago. You still have to maintain the lawn all year so it's either lawn work or snow work. I'd much rather use a snow blower then a lawn mower!
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IF YOU FIND ANY MISTAKES IN MY WORK...Please consider that they are there for a purpose. I try to please everyone and there is always someone looking for mistakes! |
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alkizmo
join:2007-06-25
Pierrefonds, QC
kudos:1 | said by Draiman:I'd much rather use a snow blower then a lawn mower!
What if they made a lawn mower than blows lawn like a snow blower?
Now that would be A-SOME. I'd let my grass grow to 10 inches before plowing through. |
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Reviews:
 ·WOW Internet and..
·Time Warner Cable
| reply to ptrowski
I'm in the market to replace my 7 year old MTD 21" single stage 2-cycle sorry ass excuse for a snowblower with a real one. When I say "real", I mean one that can go through a half foot or more of snow down a four car driveway without crapping out halfway or sooner and actually finish the job without me having to having to do any shoveling. And I'd rather not be bothered with having to mix the oil and gas (I wouldn't mind oil changes... I do them on my lawn mower).
I have my eye on the 24 inch Sno-Tek that Home Depot has for $599.99. I originally considered this 24" Craftsman that's on sale now for $499.99 but the Sno-Tek appears to be the better deal since Sears charges $69.99 for delivery and Home Depot offers free delivery... and the Sno-Tek has a bigger motor. I might even be able to use that 10% off Lowe's coupon that's in the USPS Change-of-Address packet (has anyone here had any difficulty getting Home Depot to accept this coupon for an online order?)
I dropped by a Home Depot tonight and looked at a 28" Sno-Tek and a 24" Ariens Compact side-by-side (they didn't have a 24" Sno-Tek on display). The Ariens Compact has a Briggs & Stratton motor and a metal chute. The Sno-Tek has a Chinese motor and a plastic chute (but bigger than the one on the Ariens). But the controls on the two were almost identical. I'm wondering if the Ariens Compact is really worth the extra $200?
I'm also wondering if I'd be just better off to get a good ol' used one off of Craigslist... but the prices on the ones on Craigslist aren't much better than of a brand new one (at least here in Cleveland).
EDIT: Fixed links |
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alkizmo
join:2007-06-25
Pierrefonds, QC
kudos:1
1 edit | said by slyphoxj:I dropped by a Home Depot tonight and looked at a 28" Sno-Tek and a 24" Ariens Compact side-by-side (they didn't have a 24" Sno-Tek on display). The Ariens Compact has a Briggs & Stratton motor and a metal chute. The Sno-Tek has a Chinese motor and a plastic chute (but bigger than the one on the Ariens). But the controls on the two were almost identical. I'm wondering if the Ariens Compact is really worth the extra $200? I have the Sno-tek 24", though it has a metal chute.
It was this one
»www.homedepot.ca/product/sno-tek···d/918481
Same model, different chute... weird.
I can't complain for mine, but we had an almost non-existent winter last year. I did get to test it on snow banks made by the city plows. You can imagine how dense plowed snow banks are, yet it was able to eat through them, even if the snow was higher than 20".
I already tested it for this coming winter and it started just fine (needed a couple of pull since the fuel line was empty).
The electric start works, but isn't needed since it starts easy after a pull or two.
said by slyphoxj:I'm also wondering if I'd be just better off to get a good ol' used one off of Craigslist... but the prices on the ones on Craigslist aren't much better than of a brand new one (at least here in Cleveland). It's a risk. If you are able to repair the machine yourself easily, go for it, more power to you! But if a broken blower = sending to a repair shop, you might not want to take a chance. Who knows why the seller is selling the blower, maybe the problem isn't obvious. Maybe the problem is like your current blower, it chokes on snow, but acts just fine when idling (can't test that unless you have tons of snow around). |
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DraimanLet me see those devil horns in the sky
join:2012-06-01
Kill Devil Hills, NC Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
1 edit | reply to ptrowski
Sno-tek is a Chinese made machine sold by Arien's. It's a cheaper model then the orange Made in America Arien's unit. They are a decent machine but you get what you pay for. Don't expect it to last more then 5 years as it wasn't made to last and you didn't pay for it to last. Search on Sno-tek repairs and you'll find tons of people who can't find parts for the motor. I did a ton of research on them last year myself before going with a Arien's Deluxe over the Sno-tek. A few of the differences. Sno-tek 11" auger vs. Arien's 14" auger Sno-tek 9.5 engine torque vs. Arien's 11.5 engine torque Sno-tek 205cc vs. Arien's 250cc Sno-tek 178 lbs. vs. Arien's 220 lbs. (Lots of plastic!) Sno-tek 12" impeller vs. Arien's 14" impeller Sno-tek no headlight vs. Arien's has a headlight Sno-tek plastic chute vs. Arien's all metal chute Sno-tek throws up to 40' vs. Arien's throws up to 50' Sno-tek Chinese made vs.Arien's American made » www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-25ecodZ···ications» www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R···ications--
IF YOU FIND ANY MISTAKES IN MY WORK...Please consider that they are there for a purpose. I try to please everyone and there is always someone looking for mistakes! |
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 Jack_in_VAPremium
join:2007-11-26
Mathews, VA
kudos:1 | said by Draiman:Sno-tek is a Chinese made machine sold by Arien's. It's a cheaper model then the orange Made in America Arien's unit. They are a decent machine but you get what you pay for. Don't expect it to last more then 5 years as it wasn't made to last and you didn't pay for it to last. Search on Sno-tek repairs and you'll find tons of people who can't find parts for the motor. I did a ton of research on them last year myself before going with a Arien's Deluxe over the Sno-tek. Sno-tek is a Chinese made machine sold by Arien's.
That's all that needs saying |
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DraimanLet me see those devil horns in the sky
join:2012-06-01
Kill Devil Hills, NC Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
| said by Jack_in_VA:said by Draiman:Sno-tek is a Chinese made machine sold by Arien's. It's a cheaper model then the orange Made in America Arien's unit. They are a decent machine but you get what you pay for. Don't expect it to last more then 5 years as it wasn't made to last and you didn't pay for it to last. Search on Sno-tek repairs and you'll find tons of people who can't find parts for the motor. I did a ton of research on them last year myself before going with a Arien's Deluxe over the Sno-tek. Sno-tek is a Chinese made machine sold by Arien's.That's all that needs saying Yea I'm sad Arien's sold out making a lower quality/price machine to sucker people into spending their hard earned cash on a sub-par machine. Most people don't know anything about it except it's the cheapest machine they can find so they buy it thinking it's worth their money. If it seems too good to be true......it is!
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IF YOU FIND ANY MISTAKES IN MY WORK...Please consider that they are there for a purpose. I try to please everyone and there is always someone looking for mistakes! |
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alkizmo
join:2007-06-25
Pierrefonds, QC
kudos:1 | reply to Jack_in_VA
said by Jack_in_VA:Sno-tek is a Chinese made machine sold by Arien's.
That's all that needs saying
And Ariens branded machines are assembled in the US, but by what quality standards?
LCT engines are at least designed by an american company. Production is simply much cheaper in China due to multiple factors like labor, land leasing, materials supplies, proximity of other parts suppliers.
Just because something is made in the states doesn't mean they applied the best quality standards, nor is it that because it is made in China that it was made as bad as possible.
Honda cars are made better than chryslers, yet they are both made in the states.
We're only basing our assumptions on the past reputation of chinese made machines, a reputation made when quality engines were ONLY made in Japan, Germany or North America. Things are changing now. I took a leap of faith on the Sno-Tek snow thrower, but I can say from having used it for a year that it feels lot more solid than generic crap snow throwers and has a TON of power.
Will it break sooner than a Honda engine? Probably, especially when they are not well maintaine. Is it worth paying 2x the price? Only time will tell.
In 5 years I guess I could make a solid statement on the Sno-Tek's reliability. It's also too soon to bash it for being made in China. So far, the Sno-Teks have hundreds of reviews on home depot's website and their scores are near their upper-end counterparts. |
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