Well my 20 year old Toro snowblower I got for $50 two years ago has died and am looking for a replacement now. I have a small driveway and 2 sidewalks I would need to clear as I live on a corner. I was looking at some Toros but someone mentioned the Ariens as well. What do you all use?
I don't know how good Ariens are now, but my dad still has one that is as old as I am (over 40). New engine block and some other minor maintenance and it's still going strong.
Ariens are top notch. But have you tried fixing your current blower? It might be worth the cost. If it lastest 20 years, it could last another 20 years with proper repairs, they don't make them anymore like the one you have.
A new 2-stage blower would run in the 700$+ (especially if it's a ariens)
I've got an Ariens 28" Deluxe - amazing machine...
That said - what's wrong with the existing? A carb rebuild could be as cheap as 40 or 50 bucks, if it's not running, or not running right... If it blew a rod or wrecked the block, it may be cheaper/easier to replace, but if it's minor, why not get it looked at?
That said - I love new toys, too... Ariens is money well spent. I don't like their SnoTek line, but the "regular" and deluxe machines are solid as can be...
Sorry for the delay. It went out 2 years ago, started makin a large clacking noise when running then seized up with oil dripping from out of the engine. I called around and most places said $250 for an engine plus labor so I stuck it at the end of the driveway with a free but doesn't work sign. Gone in 30 mins.
Honda would be my first choice, followed by either Toro or Ariens.
I just got rid of all my snow removal stuff because I relocated to Florida from Pennsylvania last week. I had big heavy Gravely tractor/snowblower , and was actually going to downsize to a smaller dedicated snowblower and was researching various makes/models before my move to Florida (job-related) materialized.
You can't go wrong with any of the three. Cub Cadet and John Deere make some nice units as well, but that would be the units from one of their respective dealers - not the lower-end box store machines.
That whole setup must've cost you a pretty penny....
Yeah, not cheap by any means, but I already owned the Rider and it made the most sense. I've been told that tractor-mounted snow blowing is more fun than a barrel of monkeys.. we shall see..
That whole setup must've cost you a pretty penny....
Yeah, not cheap by any means, but I already owned the Rider and it made the most sense. I've been told that tractor-mounted snow blowing is more fun than a barrel of monkeys.. we shall see..
(youtube clip)
The only, I repeat only way for snow-blowing to be fun is for someone else to be doing it while I am in the house by the open fire.
Ariens are top notch. But have you tried fixing your current blower? It might be worth the cost. If it lastest 20 years, it could last another 20 years with proper repairs, they don't make them anymore like the one you have.
A new 2-stage blower would run in the 700$+ (especially if it's a ariens)
I agree, i have a 35 year old toro that had the engine replaced 8 years ago, runs great, needs bearings and a couple of springs in the transmission. i was going to fix it but my inlaws moved into an appartment and gave me theirs, this old one is built like a tank but with a free snowblower i cant justify the repair
Well my 20 year old Toro snowblower I got for $50 two years ago has died and am looking for a replacement now. I have a small driveway and 2 sidewalks I would need to clear as I live on a corner. I was looking at some Toros but someone mentioned the Ariens as well. What do you all use?
Well my 20 year old Toro snowblower I got for $50 two years ago has died and am looking for a replacement now. I have a small driveway and 2 sidewalks I would need to clear as I live on a corner. I was looking at some Toros but someone mentioned the Ariens as well. What do you all use?
said by XXXXXXXXXXX1:42" Husqvarna Snow Thrower paired with my Husqvarna AWD Rider.
said by ptrowski:I have a small driveway and 2 sidewalks
A little more than he needs, wouldn't you say?
No way! There's no such thing as overkill with snow or lawns. You want to get the job done as fast as possible and more power just equals more speed not overkill. Your machine needs to be big enough for the right speed and conditions at their absolute worst! When you have 12-16" of wet packed snow at the end of your driveway from plows you'll be glad your machine can handle it.
Ariens 28" Deluxe all the way! They are $999.99 and you can get 10% off at Home Depot. Go online to their site and open a chat box. Tell the person you have a Lowe's 10% coupon you want to use. They'll honor that and give you 10% off. It's also free shipping so even with tax you'll have a nice machine delivered to your door for just over $900. »www.homedepot.com/Ariens ··· qhORsg24
An Ariens compact is good for 3-6" of snow while a deluxe is 6-12". You move from 200 cc's to 250 cc's so a lot more power. The auger in a compact is 11" and 14" in a deluxe. The impeller in a compact is 12" and 14" in a deluxe. The tires go from 13"x4" in the compact to 15"x5" in the deluxe. For the extra $200 is well worth it to get a deluxe.
Consumer Reports likes Toros. I only have experience with two machines - one is a Troy Bilt, which may well be made by the MTD dynasty, the other a large Toro.
The Toro is a Mercedes to the Troy Bilt Kia.
Aside from a reverse speed* that's an insult to the buyer, the Troy Bilt / MTD works pretty well, but if you want top shelf - it's a Toro.
Like almost every small air cooled engine, mice nests that block the flow or cooling air that the fan under the screen supplies are your number one engine killing issue. I know I've harped on this before, but it's true.
*The good news is the Troy Bilt is so light that pulling it backwards is fairly easy.