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Posted: 2/22/2015 12:02:58 PM EDT
[#1]
Summer would be a good time to buy one.
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Posted: 2/22/2015 12:16:11 PM EDT
[#2]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Summer would be a good time to buy one. Yeah, I know. The current situation is I either buy one (used) OR shovel about a ft of snow for 400 ft otherwise the other half isn't going to work tomorrow. |
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Posted: 2/22/2015 1:31:41 PM EDT
[#3]
Ariens.
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Posted: 2/22/2015 3:23:32 PM EDT
[#4]
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Ariens. +1 on the ARIENS, check craigslist, there are some real good deals in Ashburn and Leesburg. |
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Posted: 2/22/2015 3:51:32 PM EDT
[#5]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
+1 on the ARIENS, check craigslist, there are some real good deals in Ashburn and Leesburg. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Ariens. +1 on the ARIENS, check craigslist, there are some real good deals in Ashburn and Leesburg. Yeah, that's where I was looking. I found one that was a yardmaster. Are they good to go? |
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Posted: 2/22/2015 4:27:42 PM EDT
[#6]
No one local with a plow you can get to come clean the driveway real quick?
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Posted: 2/22/2015 5:23:12 PM EDT
[#7]
My driveway is gravel and pretty uneven. Not to mention I'm pretty isolated.
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Posted: 2/22/2015 5:39:55 PM EDT
[#8]
For gravel you might want a plow. Maybe a plow on an atv? My gravel driveway is 900-1000 feet long so I bought a compact tractor years ago. I plow the snow and refresh the gravel with a blade on the back.
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Posted: 2/22/2015 8:24:21 PM EDT
[#9]
I've tried to plow gravel before and end up pushing the rock up with the snow.
What's the trick? |
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Posted: 2/22/2015 9:08:51 PM EDT
[#10]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Yeah, that's where I was looking. I found one that was a yardmaster. Are they good to go? Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Ariens. +1 on the ARIENS, check craigslist, there are some real good deals in Ashburn and Leesburg. Yeah, that's where I was looking. I found one that was a yardmaster. Are they good to go? No, hold out for an ARIENS. They should be showing up on craigslist spring/summer for $400-600, the steel they use is much thicker and better quality. MTD and others do not compare. For the gravel, I use armor skids and set the height at 1.5 inches above the gravel and have no issues with ingesting gravel. My driveway is 15 feet wide and 150 feet long. I have an ARIENS 8526 or 8.5hp and 26 inch width. It weighs 400+ pounds. Link |
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Posted: 2/22/2015 9:10:07 PM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I've tried to plow gravel before and end up pushing the rock up with the snow. What's the trick? Skids on the plow and set it 1.5 inches above the gravel. |
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Posted: 2/22/2015 9:45:26 PM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I've tried to plow gravel before and end up pushing the rock up with the snow. What's the trick? I reverse the blade so it won't dig into the gravel. It leaves some snow on the ground but not much. |
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Posted: 2/23/2015 7:49:08 AM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Summer would be a good time to buy one. This. I bought a new MTD 8/26 new still sitting strapped on it's pallet at a yard sale about 15 years ago. Still going strong. Nothing but routine oil/plug changes. I bought Mom a slightly used but smaller 8/24 MTD about five years ago so I don't have to load-up my blower and take it up there. I've no idea which brand of blower is better than the other but I suspect between the two MTD blowers I have less than half the cost in them total than the new blowers I see sitting outside of Lowes. I guess if I lived up North I might worry more about brand but for no more than I use them they have served just fine. If they both crapped-out this year I would think I got more than my money's worth. |
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Posted: 2/23/2015 9:48:54 AM EDT
[#14]
I would consider a 2 stage snowblower since your drive way is kinda long and graveled.
With plows on atv or tractor, the snow has to go somewhere and you likely run out of places to push the snow. With a powerful snowblower, it blows the snow 35'. Stay away from Tecumsah (hit and miss) and the Chinese engines (They have not proven themselves yet). Look for a used Ariens or Toro with a Subaru or Briggs and Stratton engine and you are good to go. get a decent hp engine, don't skimp. Since I live in NOVA, and on a corner lot with paved sidewalk and driveway. I have a Toro Single Stage 2 cycle engine blower and its all I ever need. It has kept up with the neighbors 2 stage. I have used my neighbors Ariens 2 stage blower with the Subaru engine for the heavy snowfalls 8+ inches, It's nice and powerful, but takes more space than my Toro 3650 and a little bit more problematic (cable keeps slipping off and the drive system inoperable). Granted it takes about 15 minutes to fix the cable situaion but it seems to slipp off the worst time. My Toro single stage has been bulletproof. This one is priced a little high but something you can consider: http://smd.craigslist.org/for/4803696032.html |
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Posted: 2/23/2015 2:35:51 PM EDT
[#15]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
No, hold out for an ARIENS. They should be showing up on craigslist spring/summer for $400-600, the steel they use is much thicker and better quality. MTD and others do not compare. For the gravel, I use armor skids and set the height at 1.5 inches above the gravel and have no issues with ingesting gravel. My driveway is 15 feet wide and 150 feet long. I have an ARIENS 8526 or 8.5hp and 26 inch width. It weighs 400+ pounds. Link Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Ariens. +1 on the ARIENS, check craigslist, there are some real good deals in Ashburn and Leesburg. Yeah, that's where I was looking. I found one that was a yardmaster. Are they good to go? No, hold out for an ARIENS. They should be showing up on craigslist spring/summer for $400-600, the steel they use is much thicker and better quality. MTD and others do not compare. For the gravel, I use armor skids and set the height at 1.5 inches above the gravel and have no issues with ingesting gravel. My driveway is 15 feet wide and 150 feet long. I have an ARIENS 8526 or 8.5hp and 26 inch width. It weighs 400+ pounds. Link Ah, ok. That is good to know, thanks. |
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Posted: 2/23/2015 2:37:40 PM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I would consider a 2 stage snowblower since your drive way is kinda long and graveled. With plows on atv or tractor, the snow has to go somewhere and you likely run out of places to push the snow. With a powerful snowblower, it blows the snow 35'. Stay away from Tecumsah (hit and miss) and the Chinese engines (They have not proven themselves yet). Look for a used Ariens or Toro with a Subaru or Briggs and Stratton engine and you are good to go. get a decent hp engine, don't skimp. Since I live in NOVA, and on a corner lot with paved sidewalk and driveway. I have a Toro Single Stage 2 cycle engine blower and its all I ever need. It has kept up with the neighbors 2 stage. I have used my neighbors Ariens 2 stage blower with the Subaru engine for the heavy snowfalls 8+ inches, It's nice and powerful, but takes more space than my Toro 3650 and a little bit more problematic (cable keeps slipping off and the drive system inoperable). Granted it takes about 15 minutes to fix the cable situaion but it seems to slipp off the worst time. My Toro single stage has been bulletproof. This one is priced a little high but something you can consider: http://smd.craigslist.org/for/4803696032.html I'm about as far NW as you can go in NOVA so, I always get more snow than they predict for the area. I may wait until spring, but if we get another dumping of 10+ in I'm going to kick myself. |
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Posted: 2/23/2015 8:15:02 PM EDT
[#17]
I know the area well, I have a site at Loudoun Heights that needs service. Looking at the security cam, there is a foot and a half of snow at 2400 feet. It looks like a next week service call.
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Posted: 2/24/2015 6:54:13 PM EDT
[#18]
I live in a town home with a 2-door garage with ample driveway, its enough for four cars, so I'm looking an electric snow blower. Any thoughts on those?
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Posted: 2/24/2015 8:35:00 PM EDT
[#19]
The more you spend the less likely you will see another major storm.
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Posted: 2/25/2015 8:37:30 AM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
The more you spend the less likely you will see another major storm. This is exactly why I didn't get one last year.... That hasn't turned out well for me. |
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Posted: 2/25/2015 10:01:05 AM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I live in a town home with a 2-door garage with ample driveway, its enough for four cars, so I'm looking an electric snow blower. Any thoughts on those? I would avoid the electrics. Go with a single stage toro or honda. If you are trying to save money. Get a used toro 2450 or 3650. Honda are nice too but command a premium. Even the newer toro 4 cycle are ok too. |
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Posted: 2/25/2015 12:53:53 PM EDT
[#22]
There's a local dealer that has the 22" Ariens. Going to take a look later. HD has the 24", but not sure if the 2" is worth 75 more dollars (that's what she said) |
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Posted: 2/25/2015 9:06:27 PM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
There's a local dealer that has the 22" Ariens. Going to take a look later. HD has the 24", but not sure if the 2" is worth 75 more dollars (that's what she said) If you can, figure out which has the better transmission or PTO whatever it's called in a snow blower, buy the heavier duty one so you don't burn it up. |
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Posted: 2/25/2015 9:30:48 PM EDT
[#24]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
There's a local dealer that has the 22" Ariens. Going to take a look later. HD has the 24", but not sure if the 2" is worth 75 more dollars (that's what she said) take a look at the review by customers from HD. After reading through the review, my neighbor bought the 24" with the subaru engine after my recommendation. It only has 6 hp but I will tell you that this engine somehow kick into overdrive and will blow the snow with no problem. I know the B&S engine are reliable but for some reason, I just trust the subaru engine a little bit more. Must be the japanese QC like a Honda and Toyota. When we had the snowmegeddon a few years ago. this 24" Arien handle it without any issue. If you have the cash, there's another Arien with a bigger Subaru engine but you are paying for more. You may want to take a look at that one. but from my experience the compact 24" with the small Subaru will do fine. the only problem we've had was the cable would slipped off and the snowblower no longer goes forward or reverse. It's about a 10 minute fix, and once the cable is back on the wheel, you'll need to adjust the tension on the cable. the Subaru engine has been 100% reliable. |
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Posted: 2/26/2015 9:58:18 AM EDT
[#25]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
take a look at the review by customers from HD. After reading through the review, my neighbor bought the 24" with the subaru engine after my recommendation. It only has 6 hp but I will tell you that this engine somehow kick into overdrive and will blow the snow with no problem. I know the B&S engine are reliable but for some reason, I just trust the subaru engine a little bit more. Must be the japanese QC like a Honda and Toyota. When we had the snowmegeddon a few years ago. this 24" Arien handle it without any issue. If you have the cash, there's another Arien with a bigger Subaru engine but you are paying for more. You may want to take a look at that one. but from my experience the compact 24" with the small Subaru will do fine. the only problem we've had was the cable would slipped off and the snowblower no longer goes forward or reverse. It's about a 10 minute fix, and once the cable is back on the wheel, you'll need to adjust the tension on the cable. the Subaru engine has been 100% reliable. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
There's a local dealer that has the 22" Ariens. Going to take a look later. HD has the 24", but not sure if the 2" is worth 75 more dollars (that's what she said) take a look at the review by customers from HD. After reading through the review, my neighbor bought the 24" with the subaru engine after my recommendation. It only has 6 hp but I will tell you that this engine somehow kick into overdrive and will blow the snow with no problem. I know the B&S engine are reliable but for some reason, I just trust the subaru engine a little bit more. Must be the japanese QC like a Honda and Toyota. When we had the snowmegeddon a few years ago. this 24" Arien handle it without any issue. If you have the cash, there's another Arien with a bigger Subaru engine but you are paying for more. You may want to take a look at that one. but from my experience the compact 24" with the small Subaru will do fine. the only problem we've had was the cable would slipped off and the snowblower no longer goes forward or reverse. It's about a 10 minute fix, and once the cable is back on the wheel, you'll need to adjust the tension on the cable. the Subaru engine has been 100% reliable. Good to know. Thanks for all the info |
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Posted: 2/26/2015 12:32:12 PM EDT
[#26]
The extra 2" could save you a pass on your driveway. I seem to recall you saying 400 feet of driveway, so I would go with the biggest you can afford. Of course, doing the math on the width of your driveway is worthwhile before you spend a few hundred bucks.
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Posted: 3/5/2015 2:08:30 PM EDT
[#27]
Well, did you wish you had one today?
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Posted: 3/5/2015 6:48:15 PM EDT
[#28]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I live in a town home with a 2-door garage with ample driveway, its enough for four cars, so I'm looking an electric snow blower. Any thoughts on those? I rescued a Toro 1800 electric snow blower from the neighbors trash last week. Just used it on my drive way, sidewalk and neighbor ladies drive and walk. My neighbor next door has one of the 2 stroke single stage blower and it just kept clogging up and wouldn't handle this wet stuff. I am really impressed with how this little electric worked. 100' extension cord and I can reach everything I need to. No worries about gas going bad carbs clogging up, changing oil, ect..... Just plug it in and go. |
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Posted: 3/5/2015 6:49:45 PM EDT
[#29]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I would avoid the electrics. Go with a single stage toro or honda. If you are trying to save money. Get a used toro 2450 or 3650. Honda are nice too but command a premium. Even the newer toro 4 cycle are ok too. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
I live in a town home with a 2-door garage with ample driveway, its enough for four cars, so I'm looking an electric snow blower. Any thoughts on those? I would avoid the electrics. Go with a single stage toro or honda. If you are trying to save money. Get a used toro 2450 or 3650. Honda are nice too but command a premium. Even the newer toro 4 cycle are ok too. I would have agreed with you up until today. |
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Posted: 3/5/2015 9:15:17 PM EDT
[#30]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I would have agreed with you up until today. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
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I live in a town home with a 2-door garage with ample driveway, its enough for four cars, so I'm looking an electric snow blower. Any thoughts on those? I would avoid the electrics. Go with a single stage toro or honda. If you are trying to save money. Get a used toro 2450 or 3650. Honda are nice too but command a premium. Even the newer toro 4 cycle are ok too. I would have agreed with you up until today. My Toro gas 2 cycle 3650 did not miss a beat today. no clogging and it even threw snow left behind by the snowplows. No issue whatsoever. |
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Posted: 3/5/2015 10:29:28 PM EDT
[#31]
I bought one today, Lowes HD out of Stock, Sears had one left, so I bought online pickup in store.
It was $100 off to boot |
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Posted: 3/5/2015 10:49:57 PM EDT
[#32]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
My Toro gas 2 cycle 3650 did not miss a beat today. no clogging and it even threw snow left behind by the snowplows. No issue whatsoever. Quote HistoryQuoted:
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Quoted:
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I live in a town home with a 2-door garage with ample driveway, its enough for four cars, so I'm looking an electric snow blower. Any thoughts on those? I would avoid the electrics. Go with a single stage toro or honda. If you are trying to save money. Get a used toro 2450 or 3650. Honda are nice too but command a premium. Even the newer toro 4 cycle are ok too. I would have agreed with you up until today. My Toro gas 2 cycle 3650 did not miss a beat today. no clogging and it even threw snow left behind by the snowplows. No issue whatsoever. Like I said in my other post, my neighbors 2 cycle was choking. Not sure if it was a Toro, might have been an MTD. This is the same electric I have: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYBjQEMRUps Mine was throwing the wet slop just fine, did manage to clog the chute a couple times with some real heavy stuff next to the street. I'm not knocking all of the smaller gas blowers, I still think a gas blower is better. I'm just saying before today, like you, I would not have recommended an electric. After trying the electric I'm convinced they are a viable option for those with a smaller driveway that don't want the storage issues of a gas blower. Considering I got my electric for free I'm very happy with it. |
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Posted: 3/8/2015 5:18:36 PM EDT
[#33]
I'll be going with the Arien's 2 stage either 22 or 24 in. 400' of driveway and consistently more snow than predicted for the lower elevation areas. |
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Posted: 3/8/2015 6:52:56 PM EDT
[#34]
If I had 400 feet of driveway I might be looking at an atv/tractor with a blade. If you are making 6 passes, you are talking about over 1/3 of a mile at a pretty slow speed.
-shooter |
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Posted: 3/8/2015 10:36:17 PM EDT
[#35]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
If I had 400 feet of driveway I might be looking at an atv/tractor with a blade. If you are making 6 passes, you are talking about over 1/3 of a mile at a pretty slow speed. -shooter Gravel that needs to be fixed. Place was rented for years and they never leveled or added gravel. I'm playing catch up. |
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Posted: 3/9/2015 4:26:27 PM EDT
[#36]
Then you are 100% right to go with the snowblower - the key as I understand is to upgrade the skids if you will be using it on gravel a lot. For concrete, I set mine by putting a couple nickles under the leading edge. For gravel, you want it a little higher.
-shooter |
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Posted: 3/12/2015 6:33:12 PM EDT
[#37]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I rescued a Toro 1800 electric snow blower from the neighbors trash last week. Just used it on my drive way, sidewalk and neighbor ladies drive and walk. My neighbor next door has one of the 2 stroke single stage blower and it just kept clogging up and wouldn't handle this wet stuff. I am really impressed with how this little electric worked. 100' extension cord and I can reach everything I need to. No worries about gas going bad carbs clogging up, changing oil, ect..... Just plug it in and go. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
I live in a town home with a 2-door garage with ample driveway, its enough for four cars, so I'm looking an electric snow blower. Any thoughts on those? I rescued a Toro 1800 electric snow blower from the neighbors trash last week. Just used it on my drive way, sidewalk and neighbor ladies drive and walk. My neighbor next door has one of the 2 stroke single stage blower and it just kept clogging up and wouldn't handle this wet stuff. I am really impressed with how this little electric worked. 100' extension cord and I can reach everything I need to. No worries about gas going bad carbs clogging up, changing oil, ect..... Just plug it in and go. I have the Toro 1500 electric and it's a little wonder! Plug it in and go. I try not to don't let the snow get more than 3-4" deep before clearing it but I can clear my driveway in a fraction of the time (and with a lot less effort) than my son and I can do with shovels. |
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Posted: 3/12/2015 8:53:34 PM EDT
[#38]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Gravel that needs to be fixed. Place was rented for years and they never leveled or added gravel. I'm playing catch up. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
If I had 400 feet of driveway I might be looking at an atv/tractor with a blade. If you are making 6 passes, you are talking about over 1/3 of a mile at a pretty slow speed. -shooter Gravel that needs to be fixed. Place was rented for years and they never leveled or added gravel. I'm playing catch up. Go with this for skids link I use them on my ARIENS 8526 and set 1.5 inch inch above the gravel, no problems with sucking up gravel. |
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