Posted: 9/8/2011 8:16:29 AM EDT
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Looking to buy a quality used blower before the snow flies. Don't have a big driveway and walk, but am seriously tired of doing it the old fashioned way. Found these two locally and would appreciate opinions. Both are likely a little overkill, but don't want to wish I'd gone bigger.
Troy-Bilt Storm 5024 retails for $599 selling for $450ish price negotiable 24" clearing width 6 forward/ 2 reverse speeds electric start re-enforced steel housing Unused 
32 inch lawnboy snowblower that was used very little. It has electric start on it or a firemans pull handle on it. The blades are awesome and this is a 1000.00 snow blower. We are asking 400 or OBO 
Any input appreciated |
| Personally I'd get the 24" width. The 32" width wouldn't fit between by vehicles in the garage to get it outside. I'd have to back a vehicle which then just crush snow down onto the driveway and I'd still have to followup with a shovel to get the compacted snow off before it froze. |
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Here's my two cents.
Like you, I used to go old school and shovel. It's a great workout for a deskjob guy like me. However, I had the chance to help the old man across the street last year with his snow. He has this little blower. Nothing like what you have there. I was able to get both our sidewalks and driveways done in about 30 minutes. We both live on Corner Lots so it's a decent length to clean. I don't know your shoveling scene up there but for me, getting a huge blower is overkill. I can already blast through the chore in minimal time with my neighbors small unit and if I owned it, it would take up less space in the shed or garage. I can't swallow the price people are asking for these things plus my FIL lives down south and won't be around for the winters. I'll be using his this season. Anyway, I like the backup pull start for the green one. I also like the price they're asking. Then again, I like troy-built tools and it looks newer. |
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Thanks for the input everyone.  I'll try to look at these two, plus a couple of others that are nearby by this weekend.also look for Simplicity and Ariens. i have a Simplicity 1524P and it has saved me from at least 3 heart attacks and 7 cases of frostbite. 
ar-jedi 
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Thanks for the input everyone. I'll try to look at these two, plus a couple of others that are nearby by this weekend.also look for Simplicity and Ariens. i have a Simplicity 1524P and it has saved me from at least 3 heart attacks and 7 cases of frostbite.
ar-jedi http://wopr.losdos.dyndns.org/gallery2/d/6407-1/DSCN4546.JPG http://wopr.losdos.dyndns.org/gallery2/d/24565-3/DSCN1223.JPG http://wopr.losdos.dyndns.org/gallery2/d/23933-1/DSCN6178.JPG http://wopr.losdos.dyndns.org/gallery2/d/23908-1/DSCN6180.JPG http://wopr.losdos.dyndns.org/gallery2/d/23903-1/DSCN6181.JPG http://wopr.losdos.dyndns.org/gallery2/d/23872-1/DSCN6186.JPG http://wopr.losdos.dyndns.org/gallery2/d/23913-1/DSCN6184.JPG Wow, that's some snow! |
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Wow, that's some snow! we had a couple of storms like that, and it is quite simply too much to plow. you have to snowblow it. if i try plowing it, my kubota tractor goes about 8.7 feet and then stops dead in it's tracks, spinning all four wheels –– at that point the pile of snow in front of the tractor weighs 2 or 3 times what the tractor does, and there is not enough traction even with chains on all four wheels. so to effectively clear it you have to use a blower, there is no other way unless you have a 30 ton articulated front end loader handy. which, incidentally, is what the township had to use to clear most of the streets after the above storm. there is no way even for an F450 super duty w/salter to push that amount of snow off the road with a plow –– the windrows simply get too heavy to keep moving back, so basically you are left using tandem dumptrucks with plows and articulated front end loaders. ar-jedi |
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Of the 2 you listed, I'd go with the TroyBilt.
Some things to note: Get some extra sheer pins. They should break before your auger does. They will typically break during the biggest snowstorm of the season. Never, NEVER, NEVER Stick your hand down the chute while the snowthrower is running to clear a clog. Shut it off (for extra safety; pull the plug wire.) The TB has a clearing tool attached to the auger shroud. Silicone spray can help keep wet snow from sticking. |
| I am not familiar with the brands you have. I have a Ariens that I have used for several years and some really fun storms. I mirror the advice to error on the larger side (think HP). For me I ended up doing my driveway, my neighbors drive ways (both are elderly) and the sidewalk/bus stop for the neighbors kids and it wasn't bad. Even when the snow came down feet at a time. I could throw snow clear across my yard which is handy when the snow drifts are 4-5 feet and you need to clear over the top to drop snow away from your walks. The Ariens would start first pull or you could use the electric starter. My wife used it fairly often if it snowed like crazy while I was at work. |
| I'd go with the lawn boy. It looks to be a late 80's model which means it's a rebadged Gilson Snowblower. Gilsons were built like tanks. Engineering was always clean, simple and, reliable. That lawnboy should be a 10 horse with a 5 speed Peerless. I run a 1971 Gilson, it just refuses to quit. For it's 40th birthday she did get a new coat of paint though, lol. |
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Of the 2 you listed, I'd go with the TroyBilt. Some things to note: Get some extra sheer pins. They should break before your auger does. They will typically break during the biggest snowstorm of the season. Never, NEVER, NEVER Stick your hand down the chute while the snowthrower is running to clear a clog. Shut it off (for extra safety; pull the plug wire.) The TB has a clearing tool attached to the auger shroud. Silicone spray can help keep wet snow from sticking. I agree. can't go wrong with the price. I paid $899 in the middle of snow season. What ever one you buy weld 1/4" stock on the bottom of the skid plates. They wear fast. |
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I'd go with the lawn boy. It looks to be a late 80's model which means it's a rebadged Gilson Snowblower. Gilsons were built like tanks. Engineering was always clean, simple and, reliable. That lawnboy should be a 10 horse with a 5 speed Peerless. I run a 1971 Gilson, it just refuses to quit. For it's 40th birthday she did get a new coat of paint though, lol. THIS! If it is indeed a Gilson, it would be the heaviest duty snowblower you could get. Parts are still available. In general, the older snow blowers were built heavier and more user-friendly to service. Neighbor was boasting his new big box "name brand" had a joystick chute control, while the Gilson had an old steel rack and pinion. Guess who's plastic chute joystick control bound up and broke later? I think he replaced it once before just converting it to vice grip controls. |
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We have a huge Ariens that three of us neighbors went together to buy. We bought it used from a guy that had a snow removal business and he was upgrading to a bigger unit still. It cost us $1000 used but the unit was a $2400 unit when new. That SOB will eat 3-foot of snow without snorting but we really have very few snows where we ever need that much power but when we do need it it will do jobs that everybody else is turning to shovels. In fairness, unless you live in the snow belts one of these huge 36-inch monsters is more then is normally needed! Here is the one we own, buying with neighbors and sharing is a smart idea too if you have neighbors you can trust and work with... http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&productId=202222484&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_sku=202222484&ci_src=14110944&cm_mmc=shopping-_-googlebase-_-D28X-_-202222484&locStoreNum=6866 |
| If looking for used, definitely go with ariens or an older simplicity. I'm pretty sure the newer simplicity's arent quite built as good as the old ones. I bought a snapper from sears a few years back and hated the thing for the first two years. I've since fixed it, and it works great. I'd still take a used ariens over it though. |
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Run your finger on the underside of the worm drive gearbox for the auger and see if either one is leaking.
Take a look at the mechanism that changes the discharge direction of the chute. Is one more likely to freeze in place than the other? I'd buy the green one if it started up and ran well. |
| Dont know if your looking for advice on Brand or size, but I have a 24 inch MTD yard machine 2004 model. My driveway is over 200 feet long and I have to clear a path to my woodpile and electric meter, I havent had any problems with it mechanically or size wise in five years. I think the 24 inch would be easier to manuever than the larger one. |