Posted: 11/28/2008 5:44:14 AM EDT
| a good snow blower for under $400. ... Any suggestions? Whats better 2cycle or 4 cycle engines??? |
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Do you care to mess with mixing the gas & oil?
If you don't mind, you will need another gas can sitting in the garage. If you are already mixing gas and oil, say for a weed wacker, will it be the same ratio as the mixed 2 cycle in the 2nd gas can you already have (for the weed wacker)? If not, then you can have three gas cans sitting in the garage. See my point? I prefer to stay with 4 cycle engines as much as possible. Good luck. DC |
| I just bought a John Deere this year after looking at all the cheap shit that Craftsman and others put out. I spent $1400 on the Deere, but it was worth it. For under $1000, you're going to get a cheap plastic chute, plastic controls, thin and breakable linkage, and a glorious lack of features (like a light, which should be standard on any snowblower). Don't piss your money away; get something that will last. |
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Quoted: depends what you want.a good snow blower for under $400. ... Any suggestions? Whats better 2cycle or 4 cycle engines??? every two stage i know of has a 4 stroke, but you aint touchin that for under 500, except used. they are self driven with gears, several forward and at least one reverse. u might be able to get a single stage for 400, but they are mostly 2strokes and have no self driven wheels. you know the kind, with the small wheels and the paddles that spin. they are fine for snows of 6 inches or less. you can go into deeper snow, but you will have to take your time. my dad has a toro model. he uses it for a 40 foot double drive on a hill. he's 72 and it works fine for him. if you dont have an attached garage, good luck starting it in the winter, cuz they dont start real good when they are really cold. my stepdad, is 72 and he has a craftsman singlestage 2stroke with electric start and it starts great. he keeps it in the shed. you plug it into the wall and hit the button. |
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If you live in an area that gets heavy snowfall (storms over 6" of white stuff) I would recommend spending the money on a 2-stage. As already noted, they are all 4-strokes to the best of my knowledge. The one person I know with a single stage has already upgraded to a 2-stage for this year.
As for price, you'll be spending over $500 unless you go used. Keep in mind they generally have a ~60 hour life which is about 7-10 years. I got a Cub Cadet last year and really like it. I think the Yard Machines sold at Home Depot is very similar, if not the same, for less money. You can probably get for one for about $550. Shop around. |