I Bought a Snow Blower

RJM62

RJM62

Touchdown! Greaser!
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Geek on the Hill
Well, I ordered one, in any case. It should arrive tomorrow or Monday.

Being your basic tightwad, I hate spending money. But if I'm going to spend money, I want the best overall value. So after searching high and low, I decided to buy this one:

http://www.husqvarna.com/us/products/snow-throwers/st-224/#specifications

from my local dealer.

I'm paying full retail, which pains me to no end. But I like the dealer and I like doing business locally.

The dealer doesn't have one in stock, but he's making a special trip to go get one for me, most likely tomorrow morning. They're also going to deliver it to my door for free and said they'll pick it up and deliver it back to me if it needs warranty service. (It comes with a three-year warranty.)

The machine itself looks nice. I've heard nothing but good about Husqvarna snow blowers and have been happy with their chainsaws, so I was leaning in their direction for this purchase. The snow blower has heated handles, headlights for late-night snow blowing, six forward speeds, remote chute rotator and deflector, and electric start, which make it fancier than some of the cars I've owned.

And it's orange. I like orange.

This purchase was motivated by my snow plow guy, who never showed up to plow the Thanksgiving snow and still hasn't returned my calls. I don't know if he's out of business, sick, dead, or whatever. All I know is that he didn't plow the snow and hasn't answered my calls.

It's odd because I've always paid him in cash on-the-spot. That alone should have made me one of his favorite customers. These days if you get paid at all it's something to celebrate. I know that I bend over backwards for my customers who pay promptly. Go figger.

Now I find myself looking forward to the next snow. Kids and their toys... :tongue:

Rich
 
Nice...... but, just like airplanes, horsepower is your friend, I owned an 8hp Ariens 24 inch for years and just upgraded 4 years ago to a new ariens, it's a 30 inch and about 12 to 13 hp. I would have opted for a bigger engine, snow gets heavy, especially what the plow pushes up from the road. But still, nice snowblower.
 
PaulS said:
Nice...... but, just like airplanes, horsepower is your friend, I owned an 8hp Ariens 24 inch for years and just upgraded 4 years ago to a new ariens, it's a 30 inch and about 12 to 13 hp. I would have opted for a bigger engine, snow gets heavy, especially what the plow pushes up from the road. But still, nice snowblower.
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I was kind of concerned about the HP, actually. I guess I'll find out when it snows whether that's a problem.

Then again, I once flew an ultralight powered by dual chainsaw engines...

Actually, when you think about it, the electric start makes this snow blower fancier than some of the flying machines I've flown. I have more time in Cubs than in any other single type.

Rich
 
Had the same one or previous model for a few years in VT, worked great no issues. About 6-8" was the limit for easily clearing snow, I'd go out twice(three with cleanup) times for a big storm. Do note it won't touch snowbanks once they've settled and frozen. You want to set the width of your paths wide so they are passable in march.
 
ClimbnSink said:
Had the same one or previous model for a few years in VT, worked great no issues. About 6-8" was the limit for easily clearing snow, I'd go out twice(three with cleanup) times for a big storm. Do note it won't touch snowbanks once they've settled and frozen. You want to set the width of your paths wide so they are passable in march.
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That's what I'm figuring. Luckily, I can use the exercise. Thanks.

Rich
 
You will love elec start in Feb. You'll get less clogging in the chute if you leave it out for a few hours before you start throwing. Let the chute get cold and things don't stick. I'm guessing you already knew that.
 
I have an Ariens 5 hp two stage blower I inherited from my Grandparents. It works real well for the vast majority of our snowfalls in Minnesota. I think they bought it back in the early 70's, so it doesn't have any of the safety cr*p on it. I can let go of it in gear with the auger running, and it'll keep on driving down the driveway with me just watching. I wouldn't trade it for a new one for anything, I'll just rebuild it as needed.

 
I much prefer a track drive, but lots more money.
hs928k1tas_001_1.jpg
 
champ driver said:
I have an Ariens 5 hp two stage blower I inherited from my Grandparents. It works real well for the vast majority of our snowfalls in Minnesota. I think they bought it back in the early 70's, so it doesn't have any of the safety cr*p on it. I can let go of it in gear with the auger running, and it'll keep on driving down the driveway with me just watching. I wouldn't trade it for a new one for anything, I'll just rebuild it as needed.
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Whats that hiding in the garage?
 
docmirror said:
You will love elec start in Feb. You'll get less clogging in the chute if you leave it out for a few hours before you start throwing. Let the chute get cold and things don't stick. I'm guessing you already knew that.
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Actually, I didn't. Thanks.

Rich
 
docmirror said:
You will love elec start in Feb. You'll get less clogging in the chute if you leave it out for a few hours before you start throwing. Let the chute get cold and things don't stick. I'm guessing you already knew that.
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A can of Pam spray cooking oil works great too...:yes:
 
You can use that self propelled snow thrower as a tug after winter is over. I did that, when I had a hangar with enough slope to need a tug.
 
NoHeat said:
You can use that self propelled snow thrower as a tug after winter is over. I did that, when I had a hangar with enough slope to need a tug.
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Heck.... In Jackson.. That would be year round..... Winter is NEVER over...:D
 
N801BH said:
Heck.... In Jackson.. That would be year round..... Winter is NEVER over...:D
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Ain't that the truth. When I lived in Butte we had snow every friggin' month of the year. The only difference was that it melted quicker in July and August.
 
RJM62 said:
This purchase was motivated by my snow plow guy, who never showed up to plow the Thanksgiving snow and still hasn't returned my calls. I don't know if he's out of business, sick, dead, or whatever. All I know is that he didn't plow the snow and hasn't answered my calls.

It's odd because I've always paid him in cash on-the-spot. That alone should have made me one of his favorite customers. These days if you get paid at all it's something to celebrate. I know that I bend over backwards for my customers who pay promptly. Go figger.


Rich
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Maybe he's dead. :dunno:
 
PaulS said:
Nice...... but, just like airplanes, horsepower is your friend, I owned an 8hp Ariens 24 inch for years and just upgraded 4 years ago to a new ariens, it's a 30 inch and about 12 to 13 hp. I would have opted for a bigger engine, snow gets heavy, especially what the plow pushes up from the road. But still, nice snowblower.
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Yep, I have a 32" Ariens. Best snowblower I've used.
 
I used a demonstrator, a big toro walkbehind during a heavy snow a few years back at a ski house we owned in western NYS. It was a real beast, easy to use and really threw some big time snow a long ways. I think it was 16 hp. Nice! Sold the place so did not buy it. Elec start is a must. Lights are nice too. It snows fast and furious south of buffalo.
 
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I only needed the electric start for the first go in the fall, after that it was one or two pulls way easier then dragging out an extension cord to use the starter.
 
ClimbnSink said:
I only needed the electric start for the first go in the fall, after that it was one or two pulls way easier then dragging out an extension cord to use the starter.
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Yep, same here.

Also, someone should probably war him about picking up old newspapers before it snows.
 
Gerhardt said:
Also, someone should probably war him about picking up old newspapers before it snows.
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LOL! Been there, done that. Soggy confetti and lots of it.

Because dad left one when he passed and we had one, I've got two snowblowers.

I completely disagree with those who like tracks. The stupid thing spends most of its time sliding around on any packed snow and is horrible to steer. Maneuvering it in tight spaces is impossible.

The big wheels and tires on the John Deere with chains on them are never stopped by anything. If the drift is too big, it'll just climb up on top of it taking a wedge off the top as it climbs. Or it'll ram the drift and stop the entire works, requiring a quick clutch grab before it stalls. And to turn it around in its own length just requires you to push down on the handle and walk sideways.

The tracked one is awful. You wrestle it just to make it change direction slightly. It's in the garage as a spare. Mostly just taking up space.

Dad also left the 4' or 5' dual stage snowblower attachment driven off of the PTO on the tractor. I'm not saying I want a big snow, but I'm looking forward to having enough sooner or later to use that thing! ;)

Later. As in years later... Is fine though. Like maybe if it'll hold off about twenty or so years until I retire. That'd work. Ha.
 
My snow mover is either a Polaris Sportsman 800 with a plow or a RZR 800S with a plow. I have a Honda tracked blower but romping in the snow on a wheeler gets it done faster and is way more fun.

Buying a snowblower is usually followed by a no snow winter. :-)
 
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Stewartb said:
My snow mover is either a Polaris Sportsman 800 with a plow or a RZR 800S with a plow. I have a Honda tracked blower but romping in the snow on a wheeler gets it done faster and is way more fun.

Buying a snowblower is usually followed by a no snow winter. :-)
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Ben's Snowblower is a old big chassis Bronco with a turbocharged 454 in the back seat running a hydraulic pump that powers a twin auger head that's around 8' wide. It do as a pretty good job.
 
In the Sierra Nevada snow blowers need 2 augers, otherwise you remove the first 18" and then knock down the snow above and do it again and again.

95connell.jpg
 
My snow blower was delivered today before lunch, assembled, oiled, full of gas, and ready to go. Now all we need is snow.

I like the way the controls are laid out. Everything's very intuitive and easy-to-reach.

B4ITnGACAAAjHG2.jpg


The machine seems very well-built. The kid gave me the mandatory safety spiel and maintenance instructions and quizzed me to make sure I knew what I was doing (at least enough not to kill myself) before releasing the machine to me. I was pretty impressed. It's refreshing when young people take their jobs seriously.

He also said I was lucky to get that model snow blower. They're selling like hot cakes, he said. He bought the same model himself a few days ago, and another customer and I got the last two available anywhere near Sparrow Fart today. He had to drive about 80 miles to get them. Apparently a lot of them were sold to people in the Buffalo area when they had the massive blizzard, so they're in short supply in the Catskills. The distributor said it may be as long as February until they get more in.

Now all I need is some snow! :D

Rich
 
Great thread, allow me share my monster machine. :lol: I can count on one hand the number of times its been a little small for the quantity of snow we had on the ground.

As a kid growing up in western Mass (KBAF), I shoveled more snow than I cared to. Even with three brothers it was still a lot of work. Never enjoyed that part.

Rich that is a good looking machine, hope it works well for ya.
 

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RJM62;1628932t said:
Now all I need is some snow! :D

Rich
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Nice looking machine! Hope you get the snow. Plowing snow is one of my favorite winter chores. Use both a plow (42" hooked up to an ancient Simplicity 7118 garden tractor) and a 20" Toro snowblower.

Glad to see customer service still exists! Good of the dealer to go the extra mile(s) for you. IMHO, that's worth giving them the business, even if it costs a few bucks more.

Gary
 
Gary said:
Nice looking machine! Hope you get the snow. Plowing snow is one of my favorite winter chores. Use both a plow (42" hooked up to an ancient Simplicity 7118 garden tractor) and a 20" Toro snowblower.

Glad to see customer service still exists! Good of the dealer to go the extra mile(s) for you. IMHO, that's worth giving them the business, even if it costs a few bucks more.

Gary
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Oh, absolutely. I could have saved a few bucks ordering it online, but I like dealing with local businesses as much as possible. There's nothing else they could have done to make the purchase a pleasant experience other than coming over to clear the snow themselves. Very exceptional service.

Rich
 
RJM62 said:
Oh, absolutely. I could have saved a few bucks ordering it online, but I like dealing with local businesses as much as possible. There's nothing else they could have done to make the purchase a pleasant experience other than coming over to clear the snow themselves. Very exceptional service.

Rich
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Very true! Seems in the end, dealing local has hidden benefits. Quite a few times I've received some excellent references and/or service from the most unexpected places due to one vendor who knows someone else, even if it is for entirely different products. Case in point, needed the chimney cleaned, while at the local garage door dealer for a weather seal, mentioned the chimney, the salesman gave me a name of a guy not too far away. Excellent service and price!

Gary
 
Seems like a reasonable choice Rich. Here in real snow country Ariens push snowblowers are the most popular. I have a 30" push Ariens and a Husqvarna garden tractor with 40" Berco snow blower attachment. The Ariens will handle deeper snow. I like the idea of track drive but nobody here has them so don't know if they work any better. I have a Toro snowblower out at my hangar and it is a little easier to use than the Ariens.
 
Track units have better traction but are less maneuverable, like to make a 180* turn at the end of the driveway. Track units are also more difficult to pull backwards if you want to adjust it's course. They're generally harder to drag around in the shed or in the truck, too.
 
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