Community Chat

[ID2]

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@JeanLouiseFinch wrote:

DH and I bought our first snowblower close to 30 yrs. ago.  It was a Toro and one of their bigger models, not just a little pup.  It served us well and a couple of years ago we thought we should replace it.  We went to all the usual places and were really disheartened by the fact that there was so much plastic in the assembly.  We ended up bringing ours to a place that works on snowblowers.  They gave it a thorough going over and replaced everything that was needed.  We spent a couple hundred bucks but we're much happier doing that than buying plastic.  Granted, it won't be brand new in the box, but if you could find a shop that refurbishes and resells older models I think you'll actually get a better machine.  If you don't like that recommendation, at least go with a good name, like Toro.  Make sure it has an electric start (gasoline engine) and a chute that you can turn to direct where you want the snow to blow.  Also get a little bigger than you think you'll need.  If you live in the midwest, you know how our storms can be.  Smaller machines are short and won't do as good of a job in deep snow.

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Oh I can sure relate to the ability of an older snow blower. I tell everyone our tale. The last time we bought a new snow blower was back in 1979 when we bought our first home in the middle of winter. Its a Toro and back then was called a snow thrower. Well, we've used that machine for the past 37 years with only very minor repairs. In fact its still working like a champ! But we have moved and now live up in snow country! The snow here gets very deep and snows more often. I finally gave my dh the go ahead and buy a new one with all the bells and whistles. He got the top notch Airens brand. Just picked it up a few weeks ago and now we eagerly await the first snow storm! 

[jackthebear]

we have an old Toro that is still going strong.

too heavy for me to use.  so if you ever wanted to use it, you may not be able just sayin

has a pull start too

[gardenman]

I have a snow thrower that I haven't used in the last four or five years. I found an easier alternative for me. Snow blowers are big, heavy machines and mine has an engine that requires two different types of oil depending on the air temperature. If the air is cooler than 32 degrees you use one type of oil and if it's warmer than 32 degrees you have to switch to a different oil. Very often after a snowstorm the temp here (Southern NJ) will rise to 34-35 degrees or drop into the teens and twenties and changing the oil in the middle of a snowstorm isn't all that much fun. We tend to get really wet, heavy snow too and the snow thrower clogs, or barely moves the heavier wet snow. 

I started looking for alternatives four or five years ago and discovered that in the Scandanavian countries many people use large sleighs/scoops to move snow. I found the Suncast Big Scoop Snow Shovel for $35 and bought one. I love that stupid thing. You end up dancing with the snow more than shoveling the snow. It's a 22" wide 28" deep scoop. You slide it into the snow, tilt it back, slide it to where you want the snow deposited and then give it a flick and the snow slides off. You then go back and repeat the process You end up building a ramp as you move the snow and slide the scoop up the ramp, but it's a pretty easy process.

Here's a picture of my scoop leaning up against a big drift in my driveway from this past winter. The scoop is 28" deep (front to back) and as you can see the drift is just about that tall. It was a pretty easy job to clear even this size storm with just the scoop.I highly recommend them. You can check out YouTube videos on using snow scoops, but you really have to use one to get the feel for it. It really is like dancing with the snow. They have other brands of scoops now wth handles that loop upwards which would probably work better, but mine does the job for me.

[qualitygal]

We have an Aireans 824. I had to go look when it got light.

[gardenman]

Just one more note on the snow scoops. If you read the reviews at that big oline retailer that starts with an "A" you'll find many reviews from people who have given up snow blowers for the scoop. The scoops are a really neat device.

[gardenman]

Just a heads up on brands. Much like computers where many brands are all assembled by Foxconn, many snow blowers/lawn equipment brands all come from a company called MTD. Depending on the brand name slapped on, you may pay hundreds more for the same device. Before investing a lot of money in a brand, it pays to see who really makes it.

[hckynut]

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@gardenman wrote:

I have a snow thrower that I haven't used in the last four or five years. I found an easier alternative for me. Snow blowers are big, heavy machines and mine has an engine that requires two different types of oil depending on the air temperature. If the air is cooler than 32 degrees you use one type of oil and if it's warmer than 32 degrees you have to switch to a different oil. Very often after a snowstorm the temp here (Southern NJ) will rise to 34-35 degrees or drop into the teens and twenties and changing the oil in the middle of a snowstorm isn't all that much fun. We tend to get really wet, heavy snow too and the snow thrower clogs, or barely moves the heavier wet snow. 

I started looking for alternatives four or five years ago and discovered that in the Scandanavian countries many people use large sleighs/scoops to move snow. I found the Suncast Big Scoop Snow Shovel for $35 and bought one. I love that stupid thing. You end up dancing with the snow more than shoveling the snow. It's a 22" wide 28" deep scoop. You slide it into the snow, tilt it back, slide it to where you want the snow deposited and then give it a flick and the snow slides off. You then go back and repeat the process You end up building a ramp as you move the snow and slide the scoop up the ramp, but it's a pretty easy process.

Here's a picture of my scoop leaning up against a big drift in my driveway from this past winter. The scoop is 28" deep (front to back) and as you can see the drift is just about that tall. It was a pretty easy job to clear even this size storm with just the scoop.I highly recommend them. You can check out YouTube videos on using snow scoops, but you really have to use one to get the feel for it. It really is like dancing with the snow. They have other brands of scoops now wth handles that loop upwards which would probably work better, but mine does the job for me.

@gardenman,

C'mon man, what's up you telling the ladies this "changing oil baloney"? It ain't like you to say things that do not coincide with facts.

They have been making multi-viscosity oils for decades now, you know that and I know that. Remember, I raced cars/built racing engines, so believe me I know a bit about oil used in race cars versus regular use internal combustion 4 cycle engines.

With race engines that are not water cooled, we always used at least an SAE 60 weight oil. In altitude races we thinned down the viscosity. If not? I would have blown the bottom end out of many expensive racing engines.

Why you want those reading this to think because you live in an area where you need to change oil with a 30° or more temperature change escapes me. I know you to be a very intelligent and and "jack of all trades knowledge and expertise man". I am similar, but not as versatile as you in so many different fields. However, when it comes to engines, if you really believe you have to change oil with a 20° temp change?

You are either stuck in the belief that only single weight SAE standards are still necessary or just plain ",stuck in your ways".  I have built and raced enough and used enough multi-viscosity oils/looked at main bearings and rod insert bearings after races to be able assure everyone of this fact.

Multi-viscosity oils are just as good as single number SAE weight oils when it comes to engine protection an wear. As long as a person doesn't use SAE 60 in below zero weather, or use SAE 5 in 100° weather, they are taking good care of their engines.

You keep dancing with you scoop, but were I still be willing to risk moving our deep heavy snow. It would be with a gas engine/wide path/high horsepower/ Stage 2 or Stage 3 snow thrower(blower, take your pick). With our rural type living where we get drifting snow, I would love to see you enjoy your dancing with your scoop clearing our snow. That I would find very entertaining, and probably take you days to get us out.

When I don't know something I ask questions from people that do know. Never been one to give an impression I am an expert on everything, but I do have a couple friends that love playing those cards.

You however surprised me. There is book learning then there is the type of learning I gained called: On the Job Training". Given a choice of the 2? I'll stick with how I learned most things in my life.

Go get'm now man, and sell some of your books, eh?

hckynut(john)

[gardenman]

John. The engine on my snowblower is a Tecumseh HSSK50 and the manual specifically calls for the use of SAE30 oil at temperatures above 32 degrees and SAE5W30 (or SAE10) at temperatures below 32 degrees. If the temperature drops below zero you have to use 0W30. Use of any other oil would void the warranty.

[hckynut]

gardenman,

Your other reply sounded to me you were talking straight weight oils, not multi-viscosity. I cannot imagine any company selling a motorized snow, whatever you want to call them, with clearances so small and specific in their engines, that would require a person to change oil weights like they change their socks.

Here in Nebraska it was on Monday 51° and today it is 94°, and it ain't even the hottest part of the day. As far as that ridiculous warranty. I see it as a legal way out of paying for a defect or other problem with their warranty.

Take it to an authorized repair shop and they drain the oil into their 1,000 gallon oil pit. They then tell you the warranty is void because you used the wrong weight oil.

How are you going to prove you did? As you know in any civil or criminal court, the burden of proof falls onto the plaintiff, which would be you. Good luck with that, and lots of $$$ too, more than likely waste.

I would be suspicious of any engine building company that had a warranty as ridiculous as that particular Tecumseh. I would never buy a mower/blower or any type of motorized anything that has oil viscosity=temperature as a way of voiding their motors.

Most people don't have a clue about SAE weights/ Multi-viscosity Oils, must less be able to understand a narrow warranty such as the one you mention. I wonder how many warranties they have voided because these reasons.

I'll stick with Briggs&Stratton motors. My snow "whatever" called for 5W-30, with no temperature specifics in their warranty. My Cub Cadet Zero-Turn motor, exactly the same, except it recommends 10W-30, no temp voiding warranty nonsense.

hckynut(john)

[gardenman]

John. I can assure you that had I known you needed different oils in that narrow a temperature range I'd have never bought it, but once I've spent the money, and they're not cheap devices, I'll follow their recommendations. They're very specific on the oils that must be used at certain air temps. I found it a bit insane, but I followed their recommendations. It's not hard to swap out the oil, but spending fifteen to twenty extra minutes in the cold doing it isn't a lot of fun.