Snow Blowers
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,476
Likes: 224
From: Frequently frozen MN
Snow Blowers
Hi,
I'm looking for a good snow blower. I have around a 250 foot gravel driveway and just a small sidewalk.
I have managed with an 8 hp from Sears for several years, but my neighbor often plows it out with his big ATV.
But, he will be spending more of the winter in Nevada, so he won't be around.
I would just as soon have somebody do it, but they keep quitting after they find out how hard it is on their trucks.
Cost is always an object, but I want something capable and reliable.
Any thoughts?
Thanks,
hj
I'm looking for a good snow blower. I have around a 250 foot gravel driveway and just a small sidewalk.
I have managed with an 8 hp from Sears for several years, but my neighbor often plows it out with his big ATV.
But, he will be spending more of the winter in Nevada, so he won't be around.
I would just as soon have somebody do it, but they keep quitting after they find out how hard it is on their trucks.
Cost is always an object, but I want something capable and reliable.
Any thoughts?
Thanks,
hj
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
Likes: 22
From: The Big, Oregon
Heavy snows are good with a snowblower, but a light snow can take much longer with a blower than with a plow, so depending on where you are it may be better to plow it.
I have an older 46" Craftsman blower that was mounted on my GT6000, but then the tractor died so now it's getting reworked to use on my Yanmar. It was a decent unit in both powder and slushy stuff, except it didn't throw as far as it could. The impeller was pretty worn, so I added a strip of rubber to each blade to fill the gap to the housing, which should make it much better. This is a great upgrade to any snowblower, and can make a cheap one work like a high-end unit.
I have an older 46" Craftsman blower that was mounted on my GT6000, but then the tractor died so now it's getting reworked to use on my Yanmar. It was a decent unit in both powder and slushy stuff, except it didn't throw as far as it could. The impeller was pretty worn, so I added a strip of rubber to each blade to fill the gap to the housing, which should make it much better. This is a great upgrade to any snowblower, and can make a cheap one work like a high-end unit.
Moderator
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 164,377
Likes: 82
From: MA
Hi,
I'm looking for a good snow blower. I have around a 250 foot gravel driveway and just a small sidewalk.
I have managed with an 8 hp from Sears for several years, but my neighbor often plows it out with his big ATV.
But, he will be spending more of the winter in Nevada, so he won't be around.
I would just as soon have somebody do it, but they keep quitting after they find out how hard it is on their trucks.
Cost is always an object, but I want something capable and reliable.
Any thoughts?
Thanks,
hj
I'm looking for a good snow blower. I have around a 250 foot gravel driveway and just a small sidewalk.
I have managed with an 8 hp from Sears for several years, but my neighbor often plows it out with his big ATV.
But, he will be spending more of the winter in Nevada, so he won't be around.
I would just as soon have somebody do it, but they keep quitting after they find out how hard it is on their trucks.
Cost is always an object, but I want something capable and reliable.
Any thoughts?
Thanks,
hj
I would get a beater plow truck to do the job...
There are plenty of trucks out there in the 1,000 - 1,500 dollar range
Being its a gravel driveway it would be tough on a blower
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,476
Likes: 224
From: Frequently frozen MN
I would get a beater plow truck to do the job...
My Sears does OK, but it needs a little more juice. It's especially an issue with the icy/slushy stuff. The gravel isn't an issue as long as I keep the skids adjusted right.
Thanks for the thoughts,
hj
Moderator
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 158,261
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From: Greenfield, MA
I use a 27 year old Honda that I bought new...9 horse...24" cut. I can't imagine there's a finer machine out there. They are...however...very expensive. My neighbor has a newer Ariens...not 1/2 the machine my Honda is.
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Cargo Master
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From: Frequently frozen MN
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), and provide a reasonably simple method.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,385
Likes: 1
From: Mercer County, OH
There are several YouTube video's of how people have done this. If you can get the impeller off the snow blower it will make it a bit easier. For the rubber donor I used some ~1/8" off of an old mudflap.
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