Snow blower owners - what should I know?!

[Bell30012]

For a while I lived in Rhode Island. I found that you get what you pay for when getting a snow blower. Our first one was a single stage... Not impressive at all. So then I went to the Tim Allen school of snow blower. We got a two-stage with 5 forward gears and 2 reverse. This thing could send snow 25+ feet. It was awesome (insert grunt here).

The first morning that I was using this beast, I was disappointed when I ran out of driveway. I went across the four lane and cleared all the walkways/driveways of the church. I was having a blast. Then some guy pulled in with a yellow light and a plow. Man was he ever mad that I cleared that snow. However, when I told him they didn't know I did it, he could still send a bill... He got a little happier.

 

[walkdmc]

My dad is big on researching every big purchase. He talks to multiple dealers and people who use snow plows for their business rather than internet research. He bought us a Briggs and Stratton model about 6 years ago, based on his research back then. I love that thing. We have a very long driveway with space to park 6 cars at the top. We also have a very long common driveway, about 1/4 of a mile, which we plow.

I'll list some features I I have that I use all the time.
1. multiple speeds, 1-5. I can shift between low speeds (great for big snowfalls) and high speed.
2. Reverse 1 and Reverse 2, just a small difference in reverse speeds but makes a nice difference if you have a lot to do and have to manipulate the machine between tight spaces.
3. chute can be cranked a complete 180 degrees, good for going down each side of the driveway.
4. can tackle over 2 feet of snow, I know there are models that do less, so know your average snowfall.
5. It's big, with big tires so it makes light work of a heavy snowfall.
6. It has a big headlight for nighttime snow blowing, works great.

Some cons:
1. the chute freezes up when the snow inside gets hot and melts, after about 45 minutes of work. I have to stop the machine and jam a rod down there, dislodge the chunk of ice, only to have the same thing happen 15 minutes later. It needs some down time after it starts icing up. I suspect it has to do with the machine heating up and needs to cool down.
2. Regardless of what direction the chute is facing, wind can blow the snow into your face. They sell a shield but I haven't invested in one (yet).

After 6 years of using that machine at least 10x/year (100+ hours of use), I haven't even had a tune-up, or oil change. It starts up every year, despite my negligence, after many pushes of the fuel primer button. This year I will show my B&S some love and get a tune up and oil change.

Good luck and you will learn to love a snow blower. BTW, I'm a woman and my husband has never even turned that snow blower on, LOL. I don't want to seem too butch but I do get excited at the prospect of clearing snow from my driveway.

 

[walkdmc]

Whichever one you get, be sure to always use fuel stabilizer in the offseason to keep the gas fresh. Otherwise the gas will go stale and could cause engine problems.

We just run our motor until the gas tank is empty. We've never added any fuel stabilizer to our machine. I think our machine was about $800 new.