Snow Blowers

[flatbutt]

Does any snowblower actually get down to bare ground?

[stevej37]

^^^ Any of them will...if you set the skids right.
You will end up throwing sand and gravel all over if on bare ground.

I have an asphalt drive and I still set it to about a half inch depth. Any lower than that and it will buck at any crack and if not careful...the handlebar will spear you!

[gsxrken]

Picked this badass up this summer at a swap meet with 11 hours on the meter. Of course we haven’t had more than 4” of snow at one time since. It’s like a buying a hedge against snowfall.

[Crowbob]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Aren't they snowthrowers?

My 'snowblower' was plugged...so I used some water from my 'hot water heater' to thaw it.

Yeah. We also took stuff out of the freezer to unthaw it.

[Crowbob]

I've got one of those, Ken.

Awesome.

Trick is to treat it like a tractor. Let it do the work. They're designed for weak and frail old people with money. The lift assist takes a minute to get used to. Great machine.

I haven't run mine for two years. It's got less than one hour on it but I don't remember it having an hour meter. Ill have to look for it. Where is it?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by pavulon

The baton mounted to the auger housing just forward of the chute is your friend.

Thanks, that is good to know.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

Does any snowblower actually get down to bare ground?

Yep. My Snapper single stage and my Troybilt 2 stage both will. You just need to move slower and have the scraper bar below the auger set correctly. The Snapper single stage has no slides to adjust. It just drags the scraper bar. As long as there isn't ice, I'll go right to concrete or so close that only a fine dust remains. I'll probably be able to show you what I mean in a few hours from now.

Originally Posted by stevej37

^^^ Any of them will...if you set the skids right.
You will end up throwing sand and gravel all over if on bare ground.

I have an asphalt drive and I still set it to about a half inch depth. Any lower than that and it will buck at any crack and if not careful...the handlebar will spear you!

Damn turtle man! How fast are you moving with that thing? Get one of your turtles out there to show you have fast you're supposed to be going

[Norm K]

This thread doesn't have me pining for a new snow-blower, but rather for a quicker exit to warmer climes where such things aren't necessary.

I've had snowfall that required blowing/shoveling a half-dozen times already this season ... and January is only the sixth snowiest month here. February, March and April rank 4th, 1st and 2nd, respectively and, of course, still lay ahead.

February is off to a good start - ten more inches fell overnight.

Gotta get through this winter, but should be living on the lake by early June.

_

[stevej37]

^^^ Cab
I typically use a middle speed (3 or 4) for the first swath. After that, I take half swaths at the next to fastest speed. (6th)
My garage apron is concrete and I once didn't press down on the bars enough and it caught the lip. One of the bars got me right in the groin...OUCH!

[Robert Coats]

Originally Posted by gsxrken

Picked this badass up this summer at a swap meet with 11 hours on the meter.

Find the serial number (lower rear frame) and then contact Honda Customer Relations. They can tell you when the unit was first sold/registered, and let you know if any of the 3-year warranty is still left on the unit.

They can also update the database to show you as the current owner. This could be important, in the unlikely event there's ever a product safety recall; Honda would mail you the recall procedure.

https://powerequipment.honda.com/support/contact-us

[gsxrken]

Originally Posted by Crowbob

I've got one of those, Ken.
Trick is to treat it like a tractor. Let it do the work. They're designed for weak and frail old people with money.
The lift assist takes a minute to get used to. Great machine.
I haven't run mine for two years. It's got less than one hour on it but I don't remember it having an hour meter. Ill have to look for it. Where is it?

Bolded part describes me lol. I do wonder where my breakeven will be with this thing. It’s a great machine and I got it at 40% off retail but I could probably pay my landscaper $75 a pop to dig me out for a long time before I’m in the black. And with the boys away at school now, I have to do it.

[stevej37]

^^^ It's fun!

[jhynesrockmtn]

I bought my house in 2013 and wasn't really thinking about the snow blowing and yard work. I was thinking corner double lot, lots of parking, space for a shop, access and privacy. The first snow I went "*****" but on balance I would do it again. I bought a 2 stage basic Ariens used and it has worked well but is only 20" wide and has no reverse or selectable drive speeds. I'm going to sell it this spring and get a wider model with more features.

Oddly I enjoy putting my headphones on blowing and shoveling the snow. There is something peaceful about it.

[gsxrken]

Jerry that looks like a sweet shop for sure.
The thing with snow removal that’s almost unlike anything else: you can bust your ass several days a year for hours at a time and usually that amount of effort would result in lasting results. “Look, I built that / fixed that/ moved that [whatever] thing winter, and it’s still here” sort of thing. Not with snow!
Truth be told I don’t mind doing it either. I just don’t like when someone has already driven on it before I get to it.

[stevej37]

I normally just pull start the snowthrower. But this year, I've been using the plug-in electric start.
So much easier. It spins the motor faster and fires up instantly.

[Scott Douglas]

Having only used a side-throw mower a couple of times (my Snapper Hi-Vac is a rear bagger) do I assume correctly that you have to 'plan' the snow throwing so you don't end up throwing snow on already covered ground, ie you don't want to have to throw it twice, right?

[stevej37]

If it's not windy...yes you can throw it any spot you want.
If it's windy...just aim it so it doesn't come back into your face.
If it lands back on the drive...it won't be much. Just go over it again.