Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

Everyone has different needs.
In a ideal world, I would love to get a super beasty 24" Wide Bucket 2 stager

Do like I did.  I took a 10 hp 32" 3 stage, swapped out the auger assembly with a 26" one from a parts machine after going through everything. rebuilding as needed.  I now have a 10 HP 26" two stage blower that will chew up a Toyota without skipping a beat.  I even went so far as to do some hotrodding of it, replacing plastic bushings with roller bearings etc so it's better than it was new.

I've rebuilt several machines that way, using the best of each to make the most saleable machines.  Right now I have several machines from 4 HP 20" through another 10 HP 32" 3 stage, rebuilding the last one right now.  That 10 HP 26" has the best parts I could find or make and it's truly a beast, and unlike the 3 stage, this one fits through the garage door.

If you can't find it, build it.

What's a 3 stage machine? 

borat wrote:

It's a term sometimes used to refer to the 'tall' machines with double augers.

Yes.  It's not technically another stage, but a smaller auger above the main auger to break up taller drifts.

I did something similar to hcbph1, I bought a mid 80"s Cub Cadet (when they were still owned by international harvester) 26" 8hp two stage without a motor for 40.00 dollars, other than the faded paint it was in excellent shape.   It had been in storage for many years as the original owner blew up the engine when it was only a few years old, removed the engine and never finished the job.


I put an 11hp Honda clone with electric start and made a clearance kit for it.   This machine is an absolute monster weighing in at over 340lbs but, with a true differential and roller skids  it is very easy to turn and handle.  With the clearance kit it will pump wet slush like a fire hose and not even bog down the engine.  

borat wrote:

Here's what that one looked like when I got it

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t248/hcbph/Snowblower/th_IM001170.jpg

Here's what it looked like after some rebuilding and swapping out the auger

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t248/hcbph/Snowblower/th_536_918900_Modified.jpg

Here's a better shot of what typically is called a 3d stage

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t248/hcbph/Snowblower/536_882700%2010%20HP%203%20stage/Auger_Reassembled.jpg

The upper beaters acts like a beater bar, breaking up tall drifts and knocking it down for the augers to pick up