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

I'm looking into a snow blower/thrower.  I live in upstate NY (near Albany) and would estimate we get about four to five storms a year with about 8".  There are the rare NorthEasters that may drop 15" every three or four years.

My driveway is on about a 3 degree grade, one car length in width for about thirty feet, then it opens up to about three car lengths wide (in an L shape) for about twenty feet.

Is a single stage thrower too small, or will it work but just take more time to clear the snow?

I see CR reviewed models recently and liked the single stage Toro CCR-2450 which I can get online (free shipping, no tax) for $537 at SpeedWaysales.com.

The two-stage model they liked was a Craftsman 88790, which Sears has on sale for $949.

I would love to hear what people think about the two-stage versus one-stage, especially if you live in the Northeast near Albany, and what models you think are the best.

Lastly, I HATE maintenance, and the Ariens web site scared the bejeesus out of me with their maintenance section (You must tighten the drive belt after 20 hours of usage.  Then in the drive belt section it says, "Be careful, if this is not done right you may be injured or killed").  

Marshall,  

                       Amen brother!!

                                                                      Fred

Marshall wrote:
That's all I was asking for, and for the most part I got it.  Everyone one this forum was fine until I posted this:
I'm down to two models - the highly rated Craftsman 9hp two-stage for $949, or the not so highly rated (by Consumers) Ariens 8.5hp, on sale at HD for $900.

After that,  EMMO responded "Now many others will prefer the Ariens,  better built, longer lasting, all steel construction, backed by a consumer concerned company."

Interesting because while Sears will fix it in my house for 5 yrs, Ariens requires me to bring it back to the dealer.  And the statement better built got me to thinking "How does he know?".  Should I be slammed for asking the next obvious question - who is this person and what data/information do they have to support his argument?

ChrisS pipes in and says "The Crafstman unit you are looking at is made by MTD.  We have beat this horse to death over on the old forum so I will summarize, it is not the machine for a person who lives in a snow belt. "

Once again, why is he saying this.  Can he point me in the direction of unreliable Craftsman?  I sure can't find any Craftsman owners (any more than Ariens) on this site who are complaining, so he is obviously getting his information somewhere else.  However, it is also common for people who own a particular brand to downgrade anything with similar/more features at less cost, proving to themselves they made the right purchase decision.

Jonathan joins in saying " I agree that the Ariens is the way to over the long haul in the Albany area."
Once again, WHY!!!

Then I ask " OK, if I go with the Ariens, how do you turn the unit around?"
Emmo responds "Any unit with the pin-lock system, regardless of make, will be more difficult to maneuver than one with power steering or a differential."

So it seems, if I'm going to get less with an Ariens, reliability is the final determinant.  I'm cool with that, but now tell me, where this lack of Craftsman reliability comes from?

ChrisS again pipes in to say "If your wife is going to be using it then look at the Honda 724 WA/TA's which are lighter or one of the smaller Ariens or Simp units.  They will still be hard to turn for her but will be small enough for her to handle also.  The 926 DLE Emmo mentioned is THE machine and she will be able to turn it with it's differential easily."

So it seems, if I want an easy to handle Ariens, I need to get a $1,400 unit - out of my price range.  I'm back to comparing the $1000 Ariens with the $1000 Craftsman.

Dave_in_Ct was nice enough to state: "You can "muscle" the machine to turn sharply... ...or......use reverse & forward to turn it in smaller increments with less physical force...
...or... easier yet......keep going forward while turning in a wider arc that you/she feel comfortable with..."

I really appreciated that, because now I'm leaning more heavily towards the Craftsman, but who wants a product that will break after a couple of seasons.  No matter how easy it is to handle, its going nowhere if its broke.

DantheMan chimes in with "I would recommend the Ariens over the Craftsman for your area and would rather go to an Ariens dealer( not Home Depot ) and get the 926 DLE."
WHY, WHY, WHY!!!  Can people at least back up their opinions?

I respond back asking "No one can show any statistics that the Craftsman is less reliable, it's all "word of mouth", yet I can't find any more posts about Craftsman problems than Ariens or any other company.  Many people state their Craftsman is running great at 15, 20 or more years. "

ChrisS sophmorically replies  " OK Snow, Then get the Craftsman."

Jonathon, on the other hand, makes a simple valid point "That said, if your gut tells you to go with the Sears and service warranty, I'd go for it."

Emmo gets all defensive and says " You asked and we replied,  I guess our collective knowledge and experiences don't add up to yours. Enjoy your Consumer Reports special."

MountainMan made a good point specifying some of the work he's done on Craftsman.

Marshall accuses me of coming here with an agenda.

Dave_in_CT makes some good points, but if I save the money at Home Depot, I lose the support from the Ariens dealer (the pick up at my home support, which he won't put in writing).

Emmo attacks back saying "Do you usually ask questions of those whose opinions or knowledge you don't respect??!!"

To which I reply, I ask questions to gain more information.  I don't know you people, so how can I respect you?  I want to see if you make a point you can back it up.  Otherwise, I have to conclude you are NOT someone I respect  and the information you bring is, at best, questionable.

I came here to get information.  As soon as I tried to delve deeper into your collective knowledge, most of you turned to attacking me.  Maybe they should rename abbysguide to AriensGuide, it would make a lot more sense.

SR,

        I feel slighted!!  You left me out of your " Tirade".

I said if you live in heavy snow country, buy the Ariens, Toro, or Simplicity.

Also said buy their top of the line machine.

What other advice do you need!

                             Fred

SnowRemover wrote:

jubol wrote: "ChrisS pipes in and says "The Crafstman unit you are looking at is made by MTD.  We have beat this horse to death over on the old forum so I will summarize, it is not the machine for a person who lives in a snow belt. "  EVEN FRED, THE BIGGEST CRAFTSMAN BACKER ON THIS FORUM, DID NOT THINK THAT A CRAFTSMAN WAS FOR YOU."


I included you in my "Tirade"  Fred!!

Snowdude,

As I said, you came here asking for opinions, you got em. If you're requiring MTD Craftsman complaints you will not find many of them here because, there are very few MTD Craftsman owners here. Geeze, the assumptions you made are partly why I accused you of having an agenda and the other reason is becuase you became extremely defensive of the Craftsman and started dissing the Ariens and in turn, dissing everyone that's tried to help you. That looks like someone with an agenda to me and I'm still not convinced you don't have one. And, having an agenda doesn't necessarily mean it's bad thing but, taking those you're asking for help and throwing their opinions around with no care, isn't the best way to make friends and influence enemies.

Be that as it may, you have the members responses and information. Take them and use them or throw them away, your choice.

Good luck

ps thanks dave

Go to the old WTB forum.

Click on the search option.

In the "Search For" Type "MTD"

Leave user name blank.

Go to "Max days from last Post" and in the "days" area change 7 to 365.

Go to "Display How many results" type 300.

This reading will give you the "horse" for this year that I was referring to, it is up to you to do the work, not me.  I've already done it.

You can also type in to the "Search For"  "Junk" and get some useful info also.

"ChrisS sophmorically replies  " OK Snow, Then get the Craftsman.""

That was not "sophmoric" that was me assuming that you made up your mind and telling you to get the machine you like.

You have not  liked what you have read here and I am beginning to wonder why you came here....

My last bit of advice is that I recommend that you spend some time tonight reading the posts over there on the old forum before you buy.

My advice has remained the same for years, research the machines, on line and in person, pick what you feel is best for you, buy it take care of it and be happy, if you do that regardless of what you buy I am happy for you too....

Good luck and Best to you Snow....

C

EMMO,

        Thank you for including me, I feel so left out!

  I have an MTD blower, which for me for  where I live is like hitting a tack with a sledge hammer.

   I use it about 1 to 2 hours a year. So it should last me 20 to 30 years with good maintenance! Murrays would be overkill here also!

                           Fred

I think I'm starting to have deja vu all over again.....

Didn't we do this whole dance at the old place not too long ago??

Emmo wrote:

Yes......We did.......

C