Snow blowers

dar512 · 12-09-2009, 02:46 PM

I've never had one, but I'm thinking about it. Are there any models that you don't have to do anything before putting it away for the summer? I'd get an electric, but we've got a long driveway and all the reviews say an electric won't hack it.

glatt · 12-09-2009, 03:29 PM

I doubt it, but I'll bow to others who respond. Any gasoline engine that has old gas sitting in it for the off season is probably going to have problems with the works getting gummed up as the gas ages.

dar512 · 12-09-2009, 04:22 PM

Is it easy to drain the gas from these things? Is that the only thing that has to be done before it's put away?

Griff · 12-09-2009, 04:33 PM

Get one of these babies and use it all year round.

xoxoxoBruce · 12-10-2009, 02:18 AM

I have a small (18" I think) 2-cycle powered blower, very light and easy to handle. When I finished, it'd go back in the shed until I needed it again... even if it wasn't until next year. I've done that for 15 years. Electric (120 volt ac) start, which I'd use the first time, then easy to pull start after that. Not self propelled, supposedly, but tipping it forward, the rubber edged on the blades would pull it along nicely, even up hill. That way it cleaned right down to the pavement, also. I've cleared a couple of 24 to 30 inch snows with it, takes a bit longer, but works if the snow's not too wet. Deep snow is rarely wet.

3 years ago I bought a large, 8hp, 4 cycle, 2 stage, self propelled, killing machine. Will throw snow, trash, and critters, a country mile, but these machines can't clean down to the pavement, they leave 3/8 of an inch or so. Haven't used it yet... 3 mild winters. Now the warranty has run out, be prepared for a nasty winter.

dar512 · 12-10-2009, 07:50 AM

Useful info, Bruce. Thanks.

What's the make and model of your small thrower?

xoxoxoBruce · 12-10-2009, 08:48 AM

I'll have to go look, but it's 40 degree and daylight, so after I get dressed.

lumberjim · 12-10-2009, 09:16 AM

!@!!NSFW snow blower NSFW!!@!!

lol

surprising how many there are

wolf · 12-10-2009, 11:06 AM

Thank you, jim, for restoring my faith in the Cellar. I was expecting that first image to be the one leading the thread.

xoxoxoBruce · 12-11-2009, 12:40 AM

dar, it was made by MTD, for sales by hardware stores. The decals are loooong gone, but the plate says the model was something like JO36B. Of course that's really irrelevant because it's so old.

dar512 · 12-11-2009, 08:59 AM

Thanks Bruce. I appreciate your looking it up.

12-09-2009, 02:46 PM	#1
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	Snow blowers I've never had one, but I'm thinking about it. Are there any models that you don't have to do anything before putting it away for the summer? I'd get an electric, but we've got a long driveway and all the reviews say an electric won't hack it. __________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller

12-09-2009, 04:22 PM	#3
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	Is it easy to drain the gas from these things? Is that the only thing that has to be done before it's put away? __________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller

12-09-2009, 04:33 PM	#4
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Get one of these babies and use it all year round. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

12-10-2009, 02:18 AM	#5
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	I have a small (18" I think) 2-cycle powered blower, very light and easy to handle. When I finished, it'd go back in the shed until I needed it again... even if it wasn't until next year. I've done that for 15 years. Electric (120 volt ac) start, which I'd use the first time, then easy to pull start after that. Not self propelled, supposedly, but tipping it forward, the rubber edged on the blades would pull it along nicely, even up hill. That way it cleaned right down to the pavement, also. I've cleared a couple of 24 to 30 inch snows with it, takes a bit longer, but works if the snow's not too wet. Deep snow is rarely wet. 3 years ago I bought a large, 8hp, 4 cycle, 2 stage, self propelled, killing machine. Will throw snow, trash, and critters, a country mile, but these machines can't clean down to the pavement, they leave 3/8 of an inch or so. Haven't used it yet... 3 mild winters. Now the warranty has run out, be prepared for a nasty winter. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

12-10-2009, 07:50 AM	#6
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	Useful info, Bruce. Thanks. What's the make and model of your small thrower? __________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller

12-09-2009, 03:29 PM	#2
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	I doubt it, but I'll bow to others who respond. Any gasoline engine that has old gas sitting in it for the off season is probably going to have problems with the works getting gummed up as the gas ages.

12-10-2009, 08:48 AM	#7
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	I'll have to go look, but it's 40 degree and daylight, so after I get dressed. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

12-10-2009, 09:16 AM	#8
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	!@!!NSFW snow blower NSFW!!@!! lol surprising how many there are __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

12-10-2009, 11:06 AM	#9
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Thank you, jim, for restoring my faith in the Cellar. I was expecting that first image to be the one leading the thread. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

12-11-2009, 12:40 AM	#10
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	dar, it was made by MTD, for sales by hardware stores. The decals are loooong gone, but the plate says the model was something like JO36B. Of course that's really irrelevant because it's so old. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

12-11-2009, 08:59 AM	#11
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	Thanks Bruce. I appreciate your looking it up. __________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller

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