Snow Blower Manufacturers

I would buy a used one in the spring if I were you. Probably get one for $100 or $200 at that time. If you are gonna use it

Do some research, you may find that both are made by the same company, the one I am thinking of makes most private brands and a number of their own brands. Built for price not quality nor longivity. Buy used and you may end up with it at the end of the machine's life.

Check on a mower/landscape equipment dealer for the brands they carry. Airens is one that comes to mind, there are a few others that make quality equipment. Don't buy a cheap one, there is nothing worse than having to repair a poorly built unit in 10 degrees below weather while the snow piles up, requiring you to hand shovel your way out to get parts. Been there and done that, never again.

I'm also in southern MI, however I have a sloped driveway, so driving over even small snows is not an option for me. (AMHIKT- it was a very expensive lesson involving a fried transmission.)

Anyway, I bought mine off CraigsList in January, winter before last, after using hand shovel, leaf blower, and abusing the transmission the first 2.5 winters here. My back is much happier, and so is my transmission. The one I bought is the same Troy-Bilt Lowes sells, in 24" It had been used like twice by a little fellow that was scared of it. Even still had the tags hanging on it. I would have paid the $600 Lowes wanted at that point, but all of them in the area were sold out. So when I found this one 40 miles away for 100 bucks cheaper, I was quite happy. No problems at all so far. It clearly isn't pro-grade, so it probably would not hold up doing driveways for money, but for one house I expect to get 10-15 years out of it easy.

A couple of closing thoughts- although last winter was a somewhat normal winter, after the recent mild winters we have been spoiled by here, the stores got scared and cut back the amount of blowers they stocked so they would not have to deep-discount them in spring. And second, around here at least, a lot of the big-box entry level models are made by MTD, no matter what brand name is on them. (like at Tractor Supply and Sears and Lowes). So pay attention to the stamped metal parts when you are out shopping- you may find one brand can be had cheaper, for the same machine.

-- aem sends...

Whatch what engine you get.

Tecunseh is no more - so now you have Honda, Subaru/Robin, Briggs, Coleman (powermate) and all the chinese crap (snowFoforce etc). In about that order of desireability.

What about Kohler?

That's a good thought. Mine is a Toro, two cycle gas mixer. When I got it, there was some black crud floating around in the gas tank, that kept clogging the metering jet. I put on a fuel filter, and that took care of that. It doesn't want to start worth a hoot for the first try of the year. Ether, and electric starter are my friends. One time I caught a piece of wire in the end of the impellor, and broke the belt. Able to find belts online cheaper than the local Toro place.

Really? No more Tec engines?

Not bad if you can get one - but of all the units I've seen for sale this year here in Ontario I haven't seen one yet.

Two strokes are light weight, and that's the advantage. As to stink, well, when starting up, mine will smoke if I don't open the choke soon enough. Other than that, not noticable. After pushing it around for awhile, I stink worse than the machine.

Hope you never need a gas chainsaw, gas boat motor, gas hedge trimmer, or gas weed whacker. Those are only available in two stroke.

I would certainly use it more that 3 times a year but the times when there will be a lot of snow to move are not going to be a lot.

I'm used to Briggs and Kohler engines. In the past, I usually considered Briggs easier to work on but most of the stuff I have now, lawn tractor and generator, have Kohler.

I have 2 chain saws - they stink Most boat motors are now 4 stroke. 4 stroke weed wackers are now available (as are hedge trimmers I believe, but I use electric)

My weed whacker is 4 stroke, starts first pull except first time in spring when it takes 2 pulls to get it going. Takes straight gas, and to change oil I need only 4 ounces. It is a Honda.

What a strange gadget that must be. A four stroke weed whacker?

Probably the same people that make the Forehead VCR's.

David