Snow Attachments single stage snow blower worth it?

[hazmat]

Anybody got one? How well do they work? There is a used one advertised a couple hours away for $300. 54" Int. (International?) brand.

The engineer in me says 2 stage is better, but the price is right.

I'm thinking of checking it out next weekend.

 

[art]

Dfferent machines for different purposes. The single stage does just fine for fresh fallen snow. It is not meant to grind up old frozen banks like the older heavy duty two stage. Many of the new two stage blowers fliteing is lighter duty then blowers of yester year.

 

[hazmat]

Sounds like it is worth a visit at least.

 

[art]

54" leaves me wondering what it fit or if it is a different width as they used 36" 42" two designs one made to fit the older cadets and one made by Haban and a 48" that was also made by Haban. The later two where the best. At least that is what they used on the garden tractors.

 

[hazmat]

This one is supposed to be 3 point hitch mount /540 PTO. I have seen a few brands that offer that size. Perfect for the smaller compacts (like mine). 4' doesn't quite cover your tracks & the machine doesn't really have enough HP to run a 5'

 

[Wildman1]

I've used a single stage on my 20hp Craftsman garden tractor for 5 years and it worked supberly. Even in packed or wet snow it punched through..albeit: I had to gear down and go slow. Wet stuff blew out to about 5' but the fresh stuff blew out to 40'.

 

[RichNJKubota]

I have a single stage blower and most of the time it's fine. The FEL gets the rest.
Rich

 

[duane]

Hazmat,

I have a two stage walk behind (for walkways out back), and a tractor mounted single stage(for the driveway). Both are Toro's. My experience is that the single stage with enough horsepower does better in all types of snow, especially the really wet stuff. The chute velocity (5,000 fpm vs 4,000 fpm in the two stage) is higher in my single stage, so it does not clog up plus it is faster.

Duane

 

[PineRidge]

Hazmat heck for $300.00 you really can't go wrong. Even if the worst happened and you didn't think the blower did a good job you could easily sell it and make a few bucks on the deal. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[rbarker]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Anybody got one? How well do they work? )</font>

I used a single stage 40" front blower on my first Wheel Horse tractor with 18 Hp. It worked fine for the most part but it did tend to clog in snow that had been rained on heavily after falling. For $300 I would certainly consider it.

 

[hazmat]

Well I'm trying to consider it. Nobody answered an hour ago. Now, nothing but busy signals.

It is 110 miles from my parent's place in Maine - headiing up there next weekend. I figure I ought to talk to the owner and ask a few questions before blowing 5 hours of my time to go check it out.

 

[hazmat]

Got in touch with the seller. He doesn't know how old it is, but it isn't falling apart. You can still read International & the serial number on the machine.

Faces the rear of the tractor - IE drive in reverse to use it. Claims the bearings, chains etc. are in good shape.

There isn't a chute adjuster, but I'm temped to rig one up like Von did (electric) or a double cable setup they have on the new walk behind snowblowers now.

Wish it were closer... Not to be snooty, but with how busy I've been lately, the 5 hours of my time is more important to me than the $300. Sounds like plenty of interested parties here if I'm not happy with the purchase.

Does anyone know if International is still in business?

 

[slowzuki]

Used a few single stages before, a beat up single stage isn't worth 10$. At the time I had no welding equipment or skill to rebuild the auger. I'd end up leaving the PTO disengaged and plow with the **** thing!

Beat up 2 stage will still work but once the tip clearance on the impeller gets too big it won't throw far. 2 stage generally leaves a bigger left over pile too.

 

[art]

I almost, no I did forget this. I had a fellow with a few physical(nothing mental) handicaps. When Cadet went from the single to the two stage he came back and got his old blower. This fellow mowed lawns and cleaned driveways as long as he didn't have to get off the tractor. He had about 15 places that the he took care of. When using the two stage it always was pushing some snow, we even sped up the cross auger to no avail. With the single stage he said it sucked some of the snow out from the cars left in the driveway.

 

[hazmat]

<font color="blue">a beat up single stage isn't worth 10$ </font>

Well, I've been thinking it over: Weighing 5 hours of my precious time on the road vs. # of nights spent on the couch after wifey sees the rust bucket I just paid $300 for vs. rigging up some kind of chute adjustment, vs. potentially saving a few minutes per storm, I've decided not to buy the thing. If he were close & I could try it out in the snow first, might be another story. The key decision maker was when I asked the seller why he was selling it. He said: "I hear the two stages are supposed to work better" I take that as an indication that he's not happy with it's performance. Ie he was willing to shell out $1,400 for a new one to replace it.

I think I'll hold out for a later model 2 stage (a quick survey of the the want ads / local dealer indicates that should cost me $500-$900). If anybody here is interested in this machine, send me a PM & I'll get yout the guy's phone number. He is in Hartland, ME (50 Miles North of Augusta)

 

[art]

I'm just a little curious here is this a three point hitch blower or a front mount? I not familiar with a three point hich one.

 

[hazmat]

Three point hitch

 

[rambler]

I'd not be familiar with a front mount version. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

International Harvester was bought by Case. Case has since loosely merged with New Holland, which used to be Ford. But a Case dealer is different from a New Holland dealer - they are both owned by the same parent company tho. The new Case compact tractors look a _whole lot_ like New Holland compacts, in fact. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

--->Paul