Snow Attachments Snow Blower - Should I buy this?

dcscott · Jun 19, 2009

I have about 2/3rds of a mile of driveway to maintain and often see overnight snow depths of 12-18". I have an articulating blade on the front of my Kuboto 3130 that I've plowed with the past three years. Seems to work fine until I get a berm built up and then there is no where to put the snow. At that point I have to get perpendicular to the driveway and go back and forth and push the berm over the edge. That takes over 8 hours. During heavy snowfalls I have been unable to keep up so am considering putting a 3pt blower on the back. I just found this one and am wondering if I should buy it and if so what might be a fair price. The asking price seems somewhat high.

I just spotted a 60 snow blower on Craigs List for $1400. It appears to be fairly old and I'm thinking the price is somewhat high.

I emailed the seller and this is what he was able to tell me about the unit:

Make and model unknown. Previous owner painted it green. I think its an old allied. It's not chain drive it's direct drive. Sheer pin on the shaft and 2 sheer pins on the auger. It is defiantly 2 stage. A lot of it has been fortified by me with steel and the drive shaft is brand new. The second stage fan shaft is new machined aluminum professionally done. I used it one season (last season). I maintain 1.5 miles of non county mt road. It did well. Blowers like this work best on straight runs. They all tend to clog blowin' around the house, starting and stopping. I use my bucket for that. The gear box is sealed and filled with oil. Of course the u joints are brand new cause of the new shaft and sheid.

So - what other questions should I ask, what should I look for if I drive to his place to examine it, and what might a fair price be?

Thanks,

Dale

Dmace · Jun 19, 2009

If those parts really are new then the asking price is not that bad. Considering the age and use I would offer $1200 and no more. I know in 2005 when I bought my tractor, the brand new 60" JRW rear mount snowblower I got was $1800 new and around $1500 for a slightly used unit. I don't know what they are going for now but I love it for my snow removal. It leaves such a nice crisp edge along the driveway, the snow melts faster in the spring since there are no banks and it gets around my house, shed and carport very easily.

click thumbnail for larger image

dcscott · Jun 19, 2009

Derek,

Thanks for you comments. This guy is at least the second if not third or fourth owner and doesn't know for sure what brand it is. Are there any characteristics I can be looking for that might help me identify it? He has only had it one year, claims to have put a lot of money into it, and is selling it because he has a brand new one on order. I'm somewhat dubious because if this thing is as good as he claims then why is he getting a new one.

Doug in NNY · Jun 19, 2009

Three months ago I got lucky and found a Loftness 48" 3ph snow thrower, new in maybe 1993. I think I'm only the second owner. There weren't many visible signs of wear. And having some window into the history of this unit, I had more confidence in buying it for $1200. Also, Loftness makes one of the toughest units made anywhere. Google it. I'd previously installed rear remotes on my BX2350, so I had the dealer put a hydraulic motor on the Loftness to turn the chute.

3ph snow throwers tend to not see too many hours of use over their life times. We live at the foot of the Tug Hill Plateau, however, off Lake Ontario in New York State, and we tend to get hammered more than most because of lake effect snow off the lake. Last winter we measured over 220 inches of snow, while eleven miles from us Barnes Corners recorded over 300 inches.

A new Smyth snow thrower (made in Canada) is about $2100 locally. Excellent products.

Why not post some pictures for us and perhaps someone here could identify who made it. The price is right only if you know more about its history (which is why I suggest getting more eyes on the unit itself).

jm2c

Doug

BX2350 etc.

rimshot · Jun 19, 2009

I don't like the part where the seller claims blowers all clog around the house. That's not so for me. 1 1/2 years ago I bought a new rear 60" meteor which has moved all kinds and lot of snow and honestly, it has never plugged. Is this a problem for anybody else? It makes me wonder why this blower offered for sale plugs up.

My Meteor cost me $1475 and was brand new. I'm sure in the last year and a half they have gone up a bit but why pay $1400 for this old machine when for a few bucks more you can have a new one that's guarantee and does not plug up?

good luck.

rimshot
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Spudland_Dave · Jun 19, 2009

rimshot said:
My Meteor cost me $1475 and was brand new. I'm sure in the last year and a half they have gone up a bit but why pay $1400 for this old machine when for a few bucks more you can have a new one that's guarantee and does not plug up?

Dont take this the wrong way Rimshot....
Totally boils down to what brand this blower is and what the OP is looking for...I'd pay 1400 for a good used Blizzard/BerVac or Pronovost WAYYY before buying a new Meteor at any price..Thats me...
But I do agree with your point though about why take the chance when a new blower wouldnt be that much more. But in a term that more people may understand...its like saying "Should I buy this used Woods Box Blade for $700.00 or this Brand New TSC Box Blade for $599.00"

Dale, you just looking for a blower to use when you cant plow or you looking to blow snow all year long?

dcscott · Jun 19, 2009

The seller has posted some photos on Picasaweb but the URL's don't seem to want to bring the photos up here. If someone would care to give me some advice on how to get the photos to post I'd be happy to put them up. The seller claims the previous owner painted it green so hard to tell what color it was originally. The current owner says he is getting a new one because for his purposes the secondary fan on this one is too small for him. He does not have a hydrostatic tractor and says that he had situations where the tractors speed was more than this blower could keep up with, thus his desire for a larger fan.

The past couple of winters we have seen snowfall totals in the 60-80" range with daily snowfall sometimes exceeding 12-18". The past two winters I was unable to keep up using an articulating blade on the front of my Kubota. We had to leave a vehicle at the bottom of our 2/3 mile long driveway and hike in and out on snowshoes for 2-3 weeks. Getting too old for that but also can't afford to buy something that isn't going to do the job.

kennyd · Jun 19, 2009

He has only had it one year, claims to have put a lot of money into it, and is selling it because he has a brand new one on order. I'm somewhat dubious because if this thing is as good as he claims then why is he getting a new one.

Sounds suspicious to me...

scuvnut · Jun 19, 2009

Too high.

Like another poster said, buy a new one for a few more dollars.

My 72 inch pronovost four years ago for $1400 brand new. Buying used equipment for that high does not make sense.

Tig · Jun 19, 2009

Fortified? Why? All those repairs and new parts? Why? My Allied/Buhler is built quite well and it does not clog when I clear around my yard.
This bugs me too "second stage fan shaft is new machined aluminum professionally done." I've not seen any aluminum on a professional implement, much less a blower.
Even if it is an Allied he is asking more than it was worth when it was new and by the sounds if it that was some time ago. The money he spent on the blower is a strike against it. Especially if he decided to buy a new blower.
If four other people have decided they don't want to keep this blower I would stay away. It sounds like trouble.