Walk behind snow throwers

[arthurb]

I am interested in buying a walk behind snow thrower as a backup to my gt with a front blade. I have a 20'x80' stone driveway. My gt with a front blade can actually handle a 12"-18" snowfall fairly well. It's the 3 or 4 larger snowfalls during the course of winter that are a pain. In regards to 2' of lake effect snow, and 2'-3' drifts from a northwest wind.

I don't want to spend the $1500 for a new front mounted blower on my gt. Also, I found from experience that my front blade does a better job of cleaning up the snow left over from the township's snowplows when they clear the roads. The township always clears the roads while I'm at work, and that snow is wet and becomes hardpacked for 8 hours of setting at the end of my driveway.

What make, size and hp. walk behind snow thrower does everyone recommend? Here in northeastern Ohio I have a choice of Ariens, CC, JD, Toro, MTD, Troybilt, Sears and Tractor Supply. I know that I will want the Tecumseh snow king engine for sure. Don't tell me to put up a snow fence to prevent the drifts. I have a wife and two young kids. I need some time to myself outside. I would like to stay under $1000.

 

[mark1]

I began assembling Ariens snow throwers way back in the 60's (I worked for a dealer)To me they are number "1" Parts are still easy to get even for machines still around from way back then. Of course now they have a ton of safety measures on them but They are easy to work on and get parts almost anywhere. I have a 8 HP 24" Ariens that I purchased used about 20 years ago.(I had a 32" one but didn't need one that wide). It has the Tecumseh 8 Hp engine, now called sno-king ,I see them for sale used all the time for around 500 bucks. and here in western New York they get a workout. So far all I have ever done to it was 1 belt and a new muffler! other than gas and oil etc.

 

[RWEST]

Don't tell me to put up a snow fence to prevent the drifts. I have a wife and two young kids. I need some time to myself outside.

LOL!!
Sorry, I'm not much help with your question (I have a 5' wide 3 point Lucknow blower on my 955), but, those couple sentences really tickled me!!

 

[AZinOH]

"Here in northeastern Ohio I have a choice of Ariens, CC, JD, Toro, MTD, Troybilt, Sears and Tractor Supply."

Given those choices, you will find the Ariens and the Toro to be the better choices. A 9 or 10 hp engine is desirable with that much snow, which might crimp your budget a little. Now is the time to shop around as you might find a good preseason sale. Don't limit yourself to the big box stores, check a few dealers as well.

 

[aesanders]

Any Simplicity dealers in the area? They make excellent snowblowers. Those and ariens are the tops in book. Ariens seems to have cheapened up a bit in the last few years but still better than most.

 

[bontai_Joe]

You missed a great opertunity last winter when Home Depot was selling Ariens snowblowers at close to half price. I would look at Ariens first and Toro and Simplicity second, Husqvarna/Craftsman 3rd. The Cub Cadet, MTD, Yardman, Troy-Bilt snowblowers are all the same machine with different paint, and the Deere walk-behind snowblowers are (at least at my dealer) overly expensive for what you get. I'd also check to see if Hondas are avialable in your area as they are among the best in reliability and very well built, but also expensive.

 

[arthurb]

bontai Joe,

I wished you wouldn't have reminded me about that half price sale. A person that I work with bought one of Ariens larger snow throwers last Febrauary during Home Depots half price sale. He saved about $800.00. I could probably wait until the next half price sale, but I would rather have a snow thrower before the start of this winter.

I have narrowed my choices down to Ariens, Toro and Simplicity. Thank you, to all who responded to my post.

 

[arthurb]

Well, I went out and bought my new walk behind snow thrower today. I bought an Ariens 926LE model. It has a 9hp. Tecumseh snow king engine with a 26" snow intake. I'll keep everyone updated on it's performance this winter.

 

[shvl73]

That hp (9) is well mated that width (26"), I think you be real happy with it.

 

[buffalohunter]

They are kinda expensive but the Honda walk behind with tracks works very well, I got one and like it alot.