Snow blower question

[jdc]

Just got this in my inbox -- 3" wider than your current model...

Snow Joe Ultra SJ625E 21-Inch 15-Amp Electric Snow Thrower - $150

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00W8YAVRS/ref...PDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=Z1KHFSR09T617YQYBA8B&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=0&pf_rd_i=283155&tag=kinjadeals-20&ascsubtag=f2df91506f263f46c305d21fa42c398030b3a2ff&rawdata=%5Br%7Chttp%3A%2F%2Fgizmodo.com%2F%5Bks%7Cyoumayalsolike%5Bt%7Clink%5Bp%7C1792016716%5Ba%7CB00W8YAVRS%5Bau%7C5727177402741770316%5Bb%7Cdeals

[NewtonMP2100]

....bring back fond memories.....of your first....snow.........bl0w job.....

[tenders]

jdc wrote:
Just got this in my inbox -- 3" wider than your current model...

Snow Joe Ultra SJ625E 21-Inch 15-Amp Electric Snow Thrower - $150

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00W8YAVRS/ref...PDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=Z1KHFSR09T617YQYBA8B&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=0&pf_rd_i=283155&tag=kinjadeals-20&ascsubtag=f2df91506f263f46c305d21fa42c398030b3a2ff&rawdata=%5Br%7Chttp%3A%2F%2Fgizmodo.com%2F%5Bks%7Cyoumayalsolike%5Bt%7Clink%5Bp%7C1792016716%5Ba%7CB00W8YAVRS%5Bau%7C5727177402741770316%5Bb%7Cdeals

Probably a great machine (I just purchased a Snow Joe garden tiller, and it seems quite adequate) but the issue is not the width. The issue is the power. 15 amps of electricity is about 2 to 2.5 HP (1 HP equals about 750 watts) and you can't pull more than that out of the wall, especially through an extension cord. 208cc of four-cycle engine power by comparison is about 6.5 HP, and I would guess that's close to the minimum you'd find in a two-stage snowthrower.

(By comparison, 208cc of the old-style two-cycle engine power was probably close to 10 HP! Pistons providing power every compression stroke instead of every other compression stroke! Not double the power because the combustion wasn't taking place in a cylinder of clean air.)

[Markintosh]

Around the snowy part of the country on the left coast, there's only two brands that people buy: Honda and Ariens. We currently have the Honda 724...not cheap but well worth it. Here's our history:

Sears 4 hp: lasted 2 seasons and self destructed
Sears 11 hp: lasted 2.5 seasons with multiple breakdowns
Honda 828: Lasted 13 years with zero breakdowns and one auger replacement
Honda 724: Going on 15 years with zero breakdowns and minimal maintenance

You always want tracks, not wheels. Two stage is good if you need to really get snow away from the driveway.

[Speedy]

Markintosh wrote:
Around the snowy part of the country on the left coast, there's only two brands that people buy: Honda and Ariens. We currently have the Honda 724...not cheap but well worth it. Here's our history:

Sears 4 hp: lasted 2 seasons and self destructed
Sears 11 hp: lasted 2.5 seasons with multiple breakdowns
Honda 828: Lasted 13 years with zero breakdowns and one auger replacement
Honda 724: Going on 15 years with zero breakdowns and minimal maintenance

You always want tracks, not wheels. Two stage is good if you need to really get snow away from the driveway.

Before I bought my John Deere rider, I was looking hard at a Honda. They are the best of the best and tracks are definitely the way to go. But it was 40 miles to the nearest dealer. We have two Deere dealers, one on each end of town.

[Robert M]

Mark,

The 2 stage models i've used had wheels and were self-propelled. Never an issue using them. So, i'd say tracks or wheels depends very much on the circumstances and location. Self-propelled is more important. Not an issue for a light blower like a Toro Powercurve electric model but critical for big honkin' 2-stage machines.

Robert

[mrlynn]

Robert M wrote:
Mark,

The 2 stage models i've used had wheels and were self-propelled. Never an issue using them. So, i'd say tracks or wheels depends very much on the circumstances and location. Self-propelled is more important. Not an issue for a light blower like a Toro Powercurve electric model but critical for big honkin' 2-stage machines.

Robert

My Ariens has wheels, and that can be a problem getting through drifts and piles left by truck plows. I meant to get chains for them in 2014, but never got around to it, and last winter and this one (so far) have been mild. I have had the blower out only once this season.

/Mr Lynn

[Robert M]

MrLynn,

Manual or self-propelled? With any snowblower, huge drifts and piles left by plows are a problem. Always have been, always will. Best thing way to deal with them is to break them up with a shovel and then let the snow blower move it out of the way. Makes problems with wheels and the general headache of dealing with huge drifts and piles a non-issue.

Robert