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For the first time today I fired up my brand new 8.5 HP Craftsman dual stage snowblower and after an hour came away very disappointed. I expected more, much more, than my old single stage push blower. First, it left enough snow on the driveway, may be half an inch, to make it look like nothing is done. Second, for some reason even when it is in gear the wheels stop turning when going gets tough as if some kind of clutch gets engaged. So just when you need the machine to do the work for you, it stops. Bug or feature?
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You were suckered in. You got a cheap unit, no matter how much you paid for it.
It's no surprise to me that a dual stage unit leaves 0.5 inch or so on the ground. I'm sure the documentation specs it out.
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The height above ground is adjustable by the front feet. They usually set it high to prevent you from ingesting rock which can destroy the high speed impeller. The other problem sounds like belt slippage or an adjustment problem.
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There should be adjustable skid plate "feet" on each side of the machine. They are slotted for height adjustment, sounds like you need to lower yours a little.
When the going gets tough and the wheels stop turning, I drop down to a low gear (usually 1st or 2nd) then the wheels dig right in and spin away.
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A single stage will clean better than a 2 stage.
When we had 22" of snow my Toro single stage did about as well as my neighbors cheapy two stage. He would stall in the deep snow, while I had to push hard on the first pass. We both threw snow about the same distance.
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A good single stage is always better than a cheapy two stage.
I'm amazed at what the Home Depots of the world put out for sale for homeowners--always these big pieces of gear at low prices. Well, what do you expect?
Frankly, I don't know of too many people who can use a tractor (not riding mower, but front engine tractor with no turning radius worth a damn) just to cut the grass in the summer. But there they are, right out front, ready for sale. Same with two stage snowblowers.
If you have to, do it twice with a single stage unit. But get a good one, with a good engine and good mechanicals. You'll appreciate a good engine that always starts and just works and an auger that cleans the driveway and blows snow, even if you have to go out in the middle of the snowstorm and make your first pass, then go out and do it again after the rest of the snow has fallen. That's much better than wrestling with a cheapy that in the end really doesn't work any better.
Me, I like being able to throw the single stage unit into the back of the van and go do the family's driveways.
Bigger isn't always better.
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I have a big honkin two stage and it does the asphalt driveway bare (as long as the skid plates are up)
One of my driveways goes up a rather steep hill, so I did have to get chains.
If mine starts chewing more snow than it can keep up with, it starts riding up over the snow, so I know I have to slow down.
It'll pick up the newspaper and spit it out 50 feet.
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Only complaint is reverse gear is too slow.
I don't have any trouble getting it into the back of my pick-up or back out.
I have a rather large yard.
This is how I rake leaves.
I don't "play" in the snow, either.
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I never get to use my snowblower anymore!
BGnR
Last time I used a snowblower was 1976 on the Naval Training Center, North Chicago Illinois. We used to find human popsicles in the spring thaw.
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[quote davemchine]
Mine is the toro 1800.
http://www.amazon.com/Toro-18-Inch-Elect...B00005OQMG
Dave
Sounds like you bought based on what you need. Always a wise choice.
I'm not a fan of buying too little, nor too big.
If I could justify a bigger pick-up, I'd have a plow.
