I just picked up this little snow blower from craigslist. The guy said it sounds like it might need a new belt soon. I have no idea what it normally should sound like so I don't know. I have never used a snowblower before. I wanted to get a bigger one with bigger wheels, but it is for my girlfriend for her to use at her new house, and she wanted a small one. She actually kept trying to get this exact same model on craigslist before but was always beat to the punch.

Now the question is should this little craftsman 4 cycle 3.8 hp snowblower actually THROW the snow? The snow gets stuck inside and it really doesn't toss much out. I kept having to stop it and clear it out. It never really threw the snow out like I see when other people are using theirs. I am not sure if it is this unit being underpowered, a problem with this belt the guy was talking about, or the unit just being too small.

This is a small picture of the model I got:

 

depends how thick the snow is and how fast you're going. if you go slow and its thick slush its not going to shoot out far.

 

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4uDU9-ouzpI&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4uDU9-ouzpI&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

 

what the....

 

Yeah, that's a single stage "snow shovel"... Bigger snow blowers are 2 stage... so they throw out snow alot farther... the little snow shovels are usally only good for an inch or two... any more than that and you're going to run into trouble...

 

What's the throttle set at? If it's set at a constant speed, then adjust the fuel mixture screw to increase the operating speed.

Terry

 

you shoulda got something a little bigger.

 

Trust me, I was saying that all winter while I kept seeing deals on bigger snowblowers. She does not want one. All I know is she is going to have to take care of the snow removal. Between my bad back and severe asthma, I cannot do it anymore. I have a feeling after using this one a couple times she is going to say she wants the bigger one.

 

Get a two-stage or don't get one at all.

 

This is like bringing a butter knife to a gun fight.

 

It's more like bringing chocolate to a girlfriend fight. I'd rather have her hate this and decide to upgrade then hear her complain about how big the alternative would have been.

 

Thats a good point

 

That's what her friends are telling her. j/k
I use good old fashioned muscle. Damn I was tired today.

 

I enjoy a good shovel too... But when the concrete snow falls, I don't feel like having a coronary.

They don't call it heart-attack snow for nothing...

 

Like I said before, I just can't do it anymore. I have a bad back, but even worse I have severe asthma. I almost died a couple years ago from an attack, so I have to be more careful now.

 

Wow, lots of misinformation in here....

1st off you don't need a 2 stage blower. That's for people who live in buffalo NY; and even then you don't absolutely have to have one. There are some single stage blowers that throw the snow a far as most 2 stages and will handle the same amount of snow. It all depends on the engine hp/torque & auger design really. And if you have a nice driveway you don't want a 2-stage thrower with a metal auger that will just chew up your driveway. Not to mention it's WAY easier to manipulate a single stage thrower than a 2 stage if you have a patio and sidewalks to do.

2 stage blowers are meant for people who need to do very large areas (think church or store parking lot) or need to go up and down hills. That's where the power drive wheels kick in and are really needed... I'd never use one in my driveway if I didn't have too....

Also, if your belt is slipping you would experience snow not getting thrown very var. Also know that 3.8hp isn't much and it's a 4 cycle engine (turd with no torque). With an older 3.8hp 4 stroke I wouldn't expect to be able to do much more than 4-6" of powder tossed 10-15' or 2-3" of really wet snow tossed maybe 5'. Changing the belt is pretty easy and should be less than $20 you might want to try that 1st. Also did you inspect your auger blades, are they still within working specifications?

There are some really awesome single stage throwers... ignore the snow throwing snobs on here. Honestly they are way off base...

I grew up in Chicago, we owned some different blowers. Never needed a 2 stage.... In fact the 2-stroke single we had could easily toss 6-8" of midly wet snow 30' (easy).... and it didn't even break a sweat... And we had a long driveway, even worse I had to blow all of the snow in front of me as I worked because I couldn't toss it to the side, so it would get over 1' thick easy... again we had no problems...

Again, I don't disagree 2-stages are awesome... it's just most people don't need them.

If you can find someone to buy that unit go out read up on the 5hp to 6.5hp ;2 stroke units. (or even some of the new 4 stroke units)... You'll see most everyone in reviews agrees you don't need a 2-stage... only one person said they needed a 2-stage; but there will always be that person in the reviews...

http://www.amazon.com/Toro-2450-Sing...owViewpoints=1

 

Sorry SiGGy but with a 2 stage thrower the auger never touches the ground, so there is no risk of damaging the driveway. Its not like a single stage where the auger basicly brushes the snow up from the ground. Also I have never seen ANYONE use a snow blower to clear a church or store parking lot. That is what a plow is made for and would take way too long for a standard two stage blower. I have owned both singe and dual stage blowers and they serve different purposes but are both meant for driveways. The single stage blowers are normally good for light powdery snow and not alot of it. The dual stage blowers are better for wet snow and more of it. A few years ago we really had the snow dump on us and our blower went right through the 28" wall of packed snow. Something a single stand just isn't going to do without a lot of effort.

 

You're certainly entitled to your opinion Sig, but calling people snobs is a bit retarded, IMHO.

First, two stage throwers do not chew up the driveway. The auger never comes in contact with the driveway.

Secondly, in smaller water to snow ratios 12:1 and less where the snow is wet and heavy, single-stage units just don't cut it. I don't care where you live, but in my experience they have never worked. Many times I've gone across the street to help get my neighbor out because his 2-stroke, single stage wasn't up to task.

I think we can agree to disagree.

 

Nah, I have friends who live in Buffalo, he swears by his 2-stage in fact that's the only thing he'd say to buy. When really it's just not needed for most people... (that's where my Snob comment comes from; BTW it was a joke) But also know he lives where he has a lot of land.

We never had a single stage not be able to deal with Chicago snow. Then again we never bought wimpy ones...

If your driveway is perfectly flat I agree, but if you have brick, or uneven sidewalks it hits the auger on a 2-stage. Not to mention when you get to the the curb....

 

Happens all the time man... Sure people do rely on plows, but when the snow is coming down hard the small parking lots are usually the last to get done. Every shop I worked at owned a 2 stage blower in Chicago. Not to mention all of the small businesses that had customers that had to get their products.


Not sure you really read my post (I never said 2 stage wasn't superior; just that it isn't needed most of the time)... I knew I'd hit some nerves with the snob comments, haha....

 

You're a two-stage bigot!

 

Now your on the same page as me

 

What someone "needs" is an opinion, (in my opinion!)

I will agree that the little single stagers can do a very good job. They operate at a much higher speed and can throw the snow just as far as the bigger 2 stagers. I would not agree that they can handle the same amount of snow at the same time though. I've used both, with the single stagers you usually have to go through the snow much more slowly, letting it throw a chunch, then back it out and move forward again. I think this has to do with the higher rpms they run at. The bigger two stagers run at a lower rpm and just chew through the thick shit slowly but surely.

I think the lite single stagers are good for women to operate as they are lighter and easier to manipulate. I have a two stage craftsman, and mainly bought it because it was on sale and I couldn't justify paying $100 less for the little single stager that didn't even compare to the one I bought.

We don't really get that much snow here anymore, 5 yrs ago this thing would have been working overtime, but at least I'll have it for many years.

 

btw, Honda makes an excellent line of blowers, at this point i've used pretty much everyone that they make, and they are all excellent, even the little baby ones.

 

Thanks for all the info guys. I will check out the belt this weekend and see what I can do with that. Her driveway is completely flat. There is a patio that is brick that we are hoping to replace with a stained cement eventually, so that will be completely flat too. The only thing would be the front walk that is slate.

Also, I know NOTHING about the differences in these units. What is the difference between a single stage and 2 stage blower? What is the difference between the 2 cycle and 4 cycle or 2 stroke and 4 stroke. I am really a noob when it comes to this stuff. Bare with me guys.

 

2 cycle and 2 stroke are the same thing, as are 4 cycle and 4 stroke. 2 stroke (cycle) engines are typically nice and light and develop great power, they are also very simple in design and can operate at various different angles and such which makes them great for applications like chainsaws and weedwackers, the downside is that they require oil to be mixed with the gas for lubrication. you can learn more here: http://science.howstuffworks.com/two-stroke.htm

 

A 2 stage blower has a big auger in the front that busts the snow into smaller pieces and tosses it back to an impeller. The impeller then tosses the snow out the shoot.

A 1 stage blower just has the auger. The auger has to bust up and toss the snow.

Single stage blowers have their advantages in that they are lighter and their auger scrapes the ground. Two stage blowers can handle bigger jobs but are heaver and the auger does not scrape the ground so they can leave a thin layer of snow behind.

Also, a single stage blower is usually no match for the crap that the snow plow will drop in front of your driveway.

 

Give your head a shake, our 1 stage blower does not scrape the ground, and has ZERO problems throwing slush or the crap at the end of the driveway after the plow goes by 20 feet and beyond. I don't know what kind of crap that you've had this experience with, this has never been the case and we get a new blower every year.

 

how come?