wbjones wrote:
Karacticus wrote:
wbjones wrote:
Grtechguy wrote:
In reply to Fueled by Caffeine:
That about sums it up
2 stage is a must
explain the difference ... single stage v. 2 stage ... what's the advantage ... disadvantage ?
A single stage unit just has a thrower built into the auger on the front of the machine to push snow out the chute. A two stage unit has another set of paddles on a second shaft after the auger to move the snow out the chute.
ok ... that makes sense
Here is a good reference.
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2007/11/q-a-which-type-of-snow-blower-should-i-buy/index.htm
A video showing the differences https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FI-AFIA56yo The video is a bit missleading and is hyping an ultra cheap junky 2 stage vs. a top of the line commercial toro. I'd take the toro all day long vs. Home Depot Ariens Sno-Tek.
The single stage blowers work great in smaller snow falls and in places where you do not have to throw far. They are cheaper, lighter and simpler. Places like TN, KY and VA are good places for single stage blowers (however all three states have snowfall that is sometimes too big).
My dad just bought an Ariens two stage from a local dealer. His has the SHO engine (no relation to the Yamaha SHO engines
) and it's a 28" cut. He finally got to use it last weekend, and said that it's the most insane machine he's used. In the past, he's had a Bolens and a Toro, and while both were good machines, the Ariens is on another level.
Also, if you have a decent sized driveway, go two stage or don't bother. I tried doing my driveway with a dinky single stage two stroke my first winter in my house, and between trying to keep the stupid thing running and throwing snow only a couple feet in front of me when it did run, I ended up just shoveling. 
My big blower is an Ariens. I really like having all teh controles up in the handels and being able to release the auger lever and having it not disengage so I can adjust the angle and direction of the chute (a set of levers next to each other up in the handles). My little sears blower only the direction of the chute can be controlled by cranking a little handle down by the gear shift selector and to do that you have to release either the drive lever or the auger lever. The angle of the chute is adjustable but that is manually done with a large plastic wing nut on the chutes its self. For what it is through it is a good little unit and considering it was far less than half the cost of he big blower I am not complaining. Just something to consider when shopping. I think that the chute adjustments on the handles is only on the larger more expensive models.
Ohya something I have noticed is that when purchasing a snowblower if it ahs a plastic schute test it by hitting it with a 3' piece of broom handle or closet pole several times. If nothing brakes it is probably going to be ok. I have seen many snowblowers with broken plastic chutes. They brake at the pivot point where they mount to the metal housing of the auger/blower fan. My sears unit broke about two years after I got it and it turned out that there was a redesigned part for it. I complained to the sears people and got the replacement for a significant discount.
ok .. how do y'all handle a driveway that's road bond ? sand, gravel ...etc ... how to you keep from damaging the blades ... set it an inch or two higher than the bedrock ?
then what's left will melt pretty quickly ?
Thanks for all the input guys now I have some ideal of what to look for. 
Thanks again, Paul
