Roof Snow & Ice Dams...

[ghfromaltonbay]

My father's neighbor moved to Florida about 6 years ago and gave my father his 2-stage, 6.5 hp Ariens snowblower since Dad did a lot of repair work for this neighbor. The snowblower is a bear and was a real tough pull start even though the former owner was a big burly guy. Since Dad already has a big snowblower, he gave it to me and for $198 we got an electric starter which Dad installed. Instead of paying for the starter, Dad asked me if I would give him my little 2-cycle MVP snowblower in trade. I gladly took him up on the offer. That Ariens has worked great, even last year when we had a few 20+ inch snowfalls. I have 60 feet of walkways + an 80 foot driveway and that Ariens is worth it's weight in gold. Last year the sparkplug was replaced at the beginning of the season, and this year it started up on the first try. Thank you Dad, and also our former neighbor now retired to the Villages in FL. Using that machine builds muscles!

[MAXUM]

The snow blowers made today are all junk. I have a 30 year old Ariens and it is a beast. I'd stack that machine up any day against a new one. The nice thing is parts are still available for them.

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by MAXUM

The snow blowers made today are all junk. I have a 30 year old Ariens and it is a beast. I'd stack that machine up any day against a new one. The nice thing is parts are still available for them.

If you don't have a new one, and haven't had one for 30 years, how do you know they are junk?
Did you take a survey of the news ones compared to the old ones?

IMO the newer snowblowers are far better then the older models. It's how you take of them just like anything else. Evidently you take care of yours and it runs good because of that. But I've seen older model Ariens that run like Sh*t.

[MAXUM]

Originally Posted by Rusty

If you don't have a new one, and haven't had one for 30 years, how do you know they are junk?
Did you take a survey of the news ones compared to the old ones?

IMO the newer snowblowers are far better then the older models. It's how you take of them just like anything else. Evidently you take care of yours and it runs good because of that. But I've seen older model Ariens that run like Sh*t.

When I bought mine I looked at new ones and I was unimpressed at how cheaply they are made. Has nothing to do with the way they run in fact I'll probably re-power mine at some point.

[Happy Gourmand]

Originally Posted by MAXUM

When I bought mine I looked at new ones and I was unimpressed at how cheaply they are made. Has nothing to do with the way they run in fact I'll probably re-power mine at some point.

When I replaced my 1974 Ariens in '08 for a slightly bigger one, they looked almost identical except for the additional upgrades that I got with the new one. I DO know that my new one won't last me as long as the old one because I'll be in FL in the winter before it turns 10!! By the way, my '74 and '08 both came with the Tecumseh engines, the later models come with Briggs and Stratton engines.

[fatlazyless]

Supposedly, the $599 Troy-bilt 24" self-propelled two stage, has the engine made by Honda....plus it has worked very good for about four seasons now....if it ain't broke....dunno replace it? Like, what's so good about a headlight and heated handle grips?

[MAXUM]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Supposedly, the $599 Troy-bilt 24" self-propelled two stage, has the engine made by Honda....plus it has worked very good for about four seasons now....if it ain't broke....dunno replace it? Like, what's so good about a headlight and heated handle grips?

If that snow blower had a real Honda motor on it the engine alone would be worth $599 or more.

Troybilt is made by MTD and is nothing like the former company of days gone by, and the engine isn't a Honda it's a cheap Chinese clone called a Powermore. Like everything these days it's built to hit a price point with a limited life expectancy.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by MAXUM

If that snow blower had a real Honda motor on it the engine alone would be worth $599 or more.

Troybilt is made by MTD and is nothing like the former company of days gone by, and the engine isn't a Honda it's a cheap Chinese clone called a Powermore. Like everything these days it's built to hit a price point with a limited life expectancy.

Honda also make's a very "cheap" China made version of their motor as I have one on a inexpensive 7000 watt Sam's club generator I purchased for about $500.00. http://www.samsclub.com/sams/black-m...prod3550002.ip

It's not nearly as quiet or as smooth and it's not even in the same league quality wise as the more expensive 7000 watt inverter generator they make that I also have for around $4000.00!!

[fatlazyless]

...oh well....would I buy this $599 Troy-bilt again, after having it for about four winters....yes, I would....it starts-runs-works....and so far this year....have never had to use the electric starter as it's always started up with the pull start....and it turns out that it weighs about 200-lbs as opposed to 150-lbs as posted earlier....but then again having heated handle grips seems like a super-duper idea....will just have to use this one until it is no longer working....being a thrifty NH-person......you know that snow-blowers seem to last for years and years and years....sort of like old BMW motorcycles from the 1960's....plus they can be repaired too


The Ariens compact 24" snowblower costs about $799 ....same price as the Husqvarna 24" ..... and most likely that both machines are more capable than the Troybilt 24" for $599....but that's the way the snow goes?

[secondcurve]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

...oh well....would I buy this $599 Troy-bilt again, after having it for about four winters....yes, I would....it starts-runs-works....and so far this year....have never had to use the electric starter as it's always started up with the pull start....and it turns out that it weighs about 200-lbs as opposed to 150-lbs as posted earlier....but then again having heated handle grips seems like a super-duper idea....will just have to use this one until it is no longer working....being a thrifty NH-person......you know that snow-blowers seem to last for years and years and years....sort of like old BMW motorcycles from the 1960's....plus they can be repaired too


The Ariens compact 24" snowblower costs about $799 ....same price as the Husqvarna 24" ..... and most likely that both machines are more capable than the Troybilt 24" for $599....but that's the way the snow goes?

FatLazyless:

I thought you always returned your snowblowers in late March each year. How can you possible have a machine that is 4-years old?

[MAXUM]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Honda also make's a very "cheap" China made version of their motor as I have one on a inexpensive 7000 watt Sam's club generator I purchased for about $500.00. http://www.samsclub.com/sams/black-m...prod3550002.ip

It's not nearly as quiet or as smooth and it's not even in the same league quality wise as the more expensive 7000 watt inverter generator they make that I also have for around $4000.00!!

Well Dan you're kind of clouding the picture here a tad.

Yes a Honda generator is going to cost more because it's a Honda, however you're also adding the "inverter" option which adds significant cost to a comparable unit. Then again that Honda generator will put out rock solid clean stable power as opposed to a non-inverter of any make or model.

Got to be careful with these inexpensive generators, sure they will put out power but usually pretty dirty and typically unstable especially with load oscillation. Not good for sensitive electronics.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by MAXUM

Well Dan you're kind of clouding the picture here a tad.

Yes a Honda generator is going to cost more because it's a Honda, however you're also adding the "inverter" option which adds significant cost to a comparable unit. Then again that Honda generator will put out rock solid clean stable power as opposed to a non-inverter of any make or model.

Got to be careful with these inexpensive generators, sure they will put out power but usually pretty dirty and typically unstable especially with load oscillation. Not good for sensitive electronics.

Generators aside, my point was Honda makes both cheap, inexpensive motors and high quality, expensive motors and has no problem putting their name on either.

And just when I thought I had seen it all... I recently purchased a "Snap On" tool that was made in China!! No kidding!...

Dan

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Generators aside, my point was Honda makes both cheap, inexpensive motors and high quality, expensive motors and has no problem putting their name on either.

And just when I thought I had seen it all... I recently purchased a "Snap On" tool that was made in China!! No kidding!...

Dan

Could you take a photo of the tool showing the Snap On name and also the China stamp.

Thank you

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by Rusty

Could you take a photo of the tool showing the Snap On name and also the China stamp.

Thank you

Here you go. Look under details for where it's assembled and made.

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/3pc-mul...ledetect=false

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Here you go. Look under details for where it's assembled and made.

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/3pc-mul...ledetect=false

Thank you
I always thought Snap-on was made in the USA...I guess not.
I never buy them anyway because of the price.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by Rusty

Thank you
I always thought Snap-on was made in the USA...I guess not.
I never buy them anyway because of the price.

I thought the same but apparently in recent years a lot of their tools are being made overseas like China and Spain. All you have to do is go to their website and check out country of origin under each tool.

I guess nothing is sacred anymore...

Dan