I'm in the market for a new snowblower, and have looked at quite a few.

I have narrowed my selection down to a 9 horsepower toro or a 10 1/2 horsepower yardmachine. I have owned toro equipment before but never yardmachine.

Machines are very comparable and I would go with the yardmachine, but would like to hear some feedback on yardmachine from people first.

So has anyone here got anything to say about yardmachines products. Both have tecumseh engines on them, which I prefer B&S. But like I said machines are comparable, yardmachine has a few better options and more power, but the cost is a little more as well.

Thanks,
Jeff

Buy A Shovel! ;)

Whichever one you pick, make sure it's a 2-stage machine.

Buy A Shovel! ;)

Yeah thanks. :thumbsup:

I own plenty of shovels already.

Actually the reason I want a larger machine this time, is for clearing walks and such on jobsites. A larger machine will get me thru it faster.

Jeff

Whichever one you pick, make sure it's a 2-stage machine.

Definitely.

Both machines I have picked are two stage. The yardmachine also has power steering. It has little triggers that when you want to turn right you hit the right trigger and it shuts off the right wheel. A large machine is definitely easier with power steering.

Also both have the chute controls up top, so no fumbling around looking for controls while the wind is whipping the snow in the face.

Jeff

I think MTD, makes about 70% of those types of machines now.

I had an MTD Yard Machine lawn tractor for 7 years, and more or less abused it.
When I finally killed it, (failed to check the oil :clonk: )

Spent the money and bought a Cub Cadet, Father in-law, said if I change the oil every 30 hours it would be the last lawn tractor I'd need to buy.

I've had it for about 2 1/2 months and the power take off quit working, fixed under warrenty.
Found out MTD bought out Cub Cadet a couple years ago.
Still kinda bothers me though. At least they are still made in the USA.

Bottom line, they are all crap, just a matter of keeping them maintained, and fixed.

Its kind of funny that you say that they are all basically the same.

I was looking at the two machines I narrowed it down to, and they look virtually the same other than a couple options. I was told by a salesman though that yardmachine uses less plastic in critical parts than toro. I understand plastic is better in some areas when dealing with snow, such as the chute, but not in the differentials.

I can tell you this, ariens is not made by any other company. All ariens products are made about 20 minutes from my house. I have quite a few friends that work there. Great machines but out of my price range for now.

Jeff

What's a snow blower??? :confused:
( sorry... California joke...)


I have a yardmachines lawn mower and it has a Briggs and Stratton motor that's been VERY dependable. Cheap too...

I had a couple of Ariens mowers. Definitely can take some abuse. They ran 6-8 hours a day, 7 days a week during summers. Got my money out of them, for sure. :thumbsup: Sorry, can't advise you on a snowblower. What do they look like? Hey, did you see the beach cam lately? :D

I can tell you this, ariens is not made by any other company. All ariens products are made about 20 minutes from my house. I have quite a few friends that work there. Great machines but out of my price range for now.

Can they buy you one via employee discount?

Get the one with steering. I bought a Craftsman about that same size and it would definately be a lot harder to steer without it. (I have tried it just to see how it acts.)
Lot less stress on your body with the steering.

LK

Can they buy you one via employee discount?

No I already asked.

It seems they can use a discounted price once a year on a product, and between themselves and family, the discount is spoken for, for quite some time. Understandable I guess.

Jeff

Now's your chance, Jeff!!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7701609184&category=42230&rd=1

alternately try www.v8snowblowers.com

No I already asked.

It seems they can use a discounted price once a year on a product, and between themselves and family, the discount is spoken for, for quite some time. Understandable I guess.

Jeff

Bummer

Ok, know anyone at Oshkosh? ;)

http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=4&article_id=9298

Now's your chance, Jeff!!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7701609184&category=42230&rd=1

alternately try www.v8snowblowers.com

Oh my god!

Can you imagine how loud that must be directly in front of you like that!

Heated handlebars with engine coolant. Do you think that was on purpose or an oops that they are now using to sell the machine?

Jeff

Bummer

Ok, know anyone at Oshkosh? ;)

http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=4&article_id=9298

As a matter of fact I do.

Holy crap 1.4 tons of snow per second! And it throws it 200 feet. That is moving some snow! :thumbsup:

Imagine running that thing down your sidewalk. Grass flying everywhere........

Jeff

Imagine running that thing down your sidewalk. Grass flying everywhere........


Grass, compact cars, mailboxes, small dogs and children

Sounds like just the ticket for my neighborhood!

Go with Ariens over a Yardpro. Ariens will last 20 years vs. 5 years for a yardpro. With up to 200" snow a year, we get lots of practice using these.

Anything over 3000 sf driveway, consider using a 4 wheeler with a snowblower. The blower and a 13hp honda motor runs about 2200, but it has a 48" cut, and will blow 12" snow at 4 mph easily. I have 4400 sf , and I do mine in 20 minutes, including moving 3 vehicles. There was only ONE time it couldn't do the job. We had a drop of 72" within 18 hours. If I stayed with it, I could have, but I had a 60" blower on the back of my tractor. Let er eat, baby !

Grass, compact cars, mailboxes, small dogs and children

Sounds like just the ticket for my neighborhood!

With that thing throwing the snow 200 ft., I think I would just stop in front of my house and throw the snow onto the dumpy rental across the street's front porch. Just start wheel barrowing snow into the auger and watch it fly. :D :D :D

Jeff

Go with Ariens over a Yardpro. Ariens will last 20 years vs. 5 years for a yardpro. With up to 200" snow a year, we get lots of practice using these.

Anything over 3000 sf driveway, consider using a 4 wheeler with a snowblower. The blower and a 13hp honda motor runs about 2200, but it has a 48" cut, and will blow 12" snow at 4 mph easily. I have 4400 sf , and I do mine in 20 minutes, including moving 3 vehicles. There was only ONE time it couldn't do the job. We had a drop of 72" within 18 hours. If I stayed with it, I could have, but I had a 60" blower on the back of my tractor. Let er eat, baby !

We actually only average about 60" of snow here. The problem is that it is more often wet snow. That crap gets real heavy to shovel. My snow blower actually only gets used a few times a year. The biggest need for it is the bottom of the driveway when the city plows come thru and shove 4 feet of snow in the driveway.

I would love to do the 4 wheeler with a plow or snow blower attachment to it, but room and money won't allow for that right now.

Is a yardpro the same as a yard machine?

Thanks everyone for the help,

Jeff

Yes, Yardmachines are lower end MTD's. I would lean toward the Toro given those two options.
I am very partial to Simplicity products, check those out, they are built to last (even better than Ariens in my opinion). Simplicity is a Port Washington, WI company (actually recently acquired by Briggs & Stratton).
http://www.simplicitymfg.com/snowthrowers.php

Yes, Yardmachines are lower end MTD's. I would lean toward the Toro given those two options.
I am very partial to Simplicity products, check those out, they are built to last (even better than Ariens in my opinion). Simplicity is a Port Washington, WI company (actually recently acquired by Briggs & Stratton).
http://www.simplicitymfg.com/snowthrowers.php

But when you go side to side with toro or yard machine, the toro has more plastic is critical areas, like the differential. The yard machine and toro use the same frame, controls and tecumseh snow king engines. The diffrence from what I have been told is in the auger area, where yard king uses all steel vs. toro using more plastic pieces.

I will have to check out a simplicity as well. I would love to get an ariens, but just out of my price range right now.

Jeff