Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

icysandstone OP t1_iys8r1i wrote

Reply to comment by jeffreyd00 in Help me buy my first snow blower! What am I going to regret in 2 months? by icysandstone

Great advice!!!

Thanks for checking Consumer Reports for me! I couldn't get myself to buy a full year subscription for the snowblower recommendations.

Great point about the noise. I use my Bose noise canceling headphones when I mow the lawn with my Deere rider mower.

Thanks for demystifying the engine size. So I should focus on width size, got it. How long do people spend learning their driveways? Can you help set my expectations here? What am I getting into? 15 minutes or more like an hour?

2

waterbuffalo750 t1_iysb2uz wrote

Just keep in mind, noise canceling headphone don't actually offer any protection.

4

icysandstone OP t1_iysbh1n wrote

Really? It seems much quieter. Can you explain?

1

waterbuffalo750 t1_iysd317 wrote

It's quieter because it produces opposing soundwaves or something to that effect, essentially canceling out the loud noises. A google search can explain it better than I can. But those sound waves are still hitting your ears.

2

icysandstone OP t1_iyskjpu wrote

Very curious how this works. If the waves are cancelled, how are they reaching the ear?

3

Juanster t1_iyxwkhn wrote

From what I understand, they are reaching the ear, but there is noise being applied on the opposite spectrum to cancel the noise out? Think of sound as a wave in a graph, it goes up and down. From my understanding active noise cancelling is just seeing where that graph is and playing(?) A sound the opposite of that exact wave lenght and therefore canceling it out? So you don't hear it . I may be completely off here this is just what was explained to me and until this second I took it as well okay that's how that works.

1

jeffreyd00 t1_iyscoci wrote

Glad to help. Noise cancelling is not gonna do it. You will absolutely need over the ear, ear muffs. These things are definitely louder than a Deere. Over 85db.

Our driveway was 150' x 8' plus two parking spaces and took a solid hour with our 8hp Ariens. Obviously the lighter the snow the faster you go. The deeper and heavier the longer it'll take.

Also about the slicer bar I spoke of, if available, it helped the most at the end of the driveway where we'd get plowed in.

Lastly, don't be surprised if you start being charitable and removing the super heavy stuff for your neighbors.

Keep the questions coming.

Also, make sure to have any maintenance done end of season and a check before next season.

Run the gas take till empty at the end of season . change oil and plug begining of every season. Keep extra sheer pins on hand and use stabil in the gas.

Some units might need gearbox greased etc. Check owners manual. Take care of any chips off the paint asap to me prevent rusting.

4

icysandstone OP t1_j1im4l4 wrote

I just want to thank you again for all your awesome snow blower advice!!

I bought a 2-stage Toro, with electric start, and electric steering.

Now a dumb question: I still need a shovel, right? What kind to buy? Thinking a "pusher shovel", what do you think?

1

jeffreyd00 t1_j1ineyc wrote

Congratulations!

I don't known your driveway/walkway layou but the only shovel I needed during our new england winters was for the front stairs.

I was always able to get close enough to and around the cars etc with the snowblower that I could get into and shuffle the cars around then finish up with the snowblower.

Someone else may have other feedback but that's what I always did.

2

icysandstone OP t1_j1iopn7 wrote

OK that is perfect! I was wondering if I needed a shovel for the leftover snow that the snowblower leaves behind (due to the "shoes" keeping the blade a fraction of an inch off the ground).

1

jeffreyd00 t1_j1iq3w9 wrote

Those shoes/skids are adjustable. Set them as low as you can without the front blade getting caught on the pavement.

Did you order an extra set of shearpins? If not, I'd recommend it. One is bound to shear off at some point.

2

icysandstone OP t1_j1j9bvy wrote

Thanks for the tip!

As for the shear pins, Toro has "extra strong" gears, so there are no shear pins!

2

jeffreyd00 t1_j1j9kzd wrote

Enjoy and don't break any windows, unless you hate your neighbors. ◉⁠‿⁠◉

2

frogdujour t1_iyus5ng wrote

If ever you want to browse consumer reports, just google "consumer reports library login", and you can find plenty of options to log in and browse with.

2

icysandstone OP t1_iyw4di1 wrote

Whoa, really?

Like through a local community library, or how does that work? Very interested to know...

1

frogdujour t1_iz2shk7 wrote

I don't know where these libraries actually are, but many libraries have their own subscription to it for their community to use, and quite a few of them provide said subscription login/password openly on their website. So all you need to do is find one of those, and then just log in from wherever you are. I've used it a bunch, has worked for many years.

2