A lot will depend on what the commercial side of your question means. Single stage blowers are great on light (say less than 6 inches) of snow. They are easy to maneuver and small enough to also do sidewalks. In addition they will clean down to the pavement. If you have a gravel drive then you will need a two stage since the single stage paddles will pull the gravel out of the drive. The two stages are better with wet snow and really heavy snow falls. For the best of both worlds I would get a small single stage and a medium to large dual stage. You will probably find you use the single stage most of the time.

In terms of brands you can not beat Honda. I have their single stage and one of the dual stages (928). Both are great blowers and have never given me any problems. I think you would be satisfied with either. If I were to get one I would get the 928 (9 hp 28 inch clearing width) since it is better to have more blower than not enough. Ariens also makes good dual stage machines look at their Professional Series. The Toros I am not impressed with. Their single stage machines all use Chinese LCT engines now and their dual stage have a ton of plastic controls. The joy stick seems to me to be a marketing gimmick that will jam or break under strenuous conditions.

Sorry for the long winded response; in summary, a Honda 928 if your are getting only one. Also, unless you are fighting a lot of hills I would go with wheels instead of tracs. Tracs can be a pain to turn. Remember you are trying to turn a three hundred pound machine on a slick surface. Hope it helps.

 

Well, I don't know how much help this will be as I have a 15 year old Noma (MTD) 11hp, 24” 2-stage that was purchased under duress without any research - aka 2nd day of a 4 day blizzard and the only thing available for 100 miles. It's held up okay for what I ask of it, but I am only doing my own 150' drive, plus a 20' x 30' spot in the back yard for the dog to do his business.

If I was looking to replace it, and if my need wasn't immediate, the first thing I'd look at, regardless of brand, is what's involved to replace drive belts and chains. On my Noma, you have to split the blower from the "tractor" to change the blower and tranny primary belts, and drop the tranny to replace the non-standard chain (no connector link) and friction drive wheel.

Second would be chute control. How many turns of the handle to get from lock to lock? Mine's probably about 5-6 cranks. I like the Cub/Troy-Bilt "joystick" concept, but would need to look more closely.

Third, while on controls, power, one-handed turning, and operation, would be great.

Fourth, as sort of a corollary to the first, is what type of tranny is in it? Mine uses a friction plate, 5-speed that, while it has done okay, tends to lose "gears" as the belt stretches and the friction wheel wears. Maybe they all use this type(?).

Besides these “fundamentals”, I’d probably look at getting the most hp in the desired width blower (my 11hp Tecumseh has been flawless); speaking of width, I'd probably lean toward the widest machine that best fit my "specs"; headlight quantity, placement, durability, and operation (I would really like two operated by a switch); electric start is nice (mine came with this and it’s been a great option); and heated grips would be a nice touch.

 

+1 on the electric start option. I forgot about it as my Honda engines are so easy to start. Nice to have as a backup though. Also the Honda's use a hydraulic transmission, which makes them somewhat unique.

 

A lot will depend on what the commercial side of your question means. Single stage blowers are great on light (say less than 6 inches) of snow. They are easy to maneuver and small enough to also do sidewalks. In addition they will clean down to the pavement. If you have a gravel drive then you will need a two stage since the single stage paddles will pull the gravel out of the drive. The two stages are better with wet snow and really heavy snow falls. For the best of both worlds I would get a small single stage and a medium to large dual stage. You will probably find you use the single stage most of the time.

In terms of brands you can not beat Honda. I have their single stage and one of the dual stages (928). Both are great blowers and have never given me any problems. I think you would be satisfied with either. If I were to get one I would get the 928 (9 hp 28 inch clearing width) since it is better to have more blower than not enough. Ariens also makes good dual stage machines look at their Professional Series. The Toros I am not impressed with. Their single stage machines all use Chinese LCT engines now and their dual stage have a ton of plastic controls. The joy stick seems to me to be a marketing gimmick that will jam or break under strenuous conditions.

Sorry for the long winded response; in summary, a Honda 928 if your are getting only one. Also, unless you are fighting a lot of hills I would go with wheels instead of tracs. Tracs can be a pain to turn. Remember you are trying to turn a three hundred pound machine on a slick surface. Hope it helps.

Commercial use for my machine would be 3-5 residential drives/sidewalks + my own. Light commercial use.

That Honda looks very nice, but at $2,700+ MSRP is way over what I want to put into a machine. I am trying to look at $1K - $1200 or less. I am thinking 2 stage machine as I realize a 1 stage could be used 70% of the time, but for that 30% blizzard snows, I can't be caught with my pants down with a machine that cannot handle such conditions, then why did I buy one in the first place if I just have to get my shovel out cause the machine can't handle it?

Hope this helps.

DA

 

For such few drives I'd get.just the 2 stage machine. Single stage blowers are so much faster most of.the time that since you don't have.many.accounts the slower 2 stage wont hurt you badly.

I have the Honda Hs1132 track drive andmit.is true it can.be a pita turning. It moves a.tremendous amount of.snow and.rarely clogs under any.conditions. several posters on.plowsite have admitted they are.hands down better than the other.2 stages on the market.

I may sell my Hs1132 and buy a wheel.drive 928 for next winter. They are much faster in transport mode.

Once you get a.stack.of accounts you.will need both single and.2 stage.
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Commercial use for my machine would be 3-5 residential drives/sidewalks + my own. Light commercial use.

That Honda looks very nice, but at $2,700+ MSRP is way over what I want to put into a machine. I am trying to look at $1K - $1200 or less. I am thinking 2 stage machine as I realize a 1 stage could be used 70% of the time, but for that 30% blizzard snows, I can't be caught with my pants down with a machine that cannot handle such conditions, then why did I buy one in the first place if I just have to get my shovel out cause the machine can't handle it?

Hope this helps.

DA

Yes the Honda's can be expensive. In the price range you are talking about how about an Ariens Deluxe 28 inch dual stage? Ariens has been making blowers forever (i grew up in northern WI and everyone had an Ariens) and they, generally, get good reviews. They use a Briggs engine and are all steel as opposed to the plastic used on the Toros. As stated above I would stick with the wheeled version unless you are doing hills.

BTW I am jealous that you live in an area that actually gets snow. Last year was a near record here with 53 inches. That would have been average to mild where where I grew up. Last year was the first time in years I even used my 928 and even then the little single stage could have handled the snow.

 

Ariens does make good blowers at a reasonable price.
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Ya, last year was 60+ inches of snow with several 'big ones' that I tried to scoop out without a blower (shovels and elbow grease), and my wife and I spent like 3 hours outside scooping out, drenched in cold sweat. I need to get better prepared for both me and my new customers.

I was quoted $1,100 for a new Toro 26" clear machine with 7HP Briggs.
I was also quoted $929 for a 24" Ariens Deluxe and $999 for a 28" Deluxe. Both have 250cc Briggs engines, more power than the Toro.

How important is the axle release to do turns?

At this point, if I go new, then the Ariens line seems more appealing to me.

 

You know....the more I have thought about this....if it was me....I kinda take back.what I said about.going.with.a.2. Stage. Single stage.machines are.so.much faster and easier to handle vs a 2 stage. Save your capital and buy a no compromise bigger areins or Honda the following winter. As long as you.have a.limited amounts you should.be fine with just a.single.stage.
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The various turn assists on many snow blowers are, to me, more of a sales gimmick and something else to malfunction. If you are sticking with a mid-sized blower, 24-28 inches, and using wheels as opposed to tracks then I do not think you will have trouble turning it. I turn my Honda 928 manually and, although it's effort, it is not back breaking. Handle one in the dealers showroom and see how easily they turn. If your driveways are multi-car then start your first pass in the middle of the drive and make wide passes down and back if that makes sense.

 

x2 on Honda single stage and Ariens 2 stage. I have a dlx1336 with real electric start (battery included not just plug in the wall) and I believe the new Ariens are the best 2 stage on the market even over Honda 2 stage. I would not go with a 36" again but a 32" instead. Just too much auger out there to catch edges, cracks, curbs, etc. I also like the wheel drive better than track for steering and speed. Some also have steering assist now that would be nice.

 

i just bought a toro 826 oxe. the wheel clutches are quite cool because you won't have to "dance with a big woman" to turn it around. READ THIS toro is switching to a chinese engine manufacturer for their 2 stage blower engines. I've had 5 sales guys tell me this, all from different dealers too! on mine the engine is going from 250cc to 265. i was worried when my normal dealer sold out on the american made B&S but i called some other dealers and i found a US built one. BUY SOON!!!

 

Disappointing but not surprising. As I stated above all of the Toro single stage blowers now run Chinese made LCT engines so I guess it's a logical step. I wonder how long before all their homeowner class mowers are equipped with 'Toro' (LCT) engines. Seems they are heading down the same path as Cub Cadet. Even more reason to stick with Honda or Ariens.

 

with you on that one. bought a chinese made generator (had a honda engine) and in under 20 hours the generator crapped out, bit my lip REALLY hard and bought a 2900$ honda generator. hated my ariens so i bought 2 honda 21" best mowers ever. too bad all of the good stuff is japanese though, vanguard kawasaki honda zenoah ): if this toro snowblower didn't have the american made B&S engine i wouldn't hesitate to buy a honda.

 

I've got an Ariens 30 Deluxe for the heavy crap, it works awesome.

For the light weight snow <6" I pull out the Toro 180 single stage, starts every time and only cost $359. I plan to sell it after this season for $275-300 on CL (right at the first snow storm) and get a new one the prior spring.

I don't have to worry about durability then, it's under warranty the whole time I'm using it.

 

Well guys, I sprung for an Ariens 24" Deluxe today for my own use and use for a handful of residential customers. Will see how she delivers when the white stuff starts flying.

 

What you will find is lugging the 2 stage around will be the most work.

Commerical guys use the single stage toro's for the most part because they are easy to move, lift, etc. Also works good to 6"s of snow.

I would recommended the single stage new (which would last forever) and find a used 2 stage on CL's for just in case. You would have been under your grand price point and had the best of both worlds.

I would now recommend you buy a 30" to 36" shovel from www.thesnowplow.com. I know you from your posts it might be hard to swallow buying a $50 to $60 snow shovel but it will handle your dustings to 3" snowfalls. It will be less work than using the 2 stage and the shovels hold up well(replacable parts also). Many threads on plowsite about how great they are, your local ACE hardware should have them.

I tried the shovels last year and now that is all that will be in my trucks. They are that good.

 

What you will find is lugging the 2 stage around will be the most work.

Commerical guys use the single stage toro's for the most part because they are easy to move, lift, etc. Also works good to 6"s of snow.

I would recommended the single stage new (which would last forever) and find a used 2 stage on CL's for just in case. You would have been under your grand price point and had the best of both worlds.

I would now recommend you buy a 30" to 36" shovel from www.thesnowplow.com. I know you from your posts it might be hard to swallow buying a $50 to $60 snow shovel but it will handle your dustings to 3" snowfalls. It will be less work than using the 2 stage and the shovels hold up well(replacable parts also). Many threads on plowsite about how great they are, your local ACE hardware should have them.

I tried the shovels last year and now that is all that will be in my trucks. They are that good.

My small engine guy is selling those snow pushers/shovels and I will agree, they look solid. I am going to pick one or two up soon. Nice that they are made in Rochester, I like to support local business.

Since I already bought the 2 stage, that is the one and only machine I am going with. I gotta have something to handle that end-of-the-drive city snowplow crap reasonably. I am not running a truck and blade, so that is out, and a single stage wouldn't handle that stuff too well according to many on here. I think I will be alright with the Ariens and some nice snow shovels.

 

Well I have 16 year old Sears 2 stage machine (24 I think) and it has been very good for my personal use. I believe that MTD makes (or made) the Craftsman machines. How well would it stand up to professional use? No idea! But all in all a very good machine!
My local power equip dealer only sells Simplicity snow blowers, and he claims that they are excellent machines. He further went on to say that the Simplicity Signature Pro dual-stage snow blowers (http://www.simplicitymfg.com/products/snow-throwers/signature-pro-commercial-duty-dual-stage/) are a touch better than a Honda snow blower. Any real world experience with Simplicity?

Zack

 

Well I have 16 year old Sears 2 stage machine (24 I think) and it has been very good for my personal use. I believe that MTD makes (or made) the Craftsman machines. How well would it stand up to professional use? No idea! But all in all a very good machine!
My local power equip dealer only sells Simplicity snow blowers, and he claims that they are excellent machines. He further went on to say that the Simplicity Signature Pro dual-stage snow blowers (http://www.simplicitymfg.com/products/snow-throwers/signature-pro-commercial-duty-dual-stage/) are a touch better than a Honda snow blower. Any real world experience with Simplicity?

Zack

Well not hands on experience but I have also heard that the Simplicity snow blowers are solid, reliable machines. In terms of the dealers statement regarding Honda I learned long ago not to take too seriously the recommendation of any one who can profit from your decision.

 

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Now back to your regular scheduled thread...

 

Well guys, I sprung for an Ariens 24" Deluxe today for my own use and use for a handful of residential customers. Will see how she delivers when the white stuff starts flying.

Should work quite well for you. I have one from the early 90's which is still running strong and virtually identical to the new models. Not much has changed in design other than the chute is now straighter and the engine mfg's are different. They make a great blower.

 

I have a 26" purchased in 2001 never a problem been through 2' of snow a few times great machine also an older john deere from the early 90's I think that I bought off an older customer.

 

update - have used my Ariens 24" for one 4" wet snow so far....and I love the machine. Just chews straight through that slushy crap, even the stuff at the end of resi drives left by the snowplow. And to think I have been scooping out for all these years.