2010 Craftsman 24 inch 179 cc Snow Thrower Model 88957 Review. This review has been updated Dec 26, 2010

Buy Here From Sears: Craftsman 88957 Snow Blower

It’s not which is the best snow thrower.  It which snow thrower is best for you!

Craftsman 88957

For most of us this is the right size.

This snow thrower is the most popular and was the staple of the Craftsman lineup for 2009 and continues to be a solid, dependable snow blower for 2010.

In my opinion this snow thrower is just the right size for a 16 by 80 foot driveway.

The Craftsman Model 88957 is designed for medium use and will clear snow quickly. This size snowblower is a great value and the simplicity of the snow thrower makes it a very reliable machine. This snowthrower has just the right amount of features to make it easy to use and last a long, long time.

This snowblower is basically the same machine that has been around for years with one completely new and worthwhile feature. It now has locking hand controls.

With a street price around $600 it is probably the best value for the money snowblower on the market.

Is this the right snowblower for you?

Most people will be able to use this snowblower.  It is balanced well and easy to use.  The controls are simple and basic.  It does not have power steering like some of the more expensive Craftsman models and may be hard to turn for smaller people.

This snowblower will go through a door 26 inches or larger.  The 24 inch width and the skid shoes need 26 inches or more.  If you regularly use the garage side door or go out the back to clean a spot off the patio this model will easily fit through your doors.

Do you have to put the snow in precise locations? My neighbor has a spot where he has to blow the snow into a 4 foot wide area.  This model does not have the 4 way chute control.  On this model you can adjust the swing of the chute from behind the unit, but to change how far it throws you have to manually have to move the deflector top.  If you need to move the chute a lot or how far it throws look at the Craftsman Model 88970 instead.

Do you have a beautiful drive or patio? The poly skid shoes will NOT leave brown (rust) marks on your drive.  If you have stained concrete or a nice patio this snow thrower won’t destroy it.

This is a medium sized snow thrower with a well matched motor and all the basic features you need.

Here is a rundown of the Features and Benefits of this workhorse:

NEW!  Single Handed Operation: You can drive the snow thrower easily with one hand to make adjustments to the chute or change speeds without stopping.  This has always been a much asked for feature and Craftsman finally put it on this snowthrower for 2009.

4 cycle, 179 cc Overhead Valve Motor: This Craftsman motor is sized well for the 24 inch clearing width. It has plenty of power to bust through drifts and move most snows. The 4 cycle Overhead Valve (OHV) engine is quiet. The motor is equivalent to a Techumseh 5 1/2 hp and is much more reliable and fuel efficient. (Because of the lawsuits last year none of the engine manufactures will rate their motors in horsepower anymore)

24 inch clearing width: The 24 inch width is wide enough to make short work of average driveways yet small enough to easily go in and out the side door on your garage. You can quickly clear most sidewalks in two passes.

21 inch intake height: The intake is high enough to tackle most normal drifts.

Electric Starter: Of course this Craftsman snowthrower has push button electric start. Just plug the 110v power cord into any wall outlet and push the button.

12 inch serrated auger with 12 inch impeller: The 12 inch is large enough to handle most snowfalls (6 to 9 inch snowfalls) You may have to drop down a gear when throwing heavy wet snow. The serrated auger effectively chews up the snow before throwing it into the impeller.

Glide-Tech Skid Shoes: The reversible polymer skid shoes are designed to last and won’t leave those unsightly brown marks (rust) on your driveway and sidewalks.

6 forward, 2 reverse speeds: Plenty of speed choices so you can get your snow blowing done quickly and efficiently.

Optional Headlight: The optional headlight has been discontinued for 2010.  It was not popular enough for Craftsman to keep the alternator on the motor so you can’t hook up an after market one as you could with the 2009 model. (Not a big deal in my book because most of you will have a light on your garage if you need to blow snow in the middle of the night.)

2 quart fuel capacity: 2 quarts of fuel is the right size tank for this snowblower.

Remote Crank Chute: The 190 degree chute rotation lets you put the snow in just the right place.  You have to stop and reposition the deflector by hand.

13 inch X 4 inch Tires: The X-Trac Tires provide adequate traction for this size snow thrower.

Warranty: 2 year manufactures defects warranty with up to a 5 year optional protection plan (read Are Protection Plans Worth It on Craftsman Snow Throwers)

Learn More: You can learn more about this new Craftsman Snow Thrower here. Buy Here From Sears: Craftsman 88957 Snow Blower

To Get your Craftsman 24 Inch Two Stage Model 88957 Snow Thrower: You can easily and safely order your new snow thrower here, pick it up at your nearest Sears store or have it delivered right to your home.  Most of the Sears stores will carry this in stock but if they are out it will only take a few days to get it from the warehouses.

Here is the easy way to get your new snowthrower:

Go to Buy Here From Sears: Craftsman 88957 Snow Blower

After you order it online you can pick it up at your nearest store and not get charged for shipping. You can get your new Craftsman snowblower delivered to your home from the store for a normal charge. Sears has a 14 day price guarantee so you can buy it, watch the sale ads and come into your local Sears and get the difference refunded to you if they come up with a better deal.

NOTE: If you have the snow thrower delivered it will be delivered in a box. If you pick it up at the store they will assume your vehicle is large enough and will keep it in the shipping box.

Assembly is simple: Cut the end out of the box and drag the snow thrower out onto the floor. Find the manual and read the assembly directions. It will only take you about five minutes to position the handles, adjust the skid shoes and attach the chute.

After you use your new snowthrower for a while, come back and tell us how well you like your snowblower.  (scroll down for the comment section)

I expect Sears to put this snow thrower on sale regularly and they are starting out the season with a really great deal: Buy Here From Sears: Craftsman 88957 Snow Blower

If you are looking for a smaller Craftsman 2 stage Snow Thrower I really do not recommend the Craftsman Model 88779. Instead I would highly recommend the Ariens Compact 22 sold at Home Depot.

If you are looking for a larger Craftsman Snowblower take a look at this model: Craftsman Model 88970

If you can’t decide which size Craftsman snowthrower or Craftsman Snow Blower you need watch this video:

Video: Which Snow Thrower Is Best For You?

Accessories:

Here are the common accessories and wear items for your snow blower.  I strongly recommend you purchase a bag of shear pins now!  Tape them to the handle of your snow thrower.  Change your oil every year.  I also suggest you buy the belts and hang them on your garage wall.  They should last years but a heavy, wet snow, ice chunks, or a garden hose can easily burn out a belt.  Read the manual and learn how to change them out.  It is an easy operation IF you have practiced it when it is still warm out.

Craftsman Snowblower Shear Pins or Standard Shear Pins

Universal Poly Skid Shoes

Standard Snow Thrower Cab

Large Universal Snow Thrower Cab

Replacement Snowblower Belts Your 2 stage snowblower takes two belts. An Auger Belt and a Drive Belt. Go through this list and pick the two that match your model. (Free shipping from Sears.com) If you can’t find your belt use the banner in the right hand column to go to searspartsdirect.com. Be sure to write down the coupon code for your 10% discount.

4 cycle Snow Thrower Oil

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