Just like the Bosch starter in your car these motors are licensed from the manufacture so that Sears can put the Craftsman name on it or Cub Cadet can put their own name on it.

Yes, I am patriotic just like you.  I would rather buy “Made in the USA” than made in China.  And I do whenever possible. But I am also practical.  I know if my favorite snow blower (a Gravely 16 hp Convertible with a 30 inch snow thrower) was still made in the USA I would have to pay over $4ooo for it.  Today, I can get a 30 inch Craftsman that will blow my snow just as well for under $1000.  As a semi-retired person I cannot afford to spend the high dollars it would cost for me to own the Gravely.

Parts: Parts networks vary from one engine brand to the next.  I read a lot of complaints all over the web about parts not being available for China motors but Sears has parts readily available for their Craftsman engines through Searspartsdirect.com.

If you don’t trust me here is an easy way to see if parts are available for the snow thrower you want to buy. You can do this completely online. If you took the model number off of the snow thrower you looked at in the store skip steps 1 and 2.

1. Get the stock number of the snow blower you are interested in.  I give you that number in the reviews here or you can go to Sears.com.  The stock number you need is 5 digits after the 071 in the Sears item number.  For example: Sears Item# 07188779000. The stock number is 88779.

2. Go to managemylife.com.  Click on the manuals tab and type in Craftsman followed by the model number.  In this example it would be “Craftsman 88779″   You will get one or manuals to choose from.  Sometimes a model will carry over from year to year with minor changes so select the manual with the highest last number for the latest model.   In this example: Select 247887791.  This is the model number you will need to check on parts in the next step.

3. Click on the banner in the right hand column of this page. It takes you to searspartsdirect.com.  Type in the model number you got in step 2, BUT put a period  after the first three digits.  Example: 247.887791.  Parts diagrams pop up and you can click and order your part.

If you ever need parts remember before you click on the banner in the right hand column of this page, write down the code in the banner and use it during the checkout process to get 10% off your order.

I have confidence that Sears will keep parts in stock for at least 10 years for their snowblowers.  I regularly look up parts for other people and find the parts I need for 15 and 20 year old machines.

Below is the information from MTD.  I found this on the Canadian MTD website.  This information applies to the Craftsman, Troy-Bilt, YardMan and Cub Cadet brands.

POWERMORE OHV Winterized Engines represent the very latest in 4-cycle engineering – minimizing emissions and maximizing power. Their advanced design combines commercial-grade innovations with consumer-oriented ease of use. Aluminum is replaced by a cast iron cylinder sleeve for reduced bore wear and oil consumption. A cast iron camshaft and forged steel crankshaft provides improved durability and longer life. See more features below – all backed by the quality and reliability of MTD.

OHV (overhead valve) design for lower emissions, more power, and reduced fuel consumption. Shielded spark plug boot reduces unwanted electrical interference.

Simple-to-use controls designed for easy access and mitten operation.

Push button 110V electric starter eliminates pull starting. Mitten grip manual pull is provided as a backup.

Ratchet-style gas cap and removable fuel filter prevents unwanted contaminants. Up to a 5.0 litre fuel tank means less fillings and longer run time.

Automotive-style, oil dipstick allows for easy oil checks both at the start and throughout the season.

Extended oil drain for quick and easy oil changes makes ongoing maintenance simple and clean.

Features & Benefits

OHV Design with Cross-Flow Cylinder Head More efficient, cleaner burning engine than conventional side valve engines. Results in lower emissions, more power and reduces your fuel consumption.

Fuel Capacity Up to 5.0 litres (nearly twice industry standard) for less fillings and longer run times.

Cast Iron Cylinder Sleeve Automotive style piston and rings riding in a cast iron sleeve cylinder provides longer life while reducing bore wear and oil consumption. Superior to aluminum.

Forged Steel Crankshaft Better strength/weight ratio than cast iron which means stronger and more durable.

Cast Iron Camshaft Commercial grade cast iron camshaft provides better durability and longer life than nylon composites. Heavy Duty Crankshaft Ball Bearings Can withstand higher loads and reduces wear caused by oil contamination or low oil conditions.

Mechanical Governor Provides precise control of engine speed for faster response to sudden load changes. Results in smooth, consistent and trouble-free clearing power.

Mechanical Compression Release Minimizes pulling effort for smooth and easy starts.Manual Choke with PrimerFor fast, easy, reliable starting on those frigid sub-zero days.

Electronic Ignition with RFI-EMI Shielded Plug Boot Induction Discharge Ignition delivers longer spark duration which is required for easy, dependable starting in frigid sub-zero temperatures.

Extended Oil Fill and Dipstick Allows for easy maintenance when filling and checking oil levels.

Ergonomic Operator Controls with Oversized Mitten Grip Oversize and readily accessible controls for convenient operation. Ergonomic oversize mitten grip starter handle for easy starting and accommodates the largest of gloves.

Electric Starter with Alternator Push button 110V electric starter UL/CSA   Approved with 20W AC / 20W DC alternator for lights and optional heated hand grips.

Low tone Muffler with Heat Shield Low-tone, dual-stage muffler significantly reduces the exhaust noise which will be appreciated by the user, as well as the neighbors.

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POWERMORE, Craftsman, Troy-Bilt, YardMan, Cub Cadet OHV Winterized Engines

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That’s right!  Sears customers have told them over and over that they love the layaway program during these hard economic times.  Sears asked for suggestions to improve the program and two major suggestions stood out.

“I wish I had longer contracts, it would help me when doing Christmas shopping.”

“A longer contract would help me with cash flow – I could pay it off early or if I needed to take the payments all the way to the end of the contract”

Sears Layaway listened and now offers an 8 week program on any purchase, a 12 week program on any purchase over $400 and a 16 week layaway program for snowblowers over $400. (the optional Repair Agreement can be included in the Layaway purchase)

I’m not going to go into the details for the 8 and 12 week programs.  You can read about them on Sears.com.  Here are the details for the 16 week program.  Requirement: Only available on snow throwers over $400. Duration: 16 weeks (can pay off early) Initiation Fee: $15. Cancellation Fee: $30. Down Payment: $30 or 20%. Payment Frequency: Bi-Weekly. Payment Amount: 12.5% of balance due after the down payment is made. Cancellation (Grace Period) 7 days.

Note: During the checkout process you will have the option to put your new snowblower on layaway.  You can set the length of the contract there.

A few more questions and answers about the ONLINE layaway program at Sears.  See Sears.com for complete details.

Online Layaway FAQ

Q What is Layaway?A Layaway is a service that allows you to reserve items today, and pay for the item over a specified period of time. Once completely paid off, you can take the item home.

Q How do I put items on Layaway?A Shop Sears.com and choose the item you wish to purchase. During your shopping experience, you will be notified if the chosen item is eligible for Layaway. At checkout, you will have the opportunity to purchase your items today and or start a Layaway contract. Our easy to use website will take you step by step through the Layaway process.

Q. Is there a fee to start a Layaway order?A Yes, there is a non refundable fee for each Layaway contract. The fee ranges from $1- $5 based on certain state laws.

Q. What form of payment is accepted for my Layaway purchases?A. You can use any form of payment that is currently accepted on our online site.

Q. How long is a Layaway contract?A. For most items, Layaway contracts are 8 weeks long. For certain items (i.e. Jewelry) the contract could be 26 weeks or 52 weeks. These contract lengths are determined by the cost of an item. At time of Layaway order, you contract will expressly state the length of the contract.

Q. Do I need to make regularly scheduled payments?A. Yes, payments every two weeks are required for each Layaway contract.

Q. How do I make payments every two weeks?A. You have the option of either making your payment online at Sears.com/layaway or by visiting the Sears store in which the merchandise is being held. You can make payments at any register.

Q. How do I receive my merchandise after I have made my final payment?A. After final payment is received, you can pick up your merchandise at the Sears store in which your merchandise was reserved. Please reference your Layaway contract for store location.

Q. Can I cancel my Layaway order?A. Yes, customers can cancel their Layaway contract at anytime. However, all cancellations must be done in person at the store location in which the merchandise is being held. Additionally, partial cancellations are not allowed.

Q. Is there a fee for canceling my order?A. Yes, a non refundable fee will be charged for canceled orders. The fee varies by state, but will not be more than $10.

Q. Can I access my payment and purchase information online?A. You can view and manage all of your account information online 24-7. Simply login at Sears.com/layaway.

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Announcing! 12 and 16 Week Layaway Contracts available at Sears.com on snowblowers over $400!

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Here are a few good places to find a new one.

managemylife.com Mangemylife.com is the goto site for all Craftsman manuals. If there is a manual available, it’s there. You can search by item number “Craftsaman 88830″ or model number “547.888301″ The manuals are free to read, save to your computer, and print on your printer. Managemylife was called managemyhome until recently so don’t be confused if I use the two sites in the same conversation.

Manualsonline is a great place to find non-craftsman manuals. the link above opens to the snowblower section of the website

If you have an old snowblower (I have a Montgomery Wards) here is a great resource. You have to purchase this one.

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Where to Find Snowblower Manuals

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The answer is …………. it depends.

Here is what happens if your snow thrower quits and you DO NOT have the Protection Plan.

1. You call your father-in-law or take it to the guy down the street who fixes mowers.

2. They look at the machine and say “I think I see the problem”

3.  They go to the local parts store and get all upset and mad because the store doesn’t carry parts for a Craftsman Snow thrower.  They end up driving to your local Sears and ordering a part or two for your machine.

4. The parts come in six to ten days and if you are lucky they ordered all the needed parts to fix your snowthrower.

5.  They charge you for the troubleshooting, the running around trying to find parts, the trip to Sears to order the part, the labor to install the parts and charge you for the parts themselves. (usually they will upcharge the cost of the part so they make a little extra money)

6.  The charges come to much more than the cost of a Protection Plan.

Ok, You spend the extra $164 to $384 dollars upfront (depending on the snow thrower you buy) on a Home Protection Plan (for five years that works out to $2.73 to $6.40 a month)

Here is what happens if your snow thrower quits and you have the Protection Plan.

1.  You call 1-800-4MY-HOME.

2. A trained sevice tech comes out to your house, troubleshoots the problem with your machine and orders all the parts.

3. When the parts arrive by mail in a few days to your home the tech comes back out and fixes your machine.

With this Protection Plan you get expedited service.  Meaning, your repair gets put in front of all the other people who don’t have Protection Plans.  You don’t get charged for the service call ($99 to $120) and all labor to fix the problem is included.  If the service tech can’t get the part or your machine has had more than 4 repairs in a year Sears usually will give you a new machine.  There are no hidden or additional costs.

If YOU break the snowblower (run a landscape brick or garden hose through it) you get a 10% discount off the parts and repair.

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Are Protection Plans Worth It on Craftsman Snow Throwers?

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If You Are Not Mechanically Inclined:

If you don’t know how to repair or maintain your snowblower Sears will gladly send a service tech to your home.  Sears will service most major brands of snow blowers – not just Craftsman.  Click on this link to learn more.  Schedule In Home Maintenance.

If you have a truck or trailer you can also bring your Craftsman snow thrower to your local Sears store.  They will schedule a service tech to come to the store or send your snowthrower to one of their regional repair centers.

If You Just Need a Tune-up

Here is a list of the common parts Sears carries online for your Craftsman machine.  If your model number does not start with 247 you will have to find all your parts on SearsPartsDirect.  (Click on the banner over there in the right hand column.  Be sure to use the promo code to get a 10% discount on your parts)

Belts: Craftsman Snow Thrower Belts Read the description of each belt to find the model number it fits.  Two-stage snow throwers use 2 belts.  If you don’t have the Purchase Protection plan it is a good idea to have an extra set of belts on hand.

Spark Plugs: If you have a Craftsman Branded Engine (2008 and newer) this is your plug.  Craftsman Branded Spark Plug To find the plug for your Tecumsah or Briggs & Stratton use the SearsPartsDirect Button over in the right hand column an search for it using your snow thrower’s model number.

Oil: For some reason Sears doesn’t have their snowthrower oil listed yet so any 5W-30 oil will work. I prefer to use Mobil One myself.

Drift Cutter: Craftsman Drift Cutter Kit Drift cutters make a nice neat cut line when the snow drift is higher than you snowblower.

Shear Pins: It is a good idea to have a package or two of shear pins handy. You never know when you will find a rock, a chunk of ice, or the garden hose you forgot to put away. By a package or two and tape them right to the handle of your snowblower.

On the page I’m sending you to the shear pins fit all snow throwers made in the last few years. Replacement Shear Pins The bolts are for tractor mounted snowblowers or older machines.

Upgrade To New Poly Skids: The new poly skids are a great upgrade for your existing snow blower.  They don’t scratch and leave brown (rust) marks on your cement.  Introduced last year they hold up as well as metal ones. Replacement Skid Shoes

Light Kit: Craftsman Snow Trower Light The Craftsman Branded engines have a white plug on the starter side of the engine.  You can plug this light into it and have plenty of light when you are out at 4am blowing snow.

Other Parts:

Any parts other than belts, shear pins, or skids use the Sears PartsDirect Banner in the far column to get a 10% discount on the parts.

Manuals:

If you need a manual for your snowblower go to ManageMyHome and search for Craftsman (your model) snow thrower.

eBay:

Sometimes you can find replacement parts for your snowblower on eBay and save a ton of money.  Just click on any of the items below and search on eBay for your part.

[phpbay]craftsman, num, “”42230 “”[/phpbay]

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Parts And Repairs For Your Snowblower

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Gas Snow Blowers

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Snowblower Gas
Elsewhere I’ve reviewed electric snowblowers. They can be a smart choice for small driveways, where you won’t mind dragging the cord around for a bit. For longer driveways, however, gas snowblowers are the preferred option. Gas snowblowers are also a better choice in regions subject to heavy snowfalls or wet snow. But to zero in on the particular model of gas snowblower right for you, we must draw a further distinction — this time, between two different types of gas snowblowers.

Types of Gas Snowblowers

Snowblowers (also termed “snow throwers”) fall into two categories:

Single-stage snowblowers
Two-stage snowblowers

Gas snowblowers are available in both single-stage and two-stage models; but with electric snowblowers, you’re restricted to the single-stage option. Whether you’re interested in gas snowblowers or electric snowblowers, single-stage snowblowers are not recommended for regions prone to heavy snowfalls or wet snow: they just don’t provide enough power. With a single-stage model, don’t expect to be able to clear more than an 8″ snowfall; and forget about clearing wet snow altogether, without doing a lot of extra work.

So what’s all this talk of “stages,” you ask? In what sense does one type of gas snowblower have two stages, while the other type has but one? Well, it’s all in the “auger.”

An auger is the corkscrew-shaped component of a snowblower responsible for sucking up the snow. In single-stage models, the auger performs double-duty: it both sucks up and discharges the snow. Whereas in two-stage models, the auger is devoted exclusively to the task of sucking up the snow off the driveway; while a separate gizmo, called the “impeller”, is responsible for discharging the snow out of the chute. This “division of labor,” if you will, allows you to blow the snow a greater distance with two-stage gas snowblowers.

Other Advantages of Two-Stage Gas Snowblowers

From Lowe’s “Snow Thrower Buying Guide”:

Single-stage snowblowers use an auger assembly made from a combination of metal and plastic or hard rubber. The auger spins at high speed to chip ice and snow, collect it, and direct it out of a discharge chute. Though not propelled by engine-driven wheels, the spinning auger contacts the clearing surface and pulls the assembly forward. This results in some degree of self-propulsion, but the operator must still guide the machine. Because the auger directly contacts the clearing surface, single stage throwers are best used on pavement or other smooth surfaces.

Note that with two-stage gas snowblowers, the auger that sucks up the snow doesn’t contact the clearing surface, meaning you can snowblow even on crushed stone or gravel driveways. However, there’s a flip side to the augur not contacting the surface: unfortunately, a thin coating of snow will be left behind.

The superiority of two-stage gas snowblowers goes beyond the matter of augers and impellers. Their clearing width is also greater, ranging from about 20″ to about 36″, depending on the model. And engine-driven wheels (or in some cases, tracks) propel two-stage gas snowblowers for you, making them easier to use.

Not All Two-Stage Gas Snowblowers Are Created Equal

Before you can appreciate all your options before deciding between the various gas snowblowers on the market, you must understand yet another distinction, this time between:

Low-end two-stage gas snowblowers
High-end two-stage gas snowblowers

In addition to other features, what “separates the men from the boys” is horsepower. At the low end are machines with 5.5 hp; at the high end, 9 hp.

Two-Stage Gas Snowblowers Come at a Price!

Of course, you’ll pay the most for high-end two-stage gas snowblowers, because of all their advantages. While it’s possible to buy electric snowblowers for a little over $100, high-end two-stage gas snowblowers sell in the $1000-$2000 range.

When shopping for two-stage gas snowblowers, it’s important for you to determine ahead of time just how much of a wonder-machine you really need. Otherwise, you could end up spending more money unnecessarily. For instance, Consumer Search compared the Craftsman 88790 (ca. $1,000) to the Toro Power Max 828LXE (ca. $1,500). Reviews say, according to Consumer Search, that while the Craftsman 88790 doesn’t throw snow quite as far as the Toro does, “for most people, that tradeoff will be worth the $500 cost savings.”

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Snowblower Maintenance

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As far as I can tell MTD is not selling under the Murray or Bolens brands in the United States.  They are selling under the Murray and Bolens brands in Canada and Europe.

Here in the U.S. the Murray name has always been associated with the cheapest lawn mowers and snowblowers you could buy.  The name was popular BECAUSE of the cheap products not because there was any quality whatsoever associated with the name.

The last products that I have come across that were manufactured by Murray for the U.S. Market were the 2006 – 2007 single stage Craftsman snowthrowers.  Believe me, they are junk.  The biggest problem is if you happen to run a chunk of ice or other hard object through the auger the housing Explodes.

Unfortunately for the Canadians and Europeans it looks like Murray is still trying to sell them there.

Parts:

If you have a Craftsman made by Murray you can go to www.Searspartdirect.com and order parts.

If you have a Murray under a different brand you can try http://www.jackssmallengines.com.

You can also try using this model number 536.88140 or 536.88141 at www.searspartsdirect.com.

You can also click on the NEW TORO ARIENS USED tab at the top of the page and go to eBay and look for parts there.  There are a lot of sellers offering used parts so with a little searching and emailing to them you may be able to get the part you are looking for for much less than new.

Good Luck!

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New Murray Bolens Snowblower and Snowthrower Parts

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 The first place I would go for Toro parts is my nearest authorized Toro Dealer.  If you bought your machine from a big-box store be prepared to take a little ribbing about not buying the snow thrower from the dealer.  Many of these dealers will bend over backwards to help you if you bought the snowblower from them, but can get a little grumpy if you bought the machine somewhere else to save a few bucks and then expect them to service it. 

On the web www.jackssmallengines.com is the first place to go.  You can also try Amazon and eBay.  Amazon has a lot of parts for the ”Powercurve” models.

If you have a really old machine eBay might be your best bet.  (click on the Toro tab on the right column of this page)  You can set up an alert in your “my eBay” tab to let you know when a machine or part comes up for auction.  I suggest you start your alert broad (say toro snowblower) and then refine it as you get used to the way items are listed.

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Toro Snowblower Parts

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Unlike Craftsman snow throwers you can find parts for your MTD snowblower from many, many sources.

You can use your local lawn mower repair shop, Amazon.com, and hundreds of websites.  For example I did a Google search for “Bolens snowblower parts” and found 363 websites that had parts available.  A search of “MTD snowblower parts” yielded 3660 websites.

Ebay is a great place to find parts for older snowblowers.  There are a lot of dealers and individuals who advertise and sell parts for your old snowblower there.  A hint: when searching for a part on ebay go to the parts section for snowblowers and then try a general search like “bolens”  The person listing the part you need may not give it the same name as you.  Also email the larger ebay stores and ask them if they have a part.  Many don’t have all the parts listed on ebay all the time.

snowblower parts on Ebay

Here are the MTD official websites.

MTD Parts

Troy-Bilt Parts

Yard-Man Parts

Bolens Parts

White Outdoor Parts

Yard Machines Parts

Cub Cadet Parts

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Finding Parts For Your MTD, Troy-Bilt, Bolens, White, and Yard Machines Snowblower

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Craftsman Snow Thrower Parts

You can get a few parts like skid shoes from third party sources but in reality if you need a part for your Craftsman you have to go to Sears.com to get the parts.  Just click on this link sears.com once there click on the parts tab, type in your model number and you can look up your part and order it right there.

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Finding Parts For Your Craftsman Snow Thrower

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