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My goal is not to tell you which snow blower is best. My goal is to tell you which snow blower is best for you!
I finally had a chance to finish putting together a video review of the Troy-Bilt Vortex 2490 3 Stage Snow Blower.
In the video I go through the key points that make the 3-stage MTD built snow blower unique. Watch the video and then read my conclusions below. Click on the bottom right corner to make it full screen.
Is a 3-stage better than a 2-stage? The answer is yes and no.
The 3-stage MTD snow blowers definitely are better than a residential 2-stage MTD snow blower. Is it better than other manufactures 2-stage units? The answer is – it depends.
Cub Cadet claims 50% more capacity than a two-stage. What most people miss in this advertising claim is they are stating “It clears deep snowfall up to 50% faster than a traditional Cub Cadet 2X™ two-stage snow thrower.” MTD is not making any claims that it clears snow faster than other brands. In my opinion “traditional” is the 500 series Cub Cadets. Does it throw better than a 900 series? Read on to find out.
The 3-stage Cub Cadet, 3-stage Troy-Bilt Vortex, Craftsman Pro 3-stage and Columbia 3-stage snow blowers have three features that make them different from the “standard” 2-stage MTD built unit.
- They have larger engines for the size. Extra power makes a big difference for the amount of snow you can move through a given machine.
- They have 4 blade impellers instead of three blades. The combination of the larger engine and 4 blade impeller lets it move more snow through the snow blower.
- They use a center front auger that rotates 10 times faster than the front augers on conventional MTD snow blower. The theory behind this is the center auger forces more snow into the impeller giving the snow blower more capacity.
- The front of the snow blower is open more which allows more snow to go into the machine compared to the closed flight system on the MTD built 2-stage snow throwers.
So, are the 3-stage machines better than a 2-stage.
- More homeowners today demand that snow blowers work faster and more efficiently than they did 20 years ago and each manufacture has developed a proprietary system to meet those needs.The 3-stage snow blowers DO NOT have a capacity advantage over the heavy-duty 2-stage snow blowers by Ariens, Toro, and Husqvarna. 3-stage snow blowers are not better but simply another way of increasing the capacity of a snow blower.
- The Ariens Deluxe and Platinum Series uses an open flight auger, larger 14 inch impeller and high horsepower engines to increase the capacity of their machines. In addition their SHO units have a specially designed impeller that allows even more capacity.
- Husqvarna uses open flights, a 4-blade cast iron impeller and high horsepower engines to increase the capacity of their 300 series machines.
- ToroPowerMax HD series uses open flights, a 14 inch impeller and a “relief valve” to keep the snow circulating inside the snowblower until the impeller can throw it out. “relief valve is Toro’s Anti-Clogging System.”
- The 900 series Cub Cadet snow blowers have a large 16 inch impeller but still use the closed flight front auger. I am going to guess that the 3X HD Cub Cadet 3-stage snow blowers (with the metal chute) will move more snow than the 900 series. I am going to guess the 900 series will move more snow than the Troy-Bilt Vortex, Craftsman Pro and standard Cub Cadet 3X snow blowers. (with the poly chute)
Closed Flight Auger
Open Flight Auger
- The 3-stage snow blowers definitively have more capacity than the 2-stage MTD units. Why? The 2-stage MTD snow blowers use a closed flight auger that metered the snow going into the snow blower and kept the snow blowers from plugging. The closed flight system also allows these snow blowers to use smaller engines and still get your driveway cleared. But the closed flights severely limit the amount of snow going into the machine. If you have owned one you know that many times the snow would build up in front of the snow blower and the snow blower would push the snow almost like a snow plow.
Open flight, ribbon verses closed flight, stamped augers. Open flight augers give an improved mix of snow and air. This makes the snow easier to handle for the snow blower and helps the snow blower move snow faster. The whole system is more efficient and handles the snow better. Open flight, ribbon augers mix air with the snow which allows the snow blowers to move more snow.
This special design is one of the biggest factors limiting the Chinese snow blowers trying to come into the U.S. and Canada. Yes, they can make snow blowers cheaper than we can here in the U.S. Yes, they look just like the snow blowers we used from 10-20 years ago. But they don’t have the industry leading engineering, capacity and durability of todays heavy-duty snow blowers.
What I like about the Vortex.
- Low handle height: The handle height is great for people less than 5″ 7″. If you are 6 feet or taller you have to bend over to push down the front of the snow blower to turn.
- The Vortex has plenty of power for the size.
- It likes snow – the more the better!
- It throws 2-3 inches of heavy wet snow well. (Farther than the new Toro SnowMaster but not as far as the Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO)
- Trigger steering works very well. The snow blower travels in a straight line until you pull a trigger to turn.
- The snow blower is balanced making it easy to turn. When you push down on the handles to turn there is very little weight. Even small people can use this snow blower.
- If the snow is deep it does not push the snow in front of the machine like the 2-stage Craftsman, Cub Cadet and Troy-Bilt snow blowers will.
- Large gas tank.
- Good traction. Even clearing a snow plow drift on the lawn it had plenty of traction.
- Overall this is a good snow blower for smaller than average people to use. If you are under 5′ 7″ and weigh less than 175 lbs this is a great choice for you.
What I don’t like about the 3-stage Vortex
- Snow Blower is balanced which sometimes cause the front end to ride up in deep snow.
- When blowing wet, “snowman” snow the 3rd stage auger throws snow into the top of the housing and it sticks making the front end heavy and hard to clean.
- The 3rd stage spins fast and causes some snow to be thrown to the left of the housing. When clearing 6 inches or more this will cause the snow to fall out the left side of the housing leaving a “windrow” that has to be cleaned up with a second pass. If you are clearing your driveway start in the middle and keep the uncleared area to your left. The 3-stage clears and cleans your driveway just fine. When you are clearing wet snow be sure you clean out the bucket when you are done. Snow gets packed all over and if you don’t clean it the snow will freeze into the snow blower and you will break shear pins or burn out a belt the next time you go to use it if you don’t.
- The 4-way joystick chute control is inconsistent. On some machines the side to side is easy to use, on others of the same model it is stiff and hard to use. I would like to see MTD’s electric chute control on all the 3-stage machines.
- The shear pin on the center auger is hard to change.
None of the items I mention above are intended to tell you not to buy this snow blower. All snow blowers are different and if you understand these little quirks you can decide for yourself if this snow blower is for you.
This snow fell out of the front housing after I cleaned heavy, wet snow.
So is the 3-stage better than a 2-stage Toro, Husqvarna or Ariens? No, it’s just a different way of doing of moving snow.
How I test these snow blowers:
When it snows I go out and clear my paved driveway, my neighbors gravel driveway, my brick patio and a large spot on the lawn for my dogs. When I get 15-20 inches of snow built up in the back yard I will also go out and compare throwing distance, clearing speed and traction. Each time the snow is different so over the winter I get a chance to try these snow blowers in all types of snow. I look at not only how it clears snow but how well it cleans the different surfaces, how easy the snow blower is to use and the little idiosyncrasies each snow blower has.
My methods are not “scientific” meaning I don’t use damp wood chip horse bedding to consistently test each snow blower. I don’t have a checklist to make sure I look at the same features every time. Because of that my opinions are different from Consumer Reports.
My goal is not to tell you which snow blower is best. My goal is to tell you which snow blower is best for you!
Feel free to ask questions about this snow blower in the comments below.
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Will
Paul,
I’m searching for a snow blower to assist in clearing 2.1 miles of sidewalk at our college campus on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. I have been reviewing different models and wanted to see what opinion you could recommend on a unit. Our sidewalks very in width from 4′ to 10′ wide. we just had a snowfall of 14″ and determined we need something better for clearing the side walks. We are looking to get 2 units, a large (32″) and a smaller (24″) one. Thanks for your feed back.
Paul
Hi Will, My first question is, do you have to keep the sidewalks completely clear of snow? My second question is, what are you using for mowing lawns and general maintenance around the campus? I’ll explain why in a little bit.
2.1 miles is a lot to walk. A roundtrip on the 4-foot sections and 2-3 passes on the 10-foot sections can easily add up to 6-10 miles of walking each time it snows. If you decide to walk you will need a Toro Power Max HD Commercial or an Ariens Professional just so they will last more than a season or two.
So, my first choice assuming you have to keep the sidewalks completely clear is a commercial power broom attached to a mower like the Toro Grandstand Multi-Force or a John Deere Utility tractor, or even a skid steer. Then a Toro Power Max HD Commercial or an Ariens Professional for cleaning the windrow of snow it leaves. With a broom, you may find you don’t need a 2-stage and a good single stage that cleans up the corners and walked on snow in front of the buildings/ handicap ramps is the best choice. I’ll post a few pictures below and feel free to redirect me if you want to discuss this farther. Sorry, I can’t adjust the picture size in the comments.
Will
Paul,
My question on the broom attachment, how well does it do on wet snow or semi compacted snow. We would be putting this on a Kubota compact tractor with bucket attachment. We do clear the side walks down to the concrete. The lawn equipment we use are Hustler mowers (standers & zero turns). We were leaning towards a good 2 stage blower to give some back up redundancy. We also have a CAT 247B3 Skid Steer we use as well for snow piles.
Paul
Hi Will, A rotary broom like the Landpride are ideal for wet and packed down snow. A stiffer bristle (not wire) works the best on driven-on snow. The standard poly brushes work very well on wet and walking traffic.
If you have the smaller Kubota Compact a 60 inch is a perfect size. It’s light enough so you can steer it easily and when tilted will clean the 48-inch sidewalk perfectly without tearing up the turf.
As a backup any of the Ariens Deluxe, Platinum, Pro models or the Toro PowerMax HD models will give you a good reliable backup that will handle wet snow, clean up after the brush and other corners the bucket loaders don’t clean well. You’ll find a 28-inch size to be a good size so that anyone can use it.
Mike
I live in Kingston NY. I just bought a reverbished Troy-bolt vortex 2490 from Lows. It looks and runs good. I have a small driveway and 100 feet of sidewalk, plus a second driveway about 75’ long. The snow here is both light and fluffy and heavy and wet. I paid $750.00 which seem to be a good deal. However I’m 6’ tall and it seem a little low. I read all the comments above.
I bought this because I thought I found a good deal.
1. Is this blower durable ?
2. Is it possible to raise the grips?
3. Will this blower handle my needs or should I stick with a 2 stage machine?
Thanks,
Mike
Paul
Hi Mike, $750 dollars is a great deal for that snow blower! Let me answer your questions.
1. Is this blower durable? Yes, For the amount you have to clear that snow blower will last many years. That snow blower is designed to break shear pins if it hits something so make sure you have extra on hand. Getting used to it you may break a few until you get used to your machine and the obstructions you have. I just tape a zip lock bag of them right on the handle. The hard one to replace is the shear pin on the back auger flite. (The white one behind the gearbox.) Figure out how that hole lines up with the front pin so you can easily find it if you break the pin.
2. Is it possible to raise the grips? No. The Troy-bilt’s all use drive cables and shift rods that are the same length so you can’t make the handles longer or drill another hole in the frame to tip them up. The only way to raise the handles is to install larger, 16 by 5 inch wheels and rims. I suggest the MTD made snow blowers to women because they have lower handles than the other brands.
3. Will this blower handle my needs or should I stick with a 2 stage machine? Yes, it will handle any snow or blizzard you get. My only real beef with it is it throws snow out the front when you are clearing only 2-4 inches. To compensate figure out what side it throws the snow too, then start in the middle of your driveway and go back and forth so the snow throwing out the front is always going on the area you have not cleared yet. On 6-10 inch snow it actually throws snow farther than most of the comparable two-stage machines.
Be sure you read the section in this article on fuel, fuel stabilizer and storing fuel. Before/when I buy a new gas snow blower what else do I need? Or, “my engine won’t start,” “my engine won’t stay running.”
Tom Schrader
I just bought my first 3 stage snowblower. Am I going to regret it? I bought a 3 stage Cub Cadet 357cc 3X. I have a long narrow driveway that I park parallel to the road. So I git a long snow plow berm
Paul
Hi Tom, Your comment fell into spam folder. I just found it.
The biggest thing to know about your new snow blower is that is does not like big chunks of ice. It will break shear pins (actually a good thing) I suggest that you get out and clear that snow plow berm as soon as you can – before it freezes into a huge chunks of ice. If it is frozen, take 1/4 or 1/2 passes at a time.
So, Number one, learn how to change all four shear pins on your snow blower. Tip the snow blower up on the handles and spend some time taking a shear pin out and replacing it. The shear pin behind the front gearbox is the hardest to change (but the hole lines up with the hole of the front shear pin)
Number two, Buy a dozen extra shear pins and remember where you put them.
Number three. Make sure the snow blower fan is clear of snow when you put it away after a snow. I actually put a heat lamp on the front to melt out all the snow
Woods 0151 18/2 SPT Clamp Lamp with 8.5 Inch Reflector, 150 Watt, 6 Foot Cord
BYB – 150W 110V Ceramic Infrared Heat Emitter Brooder Coop Pet Infrared Lamp Bulb, Black or Exo Terra Heat-Glo Infrared Spot Lamp, 120-Volt
Kyle Adams
Hi Paul
I live in warwick ri and have 20 x 30 driveway…..because of storage issues i need the smallest machine with the largest horsepower….i hate not being able to throw wet heavy without clogging and of course my side of the street gets the most when the plow goes by….thx for any input.
Paul
Hi Kyle, The answer for you is very easy. The Ariens Platinum 24 SHO is the smallest snow blower with the most power and throwing distance. It’s also a very high capacity machine. You have to buy it through your local Ariens dealer. You can go to Ariens.com to find a dealer near you.
Kyle Adams
Thx Paul….I will get on it
Tim Steffen
Paul,
I live in Flagstaff Arizona. I am a trustee for my church which is situated on a corner. We have about 1500 feet of sidewalk. Most of the sidewalk gets the windrow from the grader that plows the road. Basically all the snow from the road! It’s usually chunky and frozen , unless it’s warm, then it’s chunky and slushy. It’s too narrow for my skid steer and borders a steep hill. We need a blower that destroys. I don’t mind making two passes but hate having to muscle the machine to get through it. Any ideas?
Paul
HI Tim, There are two that I can wholeheartedly recommend. They are not cheap but either one will last you many years. This time of year both may have to be ordered and you may have to order them through a dealer
Ariens: Professional Series 28 in. Two-Stage Electric Start Gas Snow Blower (926038). This Ariens will clear the snow by brute force. The huge engine and capacity means it will throw wet, slushy, hard packed and good snow 40-60 feet.
Toro: Power Max HD 1028 28 in. OHXE Two-Stage Gas Snow Blower. This is also a commercial snow blower and it has a unique feature where it won’t plug even when blowing slush. It’s not quite as powerful so it may take 10-15% longer to clear the snow from the sidewalk. But it’s just as dependable and will also last for many years.
george
Paul, very informative. I live on long island in New York . We get some very dry and also some very wet slushy snow like we did today. my driveway is right next to my neighbors so I need something that has power steering for tight turns & maneuverability as well as good throwing distance for wet & dry snow as all the snow has to go out to the street as we have nowhere to put it..probably a three stage blower i think..thoughts?
Paul
Hi George, many people on Long Island like the Toro SnowMaster 824 QXE. It handles the heavy wet stuff without clogging and is really fast cleaning the light stuff. If you get big snow plow piles that freeze many people love the Ariens Deluxe 24. It also will handle the wet heavy stuff without clogging.
The 3 stage machines are not better – they are just different. They will clog just as fast as a conventional 2-stage snow blower.
george
thanks paul,
which is the best with power steering for quick maneuverability. I basically have to slalom down the driveway between cars so there are some really tight turns.
ps. which ones throw the furthest as I have to go over the cars to my lawn
Thanks
Paul
Hi George, They both throw about the same. You can watch videos that I’ve done on both models here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLWXWK179A45edji0LEG6dQ.
The Troy-Bilt/Craftsman you pull the triggers to turn the snow blower. With the Ariens you just move the handles. In other words they both have power steering but the Ariens is automatic. It will work really well for what you have to do.
george
Paul,
didn’t realize that troy built was the same as craftsmen. what do you think of this model for my needs? I currently have a craftsman
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-28inch-243cc-dual-stage-snowthrower-with-quiet/p-07188394000P?SID=IMxdCx-CoreLawnGarden-V2-activeusers&utm_medium=2706_92012_CoreLawnGarden/.
Paul
Hi George, There are only four snow blower manufacturers in the U.S. MTD owns Troy-Bilt, Cub Cadet, Columbia, Remington, yard machines and a dozen other names. They currently make all the 2 and 3 stage snow blowers for Craftsman. The Craftsman are similar and use a lot of the same basic parts but not the same.
You really did not tell me how large your driveway was, if you have any gravel or turf to clear. That Craftsman will handle the snow you get but once in a while it may plug in the really wet, heavy stuff. For me that’s not an issue because it may go years before you get that type of snow. It’s a very quiet snow blower to use but it does not have as much power and won’t throw as far as the Ariens. That snow blower is designed for areas up to 20 by 150 ft or so.
george
Paul,
Thanks again for your input. think I am leaning toward the ariens. What is the difference between the 24 & 28 besides clearing width?
Paul
@George, The Deluxe 24 and 28 the only difference is width.
David S
Hi Paul and thanks for your video and informative website. I live in Truckee, CA. We just received over 4ft of wet heavy snow in the last 2 days. That’s not a typo. I moved more snow in the last 48hrs than ever before. And we get this kind of snow often. The berm that the town plow leaves at the end of the driveway is a massive mound of icy messy thunderchunks of death snow…sometimes over 3-4 ft tall. I currently have a 13HP Ariens biggest one they make. It does great on the driveway and bogs a little on the really heavy wet snow. I want to know what is the most powerful walk behind blower recommended on the market? One that can ‘churn the burm’ and blow the heavy wet stuff when it’s over a foot deep. Thanks!
Paul
Hi David, Welcome! I’ve been through your town on I-80 enough times back in the 90’s to appreciate the amount of snow you get. Maybe you’ll recognize this sign
.
There are a few really big, high capacity machines. I’ll start with the highest capacity and work down.
Honda HS1336iAS. I don’t talk about that one too often because it costs $8000.
Ariens Professional: Ariens makes four Wheeled machines that all have the largest 420 cc engines, 14 inch impellers and the highest capacity on the market. They are extremely rugged but surprisingly very easy to use. 28 inch gear drive – Model 926065 – $2389. 28 inch hydrostatic – Model 926066 – $2719. 32 inch gear drive – Model 926071 – $2719. 36 inch hydro – Model 926072 – $3699.
Ariens also has a Professional Track Drive. Model 926067. $3299. 420 cc, 28 inch hydrostatic transmission. This is probably the best choice. Plenty of power, huge capacity, and the best traction. These are hard to get. You really need to order one now for next year.
Gravely PRO-QXT: This is one of the cooler power units on the market. It has full hydro drive and hydro steering – it will zero-turn in place. It takes absolutely no effort to drive this walk-behind tractor. 14HP and you can add a 32 inch high capacity snow blower. I don’t have the exact cost but it’s about $9500 with the snow blower.
Toro PowerMax HD 1128 OHXE. This was Toro’s biggest snow blower but it was dropped from the line for this season. A local Toro dealer may have one in stock yet.
Ariens Platinum 30 SHO. This is the biggest, heaviest duty and strongest residential snow blower. 414cc engine and wow – does it throw snow. $1949
Cub Cadet 3X™ 30″ PRO H and 3X™ 34″ PRO H. About $2399 and $2599. These snow blowers are new this year but they are the heaviest built machines Cub Cadet has had for a long time. 420 cc engines, 14 inch impeller and auger. These will move a lot of snow. I have not had a chance to use one and my only concern for you is it may like to break the shear pin on the front screw (3rd stage) when you hit chunks of ice. They also have a gear drive version but for what you have to do I’m concerned it may not hold up.
Paul Leduc
Hi Paul..
Just watched your Troy Built Vortex video review, and want to thank you for doing this great review.
I live in Fenelon Falls, a small village north of Toronto, Ontario. We get a fair bit of snow, and I have a large circular double driveway about 100 feet to the road. I currently have a Yard Man MTD 27″, 9 HP blower (that I inherited from the previous owner when I bought his house, so not sure how old it is). Typically, it takes me about 2 hours to clear the driveways – I nornally just use 2nd gear.
My problem is that this blower often bogs down in heavy wet snow, often to the point that I have to stop the unit and clear out the heavy slush from the impellers and chute. It also has a hard time clearing the end of the driveways, after the street ploughs have passed and pushed up a windrow of 3 feet or so of heavy packed snow (and sometimes ice)
I am wondering if I should be looking at a newer and stronger machine? Speed of clearing is not an issue- I am retired and have the time.. I just want something that can do the job and not bog down. Would appreciate your comments. Thanks!
Paul
Hi Paul, Any snow blower with a 350 cc or larger engine on a 27-30 inch snow blower will have more power than the 9 hp. In addition your old engine may be tired and putting out the 9hp it is listed at.
A 24-26 inch machine with a 250 cc or larger engine will also give you more HP per inch.
Paul Leduc
Thanks for the reply! One more question… when is the best time to buy a new blower to get the best price? There are some deals on now, sort of extended Boxing Day… but would the spring or fall present better deals?
Paul
@Paul, snow blowers don’t have model years like cars. So the don’t have end of season sales. Sales can also be very spotty from year to year. So, they have huge warehouses to store them from year to year.
So, the best deals are in the fall, but most of the time it’s an enhancement like an extra year on a warranty or an accessory. They very seldom discount the snow blower.
John Messiter
I live in Northern Virginia; the Storm We just had was a fluke. I was interested in the Troy Built Storm Tracker 2890 277CC; but was convinced over the pone to get the Vortex 357CC. I notice a variation on reviews; but don’t want to be unhappy. We typically do not get a lot of snow; but when we do it is wet. Typically a couple inches. I don’t want to have the problem of not being able to use the Machine I just bought. I decided to get a machine since I have a 300 foot driveway plus a round about at least that long. Do I call back and try and get the smaller 277CC or just go with the Vortex?
Paul
Hi John, I have a strong feeling that there are no 2-stage 2890 Tracker’s left to buy. They have been out of stock on Troy-Bilt for over a month now. I know Lowes is still listing them but Northern Tool And Amazon are both showing the 3-stage.
I assume they are selling you the Vortex™ Tracker 2890 Snow Thrower and not trying to down-grade you to the wheeled version. At $1599 it’s really a good value for a tracked snow blower with a big engine. There is nothing else on the market for that price.
All machines have little quirks and you can learn to live with or work around the 3-stage’s quirks. They are really not deal-breakers – more just how they act. The rest of the machine has a proven track record, for example, the 3090 XP is one of my favorite snow blowers and the only real difference is the 2 or 3 stage front gearbox.
Jim
Hi Paul,
The 3-stage machines from the 3 different sellers look like the same machines with different paint schemes. Are there any feature differences between the brands?
Paul
Hi Jim, There are actually 5. The 2 you may not be aware of are Columbia and Cub Cadet HD. Yes, each brand has a set of features aimed towards the buyer that usually buys that brand. For example Troy-Bilt aims towards the baby boomer residential customer so they offer steel skid shoes and hand warmers. Troy-Bilt also has more snow blowers with an electric chute than the other brands made by MTD.
I don’t keep a list that shows the different features. Each brand’s website does a good job of showing all the features in the specifications section.
Bobby
Hi Paul, I live in the northern end of the Shenandoah valley in VA. My driveway is chip and tar and approximately 400′. HELP PLEASE!!!!! I’m so confused by so many options to chose from. Husqvarna looks really good but not sure. Thanks for you help!!
Paul
Hi Bobby, You need a good 2-stage 28-30 inch snow blower. This current storm is a fluke so I am going to suggest a residential grade.
Craftsman at Sears:30 In 357cc Dual-Stage Snowblower w/ EZ Steer Electric 4-Way Chute Control
Home Depot: Cub Cadet Snow Removal 28 in. 277cc Two-Stage Electric Start Gas Snow Blower with Power Steering 2X 528 SWE
Lowes also has the 2890 Troy-Bilt.
Bill
Paul, I live in Port Deposit MD. I have a 600 foot driveway, mostly downhill. The turn-around pad at the garage is about 20′ x 40′. I also make a pass around the house, partly sidewalk and partly grass. My 1996 White 10HP, 30″ is nearing the end of its life. I’ve read several of your postings and I’m hoping you’llhave some insight for me. Bill
Paul
Hi Bill, If you liked your White your the replacement is the Craftsman 30 inch, Cub Cadet 28 2X or the Troy-bilt 3090 XP. These snow blowers are balanced well so they have the best traction for your hill. If you have traction problems get a set of chains through Amazon.
Sears Craftsman: 30 In 357cc Dual-Stage Snowblower w/ EZ Steer Electric 4-Way Chute Control
Home Depot: Cub Cadet Snow Removal 28 in. 277cc Two-Stage Electric Start Gas Snow Blower with Power Steering 2X 528 SWE
Tom
Second question: I’ve narrowed my search for a new snow blower to, either, the Toro PowerMax 928 (2-stage) with the anti-clogging system or the Troy-Bilt Vortex 2890 (3-stage). The Toro, as you know, has a 265cc engine as opposed to the Troy-Bilt’s 357cc engine. This may be like comparing apples to oranges, but, how do you think these two blowers compare to each other in removing snow efficiently (given the system and engine-size differences)?
Paul
Hi Tom, I have not directly compared the 928 with the 2890 but if I had to give you a “Spock guess” I will say the Toro 1028 and the 2890 will be very comparable. The 1028 is more money because it is a commercial machine. The 2890 is a residential grade snow thrower.
I don’t know where you live or the type of snow you get so I can’t really give you my best suggestion. In the Midwest the 928 is a great choice because it will handle 2 inch snows and really wet snow just as well as 20 inches. I usually suggest the 1028 for the Boston area and the 1128 for snow belt areas.
In the 3-stage snow blowers the Cub Cadet HD series work really well for areas that get lots of snow and like 12-20 inches at a time. The Troy-Bilt 2890 falls somewhere in between the Cub Cadet and the Toro 928. You can see in the video the Vortex 3-stage system throws well but is does use every available horse to throw it.
Tom
Paul: I have two separate questions, so I’ll ask them in separate posts. The first is a two-parter: How important is torque and is a blower with a smaller engine just as efficient at moving snow as a larger engine blower that produces the same amount of ft/lbs.
Paul
Hi Tom, There is a lot that goes into the design of a high-out put snow blower and the design of the auger/impeller is just as important as the engine size for output. For example, for a given sized engine the Toro Power Max HD can move more snow than the 3-stage snow blowers. An Ariens with it’s 14 inch SHO impeller can move more snow and throw it farther. The design of the Ariens and Toro appears to be only limited to the size of the engines available.
Rod McInnis
This was great to see. I recently moved to a home with a 180′ long driveway. (NW Chicago Suburbs) Right now my 24″ 8-year-old Craftsman 2-stage snow thrower can handle the snow just fine but it takes a long time. Most of the time I’m moving snow under 3″ deep so I go at top speed 95% of the time. Any big snow thrower can handle the snowfall here in Chicago. I’m curious which one would be fastest in these lighter snowfalls so I can get the job done most quickly. This should just be a function of top speed and intake width. Width is pretty straight forward. However, I can’t find data on top speed online for most brands. Are the MTD 3-stage snow throwers any faster than other brands or do they just handle snow better?
Paul
Hi Rod, Of the 2-stage machines the Ariens Deluxe/Platinum are the fastest. I have an Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO here and 3rd gear is faster than I like to walk. None of the brands list the top speed of the 2-stage machines. Single stage snow throwers will go as fast as you can walk but the largest conventional single stage is only 21 inches. The Craftsman, Toro and Ariens single stage machines throw the best.
One other item on speed. Most of the brands don’t change the gearing inside the transmissions for different tire sizes. So in general a Craftsman 88396 with 16 inch tires will be faster than a Craftsman 88394 with 15 inch tires.
A 28 inch 2-stage will gain you about 15% more width than your Craftsman. The heavy-duty 3-stage MTD, Ariens Deluxe/Platinum, Toro PowerMax HD and Husqvarna 300 series also handle snow better than your 24 inch Craftsman so the combination of the larger width and better snow handling I will guess you can clear deep snow 20-25% faster – but you are limited to the top speed of the snow blower and how many cracks, etc. you have in your driveway. Having a big 2-stage stop suddenly from hitting a crack is hard on you and the machine. The only snow blower with a pivoting scraper that doesn’t catch is the Toro PowerMax HD 1128 OHXE ($1999)
But there is one snow thrower that I would like you to consider instead of a large 2-stage. It’s the Toro SnowMaster. There are a few reasons why it’s a better choice for 2-3 inches than the large 2-stage snow blowers.
1. It’s the only snow blower that lists the top speed. At 3 1/2 mph that’s a brisk walk for most of us.
2. It handles 2-3 inches of light fluffy and 2-3 inches of wet slop the same. 2-stage machines won’t throw 2-3 inches of wet slop very far.
3. It uses a compression scraper. This scraper rides on the ground, you don’t need a gap under it like a 2-stage, but it will flex and go over many of the cracks and obstructions you have. For example, I have steel expansion joints in my cement driveway. Over the last 30 years some of them have worked up so they stick up 1/8 to 1/4 inch higher than the cement. If I set a 2-stage scraper gap using a piece of cardboard the 2-stage will catch on about half those joints. I’ve used a SnowMaster to clean the drive twice now and it has not caught on any of the joints.
4. Because there is no gap under the scraper it cleans the snow better – it leaves just a thin film of snow. (It doesn’t clean driven on snow any better than a 2-stage)
5. It handles like a small walk-behind mower. In other words it is lighter than your Craftsman but feels a lot lighter because the machine is balanced so well.
6. The Chute control is very fast. Turning around at the end, you don’t have to stop to crank the chute.
7. It handles end-of-driveway snow as well as your old Craftsman.
8. Guessing that your 180 foot driveway is 10 feet wide a 28-30 inch snow blower will take 3 round trips to clear it. The SnowMaster will also clear it in 3 round trips so buying a wider snow blower won’t save you any steps.
9. It will throw snow about as far as your 24 inch Craftsman. The heavy-duty snow blowers I mentioned above throw snow 50-100% farther if getting the snow away from your driveway is a priority.
I’ve only got about an hour of experience using the 824 SnowMaster but I’ve already come to the conclusion that it can be twice as fast as a residential 24 inch 2-stage snow blower. Keep your Craftsman around for the “big ones.”
The only feature I want to caution you about is the Personal Pace. It will take you a little while to get used to it. I caught myself pushing on the control before I started to walk and that was causing the front of the snow thrower to jump. After I figured out that you just grip the control and start walking then I got to like the Personal Pace. After an hour and figuring that out I like the Personal Pace a lot!
I do suggest going with the SnowMaster 824 QXE for Chicago. With the extra power you may never have to use your Craftsman again!
Feel free to ask any more questions.
Rich
Paul, thanks for posting this very informative article, there is a lot of really good info here.