What’s New For 2018 Husqvarna Snow Blowers?
Husqvarna has made no incremental changes for 2018. But that is not a bad thing.
- The current ST224P is one of the highest rated snow blowers on Amazon! Check it out here: Husqvarna ST224P
- Husqvarna completely rebuilt their snow blower line three years ago. Just remember, Husqvarna was the first to introduce the long lasting LCT engines, quiet mufflers, adjustable height handles, two easy to understand grades of residential snow blowers, and heavy-duty tracked snow blowers. They were also the first to introduce cast iron impellers on the heavy duty models. When they rebuilt the line they also fixed some of the long standing bugs like sticky power steering on the old Crown series. The improvements in the snow blowers listed here made the rest of the industry take a “step up.”
How this article is laid out:
This is a very comprehensive article so it will take you a while to read through it. I’m going to start with the single stage, then the 200 series residential and finally the 300 series landowner.
Reading Husqvarna Snow Blower Reviews:
- When you read snow blower reviews you are going to find reviews that state “the engine would not start,” “the engine won’t stay running.” and “the engine runs rough.” You will find these reviews for all brands and sizes of snow blowers. 98% of the time engine problems with name brand snow blowers are either fuel or operator related. Snow engines run/operate differently than your lawn mower engine and because of that, I suggest educating yourself on how to store fuel, how to keep your fuel clean and how/why your snow blower engine runs the way it does. This will go a long way to liking your new snow blower. Please read this article to learn more: Buying A New Snow Blower FAQS – Read This For The Truth
- By the way: The Husqvarna snowblowers sold at a dealer are the exact same snow blower as sold at the retail stores like Lowes and Acme Tools.
- My Husqvarna snow blower won’t throw snow. I have read a few reviews where the Husqvarna snow blower won’t throw snow or it plugs constantly. Two reasons I can see. 1. A new owner may not be aware that snow blowers will not throw all types of snow well. Slush or snow that is more water than snow won’t go through your snow blower well. That’s the type of snow where you stomp your foot in the snow and it just splatters. You see this snow at the end of your driveway or/and the day after when the temperatures are above freezing. 2. The new owner hit something and sheared one of the front auger shear pins. If your snow blower is not blowing snow, it pushes snow in front of the snow blower, or the front end wants to ride up instead of cut into the snow drift the most likely cause is one or both front shear pins are broke. Frozen newspapers, a can of soda, chunks of solid ice, landscape bricks, your kids’ toys are examples of stuff that will shear those pins. It’s not a fun task when you forget to pick up your garden hose and you find it with the snow blower. The Husqvarna snow blowers are designed to break those pins so you don’t wreck much more expensive components.
- Don’t bother to read Husqvarna reviews that are negative and more than 2 years old. The two complaints you will read were fixed in 2014 and 2015. Those two items were: 1. When the 200 series first came out in 2014 the ST230P was immediately breaking belts. This, unfortunately, happened to many people during the Boston Blizzard that year. The problem was a root cause of a drive pulley that was too rough, the very wet, heavy snow Boston received and that the 200 series is designed for areas that get typical 10-14 inch snowfalls – not the 24-30 inches Boston received all at once. The problem was identified and fixed for the 2015 machines. The was also a service bulletin sent to all Husqvarna dealers identifying the problem. 2. You will read articles and posts on snow blower forums that state the power steering is sticky. That problem was with snow blowers made before 2014 (the old Crown series.) The power steering was completely re-engineered when the 300 series came out in 2014 and they have had no problems since.
- The snow blowers are shipped in a crate. When you buy from Amazon, Acme Tools and Northern Tool the snow blower is shipped to you in a crate. You will have to attach the discharge chute, the handle and adjust the skid shoes. Read the directions before you take the unit out of the crate and the process will go quickly and smoothly. Over the last 3 year we have had very, very few problems but if the shipping broke, bent or lost a part call the phone number in the assembly instructions and Husqvarna will quickly get the new part to you.
By The Way – All Opinions are Mine.
Keeping up with snow blowers is almost a full-time job. The U.S. manufactures currently sell about 140 different models made here in the U.S. alone. In addition, there are always another dozen or so foreign manufactures trying to wedge their way into your pocketbook. By the way – a quality $500 two-stage snow blower no longer exists. The base regular price is now $649-$699.
I normally spend most of July and August talking to the different snow blower manufactures about the new models they have coming for the fall. Usually, in September the manufactures are shipping the new models to the dealers and I spend the time I need to inspect the new models as local dealers put them out on the sales floor. Sometimes that also involves traveling to the manufactures assembly plants or corporate offices to look at, demo and talk to the snow product managers. In October, I travel to the GIE-EXPO in Louisville, KY. GIE-EXPO is the largest lawn and garden equipment dealer show. There I get a chance to demo machines plus talk to the engineers and company management about all the features, fixes and new rumors. In addition, I keep 12-15 of the current snow blowers at my home for testing and answering your questions. I use these snow blowers when it snows and post those videos on YouTube.
I also spend a lot of time reading reviews from owners, reading and watching video YouTube reviews from other websites and of course keeping up with Consumer Reports latest test and reviews. Over the last ten years, I’ve become pretty good at sorting out honest reviews from the biased/paid/only here to make money/only here to complain ones.
I want to caution you about one type of review in particular. There are dozens if not hundreds of sites that are only interested in making money through Amazon. If you read an article or watch on YouTube a “Top 10” review or a “2017 Best” review and the ONLY place they send you is Amazon assume they did no research and are only trying to get you to buy something on Amazon through their affiliate link. Don’t get me wrong, Amazon is actually a great place to buy certain snow blowers but don’t believe the sites that only send you to Amazon.
So – Relax, grab some hot chocolate and let’s get started on the 2017 Toro Snow Blowers. You know how long-winded I can get.
Why Buy A Husqvarna Snow Blower This Year?
Why The Brand: Husqvarna is the world’s largest Outdoor Power Equipment brand. HusqvarnaGroup is an easy to understand organization because it is publicly traded and they spend a lot of time explaining what their market is and who they build products for. Here is their take on the U.S. Market “The retail landscape is highly consolidated in North America and competition in the mass consumer segment is fierce with a strong emphasis on price.”
Their snow blowers are designed and made here in the U.S. They are sold worldwide. Husqvarna focuses on residential gas snow blowers and offers a complete and very easy to understand line. They only make 12 walk behind snow blowers. Three single stage, four economy residential models, three heavy duty residential models and two heavy-duty tracked snow blowers. Even though the current models have been around for three years they are still “state-of-the-art” and have proven very reliable. In fact, the Husqvarna ST224 and ST224P are the two highest rated snow blowers on Amazon. (2-stage gas Snow Blowers with more than 10 reviews.)
Where to Buy: Please note, I will only send you to online retailers that I trust and that have a good relationship with the Husqvarna dealers. Click on the link to read more. Husqvarna has a large dealer network. In addition, the snow blowers are sold through Husqvarna Snow Blowers at Amazon.com, Acme Tools, acmetools.com and Husqvarna at Northern Tool. When you buy through the links on this page I make a small commission from the sale. That helps keep this website up and running.
Acme Tools has been offering mail-order/online since 1999 and is one of the most well-respected companies for Rural Lifestyle and Small Business. Acme Tools and Amazon are intent on becoming two of the best online stores. I trust both companies to deliver you a great product and an even greater buying experience. acmetools.com
Northern Tool is also farm supply and tool company I trust. They make many of their own products under the North Star brand. I’ve been buying from them since 1988 and have always been happy with the products and service. Husqvarna at Northern Tool
Lowes tends to sell the most popular/least expensive machines while Acme Tools and Amazon carry the complete line.
Overall, the Husqvarna residential and heavy-duty residential lines are good value gas-powered residential snow blowers. That means they are not the cheapest or the heaviest-duty on the market. As a homeowner, they will give you your money’s worth and with a little maintenance last years. The fact that many are the top rated snow blowers on Amazon says a lot about the quality.
FYI: Husqvarna Group also sells these snow blowers under the Poulan Pro and Jonsered brands. But: The brand usually has fewer features than the Husqvarna branded snow blowers.
When sized to the amount of snow you get and the area you have to clear you can always feel good that you made the right decision in purchasing a Husqvarna. They do not make a commercial snow blower though the 300 series tracked machines are as heavy-duty as they come. They do not have electric snow throwers listed on their website at this time but Husqvarna is heavily invested in electric technology for the landscape market. I expect to see something from them soon.
Parts – Service: Husqvarna has a well-established parts and repair network. You can quickly set up service or get parts through the support tab on Husqvarna.com. Acme Tools, Northern Tool and Amazon are very easy to work with if you have a problem with your new machine.
Owner Reviews: Depending on the model, Husqvarna Snow Blowers averages 4 out of 5 stars or better at Lowes.com and Amazon.com. In fact, the two 24 inch models are the best reviewed 2-stage gas snow blowers on Amazon. Again: If you read any reviews about an auger belt breaking. That problem was only in the first year of production and has been fixed.
All Husqvarna gas engine snow throwers have a 4-cycle engine. All 2-stage machines have a fuel shut-off valve. Please use a fuel stabilizer when storing the snow blower with fuel in it.
The Complete 2018 Husqvarna Snow Thrower List:
My goal is to help you find the right snow blower for you. You can get the best deal but if it is on the wrong snow blower it’s a lose/lose for both you and the company you purchased it from. Before I get to the list I would like to remind you about the snow blower facts article that will help you decide on the right type and size snow blower for you. The article will answer most of your questions about what size or type of snow blower you need for your property. Check out the FAQS page for questions like “How large of snow blower do I need?”
2nd Note: Amazon carries many of the Husqvarna snow throwers and offers free shipping through Amazon Prime BUT There are also private sellers who also sell on Amazon. Those private sellers may not have free shipping and the snow blowers may not have the Amazon A-Z guarantee. (this issue is not exclusive to Amazon. Many other websites use what the industry calls “endless aisle” where they stock certain items but also list similar products from other companies. Please be a savvy shopper and check twice where you are buying from retailers I don’t list here.) If you have any questions please ask.
Yes, I do recommend the 2-Year Lawn & Garden Extended Protection Plan on Amazon if offered.
So, here is the list of the Husqvarna snow blowers. You may ask any questions about these models in the comments section at the end.
Single Stage Husqvarna Snow Throwers:
Husqvarna offers three single stage gas snow throwers this year. Remember, single stage snow throwers only work on hard surfaces like a black top driveway or cement sidewalk. They do work well if you have people who walk on the snow before you clean because the front rubber auger actually touches the ground. No matter what the manufacture states a single paddle snow thrower will only handle about 6 inches of snow at a time. If you get more snow than that you will have to go out in the middle of the storm and clear snow. They also don’t work well on that frozen pile of snow the snow plow truck left you about 10 pm last night. It will clear it OK if the pile has not frozen but if it has frozen solid take a snow shovel with you to break up the snow so the snow thrower can move it for you.
The Husqvarna single stage snow throwers are good machines but they are no my first choice for a single stage unit. Why? They clean the pavement well, they are easy to use,etc., but they use a scraper under the snow blower to clean all the snow off the driveway. This scraper is about 2 inches behind the paddles and always leaves a small pile of snow 2 inches wide and about 1/2 inch tall. This means that if you are a fanatic for having a perfectly clean driveway you will have to go back out with a shovel or broom to clean up a few inside corners where the snow thrower left this small strip of snow.
Husqvarna ST111
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Working width 21 in Cylinder displacement 136 cm³ Transmission type Auger drive Blower type Single-stage - Compact design
- Efficient rubber auger
- Single-stage system
- Adjustable deflector
Buy the ST 111 at Amazon. With free shipping. Amazon has a 2 or 5 year protection plan for about $22 a year.
or Buy the ST 111 at ACME Tools With free shipping. ACME offers a rebate until 11/15
Husqvarna ST131
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Working width 21 in Cylinder displacement 208 cm³ Transmission type Auger drive Blower type Single-stage - Compact design
- Efficient rubber auger
- Electric starter
- Ergonomic handle
Buy the ST 131 at Amazon. With free shipping. Amazon has a 2 or 5 year protection plan for about $22 a year.
or Buy the ST 131 at ACME Tools With free shipping. ACME offers a rebate until 11/15
Husqvarna ST151
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Working width 21 in Cylinder displacement 208 cm³ Transmission type Auger drive Blower type Single-stage - Compact design
- Efficient rubber auger
- Electric starter
- Ergonomic handle
Buy the ST 151 at Amazon. With free shipping. Amazon has a 2 or 5 year protection plan for about $22 a year.
or Buy the ST 151 at ACME Tools With free shipping. ACME offers a rebate until 11/15
2-Stage 200 Series Husqvarna Residential Snow Blowers
Husqvarna makes two styles or grades of 2-stage snow blowers. The 200-series and 300-series. The 200 Series is a great, economical 2-stage snow blower. The 200-Series are good for most areas of the United States that get 80 inches of snow or less a year. That means they are a good choice for Chicago, Denver, St Louis, Long Island and Pittsburgh. They are not a good choice for areas that get large amounts of heavy, wet snow like Hammond, IN and Buffalo, NY. The ST230P did not work well in Boston the year they got so much snow. (Buy the 300 series if you get 60 inches or more snow.)
The 200-series has two features that are unique and no other snow blower has either feature at this time – adjustable height handles and dual LED lights. (Cub Cadet is now introducing dual LED lights)
The adjustable height handle is a cool feature and great for homeowners who have a tall person and a short person using the same snow blower. But, please don’t buy this series just for the adjustable handles. Make sure it will handle the amount of snow you usually get. The six LED lights are also cool because they are split and angled so the light shines all around the snow blower. They are bright and have no shadows from the discharge chute.
By the way, the 200 series has hand warmers but they do not work very well. The 200 series does have all the other great features you want like remote chute, remote deflector, deep lug tires
Husqvarna ST224
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Working width 24 in Cylinder displacement 208 cm³ Transmission type Friction Disc Blower type Two-stage - Two-stage system
- Handle height adjustment
- Friction disc transmission
- Ribbon auger
Buy the ST 224 at Amazon. With free shipping. Amazon has a 2 or 5 year affordable protection plan. The plan will fix the item, replace or pay up to the original purchase cost of the item.
or Buy the ST 224 at ACME Tools
Husqvarna ST224P
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Working width 24 in Cylinder displacement 208 cm³ Blower type Two-stage - LED headlight/s
- Heated handle grips
- Loop handle
Buy the ST 224P at Amazon. With free shipping. Amazon has a 2 or 5 year affordable protection plan. The plan will fix the item, replace or pay up to the original purchase cost of the item.
or Buy the ST 224P at ACME Tools
Husqvarna ST227P
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Working width 27 in Cylinder displacement 254 cm³ Transmission type Friction Disc Blower type Two-stage - Two-stage system
- Handle height adjustment
- Friction disc transmission
- Power steering
Buy the ST 227P at Amazon. With free shipping. Amazon has a 2 or 5 year affordable protection plan. The plan will fix the item, replace or pay up to the original purchase cost of the item.
or Buy the ST 227P at ACME Tools With free shipping. ACME offers a rebate until 11/15
Husqvarna ST230P
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Working width 30 in Cylinder displacement 291 cm³ Transmission type Friction Disc Blower type Two-stage - Two-stage system
- Handle height adjustment
- Friction disc transmission
- Power steering
Buy the ST 230P at Amazon. With free shipping. Amazon has a 2 or 5 year affordable protection plan. The plan will fix the item, replace or pay up to the original purchase cost of the item.
or Buy the ST 230P at ACME Tools With free shipping. ACME offers a rebate until 11/15
300-Series 2-Stage Husqvarna Land Owner Snow Blowers
The only thing these snow blowers have in common with the less expensive 200 series is the Husqvarna name and the color. The Husqvarna 300-series Snow Blowers have a full list of features and durability that rivals any other snow blower on the market. They are suitable for frequent use in all snow conditions. They are robust, durable and comfortable to use. In particular I like the controls. All the controls are large for gloved hands. The handles are angled down so shorter people can use this machine without feeling they are doing pull-ups. The chute/deflector controls have positive notches so it stays in place. Bright LED headlights make operation easy even in dark conditions. The 300 series is one of the few snow blowers with a hydrostatic transmission and gives you a very smooth and even motion. (Husqvarna uses two hydro’s. The wheeled units use the same as the red snow blowers that cost twice as much. The tracked version use a heavier transmission designed for the extreme torque needed with a tracked snow blower. The power steering on the 300 series is trouble-free.
In other words if you want one of the best snow blowers on the market with a hydrostatic transmission these machines will save you $1000 over the red competitor.
Is it in the same class as the Ariens Platinum, Cub Cadet 3X HD or Toro PowerMax HD? Yes. Is it better? Maybe for you. Like the other models it has specific features that make is the best choice for some owners. I can help you decide if it is the best for you.
By-the-way, Consumer Reports has never tested the 300 Series. I have an ST-327P that I use here for a reference machine.
Husqvarna ST 324P
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Working width 24 in Cylinder displacement 254 cm³ Transmission type Hydrostatic Blower type Two-stage - Two-stage system
- Hydrostatic drive system
- Power steering
- Heavy-duty auger housing
Buy the ST 324P at Amazon. With free shipping. Amazon has a 2 or 5 year affordable protection plan. The plan will fix the item, replace or pay up to the original purchase cost of the item.
or Buy the ST 324P at ACME Tools With free shipping. ACME offers a rebate until 11/15
Husqvarna ST 327P
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Working width 27 in Cylinder displacement 291 cm³ Transmission type Hydrostatic Blower type Two-stage - Two-stage system
- Hydrostatic drive system
- Power steering
- Heavy-duty auger housing
Buy the ST 327P at Amazon. With free shipping. Amazon has a 2 or 5 year affordable protection plan. The plan will fix the item, replace or pay up to the original purchase cost of the item.
or Buy the ST 327P at ACME Tools With free shipping. ACME offers a rebate until 11/15
Husqvarna ST 330P
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Working width 30 in Cylinder displacement 369 cm³ Transmission type Hydrostatic Blower type Two-stage - Two-stage system
- Hydrostatic drive system
- Power steering
- Heavy-duty auger housing
Buy the ST 330P at Amazon. With free shipping. Amazon has a 2 or 5 year affordable protection plan. The plan will fix the item, replace or pay up to the original purchase cost of the item.
or Buy the ST 330P at ACME Tools With free shipping. ACME offers a rebate until 11/15
2017 300-Series 2-Stage Husqvarna Tracked Snow Blowers
These are big, strong, high-capacity, high power machines and they are a great value compared to the current Honda 28 and 32 inch tracked snow blowers. They blow snow a long way and don’t plug up when clearing wet snow. The only complaint I have is you can adjust the front end so it rides off the ground but changing that adjustment takes some practice to be able to use it well. It has three positions and free-floating mode. I’ve read a few reviews where new owners couldn’t figure this out.
Please note: Tracked snow blowers travel slower than a comparable wheeled unit. If you have a long driveway you may wish you had purchased a faster machine. But, they will also go places a wheeled snow blower can’t.
One of the best features of the 3-point tracks on these snow blowers is that they have more clearance under the machine than models with only 2-point tracks. This is very beneficial when clearing really deep snow or clearing snow off turf where you don’t want to damage the turf. The combination of the 3-point tracks, the wide tracks and being able to lock the front off the ground allows you to actually go up and clear the top of a snow drift without getting stuck. Say you have a snow drift that’s 4 feet deep – You can use this snow blower to cut 18 inches or so at a time and cut a path completely through the drift. You can’t do that with a wheeled snow blower or with 2-point tracks. The 2-point tracked units get stuck or don’t have enough clearance under the snow blower.
These machines are expensive but well worth the money if you have a steep slope, soft ground, a walking path or really deep drifts to clear. It also works really well for gravel or cobblestone because you can raise the front auger housing so you don’t catch it on the cobble or pick up rocks.
These machines are heavy but almost anyone can drive them. You can’t just grab the handles and whip them around at the end – you have to pull the power steering lever and let it turn itself. Heck, the track drives alone weigh more than a single stage snow thrower. But that is also one of their best feature’s. They almost never run out of traction and they will run in a perfectly straight line until you tell them to turn.
NOTE: You will read a few reviews that state the power steering sticks. This is not true on the current ST300 series machines. That was the older 1830 and 1827 EXLT models that had the sticky power steering.
Husqvarna ST 327T
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Working width 27 in Cylinder displacement 369 cm³ Transmission type Hydrostatic Blower type Two-stage - Two-stage system
- Track drive system
- Hydrostatic drive system
- Power steering
Buy the ST 327T at Amazon. With free shipping. Amazon has a 2 or 5 year affordable protection plan. The plan will fix the item, replace or pay up to the original purchase cost of the item.
or Buy the ST 327T at ACME Tools With free shipping. ACME offers a rebate until 11/15
Husqvarna ST 330T
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Working width 30 in Cylinder displacement 414 cm³ Transmission type Hydrostatic Blower type Two-stage - Two-stage system
- Track drive system
- Hydrostatic drive system
- Power steering
Buy the ST 330T at Amazon. With free shipping. Amazon has a 2 or 5 year affordable protection plan. The plan will fix the item, replace or pay up to the original purchase cost of the item.
or Buy the ST 330T at ACME Tools With free shipping. ACME offers a rebate until 11/15
Frank Cavallo
Hi Paul,
Terrific site. I have an opportunity to purchase a 2017 ST324P. I am told it has less than 40 hours use. I live 20 miles west of Toronto,Ontario Canada. I love the thought of a burly machine, but here in Canada, our winters have shortened and warmed some. That can change I suppose.
Do you think this is too much machine?
My driveway is 100×20 feet, sidewalk 100 feet long (at least).
One thing current owner told me about is that the chute sometimes freezes up, meaning ice/snow froze solid inside the chute channel.
Thanking you in advance.
Frank
Paul
Hi Frank, It’s a decent snowblower. You’ll like the extra power and how far it throws snow. I have one here and it handles snow well. I’ve never had a problem with the chute freezing up. If you have wet snow a lot of owners will spray the inside of the chute with vegetable oil. (Pam Cooking Spray)
Frank Cavallo
Thanks Paul for getting back to me so quickly.
Anything I should look for?
I will inspect the unit this weekend.
Thanks again.
Frank
Paul
Hi Frank,
Have the owner start the unit for you.
Listen to the engine. It should not have any loud knocking. Have him stop the engine and it should not have any rattles as it stops.
Have him run the impeller/auger and go up front and watch it spin. The front auger should be smooth and should not jump up and down. If the auger jumps up and down more than a 1/4 inch or so walk away from it. The front auger shaft is bent and it will take out the front gearbox eventually.
When the auger/impeller is running it should sound like a fan. Any squeals mean a bad bearing, and metallic scrapes or whines means something is bent or there is a bad bearing in the impeller area. Have his stop the impeller/auger. It should stop turning within 2-3 seconds. If it continues to spin the impeller brake may be worn or he may have put an aftermarket belt on the impeller.
Turn off the machine and tip it back on the handles. Inspect the scraper bar under the auger housing. It may be worn but should be worn evenly. One side should not be worn more than the other.
Sit back down and walk to the back. Push down on the handles carefully and watch the front housing. Both sides of the housing should come up at the same time. If one side comes up before the other it could be a tire that needs air or a bent housing.
Now you start it. Put it in first gear – it should go forward slowly. Put it in reverse – it should back up slowly.
that’s the major stuff to look at.
Frank Cavallo
Wow! That is so helpful.
Thank you Paul!
Will do as you suggest.
Frank
Frank Cavallo
Hi Paul,
Just following up on that Husqvarna ST 324 P, used unit.
Regrettably, the unit did not start so I could not test out the auger, impeller, transmission etc.
One thing I noticed that you mentioned to check: Pushing on the handles down to lift the auger housing. Turns out that the 4 bolts holding the handlebar assembly are all loose. About 2 inches of slack before angling the unit up.
I could not see an easy way of torquing those bolts. The chassis pan looked to be made of rubber or plastic, was deformed a little.
Is this a big concern, re-tourqing those bolts?
Thanks
Frank
Paul
Hi Frank, The plastic cover on the bottom of the case is normal. There really isn’t much inside the case beside the one-piece hydrostatic transmission. And a few brackets to mount it. If the cover is deformed it may indicate the transmission case is bent.
I am concerned that the handles are loose. The handle is attached to the frame with screws going into weldnuts on the inside of the frame. Those nuts could all be broken off, They could be stripped so they no longer hold the screws or it may be just loose. If you go back to look at it again take a socket/wrench set with you and see if they will tighten down.
I am concerned that it won’t start. If you take it to a repair shop to get it started the minimum they would do is replace the carb (About $250 including labor) If you do it yourself – it’s about $70 and a cold couple of hours out in the garage.
If you are mechanically inclined, you can take a chance and hope the snowblower engine and drivetrain are good. If you are not mechanically inclined I’d pass on it.
Frank Cavallo
Paul,
You are super fast! Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I will follow your advice.
Will let you know how it goes.
Frank
Mr.Freeze
Hi Paul, When is the typical cutoff time where manufacturers release new products? Do you expect some new models to still be released, i.e. at the GIE Expo in October? I’m wondering if we might see an EFI version of RapidTrak, or even a 24″ version this year. Thank you.
Paul
Mr. Freeze, Ariens told me about the new models in July. There will be no EFI RapidTrak or 24-inch RapidTrak this year. I’ll ask about the EFI in the future. I don’t know about a 24 inch Rapidtrak. The 28 inch uses the Deluxe/Platinum frame and it’s wider than 24 inches with the tracks.
Dan F.
Paul, I’m trying to decide between the Husqvarna ST227P and the Ariens Deluxe 24″. I have a 20′ x 75′ driveway and live near Albany NY. I can get the Husqvarna about $100 cheaper than the Ariens. Also, the Husqvarna has heated handles and that is a $75 accessory on the Ariens. The reviews for the Husqvarna on Lowes site are not great. Many complaints about the belt issue you mentioned in the article. also complaints about repair. I’m leaning toward the Ariens. I’d be interested in your thoughts.
Paul
Hi Dan, I would not consider the ST227P where you live. That part of upstate New York can get heavy/wet snow, that’s hard to throw and that’s the ST227P greatest shortfall.
The Ariens 24 Deluxe handles heavy/wet snow well and won’t plug. If you want to get done a little faster think about the Deluxe 28 or the Deluxe 28 SHO.
Robert
Hi Paul
February 17, 2019
I have a HUSQVARNA ST330T SNOW BLOWER. I like the machine in general but have a few disappointments with it.
1) Is there a recall on the turning clutches? I have had this snow blower for two years, use it about 30 hours total, the turning clutches have nether worked well and finally the trigger became to hard to squeeze. Took it in for service in August 2018. The technician said they were out of adjustment and that this is common for this machine. Just got winter last week (02/2019) and the turning clutches quit again.
2)What course of action do I take to get this fixed?
3) The hydra-static transmission oil reservoir does not show oil. What type of oil is used in the hydro-static transmissions so I can top it off?
4) Reverse is really slow, is this normal?
I have bought a number of Husky machines and have been satisfied, I’m disappointed in this product if this is all it can do.
Thanks
Rob
Paul
Hi Robert,
1) The original 1830 EXLT was even worse than yours. So when Husqvarna came out with the ST330T they made some changes so it was easier to use. So, your snow blower has the upgraded turning kit installed. It actually doesn’t use clutches. Instead, it uses dog and a cog system. I found that lubricating the dogs with a dry lubricant like Lubriplate or Graphite spray helps. Page 21 of your operator’s manual shows you how to remove the tracks and adjust the steering cables. Here is a video of how to lubricate them.
2) My understanding is the 2019 30 inch Husqvarna track drive will be using a completely different transmission that eliminates the external cog steering. The new transmission is the same one as in the Honda track drives. You won’t be able to change out your old trans for the new one though so if you want better steering you’ll have to purchase the new snowblower.
3) That plastic tank is not a reservoir – it’s an expansion tank. It will not have any oil in it unless the trans is working hard and quite warm. DO NOT fill it with oil. (Unless you have had a seal or gasket leak in the transmission it will have the correct amount of oil. The trans is a sealed unit and to check the oil you actually have to remove the trans from the snow blower)
4) Yes, the reverse is slow. You can adjust the speed by adjusting the screw connector on the rod that goes from the lever down to the transmission. BUT, the speed is finite – meaning if you speed up the reverse you will decrease the top forward speed. From my experience, the forward speed is also slow so adjusting the reverse to go faster cuts down on how fast you can go forward.
I didn’t know Husky made snow blowers (Tractor Supply owns that name) but I also have had quite a few good Husqvarna snow blowers over the years. But their track drive is getting quite outdated.
Michael
Hi Paul. I just purchased the ST324 and used it this afternoon. Very pleased with the unit with the exception of reverse. I know that reverse will be slower but this thing barely moves at all. Do I have a bad snow blower or is reverse always “turtle” slow. Thanks in advance…Michael
Paul
Hi Michael, If the machine goes forward there is nothing wrong with the transmission. You can adjust the rod between the shifter lever and the lever that goes into the transmission case. But just remember, the more speed you give the reverse the less forward top end speed you will have.
Lee
Hi Paul,
First let me say that after shoveling through many of the other review sites you warn about, yours is a three-stage path clearer to valuable insight and information. It’s appreciated.
To business: I, like you, am impressed with the ST224P features and value. The differences I have are (1) I’m in Vermont, which usually gets a bit more than 60″ of snow, and (2) my driveway is all gravel. I mention the second point because the ability to raise an inch or so off the ground to avoid throwing rocks is important.
I don’t want to go beyond the 224P’s price point, yet I also don’t want to get a blower that isn’t right for me. Your thoughts?
Paul
Hi Lee, For areas that get more than 60 inches I usually recommend the Ariens Deluxe 24. It has a lot more capacity than the ST224P and you can also raise the skid shoes up to clear your gravel. It’s $999.
James
When I do a search for what I want to know, I am constantly taken to your Post but it is frustrating because there is no way to search for the same question when I get here. Nothing is pinpointed as to where to find an answer and again frustrating. Index Needed.
Paul
Hi James, What’s your question? The search box at the top right corner of the page will help with a topic but it won’t deal with questions. I’ll look into a more advanced search.
Shawn
Hi Paul,
Great website. I live outside of Boston. We have a 150 ft single car driveway that opens up at the top to a space that could hold 9 or so cars. I have considering the Ariens Deluxe 30, Ariens Deluxe 30 EFI and the Husqvarna ST 330P. I have other Husqvarna equipment and have had great luck with them. I was originally looking at the Husqvarna 230 but that did not get good reviews anywhere. I wanted to get your thoughts as to which would be the best for the money and the area that we live in. We do get through 18 – 30 inch heavy wet snow storms from time to time.
Thank you,
Shawn
Paul
Hi Shawn, I like the Husqvarna ST330P. It throws snow a long way – just like the Ariens. the hydro is nice and with a little practice, you can move forward and back without stopping the snow blower to shift. (It uses the same hydro as the $2800 Hondas) Two things though I want you to be aware of. 1. It’s front heavy. When you push down on the handles it feels like you are trying to lift 30 lbs or more. It the way the handles are bent down and the actual front weight that makes it harder to turn than the Ariens. If your spouse or a smaller person also uses the snow blower this may be an issue for them. 2. The Husqvarna has a larger engine but a smaller, 12-inch impeller than the Ariens 14 inch. So it has plenty of power to throw the snow it does not have the capacity of the Ariens. You won’t notice this much when clearing 12-inch snows but the Ariens will be about 20% faster when clearing 15 inches or more.
Shawn
Hi Paul,
First, thank you for all the great information on snow blowers. I have been looking to upgrade my snow blower to a 30 inch. We live outside of Boston and frequently get that wet heavy snow that everyone dreads. I have other Husqvarna equipment and have great success with it. I was looking at the ST 230P which has not gotten good reviews and then read your thoughts on it. I am now considering the ST 330 P from Husqvarna and also the Ariens Deluxe 30 and Deluxe 30 EFI. I am familiar with the Ariens name and they get great reviews but am struggling to determine which one is best value for the price? Any thoughts you could provide would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Shawn
Paul
Hi Shawn, The Husqvarna ST230P is one of the worst snow blowers for the Boston area. It doesn’t have as much capacity as other 30-inch snow blowers and the impeller auger belt is not strong enough for the heavy, wet snows you can get. The belt breaks way too often (and the Husqvarna is one of those snow blowers that you have to split to change the belt)
The Deluxe 30 EFI starts every time and it has a very different torque curve compared to a carbureted engine. The Deluxe will handle your snow but the EFI will handle it better.
A lot of homeowners buy the Platinum Series for your area. The Platinum 30 SHO has over-the-top power and can clear 14 inches of the heavy stuff just about as fast as you can walk. It can easily handle any snow you get. It will also throw the snow about 10 feet farther than the Deluxe series. You didn’t say how much you have to clear but that may be the best option for you.
Ray Riedel
Really liked the intro putting negative reviews into perspective. My Husqvarna ST 224 was a learning experience. In the store, the lever operated chute rotation (left to right) worked fast and seemed much better than the harder to reach and slower crank mechanisms. My opinion changed after 2 use of the ST 224 and the cable fastener fell off somewhere leaving me no way to turn the chute direction -it was flapping in the wind. I replaced the fastener with SS bolt, washers, and nylok nut. It held, but the cable broke from bending fatigue after 4th use. Apparently these cables breaking is a common problem. I would recommend avoiding the unreliable levers and sticking with crank operation on snow blowers.
Jim
paul I recently purchased a 2018 Husqvarna st330 there is no p in model number is it the same thrower as I read about in your reviews jim
Paul
Hi Jim, The ST330 with power steering and friction drive transmission is new this year and is called the ST330. The ST330 with power steering and Hydro transmission is called the ST330p. The ST330 with hydro and tracks was called the ST330T.
Husqvarna just sprung the friction drive units on us and I don’t have a review of them yet.
Garry Crittall
Hi Paul,
I have a Craftsman model# 944-103251 which is made by Husqvarna. I purchased this unit from Sears when they were closing the local store last summer. I have a question that hopefully you can answer. It has handwarmers but they either do not work or they are totally useless. Is there something I can do to troubleshoot this problem as there is no info on this in the owners manual. It is a 27″ two stage with a Briggs & Stratton 250cc engine. Thanks in advance.
Garry
Paul
Hi Gary, I have to assume that snow blower is from Sears Canada. The 944 and 27-inch width gives me the hint it is. It’s very similar and uses the same parts as the Poulan Pro and Husqvarna 200 series snow blowers.
Two things. 1. Most people complain that the hand warmers on the 200 series Husqvarna snow blower are basically worthless. So if your handles get warm at all they are probably working. 2. As far as I know, Husqvarna does not have a repair manual for their snow blowers. So I don’t know where to find the correct voltage that should be supplied or the correct resistance that you could measure to see if they are good.
I suggest talking to a mechanic at a Husqvarna dealer to see if they can help you more.
Garry Crittall
Paul, thank you for your quick reply. The blower was purchased from Sears. I think you are correct in stating that Husqvarnas hand warmers are useless. I physically checked the wiring and could find no visible problem and the headlamp which is part of the same wiring harness works fine. Thanks again.
Paul
Hi John, Play with the levers on your dash. The lever on the left controls how far the snow blower throws snow. It’s called the deflector control. The more you push it forward the less distance the snow blower will throw the snow.
John Boutilier
I have a new husqvarna ST227P snow blower and would like to know how to adjust the chute so that it is level as it throws the snow too far into neighbors yards
Thomas Hardt
Hi Paul, thanks for the nice web site you have here. I have an old, (15+ years?) Snow King 27 inch, 8 Hp snow blower that the transmission has died. I was thinking of rebuilding the trans but I am not sure how much life the engine has left, so I started looking at new units. I live in southern NH and along with a small driveway in front of the garage, I also need to clear a 200 ft drive for oil delivery to the greenhouses and about 400 ft of paths from the greenhouses to the house, the latter over uneven lawn. This typically took me about 3 hours to do. While I would like to move up to a 30 inch blower, I am close to pushing my budget with a 27 to 28. A local hardware store carries the Husqvarna ST327P for $100 less than Amazon, which is what I am partial to, but I also have looked at the Ariens Platinum and Cub Cadet 3X HD which are slightly lower in price. Considering I did a lot of ‘man handling’ the Snow King around the lawn, do you suggest the Husqvarna with the power steering or say the Ariens with the auto turn feature? Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Thomas
Paul
Hi Thomas, Although I like the ST327P and have one here to demo but the Platinum may be the better choice. Why? The ST327P is a little front heavy compared to the Ariens Platinum (and Toro 1028 EXLT). Because the weight is more forward, the front will stay down in hard packed snow and not want to ride up like some of the less expensive 2-stage snow blowers but that reduces the traction for pushing through turf and paths. Other than that it is a good, high-capacity machine. One other thing that most people don’t notice until they get it home. The handles are tilted down (everyone else’s is straight) so people over 6′ sometimes complain the handles are too low. They are not height adjustable like the Husqvarna 200 series.
With the Husqvarna, the machine goes straight until you pull one of the steering triggers to turn. With the Platinum, it goes where you point it. It requires no extra input from you – you just drive it. I’ve done quite a bit of clearing turf and gravel with the Platinum 30 SHO and it has plenty of traction for the task. The one thing about the Ariens is the first gear is a little faster than your old Snow King. Engine and power-wise the Platinum can easily handle that extra speed but you need to be aware it’s going to go a little faster. If you have a harder time walking and don’t walk that fast anymore be aware it wants to work 🙂 IN other words, I’m older and a little stiff so 1st gear is plenty fast for me.
Robert
Hi,
I live in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland. Driveway is single car width, five cars deep, slight incline. Annual snow fall “over” 130 inches with the vast majority falling in 2.5 months. Heavy, deep snow. Extreme snow falls at times. Snow is never “dry”. Been considering Ariens 28 Deluxe SHO, Ariens 24 Deluxe and Ariens 30 Deluxe.
Thought about Cub Cadet 26 inch 3X as well but review said auger cannot deal with “deep” heavy stuff as it butts or plows into the snow packing it and therefore cannot break it down to ingest. Stated a modification can overcome this but I am not willing to do this. Also have read a number of complaints about the plastic control deck breaking down. Many people also say steer clear of shoots with multiple cables as they typically become problematic over time.
There is a MTD Pro machine at Cost Co.ca. Similar to Cub Cadet I suppose. It is 3-stage with a 28 420 cc motor that spec wise sounds impressive and is the most affordable of all at $1499 cdn. It is on back order until mid-November.
Anyhow interested in what you think might be the best affordable machine for me. Also, to know whether buying from an authorized dealer is that much better than from a box store. In Canada there is a significant price difference. My more well to do friend, a Honda owner, says authorized dealers are more than worth it.
Paul
Hi Robert, I really don’t know all the difference between the CA machines and the U.S. machines. The 420cc engine on the MTD Pro is way overkill and yes it will have the same issues as the Cub Cadet.
Snow blowers in Canada are similar but not always exactly like the models offered in the U. S. You can see the models offered at Lowes.ca and HomeDepot.ca here:
LINK: Snow blowers at Lowes Canada
LINK: Snow Blowers at The Home Depot Canada
Ron Grau
Hello, Mr. Sikkema,
I have been using an Ariens snowblower since 1969…….It has finally died and rather than have it overhauled one last time, I have decided on the ST224P per your review….. There is a seller calling himself “Pontefract” selling two of these as “Used-Like New” on Amazon for $627 with free shipping and no tax…….I am also the least mechanically-inclined person you will ever meet…..For me, the two scariest words in the English language are “Assembly Required” ……Obviously, I am very skeptical, and would appreciate your comments regarding such a purchase…..I live in Easton, Pa. with an approximately 50 X 15-foot driveway, and a narrow 30-foot long sidewalk……
Thank you,
Ron Grau
Paul
Hi Ron, The only reseller I trust for used stuff on Amazon is “Amazon Warehouse Deals.” I’m also very skeptical of this particular deal because the price is too low.
FYI: I couldn’t find that deal. People are constantly trying to run scams everywhere and Amazon is no exception. Amazon does a pretty good job of finding those scams and deleting them but they are not perfect. So, if you are still interested I suggest contacting the seller and asking for pictures of the ACTUAL snow blower he will ship you. Talk to him via the Amazon email 2-4 times and then you can judge whether it’s a legit sale. Don’t let him switch to normal email, because if you stay on the Amazon system you can get your money back if it turns out to be a scam.
Yes, the ST224P is a good choice for your property.