Briggs & Stratton has been quietly refining their snow blower line for the last three years. They have developed the well-received snow shredder single stage and redesigned their two-stage offerings so the snow blowers are easy to use. For 2018 Briggs & Stratton offers single stage, snow shredder single stage, Standard Series two-stage and an Elite Series two-stage.

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 and Snow Shredder models. After that, I’ll review the Standard and Elite 2-stage models.

Reading 2018 Briggs & Stratton Reviews:

1. 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 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
2.  Reviews. B&S snow blowers come in a box and you have to install the handles, adjust the skid shoes, make sure the cables are routed correctly and the belt tension adjusted properly. The majority of the negative reviews are from owners who had problems with these steps. Don’t bother to read B&S reviews that are more than 2 years old.  B&S has updated all their snow blowers in the last three years.
3. Belt Problems. The B&S 2-stage snow blowers are listed as light-medium duty. That means they work well for areas of the country that get up to 60 inches of snow but are not designed for areas that get more snow than that or get lots of heavy, wet snows.  If you live in the Northeast, Long Island or areas that get lake effect snow – please consider a different brand.  If you are reading this “after-the-fact” order a drive belt and impeller belt NOW in case you need it this winter.
4. Menards: Menards sells a lot of Briggs & Stratton snow blowers but please be aware – Menards has a return policy for gas-powered equipment that is very restrictive compared to the other retailers. Be sure you understand it BEFORE you buy a gas powered snow blower from them. (It basically says that if you put gas in it – it’s not returnable. They will help you to find a repair center though)

By The Way – All Opinions are Mine.

Keeping up with snow blowers is almost a full-time job. The U.S. manufactures currently sell hundreds of 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 cheapest 2-stage snow blower I can recommend is now $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 manufacturers 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 a dozen or so of the current snow blowers at my home for testing and answering your questions. I use these snow blowers when it snows. You can find those videos on YouTube. When you go over there please subscribe to my YouTube channel

So Let’s Get Started!

If you have any questions please ask in the comment section below. Don’t forget to head over to my YouTube Channel when you are done here. Please subscribe to get the latest videos.

2018 Briggs & Stratton Single Stage

B&S makes two types of single stage snow blowers – three rubber paddle models and three snow shredder models. This first section covers the rubber paddle models.

Just to be clear, single-stage snow blowers only work well for areas of the country that get a little snow. They will clear 1-6 inches of “normal” snow but they don’t work well clearing heavy/wet snow. They also don’t throw snow very far and they don’t work well on the end-of-driveway snow. B&S singles stage snow blowers will clean down to the pavement so they are good for cleaning up driven on snow and sidewalks that have been walked on. They are good choices for patios and decks because they only weigh about 100 lbs and can be lifted up steps. If you live north of Interstate 70 I don’t recommend them as your primary machine. Consumer Reports has not rated the rubber paddle B&S models.

Note: The Model# 1696737 does not have electric start.

Model Name
B&S Model Item #	1696737	1696715	1696727
Sold at HomeDepot.com?	Buy Here:	Buy Here:	Buy Here:
Also Sold at Amazon.com?	Buy Here:	Buy Here:	Buy Here:
Amount/Type Of Snow	6″ Light	6″ Light	6″ Light
ENGINE BRAND	B&S 950 Snow Series	B&S 950 Snow Series	B&S 950 Snow Series
ENGINE POWER	208 cc (9.5 ft/lbs)	208 cc (9.5 ft/lbs)	208 cc (9.5 ft/lbs)
STARTING SYSTEM	Recoil	120V/Recoil	120V/Recoil
STAGE TYPE	Single Stage	Single Stage	Single Stage
CLEARING WIDTH	22 inch	22 inch	22 inch
HOUSING HEIGHT	12 inch	12 inch	12 inch
THROWING DISTANCE	3-30 ft	3-30 ft	3-30 ft
CHUTE TURNING RADIUS	200	200	200
DEFLECTOR CONTROL	On Chute	On Chute	Remote
TIRE SIZE	8 in x 2 in	8 in x 2 in	8 in x 2 in
TIRE TYPE	NA	NA	NA
STEERING	NA	NA	NA
DRIVE TYPE	Auger Propelled?	Auger Propelled?	Auger Propelled?
SPEEDS	NA	NA	NA
LENGTH	47 in	47 in	47 in
WIDTH	23.1 in	23.1 in	23.1 in
HEIGHT	40 in	40 in	40 in
WEIGHT	93 lbs	93 lbs	93 lbs
GEARCASE	NA	NA	NA
GEARCASE WARRANTY	NA	NA	NA
IMPELLER PROFILE	NA	NA	NA
IMPELLER DIAMETER	NA	NA	NA
AUGER DIAMETER	10 in	10 in	10 in
AUGER TYPE	Thermal Plastic Urethane Paddle	Thermal Plastic Urethane Paddle	Thermal Plastic Urethane Paddle
SKID SHOES	NA	NA	NA
SCRAPER BAR	NA	NA	NA
PRODUCT WARRANTY	3 yr Consumer, 90 days Com	3 yr Consumer, 90 days Com	3 yr Cons, 90 days Comm
CHUTE ROTATION	On Chute	On Chute	Remote
TONS PER HOUR	NA	NA	NA
TYPICAL PRICE	$399:	$431	$513:

2018 Briggs & Stratton Snow Shredder Single Stage

B&S Snow Shredder single stage snow blowers have are unique because they have metal paddles and metal teeth in the front rotor. These teeth are designed to rip up hard-packed and frozen snow. If you usually wait until the next day after a snow the snow shredder can help to clear that foot tall frozen snow plow drift at the end of your driveway.

Model Name
B&S Model Item #	1696506	1696847	1696741
Sold at HomeDepot.com?	Buy Here:	Buy Here:	Buy Here:
Also Sold at Amazon.com?	Buy Here:	Buy Here:	Buy Here:
Amount/Type Of Snow	9″ Normal	9″ Normal	9″ Normal
ENGINE BRAND	B&S 950 Snow Series	B&S 950 Snow Series	B&S 11.5 Snow Series
ENGINE POWER	208 cc (9.5 ft/lbs)	208 cc (9.5 ft/lbs)	250cc (11.5 ft/lbs)
STARTING SYSTEM	120V/Recoil	120V/Recoil	120V/Recoil
STAGE TYPE	Single Stage	Single Stage	Single Stage
CLEARING WIDTH	22 inch	22 inch	22 inch
HOUSING HEIGHT	12.5 inch	12.5 inch	12.5 inch
THROWING DISTANCE	3-30 ft	3-30 ft	3-30 ft
CHUTE TURNING RADIUS	200	200	200
DEFLECTOR CONTROL	On Chute	On Chute	On Chute
TIRE SIZE	8 in x 2 in	8 in x 2 in	8 in x 2 in
TIRE TYPE	NA	NA	NA
STEERING	NA	NA	NA
DRIVE TYPE	Auger Propelled	Auger Propelled	Auger Propelled
SPEEDS	NA	NA	NA
LENGTH	46 in	46 in	46 in
WIDTH	23.5 in	23.5 in	23.5 in
HEIGHT	40 in	40 in	40 in
WEIGHT	89 lbs	89 lbs	98 lbs
GEARCASE	NA	NA	NA
GEARCASE WARRANTY	NA	NA	NA
IMPELLER PROFILE	NA	NA	NA
IMPELLER DIAMETER	NA	NA	NA
AUGER DIAMETER	10 in	10 in	10 in
AUGER TYPE	SnowShredder Serrated Auger	SnowShredder Serrated Auger	SnowShredder Serrated Auger
SKID SHOES	NA	NA	NA
SCRAPER BAR	NA	NA	NA
PRODUCT WARRANTY	3 yr Cons, 90 days Comm	3 yr Cons, 90 days Comm	3 yr Cons, 90 days Comm
CHUTE ROTATION	On-the-Go	On-the-Go	Electric
TONS PER HOUR
TYPICAL PRICE	$568:	$610:	$665:

2018 Briggs & Stratton Standard Two-Stage

Just two notes: 1. The Standard B&S are economy, solid axle snow blowers. These three snow blowers have decent traction for its size but without power steering, they can be hard to turn. I don’t recommend these snow blowers to someone with a bad back or is not used to moving heavy machinery. The 1696610 is a basic, economy model. The other two have remote chute and deflector controls.

2. The B&S 2-stage snow blowers are listed as light-medium duty. That means they work well for areas of the country that get up to 60 inches of snow but are not designed for areas that get more snow than that or get lots of heavy, wet snows.  If you live in the Northeast, Long Island or areas that get lake effect snow – please consider a different brand.  If you are reading this “after-the-fact” order a drive belt and impeller belt NOW in case you need it this winter.

Model Name
B&S Model Item #	1696610	1696614	1696619
Sold at HomeDepot.com?	Buy Here:	Buy Here:	Buy Here:
Also Sold at Amazon.com?	Buy Here:	Buy Here:	Buy Here:
Amount/Type Of Snow	10-12 inches/light-fluffy	10-12 inches/light-moderate	10-12 inches/light-moderate
ENGINE BRAND	B&S 950 Snow Series	B&S 950 Snow Series	B&S 1150 Snow Series
ENGINE POWER	208 cc (9.5 ft/lbs)	208 cc (9.5 ft/lbs)	250cc (11.5 ft/lbs)
STARTING SYSTEM	120V/Recoil	120V/Recoil	120V/Recoil
STAGE TYPE	Two Stage	Two Stage	Two Stage
CLEARING WIDTH	24 inch	24 inch	27 inch
HOUSING HEIGHT	20 inch	20 inch	20 inch
THROWING DISTANCE	3-35 ft	3-40 ft	3-40 ft
CHUTE TURNING RADIUS	200	200	200
DEFLECTOR CONTROL	Manual	Remote	Remote
TIRE SIZE	13 in x 3 in	14 in x 5 in	14 in x 4 in
TIRE TYPE	Snow Tread	Snow Tread	Snow Tread
STEERING	Solid Axle	Solid Axle	Solid Axle
DRIVE TYPE	Friction Disk	Friction Disk	Friction Disk
SPEEDS	6 forward 2 reverse	6 forward 2 reverse	6 forward 2 reverse
LENGTH	51.9 in	58 in	58 in
WIDTH	25.6 in	25.6 in	28.4 in
HEIGHT	45 in	44 in	44 in
WEIGHT	175 lbs	184 lbs	211 lbs
GEARCASE	Top Loaded Aluminum	Top Loaded Aluminum	Top Loaded Aluminum
GEARCASE WARRANTY	3yr Cons, 90yr Comm	3yr Cons, 90yr Comm	3yr Cons, 90yr Comm
IMPELLER PROFILE	3-blade	3-blade	3-blade
IMPELLER DIAMETER	12 inch	12 inch	12 inch
AUGER DIAMETER	12 inch	12 inch	12 inch
AUGER TYPE	Serrated Steel Open	Serrated Steel Open	Serrated Steel Open
SKID SHOES	Steel Reversible	Steel Reversible	Steel Reversible
SCRAPER BAR	Steel Adjustable	Steel Adjustable	Steel Adjustable
PRODUCT WARRANTY	3 yr Cons, 90 days Comm	3 yr Cons, 90 days Comm	3 yr Cons, 90 days Comm
CHUTE ROTATION	Old Style Wire & Crank	In-Dash Crank	In-Dash Crank
TONS PER HOUR
TYPICAL PRICE	$665:	$775:	$880:

2018 Briggs & Stratton Elite Two-Stage

The B&S Elite 2-stage snow blowers are listed as medium duty. That means they work well for areas of the country that get up to 60 inches of snow but are not designed for areas that get more snow than that or get lots of heavy, wet snows.  If you live in the Northeast, Long Island or areas that get lake effect snow – please consider a different brand.

The biggest difference between the Standard and Elite is the Elite all have trigger style power steering, remote, chutes, and deflectors. They also have the open auger design so they will not clog as quickly as some of the other brands.

Model Name
B&S Model Item #	1696807	1696815	1696828
Sold at HomeDepot.com?	Buy Here:	Buy Here:	Buy Here:
Also Sold at Amazon.com?	Buy Here:	Buy Here:	Buy Here:
Amount/Type Of Snow	Moderate-Heavy	Moderate-Heavy	Moderate-Heavy
ENGINE BRAND	B&S 950 Snow Series	B&S 1150 Snow Series	B&S 1450 Snow Series
ENGINE POWER	208 cc (9.5 ft/lbs)	250cc (11.5 ft/lbs)	306cc (10 ft/lbs)
STARTING SYSTEM	120V/Recoil	120V/Recoil	120V/Recoil
STAGE TYPE	Two Stage	Two Stage	Two Stage
CLEARING WIDTH	24 inch	27 inch	30 inch
HOUSING HEIGHT	20 inch	20 inch	20 inch
THROWING DISTANCE	3-40 ft	3-40 ft	3-40 ft
CHUTE TURNING RADIUS	200	200	200
DEFLECTOR CONTROL	Remote	Remote	Remote
TIRE SIZE	16 in x 5 in	16 in x 5 in	16 in x 5 in
TIRE TYPE	Snow Tread	Snow Tread	Snow Tread
STEERING	Trigger Power	Trigger Power	Trigger Power
DRIVE TYPE	Friction Drive	Friction Drive	Friction Drive
SPEEDS	6 forward 2 reverse	6 forward 2 reverse	6 forward 2 reverse
LENGTH	58 in	58 in	58 in
WIDTH	26.4 in	29 in	32 in
HEIGHT	44 in	44 in	44 in
WEIGHT	213 lbs	236 lbs	241 lbs
GEARCASE	Top Loaded Aluminum	Top Loaded Aluminum	Top Loaded Aluminum
GEARCASE WARRANTY
IMPELLER PROFILE	Steel 3 blade	Steel 3 blade	Steel 3 blade
IMPELLER DIAMETER	12 inch	12 inch	12 inch
AUGER DIAMETER	12 inch	12 inch	12 inch
AUGER TYPE	Serrated Steel Open	Serrated Steel Open	Serrated Steel Open
SKID SHOES	Steel Reversible	Steel Reversible	Steel Reversible
SCRAPER BAR	Steel Adjustable	Steel Adjustable	Steel Adjustable
PRODUCT WARRANTY	3 yr Cons, 90 days Comm	3 yr Cons, 90 days Comm	3 yr Cons, 90 days Comm
CHUTE ROTATION	Quick Turn	Quick Turn	Quick Turn
TONS PER HOUR
TYPICAL PRICE	$699	$799	$1399

Thanks For Reading This Far!

Yes, You need a new gas can! Now is a good time to remind you that with your new snow blower you should buy a new gas can and fresh fuel. Check out this article:  Check out The Best Snow Shovel, Ice Scraper, and Gas Can To Compliment Your New Snow Blower

Still Looking? Start Here: The Twenty Best Snow Blowers – September 2018 – Which Snow Blower Is Best For You?

If you have any questions please ask in the comment section below. Don’t forget to head over to my YouTube Channel Please subscribe to get the latest videos.

The post 2018 Briggs & Stratton Snow Blower Review – What’s New – Which One Is Best For You? appeared first on MovingSnow.com.

Great News! The biggest change in the Snow Blower Market this year is Troy-Bilt is now at The Home Depot! Settle in get comfortable. This article is only 5532 words

My Opinion: 

I have no problems suggesting the Troy-Bilt Storm Models below for any area of the country that averages up to 80 inches of snow a year including Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Pittsburg, Minneapolis, Long Island, and New Jersey.

I have no problems suggesting the Heavy Duty Arctic Storm 30 and 34-inch models. They can handle any snow you get, no matter where you live in the U.S. They love heavy, wet snow like the East Coast regularly gets.

Why the change?

Troy-Bilt will now get the recognition they deserve. Troy-Bilt makes a complete line of well-built residential snow blowers ranging from the most economical to the largest capacity residential machines. Now that The Home Depot will be carrying Troy-Bilt you will be able to easily purchase the model you want and get the great service The Home Depot offers. (I’m also noticing a lot more local dealers and farm stores carrying Troy-Bilt.)

My opinion:  Since Lowes is now going to be the “exclusive” big box store for new Craftsman products and since floor space is finite at these big stores Troy-Bilt will have even less floor space than they had in the past. So, I’m very glad Troy-Bilt is now available at the Home Depot. The real winner now is you because you will have better access to the complete line of dependable Troy-Bilt snow throwers.

As you most likely know Stanley, Black & Decker (SBD) purchased the Craftsman name this year – but not the products. What that means for snow blowers is Stanley, Black & Decker will be independently developing their own line of Craftsman snow “throwers”, parts, and a repair network. At this time it looks like Lowes will be the primary seller for these new models. (My local ACE Hardware doesn’t have a clue if they will get the SBD Craftsman) The models at Lowes are completely different from the Craftsman at Sears models you know (and love). With the new models at Lowes, you will have to get parts, warranty work, and service through Stanley, Black & Decker. The four Craftsman (SBD) models currently for sale at Lowes are made by MTD but it’s unclear if SBD will continue to use that manufacture in the future, switch to another manufacturer, or build their own.

Problems with Troy-Bilt Snow Throwers:

If you have spent any time at all researching snow blowers, the Internet is full of horror stories about all brands or models of snow throwers. You can ALWAYS find someone who is unhappy with their purchase. In reality, snow throwers from major brands like Troy-Bilt are dependable and will last many years if you size it properly for the area you have to clear, and the amount of snow you usually get. Read the operator manual before you use it the first time, and perform a few simple preventative tasks every fall/spring.

I don’t like the fact that there will be a group of Internet trolls that will make you think twice about buying a Troy-Bilt for your suburban driveway. Across the board, Troy-Bilt is one of the best value brands out there. Troy-Bilt Storm models are well designed, good snow blowers for about 90% of the U.S. They will last years with a little maintenance once in a while.

Reliability: Consumer Reports is the only organization that regularly asks readers to rate the snow blowers they own. Owners rate Troy-Bilt snow blowers as the second best of all the brands. (Honda is first – Husqvarna is last) Reference: CR Subscription Required

Parts & Service: Parts and repairs are easy to get. Parts can be ordered through MTDParts.com, the Troy-Bilt website, your local Troy-Bilt service center, Amazon.com, and The Home Depot. Shear pins and belts are even available at most Walmarts and Menards that stock snow blowers. (Arnold is MTD’s parts division)

Special Offer For MovingSnow Customers! Sign Up & Save 10% On Your Next Order at MTDParts.com! Coupon Applied After Sign-Up.

Build Quality: Of course – you get what you pay for with most brands and Troy-Bilt is no exception. With Troy-Bilt, you get a good price on a better than average snow blower across the entire line. The current models are all built well, built to last, and easy to use.

Check out all the Troy-Bilt snow throwers at THD here: Troy-Bilt Snow Bowers at The Home Depot

Troy-Bilt has one “game changer” feature that no one else has!

Troy-Bilt has airless tires on select models never go flat, offer great traction in all conditions, and make even the solid axle machines easy to turn. These tires are an industry game changer for solid axle snow blowers.  I’ve used them for two years now and I actually like the design better than the Michelin Tweel. I like them so much I would like to see 20-inch and 24-inch versions for lawn tractors and zero-turns. The airless tires really make a difference.

How this article is laid out:

I’m going to list the 2-stage and 3 stage snow throwers together by size. I’ll leave the single stage Squall machines for last.

Let’s get started!

24 inch Troy-Bilt Snow Blowers

Troy-Bilt has two 24-inch snow blowers that are inexpensive, yet do the job for many homeowners. The machines use the same quality parts as the more expensive machine – they just don’t have as many features.  They have the same warranty as the more expensive models. One model, the Storm 2460, is one of the best value snow blowers on the market today.  If you live in a subdivision with a 2 car driveway and get 60 inches of snow or less a year it’s a great choice.

Troy-Bilt Storm 2460 MY 24 inch Best Value Choice: The 24 inch Storm 2460 keeps up the tradition of one of the best value snow blowers on the market. It can easily handle a 12-inch snowfall but can also clear that 24-inch drift as needed.  The high intake also means it can clear that huge snow plow drift the snow plows left you overnight. I highly recommend this snow blower if you have a 2 car driveway about 80 feet long, (or single car equivalent) get an average snowfall of 60 inches or less a year. It’s designed to work on gravel, turf, cement, and blacktop. The 208cc engine is just the right size for this snow blower. The airless tires really make a difference. They give you all the traction of the 15-inch X-Trac pneumatic tires but the tread design makes them VERY easy to turn on this solid axle snow thrower. It also has the poly skid shoes so it won’t scratch your stamped and decorative driveways and patio. Last but not least, the long discharge chute puts the snow where you want it and the EZ chute control is fast and very easy to use. (My opinion) This model does not have power steering but is light enough and with the airless tires – it’s very easy to use for most people. Yes, there are a lot of bigger, larger, and more expensive snow blowers on the market, but if you just want a decent 2-stage to clear your “typical” suburban driveway this is one of the best choices. 

Troy-Bilt Storm 2410 If you have to have the least expensive 2-stage snow blower on the market this is the one.  The 208cc 24 inch Storm 2410 is most like your old 5 hp Troy-Bilt, Craftsman or Murray that you are replacing it with. It’s a simple snow blower capable of handling 8 to 12-inch snows and can clear that end-of-driveway drift. This snow blower will take you longer to clear your driveway than any other 24 inch that Troy-Bilt sells – but it will still get the job done. It’s a much better snow blower for most people than a single stage snow thrower and built better than the Chinese imports. It’s one of the few snow blowers in this price range with electric start. The intake is higher than your 20-year-old Murray which means it can clear that 21-inch snow plow drift the snow plows left you overnight. This is a decent snow blower if you have a 2 car driveway about 40-50 feet long, (or single car equivalent) get an average snowfall of 50 inches or less a year. It’s designed to work on gravel, turf, cement and blacktop. The deep lug tires are the right size for this snow blower. It also has the poly skid shoes so it won’t scratch your stamped and decorative driveways and patio. This model does not have power steering but is light enough for most people to use. Don’t expect this model to clear heavy, wet snow well, throw the snow more than 25 feet or have a lot of traction for clearing the snow plow drift.

Troy-Bilt Vortex 2490 I’m not a fan of this snow blower but that doesn’t mean it’s not the best one for you. The combination of the huge engine and 3rd stage allows this snow blower to throw snow much farther and has about twice the capacity of the Storm 2460 above. It has all the premium features Troy-Bilt offers – power steering, hand warmers (that work), 4-way chute control, long discharge chute, and headlight. It absolutely loves 12-15 inches of normal snow and it’s fun to watch how far it will throw the snow! What I don’t like about this snow blower is the front – 3rd stage auger spins about 10 times faster than the side augers. In 2 to 4 inches of snow that “fan” just splatters snow all over the place. That means to clean your driveway in one pass you always have to have the uncleared part of your driveway to the right of the machine. In other words, you have to start in the middle of the driveway and keep turning left at the end of the pass. I have not been able to plug this snow blower but in wet snow, it tends to pack the snow inside the housing and you’ll have a lot of cleaning to do before you put it away in your garage.

Sears Stock Item #	Storm 2410	Storm 2460	Vortex 2490
engine	4-cycle / 208 cc OHV	4-cycle / 208 cc OHV	4-cycle / 277 cc OHV
starter type	electric	electric	electric
clearing width	24”	24”	24″
intake height	21”	21”	21″
auger / impeller	12” serrated auger / updated 12” impeller	12” serrated auger / updated 12” impeller	12” serrated auger / 12” 3rd stage/impeller
speeds	6F/2R	6F/2R	6F/2R
Drive Control	Solid Axle	Solid Axle	Trigger Power Steering
operation control		single hand control	single hand control
chute control	crank / manual	EZ Rotation Chute	4-Way Joystick
tire size	13” x 4” X-Trac	15” x 5” Airless	15″ x 5″ X-Trac
headlight		Yes	Yes
skid shoes	Small Glide-Tech	Glide-Tech	Glide-Tech
handle	steel	steel	steel
warranty	2 year limited	2 year limited	2 year limited
extended chute		Yes	Yes
Other Options			Hand Warmers
Typical Sale Price	$599	$699	$1099
Buy Here From THD ->	Troy-Bilt Storm 2410	Troy-Bilt Storm 2460	Troy-Bilt Vortex 2490

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 snow blowers are either fuel or operator related. Snow engines run/operate differently than your lawn mower engine. 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 will go a long way towards liking your new snow blower. Please read this article to learn more: Buying A New Snow Blower FAQS – Read This For The Truth

26 inch Troy-Bilt Snow Blowers

If a 28-inch snow blower is too big for your garage but you want something larger than a 24 inch, a 26 inch is a good choice. Troy-Bilt offers the inexpensive Storm 2660 and the great value Storm 2665.

Troy-Bilt Storm 2660 The Storm 2660 is the 26-inch version of the Storm 2460 above, It has the good 208cc Troy-Bilt engine, solid axle, good tires, and extended chute. It does not have a remote deflector control.

Troy-Bilt Storm 2665 MY 26 inch Best Value Choice! New! Exclusive to The Home Depot! The Storm 2665 adds a larger 243cc Troy-Bilt engine and a remote deflector. Solid axle, good tires, and extended Quick EZ-Rotation chute. At $799 it is one of the best value 26-inch snow blowers. I can highly recommend this snow blower for most people who get up to 80 inches of snow a year, have a 2-car 100-foot driveway and want more power than the snow blower you now have.

Troy-Bilt Storm Tracker 2690XP If you have a small, steep driveway this is the best choice on the market today! The Storm Tracker 2690XP is one of the most underappreciated snow blowers around. It has the best traction of any 24-26 inch snow blower. It has heated handgrips, power steering, and a good 208cc engine. In other words, it has all the features of the high-end residential snow blowers plus tracks for a reasonable price. In fact, it has a larger engine and all the features of the Honda 24 inch tracked snow blower for HALF THE PRICE! Yes – it will last just as long. 

The electronic 4-way remote chute/deflector control on the Storm Tracker 2690XP is the best electric chute design on the market. All the gears, motors, and controls are sealed up under the dash so it’s protected from any moisture. The joystick right by your right thumb is the easiest to use.  This electronic chute control has been around for over 10 years and has proven to be completely reliable.

Sears Stock Item #	Storm 2660	Storm 2665	Storm Tracker 2690XP
engine	4-cycle / 208 cc OHV	4-cycle / 243 cc OHV	4-cycle / 208 cc OHV
starter type	electric	electric	electric
clearing width	26”	26”	26″
intake height	21”	21”	21″
auger / impeller	12” serrated auger / updated 12” impeller	12” serrated auger / updated 12” impeller	12” serrated auger / updated 12” impeller
speeds	6F/2R	6F/2R	6F/2R
Drive Control	Solid Axle	Solid Axle	Trigger Power Steering
operation control	single hand control	single hand control	single hand control
chute control	EZ Rotation Chute – No deflector control	EZ Rotation Chute	Electronic 4-Way Chute
tire size	15″ x 5″ X-Trac	15″ x 5″ X-Trac	D-Track with SelecTrac
headlight	Yes	Yes	Yes
skid shoes	Glide-Tech	Glide-Tech	Glide-Tech
handle	steel	steel	steel
warranty	2 year limited	2 year limited	2 year limited
extended chute	Yes	Yes	Yes
Other Options			Hand Warmers
Typical Sale Price  (Sales Change Often)	$781	$799	$1199
Buy Here at THD ->	Troy-Bilt Storm 2660	Troy-Bilt Storm 2665	Troy-Bilt Storm Tracker 2690XP

Troy-Bilt snow blowers are among the most popular snow blowers for price and capacity. The Storm models are just the right size and power for the majority of the homes and driveways north of Interstate 70.  In other words, if you normally get 2-14 inch snows and average 40-80 inches a year these are great machines. They all have a 21-inch intake height so they will handle drifts and the occasional blizzard. No, they don’t have the capacity of the heavy-duty, “snow belt” machines that cost hundreds more, but for most of us, they are just the right combination of features, power, and price.

Troy-Bilt Storm 2860 Best Value 28 inch! The Storm 2860 does not have power steering but with the airless tires, it is still VERY easy to use. The extended chute with remote deflector puts the snow where you want it. The EZ Chute rotation control is fast, easy and won’t wear out. The 243 cc engine has plenty of power for snows up to 14 inches but it still can handle those 18-20 inchers if you drop it down a gear.  I have used this snow blower extensively over the last two years and it has been up to the task for any snow I’ve gotten up here in Northern Wisconsin! You can check out my videos on YouTube/Paul Sikkema to see it in action. It’s a great value snow blower and even includes heated hand grips that work!

Troy-Bilt Storm 2890 Best Value 28 inch with Power Steering! It’s also the Quietest Gas Powered Snow Blower on the Market! The Storm 2890 has all the features of the Best Value 2860 above and adds power steering and the Troy-Bilt quiet engine (with Noise Guard Technology) for only $100 more. 

Troy-Bilt Storm Tracker 2890 Best Value Tracked Snow Blower! The Storm Tracker 2890 has all the features of the Storm 2860 and 2890 models and adds a larger engine and 3-point track drive! Yes, it has power steering that works perfectly and hand warmers that work. The combination of power and 3-point tracks make it the best choice for steep driveways. For the price, this is an exceptional deal if you need a tracked snow blower! One of the unique features of the Troy-Bilt Storm Tracker over a wheeled unit is you can adjust the skid shoes to clean your smooth driveway and patio well but you can also raise the front of the snow blower up just a little to clear soft gravel driveways, turf and other “rough off road” areas just by moving a lever on the side of the machine. Using the same lever you can also lock the front down so you can easily scrape hard packed snow off your driveway. This snow blower, with the 3-point tracks, has a lot more clearance under it than the $3000 Honda snow blowers and the Chinese made machines with the old 2-point drive system. Because of that fact it won’t get stuck as easily clearing paths and trails as the 2-point models. 

28 inch Troy-Bilt Snow Blowers

Sears Stock Item #	Storm 2860	Storm 2890	Storm Tracker 2890
engine	4-cycle / 243 cc OHV	4-cycle / 243 cc OHV Quiet Engine	4-cycle / 277 cc OHV
starter type	electric	electric	electric
clearing width	28”	28”	28″
intake height	21”	21”	21″
auger / impeller	12” serrated auger / updated 12” impeller	12” serrated auger / updated 12” impeller	12” serrated auger / updated 12” impeller
speeds	6F/2R	6F/2R	6F/2R
Drive Control	Solid Axle	Trigger Power Steering	Trigger Power Steering
operation control	single hand control	single hand control	single hand control
chute control	EZ Rotation Chute	EZ Rotation Chute	EZ Rotation Chute
tire size	15” x 5” Airless	15” x 5” Airless	D-Track with SelecTrac
headlight	Yes	Yes	Yes
skid shoes	Glide-Tech	Glide-Tech	Glide-Tech
handle	steel	steel	steel
warranty	2 year limited	2 year limited	2 year limited
extended chute	Yes	Yes	Yes
Other Options	Hand Warmers	Hand Warmers	Hand Warmers
Typical Sale Price  (Sales Change Often)	$899	$999.99	$1299
Buy Here at THD ->	Troy-Bilt Storm 2860	Troy-Bilt Storm 2890	Troy-Bilt Storm Tracker 2890

Troy-Bilt Storm 3090

Troy-Bilt Storm 3090 The Storm 3090 is one snow blower that I love to hate. Let me explain. This snow blower has been around in various forms and colors for over 10 years. It’s been sold under many names, Craftsman, Craftsman Pro, Cub Cadet, Troy-Bilt, MTD, MTD Pro Yard Machines, Remington and even the new Craftsman at Lowes. The engine and controls change but the rest of the machine has stayed the same. (I have the Troy-Built XP version here with the electronic joystick.) It’s a dependable snow thrower. It doesn’t break. The current engine on the Storm 3090 has plenty of power, starts well, and is very reliable. You will rarely break a shear pin (unlike the 3-stage snow throwers) and belts last for years. But:

The problem I have with the snow thrower is the front auger flights are too close together and that design severely limits its capacity.  If you have 4-8 inches of snow to clear, the Storm 3090 (and it’s cousins) does a good job. But, if you try to clear 10, 12, or more inches these tightly spaced auger flights limit the amount of snow going into the snow blower and the snow piles up in front of the machine. If you keep driving the snow blower it actually looks more like a snow plow than a snow blower because the snow piles up in the front.  Its even worse in heavy, wet snow – the front auger will plug up into a solid cylinder of snow and no snow can get to the impeller.

If you look at the front auger on this 30-inch snow blower the six closed auger flights are much closer together than the four flights on the 28-inch machine. The extra auger flights are too close together and that’s where the bottleneck is with this otherwise good snow blower. 

So, if you need a snow blower to clear a large area and only get up to 10 inches of snow the Troy-Bilt Storm 3090  can be a good choice because its a dependable machine at a good price but if you get that occasional heavy-wet snow or regularly get snows deeper than 10 inches a better choice is the Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm 30 below.

Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm 30-34 Heavy-Duty, High Capacity Snow Blowers

Yes, I saved the best for last! Last year Troy-Bilt introduced the new heavy duty 30 and 34 inch Arctic Storm snow blowers to replace the old, tired 33 and 45-inch models but no one really explained why it’s such a leap forward for Troy-Bilt… I won’t spend any time explaining why the old MTD built models were so bad. Let’s just say – they are gone! – and move on.

The Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm 30 and  Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm 34  snow blowers are a new design and very heavy-duty. They feature thicker steel, better components including all steel discharge chutes, 14-inch high capacity impellers, and 14-inch front auger systems. These new snow blowers even have handle supports so using them is much easier than the old models.

It’s big and awesome but balanced well and surprisingly easy to use. I highly recommend the 30-inch heavy duty snow blower if you have a long driveway to clear, or you get large doses of heavy, wet snow. The 34 inch is has a larger engine and will throw snow as well as the best red and orange commercial snow throwers. These are high-end homeowner snow blowers, not commercial machines but I would have no problems recommending the 34-inch version to a church or other business that needs to clear large areas once or twice a week.

Compare this new heavy-duty Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm, Ariens Platinum 30, Husqvarna ST330P and the Toro PowerMax HD 1228.

I’ll say it – “For half the price as the Honda 32 inch you get a snow blower that will perform the task faster.”

In 2017 Consumer Reports rated this snow blower and the $3000 Ariens Rapidtrak – as the two of the best 2-stage machines. In addition, it scored just as well as the Cub Cadet 3X HD. 

Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm 30  If you live around Lake Tahoe, on the East Coast or any other area of the country that gets a lot of heavy, wet snow this is one of the best value, heavy-duty snow blowers on the market. It has large 16″ X 6.5″ X-Trac tires for great traction. It has the large 14-inch impeller and 14-inch front auger to quickly move all types of snow through the machine. It has the highest intake height of any of the current snow blowers so it will take on deep drifts efficiently. The snow blower including the chute is made of heavy, reinforced steel so it will last. 

The 357cc engine on the Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm 30 has plenty of power for this snow blower. Yes, there are other 30-inch snow blowers with larger engines but this engine is a good choice for both power and fuel economy.

The 420cc engine on the Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm 34 has over-the-top power. In two years I have not found snow deep enough to slow this 34-inch monster down.

Heated handgrips and the electronic 4-way chute make it fun to use. Don’t listen to your grouchy old neighbor who tells you electric chute controls break and are not worth the money. I’ve sold thousands of MTD made snow blowers with this specific control and it is bulletproof! It’s easy and fun to use and much faster than the Honda electric chute control!

One of the unique features that I really like on this snow blower is the square tube running from the top of the handle down to the frame. This reinforces the handle assembly and makes the snow blower very solid and easy to turn. This is the only residential snow blower that has this “commercial” feature.

I highly recommend this snow blower for homeowners who have long driveways with drifts. The trigger power steering allows the snow thrower to move in a straight line without much effort on your part. If you want to turn or make a small course correction just pull the small trigger under the handle.

You can check out my videos on YouTube/Paul Sikkema to see the Arctic Storm 34 in action.

Sears Stock Item #	Storm 3090	Arctic Storm 30	Arctic Storm 34
engine	4-cycle / 357 cc OHV	4-cycle / 357 cc OHV Quiet Engine	4-cycle / 420 cc OHV
starter type	electric	electric	electric
clearing width	30”	30”	34″
intake height	21”	23”	23″
auger / impeller	14” serrated auger / updated 14” impeller	14” serrated auger / updated 14” impeller	14” serrated auger / updated 14” impeller
speeds	6F/2R	6F/2R	6F/2R
Drive Control	Trigger Power Steering	Trigger Power Steering	Trigger Power Steering
operation control	single hand control	single hand control	single hand control
chute control	EZ Rotation Chute	Electronic 4-Way Chute	Electronic 4-Way Chute
tire size	16” x 6.5” X-Trac	16” x 6.5” X-Trac	16” x 6.5” X-Trac
headlight	Yes	Yes	Yes
skid shoes	Glide-Tech	Glide-Tech	Glide-Tech
handle	steel	steel reinforced	steel reinforced
warranty	2 year limited	2 year limited	2 year limited
extended chute	Yes	Yes	Yes
Other Options	Hand Warmers	Hand Warmers  drift cutters	Hand Warmers  drift cutters
Typical Sale Price  (Sales Change Often)	$1099	$1499	$1699
Buy Here at THD ->	Storm 3090	Arctic Storm 30	Arctic Storm 34

21-inch Troy-Bilt Single Stage Snow Blowers

Troy-Bilt makes a snow blower for just about every driveway in the U.S. but I’m not a fan of owning a single-stage snow blower as your only, primary snow clearing tool. Why? Yes, single-stage snow throwers are faster to use on that light dusting to 4 inches of snow but they don’t handle that end-of-driveway pile the city snow plow leaves you well at all.  Yes, the Troy-Bilt models will clean packed down snow a 2-stage can’t but if you have to throw the snow in a certain spot, over bushes or over a wall they don’t have the throwing distance to perform those tasks. They do make a great “second” snow blower and compliment your 2-stage for tasks the 2-stage is too big for.  They do work well for patios, raised decks, 2-4 inchers, and cleaning snow off the sidewalks and around the doorway to your business. In other words, if you live North of Interstate 70 you should not consider a single-stage snow blower for your primary snow removal tool. If you do buy one I suggest the 208cc models. The 123cc is too small and the 179cc engine has a history of being hard to start.

New! Exclusive to The Home Depot! Squall 208 EX

Sears Stock Item #	Squall 123R	Squall 179E	Squall 208 EX	Squall 208 XP
engine	4-cycle / 123 cc OHV	4-cycle / 179 cc OHV	4-cycle / 208cc OHV	4-cycle / 208cc OHV
starter type	recoil	electric	electric	electric
clearing width	21″	21”	21″	21”
intake height	13”	13”	13″	13”
auger / impeller	9 ” reinforced paddle	9 ” reinforced paddle	9 ” reinforced paddle	9 ” reinforced paddle
speeds	Will pull itself if you lift the handle	Will pull itself if you lift the handle	Will pull itself if you lift the handle	Will pull itself if you lift the handle
Drive Control	NA	NA	NA	NA
operation control	single hand control	single hand control	single hand control	single hand control
chute control	Manual Chute	Manual Chute	Manual Chute	Remote Crank Chute
tire size	8” x 2”	8” x 2”	8” x 2”	8” x 2”
headlight			LED headlights	LED headlights
skid shoes	NA	NA	NA	NA
handle	Deluxe Folding	Deluxe Folding	Deluxe Folding	Deluxe Folding
warranty	2 year limited	2 year limited	2 year limited	2 year limited
extended chute	NA	NA	NA	NA
drift cutters	NA	NA	NA	NA
Typical Sale Price  (Sales Change Often)	$359	$399	$499	$599
Buy Here at THD ->	Squall 123R	Squall 179E	Squall 208 EX	Squall 208 XP

The post 2018 Troy-Bilt Snow Blower Review – What’s New – Which One Is Best For You? appeared first on MovingSnow.com.

Let’s be practical. There are cheap snow blowers and then there is junk. This is a list of the cheapest snow blowers that I can recommend on the market today. These snow blowers are from reliable companies that have real local servicing dealers and parts availability. All will clear your one-two car driveway in areas that average 40-60 inches of snow a year. All of the snow blowers on this list have reliable engines and tires with a good snow tread design. As long as you are in no hurry they will handle 2-10 inches of snow and the occasional 18-20 inch drift well. Yes, most will plug if you try to move wet snow.

Troy-Bilt Storm 2460

If you live in an area that gets heavy-wet snow (for example, Boston or Long Island) these are not the best choice. I suggest a higher HP, higher capacity 24-inch snow blower like the Ariens Deluxe 24.

All of the snow blowers on this list use a solid axle. That means both wheels spin all the time so when you turn the inside wheel keeps spinning. For smaller people or people with bad backs that can make these snow blowers hard to use.

All of these snow blowers now use a 208cc engine and include a 110-volt electric start. That gives you around 6 1/2 HP compared to your old 179cc 5 HP. These snow blowers will all throw snow farther and faster than your old one.

Before I show you the list I have one more very important item to discuss – fuel. 

The biggest issue with small gas engines today is they won’t start when you want them to. But the Number One reason they won’t start is bad fuel – not something wrong with the snow blower’s engine. Today’s pump gas starts to go bad after only 30 days of sitting around your garage in an old vented gas can. Here are a few tips to help:

DO NOT fill your new snowblower with the gas you have sitting around in your garage. Pour that old fuel in your vehicle and go buy fresh 87 Octane fuel. Today’s engines are designed to run on E10 or less 87 Octane fuel. Here are three other solutions to help your snow blower start every time.

• Buy a new gas can. The latest gas cans are sealed so the fuel doesn’t go bad as fast. The ones I recommend pour very well. Check them out here: Paul’s Amazon Influencer Page. 
• Use a fuel stabilizer. I always put 2 tablespoons per gallon of SeaFoam in my fuel when I go buy it. That way the fuel is always treated and it will last me over a year. before it goes bad. Check it out here: Paul’s Amazon Influencer Page. 
• Use TruFuel or similar pure gas. It’s expensive compared to gas but it has a 2-year shelf life. I use it in the snow blowers I test but don’t use very often and they all start on the first pull. Check it out here: Paul’s Amazon Influencer Page. 

$699 or less:

Spending about $699 gives you a high arc long chute so the snow blower throws the snow farther and you can place it where you want it. Some of these snow blowers like the Ariens and Toro even have a remote deflector control for even more control of the snow. All of these snow blowers have larger 13-inch tires and have a lot more traction than the $599 snow blowers listed at the end of this article.

Feel free to ask questions in the comments below. Please click on the “Buy Here” link to read more details about the snow blower you are interested in.

1. Troy-Bilt Storm 2460 24 in. 208cc Two-Stage Electric Start Gas Snow Blower with Airless Tires Model # Storm 2460

This snow blower has a lot to offer for the price and I have a feeling it will quickly become The Home Depot’s best selling snow blower. For my Mid-Western 2 car, 70-foot driveway, brick patio, and turf that I clear for my dogs – it is a perfect size.

There are three unique features of the Troy-Bilt 2460 that allow me to put it as Number One on this list.

1. Airless Tires. I’ve been using Troy-Bilt snow blowers with the airless tires for a couple of years now and I really like how much traction they have and how easy the snow blower turns. Even on a solid axle snow blower like this one, they are surprisingly easy to use.
2. Poly Skid Shoes. The long poly skids don’t leave brown rust marks on your pavement or patio and they last a long time.
3. Now Sold At The Home Depot. I am very excited that Troy-Bilt is now available through the Home Depot. Over the last five years, Home Depot has quietly become the online leader in outdoor power equipment. They are very easy to work with if you have a problem with your snow blower. They will help you set up service if you have the standard factory warranty and if you decide to purchase one of their protection plans – the price is reasonable and will repair your equipment as quickly as possible.

Buy Here: Troy-Bilt Storm 2460 24 in. 208cc Two-Stage Electric Start Gas Snow Blower with Airless Tires at The Home Depot

2. Ariens Classic 24 in. 208cc 2-Stage Electric Start Gas Snow Blower Model # 920025

The Ariens Classic gets great reviews for its size and price. The Classic features an all steel remote chute and deflector. In fact, it’s a solid machine with more metal parts than the other snow blowers on this list. Be aware that the Classic has snap-ring pins that hold the wheels on the axle. With one of the pins moved to the freewheel position the snow blower will turn easily – but you lose half your traction. The snow blower comes from the factory with one of the pins in the freewheel position so it’s easy to move around the sales floor. You will want to move the pin to the locked position when you use it the first time

Buy Here: Ariens Classic 24 in. 208cc 2-Stage Electric Start Gas Snow Blower at The Home Depot

3. Craftsman 88173 24″ 208cc Dual-Stage Snowblower Model 88173

The Craftsman 88173 has been around for quite a while now and four years ago I gave it the “Best Value” award. It continues to be a good, basic snow blower at a great price.

Buy Here: Craftsman 88173 24″ 208cc Dual-Stage Snowblower Model 88173 at Sears

4. Briggs & Stratton 24 in. Dual-Stage Electric Start Gas Snowthrower Model# 1696610

Like most of the snow blowers on this list, it does not have a headlight. It also does not have an easy to use chute rotation. For example, with the #1 Troy-Bilt above you can move the chute quickly from one side to the other with just 2 1/2 turns of the crank. This snow blower requires many more turns. It is very light compared to the other snow blowers on this list (about 170 lbs) so it will have more traction issues in deeper snow.

Buy Here: Briggs & Stratton 24 in. Dual-Stage Electric Start Gas Snowthrower Model# 1696610 at The Home Depot

It is also available through Amazon Prime for the same price: Briggs & Stratton 24 in. Dual-Stage Electric Start Gas Snowthrower Model# 1696610 at Amazon

5. Poulan Pro PR241 24 in. Two-Stage Electric Start Gas Snow Blower Model# 961920092

I’m listing this Poulan Pro because many owners like it but I’m not going to recommend it right now. A lot of owners have complained that the plastic dash cracks after a year or so of use. Many also complain that the chute doesn’t stay in position and wanders around while you are blowing snow.

Buy Here: Poulan Pro PR241 24 in. Two-Stage Electric Start Gas Snow Blower Model# 961920092 at The Home Depot

6. Power Max 724 OE 2-Stage Snow Thrower Model # 37779 at The Home Depot

You can feel confident that every snow blower in the Toro is built well and built to last. The 724 OE is no exception. The Toro Power Max is listed on all the websites right now for $799 but there is a rumor that Toro is dropping the price to $699. Let’s watch and see what happens.

Buy Here: Power Max 724 OE 2-Stage Snow Thrower Model # 37779 at The Home Depot

Buy Here: Power Max 724 OE 2-Stage Snow Thrower Model # 37779 at ACME Tool

$599 or less:

Do you remember that small MTD snow blower you or your neighbor owned 15-20 years ago? It had a 5 hp Tecumseh or Briggs engine? It threw snow – not very far – but it did get that 6-8 inches of snow off your driveway. It handled the snow plow drift at the end of your driveway as long as you got out there early in the morning before it froze into a rock hard wall.

The only disadvantages that these snow blowers have a short chute and hard to use chute rotation. The old style short chute limits as to how far the snow blower throws the snow and since it does not have a remote defector it harder to aim the snow just where you want it. This is especially irritating when the snow is light and fluffy – the snow blows all over and most of it in your face

If you are interested in either of these snow blowers please click on the “buy here” link to read more on the Sears or Home Depot site.

7.  Craftsman 24″ 208cc Dual-Stage Snowblower 88781

Buy Here: Craftsman 24″ 208cc Dual-Stage Snowblower Model # 88781 at Sears

8. Troy-Bilt 24 in. Two-Stage 208cc Electric Start Self Propelled Gas Snow Blower Model # Storm 2410

Buy Here: Troy-Bilt 24 in. Two-Stage 208cc Electric Start Self Propelled Gas Snow Blower at The Home Depot

9. Poulan Pro PR240 24 in. 179cc Two-Stage Gas Snow Blower Model # PR240

Buy Here: Poulan Pro PR240 24 in. 179cc Two-Stage Gas Snow Blower at The Home Depot

Did I miss any other good, cheap snow blower? Please let me know in the comments below.

The post 9 Best Cheap 2-Stage Snow Blowers 2018-2019 appeared first on MovingSnow.com.

This article is about the 2018 Craftsman Snow Blowers at Sears but first:

As you most likely know Stanley, Black & Decker (SBD) purchased the Craftsman name this year – but not the products. What that means for snow blowers is Stanley, Black & Decker will be independently developing their own line of Craftsman snow “throwers”, parts, and a repair network. Because of that, I will first explain the three different Craftsman snow thrower lines available this year. Then I will go through the Craftsman at Sears machines you know and love.

Three Different “Craftsman” snow blowers this year.

 1. Craftsman At Sears

Craftsman at Sears is the trusted name and products you know.  Snow Blowers are sold through Sears.com and your local Sears store. All the parts, warranty repairs, and service are the same as before through SearsPartsDirect.com and Sears Repair Services.

Craftsman at Sears will continue to have a complete line of snow throwers ranging from the most economical to models with all the features you want. In fact, they added new models this year to improve and expand the line.

2. Craftsman At Sears Hometown Stores

Sears Hometown Stores is independently owned and separate from Sears and Stanley, Black & Decker. Currently, they carry Craftsman (at Sears) snow blowers and the residential series Husqvarna machines. You can view snow blowers on the Sears Hometown Stores website but you have to go to your local HomeTown store to purchase them. They will offer you a purchase or lease option.

3. NEW BRAND! Craftsman At Lowes, ACE. Craftsman.com, etc.

As you most likely know Stanley, Black & Decker (SBD) purchased the Craftsman name this year – but not the products. What that means for snow blowers is they will be independently developing their own line of Craftsman snow blowers, parts, and repair network.

The model numbers are completely different. You will have to get parts, warranty work, and service through Stanley, Black & Decker.  Apparently, Craftsman.com was also sold to SBD and currently states,

WHO SHOULD I CALL FOR PARTS & REPAIR?
If you are in need of parts and/or repair for your CRAFTSMAN product, please call our customer service line, 888-331-4569.

WHERE CAN I GET MY TOOLS/EQUIPMENT REPAIRED?
For all repairs, call 888-331-4569 or email us at craftsman@sbdinc.com and we’ll handle all your repair needs.

(Specifically for Snow Throwers:) WARRANTY SERVICE
With proof of sale, call this number to obtain the warranty coverage stated below: 1-888-331-4569.

The four Craftsman (SBD) models currently for sale at Lowes are made by MTD but it’s unclear if SBD will continue to use them, switch to another manufacturer, or build their own.

What’s New For Craftsman At Sears

I repeat – Craftsman at Sears is the trusted name and products you know.  Snow Blowers are sold through Sears.com and your local Sears store. All the parts, warranty repairs, and service are the same as before through SearsPartsDirect.com and Sears Repair Services.

Craftsman at Sears four new models for this fall:

New 2- stage Model 88781: The old 24 inch 88172 is getting a new larger 208cc engine. Check it out here: Craftsman 88781 24″ 208cc Electric Start  At around $599 it’s a great deal if you want an inexpensive snow blower.

New 2- stage Model 88789: This new model adds the “Quiet Engine” to the best value 24 inch,  88173. The 88173 was one of the best value snow blowers and with the addition of the new engine is also one of the quietist! Check it out here: Craftsman 88789 24″ 208cc Quiet Dual-Stage Snow Thrower with Electric Start

New 2- stage Model 88794: This is a new 28-inch value model. It has the long chute with the quick turn feature, 243cc engine and power steering all for around $899. It’s $100 less than the 28 inch 88394 with the Quiet Engine making it one of the best value 28 inch snow blowers! Check it out here: Craftsman 88794 26″ 243cc Dual-Stage Snow Thrower

New Single Stage 88980: This new 21 inch, 208cc snow thrower features a new remote chute and deflector control at a much better price than before. Check it out here: Craftsman 88980 21″ 208cc Single Stage Snow Thrower with Electric Start

In addition, expect EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE PRICING and all models this fall!

How this article is laid out:

I’m going to start with the economy models first and then the most popular Deluxe models. After that, I’ll review the heavy-duty models followed by the 3-stage snow blowers. I’ll leave the single stage machines for last.

Reading Craftsman 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 snow blowers are either fuel or operator related. Snow engines run/operate differently than your lawn mower engine. 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 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

Let’s get started!

2-Stage Economy Craftsman Snow Blowers

Craftsman has 2 snow blowers that are inexpensive, yet do the job for many homeowners. The machines use the same quality parts as the more expensive machine – they just don’t have as many features.  They have the same warranty as the more expensive models. One model, the 88781 is one of the best value snow blowers on the market today.  If you live in a subdivision with a 2 car driveway and get 80 inches of snow or less a year it’s a great choice.

Model 88789: The 24 inch 88789 keeps up the tradition of the original 88173 to be one of the best value snow blowers on the market. It works well for 2 car driveways up to 80 feet or so and can easily handle a 12 inch snow.  The high intake also means it can clear that huge snow plow drift the snow plows left you overnight. I highly recommend this snow blower if you have a 2 car driveway about 80 feet long, (or single car equivalent) get an average snowfall of 80 inches or less a year. It’s designed to work on gravel, turf, cement, and blacktop. The deep lug tires and 208cc engine are just the right size for this snow blower. It also has the poly skid shoes so it won’t scratch your stamped and decorative driveways and patio. Last but not least, the long discharge chute puts the snow where you want it and is very easy to use. This model does not have power steering but is light enough for most people to use. Yes, there are a lot of bigger, larger, and more expensive snow blowers on the market, but if you just want a decent 2-stage to clear your smaller driveway this is one of the best choices. It is still one of the best value machines out there.

Model 88781: If you have to have the least expensive 2-stage snow blower on the market this is the one.  The 208cc 24 inch 88781 is most like your old 5 hp Craftsman that you are replacing it with. It’s a simple snow blower capable of handling 8 to 12-inch snows and clear that end-of-driveway drift. This snow blower will take you longer to clear your driveway – but it will still get the job done. It’s a much better snow blower for most people than a single stage snow thrower. It’s one of the few snow blowers in this price range with electric start. The intake is higher than your 20-year-old Craftsman which means it can clear that 21-inch snow plow drift the snow plows left you overnight. This is a decent snow blower if you have a 2 car driveway about 40-50 feet long, (or single car equivalent) get an average snowfall of 50 inches or less a year. It’s designed to work on gravel, turf, cement and blacktop. The deep lug tires are the right size for this snow blower. It also has the poly skid shoes so it won’t scratch your stamped and decorative driveways and patio. This model does not have power steering but is light enough for most people to use. Don’t expect this model to clear heavy, wet snow or have a lot of traction for clearing the snow plow drift.

Sears has many sales and special offers running all the time. Please click on the links below to see the latest.  Be sure to look under the special offers tabs on their product page.

Sears Stock Item #	88781	88789	88173 (Black Friday?)
engine	4-cycle / 208 cc OHV	4-cycle / 208 cc OHV Quiet Engine	4-cycle / 208 cc OHV
starter type	electric	electric	electric
clearing width	24”	24”	24″
intake height	21”	21”	21″
auger / impeller	12” serrated auger / updated 12” impeller	12” serrated auger / updated 12” impeller	12” serrated auger / updated 12” impeller
speeds	6F/2R	6F/2R	6F/2R
Drive Control	Solid Axle	Solid Axle	Solid Axle
operation control		single hand control	single hand control
chute control	crank / manual	EZ Rotation Chute	EZ Rotation Chute
tire size	13” x 4” X-Trac	13” x 4” X-Trac	13″ x 4″ X-Trac
headlight
skid shoes	Glide-Tech	Glide-Tech	Glide-Tech
handle	steel panel	steel panel	panel
warranty	2 year limited	2 year limited	2 year limited
extended chute		Yes	Yes
drift cutters
Typical Sale Price  (Sales Change Often)	$599.99	$699.99	(Black Friday?)
Check Sale Price – Buy Here ->	Craftsman 88781 24″ 208cc Electric Start	Craftsman 88789 24″ 208cc Quiet Dual-Stage	Craftsman 88173 24″ 208cc Dual-Stage Snowblower

Sears always has special financing offers for you.

Sears has many sales and special offers running all the time. Please click on the links to see the latest.  Be sure to look under the special offers tabs on their product page.

2-Stage Deluxe Craftsman Snow Blowers

Craftsman snow blowers are among the most popular snow blowers. Along with the Model 88789 above the Deluxe models in this group make up a large share of snow blowers sold in the U. S. They are just the right size and power for the majority of the homes and driveways north of Interstate 80.  In other words, if you normally get 2-14 inch snows and average 40-80 inches a year these are great machines. They all have a 21-inch intake height so they will handle drifts and the occasional blizzard. No, they don’t have the capacity of the heavy-duty, “snow belt” machines but for most of us they are just the right combination of features, power and price.

Model 88640: If I wanted a new snow blower this year for my 2-car Midwest driveway this snow blower would be on my shortlist. It has large tires for the best traction on gravel and turf and power steering so anyone can use it. The discharge chute is simple to use, won’t bind up and is long so the snow goes where you want it too. The engine controls have been redesigned so they are easier to see and use.

The intake is higher than your 20-year-old Craftsman which means it can clear that 21-inch snow plow drift the snow plows left you overnight. This is a decent snow blower if you have a 2 car driveway 60-80 feet long, (or single car equivalent) get an average snowfall of 80 inches or so a year. It’s designed to work on gravel, turf, cement and blacktop. The deep lug tires are better and larger than Craftsman has ever installed on a 24-inch snow blower so it will have excellent traction. It also has the poly skid shoes so it won’t scratch your stamped and decorative driveways and patio. This model has power steering and is light enough for most people to use. Don’t expect this model to clear heavy, wet lake effect snow, but it will handle the snow plow drift at the end of your driveway well.

Model 88794: This new snow blower is the big brother of the 88640 above. 28 inch, 243cc engine. All the same features – just a larger size. This is one of the best value snow blowers for your typical midwestern driveway. Best of all this snow blower is a good, quality American made snow blower that costs the same or less than the Chinese models that are trying to sneak into the country.

Model 88394: This is one of the better value snow blowers in the 28-inch size. It has all the features you want including headlight, drift cutters, long-lasting poly skid shoes and 4-way chute control. The power steering makes it easy to use the Quiet engine makes it a great engine to operate. If you need “stealth mode” to keep peace in the neighborhood this snow blowers engine is 45% quieter than the standard Craftsman 208cc engine. This is a great snow blower if you have a 2-car drive 100-150 feet long, live in an area that gets up to 80 inches of snow a year and also have gravel and turf areas to clean.

Model 88396: This is one of the large frame snow blowers that just about anyone can operate. It’s balanced very well and the controls are right where they need to be. The controls on the redesigned engine are easy to see and use. This snow blower has been around for quite some time and has proven to be an excellent, dependable machine. It’s great for larger areas and 16” x 6.5” X-Trac tires give it the extra traction and flotation needed to work well off the pavement. It is very smooth and easy to use so it works well on 2-8 inches of snow just as well as a 14-18 inch’er.  Yes, Like I’ve been saying for the last 10 years – the electric chute control and thumb-joystick on this snow blower is bulletproof.

Sears Stock Item #	88640	88794	88394	88396
engine	4-cycle / 208 cc OHV	4-cycle / 243 cc OHV	4-cycle / 243cc OHV Quiet Engine	New Engine Redesign 4-cycle / 357cc OHV
starter type	electric	electric	electric	electric
clearing width	24″	28”	28″	30”
intake height	21”	21”	21″	21”
auger / impeller	12” serrated auger / updated 12” impeller	12” serrated auger / updated 12” impeller	12” serrated auger / updated 12” impeller	12” serrated auger / updated 12” impeller
speeds	6F/2R	6F/2R	6F/2R	6F/2R
Drive Control	Power Steering	Power Steering	Power Steering	Power Steering
operation control	single hand control	single hand control	single hand control	single hand control
chute control	EZ Rotation Chute	4-way EZ Rotation Chute	4-way joystick	4-way electric
tire size	15” x 5” X-Trac	15” x 5” X-Trac	15” x 5” X-Trac	16” x 6.5” X-Trac
headlight		LED headlight	LED headlight	LED headlight
skid shoes	Deluxe Glide-Tech	deluxe Glide-Tech	deluxe Glide-Tech	Deluxe Glide-Tech
handle	deluxe panel design	deluxe panel design	deluxe panel design	deluxe panel design
warranty	2 year limited	2 year limited	2 year limited	2 year limited
extended chute	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
drift cutters			Yes	Yes
Typical Sale Price  (Sales Change Often)	$799.99	$899.99	$999.99	$1,199.99
Check Sale Price – Buy Here ->	Craftsman 88640 24″ 208cc Dual Stage Zero-Turn Snowblower	Craftsman 88794 26″ 243cc Dual-Stage Snow Thrower	Craftsman 88394 28″ 243cc Dual-Stage Snowblower with Quiet Engine	Craftsman 88396 30″ 357cc Dual Stage Zero-Turn Snow Blower

Did you know Sears.com has free layaway on snow blowers?

Sears has many sales and special offers running all the time. Please click on the links to see the latest.  Be sure to look under the special offers tabs on their product page.

Heavy-Duty Craftsman Pro Snow Blowers

Last year Craftsman introduced this new snow blower to replace the old, tired 33 and 45 inch models but no one really explained why it’s such a leap forward for Craftsman… I won’t spend any time explaining why the old MTD built models were so bad. Let’s just say – they are gone! – and move on.

The Model 88976 and Model 88978 snow blowers are completely new and very heavy-duty. They feature thicker steel, better components including all steel discharge chutes, 14-inch high capacity impellers, and 14-inch front auger systems. These new snow blowers even have handle supports so using them is much easier than the old models.

It’s big and awesome but balanced well and surprisingly easy to use. I highly recommend these snow blowers if you have a long driveway to clear, or you get large doses of heavy, wet snow. These are high-end homeowner snow blowers, not commercial machines but I would have no problems recommending them to a church or other business that needs to clear large areas once or twice a week.

Compare this new heavy-duty Craftsman Pro to the Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm, Ariens Platinum 30, Husqvarna ST330P and the Toro PowerMax HD 1028.

I’ll say it – “For half the price as the Honda you get a snow blower that will perform the task faster.”

This model has the new Craftsman sloped engine design. It’s much easier to see and use the engine controls.

This year Consumer Reports rated this snow blower and its fraternal twin – the Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm, as the two of the best 2-stage machines. In addition, it scored just as well as the Cub Cadet 3X HD. 

By the way, the only difference besides the service/parts between the Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm and the Craftsman Pro is the Craftsman has a separate hand crank for the chute and lever for the deflector. The Troy-Bilt uses the electric joystick. The Craftsman Pro also has drift cutters, LED lights and an extra front light. You can watch my videos of the Arctic Storm here to get an idea of how well this snow blower works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=vNHWM3JYG4c and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASJb3_PqKoI&t=121s

Sears Stock Item #	88976	88978
engine	New Engine Redesign 4-cycle / 357 cc OHV	New Engine Redesign 4-cycle / 420 cc OHV
starter type	electric	electric
clearing width	30″	34″
intake height	23″	23″
auger / impeller	14″ serrated auger / 14″ impeller	14″ serrated auger / 14″ impeller
speeds	6F/2R	6F/2R
Drive Control	Power Steering	Power Steering
operation control	single hand control	single hand control
chute control	crank / remote pitch	crank / remote pitch
tire size	16” x 6.5” X-Trac	16” x 6.5” X-Trac
headlight	LED in dash plus LED light bar	LED in dash plus LED light bar
skid shoes	Large Deluxe Glide-Tech	Large Deluxe Glide-Tech
handle	deluxe panel design	deluxe panel design
warranty	2 year limited	2 year limited
extended chute	Yes – Metal	Yes – Metal
drift cutters	Yes	Yes
Typical Sale Price  (Sales Change Often)	$1,499.99	$1,699.99
Check Sale Price – Buy Here ->	Craftsman 31AH8DSH799 30″ 357cc Dual-Stage Snowblower w/ Power Steering	Craftsman 31AH8ESJ799 34″ 420cc Dual Stage Snowblower w/ Power Steering

You can also lease Craftsman Snow Blowers

Sears has many sales and special offers running all the time. Please click on the links to see the latest.  Be sure to look under the special offers tabs on their product page.

3-Stage Craftsman Pro Snow Blowers

Craftsman makes a snow blower for just about every driveway in the U.S.  So, they offer two 3-stage machines.  The snow blowers work well if you typically get 8-16 snows.  These snow blowers don’t work well on solid, frozen snow and tend to be a little messy when blowing snow falls less than 4 inches.

Someday I’d like Consumer Reports to explain how these two snow blowers rate lower than the Troy-Bilt and Cub Cadet counterparts. They are made for Craftsman by MTD and use the same parts and come off the same assembly line as the Troy-Bilt and Cub Cadet machines. The ONLY difference is the color. Maybe their way of testing is not as an exact science as they’d like you to believe…. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H451OQnNgzk

Sears Stock Item #	88870	88874
engine	4 cycle / 277cc OHV	New Engine Redesign 4-cycle / 357cc OHV
starter type	electric	electric
clearing width	24″	28″
intake height	21″	21″
auger / impeller	12″ / 12″ / 12″ 3 Stage System	12″ / 12″ / 12″ 3 Stage System
speeds	6F/2R	6F/2R
Drive Control	Power Steering	Power Steering
operation control	single hand control	single hand control
chute control	4-way joystick	4-way joystick
tire size	15″ x 5″ X-Trac	16″ x 6.5″ X-Trac
headlight	LED headlight	LED headlight
skid shoes	Deluxe Glide-Tech	Deluxe Glide-Tech
handle	deluxe panel design	deluxe panel design
warranty	2 year limited	2 year limited
extended chute	Yes	Yes
drift cutters	Yes	Yes
Typical Sale Price  (Sales Change Often)	$1,199.99	$1,399.99
Check Sale Price – Buy Here ->	Craftsman 88870 24″ 277cc 3-Stage Snowblower w/ Power Steering	Craftsman 88874 28″ 357cc 3-Stage Snowblower w/ Power Steering

Single Stage Craftsman Snow Blowers

Sears Stock Item #	11683	88780	88980
engine	4-cycle / 123 cc OHV	4-cycle / 179 cc OHV	4-cycle / 208cc OHV
starter type	recoil	electric	electric
clearing width	21”	21”	21″
intake height	13”	13”	13″
auger / impeller	Snow Claw	Snow Claw	Snow Claw
speeds	auger propelled	auger propelled	auger propelled
Drive Control
operation control
chute control	manual	manual	2-way joystick
tire size	8″ x 2″	8″ x 2″	8″ x 2″
headlight			LED
skid shoes	n/a	n/a	n/a
handle	ergonomic	ergonomic	ergonomic
warranty	2 year limited	2 year limited	2 year limited
extended chute
drift cutters
Typical Sale Price  (Sales Change Often)	$399.99	$499.99	$569.99
Check Sale Price – Buy Here ->	Craftsman 11683 21″ 123cc Single-Stage Snowblower	Craftsman 88780 21″ 179cc Single-Stage Snowblower w/ Electric Start	Craftsman 88980 21″ 208cc Single Stage Snow Thrower with Electric Start

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