Snow Removal Reviews

The trigger control power steering devices work well, as does the 120 volt starter. However the chute directional control often won't budge, and has to be assisted, and then it won't stay in the position you selected as engine vibration will cause it to move around throwing snow where you don't want it to go.

I got the craftsman 88790, a consumers best buy although I haven't used it yet, for $650.00 brand new in a box, I'm hoping I got a good deal. it's 9hp 28" powersteering w/ headlight. from the picture, its basically the same except the hp and I got 28".

**************note: for those experiencing chute control problems, see my info on that below***********************
I actually own the 10.5 HP 31AE5MLG729 version of this same snow thrower. The only difference is the horsepower, as far as I can tell from reading the description and looking at the picture, and the fact that mine came with drift cutters, which you'll hardly ever use unless snow gets more than 21" deep regularly where you live, and you're unable to clear it fast enough.

The unit comes with oil in the engine, which needs to be checked frequently during the first 25 hours of operation while the engine "breaks in". It also comes with a packet of Sta-bil which is a fuel stabilizer, keeping the fuel from "gumming up" or degrading, and is enough to treat 2.5 gallons. Just make sure you don't put the Sta-bil directly into the machine - put it in the gas can when you buy the gas for the snow thrower. Also included on mine were extra shear bolts, which hold the separate blades of the auger to the central shaft, and which break apart if an obstructing object were to get into the augers, and save damaging any expensive parts. There's a handy little storage space for two of them on the handle area of my model.

Assembly is a piece of cake, but make sure you have a sturdy wrench to loosen the skid-shoe nuts to adjust them to the proper height. I had to use a ratchet wrench.

**********I also had a concern with the joystick chute controls, as the models in the store were very hard to turn. During assembly, I simply put a TINY amount of motor oil on the contact surfaces, and now the control works every bit as well as that for the Toro, which a "leading consumer magazine" reported as the easiest to use.

The machine has electric start, which means you plug a cord into the machine and the wall, push a button and voila...running engine. The engine has a two-step choke and a variable speed control (the only speed I ever bother with is the fastest). It also has the typical rubber primer, which you'd use when it's fairly cold out, and the engine hasn't been running for a while. As far as drive speed goes, there are six forward speeds, from "creeper" for really dense, wet, or icy snow, up to a fast "transport" speed. Two reverse speeds round out the drive.

I set the machine up in my walk-out basement, and to get to the driveway you have to go up stairs once outside. With a little assistance from me, and holding the handles down so the front of the machine didn't hit the stairs, this self-propelled beast went right up 5 shallow stairs! Once on the driveway, I pushed down the auger and drive controls, and we were off clearing the recent 14" snowfall. After 7 years of an underpowered single-stage snow thrower which clogged up constantly, I was amazed! The joystick control for the chute directed snow exactly where I wanted it....including OVER the street (approx 40' or so) and into the neighbor's yard! WOW. It also threw the snow directly over a shed (8' tall) I have and into the yard. I even cleared a path through the woods with ZERO effort!

After a bit of fiddling with the skid-shoe height, this thing now clears right to the asphalt, and doesn't get hung up on anything. Packed snow from the plow and snowmobiles running over the plow's packed snow? Not a problem. Simply slow the drive speed to let the serrated auger take care of the icy mess. 14" of snow? No worries-clears up to 21" deep easily.

Leery of two-stage snow throwers because they're hard to handle? Not so with this model, which has power steering. Simply grip the little trigger under the handle on the side towards which you want to turn, that wheel's drive disengages, the other wheel pushes it right around. You can even pull back on that side's handle and go right back up next to where you just cleared.

The unit does have a handy interlock which keeps the auger engaged when you let go with your left hand to change the chute direction.

As for fuel efficiency, I cleared my driveway and my neighbor's, including the packed stuff from the plow going by, plus a 300' trail through the woods, using about 1/2 of the 1-gallon tank.

Of course, nothing's perfect, and this was no exception - the chute wasn't quite adjustable a full 190 degrees as is common with the "crank" type models. Also, I had to adjust the drive speed selector...the machine was going forward in "R1", the first reverse gear. I'd give it 4.5 stars if I had the option.

This will do the job...if you have several wet, heavy, 6 inch + snowfalls each season. However, I would instead reccommend the Craftsman knock-off version of this same snow-blower that also includes an electric starter (essential on those verrry cold days) for only about $40 more. Or, you can buy this snow thrower and purchase the electric starter seperately for about $150 (and lose out on a good deal). The lack of the electric starter is about all your missing with this one, and it's not too huge and heavy. It clears my driveway (about 25x60) in about 30-40 minutes depending on the amount of snow. Oh, and it's fun to blow the snow everywhere!

I have used my new yardman 3 times and I am on my 2nd v-belt. I have an old toro before they came out with the shute and it still has the orginal belt on it. I like the idea of not mixing the oil with the gas. The engine starts easily and it hasn't stalled on me yet which is great. I might try a 34 and a half inch belt next time and see if it last better. The snow was on the heavy side but I can't control mother nature. I have a long driveway. I tried the electric start once and it works but it starts on the first or second pull so I don't have to use it. If it wasn't for the v-belts I would rate it higher.

This machine failed to provide what the manufacturer promissed.
The elctrical motor which controls the position of the chute burnes out within few months. The manufacturer knows about the problem yet it continues to sell the snow thrower with it. Instead of reimbursing or recalling all the model the manufacturer simply wants you to buy a concersion kit for $55.00. The conversion kit is far more complicated to install than they want you to think. The customer support is teriible. Do yourself a favor .. do not buy this machine.

I just have unpacked, tighten two screws to put the handle bar with controls (that is all the assembly work I had to do), poured some gasoline, checked the engine oil which was already there, then started a few times both using electric and coil. The engine never failed to start so far. coil Starting is so reliable so far that I am yet to see if I really need the electric start at all.

However it was supposed to be trigger controled, (as it is still on their description) I see the place on the handle bar where the triggers should go, but the triggers and their wires are missing. And I have not figured out how to lock the levers yet. Without locking them, it is not one hand operation, I will need all four hands and feet.
As far as the machine is concern, it seems very good.
Simon Sabir

Didn't expect a lot of power, but this hardly threw snow 5 feet. I got more power out of my Murray bikes I rode when I was a kid.

I quickly got used to avoiding the power cord, but after three uses, it slowed down and eventually stopped working altogether. I took it apart a bit, but I couldn't figure out what was wrong besides a damaged motor. There is a 30-day "Normal Wear Parts" Guarantee, so I'll have to check that out.

UPDATE: Had to have the electric motor replaced, luckily under warranty, because the repair was more than the original price I paid. It took about 10 weeks to get it repaired, which even in New England was longer than was left in winter. So I placed it in my garage to await for the summer tag sale season.

I was not to impressed with this snow blower, I bought this one because I have like maybe 100 ft of sidewak I need to clear - well I quickly got the hang of not running over the cord for the machine but I just was not happy with how far the snow was blown it was like a foot maybe, so by time I get to the other side, I have all the snow and guess what it is too much for the snow blower! AHH.... You live and learn!