I bought a Craftsman 24-inch snowblower from a shop that I knew the employees for a few years. Someone brought it in because it wouldn't start, so she bought a new one and had them sell it for her. I talked to one of the guys about it. He said it sat in the back for 6 months, and they just put ot on the floor 2 weeks ago. The owner used it 3 times in two years. The employee took me over to it and gave it a pull, and it fired right up. It was in excellent shape. Not dings or scratches, the belts looked brand new & stored in the garage. She wanted just under $500. So I asked them to see if she would take $400.00. Sure enough, I took it. 3 years now, and it's still runs like new. It's such a good machine, but no one was interested in it. Great tips
I thought you might mention that older machines would likely have a better build quality than newer ones. Granted, the likelihood of rot and parts availability would be a concern for older machines as you mentioned. Great tips on what to look out for Don!
I just serviced a 1984 toro snow blower 724, the thing is a tank. It was my grandpa's for years, after he passed away it bounced around the family and was "repaired" at a hardware store, which left the friction drive engaged while in neutral and messed up the governor linkages so people thought it was toast. After correcting the "fix", due to the fact that grandpa always kept up on service with it and left it in a heated shop, it still has a lot of life left and is hungry for snow.
I’ve found a half dozen free snowblowers in the past few years… I spent maybe $600 rehabbing them all. One needed a cable stop and oil change. One needed a valve job and a new chute. I added an electric starter to another. New carbs on two of them. Skids and/or scrapper bars on most of them. Belts , bushings, shear bolts, etc. as needed. Application of two large Klein adjustable wrenches let me straighten out bent auger housings and augers. They all work great… My family and a friend are now equipped with the free machines and I’ve got a couple back ups if something fails. Tips I gained from Don facilitated this effort… Thank you Don!
Thanks DB, very informative, love your videos! Every year I will buy used snowblowers, usually the newer ones. I’ll fix them up, ie: tuneups, belts, adjust cables, new 0-20 oil, new plug and generally clean and shine the exterior. One item that I’ve recently purchased was an ultrasonic cleaner. This has been a deal breaker for me!! Tecumseh carbs if not maintained will ultimately get gummed up and it’s usually a new carb that is the solution. Well let me tell you, after purchasing 1/2 a dozen snowblowers with 3 or 4 running rough ie: won’t idle, runs rich at full throttle, backfires…well 30-50 minutes in this solution and every one comes out spotless and runs like a new carb. I can’t say enough good things about this sonic cleaner. They and the cleaning solution are not cheap, $275-$300 but it is def a deal breaker for me. No more having to buy expensive carbs. Anyways, just wanted to share this with you and your viewers. Hope it helps…thanks for your videos!!
tip: put your dirty parts in a zip lock bag with ultrasonic cleaner fluid. fill the ultrasonic cleaner with water and put zip lock bag into the water. it will save you some money on the ultrasonic cleaner fluid.
try a little seafoam in the gas. it always clears up carbs that are hunting and surging due to some clog in the system. i put it in all my gas cans. also put some marvels mystery oil in as well. never had a carb issue in over 25 years.
I'm going to school for this and have been doing tune ups on snowblowers as a way to earn more money for tools. I work on anything besides the ones with a broken gearbox or seized up augers. I talked with my instructor about this and he said it's really only the kind of repair you would do for a machine that is 2-3 years old and just out of warranty. Also the rusted out ones I just let the people know that they need to start saving for a new one as their current machine will not last long. New snowblowers are expensive so for a lot of people it's worth having them serviced as long as possible, fewer and fewer shops around here will work on them though. Makes it easy for me to find work!
I recycle snowblowers for resale. An older machine with thick metal, replaceable bushings, bearings, a history of decent maintenance and Tecumseh engine is hands down better than anything in the big box stores. I can still sell a 10hp 30inch for around $400. Canadian Tire and Home Depot cheap is $999.
My first snow blower was a Gilson. I totally disagree with telling people to go out and buy just ANY new snowblower. I recommend anyone looking for a snowblower to go to a DEALER and stay away from big box junk. I push for commercial grade because quality means everything. Yes, you pay more, but you get a better built snowblower for the money. Husqvarna is crazy expensive on EVERYTHING as far as parts. A friction wheel is $45 that is just the rubber wheel, not the entire assembly. As always, another good video. You touched on many points that are important for buying a used snow blower. The same can be true for any small engine equipment.
I bought a used chipper/shredder. When I drove up I smelled ether. Yep, needed ether to start if it was very cold. Still have it and glad I bought it............Jay
Bought a new one couple years ago. Needed an engine plus I wanted an electric start. I was rolling old one to curb, neighbor asked what’s wrong with it? Said it needed an engine. He says I have old machine that’s rusted I’ll switch engines. He did and still working👍
I have and use an 80s to early 90s Atlas 322 2stroke. It's a single stage thrower that does surprisingly pretty well. I mean I don't go through feet of snow but does clear my walk way driveway and road after the plows been by. I do take care of it and only use Echo Red Armor and ethanol free fuel. Oh and I live in the mountains of Pa. Awesome tips DB. Thanks for all your hard work
All great tips in your videoa, thanks. Another simple but important tip is to pull the oil dipstcik and inspect the oil. Black sludge on the dipstick will indicate a machine that has not been cared for whereas clean oil will be a pointer to someone who probably takes a bit more care.
Great Tips Dony. It is very important that Both wheels are loose on the axle ie not Seized. Tip the machine up on its nose and check axles for excessive play , remove the bottom cover and check Drive Wheel and Disc, gears/chain and bearings. Check Ezee Steer if equipped. Thanks. My White branded MTD is about 20 years old. 10.5 HP and 30" cut. Irreplaceable. Love the canopy I installed, and other mods.
I got a great deal on a 29" snow blower, I saw the add, talked to the owner, he had not ran it for a while, he said he had no gas to start it, and try it! I was uncertain, and the distance to take a look at it? He actually made a video that he bought gas, used the electric start, and It fired up. On the video he did the jump up and kick your heels. He wound up delivering it to my driveway, helped me unload it for no extra cost. And I did have to clean the carb. but the paint on it is perfect. Have used it for two seasons now, and you know the cost of a new one such as 29" with electric start!!!
My 26 year old Ariens 724 compact still runs decent but has been patched up to cracks from years of use on a bumpy gravel driveway. Upgraded last week to the Ariens 90th Anniversary white/orange Platinum 24 SHO. It's a beautiful machine and I can't wait to use it. The old girl is easy enough to work on but smokes auger belts too easily when being pushed hard to clear end of drive slush.
Love the video and grateful at the same time that I don’t have to deal with snow…lol. Still watch though as Donny is the most honest mechanic ever and appreciate all his advice overall
Boston Massachusetts : i haven't needed to use my Ariens 2003 1332 snow blower in the last 2 winters. i hope the snow gods are more generous this year.
If you come across an older snowblower that looks like it's been taken care of and it has a Tecumseh Snow King engine, it's definitely worth buying - those engines are pretty much indestructible and the carbs are one of the easiest to work on/clean.
Bună Don,datorită sfaturilor dumneavoastră și a celorlalți creatori de conținut reușesc să mențin toate utilajele funcționale și în stare bună, vă iubesc și vă respect, urmăresc videourile dumneavoastră cu mare plăcere, succes în tot ce faci, salutări din România ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
I know about buying used equipment. I bought a 2011 Troy-Bilt Horse Hydrostatic, Kohler 22HP, 46" Deck Tractor Mower. The guy bought a Zero Turn 2-3 years later and left the Troy-Bilt sitting in the weather. My friend who does all kinds of mechanic work did not want to work on my 4-year-old Self-Propelled Push Mower and told me to get a Tractor Mower. He found this one for me, worked on it to get it in good operating condition and brought it to me. It's a Rust Bucket and I spent more in parts and rust repair than it was worth. Steering shaft and rusted gear seat, horribly rusted deck, and the list goes on. It worked great at first after his work, but then started falling apart. I still have it in pieces waiting to get to repairing the deck.
Such an excellent video! Numerous helpful tips and valuable advice. Don is earnest by saving us money and making sure we don’t get stuck with junk. “Just walk away, guys…” is the best suggestion.
I just bought a great 2000 spirit 8 24 by Murray. It did have a bent auger, but easy to straighten. Very low hours, no rust. $150 It will replace my 2006 Murray 5 24 which still works fine, that I got free and have used for years. The 2006 got an adjustable carb because it gets cold here in MN and I may put one on the 2000 at the first sign of trouble. If you have tools, there's no reason to spend $1000 to avoid shoveling. There are thousands of used sb in MN.
Back in 1997 I bought a used Honda single-stage HS621. It's still in top shape and handles Chicago winters fairly easily. Almost fun to use. Good used Toro 2-stroke single-stage machines are still plentiful out there, and they typically punch above their weight class. As always, fresh fuel and proper storage are crucial. To delay rust, I use a wax-based aerosol motorcycle chain lube, to get in between seams and fasteners. If you have an unpaved surface, if course you'd need a 2-stage, but otherwise, don't overlook a quality single-stage.
I’ve had more years where I didn’t use my snowblower than used it in Colorado. Many times a shovel is faster or the sun has warmed the sidewalks so much before and after we do nothing. Some years you use it every other month. Many many sell because they’re retiring to warmer climates, used in my area is always a better buy
I bought a used lawn tractor. It was sold through a dealer but had only a taillight guarantee. Good compression but I changed the belts, battery, oil and all the filters, and sharpened the blades. Being a gearhead was a big plus and have run it a lot plonger than the store expected. I have to store it outdoors but it is in a tent with a battery trickle charger on it. Hoping to keep it going for a few more years. Keep up the great videos.
Don, I would only add two points. On the issue of rust, I would say RUN away from any rusty machine instead of walking. My snow blower is rust free after 25 years because it gets sprayed with a high quality rustproofing product at the start of the season. In general, try to buy used equipment in the off season. Buy your snowblower in spring or summer and your lawnmower in the fall. You will be in a better position to find a bargain when demand is low.
For me, the difference between a "old" snowblower and a modern one is the type of tires and spout. I always look for the aggressive snow tires that work well without chains versus the turf-style that require chains. Regarding the spout, I believe that the tall, plastic spouts do a much better job than the short steel ones.
Les marques connues et la "shop" de votre quartier sont les meilleurs, toujours. Encouragez vos marchands du coin ils tiennent à vous et vous apprendrez très vite à tenir à eux. Merci Don et bon hiver.
With the machine not running, I stick my hand down the discharge chute and grab the impeller to check the impeller bearing for any play. But since my 1993 Toro is still going, I don't foresee having to do that anytime soon.
I plan to keep by 40 year+ Columbia Snowflight running as long as possible. The newer ones are made of flimsy stamped steel, the old ones are tanks. Something else to check is that the augers can spin freely on the shaft. Sometimes the shear pins/bolts are broken and they are only attached by rust. You won;t find this out until you hit heavy snow.
I have a toro s 2000 with a Suzuki engine, bought new in 1992 still runs great just new paddles and scrapers. The new Chinese blowers are junk! Thanks Donny!
I fix those as a side hustle. I usually charge 75 to 100 bucks + the new parts. It's a take it or leave it type of deal. I like to help less fortunate people BUT, I dislike city people who are looking around, for a "good deal", and resale it "as is", for a ridiculous amount of profit.
Great tips on buying a used snowblower. I just finished performing maintenance on my 25+ yo Yard Machines (MTD) and its still going strong. I live in Western New York (Rochester) and we've received less snow every winter. Last season I used my blower all of four times. Keep up the great videos!
Bought a used Toro Powermax off FB marketplace from a retiree who kept it in a garage and only used it to touch up after the plow came through. Very good condition, very little rust. A little water in the tank, but this all flushed out and the carb had minimal corrosion. 12 yr od model. Biggest factors were low usage time and always kept in a dry garage. Only problem now is that the engine model/size is no longer manufactured. Fortunately, the carb is not unique. I will say, that the pull start is a bit tough. But it always works (it has electric start too).
I was given a power smart. Cleaned carburetor. Ran good the cables needed adjusting drive and auger. Sold it on marketplace. Mabe the guy try drive auger electric start ect. I strive to make them good.
Don I am a big fan of your channel buddy been in to small engines since I was a kid 😀😀 though i would trust used equipment because it may run normally for the seller then the next owner buys it then they can’t get it to crank up.
Have a question and a request regarding Ariens pinion shaft getting loose, the repair kit for the rounded-out hole where the shaft sticks out on the right side of the housing, and the anti-rotation tab that's needed on the left side of the housing. Your experience ? Possible video ? Great channel, love it these past couple years !!!
I get these machines especially mtd they rust' the paint at the bucket rust. I pull skid skids use a de scaler and wire brush on a grinder. Clean them up use rustoleum and brush the paint in. What the instructions call for on can. Make sure skids and scraper are good engine and belts good. Check drive wheel. When you go to blow snow spray bucket with spray oil or similar. Do end of drive way with salt first. Then the rest. My personal snowblower I park in heated garage. Helps not to rust.dont buy old machines.
It’s very unfortunate but very old machines are getting pretty scarce. I’m talking about machines with the cast iron universal on the auger shaft such as John Deere, Ariens, and etc.. Everything on these pieces of equipment was built heavy duty including the sheetmetal being of a heavier gauge. If you have to move “ heart attack snow” or heavy salted street plowing from the end of your drive nothing is better. The reason being is that due to their weight they hug the pavement compared to new machines which ride up on top. Unfortunately manufactures have cheapened the materials in snowblowers just like everything else to turn a bigger profit or in some cases stay profitable. If you can find such a machine that has been stored indoors and appears to or has a maintenance record like Donny has said, I would advise you to buy it assuming it tests out ok. Yes it will be heavier,which is what you want, but you do not push a snowblower any more than you push your car, you drive it forwards and back😮
In five years it would be interesting for you to do a video on buying used Battery powered snowblowers like Ego and Yardworks. My guess would be that most of those will not be around as the owners for the most part do not look after them. Being battery powered they will feel they are use and forget. I do not hate on Battery as most of my Garden equipment is Battery, Milwaukee eco system but not snowblowers, those batteries for ego will be a killer in the future and the noise that machine makes when in use is very annoying and loud. Great video and i use your channel for my Ariens 30 Deluxe maintenance. Hope you get snow in Muskoka area soon.
I thought YardWorks was made by MTD? I have an old 20 year or older Craftsman with a Briggs and Stratton, still runs, though needs finessing when cold out. New gas machines in Canada are almost as much as the battery operated ones now, both are ridiculously priced.
Try to find out if the gear case gear grease has ever been changed or even checked. Most owners never even check let alone change it. That's one of the most expensive parts to replace. Still if you can find an older model Toro, Ariens, etc. and and replace a few parts, you are better off than paying high prices for a newer one, which are made with thinner metal and alot of plastic parts now.
I have a ariens with 420cc . electric start is great, but if I use the pull start it yanks the plastic handle out of my hand when it starts. What would cause this??
Hi Don, I live in North Carolina, where snowfall is limited, so most people don’t need snowblowers. Some may have small ones, but not the ones you have. I’m sure they’re major lifesavers, and I’d have three if I lived there. Can I ask you to answer an unrelated question for me? I have a newer Briggs & Stratton Storm Responder generator with a Chinese Honda clone engine labeled Briggs & Stratton. I’m curious to know which Chinese engine manufacturer makes these engines. The generator is about 3 years old and had only 106 hours on it. It was well-maintained, except for missing a carburetor and spark plug. I replaced them and got it running beautifully for a used equipment store owner. I offered to trade him a Ryobi generator for it, as the Briggs & Stratton has better features and a stronger engine. He agreed and sold the Ryobi that I traded him quickly. Can you tell me if the engine is a Ducar, an LCT, a Lifan, or another manufacturer? I can’t find any labels. I’m happy it has a Chinese engine. I’ve owned several machines with Chinese engines, and they’ve always done well. Carburetors are easy to find, convert to dual fuel systems with propane and gasoline, and adjusting valves when needed is a piece of cake. Thanks,
I bought a used Honda hs1132 back in the late 2000's (maybe 2007/2008)after we moved into a house with a large driveway. I wanna say I paid about $1800 for it. Ran rough, one auger was seized to the shaft, and it surged a bit when not underload. I had to redo the carburator a couple times and used a propane torch and a lot of penetrating fluid to get the auger unstuck from the shaft. Used it a lot the 1st few years as we also had a backyard rink to clear. Couple of years ago, finally had to replace the belts and the bearings that hold the impellor shaft in place. Welded some metal onto the skids that were half worn. I also had to adjust the valves to get rid of some awful kickback when pull starting it. Paid about half of what the new ones would have cost back in the late 2000's. I store it with the carb drained, and spray the bucket and auger with rustproofing spray before putting it away in the spring. It replaced a Honda hs622 that I bought new in 2001. The HS622, I sold for about $1200.
How about a Troy-Bilt riding mower with a power more all trouble with that thing a bad coil wouldn't keep the battery charged and that was brand new too I got a brand new Toro snowblower it's been pretty good thank you for the video
I bought a snowblower from a store going out of business and they lost the key. I said I will buy it if you knock off some of the price. They did, my wife says how was I going to fix it. I put a toggle switch in. During the next summer we had a garage sell and this one guy wanted to buy other things and I sold him the snowblower for twice what I paid. The next year I bought a brand new one
A few years back I bought a new snow blower from Canadian Tire. When I got it home only 1 rear tire drove it. A cable also did not work. What I found out when I returned for a refund that the mechanic's in the shop don't assemble them. They hire a company that puts them together. Kids with no skills. So a lessen here is know who puts them together.
id buy a used one...around ehre theyre getting pretty cheap as there hasnt been much snow the last few years but i buy used becasue id just fix it i have 5 right now and they all work spendning 1500 bucks is just a bit much for myself
The best advice is to only look at used machines from reputable quality manufacturers. Ariens, Simplicity Toro, and Honda are the only ones I'd even bother looking at used. Crapsman and the other clones are just built too cheaply to begin with.
"Obscure brand"? I thought other than Husqvarna and Ariens, all the gasoline snowblowers in the US were made by MTD? Arent there only like 4 companies than make gas snowblowers in the US?
Just did a power smart blower, what a poorly designed machine, everything made to be disposable and only a few years old ! Metal is an p as paper thin and bushings are cheap plastic, non- existent grease nipples & poor quality everything
I buy used machines for 100 to 250 never bought a rotted out machine. I say no thanks and most are just given to me which them i take them apart for parts .
1st never buy a Noma/Murray built blower lol. All they do is clog up because the hole at the bottom of the chute is WAY to small. The hole is literally just Slightly larger than a 2x4. WAY WAY WAY to small for a blower that has a 10-12" impeller. The 27,29 and 31" Noma/Murray built blowers all have the same sized hole. The 29 and 31" blowers really plug up fast.
Well at least the snow blower's at your shop get a once over before sell used snow blower's $500 for the electric starter for the Husqvarna snow blower 😧😧 that is a lot of money to get it
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Do This If You Own An ARIENS Snowblower! MUST WATCH!
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I bought a Craftsman 24-inch snowblower from a shop that I knew the employees for a few years. Someone brought it in because it wouldn't start, so she bought a new one and had them sell it for her. I talked to one of the guys about it. He said it sat in the back for 6 months, and they just put ot on the floor 2 weeks ago. The owner used it 3 times in two years. The employee took me over to it and gave it a pull, and it fired right up. It was in excellent shape. Not dings or scratches, the belts looked brand new & stored in the garage. She wanted just under $500. So I asked them to see if she would take $400.00. Sure enough, I took it. 3 years now, and it's still runs like new. It's such a good machine, but no one was interested in it. Great tips
I thought you might mention that older machines would likely have a better build quality than newer ones. Granted, the likelihood of rot and parts availability would be a concern for older machines as you mentioned. Great tips on what to look out for Don!
I just serviced a 1984 toro snow blower 724, the thing is a tank. It was my grandpa's for years, after he passed away it bounced around the family and was "repaired" at a hardware store, which left the friction drive engaged while in neutral and messed up the governor linkages so people thought it was toast. After correcting the "fix", due to the fact that grandpa always kept up on service with it and left it in a heated shop, it still has a lot of life left and is hungry for snow.
I’ve found a half dozen free snowblowers in the past few years… I spent maybe $600 rehabbing them all. One needed a cable stop and oil change. One needed a valve job and a new chute. I added an electric starter to another. New carbs on two of them. Skids and/or scrapper bars on most of them. Belts , bushings, shear bolts, etc. as needed. Application of two large Klein adjustable wrenches let me straighten out bent auger housings and augers. They all work great… My family and a friend are now equipped with the free machines and I’ve got a couple back ups if something fails. Tips I gained from Don facilitated this effort… Thank you Don!
Thanks DB, very informative, love your videos! Every year I will buy used snowblowers, usually the newer ones. I’ll fix them up, ie: tuneups, belts, adjust cables, new 0-20 oil, new plug and generally clean and shine the exterior. One item that I’ve recently purchased was an ultrasonic cleaner. This has been a deal breaker for me!! Tecumseh carbs if not maintained will ultimately get gummed up and it’s usually a new carb that is the solution. Well let me tell you, after purchasing 1/2 a dozen snowblowers with 3 or 4 running rough ie: won’t idle, runs rich at full throttle, backfires…well 30-50 minutes in this solution and every one comes out spotless and runs like a new carb. I can’t say enough good things about this sonic cleaner. They and the cleaning solution are not cheap, $275-$300 but it is def a deal breaker for me. No more having to buy expensive carbs.
Anyways, just wanted to share this with you and your viewers. Hope it helps…thanks for your videos!!
tip: put your dirty parts in a zip lock bag with ultrasonic cleaner fluid. fill the ultrasonic cleaner with water and put zip lock bag into the water. it will save you some money on the ultrasonic cleaner fluid.
"deal breaker" means something in the negative. ex: the car was so rusted up it was a deal breaker for me.
try a little seafoam in the gas. it always clears up carbs that are hunting and surging due to some clog in the system. i put it in all my gas cans. also put some marvels mystery oil in as well. never had a carb issue in over 25 years.
I'm going to school for this and have been doing tune ups on snowblowers as a way to earn more money for tools. I work on anything besides the ones with a broken gearbox or seized up augers. I talked with my instructor about this and he said it's really only the kind of repair you would do for a machine that is 2-3 years old and just out of warranty. Also the rusted out ones I just let the people know that they need to start saving for a new one as their current machine will not last long. New snowblowers are expensive so for a lot of people it's worth having them serviced as long as possible, fewer and fewer shops around here will work on them though. Makes it easy for me to find work!
I recycle snowblowers for resale. An older machine with thick metal, replaceable bushings, bearings, a history of decent maintenance and Tecumseh engine is hands down better than anything in the big box stores. I can still sell a 10hp 30inch for around $400. Canadian Tire and Home Depot cheap is $999.
My first snow blower was a Gilson. I totally disagree with telling people to go out and buy just ANY new snowblower. I recommend anyone looking for a snowblower to go to a DEALER and stay away from big box junk. I push for commercial grade because quality means everything. Yes, you pay more, but you get a better built snowblower for the money. Husqvarna is crazy expensive on EVERYTHING as far as parts. A friction wheel is $45 that is just the rubber wheel, not the entire assembly. As always, another good video. You touched on many points that are important for buying a used snow blower. The same can be true for any small engine equipment.
I bought a used chipper/shredder. When I drove up I smelled ether. Yep, needed ether to start if it was very cold. Still have it and glad I bought it............Jay
Bought a new one couple years ago. Needed an engine plus I wanted an electric start. I was rolling old one to curb, neighbor asked what’s wrong with it? Said it needed an engine. He says I have old machine that’s rusted I’ll switch engines. He did and still working👍
Some used are great.. like mine..15yrs old and still looks new and runs first start.. with yearly maintenance has saved this Areins
Put it out at the curb I'll swing by in about 10 minutes 😀
I have and use an 80s to early 90s Atlas 322 2stroke. It's a single stage thrower that does surprisingly pretty well. I mean I don't go through feet of snow but does clear my walk way driveway and road after the plows been by. I do take care of it and only use Echo Red Armor and ethanol free fuel. Oh and I live in the mountains of Pa. Awesome tips DB. Thanks for all your hard work
All great tips in your videoa, thanks.
Another simple but important tip is to pull the oil dipstcik and inspect the oil. Black sludge on the dipstick will indicate a machine that has not been cared for whereas clean oil will be a pointer to someone who probably takes a bit more care.
Great Tips Dony. It is very important that Both wheels are loose on the axle ie not Seized. Tip the machine up on its nose and check axles for excessive play , remove the bottom cover and check Drive Wheel and Disc, gears/chain and bearings. Check Ezee Steer if equipped. Thanks. My White branded MTD is about 20 years old. 10.5 HP and 30" cut. Irreplaceable. Love the canopy I installed, and other mods.
I got a great deal on a 29" snow blower, I saw the add, talked to the owner, he had not ran it for a while, he said he had no gas to start it, and try it! I was uncertain, and the distance to take a look at it? He actually made a video that he bought gas, used the electric start, and It fired up. On the video he did the jump up and kick your heels. He wound up delivering it to my driveway, helped me unload it for no extra cost. And I did have to clean the carb. but the paint on it is perfect. Have used it for two seasons now, and you know the cost of a new one such as 29" with electric start!!!
I will probably never need a snowblower in South Carolina but I can appreciate your advice and they are interesting machines to me.
My 26 year old Ariens 724 compact still runs decent but has been patched up to cracks from years of use on a bumpy gravel driveway. Upgraded last week to the Ariens 90th Anniversary white/orange Platinum 24 SHO. It's a beautiful machine and I can't wait to use it. The old girl is easy enough to work on but smokes auger belts too easily when being pushed hard to clear end of drive slush.
You will love that 24” SHO… My Platinum saves me a LOT of time and energy over the 8 HP 28” MTD it replaced.
Love the video and grateful at the same time that I don’t have to deal with snow…lol. Still watch though as Donny is the most honest mechanic ever and appreciate all his advice overall
Boston Massachusetts : i haven't needed to use my Ariens 2003 1332 snow blower in the last 2 winters. i hope the snow gods are more generous this year.
If you come across an older snowblower that looks like it's been taken care of and it has a Tecumseh Snow King engine, it's definitely worth buying - those engines are pretty much indestructible and the carbs are one of the easiest to work on/clean.
Bună Don,datorită sfaturilor dumneavoastră și a celorlalți creatori de conținut reușesc să mențin toate utilajele funcționale și în stare bună, vă iubesc și vă respect, urmăresc videourile dumneavoastră cu mare plăcere, succes în tot ce faci, salutări din România ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
I know about buying used equipment. I bought a 2011 Troy-Bilt Horse Hydrostatic, Kohler 22HP, 46" Deck Tractor Mower. The guy bought a Zero Turn 2-3 years later and left the Troy-Bilt sitting in the weather. My friend who does all kinds of mechanic work did not want to work on my 4-year-old Self-Propelled Push Mower and told me to get a Tractor Mower. He found this one for me, worked on it to get it in good operating condition and brought it to me. It's a Rust Bucket and I spent more in parts and rust repair than it was worth. Steering shaft and rusted gear seat, horribly rusted deck, and the list goes on. It worked great at first after his work, but then started falling apart. I still have it in pieces waiting to get to repairing the deck.
Such an excellent video! Numerous helpful tips and valuable advice. Don is earnest by saving us money and making sure we don’t get stuck with junk. “Just walk away, guys…” is the best suggestion.
I just bought a great 2000 spirit 8 24 by Murray. It did have a bent auger, but easy to straighten. Very low hours, no rust. $150 It will replace my 2006 Murray 5 24 which still works fine, that I got free and have used for years. The 2006 got an adjustable carb because it gets cold here in MN and I may put one on the 2000 at the first sign of trouble. If you have tools, there's no reason to spend $1000 to avoid shoveling. There are thousands of used sb in MN.
Back in 1997 I bought a used Honda single-stage HS621. It's still in top shape and handles Chicago winters fairly easily. Almost fun to use. Good used Toro 2-stroke single-stage machines are still plentiful out there, and they typically punch above their weight class. As always, fresh fuel and proper storage are crucial. To delay rust, I use a wax-based aerosol motorcycle chain lube, to get in between seams and fasteners. If you have an unpaved surface, if course you'd need a 2-stage, but otherwise, don't overlook a quality single-stage.
I’ve had more years where I didn’t use my snowblower than used it in Colorado. Many times a shovel is faster or the sun has warmed the sidewalks so much before and after we do nothing. Some years you use it every other month. Many many sell because they’re retiring to warmer climates, used in my area is always a better buy
I bought a used lawn tractor. It was sold through a dealer but had only a taillight guarantee. Good compression but I changed the belts, battery, oil and all the filters, and sharpened the blades. Being a gearhead was a big plus and have run it a lot plonger than the store expected. I have to store it outdoors but it is in a tent with a battery trickle charger on it. Hoping to keep it going for a few more years. Keep up the great videos.
we don't have much snow here in alabama, but very good information. thanks for the video.
Don, I would only add two points. On the issue of rust, I would say RUN away from any rusty machine instead of walking. My snow blower is rust free after 25 years because it gets sprayed with a high quality rustproofing product at the start of the season. In general, try to buy used equipment in the off season. Buy your snowblower in spring or summer and your lawnmower in the fall. You will be in a better position to find a bargain when demand is low.
What's the name of the rustproofer that you use, if you don't mind me asking?
@@badtothebone346 I buy a spray can of Krown when I am having my car done. I am sure there are other products that work as well.
Another great video keep up the good work
For me, the difference between a "old" snowblower and a modern one is the type of tires and spout. I always look for the aggressive snow tires that work well without chains versus the turf-style that require chains. Regarding the spout, I believe that the tall, plastic spouts do a much better job than the short steel ones.
Les marques connues et la "shop" de votre quartier sont les meilleurs, toujours. Encouragez vos marchands du coin ils tiennent à vous et vous apprendrez très vite à tenir à eux. Merci Don et bon hiver.
With the machine not running, I stick my hand down the discharge chute and grab the impeller to check the impeller bearing for any play.
But since my 1993 Toro is still going, I don't foresee having to do that anytime soon.
I knew I forgot to say that!
Thanks Don, great advice!
I plan to keep by 40 year+ Columbia Snowflight running as long as possible. The newer ones are made of flimsy stamped steel, the old ones are tanks. Something else to check is that the augers can spin freely on the shaft. Sometimes the shear pins/bolts are broken and they are only attached by rust. You won;t find this out until you hit heavy snow.
I have a toro s 2000 with a Suzuki engine, bought new in 1992 still runs great just new paddles and scrapers. The new Chinese blowers are junk! Thanks Donny!
Great advice bud thanks for sharing
I fix those as a side hustle. I usually charge 75 to 100 bucks + the new parts. It's a take it or leave it type of deal. I like to help less fortunate people BUT, I dislike city people who are looking around, for a "good deal", and resale it "as is", for a ridiculous amount of profit.
Great tips Dony! Thanks for the video! 👍
Great tips on buying a used snowblower. I just finished performing maintenance on my 25+ yo Yard Machines (MTD) and its still going strong. I live in Western New York (Rochester) and we've received less snow every winter. Last season I used my blower all of four times. Keep up the great videos!
I have no need for a snowblower (live in the southern US) but I do run a small engine shop and these all look like very good things to check!
Bought a used Toro Powermax off FB marketplace from a retiree who kept it in a garage and only used it to touch up after the plow came through. Very good condition, very little rust. A little water in the tank, but this all flushed out and the carb had minimal corrosion. 12 yr od model. Biggest factors were low usage time and always kept in a dry garage. Only problem now is that the engine model/size is no longer manufactured. Fortunately, the carb is not unique. I will say, that the pull start is a bit tough. But it always works (it has electric start too).
Also need to check the friction disk..they go bad especially if it’s been used in heavy snow,love your channel
thanks for all the great information.
I was given a power smart. Cleaned carburetor. Ran good the cables needed adjusting drive and auger. Sold it on marketplace. Mabe the guy try drive auger electric start ect. I strive to make them good.
A lot of great information as usual. Thanks
Thanks!
Excellent video on looking at buying a used snowblower Dony. As you said, if you can afford new, buy a quality snowblower. 👍👍👍👍
Don I am a big fan of your channel buddy been in to small engines since I was a kid 😀😀 though i would trust used equipment because it may run normally for the seller then the next owner buys it then they can’t get it to crank up.
the winter is sure hard on our machines here in ontario
Don't forget the friction disc. Or improperly adjusted cables. That wear & break, so the machine won't move!
Great video and excellent tips on buying not only used but the off brands of new. Top Shelf as always 👌 👏 👍 ✌️🙃
Have a question and a request regarding Ariens pinion shaft getting loose, the repair kit for the rounded-out hole where the shaft sticks out on the right side of the housing, and the anti-rotation tab that's needed on the left side of the housing.
Your experience ?
Possible video ?
Great channel, love it these past couple years !!!
I get these machines especially mtd they rust' the paint at the bucket rust. I pull skid skids use a de scaler and wire brush on a grinder. Clean them up use rustoleum and brush the paint in. What the instructions call for on can. Make sure skids and scraper are good engine and belts good. Check drive wheel. When you go to blow snow spray bucket with spray oil or similar. Do end of drive way with salt first. Then the rest. My personal snowblower I park in heated garage. Helps not to rust.dont buy old machines.
It’s very unfortunate but very old machines are getting pretty scarce. I’m talking about machines with the cast iron universal on the auger shaft such as John Deere, Ariens, and etc.. Everything on these pieces of equipment was built heavy duty including the sheetmetal being of a heavier gauge. If you have to move “ heart attack snow” or heavy salted street plowing from the end of your drive nothing is better. The reason being is that due to their weight they hug the pavement compared to new machines which ride up on top. Unfortunately manufactures have cheapened the materials in snowblowers just like everything else to turn a bigger profit or in some cases stay profitable. If you can find such a machine that has been stored indoors and appears to or has a maintenance record like Donny has said, I would advise you to buy it assuming it tests out ok. Yes it will be heavier,which is what you want, but you do not push a snowblower any more than you push your car, you drive it forwards and back😮
In five years it would be interesting for you to do a video on buying used Battery powered snowblowers like Ego and Yardworks. My guess would be that most of those will not be around as the owners for the most part do not look after them. Being battery powered they will feel they are use and forget. I do not hate on Battery as most of my Garden equipment is Battery, Milwaukee eco system but not snowblowers, those batteries for ego will be a killer in the future and the noise that machine makes when in use is very annoying and loud. Great video and i use your channel for my Ariens 30 Deluxe maintenance. Hope you get snow in Muskoka area soon.
I found one on big trash day. Put new wheels on it. Cleaned carb. Tested sold for 100😊
I thought YardWorks was made by MTD?
I have an old 20 year or older Craftsman with a Briggs and Stratton, still runs, though needs finessing when cold out. New gas machines in Canada are almost as much as the battery operated ones now, both are ridiculously priced.
Awesome video db73
Try to find out if the gear case gear grease has ever been changed or even checked. Most owners never even check let alone change it. That's one of the most expensive parts to replace.
Still if you can find an older model Toro, Ariens, etc. and and replace a few parts, you are better off than paying high prices for a newer one, which are made with thinner metal and alot of plastic parts now.
Time to fix that flat tire on that truck 😂
Donny spread the word on ospho. It will save a machine.
TY for Sharing
Hi Don, how do you service an auger gearbox on a cub cadet?
I have a ariens with 420cc . electric start is great, but if I use the pull start it yanks the plastic handle out of my hand when it starts. What would cause this??
I have plastic coated metal gas tank just need to get clean as possible and not to let fuel outlet get filled up
Check oil level
Hi Don, I live in North Carolina, where snowfall is limited, so most people don’t need snowblowers. Some may have small ones, but not the ones you have. I’m sure they’re major lifesavers, and I’d have three if I lived there. Can I ask you to answer an unrelated question for me?
I have a newer Briggs & Stratton Storm Responder generator with a Chinese Honda clone engine labeled Briggs & Stratton. I’m curious to know which Chinese engine manufacturer makes these engines. The generator is about 3 years old and had only 106 hours on it. It was well-maintained, except for missing a carburetor and spark plug. I replaced them and got it running beautifully for a used equipment store owner. I offered to trade him a Ryobi generator for it, as the Briggs & Stratton has better features and a stronger engine. He agreed and sold the Ryobi that I traded him quickly.
Can you tell me if the engine is a Ducar, an LCT, a Lifan, or another manufacturer? I can’t find any labels. I’m happy it has a Chinese engine. I’ve owned several machines with Chinese engines, and they’ve always done well. Carburetors are easy to find, convert to dual fuel systems with propane and gasoline, and adjusting valves when needed is a piece of cake.
Thanks,
Yes they are a dime a dozen and many many good low use machines out there.
I bought a used Honda hs1132 back in the late 2000's (maybe 2007/2008)after we moved into a house with a large driveway. I wanna say I paid about $1800 for it. Ran rough, one auger was seized to the shaft, and it surged a bit when not underload. I had to redo the carburator a couple times and used a propane torch and a lot of penetrating fluid to get the auger unstuck from the shaft. Used it a lot the 1st few years as we also had a backyard rink to clear.
Couple of years ago, finally had to replace the belts and the bearings that hold the impellor shaft in place. Welded some metal onto the skids that were half worn. I also had to adjust the valves to get rid of some awful kickback when pull starting it. Paid about half of what the new ones would have cost back in the late 2000's. I store it with the carb drained, and spray the bucket and auger with rustproofing spray before putting it away in the spring. It replaced a Honda hs622 that I bought new in 2001. The HS622, I sold for about $1200.
How about a Troy-Bilt riding mower with a power more all trouble with that thing a bad coil wouldn't keep the battery charged and that was brand new too I got a brand new Toro snowblower it's been pretty good thank you for the video
I bought a snowblower from a store going out of business and they lost the key. I said I will buy it if you knock off some of the price. They did, my wife says how was I going to fix it. I put a toggle switch in. During the next summer we had a garage sell and this one guy wanted to buy other things and I sold him the snowblower for twice what I paid. The next year I bought a brand new one
A few years back I bought a new snow blower from Canadian Tire. When I got it home only 1 rear tire drove it. A cable also did not work. What I found out when I returned for a refund that the mechanic's in the shop don't assemble them. They hire a company that puts them together. Kids with no skills. So a lessen here is know who puts them together.
$500 for a starter, that's unreal. I bought a used Honda and it's been great, but it was barely used.
#1 Solid body. #2 Parts availability. IMO. Save a bunch of money if you can maintain it yourself. A headache if you can't.
id buy a used one...around ehre theyre getting pretty cheap as there hasnt been much snow the last few years but i buy used becasue id just fix it i have 5 right now and they all work spendning 1500 bucks is just a bit much for myself
The best advice is to only look at used machines from reputable quality manufacturers. Ariens, Simplicity Toro, and Honda are the only ones I'd even bother looking at used. Crapsman and the other clones are just built too cheaply to begin with.
"Obscure brand"? I thought other than Husqvarna and Ariens, all the gasoline snowblowers in the US were made by MTD? Arent there only like 4 companies than make gas snowblowers in the US?
Just did a power smart blower, what a poorly designed machine, everything made to be disposable and only a few years old ! Metal is an p as paper thin and bushings are cheap plastic, non- existent grease nipples & poor quality everything
There's a lot of completely chinese made machines out there that are junk
I buy used machines for 100 to 250 never bought a rotted out machine. I say no thanks and most are just given to me which them i take them apart for parts .
1st never buy a Noma/Murray built blower lol. All they do is clog up because the hole at the bottom of the chute is WAY to small. The hole is literally just Slightly larger than a 2x4. WAY WAY WAY to small for a blower that has a 10-12" impeller. The 27,29 and 31" Noma/Murray built blowers all have the same sized hole. The 29 and 31" blowers really plug up fast.
RE: Experience
If it's a B&S Snow Series engine... WALK AWAY !!! 🙄
I prefer to brand new snowblower I buy brand new snowblower every 10 -15 years I stay away from used snowblower
Maybe not buy anything with LCT engine??
Well at least the snow blower's at your shop get a once over before sell used snow blower's $500 for the electric starter for the Husqvarna snow blower 😧😧 that is a lot of money to get it
10:58 no way that goofy fire is useful in the snow
It’s better off to buy brand new snowblower instead of buying used snowblower