I've got old MDT that still works pretty good but I've notice that I do pay more attention to what the neighbors have. Just today, I have a neighbor who's a squirrelly little guy out banging away on a drift with his tiny little electric thrower doing next to no good on it. Whipping the cord around trying not to get it caught. He was out there a half hour before I was and was still out there when I done and my drive is probably just less than twice his. Told the son "how much work do you think that is taking for him with his blower? That is why we don't have one of those" I've done part of his drive in the past but didn't today. Part of me feels like he deserves that since I know he has the money for a better one but just wants to do it that way.
***Official 2021 Weather Thread***
- Thread starter ClonesTwenty1
- Start date
Bought a used Honda 10 years ago. It throws snow over the neighbors house. Change the oil each spring and have changed the spark plug once. Came with a box of shear pins that I haven't had to use. It will outlast me.
I have a two stage MTD and a single stage Toro. I got these off FB marketplace for $0! Spent around $40 for a new carb on the two stage, a primer button on the single stage and scrapers for both.
Haven’t used the two stage in over a year. Now with all the snow the single stage chute probably can’t throw snow over a couple of piles, so may switch to the two stage. Single stage is just easier to maneuver around.
I purchased mine two years ago, so its my third season, have used it 4 times this year. We have a Husqvarna that cost less than $1000. Very little easy to maintain, change the oil once a year, have never sheared a pin they provided a couple with it.
It took me 45 minutes this morning what would have taken me at least 2 or 3 hours to scope it by shovel. Even did the neighbors sidewalk and the walk up to his house.
Weather channel app updating to 1-3 inches of snow compared to just freezing rain combination on Saturday for Des Moines. What are others seeing?
Im seeing myself staying inside all weekend getting extremely high and taking like 8 Peloton classes.
Im seeing myself staying inside all weekend getting extremely high and taking like 8 Peloton classes.
Seems like a lot in the last few years. I have a two stage craftsman that I bought 15 years ago. No issues except replacing the sliders. I'm thinking of selling it and buying something even bigger just because I can. I like to run it full speed in 5th gear but I had to drop it down to 2nd gear after this storm.
I thought the same way until I borrowed one about 6 years ago after a big storm and realized there are much better ways of getting in a workout. We went to Menards that spring and bought a large 2 stage on clearance and haven't given it a second thought.
Talking about your snowblower is the Iowa equivalent to talking about CrossFit
How early is too early to start up the snow blower? I was house sitting for a friend and wanted to get out there around 5 this morning but I figured that would be frowned upon. What’s a good rule to go by?
Do what you gotta do. I don't like it when people clear snow at 5 a.m., but my windows are closed so it's not that loud. It's not like mowing the lawn where it can be done anytime; if you have to leave the house early in the morning and there's a foot of snow in the driveway, you clear it.
I suppose if you wanted to be really conscientious you could clear only what you need to get out and do the rest later...which you'll probably have to do anyway after the plow comes back around.
Around my neighborhood at least it seems the 'quiet hours' in the winter are roughly 11pm-5am . Its much less of an issue than mowing though. When you've gotta clear your driveway you gotta do it, so a little late night snow removal noise is just part of living in a northern winter.
Also, there are different degrees of how you clear a driveway. If I'm just out to get a pass done late at night I tend to do it quickly, and then do a more complete job when i come back out the next morning to clear whatever the plow brought in.
I started at around 6am, but probably could/should have been out at 5:30am all depends on when you need to get to work really.
As someone who has to deal with complaints of people not shoveling, you should know that every city in the metro requires you to have snow removed in at least 48 hours, with most 24 hours, after snowfall has ended. Most cities will give a warning, than a ticket.
