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We got several more inches of snow last night.

Since I’ve had my back surgery, shoveling snow has been off my list of things to do. Unfortunately, my sons are lazy sods who can’t seem to be motivated to assist with this (without threats of death, or even worse… loss of their internet connections).

So… today we ran out and purchased this little bad boy:



Troy-Bilt Strom 8526 $798.00
8.5 HP / 26″ Two-Stage Snowthrower
• All Wheel Drive - 6 Forward/2 Reverse speeds with no pushing!
• 8.5 HP Tecumseh Snow King Engine
• 20″ Intake Height
• Push-Button Electric Start
• Just One Hand Operation - keep the unit moving while easily adjusting the pitch or rotating the chute
• 4-Way Chute Control with Single Lever Joy Stick
• 26″ Clearing width
• Built-In Headlight
• Reinforced Steel Housing
• 15″ x 4.8″ X-Trac Snow Tires
• Standard Chute Clearing Device

Just wow!! This monster can toss snow like it’s nothing! Even the crap that the city plows put all over our sidewalk was no match for it.

Fun!!

Wimp.

I use a 1974 Jeep P/U with a Meyer hydraulic controlled plow. Four wheel drive, big meaty tires, with chains permanently installed. Had to go out and buy a new strobe light for it today (amber emergency flasher).

Oh yea, heated environment, comfortable.

The drawback. . . oh it probably uses a lot more gas that yours.

I went through about 8 gallons today, or so. I did four driveways, two of which add up to about a quarter mile between them.

I had my fun for the day.

I had a snowblower from another manufacturer w/ the tecumseh engine when we were in spokane. The first year I had it, snowed like all heck. It was great fun as I had a real long driveway and the dogs liked to try and catch the snow as it came out of the blower and hit the ground.

Do yourself a HUGE favor though, after winter is over, drain that thing (including the carb) and put a feul preservative in the tank and the carb bowl. Rebuilding those little tiny carbs was a pain in the a**.

Also, go back where you bought it and get about a dozen sheer pins for the rotors, it's much better to have them on hand when you hit a big rock/frosen hunk of snow, than have to drive out to get another one!

ROb

It came with two extra shear pins, and I thougth it might be a good idea to pick up some more. That icey crap the city plows all over the sidewalk when they do the street is pretty tough (though the blower turned it into tiny little particles when I ran through it yesterday).

Good advice on both the pins and the fuel. I'll follow it!

Have you hit a slushy spot with it yet? It's like the world's biggest slurpy machine!

No... but we had freezing rain here all day today.

I finally decided that just putting salt down wasn't enough and broke out the shovels to remove the 1/4" of ice that was all over my driveway and sidewalk.

My driveway slopes down from the street to my garage. With all that ice it was a one way ticket to the hospital if you dared step foot on it. Can you say lawsuit? I knew you could!

I just got my snowblower this summer so this is the first time I've had a chance to use it. Mines not as heavy duty as your's Bio so it takes a little longer. But much better than shoveling. Even got Cheyanne out there working it. Can you say child labor?
Guess I'd better pick up some of those pins you guys are talking about. Good advice.

My friend Tom from Juneau, AK called this evening. He'll be here again tomorrow for a few days to take care of family things.

Apparently, they got 4 feet of snow today (well... last night and this morning). For those who don't know what 4 feet of snow looks like:



Tom is standing up in this shot... and he's about 6' tall.