"Pixel" (Improbcat)
11/19/2014 at 21:13 • Filed to: None | 2 | 15 |
I knew my !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! wasn't going to cut it this winter(like it hasn't the last two), so I needed a proper 2-stage snowblower before snow falls. Not having the $500-$1200 for a new one, I decided to go not only the used route, but the super-cheap bargain basement used route.
A lot of Craigslist surfing netted me a Craftsman 5hp/24" cut unit with two flat tires, lots of surface rust, and a carb that leaks gas at a rate that would embarrass BP. On the plus side, it did start on the 2nd pull and all gears & the augur worked. So for the princely sum of $100, I strapped it to my trailer and hauled it home.
Step one was to get the tires re-seated on the beads so I could see if they would hold air. A ratchet strap, an air compressor and a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! managed to !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . As you can see in the photo, the tires are pretty dry rotted, but with luck they will last the season and I can replace them for next year. You can also see me using my fancy aluminum Tire Rack floor jack to hold up a rusty snowblower.
Next up was the leaky carb. Turned out the bolt holding the bowl on the bottom had loosened and the gasket for the bowl had shifted, meaning the bowl would fill up and promptly pour gas out the top. Removing the bowl, re-seating the gasket and properly tightening it down fixed the leak. The line from the primer bulb was also !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , I fixed it by cutting the bad part off and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .
So now I have a fully-functional(but still very ugly) snowblower that cost 1/5 of a new one. Next time the weather is warm enough I'll give it a once-over with the grinder and put a few coats of paint on it. I'm thinking a sharks mouth on the sides & inside of the front for proper rediculosity.
Deal Killer - Powered by Focus
> Pixel
11/19/2014 at 21:20 | 1 |
I'm all for buying cheap, used lawn & garden items. I picked up a lightly used Craftsman lawn mower about 5 years ago for about $70, and it's run like a champ since. Just change the oil & the spark plug every year, and sharpen the blade every once in a while. I'm hoping with a change in my employment picture, I can find me a nicely used snow blower as well.
Spacegrass
> Pixel
11/19/2014 at 21:21 | 0 |
I own a 75 Gilson POS blower, equipped with an impeller that tosses snow about 2.5 feet, this is a much better deal. After a post that caught my curiosity, how about painting it in Martini livery?
Pixel
> Spacegrass
11/19/2014 at 21:26 | 0 |
That would involve buying paint colors I don't have. I want to see how much I can improve this thing on a $0 budget.
Spacegrass
> Pixel
11/19/2014 at 21:37 | 0 |
Haha, that's the best way, and my budget with the Gilson.
Jcarr
> Pixel
11/19/2014 at 21:46 | 0 |
I bought a (new) Craftsman 24" when we bought our first house (double wide driveway on a corner lot). Best $600 I ever spent. Hopefully mine lasts as long as yours has.
shop-teacher
> Pixel
11/19/2014 at 22:32 | 0 |
Nice! I garbage picked a single stage Toro snow blower last month. Just needed a new primer bulb and a tune-up. I can borrow my neighbor's 2-stage Toro when things get really bad.
theandysho - drives a SHO
> Pixel
11/19/2014 at 23:41 | 0 |
Rip the motor off when it blows and swap an OHV Onan single on there. All the 60s unregulated power and noise.
orcim
> Pixel
11/20/2014 at 02:19 | 0 |
I like this. I only buy and drive to exhaustion - used is just an accelerated version of that.
However, my old boss bought one of these for his Tahoe house. Motherfucker, I lusted after that thing when I got to drive it once with a 28" snowfall. Honda commercial, tracked, 2 stage, etc. 91 tons an hour? 'Shit fire and save matches.' $800 now. $600 then.
Pixel
> orcim
11/20/2014 at 08:12 | 0 |
Do you have separate controls for the left & right tracks so you can drive it like a tank? Or do you have to muscle it around corners like a regular snowblower?
Pixel
> Spacegrass
11/20/2014 at 09:09 | 1 |
Check this video out, I'm going to try this out on mine. Looks like it should help with the crappy throw.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMAgb3QNEE8
Spacegrass
> Pixel
11/20/2014 at 09:52 | 0 |
That is clever! I'm going to give that a shot, got a couple mud flaps lying around anyway.
Thanks for the video.
orcim
> Pixel
11/20/2014 at 23:55 | 0 |
It's tank like.
Pixel
> orcim
11/21/2014 at 08:34 | 0 |
OOooo... Now I want to find one used, pull the snowblower off, mount an easy chair on it, move the controls and drive myself around the woods in utter comfort.
orcim
> Pixel
11/21/2014 at 20:31 | 0 |
Already done?
CalzoneGolem
> Pixel
11/24/2014 at 09:18 | 0 |
Aww yiss! You might want to crack this bad boy open and check out the belts and the friction disc. Does the augur have shear pins? You might want to stock up on those if it does. Also pullstartmyheart might be interested in this post.