Okay yes its summer I know :) But what a better time to get a deal on a snowblower than now!

I have a few questions that have not found my answer for yet. I have not owned a snowblower for about 15 years and that was on an acreage so really not sure what to expect. I am yourger but with a poor back and I always hurt myself when shoveling snow so I figure its time to look for a solution to this issue.

For background info I am in Calgary and be using it in a urban neighbourhood.

1. Will a snow blower be practical in an urban setting on about 50'x24' driveway? But heres the kicker there is only about 20' between my drive and my neibours drive. And I will likely end up clear the entire sidewalk along my short street as well if I get a self propelled so say another 500' of sidewalk. And the drivway is realativley flat with about a 6% slope I believe.

2.how big is too big for my situation?

3. will the short distance between the driveways be an issue with a snowblower or can the newer ones aim the snow stream low enought? I realize each blower is different but curious if say a 10 throw is typically possible with the defectors down?

4. Being a bit anxious I bid on a New 11hp track drive dual stage with a 70cm wide path, electric start, light, heated handles, moves upto 2000lbs per min. I can get it for about $600 delivered and have 4 days to decide still.
It is a chinese built one but I dont think im too concerned about that part as really I will be using it maybe 10 times a year I think.
Should I keep this one? or look towards something smaller?
I have alot of storage room in the garage so space is not a concern for me.

5. Now one maintenace question. Any benifit of using synthetic oil compared to regular? I use synthetic in cars but never really thought about my snowblower or lawn mower untill now.

If you get a Toro, a single stage blower will be good enough to clear what you have. If you want to clear big snow banks, maybe a dual stage is better though. I'm not too familiar with the winters in Calgary.

I have a single stage Toro (http://www.toro.com/intl/ca_en/home/snowthrowers/gassinglestage/index.html), and don't have any problems with the snow left behind by the snow plow (there is some left over but the city clears the snow banks the plows leave behind on the ends of driveways). On really bad snow days, I clear off the neighbors driveway and sidewalk too. It can shoot the snow anywhere/any angle you want. Amazing machine.

Snowplow, whats that? LOL, Calgary they only clear the main streets and side streets never get touched so its always fun getting the low slung cars out of the subdivisions after a big snow fall.

Your Toro is it a gas powered one? and how does it handle heavy spring snow?

Ctown6412,
I didn't think Calgary experienced enough snow to warrant buying a snow blower; I have always assumed they came here with migrants from points east and north. The city doesn't buy enough snow removal equipment for the 100 year flood. Last winter was just that: the worst winter in 123 years of records. But what do I know? I was towed in Ottawa in 1970s because I parked on a street labeled snow route. I didn't know what a snow route was, coming from arid Calgary. I remember thinking how advanced they were in Ottawa that they could forecast the route of falling snow.:D
Moreover, when we do get the odd big snow dump in spring, My neighbour from Montreal gets to play with his snow blower and he goes down the street.

Yes, my Toro is gas powered and it goes through wet heavy snow with no problems.

Yes, my Toro is gas powered and it goes through wet heavy snow with no problems.+1, a coworker has the same machine and lives in the country and he swears by it! The contractor that does the snow removal for the building where our company is located, has been using that small Toro for years for all places his snow plaw can not access. His old Toro is looking awfull, all taped up and the only thing it costed him through his many years of hard work/abuse, was some rubber replacement blades, which he says are readily available and innexpensive.

You are right, possibly best time to buy one as in the winter they quickly get rare and price is at a premium. If you are serious about getting one, you have all summer to find the best deal possible. As long as this isn't a curse on all of us Canadians :eek:! Please, don't bring the hardship of winter back too quickly :mad:

NOTE: you are better of getting a smaller quality snowblower than a humongus cheap one. As far as I am concerned, chinese manufacturing is far from being ready for American standard! We have to wait a few more years before their manufacturing is reliable!

Cheers!
René

I have been doing a TON of research and have decided to go the route of the smaller single stage gas powered units. Now just need to find one on sale! Best deal for price/engine size and path ive see so far at regular price is at canadian tire.

I just dont want to lift another shovel if it dont have too.

I did talk with an owner of the "larger" snowblower I was looking at and he loves it, his only complaint was that after the first season he had to go over the entire unit to tighten all the bolts. His suggestion was if buying new would be to do that before I even used it once just to be safe.

Use some silicone on all screws and bolts and they'll be secure. The problem is the extensive vibration which causes all nuts and bolts to losen with time. Matter of fact it was my first winter with mine last year and I had to reinstall nut and bolts on one of the lever in the cold... NO fun at all. If you buy some with cabling control, make sure you lubricate the inside with wather repellant lubricant to avoid cable freezing (water getting inside the cable).

Good luck!
René

Thanks for the tips technokid! I wonder if light Locktight would work well too.

Yes, matter of fact it would be even better if you do not mind the extra expense.

I picked up mine in early August. They were all gone by the end of September.