Forums Archive Index > Outdoor Power Equipment > Some Thoughts #2
Date: 13 Nov 2005 3:45 pm
Some Thoughts are the mindless ramblings of a person that knows nothing about snowblowers, I just figure I would post so people that knew what they were talking about could correct me. I started with Toro , now it is Simplicity?s and Snappers turn.
What Simplicity says:
Don?t let size fool you. Simplicity single-stage snowthrowers give you exceptional maneuverability to easily remove snow from driveways, sidewalks and stairs. Now offering 3-hp, 19? models or 5-hp, 20? models powered by the Tecumseh Snow King engine, power that can throw snow 25 to 30 feet.
Intermediate two-stage snowthrowers provide the perfect balance between convenience and performance. They combine the power of a large snowthrower with the maneuverability of a smaller machine, all at an affordable price.
Built to handle even the toughest winters, they feature the same heavy-duty welded construction with heavy-gauge steel frame, auger housing and chute found in larger Simplicity two-stage units. Powered by Tecumseh Snow King or Briggs & Stratton Intek Snow engines, they feature separate choke and throttle controls plus a cold-weather primer to get you started quickly, no matter what conditions winter has in store.
Commercial duty two stage: There?s no job too large for these models. Built to perform and designed to last, Simplicity large frame two-stage snowthrowers are priced for the homeowner. They feature Briggs & Stratton Intek Snow? overhead valve engines and clearing widths up to 38 inches. A serrated auger bites into the toughest, hardest packed snow and/or ice and feeds it into the impeller for blizzard-tackling performance.
What Snapper says:
At just 50 pounds, the Snapper LE compact snowthrower clears up to a 19? wide path in up to a foot of snow. Rubber-lined auger offers self-propelling action and cleans right down to the pavement, throwing snow up to 25 feet away.
The SS model?s 5-hp engine helps clear a 20? path in up to a foot of snow. Clean down to the pavement with a rubber-lined auger and throw snow up to 30 feet.
Tough enough to cut through heavy snow yet easy to handle and store. The choice is yours. Choose from the powerful 7.5-hp Briggs & Stratton PowerBuilt or 8.5-hp overhead-valve Briggs & Stratton Intek Snow engine. With five forward/two reverse speeds and controls right at your fingertips, they?re extremely easy to operate.
Make short work of big snowfalls. The large frame heavy-duty models take control of even the biggest drifts. Up to 13-hp Briggs & Stratton OHV engines easily clear up to a 38-inch path. With Snapper?s special features like Easy Turn? and Creeper Speed, you can maneuver through turns with little effort and clear away heavy snow easily, even in tight areas.
My ramblings:
Are the Snapper and Simplicity machines different? I don?t know. On the commercial machines Chris swears by his creeper gear on the Snapper and Simplicity has the Power Boost. But to me they look very similar on the internet. Yes, I said internet, that?s as close as I could get. I went to my local OPE Simplicity dealer to look at the Simplicitys. This dealer is probably one of the largest OPE dealers in the country. They had a lot of walkbehind snow throwers, any kind or type you might want, as long as you want a Honda or Ariens. So I went to the local Snapper dealer, they had moved all their OPE to another location. Pellet stoves up the wazoo, but no Snappers. So if I even want to look at a Briggs and Stratton offspring company snowblower I need to drive about 40 miles or so. That?s not a dealer network, that?s not even an effort.
The people on this site that own or have a better exposure to these machines speak very highly of them, it?s too bad Briggs has not made any effort to make them available to more people. From just looking at them on the net it appears they have changed very little since the winter of 2003. I think it is good that they give people a choice to buy a premium machine with an Intek Snow. Some would prefer something besides a Tecumseh and might not want a Honda, the Intek gives them a good choice.
Last year the Intek with a cast iron bore started at about 9 horsepower and was on all the engines from there on up. But the smaller horsepower engines were all aluminum. The aluminum Intek seems like a fine choice for the Craftsman 88775, the snowblower cost about $700. But some of the smaller Simplicitys and Snappers look like they may also have aluminum bore engines and cost about $1000. This may not be accurate, but if it is, while I realize the engine is not the whole of the machine, I think I would prefer a quality engine with a cast iron bore if I am spending $1000.
I wish I could have had a good look at the machines, but Briggs must have them hidden away somewhere, maybe they will have them in the showroom this summer.
Date: 13 Nov 2005 4:05 pm
That always was my complaint with Simplicity, small dealer network. I think their dealer network is worse than Hondas. At least when I find a Honda dealer they have stock on the floor. When I find a Simplicity he has nothing and for amachine that is made in the U.S. that's bad.
- Kris :D
P.S.- I like these "thoughts by Mints" posts !
Date: 13 Nov 2005 6:50 pm
I've been lucky that there are 2 Simplicity dealers within a ten mile range from me. Both have ample stock and parts supply, for the mowers and the blowers. Maybe it's a regional thing. I really don't know.
Kevin
Date: 13 Nov 2005 8:01 pm
We have good Sim's dealers here, Snapper now too.
Date: 18 Dec 2005 8:46 pm
I'm looking forward to #3. Anything in the works?
Date: 19 Dec 2005 8:25 am
good morning to all . I just want to say that im a simplicity/snapper dealer for the first time and i stock all the snowblowers they make, a little variety for everyone. we have a cub cadet dealer down the road but customer enjoy the simplicity equipment i spent two years studing what product line to add to my dealership, simplicity came out on top. so for your question on simplicty/snapper look a likes snapper makes all the 2-stroke machines on there line and also from my understanding is the imtermetes are made on snapper line... although commercial snowthrowers are made @ the port washington industrial plant... that what im was told through simplicity and the shipments came from each departments... they have a lot of dealers to take care of but they should have dealers in every area ....thanks jim p.s. hope to help in clearing up info
Date: 22 Dec 2005 7:05 am
Hi Guys!
Mints- As you are aware from last years discussion the Simplicity large frame models 1060DLXE-10HP,1170E-11HP,1280E-12HP are powered by the same Briggs engine just badged differently. This engine is an ALUMINUM bore model. I am not sure about the 9560E-9.5HP or the 1390E-13HP. I believe those models have different spec#'s on their engines. The Briggs engine that is now available on the Ariens is also an aluminum bore model.
I am starting to think that my preference for cast iron bore engines may be attributed to the tyranny of tradition. The gentlman from Ariens that posts here recently stated that cast iron in a snow blower is not of great advantage. The tech at Briggs that I spoke to last year said that in a non dust environment such as snow, cast iron bores are of no advantage and in fact run too cool in cold weather.
That's what they stated, only time will tell about the longevity of these power plants. So far the machine (1060DLXE) is a SWEETHEART. 12HP spec engine with a 24" width makes for an interesting power to width ratio and the ability to store and manuever the machine in a standard two car garage with the cars inside is a welcome attribute.. I have found that once you go past 24" keeping a machine between two cars and being able to get it outside WITHOUT moving one of the cars is next to impossible.
Vangelis- Couldn't agree more with you about the dealer network being a regional thing.
Marc
Date: 22 Dec 2005 8:41 am
I know it's not the same, but I had posted some pix of the two different frame size of the Snappers at my local OPE. He didn't have any Simp's. But said he may carry them next year.
http://www.opeonthenet.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=9342&highlight=#9342
Here's where I had posted the pix I snapped of this years Snappers.