Forums Archive Index > Outdoor Power Equipment > The little snowblower that could...
Date: 28 Dec 2006 8:52 pm
Maybe this will help someone make a wise choice someday.
I am using a little 5/20 Montgomery Wards single stage snowblower. I don't know its vintage, (80's?). It has a single speed/reverse gear drive, and 5hp B&S engine.
Its the little machine that could.
With new belts and chains on the tires it takes on any drft and will not give up. It usually won't bog if you are half aware of what/how much its eating. I have had it in snow piles and drifts that were 10-15 inches over the top of the motor each side. It throws everything at least far enough to get it off the area being cleared. No, it won't throw a mile, but it will throw far enough to do an average width drive.
It really has surprised me. It has gone through 5 day old EOD city plow rubble, albeit in half width passes. Its not really big enough for my needs and I ask a lot of it. Still, it just won't give up and other than being small is a really wonderful machine.
So if you see one for cheap (and I bet you will) and don't have a giant amount of area to clear, a machine like this might be the ticket. It is light, has some good features like gear drive, a good chute crank and a good strong motor.
It reminds me of one of those little dogs that never say uncle, even if getting the worst end of the deal.
Joshua
Date: 28 Dec 2006 9:04 pm
Sounds like my machine http://www3.telus.net/public/duster66/Pics/IM000733.JPG and I couldn't agree with you more. I have only had it for about 3 weeks but in that time we have had 3-4 snowfalls, wet snow(temperature was above 0 degrees Celcius), to light snow (temperature was below 0 degrees Celcius (freezing)), and it has handled everything perfectly, throws it mostly 20 feet or so, and handles that dense crap at the entrance of the driveway that the snow plow always leaves us :x
Date: 28 Dec 2006 9:04 pm
Blackstream,
Thanks for the info. Maybe you could post it in the review section as well?
Date: 28 Dec 2006 9:28 pm
I'll do that. Tomorrow I'll get some pics uploaded too to go with it.
Joshua
Date: 29 Dec 2006 7:37 pm
Ahhh... yes... :P
The "low-horsepower" old snowblowers and other old OPE do perform quite well !
I had and old and small rear-tine 3 hp yellow rototiller... bought used... like your snowblower... performed surprisingly great ! ...even started after sitting 2 years in the weather... unstarted... with non-stabilized fuel in it !
Dave...
