Paul I live in Juneau Alaska and have been a dedicated Honda man! I just bought a 2022 ST 430T track drive just like the one you reviewed!! Its definitely a Honda Killer! I have to contend with the city plows leaving a snow burm in front of my house. But this SNOW GOAT eats that burm for breakfast!! I have impressed and amazed 2 Honda owners with its performance and throwing distance! So far nothing bad to say about it other than she drinks a little more gas than a Craftsman but way out performs anyone in the neighborhood!!! It takes a little learning curve to get rocking with it. But Is the Best Thing I have bought to date for snow removal! Fabulous Machine envy of the hood!
I have had one for 3 years now no problems at all , it out performs every other blower i have used so far. In regards to the transmission if you engage it while it is in gear , you will wear gears for sure.I always put it in neutral , engage and use the lever to control speed , less wear and tear .If you want to check if you have fluid in your transmission , you can unscrew the vent and stick a clean wire down the hole . The machine is a tank , I dont regret getting one at all
Hi Paul - Thanks for a great review. I watched your video today and bought a ST 430T today thanks to your review. I am very happy with the machine after using it for the first time right away. I was smiling in the snow fall. Great quality. Greetings from Sweden! //Johnny
I owned one for 5 years before leaving Boston a couple years ago. It was the biggest you could buy then. I never had one issue with the machine. It started first-time every time and moved a load of snow. I lived in 3+ acres with a 150' long driveway and a 2 ac paddock - It got used and used and never ever had an issue except when I ran over the newspaper in 18" of snow. Hot water works wonders with that situation.
Hey Paul, hope all is well and that you're enjoying your summer. Always enjoy your comprehensive snow blower reviews, nice to see Husky building a new beast. Before you know it will be that time of year again.
Hello I have an Husqvarna ST 227P Snow Blower for my DAD but I Use it more than he dose it was a birthday gift two years ago and you are so right about that he had a electric snow blower and I was using one time 2 years ago it was wet heavy snow that next day I went out to Lowe's and got this Snow Blower
Hello Paul! I'm about to buy myself my first snow-blower. I have a pretty big yard and therefor I would need a big enough machine. For now I have considered the Husqvarna ST430, the Honda 1332A ETD (or mabye one size down) or some Ariens (The Kraken is on the wish list, but very hard to get a hold on i Norway). Which one would offer the best quality and performance you think?
I would definitely look at the Ariens Pro RapidTrak over the Husqvarna or Honda. It is a higher capacity snowblower, it's easier to use and will give you many years of use.
@@PaulSikkema Thanks for answer! I actually went for the Husqvarna ST 430T. 😄 The new pro series wasn't available for another year... Haven't used it for more than 2-3 hours, but is seems like a quality machine! Takes a bit to get use to operate, but I guess that comes with the use.. If you ever get the chance, I hope you do a follow up on this video. The reviews for this machine on Husqvarnas web sites and in a lot of videos/comments are about stuff Husqvarna really has improved on the 2021 version! Especially the problems regarding the bolts and drive shafts loosening..
Nice review , thanks. I watched the review for the first time three weeks ago. After my own research of it’s competition I ordered this machine from my local dealer last week. We had a challenging winter in South Dakota last year. I hope this machine makes it more bearable. Thanks again.
How funny I live in the same state as you and I have a Husqvarna snowblower. I will tell you that even in the thickest of snow the thing will just take it like a champ and on the snowblower I have is a pull to start one and a it works great and starts right away these machines are totally worth it just don’t abuse it.
Husqvarna makes Husqvarna snowblowers. AYP was the lawn tractor company that they bought years a go. Husqvarna snowblowers were made in Georgia until this year. They moved the equipment to the South Carolina facility this spring.
@@PaulSikkema Actually AYP made Tractors for Husqvarna, the parent company was electrolux which was a subsidiary of sears. They were made under Craftsman, Poulan, weedeater and Husqvarna, when Sears started going bankrupt the asset Electrolux got sold off, thats when it all split. Okay so the Husqvarna blowers are truly Husqvarna okay great, thanks, good to know. Their a nice machine.
The Internet if full is mis-information about who owns what - especially Sears, Roper, Electrolux, AYP and how that all ended up as Husqvarna. Here is the correct information: todaysmower.com/sears-husqvarna-group-lawn-tractors-108-year-continuous-manufacturing-relationship-stops/
Would you please go over to this website and ask your question in the comments. I can upload pictures there: movingsnow.com/2018/5-best-commercial-snowblowers-2019/
Hey paul love your video's ,this one was the deciding factor when I purchased my current snow blower ,the ST 430T was my first choice but, it wasn't available when I needed a machine so I bought the ST427T and am loving it so far,love the hydrostatic drive, If you want I'll keep you appraised of how it holds up , thanks for the videos. Update: I now had my ST 427 T snow thrower and I can tell you Husqvarna has not worked out all the bugs In this new Blower,I'd like to go into a more indepth review but the list is long and I I had to do over I would not have shelled out $3000 for this machine and would have picked a more true and tested company,,I only have 14.9 hours on my machine and its been in the shop twice,for parts that shouldn't break,and I thought it was maybe just me ,but my neighbor bought the st430 t and has less than 10 hours and all the bolts are falling out of the drive mechanism,Still poor quality,Husqvarna has a long way to go.
The Ariens Hydro Pro has more capacity, throws farther and will not plug on heavy, wet snow. The Ariens is also easier to maneuver and faster. Don't get me wrong. This Husqvarna is a capable machine. There are only about ten tracked machines on the market and I'd rate the RapidTrak Pro as one and this one number two.
Hi paul ,I was wondering if you're still using the st430 t husqvarna,and if you had any problems with the discharge release cable for the chute control?
Yes, I just posted a video comparing it to the Ariens RapidTrak. ua-cam.com/video/7t0fSOPvews/v-deo.html Yes, I had an issue with that cable. It was really stiff and eventually kinked. I replaced it and now it works a lot better. (It was a real pain to attach to the lever...)
The battery compartment cover comes off easily. Just loosen the wingnut, lift and it comes off. If you didn't want to take the cover off I suggest hooking up this cable to the battery: amzn.to/2NW0VST . It's standard battery cable and works with this charger and others: amzn.to/2Q2GypG
Just found your channel. Great informative videos! I hear you saying that hydrostatic drive can cause costly repairs down the line. Would you say that a friction disc is better? I'm looking at a used older model Husqvarna ST 276 EP for clearing a 5000 ft² gravel parking lot a few times a year. Or when is hydrostatic recommended over the simpler friction disc?
The residential hydrostatic transmission in the Husqvarna has been very reliable and over the life of the snowblower should not give you any problems. They have no maintenance. Hydros are a lot easier to use if you have a lot of smaller areas to clear. They are not as jerky. They are also very good for heavy, deep snow because you can go slower than the first gear on most snowblowers. Frictions disks and much cheaper but you will need to lubricated the shaft the friction wheel slides on and every 7-10 years of so (50 hours) replace the friction wheel. Over the life of the snowblower you may have as much parts and labor expenses maintaining the friction disk as replacing a hydro - though you will probably never have an issue with the hydro.
Husqvarna does not give the speed but, it travels at a good walking speed. It's faster than the old 1830 EXLT, slightly faster than the Honda HSS32 and not as fast as the Ariens RapidTrak.
I’m glad they redesigned the track system, that was very problematic. From a company around since 1689 it’s good to see they still listen to their customers. Love their mowers, might get a blower if I ever need to replace my Yamaha.
Hi Paul, excellent review. I recently purchased the ST427 and am wondering whether the machine has a generator (or alternator) to charge the battery when the engine is running. Or do I have to keep hooking it up to an external charger when the machine is not in use?
Yes, the alternator is capable of charging the battery, running the light and handwarmers. In the off-season I suggest starting it every three months and letting it run for a while to keep the battery charged or put a trickle charger on it once every three months.
The question is how reliable they are. There have been many quality problems in the past, quality issues is a hard thing to chance (no matter what the manufactures says)
At the component level Husqvarna fixed all the problems the previous snowblowers had. I spent some time with Husqvarna's engineers and they resolved all the problems on my list. Belts breaking, etc. The hydro transmission is the best trigger steer hydro there is. All the other brands who have trigger steer hydros use this same transmission. Large bore LCT engines have a great reputation. The engine on this one is the only 420 cc EFI on the market and the onboard electric start is really nice. Assembly line issues - we'll have to see. Husqvarna moved the assembly from Georgia to South Carolina for these new models. All their mower and snow blower manufacturing is now located at that one complex.
@@PaulSikkema I take your point, it is always good to hear engineers pay attention and improve (good sign). As an engineer myself, I know there is more out there that the engineers, as you mention, there is the assembly line and also the overall management - perhaps the biggest issue with their snowblower and mowers departments. Ultimately, it comes down to a CEO interest in certain departments. Their chainsaws are great so the potential is there
I'm looking to buy The Huskvarna 400 serie, i have a 200 x 15 feet driveway, and around the house to do, but i'm not sure between the 27 inch or 30 inch, because maybe the 27 inch will be easier to move around the house and get into the shead door, what di you think about it, is the 430 beter then the 427 ?
You can get a 27 inch through a 32 inch door and a 30 inch through a 36 inch door. Since the 400 series has the on-board battery hanging in the handles it's better balanced than the 200-300 series. So, you won't see any difference in moving either size around. If you want to move it without the engine running you can pull both trigger steering lever and the unit will free-wheel. The 30 inch will get the work done about 15-20% faster because of the width. If time is important, it's the better choice.
3:28 "Handwarmers didn't work that well.." The handwarmers were completely useless is more like it. Also, add that by the end of the season your Husqvarna will blow snow about 5 feet if you are lucky, and the drive belt will loosen so that you steadily lose power each time you use it. I realise that this is a bigger badder machine and hydrostatic, but once bitten, twice shy, I just don't trust their quality. First and last time I buy a Husqvarna, my ST224 P was a waste of money. When the sales are on in the spring I'll buy an Ariens or a Honda and sell my Husqvarna to someone who doesn't know any better. Thanks for the review though, you sure seem to know your stuff!
I have the new 427T. Used it hard in 2 months. Works really well. The newer models have new type of belts + they have changed many things that users was complaining about.
I guess negatives get filtered out in this video, the rest of UA-cam is full with bad news on big Husqvarna snowblowers, including the hydrostatic transmission
This was the first review of the ST420T and since then I have had no problems with it. Is it the easiest to use? no. Is It the fastest? no. Do the handwarmers suck? yes. I went looking for negative UA-cam reviews of the 400 series including the tracked snowblower and I can't find any. If you would please list one or two. Now you may be watching videos of the 1830 EXLT and other older Husqvarna snowblowers. The trigger steering system in them was an issue. This snowblower and all the current models use a completely new hydro that has the trigger steer in the hydro itself.
Hi Paul. I'm new to snowblowers and I just bought the wheeled version of this model used with 7 hours on it. The machine runs great but there is a pretty aggressive noise/clunk when I first engage the auger. Once engaged there is no additional noise. Is this normal on these machines? I have inspected the auger belt/tension as well as the impeller, auger and shear pins. Everything seems to be the way it should be. Any info would be great, thanks!
That's pretty normal for a Husqvarna. The auger belt hasn't had a chance to wear a little - it grabs in the pulley instead of slipping a little when it starts. It will get better after a few hours of runtime.
Sweet machine. The 300s are hydrostatic aswell. I've had the ST330P for a few winters now. It's been a great machine up here in the interior of BC Canada 👌🍻
The numbers are changing this year. Last year the 300 series had both friction and hydro. This year the 200 and 300 are friction disk while the 400 and 400T will be hydro.
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Important how easy to drain the fuel. It does good with really dry snow how about wet snow. Seems like it was struggling at one point in your review. Hope for you to review toro. Thanks
In tht video the European chute safety guard was still attached and it was severly limiting the snow blower. I'll make more videos of this snow blower this winter so you can get a better look at it. This is the new EFI engine and there is no place to drain the fuel - easily.
Thank you Paul for your in-depth review. How significant do you think the difference is between wet-snow handling of the ST430T and the new Ariens Professional 28 RapidTrak Hydro (926084)? I ended up buying this ST430T in any case, based on your review. Thanks, Patrick.
The ST430T handles wet snow well. For example, I had my roof shoveled two years ago and I ended up with a snowdrift around the house that was 3-4 feet deep. Since the show had been shoveled and thrown off the roof it was very dense. On top of that, there was a lot of wet snow in the pile from the slight melting when it was up on the roof. The Husqvarna had no issues blowing the snow. I did the back half of the house and it never clogged. The only issue I really had was it had a hard time pushing into the snow pile. It just didn't have enough traction to push into that really dense, heavy snow. But - once I got the first pass cleared I could take half-passes and it worked a lot better. I used the Ariens Professional 28 RapidTrak Hydro on the front half of the house. Because the Ariens has quite a bit more capacity it didn't take as long but it also struggled with traction. The traction issues on both machines was because I was on grass and I couldn't put them in "lock-down" mode. Lock-down is where you put all the weight of the snowblower and the very rear of the tracks - the front of the tracks actually lifts off the ground. You can see the difference in this video: ua-cam.com/video/XReNrugAjG8/v-deo.html
Hello Sir, Thanks for sharing this video , I am in the market for a new machine, I have an older Ariens ST824, it has been a great machine but it is getting tired. I am thinking of getting the Ariens rapid track pro or an Ariens platinum 24 SHO but after watching this vid I am also thinking about this machine, How do you think it compares to Those 2 machines, I live just north of Boston MA. and we do get some big storms, if you had a choice between those 3 machines, which one would you pick. Thank you for making all the videos about the different machines.
The Ariens RapidTrak Pro will be the fastest for clearing your heavy wet snow. It won't plug. It's also the fastest for clearing those smaller amounts you also get. The 24 SHO is great for your area if you have a smaller 1-2 car driveway to clear.
@@PaulSikkema I'm in a similar geography (west of Boston) and have been considering similar machines. Wet snow has become a bigger problem in recent years. Do you think the Ariens 24 SHO would be too small for about 2,400 sq ft of area to clear? That machine seems to have an excellent capability to price ratio compared with 28" machines in the Ariens line or the 27" version of the Husqvarna you are showing here. Also with regards to the Husqvarna 400 series hydrostatic... do you have any sense of it's build quality & reliability vs. Honda or Ariens (I know only time will tell)? Are you planning on doing a video where you go over the inside of the drivetrain section, etc?
Larry, The 24 SHO is a good choice for your area. It handles wet snow better than most on the market. The width really depends on how fast you want to get done. A Deluxe 28 SHO (72 tons per hour) will clear your area in about the same time because the 24 SHO (73 tons per hour) has a larger motor. It also comes with heated handgrips and a nice chute control. Finally, it handles heavy/wet snow a lot better than the Husqvarna 300 and 400 series. The Husqvarna has the same transmission as the Honda. I consider the Ariens Platinum SHO a "one-and-done" snow blower. In other words, it will last longer than your house payment. It's easy to work on and needs very little maintenance over the years. The current Hondas don't have near the capacity of this Ariens. Yes, they still have a good engine but the rest of the machine is not built as heavy-duty as the older HS models.
HI Paul, I just wanted to thank you for all of the vids you do on the snow blowers, I just bought a Platinum SHO 24 , I decided on this instead of the Rapid Track, because my driveway is pretty small. I can't wait to try it out! Thanks.
Hey Paul, I bought S T 430 T just like the one in your video in 2020. It has 11 hours on it now and only use it on my deck. Just the other day it will not back up unless it is in a clear area of the deck. Making a big-time chatter in reverse when it is in snow or there is a snow behind the rear of the tracks. One might turn then the other one won't. If I dig the show out it will back up. If you have an idea, please reply. Thank you Jim
Three things I can think of. 1. The belt that goes from the engine to the transmission may be slipping. 2. Look closely where the drive axle connects to the frame. On each side there is a silver bracket with two bolts that hold the axle. If those bolts are broken get it back to the dealer and have him order the update kit. That problem was found out early in the first production run but your's may have slipped through. 3. It may be the steering clutches in the hydro going bad but I highly doubt that is the problem - it's a very tough tranny.
@@PaulSikkema Thank you Paul. I will check the belt. But I really think it might be the bolts or bolt. I called the dealer the other day but the guy I was talking to told me to make adjustment to the drive handle cable. So, I knew he had no idea what he was talking about being it is a hydro tranny. I am like 60 miles from dealer and up in the mountains and the snow is deep. Do you think by tipping it up on the shoot I will be able to see if any of the bolts are broke. If so, I will get it to town. Thank you so much for getting back to me. Jim
Yes, you can tip it up into the maintenance position (on it's nose) Just make sure you have less than a half tank of fuel in it. A turkey baster is a great tool to suck fuel out of the gas tank. Use this parts diagram - Page 17, Parts 26, 32, 43. Found on both sides of the axle. www.snowblowersdirect.com/manuals/husqvarna-f0967c6c0079eb98adbd45c0efa3d7b1.pdf If it is broke, changing out that bearing carrier was a pain - I had to pull the tracks to get enough room to change it.
@@PaulSikkema Morning Paul thank you for the info. I will first go to town and have a talk with someone at the dealer. I really thank you for that parts list. I copied your thoughts and that will give me a leg up on someone that might not have a clue where to start. I will stay in touch with you on what they find. Jim
Nice review on these machine but i have to inform you the impeller is not a 14 inch impeller but rather the same impeller as from the 3 series blower with a 12 inch impeller. At least according to the part list. Product number is 585 19 83-03 and it even fit in the old st 1827 exlt. I have installed it in my european ST267 ept (the EU version of the ST 1827 EXLT) and it works fine. It does not throw any further then befor but have got better capacity together with ST 227 open flight augers i installed 3 years ago. Now i just have to get a smaller impeller pulley and shorter belt and my old husqvarna snowblower can throw the same distance as a Honda. That show how important impeller spead is rather then impeller size to throw longer. To get increased capacity the impeller have to run even faster ore increase impeller size but size alone does not matter.
Thanks, The auger is 14 inch but I did forget the cast iron impeller is not. Yes, speeding up the impeller will allow it to throw farther - increasing the impeller diameter will give it more capacity. That's why the Ariens doesn't throw as far as a Honda but it has up to 30% more capacity - menaing it will throw more snow.
I have a 424T and the tracks dont have much speed on them. Any idea how I can increase the speed? Similar to this model shown, it only has a Forward/Reverse throttle. I bought it brand new and it's way too slow. I adjusted the tension on the pulley, but it's still too slow. Any ideas 💡? Thanks.
The simple answer is - Buy an Ariens RapidTrak. It has the same size main drive cog wheel as a wheeled unit. The problem is all the manufactures only have two hydro's with power steering available and both of those are geared to wheeled units. Since the main drive wheel is much smaller on the tracked Husqvarna (and MTD and Honda) they are much slower. Newer designs like the Ariens RapidTrak and Toro PowerTRX use a much larger main drive wheel so they are a lot faster.
@PaulSikkema Thanks for the update👍. At least now I know I did what I can, and there's nothing else to do on my Husqvarna ST424T. Next purchase will definitely be an Ariens speed Track.
Hei. Jeg har en ganske ny St430. Ved den 4 brøytingen, stoppet den etter ca 0,5 time. Den begynte å fuske, for siden å stoppe helt. I dag skulle jeg brøyte snø igjen, den startet normalt, men den stoppet etter ca 20 meter. Hva skjer? Hello. I have a fairly new St430. At the 4 plowing, it stopped after about 0.5 hour. It started cheating, then stopped completely. Today I was going to plow snow again, it started normally, but it stopped after about 20 meters. What's up? Bjørn
I would of like to see how the transmission was set up, the maintenance requirements? Ii think that the way I see it there is so many controls that the operator will require an assistant why not make a machine while that have passive technologie, like a simple diff instead of This power steering that require the operator to have finger on the steering control while his hands are keeping the traction and auger and controlling the chute !
The transmission is a sealed unit and there is no maintenance required for the life of the snowblower. Yes, I sometimes think a Boeing 737 has fewer controls... If you want a simple to use snowblower that runs circles around this one check this out: ua-cam.com/video/A0g5h-P_-yk/v-deo.html
I don't like the chute controls - They are hard to use and very difficult to assemble if you get this snowblower in a crate. I don't like the adjustable height handles. Because you can adjust the height everything is controlled by cables and on this snowblower they stick out all over the place. I did look at a 2021 model and they have rerouted the cables so it looks better. If you are comparing this snowblower to a Honda the Husqvarna is a better snowblower overall. The on-board electric start is great. The track drive is faster than the Honda. And it throws snow as far or farther than the Honda. BUT If you want the fastest and easiest to use look at the Ariens Pro RapidTrak. It has more capacity, is a lot easier to use and overall the RapidTrak will last years longer and not give you any problems with cables and other minor issues.
Hey Paul I picked up a st430t and I love it what a powerhouse but the only problem I noticed I'm getting is when in heavy snow and changes from wet to icy Chunk the chute pops off the housing and I get blasted with snow do u know of any fixes our if husky knows about this issue??
On the one I have here the chute sits down over the discharge a good 5/8 inch so it should never pop off. So, Wiggle the black tubing that holds the chute up. Look down at the bottom of that support tubing and make sure the bolts are tight. Grab the chute and wiggle it up and down. Check to make sure the bolt that holds it to the support tube is tight. Remove the black cover at the top of the chute check to make sure all the bolts are tight there. You can see what it should look like starting about 12:00 in this video.
I have a question about the dampener, on Honda the dampener will have to be replaced every 3 or 4 years, what about husquerna dampener they are expensive to replace, by the way they have that machine in Norway now, Thank you very much for informative video, maybe Husquerna have a winner. great with the squirrel running. THAT BEAST COULD REALY MOVE THE SNOW, but I think Ariens rapid track is the best choice
I haven't asked Husqvarna about the life of the dampener but I did have to remove it and adjust it when I first got the machine. (mine was a prove-design) I tipped the snow blower up on it's nose and then it only took 10 minutes to take it off, adjust it and reinstall it.
Hi Paul- I see this is an old review and I'm new to the snow thrower business. I have a cabin in Williams, AZ at about 7000' and have a dinner driveway. Any thoughts on using this machine for cinder/gravel? Thanks!
@@PaulSikkema thanks! I see I got dinner instead of cinder 😂 Anyway, it’s basically a red ground or Crushed volcanic rock. Same concept as gravel but with more fines.
I think I'm going to go with the Ariens RapidTrak Pro. One question, they offer two models, 926060 and a 926078. They look 100% identical with only the engines being the difference between the two that I can see. 926060 comes with "Ariens Polar Force by Briggs & Stratton" and the 926078 comes with "Powerful Ariens AX engine". Both are 420 CC. It seems like the 926078 is Ariens newest version. Both sell for the exact same price and weigh exactly the same. Is one better and if so, why ??? Thank you !!!!
The Briggs has been around for a long time and has a great reputation with contractors. The Ariens AX engine that is replacing it is a new, fuel-efficient design and I expect it to develop the same great reputation as the Briggs. One advantage for the Ariens is the snowblower and the AX engine are both warrantied by them so warranty issues, parts etc. is never a problem and issues are fixed quickly. The dealer doesn’t have to wait for another company to give them the “ok” to fix it under warranty.
Hi Paul. I need a little help on buying a snowblower. Never owned one but I'm getting to old to shovel. I've been watching your very helpful videos and am leaning towards the toro 1428 HD . Toro is running a 100 dollar off sale this week on the 2019 models. The questions are, would you know if there are any major changes on the 2020 models? Is this machine to big for me? I live in the country and have big snow drifts blow in from the surrounding fields. Sometimes they are packed so hard you can walk on them. (Very dense snow) So I don't want to sacrifice horsepower. Toros seem like very nice machines . Been looking at them for 2 years already. Thanks.
The 1428 HD is an awesome machine! It has the power and weight to push through those hard-packed drifts and throw them over 50 feet away. It's actually a lot easier to use than you think. It's balanced well so you can lift up the front when needed. It has plenty of capacity so the front end won't ride up in a snowdrift. The power steering makes it very easy to turn. The 2019 models have the red-metal chute. If they are trying to sell you one with the black-plastic chute - that's actually a 2018 or older. There is no difference between the 2019 and 2020 models. Make sure the one you buy has drift cutters. They will help the snow blower to cut through those deep drifts. Here is a link to the Home Depot page where you can see the drift cutters installed. homedepot.sjv.io/4rP09
Great video! Im in the market for a commercial grade 24 inch blower. Have you used the Husqvarna st424 model? I can't decide between the Ariens platinum EFI 24inch or the Husqvarna st424. Both machines are around $2000 new from dealers in my area. I live in northern NH and need a 24 inch model to navigate between all the cars in my driveway. We regularly see 20+ inch storms. Thanks
The Ariens has the highest capacity of any 24 inch snowblower. It will handle any snow you get. The Husqvarna ST424 has a smaller engine. It will also handle the snow well but be slightly slower. The Ariens has EFI so it will start every time and is not affected by ethanol fuels. EFI includes an electronic governor so it engine picks up quickly when it encounters heavy snow. The ST424 does NOT have EFI. (It does have electronic governor) The Ariens has 110volt electric start but I've never had to use it to start an Ariens EFI engine. I even left one tipped up on its nose for three months and it started on the first pull. The ST424 has electric start with an on-board battery. I'm not sure how many winters the battery will last. The ST424 uses levers to turn the snow blower. It goes in a straight line until you pull the triggers. The Ariens goes where you point it. All you need to do is move the handles - just like a shopping cart. The ST424 has a hydro transmission - the Ariens has a friction disk drive. I don't need a hydro transmission on a 24-inch snowblower. I don't expect the hydro on the ST424 to ever fail but if it leaks or fails you have to replace the tranny - the dealer won't repair it. The friction disk tranny on the Ariens is bulletproof and very inexpensive to maintain.
@@PaulSikkema thank you very much for the details on both units. I've watched alot of your videos and appreciate your input for real world experience. Thanks again Paul have a great day brother!
Funny how the new track system looks like a cross of the Ariens Rapidtrack and the classic age-old Honda track. Definitely an improvement going back to the standard ribbon auger. Nice that they braced the auger gearbox, although they coulda just went the extra mile and used a full width solid shaft through the augers instead. Cast doesn't bend, but it breaks. You hit something hard with that impeller and you might be done blowing. I'm not saying that there isn't ball bearings in that front end, but I'll believe it when I see it.
A full-width front shaft is not always the best choice. I've owned a few over the years that had the full-length shaft but no auger brace and they developed a definite sag. That sag caused the front auger to jump up and down - eventually taking out the front gearbox. Bearings. I try to make sure I know what I'm talking about before I open my mouth. That said, this snowblower has ball bearings in the front auger shaft housing. They are part number 532 43 76-22. You are welcome to verify this by going to Husqvarna.com/support and reviewing the parts list for the ST430T
@@PaulSikkema Well, I'll be dipped. I couldn't find one for sale online, but everything I found indicates that it's a standard sealed ball bearing you can buy. I'm impressed. I think I did see a video once of a bent auger shaft, but a solid shaft only 2 to 3 feet long doesn't sag all by itself even if it's mild steel. I don't know the exact diameter, but I do know that they aren't small, I think around 3/4"+. Even if it did, I check my auger play several times a season to make sure my shear pins aren't broke and that the auger isn't binding. I do know that the multi-piece designs, at least without a brace, can bind and break gearboxes instead of shearing the pins because a friend of mine had to get rid of a blower like that after only a couple years. He lived in a wooded area and often large branches could get hidden under the snow and he would hit them with his snowblower. He went through a few gearboxes before he gave up and bought a different blower.
Yes, we would all like to hear about it! The unit I have here is a pre-production unit so the issues I've had with it were all worked out before yours was made...
@@PaulSikkema Since receiving my blower in November of 2019 ,I've had these issues, First thing was when I bought it online it came in a crate and I had to assemble part of the machine and everything went good accept the discharge chute cable didn't have literature of where to route the cable ,so I went to the local Husqvarna Dealer and saw where they had it and put mine like there's and found out that was the wrong place and broke the outer part of the cable,I then taped up my cable best I could and rerouted it along side the discharge handle and It has worked flawlessly since then,I am in the process of seeing if the company will send another cable out on the warranty,we'll see. next thing to go wrong was the axle bearing mount snapped a bolt off and rendered the track system inoperable,down for two weeks waiting for part, I'll send a picture of it,The auger bucket adjustment cable sometimes sticks and won't hold the front of the blower down,I don't know how I can remedy this other than thaw it out after every use,snow gets up under the dampening shock and then freeze's and then it sticks,.The cables that come off the chute rotator lay on top of the engine shroud and the vibration rub's the paint off,so I took some heavy electric fence wire and shaped it to hold the cables high enough so they don't rub.The shoes on the bucket will let you get close to the pavement,cause some of us want all the snow off the side walk,but even with the shoes adjusted all the way up it's not enough,so they can be modified if you have a mind to. My ST427 Track model starts great,even at -15 and run's smooth,I do run Premium gas through it, It say's you don't have to ,but I do,even at that I still had to put a little Isopropyl alcohol with it and that kept it running smooth,Somehow I got some gas that had moisture in it and it would miss every once in a while, To all who buy this machine I implore you to check all the bolts,especially the shoulder bolts they fall out and at 17-20 dollars a pop(warranty covers it) but just saying,I've had several just come loose and fall off,and yes they had loctite on the threads but for some reason they came out,and i thought it was just me ,but My buddy bill bought the ST430T and has had almost the same bolts jiggle out and have to wait for the parts to be ordered and not have your blower when a storm hits,I like the blower ,had some issues but it is mostly steel and heavy made ,some of the parts aren't that well made but we will see,Thanks for listening,Oh I have 23 hours on my Husky
I'm about to change my view on Husqvarna. Not the equipment so much as the service. I've had too many dealers state that getting parts is becoming a real problem. Stuff that should they should get in a few days is taking not weeks but months. So, Husqvarna should warranty that cable but you may have to go back to the online vendor you bought the snow blower from. Did you buy it from Lowes or SnowBlowers Direct?
Hi, i need help you could say haha i was going to buy a toro 928 oae 2019 for price and throw snow very good and anti clog. I need reliable and what toro give. After watching this video what should i do ? Thanks
Yes i did lol like 10 time hahahah was checking if you change mind great just cant wait to have one i got a old noma 1029 cant wait to finally see snow frying hahahah
One tank of a snowblower! I noticed you don't review many single stage snowblower, but could you see if you could demo a Toro Power clear 721? They have amazing power for a single stage!
Andy, I reviewed Husqvarna, Ariens and MTD made residential single-stage snow throwers 5 and 6 years ago - nothings changed with them since. The Toro 721 R is still arguably the best for commercial work - but - there is another commercial and a new residential that may change the game. I've got both of them ordered and they should be here by Sept 1st.
@@PaulSikkema yay husqvarna finaly has a key start the thing i been wishing to have about time husqvarna came out there key start and bigger feul tank and hour meter wich makes my snow job so easyer
What happens when someone else filled my oil to much i removed oil yesterday after i checked it and it had way to much in . tightened it on top removed dipstick and it was up high i have a New Briggs and Stratton 24 inch it is small it back fired on me not sure what i have to do first Throttle or Choke i tried calling the guy but so far no luck they haven't gotten back to me. I think he did it on purpose . He worked a Sears for many years he should know how to do oil right . He put most of the quart of oil in it . He turned it on with all of that oil i hope it didn't ruin my new snow blower .
Usually, nothing happens if you catch it right away. Or nothing that would permanently wreck the engine. But, if they put a full quart in the engine and you ran it for a while it could blow oil out the crankcase breather, push the dipstick out or blow oil past the oil ring on the piston which would cause the engine to smoke. If there was more than a quart it could have hydraulically "locked" the engine so it would not have turned over at all. Sears taught their sales associates how to sell you a snowblower and a protection plan. They never - ever taught them how to do any maintenance or repairs to the items they were selling. Why? Because they had a whole other division that did that type of work. (Sears Repair Services)
The Toro 1432 is an awesome snow blower and compares very well to the Ariens Pro and Ariens Pro Rapidtrak. I don't have an opinion yet on the 430T comapares.
Hello Paul, thanks for the video. I've been looking for a good snowblower for some time now. After the Vidio I almost wanted to buy the Husqvarna 400 series, but now I've read your comments where you say the ariens are better !? In Austria, the ariens are unfortunately more expensive than in the US. Only the very big ariens have hydrostat and the costs $ 5,500. The ST 430 T costs in Austria $ 4500. Maybe you can help me? Many thanks. Greetings from Austria Stefan
My understanding is your snow in Europe is different than it is here in North America. (It doesn't have as much moisture in it.) The Husqvarna is designed for your snow. I'm confident that the ST430T will work very well for you.
I bought a new snow blower never used them before Is there a video for putting gas in and oil in and grease the booklet is not the greatest I have a Briggs and Stratton a 24 inch i needed it smaller so i can at least i can move it . The only thing i ever used was an older lawn mower i have been trying to find info on getting it started
Here is a video on starting a Briggs snow blower engine: ua-cam.com/video/5G930QjVXks/v-deo.html Change the oil: ua-cam.com/video/Lg9Q1q8faiM/v-deo.html Your snow blower does not require grease except for the areas spelled out in your manual.
So theirs these new LCT and Briggs 13hp snowblowers rated at 420cc and their was the old Tecumseh 13hp that was 358cc. Have you had the opportunity to use both engines, if so does the newer 420cc rated 13hp have more power than the old Tecumseh 358cc or is the power comparable, because I have the 13hp Tecumseh on one of my blowers and I'm interested to know if these are putting out more power, going by displacement their bigger, so my guess is yes?
We don't use HP anymore with snowblowers. There are too many different ways to measure it. For example, Kawasaki uses a different method than Briggs for lawn tractor engines - so even though the torque is the same the HP is listed differently. In addition, if your Tecumseh was not an OHV engine it will have different HP compared to the new OHV styles. All that said, The 420cc engines are about 14-15 HP.
@@PaulSikkema That wasn't my question, because Im aware of the whole hp thing. Engine manufacturers got hit with a class action in around 2007, because they were over rating the hp on the engines, not because they couldn't rate them properly, but because they chose too over rate them, because horsepower sells. Now their trying to say 250cc is almost 9hp which is far off. 318cc is 8hp. Tecumseh was honest with most of theirs, the 8hp and 10hp which came out in the early 1970's was 318cc and 358cc respectively. They were rated that way almost to the end, 4 decades. I use those numbers as my benchmark, because their correct. Even though hp isn't official anymore, your still using the term in the videos and Toro is still naming their models that old way, ex 928, even though 250cc is no where near 9. Forget I used the term horsepower, my question is out of all the blowers you have used past and present, ones that had the Tecumseh OHV 358cc (considered 13hp) vs the other brands now using a 420cc including Briggs (Briggs considers the 420 as a 13hp on Ariens pro models, so will go with that), which has more power and torque, the Tecumseh OHV 358cc or that Briggs and others with the 420cc? Are they comparable, does the 420 have a lot more power, what would you say? I'm interested to know. By displacement, the 420 is bigger. I'd like to know. Before Tecumseh went under in 08 that 358cc OHV was the biggest you could get, now that 420 is, my guess is the 420 has more power, but I haven't had the chance to try that one yet, that's why I'm asking, thanks.
OK, I understand. The exact answer is hard to find but let me give it a shot. LCT now makes a 369cc and a 414cc residential carb engine. One of those should compare to your 358. They also make a 420cc commercial carb engine and that is intended to compete directly with the Briggs 420cc. Finally, LCT now has a 420cc EFI engine that has a very different power curve compared to the past engines. The only reference I can find for the HP comparison is this chart over on the Ariens Blog. www.ariens.com/en-us/efi-ez-launch
@@PaulSikkema Well I was just wondering in general on any blower that you used Tecumseh vs Briggs or any of the other engines that are 420cc which engine had more power and ate snow and threw better, the old Tecumseh 358 or the newer Briggs or LCT 420? Have you had the chance to try an older blower with the Tecumseh OHV 358 and compare it power and performance wise to these new 420cc engines?
@@PaulSikkema Like for instance the old Ariens pro 1332 with the Tecumseh 358 vs the new Ariens pro 1332 although its not called that anymore, with the 420 Briggs, which had more power, performance, throwing distance.
One question, Paul. I don't know engines, so I was curious when someone said they thought they could hear the ST430T engine 'really struggling' in the video. I'm buying for a hill, so if that's true it would concern me.
Nola, The snow I was clearing right behind the house was snow that was shovled off the roof. It was wet, heavy and all the air had been knocked out of it. It was so hard and packed you could walk on the drift. Any snow blower will struggle clearing that type of snow. The ST430T will work well on a hill.
I have a very good microphone for the videos. When my neighbor gets out his 1830 EXLT I'll have to compare decibel readings with the two. This one is a lot quieter than the older models.
You said this was a Honda killer at the end of the video..........more like a Honda clone. I am not a fan of foreign stuff one bit BUT claiming it will kill a Honda without side by side proof is laughable at best. Honda stuff is what it is and is priced fairly too because it is truly the best you can buy for the $$. Not only does it last forever it's re-sell ability is through the roof!! People foam at the mouth at Honda stuff and it sells real fast too! The name simpily says it all. Don't get me wrong i like and watch your videos all the time. It just seems like in this video you were over flattering on a machine that does not deserve it One dislike about the machine and that is it? So you are a big fan then i guess that the gear box case is not top loading then...........give me a break. I could go on and on how $3000 + tax should buy you more than this and how mutiple other brands can do the same thing this can if not better for farrrrrrrrr less $$ too. What about you comment in the Toro 9/28 video............OPPS did i say that out loud?? You own words even said so in the Toro 9/28 video that you "yourself" made! I mean you cannot make this stuff up!! I would instantly choose the Ariens EFI OR the Toro 14/30 HD over this an day of the week. At the end of the day it comes down to what it does and how well it does it and what does it cost me to do it. I do NOT see the value here at all.............i mean not even close. I get these machines (Ariens and Toro) alllll the time as i am a re-seller. I have connections to over stock items OR returns and i come across the all the time. Let me tell you there is no way for the $$ you could not beat the Toro 14/30 HD. A very close second is the Ariens EFI. Both have great features and are known for quality too. I just cannot wrap my head around the $3000 + tax price point. I do not see it one bit. Maybe $2000 but no way in God's green earth $3000 This was a paid review too if they let you keep the snowblower. I have a feeling that is why you talked soooooooo highly of it. You really need to be honest with yourself AND your viewers when doing videos like this. Every video before this one was really good, but i see greed got the best of you..........................sad.
A couple of things to help you understand how I review these snow blowers. 1. It's not what's best - but what's best for you. I'm impartial - meaning every brand has its strengths and weaknesses. Yes, I prefer other brands but Toro doesn't make a tracked snow blower and some people don't like the Ariens AutoTurn. Also, Ariens does not have an EFI tracked snowblower available in the U.S. So, what choice do they have? A Husqvarna or Honda. 2. I have a worldwide audience. Europe likes tracked machines. Until this year Honda and Husqvarna were the snow blowers of choice. Honda couldn't meet emission standards so now it's a choice between Husqvarna and Ariens EFI. Because of the VAT tax, the Ariens is actually more expensive in most of the European countries. (People over there LOVE this Husqvarna snowblower) 3. I'm not going to spend $3000 on a Honda just to show you all its faults. You may not be aware of how long I've been doing this, but I've used them enough and there are plenty of videos on UA-cam to show the Hondas off. 4. It's NOT a Honda clone. This snowblower was built first (so maybe the Honda is the clone?) Husqvarna took their existing tracked snow blower, fixed all the pain points and improved it so it now is a better machine for many people than the Honda. Again, Husqvarna is competing with Honda worldwide - not Ariens or Toro so it makes sense that they focus on making a better snowblower than the Honda. 5. I still have an 1830 EXLT here as a reference. I let my neighbor use it and I know it has over 500 hours on it. It has had a few problems but with this new machine, Husqvarna has fixed all of them. Husqvarna has fixed all the mechanical issues like the steering, track idler wheels and impeller belts. They have one of the best EFI engines on it and the engine meets the emission standards worldwide. They have made it a lot easier to use and the new model is the only machine on the market with height-adjustable handles.
@@PaulSikkema At the end of the day it is a hard pill to swallow spending $3000 + tax on something that has mutiple flaws with it. Not ONLY is the gear case not top loading it does not look heavy duty at all. I am all but positive you are going to say that is no big deal too. To that i say others are doing it so are they wrong then?? I could go on and on about mutiple things it should have for your $3000 + tax. I would be here allllllllll day. Doesn't it seem weird how a $3000 + tax machine has no "adjustable" throttle control?? I know you will come up with some excuse for that too. Ariens has it and it works great on there $1799 + tax machine. Depending on how you look at it less gets you more in some cases. Sure no 420cc engine BUT compared to the Toro 9/28 it did not fair well so do you really need a 420cc engine? So a few comments below you told a guy to take his "turd" back to the dealer but above you told me they worked out there problems? So which is it. What story do you want to stick with? I get it though...........if i got a $3000 + tax snowblower for FREE i "might" defend it no matter what too!! Ignore the flaws and smile with your new machine that you got for free. I am not a hater by any means you do good reviews and i always watch them BUT this one made me ill. Is it a nice machine............yes............is it worth the price of $3000 + tax compared to it's competition............NO! I get in the Toro 14/28 HD in next week and i just know i will be impressed with it because it is a Toro. The quality that Toro puts into there machines is unmatched............period. I like Ariens too BUT i think the Toro 14/28 HD will be unstopable. I might not resell it and just keep it and sell my Ariens EFI. It will be hard to beat a 14 hp on "only" a 14 inch cut. It might launch the snow 75 feet. That was a joke "but" it might be close though!! The "average" home owner knows and trusts Toro, from there lawn mowers to there snow blowers. It truly is a hard brand to beat and Husqvarna is not even in the same league. Toro and Ariens are on top when it comes to snow machines, always have been and always will be. Ariens has a great selection of tracked machines too. They really stepped up there game with there new tacked machines and they look great, and Ariens is a brand you can trust too! I would go and buy a yard machines before i ever bought a Husqvarna.
I can see that a brand name is a lot more important to you than helping someone find the best snowblower for them. But that's OK. I have the same prejudices with vehicles - my last five vehicles have all been Dodge Caravans... Yes, the Toro Power Max HD and Ariens Deluxe, Platinum and Pro snowblowers are the "best" and are definitely the best choice if you live in Northern Michigan, upstate New York and north of Boston - and I do have to admit I always grab the Ariens Pro RapidTrak Pro first around here - but these snowblowers are not the best for everyone. Let me address a couple of things you said so everyone reading these comments can see the whole - unbiased picture. 1. Like you, I'm also used to the huge chunk of cast iron sticking out the front of an Ariens. So, I was concerned that the Husqvarna gearbox "looked small" But then I found out it was also cast iron and used hardened gears. I also talked to my local 20 year Husqvarna dealer and he told me he has had very few problems with the gearbox. He' s also had no issues with the gearbox leaking. 2. Yes, the owner of the "turd" had a problem. That owner didn't get back to us but I'll bet the dealer fixed the EFI issue and the machine works well now and it's no longer a turd. (Everyone has had a few hiccups with EFI. Bad logic boards, bad batteries, throttle dials too loose) 3. Yes, it does have a throttle - but it does not have a choke... The electronic throttle has idle, run and boost. What more do you need? 4. Price. This machine is competing with machines that are priced the same, specifically the Honda HSS 928 and 1332. It's unfair to compare it with a $1700 snowblower. I hear a lot of complaints about price - but then I see the same person driving around in their $50,000 half-ton pickup...
Huskies are good but they are NOT in ARIENS league. If you want the BEST and live in UTAH , WYOMING, COLORADO or SQUAW VALLEY area which are high snow fall areas over 400” you need an ARIENS . SQUAW VALLEY , SNOWBIRD , JACKSON HOLE , STEAMBOAT ski resorts ALL use ARIENS.
Paul I live in Juneau Alaska and have been a dedicated Honda man! I just bought a 2022 ST 430T track drive just like the one you reviewed!! Its definitely a Honda Killer! I have to contend with the city plows leaving a snow burm in front of my house. But this SNOW GOAT eats that burm for breakfast!! I have impressed and amazed 2 Honda owners with its performance and throwing distance! So far nothing bad to say about it other than she drinks a little more gas than a Craftsman but way out performs anyone in the neighborhood!!! It takes a little learning curve to get rocking with it. But Is the Best Thing I have bought to date for snow removal! Fabulous Machine envy of the hood!
I have had one for 3 years now no problems at all , it out performs every other blower i have used so far. In regards to the transmission if you engage it while it is in gear , you will wear gears for sure.I always put it in neutral , engage and use the lever to control speed , less wear and tear .If you want to check if you have fluid in your transmission , you can unscrew the vent and stick a clean wire down the hole . The machine is a tank , I dont regret getting one at all
Hi Paul - Thanks for a great review. I watched your video today and bought a ST 430T today thanks to your review. I am very happy with the machine after using it for the first time right away. I was smiling in the snow fall. Great quality. Greetings from Sweden! //Johnny
Glad it was helpful! Enjoy your new snowblower!
I owned one for 5 years before leaving Boston a couple years ago. It was the biggest you could buy then. I never had one issue with the machine. It started first-time every time and moved a load of snow. I lived in 3+ acres with a 150' long driveway and a 2 ac paddock - It got used and used and never ever had an issue except when I ran over the newspaper in 18" of snow. Hot water works wonders with that situation.
Hey Paul, hope all is well and that you're enjoying your summer. Always enjoy your comprehensive snow blower reviews, nice to see Husky building a new beast. Before you know it will be that time of year again.
i just bought an st430. stoked to use it. feel great about my purchase.
Hello I have an Husqvarna ST 227P Snow Blower for my DAD but I Use it more than he dose it was a birthday gift two years ago and you are so right about that he had a electric snow blower and I was using one time 2 years ago it was wet heavy snow that next day I went out to Lowe's and got this Snow Blower
Hello Paul!
I'm about to buy myself my first snow-blower. I have a pretty big yard and therefor I would need a big enough machine.
For now I have considered the Husqvarna ST430, the Honda 1332A ETD (or mabye one size down) or some Ariens (The Kraken is on the wish list, but very hard to get a hold on i Norway). Which one would offer the best quality and performance you think?
I would definitely look at the Ariens Pro RapidTrak over the Husqvarna or Honda. It is a higher capacity snowblower, it's easier to use and will give you many years of use.
@@PaulSikkema
Thanks for answer! I actually went for the Husqvarna ST 430T. 😄 The new pro series wasn't available for another year...
Haven't used it for more than 2-3 hours, but is seems like a quality machine! Takes a bit to get use to operate, but I guess that comes with the use..
If you ever get the chance, I hope you do a follow up on this video. The reviews for this machine on Husqvarnas web sites and in a lot of videos/comments are about stuff Husqvarna really has improved on the 2021 version! Especially the problems regarding the bolts and drive shafts loosening..
@@PaulSikkema I just bought the Ariens Pro RapidTrak 28 based on your reviews and barely tested it. But it seems like a very easy machine to use.
Nice review , thanks. I watched the review for the first time three weeks ago. After my own research of it’s competition I ordered this machine from my local dealer last week. We had a challenging winter in South Dakota last year. I hope this machine makes it more bearable. Thanks again.
How funny I live in the same state as you and I have a Husqvarna snowblower. I will tell you that even in the thickest of snow the thing will just take it like a champ and on the snowblower I have is a pull to start one and a it works great and starts right away these machines are totally worth it just don’t abuse it.
This looks like an outstanding machine!
Its a nice blower, who makes these Husqvarna blowers now, is it still the old AYP corp down in the Carolina's, or whatever came out of them.
Husqvarna makes Husqvarna snowblowers. AYP was the lawn tractor company that they bought years a go.
Husqvarna snowblowers were made in Georgia until this year. They moved the equipment to the South Carolina facility this spring.
@@PaulSikkema Actually AYP made Tractors for Husqvarna, the parent company was electrolux which was a subsidiary of sears. They were made under Craftsman, Poulan, weedeater and Husqvarna, when Sears started going bankrupt the asset Electrolux got sold off, thats when it all split. Okay so the Husqvarna blowers are truly Husqvarna okay great, thanks, good to know. Their a nice machine.
The Internet if full is mis-information about who owns what - especially Sears, Roper, Electrolux, AYP and how that all ended up as Husqvarna. Here is the correct information: todaysmower.com/sears-husqvarna-group-lawn-tractors-108-year-continuous-manufacturing-relationship-stops/
hey paul could you take a picture where the chute lock cable is routed up to the handle,I need a picture of how it is routed
Would you please go over to this website and ask your question in the comments. I can upload pictures there: movingsnow.com/2018/5-best-commercial-snowblowers-2019/
Hey paul love your video's ,this one was the deciding factor when I purchased my current snow blower ,the ST 430T was my first choice but, it wasn't available when I needed a machine so I bought the ST427T and am loving it so far,love the hydrostatic drive, If you want I'll keep you appraised of how it holds up , thanks for the videos. Update: I now had my ST 427 T snow thrower and I can tell you Husqvarna has not worked out all the bugs In this new Blower,I'd like to go into a more indepth review but the list is long and I I had to do over I would not have shelled out $3000 for this machine and would have picked a more true and tested company,,I only have 14.9 hours on my machine and its been in the shop twice,for parts that shouldn't break,and I thought it was maybe just me ,but my neighbor bought the st430 t and has less than 10 hours and all the bolts are falling out of the drive mechanism,Still poor quality,Husqvarna has a long way to go.
Wow; I think that is a Honda killer; 14” impeller -hot damn,- nice review Paul
How would this compare to the Ariens Hydro pro rapid track line? I did buy the Ariens, but wondered how that machine stood up side by side?
The Ariens Hydro Pro has more capacity, throws farther and will not plug on heavy, wet snow. The Ariens is also easier to maneuver and faster.
Don't get me wrong. This Husqvarna is a capable machine. There are only about ten tracked machines on the market and I'd rate the RapidTrak Pro as one and this one number two.
Thanks, we started getting some snow here in Quebec, so it promises to be a year to put it to the test.
Hi paul ,I was wondering if you're still using the st430 t husqvarna,and if you had any problems with the discharge release cable for the chute control?
Yes, I just posted a video comparing it to the Ariens RapidTrak. ua-cam.com/video/7t0fSOPvews/v-deo.html
Yes, I had an issue with that cable. It was really stiff and eventually kinked. I replaced it and now it works a lot better. (It was a real pain to attach to the lever...)
@@PaulSikkema Yes it is and I rerouted the cable up along the handle for the chute discharge control lever and have not had a problem with it since
Is there an easy way to plug the battery up to a float charger to keep things up to charge.....over the summer or winter?
The battery compartment cover comes off easily. Just loosen the wingnut, lift and it comes off. If you didn't want to take the cover off I suggest hooking up this cable to the battery: amzn.to/2NW0VST . It's standard battery cable and works with this charger and others: amzn.to/2Q2GypG
Just found your channel. Great informative videos!
I hear you saying that hydrostatic drive can cause costly repairs down the line. Would you say that a friction disc is better? I'm looking at a used older model Husqvarna ST 276 EP for clearing a 5000 ft² gravel parking lot a few times a year. Or when is hydrostatic recommended over the simpler friction disc?
The residential hydrostatic transmission in the Husqvarna has been very reliable and over the life of the snowblower should not give you any problems. They have no maintenance.
Hydros are a lot easier to use if you have a lot of smaller areas to clear. They are not as jerky.
They are also very good for heavy, deep snow because you can go slower than the first gear on most snowblowers.
Frictions disks and much cheaper but you will need to lubricated the shaft the friction wheel slides on and every 7-10 years of so (50 hours) replace the friction wheel. Over the life of the snowblower you may have as much parts and labor expenses maintaining the friction disk as replacing a hydro - though you will probably never have an issue with the hydro.
@@PaulSikkema Thank you very much for that explanation. 👍
hello thank you for the presentation I would like to know at what maximum speed can go the snowblower ??
Husqvarna does not give the speed but, it travels at a good walking speed. It's faster than the old 1830 EXLT, slightly faster than the Honda HSS32 and not as fast as the Ariens RapidTrak.
yeah thats a new st430t 420cc 21hp 30'' plus there is st427 369cc 17hp 27''
Just to clarify - snow blower engines are no longer listed in HP. The ST420T is 420cc, 21 ft.lbs. The ST427 is 369cc, 17 ft.lbs.
Awesome review, Thank you for the effort
I’m glad they redesigned the track system, that was very problematic. From a company around since 1689 it’s good to see they still listen to their customers. Love their mowers, might get a blower if I ever need to replace my Yamaha.
Hi Paul, excellent review. I recently purchased the ST427 and am wondering whether the machine has a generator (or alternator) to charge the battery when the engine is running. Or do I have to keep hooking it up to an external charger when the machine is not in use?
Yes, the alternator is capable of charging the battery, running the light and handwarmers. In the off-season I suggest starting it every three months and letting it run for a while to keep the battery charged or put a trickle charger on it once every three months.
The question is how reliable they are. There have been many quality problems in the past, quality issues is a hard thing to chance (no matter what the manufactures says)
At the component level Husqvarna fixed all the problems the previous snowblowers had. I spent some time with Husqvarna's engineers and they resolved all the problems on my list. Belts breaking, etc. The hydro transmission is the best trigger steer hydro there is. All the other brands who have trigger steer hydros use this same transmission. Large bore LCT engines have a great reputation. The engine on this one is the only 420 cc EFI on the market and the onboard electric start is really nice.
Assembly line issues - we'll have to see. Husqvarna moved the assembly from Georgia to South Carolina for these new models. All their mower and snow blower manufacturing is now located at that one complex.
@@PaulSikkema I take your point, it is always good to hear engineers pay attention and improve (good sign). As an engineer myself, I know there is more out there that the engineers, as you mention, there is the assembly line and also the overall management - perhaps the biggest issue with their snowblower and mowers departments. Ultimately, it comes down to a CEO interest in certain departments. Their chainsaws are great so the potential is there
It would be cool if an electric snow blower with this much power would exist. HELLO SNOW-JOE, TIME TO MAKE ONE
I agree, but at this point in time the battery would be $1500 alone!
I have a yardman with a cable shoot control. It didn't work properly for very long.
I'm looking to buy The Huskvarna 400 serie, i have a 200 x 15 feet driveway, and around the house to do, but i'm not sure between the 27 inch or 30 inch, because maybe the 27 inch will be easier to move around the house and get into the shead door, what di you think about it, is the 430 beter then the 427 ?
You can get a 27 inch through a 32 inch door and a 30 inch through a 36 inch door.
Since the 400 series has the on-board battery hanging in the handles it's better balanced than the 200-300 series. So, you won't see any difference in moving either size around.
If you want to move it without the engine running you can pull both trigger steering lever and the unit will free-wheel.
The 30 inch will get the work done about 15-20% faster because of the width. If time is important, it's the better choice.
Hello Paul, is there a pull start on this model if the battery is dead and cannot start the machine? Great review of this machine. Thank you.
No, But the battery is easy to get to if you need to charge it. This EFI model needs 12 volt electrical power to operate the EFI.
3:28 "Handwarmers didn't work that well.." The handwarmers were completely useless is more like it. Also, add that by the end of the season your Husqvarna will blow snow about 5 feet if you are lucky, and the drive belt will loosen so that you steadily lose power each time you use it. I realise that this is a bigger badder machine and hydrostatic, but once bitten, twice shy, I just don't trust their quality. First and last time I buy a Husqvarna, my ST224 P was a waste of money. When the sales are on in the spring I'll buy an Ariens or a Honda and sell my Husqvarna to someone who doesn't know any better. Thanks for the review though, you sure seem to know your stuff!
Harbour Geezer Ours works like the day we bought it 4 years ago, no decline in performance. We work it harder than the average homeowner too
I have the new 427T. Used it hard in 2 months. Works really well. The newer models have new type of belts + they have changed many things that users was complaining about.
I guess negatives get filtered out in this video, the rest of UA-cam is full with bad news on big Husqvarna snowblowers, including the hydrostatic transmission
This was the first review of the ST420T and since then I have had no problems with it. Is it the easiest to use? no. Is It the fastest? no. Do the handwarmers suck? yes. I went looking for negative UA-cam reviews of the 400 series including the tracked snowblower and I can't find any. If you would please list one or two.
Now you may be watching videos of the 1830 EXLT and other older Husqvarna snowblowers. The trigger steering system in them was an issue. This snowblower and all the current models use a completely new hydro that has the trigger steer in the hydro itself.
Hi Paul. I'm new to snowblowers and I just bought the wheeled version of this model used with 7 hours on it. The machine runs great but there is a pretty aggressive noise/clunk when I first engage the auger. Once engaged there is no additional noise. Is this normal on these machines? I have inspected the auger belt/tension as well as the impeller, auger and shear pins. Everything seems to be the way it should be. Any info would be great, thanks!
That's pretty normal for a Husqvarna. The auger belt hasn't had a chance to wear a little - it grabs in the pulley instead of slipping a little when it starts. It will get better after a few hours of runtime.
@PaulSikkema Okay good to know, thanks for the reply!
Sweet machine. The 300s are hydrostatic aswell. I've had the ST330P for a few winters now. It's been a great machine up here in the interior of BC Canada 👌🍻
The numbers are changing this year. Last year the 300 series had both friction and hydro. This year the 200 and 300 are friction disk while the 400 and 400T will be hydro.
What is the extra cord and plug for in the battery box? I feel it should be plugged in somewhere but it may be for an extra accessory?
I don't know but I'll guess it is for an optional charger that they never made available.
You have me convinced on what machine to buy even if they are a little pricey
Convinced me too! I'm getting a 33 hp. Kubota tractor with a cab and heat.
This has been an amazing year. Thank you so much for watching my videos and supporting through comments, likes, and shares. I especially would like to thank you, my subscribers, for supporting what I do here. Feel free to leave a comment below. (I do moderate the comments so it may not show up right away) Thanks for watching and please Subscribe!
i'm looking at a husqvarna st430 series 420cc 21hp 30''
Important how easy to drain the fuel. It does good with really dry snow how about wet snow. Seems like it was struggling at one point in your review. Hope for you to review toro. Thanks
In tht video the European chute safety guard was still attached and it was severly limiting the snow blower. I'll make more videos of this snow blower this winter so you can get a better look at it.
This is the new EFI engine and there is no place to drain the fuel - easily.
Thank you Paul for your in-depth review. How significant do you think the difference is between wet-snow handling of the ST430T and the new Ariens Professional 28 RapidTrak Hydro (926084)? I ended up buying this ST430T in any case, based on your review.
Thanks, Patrick.
The ST430T handles wet snow well. For example, I had my roof shoveled two years ago and I ended up with a snowdrift around the house that was 3-4 feet deep. Since the show had been shoveled and thrown off the roof it was very dense. On top of that, there was a lot of wet snow in the pile from the slight melting when it was up on the roof.
The Husqvarna had no issues blowing the snow. I did the back half of the house and it never clogged. The only issue I really had was it had a hard time pushing into the snow pile. It just didn't have enough traction to push into that really dense, heavy snow. But - once I got the first pass cleared I could take half-passes and it worked a lot better.
I used the Ariens Professional 28 RapidTrak Hydro on the front half of the house. Because the Ariens has quite a bit more capacity it didn't take as long but it also struggled with traction.
The traction issues on both machines was because I was on grass and I couldn't put them in "lock-down" mode. Lock-down is where you put all the weight of the snowblower and the very rear of the tracks - the front of the tracks actually lifts off the ground.
You can see the difference in this video: ua-cam.com/video/XReNrugAjG8/v-deo.html
Hello Sir, Thanks for sharing this video , I am in the market for a new machine, I have an older Ariens ST824, it has been a great machine but it is getting tired. I am thinking of getting the Ariens rapid track pro or an Ariens platinum 24 SHO but after watching this vid I am also thinking about this machine, How do you think it compares to Those 2 machines, I live just north of Boston MA. and we do get some big storms, if you had a choice between those 3 machines, which one would you pick. Thank you for making all the videos about the different machines.
The Ariens RapidTrak Pro will be the fastest for clearing your heavy wet snow. It won't plug. It's also the fastest for clearing those smaller amounts you also get. The 24 SHO is great for your area if you have a smaller 1-2 car driveway to clear.
@@PaulSikkema Thanks. I am going to get the Rapid Track Pro.
@@PaulSikkema I'm in a similar geography (west of Boston) and have been considering similar machines. Wet snow has become a bigger problem in recent years. Do you think the Ariens 24 SHO would be too small for about 2,400 sq ft of area to clear? That machine seems to have an excellent capability to price ratio compared with 28" machines in the Ariens line or the 27" version of the Husqvarna you are showing here. Also with regards to the Husqvarna 400 series hydrostatic... do you have any sense of it's build quality & reliability vs. Honda or Ariens (I know only time will tell)? Are you planning on doing a video where you go over the inside of the drivetrain section, etc?
Larry, The 24 SHO is a good choice for your area. It handles wet snow better than most on the market. The width really depends on how fast you want to get done. A Deluxe 28 SHO (72 tons per hour) will clear your area in about the same time because the 24 SHO (73 tons per hour) has a larger motor. It also comes with heated handgrips and a nice chute control. Finally, it handles heavy/wet snow a lot better than the Husqvarna 300 and 400 series.
The Husqvarna has the same transmission as the Honda.
I consider the Ariens Platinum SHO a "one-and-done" snow blower. In other words, it will last longer than your house payment. It's easy to work on and needs very little maintenance over the years. The current Hondas don't have near the capacity of this Ariens. Yes, they still have a good engine but the rest of the machine is not built as heavy-duty as the older HS models.
HI Paul, I just wanted to thank you for all of the vids you do on the snow blowers, I just bought a Platinum SHO 24 , I decided on this instead of the Rapid Track, because my driveway is pretty small. I can't wait to try it out! Thanks.
Hey Paul, I bought S T 430 T just like the one in your video in 2020. It has 11 hours on it now and only use it on my deck. Just the other day it will not back up unless it is in a clear area of the deck. Making a big-time chatter in reverse when it is in snow or there is a snow behind the rear of the tracks. One might turn then the other one won't. If I dig the show out it will back up. If you have an idea, please reply. Thank you
Jim
Three things I can think of. 1. The belt that goes from the engine to the transmission may be slipping.
2. Look closely where the drive axle connects to the frame. On each side there is a silver bracket with two bolts that hold the axle. If those bolts are broken get it back to the dealer and have him order the update kit. That problem was found out early in the first production run but your's may have slipped through.
3. It may be the steering clutches in the hydro going bad but I highly doubt that is the problem - it's a very tough tranny.
@@PaulSikkema Thank you Paul. I will check the belt. But I really think it might be the bolts or bolt. I called the dealer the other day but the guy I was talking to told me to make adjustment to the drive handle cable. So, I knew he had no idea what he was talking about being it is a hydro tranny. I am like 60 miles from dealer and up in the mountains and the snow is deep. Do you think by tipping it up on the shoot I will be able to see if any of the bolts are broke. If so, I will get it to town. Thank you so much for getting back to me. Jim
Yes, you can tip it up into the maintenance position (on it's nose) Just make sure you have less than a half tank of fuel in it. A turkey baster is a great tool to suck fuel out of the gas tank.
Use this parts diagram - Page 17, Parts 26, 32, 43. Found on both sides of the axle. www.snowblowersdirect.com/manuals/husqvarna-f0967c6c0079eb98adbd45c0efa3d7b1.pdf
If it is broke, changing out that bearing carrier was a pain - I had to pull the tracks to get enough room to change it.
@@PaulSikkema Morning Paul thank you for the info. I will first go to town and have a talk with someone at the dealer. I really thank you for that parts list. I copied your thoughts and that will give me a leg up on someone that might not have a clue where to start. I will stay in touch with you on what they find. Jim
Nice review on these machine but i have to inform you the impeller is not a 14 inch impeller but rather the same impeller as from the 3 series blower with a 12 inch impeller.
At least according to the part list.
Product number is 585 19 83-03 and it even fit in the old st 1827 exlt.
I have installed it in my european ST267 ept (the EU version of the ST 1827 EXLT) and it works fine.
It does not throw any further then befor but have got better capacity together with ST 227 open flight augers i installed 3 years ago.
Now i just have to get a smaller impeller pulley and shorter belt and my old husqvarna snowblower can throw the same distance as a Honda.
That show how important impeller spead is rather then impeller size to throw longer.
To get increased capacity the impeller have to run even faster ore increase impeller size but size alone does not matter.
Thanks, The auger is 14 inch but I did forget the cast iron impeller is not.
Yes, speeding up the impeller will allow it to throw farther - increasing the impeller diameter will give it more capacity. That's why the Ariens doesn't throw as far as a Honda but it has up to 30% more capacity - menaing it will throw more snow.
I have a 424T and the tracks dont have much speed on them. Any idea how I can increase the speed? Similar to this model shown, it only has a Forward/Reverse throttle. I bought it brand new and it's way too slow. I adjusted the tension on the pulley, but it's still too slow. Any ideas 💡? Thanks.
The simple answer is - Buy an Ariens RapidTrak. It has the same size main drive cog wheel as a wheeled unit.
The problem is all the manufactures only have two hydro's with power steering available and both of those are geared to wheeled units.
Since the main drive wheel is much smaller on the tracked Husqvarna (and MTD and Honda) they are much slower.
Newer designs like the Ariens RapidTrak and Toro PowerTRX use a much larger main drive wheel so they are a lot faster.
@PaulSikkema Thanks for the update👍. At least now I know I did what I can, and there's nothing else to do on my Husqvarna ST424T. Next purchase will definitely be an Ariens speed Track.
Got me a toro 828 28” this year
exact price please
husqvarna.com will have the latest price..
the lifting point in the motor is that for the hole mschine or only the motor
That's just for the engine.
Hei. Jeg har en ganske ny St430. Ved den 4 brøytingen, stoppet den etter ca 0,5 time. Den begynte å fuske, for siden å stoppe helt. I dag skulle jeg brøyte snø igjen, den startet normalt, men den stoppet etter ca 20 meter. Hva skjer?
Hello. I have a fairly new St430. At the 4 plowing, it stopped after about 0.5 hour. It started cheating, then stopped completely. Today I was going to plow snow again, it started normally, but it stopped after about 20 meters. What's up?
Bjørn
That engine has electronics controlling the fuel system so I suggest getting it back to the dealer and have them troubleshoot the problem.
I would of like to see how the transmission was set up, the maintenance requirements? Ii think that the way I see it there is so many controls that the operator will require an assistant why not make a machine while that have passive technologie, like a simple diff instead of This power steering that require the operator to have finger on the steering control while his hands are keeping the traction and auger and controlling the chute !
The transmission is a sealed unit and there is no maintenance required for the life of the snowblower.
Yes, I sometimes think a Boeing 737 has fewer controls...
If you want a simple to use snowblower that runs circles around this one check this out: ua-cam.com/video/A0g5h-P_-yk/v-deo.html
Hi Paul. Is there anything you did not like about this blower?
I don't like the chute controls - They are hard to use and very difficult to assemble if you get this snowblower in a crate.
I don't like the adjustable height handles. Because you can adjust the height everything is controlled by cables and on this snowblower they stick out all over the place. I did look at a 2021 model and they have rerouted the cables so it looks better.
If you are comparing this snowblower to a Honda the Husqvarna is a better snowblower overall. The on-board electric start is great. The track drive is faster than the Honda. And it throws snow as far or farther than the Honda. BUT
If you want the fastest and easiest to use look at the Ariens Pro RapidTrak. It has more capacity, is a lot easier to use and overall the RapidTrak will last years longer and not give you any problems with cables and other minor issues.
@@PaulSikkema Thanks Paul. We opted for a Ariens Platinum sho 24.
Should be arriving soon.
You will love the Ariens!
@@PaulSikkema is the 28 pro ariens with tires as good as the trax model?
Also are the EFI better than the carb? I hear they have issues??
Hey Paul I picked up a st430t and I love it what a powerhouse but the only problem I noticed I'm getting is when in heavy snow and changes from wet to icy Chunk the chute pops off the housing and I get blasted with snow do u know of any fixes our if husky knows about this issue??
On the one I have here the chute sits down over the discharge a good 5/8 inch so it should never pop off. So,
Wiggle the black tubing that holds the chute up. Look down at the bottom of that support tubing and make sure the bolts are tight.
Grab the chute and wiggle it up and down. Check to make sure the bolt that holds it to the support tube is tight.
Remove the black cover at the top of the chute check to make sure all the bolts are tight there.
You can see what it should look like starting about 12:00 in this video.
I have a question about the dampener, on Honda the dampener will have to be replaced every 3 or 4 years, what about husquerna dampener they are expensive to replace, by the way they have that machine in Norway now,
Thank you very much for informative video, maybe Husquerna have a winner.
great with the squirrel running.
THAT BEAST COULD REALY MOVE THE SNOW, but I think Ariens rapid track is the best choice
I haven't asked Husqvarna about the life of the dampener but I did have to remove it and adjust it when I first got the machine. (mine was a prove-design) I tipped the snow blower up on it's nose and then it only took 10 minutes to take it off, adjust it and reinstall it.
can you add a gas shutoff controll on this machine
An EFI engine doesn't need a fuel shutoff. The fuel line and Injector are pressurized. There is no float or carb bowl to collect water and gunk.
@@PaulSikkema Thanks Paul
Hi Paul- I see this is an old review and I'm new to the snow thrower business. I have a cabin in Williams, AZ at about 7000' and have a dinner driveway. Any thoughts on using this machine for cinder/gravel? Thanks!
Yes, it would work very well on Gravel. The EFI engine is a great choice because it automatically adjusts to your elevation.
@@PaulSikkema thanks! I see I got dinner instead of cinder
😂 Anyway, it’s basically a red ground or Crushed volcanic rock. Same concept as gravel but with more fines.
You must be using an iPhone - their auto-fill sucks :)
@@PaulSikkema it sure does! I keep thinking I should turn it off
I think I'm going to go with the Ariens RapidTrak Pro. One question, they offer two models, 926060 and a 926078. They look 100% identical with only the engines being the difference between the two that I can see. 926060 comes with "Ariens Polar Force by Briggs & Stratton" and the 926078 comes with "Powerful Ariens AX engine". Both are 420 CC. It seems like the 926078 is Ariens newest version. Both sell for the exact same price and weigh exactly the same. Is one better and if so, why ??? Thank you !!!!
The Briggs has been around for a long time and has a great reputation with contractors. The Ariens AX engine that is replacing it is a new, fuel-efficient design and I expect it to develop the same great reputation as the Briggs. One advantage for the Ariens is the snowblower and the AX engine are both warrantied by them so warranty issues, parts etc. is never a problem and issues are fixed quickly. The dealer doesn’t have to wait for another company to give them the “ok” to fix it under warranty.
Hi Paul. I need a little help on buying a snowblower. Never owned one but I'm getting to old to shovel. I've been watching your very helpful videos and am leaning towards the toro 1428 HD . Toro is running a 100 dollar off sale this week on the 2019 models. The questions are, would you know if there are any major changes on the 2020 models? Is this machine to big for me? I live in the country and have big snow drifts blow in from the surrounding fields. Sometimes they are packed so hard you can walk on them. (Very dense snow) So I don't want to sacrifice horsepower. Toros seem like very nice machines . Been looking at them for 2 years already. Thanks.
The 1428 HD is an awesome machine! It has the power and weight to push through those hard-packed drifts and throw them over 50 feet away. It's actually a lot easier to use than you think. It's balanced well so you can lift up the front when needed. It has plenty of capacity so the front end won't ride up in a snowdrift. The power steering makes it very easy to turn.
The 2019 models have the red-metal chute. If they are trying to sell you one with the black-plastic chute - that's actually a 2018 or older. There is no difference between the 2019 and 2020 models.
Make sure the one you buy has drift cutters. They will help the snow blower to cut through those deep drifts. Here is a link to the Home Depot page where you can see the drift cutters installed. homedepot.sjv.io/4rP09
WOW you buried it into the snow and it performed nicely
She sure can throw. In your opinion how does it compare against the Ariens Rapid Trax?
The Rapid Trak Pro is still top dog. Capacity is close but the Rapid Trak is easier to maneuver and will be a lot faster cleaning large areas.
Great video! Im in the market for a commercial grade 24 inch blower. Have you used the Husqvarna st424 model? I can't decide between the Ariens platinum EFI 24inch or the Husqvarna st424. Both machines are around $2000 new from dealers in my area. I live in northern NH and need a 24 inch model to navigate between all the cars in my driveway. We regularly see 20+ inch storms. Thanks
The Ariens has the highest capacity of any 24 inch snowblower. It will handle any snow you get. The Husqvarna ST424 has a smaller engine. It will also handle the snow well but be slightly slower.
The Ariens has EFI so it will start every time and is not affected by ethanol fuels. EFI includes an electronic governor so it engine picks up quickly when it encounters heavy snow. The ST424 does NOT have EFI. (It does have electronic governor)
The Ariens has 110volt electric start but I've never had to use it to start an Ariens EFI engine. I even left one tipped up on its nose for three months and it started on the first pull. The ST424 has electric start with an on-board battery. I'm not sure how many winters the battery will last.
The ST424 uses levers to turn the snow blower. It goes in a straight line until you pull the triggers. The Ariens goes where you point it. All you need to do is move the handles - just like a shopping cart.
The ST424 has a hydro transmission - the Ariens has a friction disk drive. I don't need a hydro transmission on a 24-inch snowblower. I don't expect the hydro on the ST424 to ever fail but if it leaks or fails you have to replace the tranny - the dealer won't repair it. The friction disk tranny on the Ariens is bulletproof and very inexpensive to maintain.
@@PaulSikkema thank you very much for the details on both units. I've watched alot of your videos and appreciate your input for real world experience. Thanks again Paul have a great day brother!
Funny how the new track system looks like a cross of the Ariens Rapidtrack and the classic age-old Honda track. Definitely an improvement going back to the standard ribbon auger. Nice that they braced the auger gearbox, although they coulda just went the extra mile and used a full width solid shaft through the augers instead. Cast doesn't bend, but it breaks. You hit something hard with that impeller and you might be done blowing. I'm not saying that there isn't ball bearings in that front end, but I'll believe it when I see it.
A full-width front shaft is not always the best choice. I've owned a few over the years that had the full-length shaft but no auger brace and they developed a definite sag. That sag caused the front auger to jump up and down - eventually taking out the front gearbox.
Bearings. I try to make sure I know what I'm talking about before I open my mouth. That said, this snowblower has ball bearings in the front auger shaft housing. They are part number 532 43 76-22. You are welcome to verify this by going to Husqvarna.com/support and reviewing the parts list for the ST430T
@@PaulSikkema Well, I'll be dipped. I couldn't find one for sale online, but everything I found indicates that it's a standard sealed ball bearing you can buy. I'm impressed.
I think I did see a video once of a bent auger shaft, but a solid shaft only 2 to 3 feet long doesn't sag all by itself even if it's mild steel. I don't know the exact diameter, but I do know that they aren't small, I think around 3/4"+. Even if it did, I check my auger play several times a season to make sure my shear pins aren't broke and that the auger isn't binding.
I do know that the multi-piece designs, at least without a brace, can bind and break gearboxes instead of shearing the pins because a friend of mine had to get rid of a blower like that after only a couple years. He lived in a wooded area and often large branches could get hidden under the snow and he would hit them with his snowblower. He went through a few gearboxes before he gave up and bought a different blower.
If you need insight to the ST 427 Track I purchased one,and have 20 hours on it.
Yes, we would all like to hear about it! The unit I have here is a pre-production unit so the issues I've had with it were all worked out before yours was made...
@@PaulSikkema Since receiving my blower in November of 2019 ,I've had these issues, First thing was when I bought it online it came in a crate and I had to assemble part of the machine and everything went good accept the discharge chute cable didn't have literature of where to route the cable ,so I went to the local Husqvarna Dealer and saw where they had it and put mine like there's and found out that was the wrong place and broke the outer part of the cable,I then taped up my cable best I could and rerouted it along side the discharge handle and It has worked flawlessly since then,I am in the process of seeing if the company will send another cable out on the warranty,we'll see. next thing to go wrong was the axle bearing mount snapped a bolt off and rendered the track system inoperable,down for two weeks waiting for part, I'll send a picture of it,The auger bucket adjustment cable sometimes sticks and won't hold the front of the blower down,I don't know how I can remedy this other than thaw it out after every use,snow gets up under the dampening shock and then freeze's and then it sticks,.The cables that come off the chute rotator lay on top of the engine shroud and the vibration rub's the paint off,so I took some heavy electric fence wire and shaped it to hold the cables high enough so they don't rub.The shoes on the bucket will let you get close to the pavement,cause some of us want all the snow off the side walk,but even with the shoes adjusted all the way up it's not enough,so they can be modified if you have a mind to. My ST427 Track model starts great,even at -15 and run's smooth,I do run Premium gas through it, It say's you don't have to ,but I do,even at that I still had to put a little Isopropyl alcohol with it and that kept it running smooth,Somehow I got some gas that had moisture in it and it would miss every once in a while, To all who buy this machine I implore you to check all the bolts,especially the shoulder bolts they fall out and at 17-20 dollars a pop(warranty covers it) but just saying,I've had several just come loose and fall off,and yes they had loctite on the threads but for some reason they came out,and i thought it was just me ,but My buddy bill bought the ST430T and has had almost the same bolts jiggle out and have to wait for the parts to be ordered and not have your blower when a storm hits,I like the blower ,had some issues but it is mostly steel and heavy made ,some of the parts aren't that well made but we will see,Thanks for listening,Oh I have 23 hours on my Husky
I'm about to change my view on Husqvarna. Not the equipment so much as the service. I've had too many dealers state that getting parts is becoming a real problem. Stuff that should they should get in a few days is taking not weeks but months. So, Husqvarna should warranty that cable but you may have to go back to the online vendor you bought the snow blower from. Did you buy it from Lowes or SnowBlowers Direct?
Mmmmm, my 50 year old toro 726 may soon find a partner in the shed...
Hi, i need help you could say haha i was going to buy a toro 928 oae 2019 for price and throw snow very good and anti clog. I need reliable and what toro give. After watching this video what should i do ? Thanks
Get the Toro. Have you watched my videos on the Toro 928? ua-cam.com/channels/LWXWK179A45edji0LEG6dQ.html
Yes i did lol like 10 time hahahah was checking if you change mind great just cant wait to have one i got a old noma 1029 cant wait to finally see snow frying hahahah
One tank of a snowblower! I noticed you don't review many single stage snowblower, but could you see if you could demo a Toro Power clear 721? They have amazing power for a single stage!
Andy, I reviewed Husqvarna, Ariens and MTD made residential single-stage snow throwers 5 and 6 years ago - nothings changed with them since. The Toro 721 R is still arguably the best for commercial work - but - there is another commercial and a new residential that may change the game. I've got both of them ordered and they should be here by Sept 1st.
@@PaulSikkema yay husqvarna finaly has a key start the thing i been wishing to have about time husqvarna came out there key start and bigger feul tank and hour meter wich makes my snow job so easyer
Paul Sikkema looking forward to your review on both!
What happens when someone else filled my oil to much i removed oil yesterday after i checked it and it had way to much in . tightened it on top removed dipstick and it was up high i have a New Briggs and Stratton 24 inch it is small it back fired on me not sure what i have to do first Throttle or Choke i tried calling the guy but so far no luck they haven't gotten back to me. I think he did it on purpose . He worked a Sears for many years he should know how to do oil right . He put most of the quart of oil in it . He turned it on with all of that oil i hope it didn't ruin my new snow blower .
Usually, nothing happens if you catch it right away. Or nothing that would permanently wreck the engine. But, if they put a full quart in the engine and you ran it for a while it could blow oil out the crankcase breather, push the dipstick out or blow oil past the oil ring on the piston which would cause the engine to smoke. If there was more than a quart it could have hydraulically "locked" the engine so it would not have turned over at all.
Sears taught their sales associates how to sell you a snowblower and a protection plan. They never - ever taught them how to do any maintenance or repairs to the items they were selling. Why? Because they had a whole other division that did that type of work. (Sears Repair Services)
I would love to see a review in deep, wet heavy snow which is what we get here in the spring in CO...
How do you think the Toro 1432 Pro compares to the Husqvarna ST430t and the Ariens Rapid Trax?
The Toro 1432 is an awesome snow blower and compares very well to the Ariens Pro and Ariens Pro Rapidtrak. I don't have an opinion yet on the 430T comapares.
Hello Paul,
thanks for the video.
I've been looking for a good snowblower for some time now. After the Vidio I almost wanted to buy the Husqvarna 400 series, but now I've read your comments where you say the ariens are better !? In Austria, the ariens are unfortunately more expensive than in the US. Only the very big ariens have hydrostat and the costs $ 5,500. The ST 430 T costs in Austria $ 4500. Maybe you can help me? Many thanks. Greetings from Austria Stefan
My understanding is your snow in Europe is different than it is here in North America. (It doesn't have as much moisture in it.) The Husqvarna is designed for your snow. I'm confident that the ST430T will work very well for you.
@@PaulSikkema Thank You
I bought a new snow blower never used them before Is there a video for putting gas in and oil in and grease the booklet is not the greatest I have a Briggs and Stratton a 24 inch i needed it smaller so i can at least i can move it . The only thing i ever used was an older lawn mower i have been trying to find info on getting it started
Here is a video on starting a Briggs snow blower engine: ua-cam.com/video/5G930QjVXks/v-deo.html
Change the oil: ua-cam.com/video/Lg9Q1q8faiM/v-deo.html
Your snow blower does not require grease except for the areas spelled out in your manual.
Beast mode...
So theirs these new LCT and Briggs 13hp snowblowers rated at 420cc and their was the old Tecumseh 13hp that was 358cc. Have you had the opportunity to use both engines, if so does the newer 420cc rated 13hp have more power than the old Tecumseh 358cc or is the power comparable, because I have the 13hp Tecumseh on one of my blowers and I'm interested to know if these are putting out more power, going by displacement their bigger, so my guess is yes?
We don't use HP anymore with snowblowers. There are too many different ways to measure it. For example, Kawasaki uses a different method than Briggs for lawn tractor engines - so even though the torque is the same the HP is listed differently.
In addition, if your Tecumseh was not an OHV engine it will have different HP compared to the new OHV styles. All that said,
The 420cc engines are about 14-15 HP.
@@PaulSikkema That wasn't my question, because Im aware of the whole hp thing. Engine manufacturers got hit with a class action in around 2007, because they were over rating the hp on the engines, not because they couldn't rate them properly, but because they chose too over rate them, because horsepower sells.
Now their trying to say 250cc is almost 9hp which is far off. 318cc is 8hp.
Tecumseh was honest with most of theirs, the 8hp and 10hp which came out in the early 1970's was 318cc and 358cc respectively. They were rated that way almost to the end, 4 decades. I use those numbers as my benchmark, because their correct. Even though hp isn't official anymore, your still using the term in the videos and Toro is still naming their models that old way, ex 928, even though 250cc is no where near 9.
Forget I used the term horsepower, my question is out of all the blowers you have used past and present, ones that had the Tecumseh OHV 358cc (considered 13hp) vs the other brands now using a 420cc including Briggs (Briggs considers the 420 as a 13hp on Ariens pro models, so will go with that), which has more power and torque, the Tecumseh OHV 358cc or that Briggs and others with the 420cc? Are they comparable, does the 420 have a lot more power, what would you say? I'm interested to know. By displacement, the 420 is bigger.
I'd like to know. Before Tecumseh went under in 08 that 358cc OHV was the biggest you could get, now that 420 is, my guess is the 420 has more power, but I haven't had the chance to try that one yet, that's why I'm asking, thanks.
OK, I understand. The exact answer is hard to find but let me give it a shot.
LCT now makes a 369cc and a 414cc residential carb engine. One of those should compare to your 358. They also make a 420cc commercial carb engine and that is intended to compete directly with the Briggs 420cc. Finally, LCT now has a 420cc EFI engine that has a very different power curve compared to the past engines. The only reference I can find for the HP comparison is this chart over on the Ariens Blog. www.ariens.com/en-us/efi-ez-launch
@@PaulSikkema Well I was just wondering in general on any blower that you used Tecumseh vs Briggs or any of the other engines that are 420cc which engine had more power and ate snow and threw better, the old Tecumseh 358 or the newer Briggs or LCT 420? Have you had the chance to try an older blower with the Tecumseh OHV 358 and compare it power and performance wise to these new 420cc engines?
@@PaulSikkema Like for instance the old Ariens pro 1332 with the Tecumseh 358 vs the new Ariens pro 1332 although its not called that anymore, with the 420 Briggs, which had more power, performance, throwing distance.
One question, Paul. I don't know engines, so I was curious when someone said they thought they could hear the ST430T engine 'really struggling' in the video. I'm buying for a hill, so if that's true it would concern me.
Nola, The snow I was clearing right behind the house was snow that was shovled off the roof. It was wet, heavy and all the air had been knocked out of it. It was so hard and packed you could walk on the drift. Any snow blower will struggle clearing that type of snow. The ST430T will work well on a hill.
How about a kill switch
It has a key switch in the dash - just like your car. Just remove the key when you want to work on it.
in the video it was noisy, not so silent as you say
I have a very good microphone for the videos. When my neighbor gets out his 1830 EXLT I'll have to compare decibel readings with the two. This one is a lot quieter than the older models.
You said this was a Honda killer at the end of the video..........more like a Honda clone. I am not a fan of foreign stuff one bit BUT claiming it will kill a Honda without side by side proof is laughable at best. Honda stuff is what it is and is priced fairly too because it is truly the best you can buy for the $$. Not only does it last forever it's re-sell ability is through the roof!! People foam at the mouth at Honda stuff and it sells real fast too! The name simpily says it all. Don't get me wrong i like and watch your videos all the time. It just seems like in this video you were over flattering on a machine that does not deserve it One dislike about the machine and that is it? So you are a big fan then i guess that the gear box case is not top loading then...........give me a break. I could go on and on how $3000 + tax should buy you more than this and how mutiple other brands can do the same thing this can if not better for farrrrrrrrr less $$ too. What about you comment in the Toro 9/28 video............OPPS did i say that out loud?? You own words even said so in the Toro 9/28 video that you "yourself" made! I mean you cannot make this stuff up!! I would instantly choose the Ariens EFI OR the Toro 14/30 HD over this an day of the week. At the end of the day it comes down to what it does and how well it does it and what does it cost me to do it. I do NOT see the value here at all.............i mean not even close. I get these machines (Ariens and Toro) alllll the time as i am a re-seller. I have connections to over stock items OR returns and i come across the all the time. Let me tell you there is no way for the $$ you could not beat the Toro 14/30 HD. A very close second is the Ariens EFI. Both have great features and are known for quality too. I just cannot wrap my head around the $3000 + tax price point. I do not see it one bit. Maybe $2000 but no way in God's green earth $3000 This was a paid review too if they let you keep the snowblower. I have a feeling that is why you talked soooooooo highly of it. You really need to be honest with yourself AND your viewers when doing videos like this. Every video before this one was really good, but i see greed got the best of you..........................sad.
A couple of things to help you understand how I review these snow blowers.
1. It's not what's best - but what's best for you. I'm impartial - meaning every brand has its strengths and weaknesses. Yes, I prefer other brands but Toro doesn't make a tracked snow blower and some people don't like the Ariens AutoTurn.
Also, Ariens does not have an EFI tracked snowblower available in the U.S. So, what choice do they have? A Husqvarna or Honda.
2. I have a worldwide audience. Europe likes tracked machines. Until this year Honda and Husqvarna were the snow blowers of choice. Honda couldn't meet emission standards so now it's a choice between Husqvarna and Ariens EFI. Because of the VAT tax, the Ariens is actually more expensive in most of the European countries. (People over there LOVE this Husqvarna snowblower)
3. I'm not going to spend $3000 on a Honda just to show you all its faults. You may not be aware of how long I've been doing this, but I've used them enough and there are plenty of videos on UA-cam to show the Hondas off.
4. It's NOT a Honda clone. This snowblower was built first (so maybe the Honda is the clone?) Husqvarna took their existing tracked snow blower, fixed all the pain points and improved it so it now is a better machine for many people than the Honda. Again, Husqvarna is competing with Honda worldwide - not Ariens or Toro so it makes sense that they focus on making a better snowblower than the Honda.
5. I still have an 1830 EXLT here as a reference. I let my neighbor use it and I know it has over 500 hours on it. It has had a few problems but with this new machine, Husqvarna has fixed all of them.
Husqvarna has fixed all the mechanical issues like the steering, track idler wheels and impeller belts. They have one of the best EFI engines on it and the engine meets the emission standards worldwide. They have made it a lot easier to use and the new model is the only machine on the market with height-adjustable handles.
@@PaulSikkema At the end of the day it is a hard pill to swallow spending $3000 + tax on something that has mutiple flaws with it. Not ONLY is the gear case not top loading it does not look heavy duty at all. I am all but positive you are going to say that is no big deal too. To that i say others are doing it so are they wrong then?? I could go on and on about mutiple things it should have for your $3000 + tax. I would be here allllllllll day. Doesn't it seem weird how a $3000 + tax machine has no "adjustable" throttle control?? I know you will come up with some excuse for that too. Ariens has it and it works great on there $1799 + tax machine. Depending on how you look at it less gets you more in some cases. Sure no 420cc engine BUT compared to the Toro 9/28 it did not fair well so do you really need a 420cc engine? So a few comments below you told a guy to take his "turd" back to the dealer but above you told me they worked out there problems? So which is it. What story do you want to stick with? I get it though...........if i got a $3000 + tax snowblower for FREE i "might" defend it no matter what too!! Ignore the flaws and smile with your new machine that you got for free. I am not a hater by any means you do good reviews and i always watch them BUT this one made me ill. Is it a nice machine............yes............is it worth the price of $3000 + tax compared to it's competition............NO! I get in the Toro 14/28 HD in next week and i just know i will be impressed with it because it is a Toro. The quality that Toro puts into there machines is unmatched............period. I like Ariens too BUT i think the Toro 14/28 HD will be unstopable. I might not resell it and just keep it and sell my Ariens EFI. It will be hard to beat a 14 hp on "only" a 14 inch cut. It might launch the snow 75 feet. That was a joke "but" it might be close though!! The "average" home owner knows and trusts Toro, from there lawn mowers to there snow blowers. It truly is a hard brand to beat and Husqvarna is not even in the same league. Toro and Ariens are on top when it comes to snow machines, always have been and always will be. Ariens has a great selection of tracked machines too. They really stepped up there game with there new tacked machines and they look great, and Ariens is a brand you can trust too! I would go and buy a yard machines before i ever bought a Husqvarna.
I can see that a brand name is a lot more important to you than helping someone find the best snowblower for them. But that's OK. I have the same prejudices with vehicles - my last five vehicles have all been Dodge Caravans...
Yes, the Toro Power Max HD and Ariens Deluxe, Platinum and Pro snowblowers are the "best" and are definitely the best choice if you live in Northern Michigan, upstate New York and north of Boston - and I do have to admit I always grab the Ariens Pro RapidTrak Pro first around here - but these snowblowers are not the best for everyone.
Let me address a couple of things you said so everyone reading these comments can see the whole - unbiased picture.
1. Like you, I'm also used to the huge chunk of cast iron sticking out the front of an Ariens. So, I was concerned that the Husqvarna gearbox "looked small" But then I found out it was also cast iron and used hardened gears. I also talked to my local 20 year Husqvarna dealer and he told me he has had very few problems with the gearbox. He' s also had no issues with the gearbox leaking.
2. Yes, the owner of the "turd" had a problem. That owner didn't get back to us but I'll bet the dealer fixed the EFI issue and the machine works well now and it's no longer a turd. (Everyone has had a few hiccups with EFI. Bad logic boards, bad batteries, throttle dials too loose)
3. Yes, it does have a throttle - but it does not have a choke... The electronic throttle has idle, run and boost. What more do you need?
4. Price. This machine is competing with machines that are priced the same, specifically the Honda HSS 928 and 1332. It's unfair to compare it with a $1700 snowblower. I hear a lot of complaints about price - but then I see the same person driving around in their $50,000 half-ton pickup...
Huskies are good but they are NOT in ARIENS league.
If you want the BEST and live in UTAH , WYOMING, COLORADO or SQUAW VALLEY area which are high snow fall areas over 400” you need an ARIENS .
SQUAW VALLEY , SNOWBIRD , JACKSON HOLE , STEAMBOAT ski resorts ALL use ARIENS.
And they love the Ariens RapidTraks!
I got a Honda hss1332. I would never buy anything Husqvarna.
That's exactly why there are so many snowblowers on the market - It's not which one is best but which one is best for you!
More things to break in a year