Here are LINKS to each of the snowblowers used in this video. Thank you everyone for supporting the channel! PowerSmart 24” Gas Snowblower amzn.to/3Pe1PaR PowerSmart 24” 80V Battery Snowblower amzn.to/3UNMYoO
I'm in Western NY - after the 3rd year in a row of having some mechanical issue with my gas blower; I decided to go maintenance-free with the Ego Power+ SNT2406 with 2 10Ah 56 batteries. I imagine Ego won't be sending you units any time soon to test/review, but they are lightyears ahead of this Powersmart electric. It cut right through the most recent Blizzard on Turbo and even chopped up some pretty big drifts around 4 feet. Ran almost continuously on Turbo mode for 45 minutes and cleared an 8-car single driveway out to 5 feet into the road (Plows had not been through yet. Rapid Chargers (2 included with this package) had the 10Ah batteries fully charged from dead in about an hour. Thanks for the comparison and would love to see a review of a higher-end Battery-powered unit like the Ego would compare to your Ariens if you get your hands on one.
I think I'd go for the gas model. I have a driveway about 80 feet long but narrow only widening out at the end closest to the garage to park two vehicles side by side. We only get a heavy snow of over a foot about once every ten years or so. Most winters the most we'll see at once is 6 to 8 inches, but that will generally be wet, heavy snow. We're in Southern Indiana and it seems the heaviest snows happen right around the freezing mark. We will occasionally get snow when it's down in the 20's but it's generally pretty light stuff. I live in a rural area and I don't even know anyone else with a snowblower. Until about ten years ago I'd never used a snow shovel, just an old grain scoop shovel to clear it with (That is older than me cause I had to use it to shovel the snow with on our farm when I was a kid). Now I'm 55 and it takes a lot longer to recover from shoveling the drive and oft times we'll elect to just leave the snow in the drive and run the vehicles up and down it till it's packed down real good. This year I bought a corded electric snowblower that I'm voiding the warranty on by adding homemade skid shoes as it's a single stage blower, but if it makes it last a season it'll be worth it and next fall I'll buy the gas model.
@@GarageGear BTW, I did see one of those old early 70's Ariens snowblowers on fb marketplace near me. Doubt it's in as good of condition as yours, but the guy say's it runs fine and only wants $60.00 for it. It looks even more underpowered than yours started out being as it only has a 4hp engine on it even though it's a 24". If I get it I'd definitely do the Predator upgrade.
Very honest review JB. Powersmart actually reached out to Jake at EP but the blower he told them to ship got sold out on Black Friday. Recently we got in a Powersmart snowblower for repairs and you can tell that the materials used are of low quality when compared to other brands but: you get what you pay for my Dad always said. Powersmart snowblowers are perfect for the homeowners that you described in your video but i wonder how long they will last with extended use. The only issue we have had with the B&S engines on snowblowers is no throttle control so they are at high rpm right off the start. Minus 29 degrees F and you can not warm them up on a low idle and boom there goes the connecting rod. Presently have 4 of these this year alone and we are making more money off them selling parts then if we reinstalled a new connecting rod. As for battery operated equipment buyers will likely realise a minimum of $100 Cdn per year cost just to replace the battery in 5 years at the longest period. Just think if this was your EV who wants to wait over an hour to charge batteries? Not me!
A lot of good points here, Wayne. These machines don’t really hold up as the better brands. Batteries still need to improve quite a bit. Hopefully with time, we will see improvements. Thanks for watching!
I would definitely prefer the gas one because if there happened to be a blackout caused by a snow storm then you don’t have to worry about charging anything. Now I know that a lot of these new Briggs snow engines have a problem in their overhead valve system particularly on the exhaust side valve. For some reason the exhaust valve guide has a tendency to pop out and cause the entire valve to fall out of alignment. That then causes the valve to hit the piston head and break it, making the entire engine lock up. The only fix is to pull the head off and replace both the valve and it’s guide. Now I’m not sure if this is still an issue with the newer engines but it could still be since this company’s been having a lot of quality issues. But chances are that plastic speed selector lever is going to break before that happens, seriously that is a bad idea because when plastic gets old, it becomes brittle and breaks. All I wonder now is which chute control system is going to break the first? the gas one or the electric one?
I just got a gas model from Home depot. That was basically the only model available now that wasn't 2500+. Hopefully I don't run into too much issues with it. I would have liked a slightly more expensive model but, can't find anything else.
Great review JB, wondering what you think of the ego snow blower is is I'm in the outline when it comes to lawn mowers. I see they have a 28-inch now along with the 24in version and I have Winters much like you. Any recommendation on if I should spend the extra money and go with the 28in or will the 24-inch be sufficient? I truly appreciate your opinion and all the great tips you have supplied on maintenance.
Hey Richard! I would avoid battery snowblowers like the plague if you have winters like me. One battery usually lasts about a third of the driveway. And that’s with lighter snow. They’re all made cheaply too. You’re also going to spend a huge fortune on batteries. Far more than you would ever spend on gas. If you could go 28 I would. You’ll make less passes over time. 👍
Great honest comparison review and actual demonstration in the heavy wet snow! The battery model has some safety issues that really need to be addressed. I’ll stick with my JD and Troybuilt (the beast.) Cheers buddy! We’ll talk soon!
Appreciate the positive feedback Jay! The company said through email that they would address these issues with their engineers. It was great meeting up with you last week! Appreciate you coming and checking out the garage! Talk soon pal! 👍
I would use neither. Power Smart parts are apparently hard to find. Those Briggs snow engines are pretty reliable but not as reliable as MTD's PowerMore. I had one on a Husqvarna made Craftsman, and cleaning the carburetor was a pain in the rear. I had to remove quite a bit of shielding to get to the carb. Not ideal. I now have a Cub Cadet, and despite the lacklustre customer reviews, the machine has been relatively trouble free. The engine was the largest installed on a walk behind snow blower up to that point when I bought it back in Winter 2020-21. The thing's basically a 420cc Honda GX390 clone and boy is it powerful. There are a couple of times it got clogged with slush where the engine was still running but the auger was stalled, causing the belt to squeal. It's only been twice where that happened in the two years I have owned it. The only downside is I go through 2-4 shear pins each season but at least they're doing their job. There is one thing the Briggs engine has that I have yet to see on a Powermore: a fuel shutoff. Of all of the things that look Honda on this machine the one thing they didn't copy over was a fuel shutoff either on the carburetor or in line. Honda GX engines, even the GC engines all have some kind of shutoff, but why is it missing on the Powermore?
My neighbour (Toronto, Canada) bought a Powersmart gas snow blower from Home Depot about 4 years ago (B&S 212cc motor, 24") and it works quite well. It starts first pull. That said he tried to push into the snowplough bank and broke a plastic auger bushing. These little white bushings (I can see them on your machine) seem to not be for sale on the web, and seem to not be available for sale from Powersmart. It's all ok to buy cheap Chinese products if you're not going to heavily use them, but don't expect them to last. I think he paid $750CAD at the time. Replacing that white plastic auger bushing will take a lot of effort.
JB, I’d love to see a review of Greenworks 2 stage snow blowers, they have a 60 and an 80V version. I’d also love to see you review the Toro 60V 2 stage. I would say to compare to Ego but after the blower review you did, that did it for me. Happy with my choice 8yrs ago with the Greenworks Pro 80V mower, 7 yrs on the snow thrower and 6 yrs on the blower.
@@GarageGear hahah! Understood. I’ll contact them and encourage them to send you something to test. I have several 80V Greenworks products (blower, single stage snow blower, and mower) and love them. Maybe they’d listen to a loyal customer. ;-) Love the reviews and content. Keep it up!
I run a Poulan Pro 30 inch blower. It is 3 years old this winter and no major issues, only thing I don't like about it is it only has one reverse speed. It has a 254 cc engine and according to Poulan rated at 10 1/2 HP. I watch a lot of videos of guys with their snow blowers and the biggest gripe I have is they are sometimes forcing their machine through heavy stuff, just take your time and let the machine do the work, might take a little longer but your not as tired from wrestling your machine around.
Great job comparing these two budget snowblowers, JB. As you noted, as long as you fit the machine to your unique need, you’ll be fine. (Although the augur rotating after you release the lever would be enough to scare me away from they that machine.) Thanks for doing this fair comparison.
Every machine has its place and purpose. It’s important to look at your average annual snowfall and how much power you’ll need. Thanks for watching Douglas!
Thanks for that tip, I was going to buy the battery operator one but, got b me the POWER SMART gas one. I have a question, what's the horsepower of the POWER SMART gas one? Thanks for the video like that tip. Have a nice n blessed holiday. Take care
Definitely not that battery one, in my opinion. In my area the only way to go is gas. Snowblowers and mowers. My coworker has a Powersmart and will get his thoughts if we ever get more that 2 inches of snow. Good video JB
When blowing snow, mowing, or similar task I want to get it done. Waiting to recharge batteries doesn't get it done. Plus the replacement cost of batteries, or having an extra one on hand, at some point becomes cost prohibitive. How long will a battery last? 🤷🏼♂️ Gasoline equipment can last 20 years if maintained properly at minimal cost. I'm have yet to be convinced that battery power is the way to go. Thanks the honest and informative review.
Ten inch augers, ten inch auger housing depth, thin metal, and thirteen inch tires won't work here in Chicago for heavy lake effect snow. My Ariens Deluxe 24 catches hell a lot of the time, so I can only imagine what those models would be like in that kinda stuff.
Right, the price for the battery alone is crazy!! Plus if you don't have an extra battery you have to wait over an hour for it to charge? While it's charging the snow is continuing to pile back up😆 I'll never go electric
Hey bud the gas model is a decent unit. I would go gas as well. Appreciate you and the positive feedback! A lot of time and shots went into this video. 👍 what’s next on your video list?
Gas FTW again. I do a lot of snow blowing so speed and efficiency is critical. That said even if I was only doing my house, the battery machine would frustrate me to no end in short order. I knew runtime would be an issue but the combination of the auto shutdown and needing to stop forward progress to adjust the chute would have me taking a sledgehammer to that thing in no time. I could at least make that entry level gas machine work if needed. Great overview JB, keep'em coming!! 👍
Hey Smallblock, definitely agree. Efficiency is critical when snowblowing. You should have seen me trying to figure out the chute and forward progress lol! Irritated is an understatement. Appreciate the positive feedback bud! Snow piling up by you?
$280 for a Battery, I'll absolutely pass and stick to gas. Electric is definitely cool less maintain but honestly the battery price is crazy!! It's best to have an extra one so you don't have to eat over an hour for the one to charge and while it's charging the snow you just removed is piling back up. J.B in my opinion, this whole switch from gas to electric is just nonsense. I will always stick to my gas powered equipment, it's cheaper more powerful and I get better results. I always maintain my equipment so I don't have the issues of them not starting when they are needed. Anyway thank you for the review J.B it was awesome as usual. I'm actually digging that power smart.
Hey Gary totally with you on this one bud! 💯percent! The price doesn’t justify the means and the power/stamina is unmatched. I do see the value of battery in a string trimmer application though where intermittent power is needed. But anything that requires consistent power you better be thinking gas! Thanks for the positive feedback my friend! 👍
very good snowblower review video, good information. I'd like to see a review of the new Troy Bilt Storm 2435 snowblower. I saw it listed on the Canadiantire website with these features Intake 24 inch width, 21 inch height 243cc engine 12 inch auger, 12 inch impeller with 4 paddles 15x5 tires heated handgrips it has a halogen light installed behind the chute unfortunately, but Troy Bilt offers an expensive LED light bar accessory that you can install in front of the chute on top of the intake housing.
@@GarageGear Oh, great. Short of the halogen light behind the chute, I think that's a kick ass configuration for a 24 inch snowblower. I've been looking for one designed like that for a long time so I'm eager to see someone review it. It's new so there's no reviews out yet and it's only in Canada right now. I think they're scamming their customers with that expensive LED light bar accessory. It should be a standard feature in 2023 and they know their customers want it so they slap a cheap halogen light behind the shut just so they can squeeze more money out of their customers with an overpriced LED light bar accessory. Jerks, hahahahahahaha. Oh well...
Locally I have seen quite a few newer electric snowblowers for sale. They all say that they went back to a gas powered machine because the electric could not handle the snow we get.
@@WatsitTooyah I'm in northern Michigan. The electric snowblowers can't handle the amount of snow we get. I'm sure it would be great for light snow or a small driveway.
@@shadymaint1 well my electric blower handled a 3 foot dumping in November and 4 feet in December so thats just false. Dont speak down on things you don't understand just to make yourself feel good 👍
Batt-operated units have a long way to go before I invest in one. I think I can get 15-20 years from PowerSmart 24 2 Stage Gas Unit ($500) with good maintenance. We typically have less than 8" snow falls, no more than 3-4 times a winter. We'll see.
I've been interested in the electric snowblowers for a while but my driveway is about 10 cars worth of space and I would definitely have to buy a backup battery to be able to clean everything.
@@GarageGear thank you for your response, keep up the great videos! I would also have to worry about properly storing the batteries, so of I did invest it would be in Toro or Ryobi because they also have lawn equipment meaning I wouldn't have to worry about properly storing the batteries because I would use them the entire year. So in my case it's invest in extra batteries or invest in extra equipment.
@@xLTxVEGAx I have the Ego Power+ 2-Stage SNT2406; I upgraded to the package with the 2 - 10Ah 56v batteries and rapid chargers - With Buffalo's most recent Blizzard, I was able to get my whole driveway (8-cars, single lane) and the walks to my front and rear doors done in one run with heavy snow that was between 18 inches and 4 feet thanks to the drifts. The street wasn't plowed yet, so I had to go back to do the end of the driveway and sidewalks with the heavy plow-thrown snow after they came through. The package with the 2 - 10Ah batteries is pricey, but you get 2 rapid chargers, so you can can recharge both in an hour from dead. If you are looking to invest in a battery-powered lawn tool platform, I wouldn't count out Ego; particularly the bigger batteries.
Those chute and speed control look like they'll break soon, but I agree with you that a Briggs engine on it is a big improvement. I wish we got both in Canada
Have you checked out Canadian Tire? I had a smaller "Yardworks" for quite some time, the engine outlasted the auger drive/transmission. One caution, plastic parts become brittle in extremely cold temperature. Those flipable plastic skids wear down quickly, so I welded up my own set using small 5-6 in. lengths of paired 1/2 in. rebar on to 1-1/2x1/4 angle iron. I just reposted a couple of pictures of the completed skids on Facebook.
Firstly PowerSmart, never end your model #'s with "BS". 😂 The gas model could be an entry-level machine, like you said JB. Or for a kid wanting to make some righteous bucks in the winter. (Do kids still do that??) As for the battery model, its model # should end in FKN-BS. 😛 Another GREAT no FKN-BS vid JB!!!!!!!
Paul, great minds think alike. When I first saw the model #, in the back of my mind I was thinking something similar and I knew someone would say something, and I’m glad it was you. Funny, I haven’t seen any kids shoveling snow in my neighborhood in years. They should do that. They should do that though. They would make some fast cash! Thanks for watching and have a great weekend my friend.
Nice honest review on both of these blowers. You always have great content. I was considering buying one of these Power Smart 24-in snow blowers but I haven't dropped the dime yet. I'm still using a 22-year-old Craftsman 28-in 9 horsepower, been fixed many times and the thing is a beast. I only got about 2 to 3 ft in Cheektowaga, I made out better than Hamburg that's for sure. did you get a lot?
Thanks for watching the video! If the Craftsman keeps workin, keep using it! Check your belts, use ethanol free gas, and change the oil, and you will be fine. We got about 40 inch and you would never know because it was gone the next week. Hamburg sure did get a lot!
Experienced the same problem with the speed throttle lunging forward caused by the vibration of blowing snow. This is a new PowerSmart gas snowblower with the 250 cc Briggs and Stratton engine. (Very powerful had no problem blowing the snow during our past winter strom) I loosed up the plastic gear mechanism to add a little white lithium grease to reduce the friction on the plastic gears. After adding the grease I tightened the gear mechanism and installed a small bungee cord around the vertical rod that connects to the friction wheel. The combination of tightening the gear mechanism and bungee cord held the speed throttle in place. Since I rarely shift gears I don't see this as a problem going forward.
I bought two these gas powered on sale at same time for 2023 winter in Montana. One to use and one for parts and i am still at 2/3 the price of others. Just thinking out of the box!!
I have had the same Briggs Engine for over 5 years, and I have never had an issue with it. Starts on the first pull every time! It is on a 24 inch Briggs Snow Blower.
While the auger is spinning and since the front laterals panels being so soft I don't want to go into retaining garden blocks with this. This will definitely not happen with my 1991 Toro 38080.
Hey brother!! The 24 inch is about to gping on sale for under 400$ in my area!! Do you believe its worth it!!! Im in maine we have heavy winters. But i can't believe the deal lol
Picked up the 24" gas model without handle bar warmer and LED for $499 from Walmart on black friday. Its still in the box though, deciding if I want to keep it or not. Im in Buffalo too, needed something just in case we got hit again. If I can get 5-10 years out of it for $500 I think its worth it.
@@GarageGear paid $1300 last year for the 24 inch with the two 100V batteries included. Honestly it kind of sucks but it is getting me through the buffalo winters (southtowns) with a bit of patience. Doesnt throw very far, power starts cutting out when the battery gets down to half, controls are frustrating. I had such a good experience with electric lawnmowers that I naively trusted that the electric snowblowers were just as good.
JB! Where's that 5 feet of lake effect snow they kept talking about? 🤣 Did we Minnesota Mortals get whitewashed by the Buffalo weatherman? Anyways, nice video as always! Hopefully you have a shot or two of your souped-up Ariens running circles through the larger drifts.
Hey Brandon, 20 minutes south of me they got 5 plus feet of snow. I got two rounds of 20+ inches. Almost 4 feet. All the snow clips you see here are from that storm. I’ll have more next week too with my both my ariens snowblowers. Those puppies sent it back to the clouds! Appreciate the positive feedback bud! 👍
@@GarageGear oh I know it’s super expensive! Just an idea, but keep up the good work! I love the content! I’m over here in the ROC, and still have haven’t received any good snow yet
@@itzzz_killzz5720 crazy price indeed. You can buy a beefed up ariens for just a little less and it would most likely last a lot longer too. Supposedly some snow is coming next weekend. We will see my friend! Everyone will be turning on their machines in just a few short weeks. Thanks for being a cool fan my friend!
I have the DB2805 electric. I bought it January 2022 and only had to use it once. Have a spare battery and they lasted about 35 minutes in about 4 inches of snow. We just got about 3 inches of snow and got the blower out. Everything worked BUT the drive. After trouble shooting found that the plastic drive switch activated by the drive lever was broken. We had -10 degree weather and I don’t know if the extreme cold caused the switch to break or its just a cheap made switch. The biggest issue now is trying to contact someone to order a switch. It is holidays so I will give benefit of doubt for several more days.
Hey Jonathan! Appreciate the positive feedback bud! Selling the gas one once I’m done with it. Possibly another video on it. Probably donating the battery one to a church. We’ll see. Thanks for watching my friend!
Both units are good for the price you pay. I still don't think battery is totally equivalent to a gas unit just yet but nonetheless battery has come a long way
Good question Aaron! People who love battery stuff will say yes but I am hearing very similar results. Short run time, long charge time. And a need for additional expensive batteries. The real proof is people selling them after a year or two on Craigslist in like new condition because they’re realizing they don’t get the job done. Thanks for watching
I heard more is coming but it looks to be only a couple inches by me. I heard that I can get ariens parts at drake lawn and landscaping in Clarence by me. They are under new ownership tho I think. Other than that I just order parts as needed. Thanks for watching another my friend.
JB I was successful at Lowes OEM Ariens. Pack of 3 for $7. Just extra stock for me just in case of an uh oh .They also has 2 different OEM belts. I didn’t have my OEM part number with me to cross reference. Just thought you may want to know of this. My machine is a 2009 Deluxe 27 runs great The engine will pop / backfire when throttling down. Has done this since new. Any ideas. Take care and I really enjoy your channel
@@tomvarano3283 thanks man for sharing Tom! Here is a link to possibly help you with your situation(s). www.briggsandstratton.com/eu/en_gb/support/faqs/browse/engine-backfire-afterfire.html Have you given the carb a look?
They must not actually be 80V I have a 96V electric blower and I feel like it needs less power even on the lowest throttle it throws like 35ft, and never bogs down.
I'm glad you asked it's just that battery cost $280 to replace it the snowblower cost 1,000 to 2000. I have drills that don't even last that long I still believe the battery life is not long enough. Last longer you're still 10 to 20 years out I don't think they figured that out yet 3 to 5 years a car battery don't even last that long 250 or better anyways yes I'll stick with my gas powered lawn mower tractor snowblower and thank you for the video
Great video, I bought the gas model with no light about 1 yr ago and I have to replace the auger blades but you can not find any parts for these other than eBay and absolutely no information on how to repair them. Please if you ever have to replace the auger blades even if it just informational that would be great because I am having the hardest time trying to get the bearing off.
Hey there! Just a heads up the gas and oil on the red snowblower do not get “ mixed”. Gas only goes in the gas tank and oil only goes in the oil spout. If you need any more information on this let me know. Thanks for watching!
Hey Demetrios! The prices on these machines fluctuate a lot. Probably based on sales. The battery blower was $1100 2 months ago and is now $700. I didn’t want to mention the prices since they change too much. I have them linked in the comments and the description. Thanks for watching.
Hamburg resident here. My 2007 ariens 926le battled 6' and 5' storm's this past year. Just add gas and power thru. SnowVember and the Christmas blizzard. Outdoor for hours doing my neighbors driveways and cutting paths in the road. Real deal no joke work. I would have needed at least 20 ready to go charged batteries to do the same work 1 gallon of gas can do.
An electric snowblower has the same issue as electric vehicle. It takes a long time to charge the battery and doesn't run for long. No thanks. I'm not buying one.
If they can figure out the power output and charge times I think they would have something here and across the board. While they have come a long way they have a ways to go still. Thanks for watching!
i have had lots of transmission problems with slipping in cold whether engine great blower auger are good tran. rubber drive wheel made of cheap rubber or vinyl
No offense. I would stay away from PS. I’ve heard three small engine mechs say its a nightmare to get parts and they wont work on them. If that B&S motor has a niki carb-forget it!!! I’m cheap but I will gladly buy an ariens instead or an older blower & fix it up.
looking for a new snowblower and your videos have helped me a ton. I see you're also in Buffalo, if i knew you'd be go tooservice guy! I drive electric and was leaning that way, you convinced me to stay with l 2 stage gas machine you ever reviewed one of those cub cadet 3 stages?
Hey Ed! Awesome you’re from Buffalo my friend! I would stick with gas for Buffalo winters. Not enough juice in those batteries. My neighbor down the street has a three stage and it doesn’t seem to be any better than a two stage. Over the years I’ve noticed little gimmicks from manufacturers to boost sales and this looks like a sales gimmick. I would gladly try it out but I know you’ll pay more just for the yellow cub cadet paint. Thanks for watching! GO BILLS!
@@GarageGear I wanted a 28 inch ariens deluxe. But, immediate availability and a $300 credit at a toro dealer led me to pull the trigger on a honda powermax 828. I just hope there's some snow left to play with when they drop it off tuesday. Thanks again for all your videos!
@@GarageGear Pulled the trigger right before the storm hit. I wanted the Ariens deluxe 28 inch. But, i had a credit at a Toro dealer so, I ended up with a powermax 828. Let's hope there's still a little snow to play with when they drop it off Tuesday.
Way too many negatives on the electric for me to even remotely consider. $300 for a second battery?! Ouch! And a brand-new battery didn't even finish the driveway for ya'. That alone is a deal breaker right there. And the blades still turning with your hands off the grips? That's just an amputation waitin' to happen. Made in China.
Sorry, But a 208 cc engine makes that a low end powered machine. The industry needs to go back to HP ratings, which were more reliable. ( Space me the crap about Hp's vary with cc's depending on mfg and gearing, etc. - the same hold true for cc designations and the current models are MOSTLY UNDERPOWERED,
Battery tech just isn't good enough to overtake gas at anything. Long recharges on multiple batteries and cold weather would make it a real pain. Plus that electric model is very quirky.... you're too nice because that model is a complete piece of crap and super dangerous!
Here are LINKS to each of the snowblowers used in this video. Thank you everyone for supporting the channel!
PowerSmart 24” Gas Snowblower
amzn.to/3Pe1PaR
PowerSmart 24” 80V Battery Snowblower
amzn.to/3UNMYoO
I'm in Western NY - after the 3rd year in a row of having some mechanical issue with my gas blower; I decided to go maintenance-free with the Ego Power+ SNT2406 with 2 10Ah 56 batteries. I imagine Ego won't be sending you units any time soon to test/review, but they are lightyears ahead of this Powersmart electric. It cut right through the most recent Blizzard on Turbo and even chopped up some pretty big drifts around 4 feet. Ran almost continuously on Turbo mode for 45 minutes and cleared an 8-car single driveway out to 5 feet into the road (Plows had not been through yet. Rapid Chargers (2 included with this package) had the 10Ah batteries fully charged from dead in about an hour.
Thanks for the comparison and would love to see a review of a higher-end Battery-powered unit like the Ego would compare to your Ariens if you get your hands on one.
Hey Graves I’m going to see what I can do about another battery blower in the future. We’ll see how they compare. Thanks for watching!
I think I'd go for the gas model. I have a driveway about 80 feet long but narrow only widening out at the end closest to the garage to park two vehicles side by side. We only get a heavy snow of over a foot about once every ten years or so. Most winters the most we'll see at once is 6 to 8 inches, but that will generally be wet, heavy snow. We're in Southern Indiana and it seems the heaviest snows happen right around the freezing mark. We will occasionally get snow when it's down in the 20's but it's generally pretty light stuff. I live in a rural area and I don't even know anyone else with a snowblower. Until about ten years ago I'd never used a snow shovel, just an old grain scoop shovel to clear it with (That is older than me cause I had to use it to shovel the snow with on our farm when I was a kid). Now I'm 55 and it takes a lot longer to recover from shoveling the drive and oft times we'll elect to just leave the snow in the drive and run the vehicles up and down it till it's packed down real good. This year I bought a corded electric snowblower that I'm voiding the warranty on by adding homemade skid shoes as it's a single stage blower, but if it makes it last a season it'll be worth it and next fall I'll buy the gas model.
Thanks for sharing rebel!
@@GarageGear BTW, I did see one of those old early 70's Ariens snowblowers on fb marketplace near me. Doubt it's in as good of condition as yours, but the guy say's it runs fine and only wants $60.00 for it. It looks even more underpowered than yours started out being as it only has a 4hp engine on it even though it's a 24". If I get it I'd definitely do the Predator upgrade.
@@Rebel9668 that would be a good plan!
Very honest review JB. Powersmart actually reached out to Jake at EP but the blower he told them to ship got sold out on Black Friday. Recently we got in a Powersmart snowblower for repairs and you can tell that the materials used are of low quality when compared to other brands but: you get what you pay for my Dad always said. Powersmart snowblowers are perfect for the homeowners that you described in your video but i wonder how long they will last with extended use. The only issue we have had with the B&S engines on snowblowers is no throttle control so they are at high rpm right off the start. Minus 29 degrees F and you can not warm them up on a low idle and boom there goes the connecting rod. Presently have 4 of these this year alone and we are making more money off them selling parts then if we reinstalled a new connecting rod. As for battery operated equipment buyers will likely realise a minimum of $100 Cdn per year cost just to replace the battery in 5 years at the longest period. Just think if this was your EV who wants to wait over an hour to charge batteries? Not me!
A lot of good points here, Wayne. These machines don’t really hold up as the better brands. Batteries still need to improve quite a bit. Hopefully with time, we will see improvements. Thanks for watching!
I would definitely prefer the gas one because if there happened to be a blackout caused by a snow storm then you don’t have to worry about charging anything. Now I know that a lot of these new Briggs snow engines have a problem in their overhead valve system particularly on the exhaust side valve. For some reason the exhaust valve guide has a tendency to pop out and cause the entire valve to fall out of alignment. That then causes the valve to hit the piston head and break it, making the entire engine lock up. The only fix is to pull the head off and replace both the valve and it’s guide. Now I’m not sure if this is still an issue with the newer engines but it could still be since this company’s been having a lot of quality issues. But chances are that plastic speed selector lever is going to break before that happens, seriously that is a bad idea because when plastic gets old, it becomes brittle and breaks. All I wonder now is which chute control system is going to break the first? the gas one or the electric one?
Thanks for sharing these good points. You’re right about the blackout. You never know when that could happen. I didn’t even think about that.
They are great snowblowers if you live in Florida
😂🤣🤣
You could throw sand with them! Thanks for watching from the sunshine state!
Iam in Ontario by ottawa we get alot snow here
@@georgedrake1430 you definitely do!
I just got a gas model from Home depot. That was basically the only model available now that wasn't 2500+. Hopefully I don't run into too much issues with it. I would have liked a slightly more expensive model but, can't find anything else.
It’s pretty much slim picking at this point of the season! Best time to knab one is in the spring or summer. Dirt cheap then.
Great review JB, wondering what you think of the ego snow blower is is I'm in the outline when it comes to lawn mowers. I see they have a 28-inch now along with the 24in version and I have Winters much like you. Any recommendation on if I should spend the extra money and go with the 28in or will the 24-inch be sufficient? I truly appreciate your opinion and all the great tips you have supplied on maintenance.
Hey Richard! I would avoid battery snowblowers like the plague if you have winters like me. One battery usually lasts about a third of the driveway. And that’s with lighter snow. They’re all made cheaply too. You’re also going to spend a huge fortune on batteries. Far more than you would ever spend on gas. If you could go 28 I would. You’ll make less passes over time. 👍
Great honest comparison review and actual demonstration in the heavy wet snow! The battery model has some safety issues that really need to be addressed. I’ll stick with my JD and Troybuilt (the beast.) Cheers buddy! We’ll talk soon!
Appreciate the positive feedback Jay! The company said through email that they would address these issues with their engineers. It was great meeting up with you last week! Appreciate you coming and checking out the garage! Talk soon pal! 👍
Was really nice meeting you as well JB! What's up for the weekend?
I would use neither. Power Smart parts are apparently hard to find. Those Briggs snow engines are pretty reliable but not as reliable as MTD's PowerMore. I had one on a Husqvarna made Craftsman, and cleaning the carburetor was a pain in the rear. I had to remove quite a bit of shielding to get to the carb. Not ideal. I now have a Cub Cadet, and despite the lacklustre customer reviews, the machine has been relatively trouble free. The engine was the largest installed on a walk behind snow blower up to that point when I bought it back in Winter 2020-21. The thing's basically a 420cc Honda GX390 clone and boy is it powerful. There are a couple of times it got clogged with slush where the engine was still running but the auger was stalled, causing the belt to squeal. It's only been twice where that happened in the two years I have owned it. The only downside is I go through 2-4 shear pins each season but at least they're doing their job. There is one thing the Briggs engine has that I have yet to see on a Powermore: a fuel shutoff. Of all of the things that look Honda on this machine the one thing they didn't copy over was a fuel shutoff either on the carburetor or in line. Honda GX engines, even the GC engines all have some kind of shutoff, but why is it missing on the Powermore?
Not sure why. Cut costs perhaps? Thanks for sharing this information.
My neighbour (Toronto, Canada) bought a Powersmart gas snow blower from Home Depot about 4 years ago (B&S 212cc motor, 24") and it works quite well. It starts first pull. That said he tried to push into the snowplough bank and broke a plastic auger bushing. These little white bushings (I can see them on your machine) seem to not be for sale on the web, and seem to not be available for sale from Powersmart. It's all ok to buy cheap Chinese products if you're not going to heavily use them, but don't expect them to last. I think he paid $750CAD at the time. Replacing that white plastic auger bushing will take a lot of effort.
Thanks for sharing Tor! It will be a big job to get that little bushing in there.
JB, I’d love to see a review of Greenworks 2 stage snow blowers, they have a 60 and an 80V version. I’d also love to see you review the Toro 60V 2 stage.
I would say to compare to Ego but after the blower review you did, that did it for me. Happy with my choice 8yrs ago with the Greenworks Pro 80V mower, 7 yrs on the snow thrower and 6 yrs on the blower.
Hey jayme! I’ll see what I can do. Problem is I’ll need about $6K to do all this lol! These suckers don’t come cheap ! Thanks for watching my friend!
@@GarageGear hahah! Understood. I’ll contact them and encourage them to send you something to test. I have several 80V Greenworks products (blower, single stage snow blower, and mower) and love them. Maybe they’d listen to a loyal customer. ;-)
Love the reviews and content. Keep it up!
@@JBRion22 appreciate you my friend! Any help is appreciated lol! Thanks for being a cool fan of the channel!
I run a Poulan Pro 30 inch blower. It is 3 years old this winter and no major issues, only thing I don't like about it is it only has one reverse speed. It has a 254 cc engine and according to Poulan rated at 10 1/2 HP. I watch a lot of videos of guys with their snow blowers and the biggest gripe I have is they are sometimes forcing their machine through heavy stuff, just take your time and let the machine do the work, might take a little longer but your not as tired from wrestling your machine around.
Good tips! Thanks for sharing!
I’ll keep my Ariens deluxe 28 for New Hampshire winters. Great review!
Me too Scott! Appreciate the positive feedback my friend!
Finally an honest review. I respect you not selling out. You are the man.
Hey Epic! Got to be honest! Helps the buyer make a good financial purchase! Thanks for watching my friend!
Great job comparing these two budget snowblowers, JB. As you noted, as long as you fit the machine to your unique need, you’ll be fine. (Although the augur rotating after you release the lever would be enough to scare me away from they that machine.) Thanks for doing this fair comparison.
Every machine has its place and purpose. It’s important to look at your average annual snowfall and how much power you’ll need. Thanks for watching Douglas!
Thanks for that tip, I was going to buy the battery operator one but, got b me the POWER SMART gas one. I have a question, what's the horsepower of the POWER SMART gas one? Thanks for the video like that tip. Have a nice n blessed holiday. Take care
Hope you like the machine! It is around 6 HP. you have a great holiday too! Thanks for watching!
It sounds as though both these units should be last choice options, maybe even after a shovel!👍👍
They both need some improvements to be made. Thanks for watching!
Definitely not that battery one, in my opinion. In my area the only way to go is gas. Snowblowers and mowers. My coworker has a Powersmart and will get his thoughts if we ever get more that 2 inches of snow. Good video JB
Hey Ed! Yeah if you get more snow then gas is the way to go. Let me know what your coworker thinks of it! You and Patti have a great week! 👍👍
Thanks JB, you guys also..
When blowing snow, mowing, or similar task I want to get it done. Waiting to recharge batteries doesn't get it done. Plus the replacement cost of batteries, or having an extra one on hand, at some point becomes cost prohibitive. How long will a battery last? 🤷🏼♂️ Gasoline equipment can last 20 years if maintained properly at minimal cost. I'm have yet to be convinced that battery power is the way to go.
Thanks the honest and informative review.
Appreciate the positive feedback and your input! Gas def has a leg up on longevity. Thanks for watching!
Ten inch augers, ten inch auger housing depth, thin metal, and thirteen inch tires won't work here in Chicago for heavy lake effect snow.
My Ariens Deluxe 24 catches hell a lot of the time, so I can only imagine what those models would be like in that kinda stuff.
Yeah, they definitely lack the weight to not get thrown around to get through high snow banks. Thanks for sharing!
I would definitely choose the gas model. That looks like a decent unit. Great video summary of both of them JB 👍
Right, the price for the battery alone is crazy!! Plus if you don't have an extra battery you have to wait over an hour for it to charge? While it's charging the snow is continuing to pile back up😆 I'll never go electric
Hey bud the gas model is a decent unit. I would go gas as well. Appreciate you and the positive feedback! A lot of time and shots went into this video. 👍 what’s next on your video list?
@@garyalensr these battery prices are crazy. And the fact that snow is piling up still while you’re waiting on a charge is annoying! 😡
Gas FTW again. I do a lot of snow blowing so speed and efficiency is critical. That said even if I was only doing my house, the battery machine would frustrate me to no end in short order. I knew runtime would be an issue but the combination of the auto shutdown and needing to stop forward progress to adjust the chute would have me taking a sledgehammer to that thing in no time. I could at least make that entry level gas machine work if needed. Great overview JB, keep'em coming!! 👍
Hey Smallblock, definitely agree. Efficiency is critical when snowblowing. You should have seen me trying to figure out the chute and forward progress lol! Irritated is an understatement. Appreciate the positive feedback bud! Snow piling up by you?
@@GarageGear not a flake yet🤬🤬, might get 1/2" Sunday night... I'm moving to buffalo, you hiring?! 😁
@@smallblock412 wow! I could use a camera guy lol! 🤣👍
@@GarageGear on my way lmao
Thanks for the HONEST reviews. The electric one should get them sued into oblivion if you ask me, there's no way it's ready for prime time..
They have some corrections to be made. Thanks for watching.
$280 for a Battery, I'll absolutely pass and stick to gas. Electric is definitely cool less maintain but honestly the battery price is crazy!! It's best to have an extra one so you don't have to eat over an hour for the one to charge and while it's charging the snow you just removed is piling back up. J.B in my opinion, this whole switch from gas to electric is just nonsense. I will always stick to my gas powered equipment, it's cheaper more powerful and I get better results. I always maintain my equipment so I don't have the issues of them not starting when they are needed. Anyway thank you for the review J.B it was awesome as usual. I'm actually digging that power smart.
Hey Gary totally with you on this one bud! 💯percent! The price doesn’t justify the means and the power/stamina is unmatched. I do see the value of battery in a string trimmer application though where intermittent power is needed. But anything that requires consistent power you better be thinking gas! Thanks for the positive feedback my friend! 👍
Question: does the battery need to warm up to room temperature before you recharge it? The logistics of battery management seem challenging.
Hey Brandon! The battery definitely needs to charge inside at room temp. Even in a mildly cold garage it wouldn’t charge. Thanks for watching bud! 👍👍
very good snowblower review video, good information.
I'd like to see a review of the new Troy Bilt Storm 2435 snowblower. I saw it listed on the Canadiantire website with these features
Intake 24 inch width, 21 inch height
243cc engine
12 inch auger, 12 inch impeller with 4 paddles
15x5 tires
heated handgrips
it has a halogen light installed behind the chute unfortunately, but Troy Bilt offers an expensive LED light bar accessory that you can install in front of the chute on top of the intake housing.
Hey bubetube! Appreciate the positive feedback. If I can get my hands on one I will. Thanks for watching!
@@GarageGear Oh, great. Short of the halogen light behind the chute, I think that's a kick ass configuration for a 24 inch snowblower. I've been looking for one designed like that for a long time so I'm eager to see someone review it. It's new so there's no reviews out yet and it's only in Canada right now. I think they're scamming their customers with that expensive LED light bar accessory. It should be a standard feature in 2023 and they know their customers want it so they slap a cheap halogen light behind the shut just so they can squeeze more money out of their customers with an overpriced LED light bar accessory. Jerks, hahahahahahaha. Oh well...
@@mrbubetube blows my mind they are still using halogen bulbs. LEDs are so cheap. It should be a no brained at this point.
I had high hopes for the battery one. 😔
So did I. They will have to make some adjustments on it. Have a good week my friend!
Locally I have seen quite a few newer electric snowblowers for sale. They all say that they went back to a gas powered machine because the electric could not handle the snow we get.
Same here and people are trying to get their money back and it’s never gonna happen. They don’t hold any value. Thanks for watching!
Not my experience at all with a toro 2 stage electric.
@@WatsitTooyah I'm in northern Michigan. The electric snowblowers can't handle the amount of snow we get. I'm sure it would be great for light snow or a small driveway.
@@shadymaint1 well my electric blower handled a 3 foot dumping in November and 4 feet in December so thats just false. Dont speak down on things you don't understand just to make yourself feel good 👍
Batt-operated units have a long way to go before I invest in one. I think I can get 15-20 years from PowerSmart 24 2 Stage Gas Unit ($500) with good maintenance. We typically have less than 8" snow falls, no more than 3-4 times a winter. We'll see.
That’s a possibility. Def agree about battery powered.
I've been interested in the electric snowblowers for a while but my driveway is about 10 cars worth of space and I would definitely have to buy a backup battery to be able to clean everything.
You most certainly will need extra batteries. Thanks for watching!
@@GarageGear thank you for your response, keep up the great videos! I would also have to worry about properly storing the batteries, so of I did invest it would be in Toro or Ryobi because they also have lawn equipment meaning I wouldn't have to worry about properly storing the batteries because I would use them the entire year. So in my case it's invest in extra batteries or invest in extra equipment.
@@xLTxVEGAx proper storage is key. I found they must be stored at room temperature. Left mine in my 40+ degree garage and it wouldnt charge.
@@xLTxVEGAx I have the Ego Power+ 2-Stage SNT2406; I upgraded to the package with the 2 - 10Ah 56v batteries and rapid chargers - With Buffalo's most recent Blizzard, I was able to get my whole driveway (8-cars, single lane) and the walks to my front and rear doors done in one run with heavy snow that was between 18 inches and 4 feet thanks to the drifts. The street wasn't plowed yet, so I had to go back to do the end of the driveway and sidewalks with the heavy plow-thrown snow after they came through. The package with the 2 - 10Ah batteries is pricey, but you get 2 rapid chargers, so you can can recharge both in an hour from dead. If you are looking to invest in a battery-powered lawn tool platform, I wouldn't count out Ego; particularly the bigger batteries.
In Toronto GAS has to be it. I have used battery and Gas in different applications and Batteries are not up to par yet.
Hey nes! Batteries got some way to go yet! Thanks for watching!
Briggs and Stratton is a top motor for me. Coldest day of winter in Canada it starts up first pull. Very reliable.
Thanks for sharing ZIPPO!
@@GarageGear I hear u say u live by the Great Lakes. I’m in Sault Ste. Marie
@@Zippofanatic77outdoors buffalo ny for me!
Definitely gas hands down
Definitely a winner! Thanks for watching
Thanks but I'll stick to my 30 inch Airens with a 305 cc GAS engine, no electric's for this guy. Snow equip just has to work to hard . Great video
You got a great machine there Leonard! Thanks for watching!
Those chute and speed control look like they'll break soon, but I agree with you that a Briggs engine on it is a big improvement.
I wish we got both in Canada
Life span on plastic isn’t very long lol! I’m glad they popped that briggs on. It gave it the power it needed! Thanks for watching Jamy!
many bonus points for knowing how to spell "chute". all the people posting "shoot" on the snow blower forum make me want to start day drinking.
@@socomon69 That's easy for me to know, because it is the same word in french, which is my native tongue
Have you checked out Canadian Tire?
I had a smaller "Yardworks" for quite some time, the engine
outlasted the auger drive/transmission.
One caution, plastic parts become brittle in extremely cold temperature.
Those flipable plastic skids wear down quickly, so I welded up my own
set using small 5-6 in. lengths of paired 1/2 in. rebar on to 1-1/2x1/4
angle iron.
I just reposted a couple of pictures of the completed skids
on Facebook.
@@mikemontagne2703 hey Mike thanks for sharing I’m in the US. No Canadian tires around here lol! Good work on the skids.
Firstly PowerSmart, never end your model #'s with "BS". 😂
The gas model could be an entry-level machine, like you said JB. Or for a kid wanting to make some righteous bucks in the winter. (Do kids still do that??)
As for the battery model, its model # should end in FKN-BS. 😛
Another GREAT no FKN-BS vid JB!!!!!!!
Paul, great minds think alike. When I first saw the model #, in the back of my mind I was thinking something similar and I knew someone would say something, and I’m glad it was you.
Funny, I haven’t seen any kids shoveling snow in my neighborhood in years. They should do that. They should do that though. They would make some fast cash!
Thanks for watching and have a great weekend my friend.
@@GarageGear Kids today probably have a “Snow removal app”
🤣🤣
@@paulmysliborski4832 hahaha probably do where it hires other people to do their work.👍🤣
made in china kills it for ,,,my ariens is better made as i hate plastic an batteries lol ,,in the cold plastic breaks
Hey craig! Batteries and cold temps do not mix well! Thanks for watching!
I hate to tell ya....but that engine on your Ariens was made in China
Gas is the only way to go. Nice job JB.
Looks like gas wins again! Have a good weekend, Chuck! Thanks for watching bud
Nice honest review on both of these blowers. You always have great content. I was considering buying one of these Power Smart 24-in snow blowers but I haven't dropped the dime yet. I'm still using a 22-year-old Craftsman 28-in 9 horsepower, been fixed many times and the thing is a beast. I only got about 2 to 3 ft in Cheektowaga, I made out better than Hamburg that's for sure. did you get a lot?
Thanks for watching the video! If the Craftsman keeps workin, keep using it! Check your belts, use ethanol free gas, and change the oil, and you will be fine. We got about 40 inch and you would never know because it was gone the next week. Hamburg sure did get a lot!
Experienced the same problem with the speed throttle lunging forward caused by the vibration of blowing snow. This is a new PowerSmart gas snowblower with the 250 cc Briggs and Stratton engine. (Very powerful had no problem blowing the snow during our past winter strom) I loosed up the plastic gear mechanism to add a little white lithium grease to reduce the friction on the plastic gears. After adding the grease I tightened the gear mechanism and installed a small bungee cord around the vertical rod that connects to the friction wheel. The combination of tightening the gear mechanism and bungee cord held the speed throttle in place. Since I rarely shift gears I don't see this as a problem going forward.
Thanks for sharing, Ernest. Hopefully this helps someone out.
I bought two these gas powered on sale at same time for 2023 winter in Montana. One to use and one for parts and i am still at 2/3 the price of others. Just thinking out of the box!!
Thanks for sharing and watching
I have had the same Briggs Engine for over 5 years, and I have never had an issue with it. Starts on the first pull every time! It is on a 24 inch Briggs Snow Blower.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing!
How about a comparison between carburetor and EFI snow blowers?
Would love to do that but need a couple thousand dollars to pull that off lol! Thanks for watching!
I would choose the gas powered, nice video
Thanks for watching!
While the auger is spinning and since the front laterals panels being so soft I don't want to go into retaining garden blocks with this. This will definitely not happen with my 1991 Toro 38080.
Yeah you’ll definitely bend them if you hit them! Thanks for watching!
lets see inside the electric unit
@@shawncell1247 here’s a link to a video on this ARE BATTERY POWERED SNOWBLOWERS MAINTENANCE-FREE?
ua-cam.com/video/bbbcUBjI8jw/v-deo.html
i will stay with my gas model
Hey Francis! Do you have the PowerSmart gas model? Or another brand?
@@GarageGear i have husqvarna st230
Hey brother!! The 24 inch is about to gping on sale for under 400$ in my area!! Do you believe its worth it!!! Im in maine we have heavy winters. But i can't believe the deal lol
@@deej7783 if you enjoy headaches, go for it. These are not built for heavy winters
@@GarageGear hahahhahah my guy 👊💯🤣
@@deej7783 got your back deej
Picked up the 24" gas model without handle bar warmer and LED for $499 from Walmart on black friday. Its still in the box though, deciding if I want to keep it or not. Im in Buffalo too, needed something just in case we got hit again. If I can get 5-10 years out of it for $500 I think its worth it.
I agree! If you breakdown the cost for 5 years, it would be $100 bucks a season to clear your driveway! That’s not too shabby! Go Bills!
wawa has 89 octane ,ethanol free gasoline
Thanks for sharing
Merry Christmas Buddy!!
Merry Christmas to you and your family John! Thanks for being a cool fan! 👍
the powersmart looks a bit more powerful than my 100V snowjoe
Hey scy! How much do those snow Joe’s run? Thanks for watching!
@@GarageGear paid $1300 last year for the 24 inch with the two 100V batteries included. Honestly it kind of sucks but it is getting me through the buffalo winters (southtowns) with a bit of patience. Doesnt throw very far, power starts cutting out when the battery gets down to half, controls are frustrating. I had such a good experience with electric lawnmowers that I naively trusted that the electric snowblowers were just as good.
@@r5LgxTbQ thanks for sharing this info my friend! It’s helpful to others here in the community! 👍
Great review.
Appreciate you Ed! How have you been bud?
@@GarageGear good busy Have a Merry Christmas my friend
Yeah, that is nowhere near enough battery. Even at 80 volts it needs at least double the amp hours.
I agree. It needs a little bit more juice. Thanks for watching!
JB! Where's that 5 feet of lake effect snow they kept talking about? 🤣 Did we Minnesota Mortals get whitewashed by the Buffalo weatherman? Anyways, nice video as always! Hopefully you have a shot or two of your souped-up Ariens running circles through the larger drifts.
Hey Brandon, 20 minutes south of me they got 5 plus feet of snow. I got two rounds of 20+ inches. Almost 4 feet. All the snow clips you see here are from that storm. I’ll have more next week too with my both my ariens snowblowers. Those puppies sent it back to the clouds! Appreciate the positive feedback bud! 👍
Thanks for being straight up buddy - nice reviews.
You got it Gerry! Thanks for watching
Creeping up on 40,000 subscribers JB. Congratulations.
Thanks WHITIE!!! Probably be there in a few days. Let’s see how the channel jumps this winter! Stay awesome my friend! 👍
ID PICK an Ariens. used. thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can’t go wrong with an ariens. Thanks for watching
Thanks JB for always delivering honest reviews.
Transparency earns the trust of the people! Thanks for watching John!
1984 Tecumseh still going strong 🇨🇦
Thanks for sharing mars
There enough space over the auger to put a second one and made of it a 3 stage just like a MOTO MOWER Snow Shark circa '64 .
If you’re feeling crafty you could probably do it. Thanks for watching!
You need to review the EGO 2 stage battery powered snow blower, it’s LIGHTYEARS better than the power smart electric one
Would like to, but that is over $1,500 and it might be a while before they send me one. Thanks for watching!
@@GarageGear oh I know it’s super expensive! Just an idea, but keep up the good work! I love the content! I’m over here in the ROC, and still have haven’t received any good snow yet
@@itzzz_killzz5720 crazy price indeed. You can buy a beefed up ariens for just a little less and it would most likely last a lot longer too. Supposedly some snow is coming next weekend. We will see my friend! Everyone will be turning on their machines in just a few short weeks. Thanks for being a cool fan my friend!
I have the DB2805 electric. I bought it January 2022 and only had to use it once. Have a spare battery and they lasted about 35 minutes in about 4 inches of snow. We just got about 3 inches of snow and got the blower out. Everything worked BUT the drive. After trouble shooting found that the plastic drive switch activated by the drive lever was broken. We had -10 degree weather and I don’t know if the extreme cold caused the switch to break or its just a cheap made switch. The biggest issue now is trying to contact someone to order a switch. It is holidays so I will give benefit of doubt for several more days.
Thanks for sharing acp!
Gas.....I'm not afraid of a little maintenance.
Right on, Louie! These things are aren’t to work on. Have a great weekend, my friend!
Always a gas snow blower!
Thanks for sharing Leo!
Again a good review. Keep up the great work
Appreciate the positive feedback Wildman! Thanks for watching my friend!
@@GarageGear you have great channel that helps people save money. Why wouldn’t we support you.
@@wildmanofthewynooch7028 that’s the plan! There are some haters out there though! Appreciate you bud!👍
I love the honesty JB! What are you going to do with those machines? I hope they find a new home 😂.
Hey Jonathan! Appreciate the positive feedback bud! Selling the gas one once I’m done with it. Possibly another video on it. Probably donating the battery one to a church. We’ll see. Thanks for watching my friend!
Both units are good for the price you pay. I still don't think battery is totally equivalent to a gas unit just yet but nonetheless battery has come a long way
Yes, it has, but there is still work that needs to be done. Thanks for watching my friend!
Are the name brand electric blowers any better? Any videos on those?
Good question Aaron! People who love battery stuff will say yes but I am hearing very similar results. Short run time, long charge time. And a need for additional expensive batteries. The real proof is people selling them after a year or two on Craigslist in like new condition because they’re realizing they don’t get the job done. Thanks for watching
JB get ready for more snow. Any comment on Ariens replacement parts locally
I heard more is coming but it looks to be only a couple inches by me. I heard that I can get ariens parts at drake lawn and landscaping in Clarence by me. They are under new ownership tho I think. Other than that I just order parts as needed. Thanks for watching another my friend.
JB I was successful at Lowes OEM Ariens. Pack of 3 for $7. Just extra stock for me just in case of an uh oh .They also has 2 different OEM belts. I didn’t have my OEM part number with me to cross reference.
Just thought you may want to know of this.
My machine is a 2009 Deluxe 27 runs great
The engine will pop / backfire when throttling down. Has done this since new. Any ideas.
Take care and I really enjoy your channel
@@tomvarano3283 thanks man for sharing Tom! Here is a link to possibly help you with your situation(s). www.briggsandstratton.com/eu/en_gb/support/faqs/browse/engine-backfire-afterfire.html Have you given the carb a look?
Both are 🗑 I'll stick with my gas Simplicity.
Keep that machine around. Thanks for sharing!
Real world testing, I love it. Your easy to understand and very helpful!!! Thank you so much for the great videos. You rock bro!!!!
Appreciate the positive feedback John! You ROCK! Thanks for watching! 👍
Ever do a video on bigger snowblowers? Like the ones you ride on the back of. SSV's
@@johnbarnett5359 I would like to but I don’t have any videos on that. 👍
They must not actually be 80V I have a 96V electric blower and I feel like it needs less power even on the lowest throttle it throws like 35ft, and never bogs down.
Oh it’s 80v alright! Huge sticker saying it on the side. What model do you have?
I'm glad you asked it's just that battery cost $280 to replace it the snowblower cost 1,000 to 2000. I have drills that don't even last that long I still believe the battery life is not long enough. Last longer you're still 10 to 20 years out I don't think they figured that out yet 3 to 5 years a car battery don't even last that long 250 or better anyways yes I'll stick with my gas powered lawn mower tractor snowblower and thank you for the video
@@liljoeii6091 thanks for watching Joe!
Great video, I bought the gas model with no light about 1 yr ago and I have to replace the auger blades but you can not find any parts for these other than eBay and absolutely no information on how to repair them.
Please if you ever have to replace the auger blades even if it just informational that would be great because I am having the hardest time trying to get the bearing off.
Thanks for sharing Matthew! I will see what I can do. Thanks for watching!
I have the Gad one I suck at mixing gas and oil might get the 80 volt model
Hey there! Just a heads up the gas and oil on the red snowblower do not get “ mixed”. Gas only goes in the gas tank and oil only goes in the oil spout. If you need any more information on this let me know. Thanks for watching!
I have an 18 year old craftsman and wouldn’t buy either of these units. I’d get an Ariens.
Older machines run better than anything new nowadays. Thanks for watching David!
What are the cost of each machine? It’s missing in your review.
Hey Demetrios! The prices on these machines fluctuate a lot. Probably based on sales. The battery blower was $1100 2 months ago and is now $700. I didn’t want to mention the prices since they change too much. I have them linked in the comments and the description. Thanks for watching.
Hamburg resident here. My 2007 ariens 926le battled 6' and 5' storm's this past year. Just add gas and power thru. SnowVember and the Christmas blizzard. Outdoor for hours doing my neighbors driveways and cutting paths in the road. Real deal no joke work. I would have needed at least 20 ready to go charged batteries to do the same work 1 gallon of gas can do.
Many people paid upwards of $500 to have a front loader or bobcat to clear their driveway. A lot of plow guys got stuck.
These battery powered machines aren’t ready for the lake effect nonsense we see! Thanks for watching!
@@GarageGear From personal experience I completely disagree. No regrets with my toro 2 stage electric blower in Buffalo.
An electric snowblower has the same issue as electric vehicle. It takes a long time to charge the battery and doesn't run for long. No thanks. I'm not buying one.
If they can figure out the power output and charge times I think they would have something here and across the board. While they have come a long way they have a ways to go still. Thanks for watching!
Great reviews! And that was a beautiful amount of snow you guys got. Is it still on the ground, or has it melted off?
Thanks for watching. It’s completely gone Mace. Like it didn’t even happen lol
i have had lots of transmission problems with slipping in cold whether engine great blower auger are good tran. rubber drive wheel made of cheap rubber or vinyl
@@shawncell1247 thanks for sharing
No offense. I would stay away from PS.
I’ve heard three small engine mechs say its a nightmare to get parts and they wont work on them.
If that B&S motor has a niki carb-forget it!!!
I’m cheap but I will gladly buy an ariens instead or an older blower & fix it up.
Their customer service isn’t great either
looking for a new snowblower and your videos have helped me a ton. I see you're also in Buffalo, if i knew you'd be go tooservice guy! I drive electric and was leaning that way, you convinced me to stay with l 2 stage gas machine you ever reviewed one of those cub cadet 3 stages?
Hey Ed! Awesome you’re from Buffalo my friend! I would stick with gas for Buffalo winters. Not enough juice in those batteries. My neighbor down the street has a three stage and it doesn’t seem to be any better than a two stage. Over the years I’ve noticed little gimmicks from manufacturers to boost sales and this looks like a sales gimmick. I would gladly try it out but I know you’ll pay more just for the yellow cub cadet paint. Thanks for watching! GO BILLS!
@@GarageGear I wanted a 28 inch ariens deluxe. But, immediate availability and a $300 credit at a toro dealer led me to pull the trigger on a honda powermax 828. I just hope there's some snow left to play with when they drop it off tuesday. Thanks
again for all your videos!
@@GarageGear Pulled the trigger right before the storm hit. I wanted the Ariens deluxe 28 inch. But, i had a credit at a Toro dealer so, I ended up with a powermax 828. Let's hope there's still a little snow to play with when they drop it off Tuesday.
@@edroberts9040 we’ll get some! Still got a long winter ahead of us! Congrats on your purchase.
Way too many negatives on the electric for me to even remotely consider. $300 for a second battery?! Ouch! And a brand-new battery didn't even finish the driveway for ya'. That alone is a deal breaker right there. And the blades still turning with your hands off the grips? That's just an amputation waitin' to happen. Made in China.
Appreciate your feedback silent knight! Thanks for watching bud!
Sorry, But a 208 cc engine makes that a low end powered machine. The industry needs to go back to HP ratings, which were more reliable. ( Space me the crap about Hp's vary with cc's depending on mfg and gearing, etc. - the same hold true for cc designations and the current models are MOSTLY UNDERPOWERED,
I would like to see HP ratings once again too! Thanks for watching
Battery tech just isn't good enough to overtake gas at anything. Long recharges on multiple batteries and cold weather would make it a real pain. Plus that electric model is very quirky.... you're too nice because that model is a complete piece of crap and super dangerous!
There are def some flaws that need to be addressed. Thanks for sharing!
Made in China , enough said !
Hard to find stuff that is t nowadays! Thanks for watching as always Paul!
Anything can be made cheaply or with quality and reliability, even from China. The difference is cost.
Both of these are junk!
Thanks for watching!
and the diameter of the impeller housing is.?
11” impeller housing mega! Thanks for watching!