Can't Always Trust The Reviews - Craftsman 28" 272cc Electric Start Two Stage Snow Blower CMGB223101

[@mot1343]

I watch your channel because of your sincerity. Although the others may not realize it, we realize the other reviewers influences. Keep up the great work and honesty.!

[@paulmysliborski4832]

Throw an impeller kit in there. That solves the MTD (Craftsman) impeller gap issue. I've had my MTD (Troy-Bilt) 3090 for 7 years now. I went with this brand because it doesn't snow much here on LI, NY anymore. We are averaging 4" of snow per year in the last three years, so I wasn't about to drop $3000 on an Ariens just to watch it sit in my shop and look nice. Anyway..... Your Craftsman 272cc is a capable machine. Impeller kit like I mentioned above, and take smaller (Half) bites out of those higher areas and you'll be much happier. I'm kind of bummed to see that they went with a shorter chute though. Really enjoyed your video, and thank you and good luck with your machine! :)

[@kdscrapping4452]

Mine is 14 years old . 14.5 Hp , steerable and heated grips . Runs like a top .30 inch cutting with drift cutters !! Always park with Stabil in the gas for the summer 7 speed forward and 2 back !!

[@cynthiasandor2928]

Excellent video! Thank you for making it. I just purchased my first 30" Craftsman and I found your video very information. Going out this weekend to use it! :)

[@frankwrogg2515]

I would question the speed adjustment with the 2 and 6 being similar. It is not moving across the friction wheel consistently

[@chuckscherer4057]

I have mine for 4 years and installed an impeller kit on mine. NO issues at all with mine. Great machine.

[@ES-iz4wf]

Chuck, where did you get that impeller kit?

[@truthhurts1754]

You just get nuts and bolts and a rubber strip to attach to the impeller. I bought a wheelbarrow tire and cut it to the right size​@@ES-iz4wf

[@wadelapan5756]

I have a 2007 Craftsman that's basically the same as this one, with minor changes. He's exactly right about the speeds: 1 is good and slow and gives the augur time to keep up, while 2 is almost too fast but is good for going back over light areas. The other speeds, you almost have to jog to keep up. The reverse speeds are too slow, but just be patient, as it's best to let the machine do the work, while yanking on it just tires you out. I don't get the same flexing, on my old machine, that he shows here. I had to look up "rec gas," but yes, use that if you can buy it; I get it at the Stewarts chain in upstate New York.

[@wadelapan5756]

Additional comments: The electric start is great, and is probably how I've kept mine so long. Start on full choke, turn to half choke when started, then turn it off if the engine sounds right when you do so. Non-engine oriented people: don't do like I did for a while, which was to forget what the choke symbol means -- see the manual! The cables stretch over time, but you can adjust so those little pulleys go lower and take up the slack. My machine was $792 in 2007, which is $1164 in 2024 dollars. It's pretty powerful, but may ride up over heavy snow, as shown. But a second pass will get the bottom stuff you missed. Slush is, yes, a definite problem, and I'm still trying to find the right technique for that stuff.

[@bw6078]

Absolutely love your videos and reviews. This looks like a splendid snow thrower but I'm surprised you didn't choose the Toro.

[@dandorris8531]

Pretty sad a lot of these manufacture of these machines don't have a fuel shut off. I cut the lower engine cowling on my Father in laws machine and added one for him. Now he runs the machine out of fuel after shutting off the flow. Did this cause got tired of cleaning his carb for him. Maybe you could comment on this and the Manufactures will take note and add one. What, an extra dollar one might have to pay for less headache.

[@miketimmerman6336]

There are definitely options that have fuel shutoff, but they tend to be a price tier above this. My Toro has it and, I believe, the Ariens Deluxe and above also do. My machine is about the same price, but it is 24" and 252cc. IMO, its probably a better long term value with the fuel shutoff and steel that doesn't flex as shown here.

[@evictioncarpentry2628]

I've never shut the fuel off, or drained the fuel, or ran the carb dry on my snowblower once in the last 15 years that I've had it. I run premium fuel year round ( no ethanol) and in summer I dump some seafoam in the tank. That's it.

[@dandorris8531]

@@evictioncarpentry2628 yep I'm happy for you but the people who are not mechanically inclined can't work on there own stuff. Yep use sea foam also.

[@evictioncarpentry2628]

@@dandorris8531 Theres no reason you would have to work on your stuff if you just used fuel stabilizer as stated.

[@jmj267]

The tilting in the bucket is two fold. First air pressure and glide shoe and scraper blade alignment. Next is the bolts that attach to bucket and trans has to be leveled. Ariens has a video for that. It keeps rhe belts aligned and will not fall off pulleys.

[@frankwrogg2515]

Mine is 23 years old and looks like the same uni, not much has changed.

[@SoleEpiphany]

You can certainly trust that anything under the MTD umbrella is garbage though🤣

[@firedude5135]

My dad's had a 2 stage snowblower for probably at least 20 years now, never had a single problem.

[@strykerentllc]

That's identical to the Yard Machines unit we have. Looks like it's a generic platform that is branded with labeling based on the customer; in this case it's Craftsman.

[@jamesorsby7553]

Yep... Like Yard Machines, it's manufactured by MTD.

[@skyfly51]

Dealers generally solve the assembly issue

[@smallblock412]

Looks similar and shares the same parts to Cub Cadet because they are both made by MTD.

[@eosjoe565]

That's disappointing that they couldn't drill a hole and install a lynch pin to allow for independent wheel movement.

[@paulcondie2520]

Put on an impeller kit and that thing will pump water!!! Lol nice blower

[@dalesworld1308]

Traction looks like a real problem with that. Needs better snowhog tires.

[@jamesorsby7553]

You can clearly see that he's lifting up on the handles at times. He mentioned having to do that during his video narration, to keep the auger housing level while pushing it through the snow.

[@jamesorsby7553]

People who need hand warmers can always buy them from MTD as an option and install them on their snowblower themselves.

[@MarkJacksonGaming]

-- Why doesn't any reviewer of snowblowers talk about what brand of engine it is. I mean a lot of them. They'll say CC but not the maker of the motor.

[@jamesorsby7553]

It's a Powermore engine on that machine. As you can clearly see, that particular Craftsman snowblower is a rebranded MTD model, and MTD use Powermore engines on their snowblowers.

[@oscarquezada895]

Hi do you know if Chris from ClientGraphics is doing okay, since his channel is stagnate for the last two years

[@AugustKling]

Working on gravel is possible, but only for a few minutes.

[@JB-yg7cl]

I love mine

[@MacNeilR]

Or you could have spent just a bit more for a Toro and have a substantially better machine...

[@darrylt1137]

Worst snowblower ever, total pos , absolutely hopeless doesn't work beware do t waste your money

[@WorkshopAddict]

Can you expand on what does not work?

[@darrylt1137]

Don't buy, this thing is a pos, totally hopeless, barely works

[@darrylt1137]

Own one it is a POS doesn't work well at all, waste of money

[@URKlewless]

Sounds like this is clearly a case of operator error 🤡🤡🤡🤡

[@lthegr81]

1st