Why I Would Never Buy An MTD Made Troy Bilt Or Cub Cadet Snowblower - Entry Level Snow Blower Review

[@kevinthorrington2131]

I bought the MTD 24 inch back in 2000, it’s still going strong. Used it last week here in Wisconsin. I had to rebuild the carb last year, other than that normal maintenance since 2000.

[@IndRepair]

That is great news! Is it one this style or one of the better made units they were producing before (or after)

[@nodak81]

My 30" Storm XP is 15 years old now and still going strong. 150 foot gravel driveway and two parking areas to clear every time it snows in New England.

[@IndRepair]

That design is quite a bit different in the way the augers and housing is set up. They seem to work pretty well

[@danielpaul3108]

Might wanna buy a good 2-stage snowblower. I bought in 2010 a Snapper M1227E (not sure of the cc) Power chute direction, power steering, handle on dash to raise or lower distance hood. Headlights. Only thing I'm missing are electric hand warming grips. Also be nice if I had a kid left to use it on my driveway and sidewalks

[@IndRepair]

Nice!

[@stevekline1171]

I have an MTD 208cc , and have never done maintenance except oil change every few years since 2016 , this year though thought it was time , done full lube job , axles , in belly pan area , little grease in transfer case and lubed augers . no issues otherwise 👍

[@IndRepair]

This would be a different model though correct?

[@toma5608]

I found a craftsman branded mtd snowblower very similar to this model on a curb in my town. Pull cord broken, primer leaking, tires flat, covered in oil, bad gas. I rewound the pull cord, replaced the bulb with a cheap amazon carb kit, changed oil (was leaking as drain bolt was loose), resurfaced/cleaned the friction disk as it was slipping horribly, lubricated/greased up the parts, some new gas, and it's in now brand new condition. It's wild how minimal maintenance people put into their equipment. While I wouldn't buy the machine at retail, for 1 hr of effort and about $20 in parts I can live with it.

[@IndRepair]

I would definitely take one for that price! Don't get me wrong they work in certain areas or situations and are always better than nothing but to spend $700 on one...

[@arthurzeh7844]

I had a Craftsman 5HP 24 inch two stage blower that worked flawlessly for 17 years. I did maybe six oil changes during that time, lubed some cables and replaced a carb with an $8 unit from China, and the thing would not die

[@skychaser59]

Look up snowblower impeller mod. You will be amazed how much further the snow get thrown out the chute.

[@IndRepair]

I have seen them work pretty good but the impellar housing seems to get worn pretty fast if doing this doesn't it?

[@skychaser59]

@@IndRepair No it won't cause any damage to the housing. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6PEcnh6h7B0b7s

[@PainterD54]

@@IndRepair No. The impeller kit is rubber blades that keep the inside of the impeller housing clean and won't plug as easy. It just rubs the inside of the housing nice and clean. You should be coating the housing with some kind of lubricant anyway so the snow slides out of it easier anyway. I use Fluid Film or even Lemon Pledge to keep the housing and chute nice and slippery.

[@hartsy50]

Try to keep the chute pointing to the right, it will throw the snow better, especially wet now.

[@IndRepair]

Good info! Thanks for watching!

[@SWATT101]

I live in Ontario snow belt and use a similar 208cc Briggs that I put rubber strips on the impellers this summer. However, if I get less then about 2 inches I shovel.

[@IndRepair]

It works for fluffy snow and large amounts but around here most cases (central Illinois) they are virtually useless. I see people trying to use them and just have a solid ice block in the chute and pushing snow out in front of the housing instead of blowing it

[@TecumsehRulesbcserk]

While MTD has its issues, they’re still better than anything made by Murray. Murrays are hard to get parts for while MTD is still really easy to find parts, MTD even throws a sticker on their snowblowers of a table of common parts and their numbers. But the worst thing about Murray is the dreaded Briggs and Stratton snow engines they throw on their machines. Those things are notorious for cylinder head issues and since they aren’t found on any other snowblowers, getting replacement engine parts can be a real pain.

[@IndRepair]

We work on quite a few Briggs snow engines without issue but they do have some known problems like everything does. I think power wise they are the best out there

Why is the chute deflector at the tightest (low throwing distance) setting?? Seems like you are intentionally trying to make it look like it won't throw snow very far and bog the motor down even more by driving over it a second time. A basic impeller mod fixes the clogging problem. A velcro wrap can be put on the handles for a lock.

[@IndRepair]

Having it on this setting is the only way the snow even throws off of the machine, otherwise it just throws it onto the outside of the machine. It doesn't need any help looking bad in wet snow this is how they act. An impeller mod would definitely work but it is anything but basic for the average homeowner buying an expensive machine for it not to work at all in wet snow. There is a reason people loose their limbs while snowblowing and I am sure many of them used something like velcro to avoid the hassle this one causes

[@russellmaddock3492]

Very informative video. The old saying goes, you get what you pay for. Yesterday here in southeastern MI I was snow blowing 6in of really wet heavy snow. The worst kind of snow for a snow blower. This is the first year to try out my new Toro Power Max HD 1232. I had no issues blowing the wet heavy snow. Still blew at least 40 feet or more even as wet as it was. While blowing off my deck with my single stage, the snow was so wet it was building up on the hard plastic wheels and causing them to not roll properly. With a single stage blower, the only time the wheels are needed is when pulling the machine in reverse. Overall, I was very impressed with the Toro HD 1232. Plenty of power and as big as the machine is, it is easy to maneuver thanks to the trigger steering. Toro's quick stick shoot control takes time to get the hang of. I was out blowing that wet stuff for about two hours and was starting to get the hang of the quick stick. Like you said, if you are serious about moving snow, spend the money and buy a blower that will move snow in any kind of condition. Honda, Toro and Ariens are probably some of the better machines for blowing the heavy wet stuff. My old 1980 Toro 524 with the barrel auger would plug in real wet stuff until I installed an auger kit. I have two 1980 Toro's, the 524 and an 824, both are still going strong. I am hoping my new Toro will hold up as good as those 1980 models have. Now, let's get some powdery snow to try out that new Toro's throwing distance. According to Toro, the throwing distance in the right snow conditions is 57 feet. Keep up the very informative videos. Individualized Repair, I enjoy watching them.

[@IndRepair]

Your so right!! Thanks for watching!

[@paulcondie2520]

I bought the same blower as in video 13 years ago and still going strong! I put an impeller kit in it after the first snow, impressive! Still runs and looks as new with just regular maintenance. I did adjust valves last year, runs well

[@IndRepair]

Nice! The impellar kit was installed because of the issues shown here were found I would assume? I have seen quite a few of these kits and they do work very well but seem to do damage to the impellar housing quickly. Did you notice any of this damage in that time?

[@paulcondie2520]

@IndRepair I've had my impeller kit for 13 years no damage! I made mine out of conveyor belt material from tractor supply. The only gripe I have about my troybilt is that cheap ass chute but I'm used to it now. Lol

[@IndRepair]

@paulcondie2520 sounds like much better than the kits most use that's awesome

[@ernestleo6284]

I recently purchased a PowerSmart with the 250cc Briggs and Stratton engine and it throws the snow from my side of the street to the other side. In WNY we receive all types of snow and this machine has now problem clearing out wet or deep snow. My driveway is 75 feet long and this PowerSmart so far works really well. Thanks for the great video and advise.

[@IndRepair]

Awesome! Glad it is working well, parts for the powersmart machines sure are hard to come by!!

[@EverybodyLovesMoe]

I bought the 33" troy bilt in 2008. Some of the issues you mention haven't changed particularly the crank for the shoot. Its crap. I had two cables to control the shoot outlet and it never worked. I ended up adjusting by hand. I am in no way defending the machine but its difficult to find any machine that can blow slush. Mine only blocked once with slush and I suspect its because I don't push it. I go much slower. Worse than blocking is the tracking. My machine has a very difficult time of tracking through very thick slushy snow, wheels slip and the machine would get stuck and I was having to muscle it around which is not fun. I have also found the snow getting pushed to the sides as you stated here.

[@IndRepair]

We work on hundreds every year and see the quality has gone down. They were never great units but getting made cheaper every go round. I have used many units and probably the most efficient I have seen in slush conditions are going to be the the Toro two stage units. I will see we have one next time we get some wet snow and do a comparison between a few models. Thanks for watching!

[@buffalobluecheese]

I've had the 2010 Craftsman 247.88957 24" snowblower made by MTD that's identical to the one in video since 2015. If you depress the auger lever - left side - 1st, then apply drive lever - right side - 2nd, it locks or holds the auger lever down automatically so you can adjust your chute direction, etc w/o issue. All I've done to it is basic maintenance & always run non-ethanol fuel mixed with MMO & Seafoam, as I do with all my sblr's & mowers. Sucks Craftsman/MTD has gone downhill past few years.

[@IndRepair]

Some of then have the handle lock and the cheaper ones are still made the same. Thanks for watching!

[@bayboybob]

I got a Cub Cadet, and it wasn't low-end pricing. The first time I used it, I experienced a total shutdown, but they said it was bad gas even though I used conditioner and it wasn't that old mid-grade gasoline. It was three weeks in the shop before I got it, but it was the busy season.

[@IndRepair]

Yeah that is no good at all!!

[@draynged7869]

Please look at newer models of Troy's they are built differently. Had mine 3 years, and today was so bad it was a state of emergency. There is like 3 feet of snow outside, and my Troy ate that shit up and wanted seconds. Also I have a rock uneven driveway. I also did the entire sidewalk, and 3 neighbors driveways just to help out...

[@IndRepair]

The other styles are much better, definitely! This one isn't worth pushing out of the garage in most snows

[@BlackdogADV]

I was recently given a Toro 518 that wouldn’t start. I’ll repair it but I’m still in the market for a quality medium duty snow blower. What would you recommend?

[@IndRepair]

I like the auger/chute design on the Husqvarnas. If I was to buy one I would probably spend the extra and get the Honda. They are amazing!

[@DavidDuncan123]

The auger does lock in place. You have to hold the drive control down and use your left hand to adjust the chute control.

[@DavidDuncan123]

Maybe the model? The chute on my Storm 2620 can be adjusted while on the move.

[@IndRepair]

There are some models that the levers lock in but many people do not realize it until they are trying to turn the chute and operate the blower at the same time. There seem to be quite a few upgrades on the new models, if we have some snow I will do a review on one this winter. Thanks for watching!

[@stevehartz4615]

I have the same one used it one year and the gear box leaks,had to adjust the crank for Shure controll wasnt waorking

[@IndRepair]

Doesn't take long

[@KSMike1]

I bought that exact model a couple years ago from the original owner. He’d used it once since new in 2016. I went all through it, lubing everything, topping up the gearbox, adjusted cables, adjusted and cleaned up the cable pulleys, put an impeller kit on it, etc. It hasn’t snowed since in Kansas City - and if that’s the only benefit I get from it, I’m good with that. 😂 If I lived in snow country, I’d buy a used Ariens but I’d still put an impeller kit on it.

[@IndRepair]

The impeller kit is the key but you shouldn't have to modify something to make it work adequately. I am sure it will work great for you

[@KSMike1]

@IndRepair agreed! Junk and apathy seem to be the new norms nowadays.

[@Tom-yj6mt]

I have an Ariens 24 SHO with the 369 cc engine. No impeller kit is needed on that one. I've never had it clog. No matter how deep or wet the snow is. Even from the reviews I've read, they say it's almost impossible to clog it and I can vouch for that. I use to have a small Craftsman snowblower and I did put my own impeller kit on and it did help but still would clog. It was only 5.5 hp and it just couldn't handle the wet stuff.

[@IndRepair]

@@Tom-yj6mt Definitely the case on many of the designs and others plow through almost anything you put in front of them

[@pmedic297]

Thanks for your video. I purchased a Troy-Bilt 2420 this year. I have been using a Husqvarna 30 inch snow blower for the last 10 years. I actually hated that thing and it had bells and whistles too. In the end, a weld broke that keeps the front auger housing connected to the back half with a bolt and I didn't have a 2K to buy a larger blower with the same bells and whistles, so I shelled out 1k for a smaller unit. I have several other troy-Bilt products that have been going on over 15 years, so I thought I would go with that brand again. as for my review... in Northern Maine, we are dealing with an Winter anomaly this year and we have only had two snowfalls with no more than 3 inches each so far. I haven't been able to test it on a foot or more of snow yet. As for the three inches, it threw it quite effectively with no complaints and it was a heavier snow. My complaints are consistent with some of yours. Despite what some of the other comments say, this thing does not have an auger lock when in drive. The updated model does have the chute crank in the middle now, so you don't have to come to a complete stop, but you do have to make a choice to give up either your auger drive hand or your wheel drive hand. I chose to let the wheel drive hand go and push it for a few moments. Not a huge problem for me. What is a huge problem for me is something no one seems to mention about the newer 2420 in any of the reviews. The only way to shut this machine off is to remove the safety key. It's the most ridiculous thing I've heard of. Why not a switch? Just a little red plastic key that is without a doubt going to get dropped in the snow and lost at some point. I'm more than likely going to make a modification and wire a switch in and get rid of that stupid key idea. Just going to wait for the warranty to expire first. I will come back again and comment when we see a decent storm up here in Northern Main. Once again... Thanks for your review.

[@IndRepair]

Awesome first hand review! Keep the updates coming, we appreciate you!

[@matthewaustin796]

Ha, I just picked one of these up for $250 used and I'm hoping it gets me through a few seasons of snow. I have a small property so I'm hoping it's fine.

[@IndRepair]

It works, I owned one and used it for a frlew years but around here not worth a darn in most snows

[@crazycooterMN]

Dude that thing didn't have a problem throwing that rock at your truck!

[@IndRepair]

Snowblowers make great rock throwers! Thanks for watching!

[@mrbubetube]

do you really think that old toro would have done a better job on that 2 inches of wet snow? I'd like to see that. I've seen the 2410 perform many times and it does a good job when you feed it enough snow. There's a reason that different types of snowblowers exist. A good rule of thumb to go by is, if you regularly get less than 6 inches of snow, get a single stage snowblower because that's what it's designed to handle. if you regularly get more than 6 inches of snow, get a 2 stage. But really, for that 2 inches of crappy wet snow, I wouldn't have used a snowblower at all. I would have used a push broom or a floor squeegee.

[@IndRepair]

The older Toro would have thrown it through just fine because the design is different. I agree, under 6" a single stage is usually best. People rarely realize with 2-5" of heavy snow an MTD made snowblower of this design will disappoint 9 times out of 10. This happens even more often in warm areas that get wet/heavy snow. 6" of that just gives you snow cones/ice buildup in the chute

[@Thurnok-kp6cy]

You're absolutely right. I live where there's Big snow and I would never run any s

[@briansadler5502]

Agreed, most all snow blowers will react the same way in 2” of wet snow! I have a 1979 8/24 toro that works fantastic but would’ve had the same results.

[@IndRepair]

They are almost pointless! 6 inches or more of fluffy snow and they work OK

[@MrKmd27]

With snowblowers you want either the heavy duty simplicity, Ariens, or Honda.

[@IndRepair]

Absolutely agree there! The heavy duty Toro snowblowers also work well

[@garny3766]

Yup Impeller kit would fix that issue. I use heavy mud flaps or parts of snowmobile bellypan. It will wear in and something else will fail before blower housing.

[@IndRepair]

I just really despise having to do a bunch of work to something once I buy it so it works correctly. Have seen a few come in with kits but the housing always look really torn up. Thanks for watching!

[@joeking1722]

I have the storm 3090 xp 30 inch, 357cc engine. Great machine. It's going on the 11th winter (2024-25).

[@IndRepair]

For sure! On a completely different level than this one

[@MazichMusic]

I bought an MTD-sourced Craftsman 2-stage blower. I returned because the casing was not assembled true and level. One side dig into the concrete. It made no difference how I adjusted the does. Sears wanted to send it to service and I said "give me my money back!" I've owned several MTD made mowers and other equipment, and all was well.

[@IndRepair]

I have not seen this before but being dropped or ran into with a forklift will do it easily. I am sure it happens more often than we think! Thanks for watching!

[@therider6926]

Wet snow like that burns belt. I would suggest staying in first gear specially for smaller engine s. It’s what I do with mine.

[@IndRepair]

Yeah it's definitely hard on them! Thanks for watching!

[@bestestname6757]

Listen to this man. I have the 28" Yard Machines, same same. It stinks. Gets clogged, hard to turn, a pain to shoot the snow in a certain spot. Ect ect ect... Now I had a nice small Turo, brought it in for a tune up one season and it literally got stolen from the shop. The guys offered me this huge 28" thing, and I'm like "oh yeah free upgrade" lol. Well I wish every single time it snows I still had the old one.😢

[@IndRepair]

That is no good at all! Darn thief's! Got the ol' upgrade switcharoo huh? So sorry to hear that. These snowblowers are not worth using in most cases

[@gordonlau645]

Try lubricating after each use with wd40 or silicone to minimize ice buildup. Most importantly it looks like you need to adjust the tensioner to throw that wet heavy snow father. Consider an impeller kit as well.

[@IndRepair]

Wd40, Pam, silicone or anything else will help for a short time but doesnt solve the issue completely. The tension on the belt was tight. An impellar kit does fix this issue (although seems to wear out the impellar area within a couple years) If you are in an area where all you get is light fluffy snow this blower will work for what you need it for. Thanks for watching!

[@sharpshooter012345]

Could it be a bad gear case or the engine needs a tune up.. valve adjustment!?

[@IndRepair]

Nothing wrong with this one except the quality. The ice between the housing and impeller bogs these down so bad with wet snow they act like they are already under a load

[@Subie-Driver]

Bought a cub cadet this past spring. 28” 420cc. Yep, it’s not a Honda or Ariens but it will do. I can’t justify spending big $$$ on those brands for the number of times it will get used in a winter. Our Craftsman 10 hp went for 18 years…I expect this one will do the same…if I live that long….😂

[@IndRepair]

Definitely! It will do soooo much better than the one in the video. The design here is just horrible

[@bwillan]

The lack of an auger lock is rather odd. My really old MTD made yard machines snowblower unit has that feature. Most snowblower suffer poor performance in wet heavy snow conditions because of a large gap between the impeller blades and the housing. Adding a snowblower impeller kit closes that gap and make the snowblower perform quite well in wet snow conditions.

[@IndRepair]

All of the lower end models around here are without the auger lock. I just despise having to install something to make a snowblower work well out of the box. The Toro and Honda two stage snowblowers perform well in wet snow along with most single stage units. Thanks for watching!

[@bwillan]

@@IndRepair When the price gap between the lower end snowblowers and the higher end Toro, Ariens, Honda snowblowers was much bigger, it made sense to do the little work adding an impeller kit. Now that the price difference isn't as big, it is easier to spend a bit more money and get the Toro or Ariens snowblower that will perform well on wet snow out of the box. Single stage units do perform well on wet snow up to 4-5 inches. After that they struggle. I would know, I use to have a single stage snowblower.

[@pranksterDoug]

I like my old simplicity that I bought back in 2006. That old briggs 205cc just keeps running.

[@IndRepair]

They definitely made some good machines!

[@bobbypeterson3494]

Weird my Troy bolt is great 2420 model

[@IndRepair]

The design is completely different for the chute and frame and is made quite a bit better overall. The price tag is also about $300 more than the one shown in the video. Thanks for watching!

[@matrixsequencescripted]

What about the 2420 model? Seen one on sale on facebook. I have a 2 car garge with a 75 foot drive way tired of shoveling. But refuse to spend over 1k on a snow blower.

[@IndRepair]

Much better than this

[@matrixsequencescripted]

@IndRepair Ok thankyou.

[@reefgratos2035]

I have a very old school Ariens st 504, they are all metal.. but a little under powered for my need.. plus it is very very old.. probably over 35 years old, but it is still running.. just quite very noisy.. i am looking for something more modern… then i saw a troy bilt 5024 at the flea market for $400.. i am wondering whether i should keep the Ariens ST 504 or go with the Troy-Bilt 5024

[@IndRepair]

The 5024 has an upgraded chute so the clogging up does not happen like the one in the video. They are definitely better that what I review here but that old Ariens was made to last a lifetime. I love old equipment so I would probably stay with what I knew but only if it is doing a good job currently. Thanks for watching!

[@reefgratos2035]

@@IndRepair dam thanks for the super quick response lol. Still decinding because i need something that would last and not break on me every winter. I had a 2015 ariens 1024 but i kept it only two years, sold it because i need emergency fund. The newer ariens was stronger than the old ariens . But still noisy like hell. As for the old ariens , i had to replace the belt once because it was sliding under heavy load. Also wet snow is a pain even with small ariens. Im wondering if a troy bilt 5024 is more powerful and can last.. i see most troy bilt , mtd, are priced cheap at the flea market. But not ariens or toro. If i had the money i would definitely grab a toro max with chute controlled by a joystick. Lol. Or better a $2k lithium snow blower.. anyway seems like you are suggesting to keep the ariens st 504.

[@rjsr4916]

I purchased a troy bilt 28 inch machine 3 years ago and this video hit the nail right on the head. Just designed badly!

[@IndRepair]

Totally agree there, they just don’t hold up and are useless in most snows

[@snowfighter62]

In Germany, we love our cars more than our wives. 😉 To throw snow, ice chunks and stones against cars will be punished with tarring and feathering. 😉

[@IndRepair]

Haha! I honestly was thinking the video was over at that point! It locked up solid, definitely wasn't expecting it to fire that huge rock out of the chute!! Thanks for watching!

[@HappyJ]

Came here to say the same thing. Just like a weapon, never point it at anything you don't want to hit.

[@robertknight4672]

Personally I don't care too much about auger lock and all my machines are used and so old that that wasn't a common feature. What I really don't like is about modern MTD products is the shift lever being attached by a flimsy cable. Owner MTDs set a sturdy Rod attached to the shifter.

[@IndRepair]

It seems all companies use this cheaper cable but some will coat it to prolong life. At least this machine has multiple speeds, unlike its little brother that is just one forward speed (super slow)

[@robertknight4672]

@@IndRepair I had that single speed machine once when I bought used. Fortunately it was the older version with the Tecumseh engine which honestly is the best part of that machine.

[@IndRepair]

Those Tecumseh engines are solid! The true Sno King!

[@jj-kb5hr]

Say no more.😉 thank you for the heads up👍

[@IndRepair]

Thanks for watching!

[@redoakpropertycarellc]

Never go wrong with an Ariens, stay warm out there 🍻

[@IndRepair]

Thanks for watching!!

[@froggerman44]

I have a Murray branded snowblower 2 stage , mtd product, best blower ever, goes thru all snow types, an inch or 20 inches, no matter very wet or dry. 25 plus throwing feet. Of course it’s 30 years old. Yes age does matter. Lol

[@IndRepair]

They sure used to make some nice ones!! Those, the Simplicity and the Toro were beasts but most things we made well back then

[@robertknight4672]

I have one of those Murray built Craftsman snow blowers from the 90s that has the weird handlebar that goes horizontally across the top along with the drive levers. Even though it technically doesn't have an auger lock you can actually hold both levers down with one hand from the middle of the handlebar. It is a little awkward that way and it's not really a feature that's important to me.

[@Matthew_Does_To_Many_Things]

179cc is underpowered. New models have a 208cc. I have a cheap 2-stage by MTD with small wheels and a plastic forward only transmission. It has this 179cc engine that leaks oil. I'm interested in this newer and updated one for a $460 black Friday deal and it will definitely be better than the old small MTD that I have that leaks Hella oil.

[@IndRepair]

For sure!

[@dylanbedard5853]

Another good brand to stick with is Simplicity. A good all-metal construction for major components, including the chute and the lever to point it up or down. The older ones and even the newer small ones have a metal worm gear to drive the metal chute, the latter ones have the crank up top so you’re not reaching down to turn the chute. My 1227E has an electric switch that turns it, on the right hand side near the auger control, making it easier to point the chute. The higher end Simplicity blowers have the electronic controls for turning the chute and pointing it up or down. On top of that, the newer ones have a nice Briggs and Stratton powering them. Mine started earlier today on one pull even with the -40F wind chill. No Troy-Bilt I ever used started that cold. I lucked out when I bought my M1227E last summer for 500 bucks from my local John Deere dealer. I always wanted a Simplicity and I finally got one. This brand among Toro and Honda, all three reign king of this day in age for walk-behind blowers.

[@IndRepair]

Very true! They make a great blower also. Thanks for watching!

[@bglahti]

Seeing the way you use a snowblower doesn’t give me much confidence in any criticisms you have about it 4:27

[@IndRepair]

That is ok. Buy one and you tell me how it does for you

[@lg8932]

I hope the truck you were blowing the show (with rocks) into was your's.

[@IndRepair]

It sure is! My favorite truck of them all since it has the hemi in it. Don't worry, no trucks were seriously harmed during the making of this video. Thanks for watching!

[@fairgolfer]

Thanks for this video. People depend on their blowers. This might help steer people from a bad decision. You're right, a good blower isn't that much more and will last a long time. I like at the end of the video how you went from rant mode to thanks for watching so quickly 👍👍

[@IndRepair]

They sure do depend on them. I fixed and took one home once upon a time. You can imagine my surprise when the 4" of wet snow on the ground would do nothing but make certified snow cones and ice chunks from the chute. Not what I had bargained for!

[@bradh74]

I have to tell you that I have a Troy Built and have used it for 15 years, it does fine. It will get plugged if your in "heavy slush" but mine only plugged once, and ALL snow blowers come with the tool to unplug it because they have to include it (2 stage), because of liability, some dummy stuck their hand in it (the discharge chute) and got hurt. About the one hand thing all 2 stage snow blowers you have to hold the auger handle down then when you hold down the lever that engages the drive you can remove the hand that the auger control is on. Why would you put it a transport gear and only hold the lever down half way that's just dumb. Read or have the person that reads this to you read the manual to you. There are higher end machines but you have a homeowner machine that's value priced so you may have to slow down. MTD isn't know for top of the line equipment they're know for high value equipment that works well enough for the average person.(MTD knew their stuff but got bought out by stanley/black and decker) I kept hearing the "If your going to be dumb, you got to be tough song" in my head through your video, at least learn how to use this stuff.

[@IndRepair]

There is no lock so you can use your free hand to turn the chute on this machine. Not all of these are made the same, do not buy the low end model like the one I use here. Going as slow as this thing goes it should be able to throw anything you put in front of it. Your a funny guy.

[@chriswagner6310]

You're wrong about that pal. I have a Troy-Bilt. A really good machine

[@IndRepair]

This design is horrible. Troy Bilt does make some machines that work well

[@stonycreek1000]

If you blow rocks and stones and ice chuncks thats not what a snow blower is designed for!

[@philliphall5198]

Never need one in West Texas but I watch any way

[@IndRepair]

Thanks for watching! Wouldn't wish these junk snowblowers on anyone!!

[@martyheathers3549]

Show me it’s running at3600 rpm

[@IndRepair]

Definitely was running at full speed

[@iancameron415]

Blowing the snow right into the side of the truck then chucking a rock right into it. Oof

[@IndRepair]

Yeah I know right wth

[@vinizuh]

Depends where you live. This machine would work well in canada, why? Because we have powdery snow from being -20c on average for 6 months of the year. But the real question is, why are you using a 2 stage in 1-2" of snow. 😅 also the positioning of your chute is way too low. Its like you wanted it to look crappy as much as possible for the video.

[@IndRepair]

It sure may work well for you there! Around here 3" is a big deal and most two stage snowblowers will work well for it. Not this one, and I get asked the question a lot about these snowblowers where we are. It definitely doesn't need help looking bad. Thanks for watching!

[@JoeClarke6819]

That thing barely throws the snow at all

[@IndRepair]

Haha a light push! Thanks for watching!

[@drearaujoa6]

A plastic chute is a dead giveaway to me that a blower is probably junk.

[@IndRepair]

They have made a newer design this isn't nearly as bad but still clogs up regularly. Thanks for watching!

[@martyheathers3549]

Show me it’s running at3600 rpm. I so disagree with you, MTD does make good products they make so many different brands but yes I don’t care for plastic chutes either but it’s a reality and it might be cost effective but it’s cost effective to the consumer too and I have machines here thirty years old with original plastic chutes. So many of these machines are not running at their full potential I have a couple cheap $500 22” machines here with 208cc cranked up to the full 3600 rpm and I’ll put both up against most machines except a Ariens. When in wet snow any machine should be sprayed with a lubricant such as Pam, wd40 on the augers and in the bucket including the fan so what I’m hearing is that engine is not performing properly either the governor isn’t working properly or linkages are not correct or poorly built Chinese engines which run great when they run great but are terrible if not built properly. I’m smack dab in the snow belt in Ontario and I fix a lot of machines if mtd are priced right compared to the expensive brands then you get what you pay for but send me that machine and I’ll make it blow better than that.

[@IndRepair]

Definitely was

[@Eagle-nq2mv]

Troybilt are nothing but trouble . I made the mistake of buying one 4 years ago. Cant keep auger belts,Hard to start, wheels are too small, no traction, no reverse etc. Junk

[@IndRepair]

Definitely so.Depends on the exact model but the one you are speaking of is the even lower line of products! They really are horrible! Thanks for watching!!

[@cmason5203]

That thing has no guts

[@IndRepair]

Definitely!

[@PainterD54]

Something is surely wrong with that blower. It can barely get the snow out of the chute! WTF? And blowing rocks is wrong. The skid shoes need to be adjusted so you don't dig down into the gravel. The blower needs an impeller kit (most of them need the kit) There is nothing wrong with those models of blowers. Yours just needs the belts adjusted and an impeller kit (look into it) and you will have no problem with it. You really don't know what you're doing.

[@IndRepair]

Yes, it's made by MTD and a horrible model. Yes an impellar kit would help it but that is just a fix we designed to fix a flawed model. This is not by blower. It was adjusted about 3/8" off the ground, which is perfect for here. Not knowing what I am doing is a given please tell me

[@ocsplc]

These kinds of videos remind me of high school arguments over which sneaker is better: Nike or Adidas? Anyone can pick any perceived deficiency in any snowblower and say don’t buy this or that. Cite it as your personal preference not some empirical fact.

[@IndRepair]

If you were to ever use one in wet/heavy snow you would definitely agree. It may be great up north where the snow is light/fluffy

[@dennyfensterer9931]

Slow down..1,2, and 3 are for business..4,5, and 6 are for transport

[@IndRepair]

If it was a good snowblower it would have no problem doing this very low amount of snow. This thing was never meant for business. Light fluffy snow it will do ok on but wet and heavy forget about it

[@stevemarks4590]

Some points: You have the chute set too angled for heavier/wet snow 1st off. The straighter the chute is-the FARTHER snow will go!Then? The smaller the volume? (Like thw 1" to 2" your moving) is NOT conducive to 'snow pushing snow' so your more likely to clog up. Then? 'Picking up a lot of rock-no big dea;' (It IS & damages the equipment like that first BIG rock you slammed into) so without even getting into anything past this? You are the LAST person who should be reviewing anything...

[@IndRepair]

Lol you have never used one of this model I see

[@craiggritter]

PowerSmart is also absolute junk!

[@IndRepair]

Oh boy, probably the worst of the worst out there!

[@jamesorsby7553]

Lol... You ain't lying, but how good could a new dual stage snowblower that costs around $500 really be? You usually get what you pay for in this life.

[@craiggritter]

@@jamesorsby7553 Home Depot last year had them for sale but it’s was 1k instead of 550 I got screwed on price and the unit. I was not paying attention and honestly I was just happy at the time to have a 2 stage blower. Now I’m full of regret and should have gotten an a nicer one and name brand!

[@IndRepair]

@@jamesorsby7553 That is about the truth! Good luck sourcing parts!

[@gibco25-offical56]

Toro is junk also. Never had good luck with them. Go with a ariens.

[@everybodysjonathan]

Sad that those go for around $1000 new. I’ve had better older machines left for free.

[@IndRepair]

Yeah, they seem to be getting worse and worse for a higher and higher cost! Thanks for watching!

[@stonycreek1000]

Some people should never use anykind of gas powered equipment!

[@IndRepair]

Lol correct you are

[@dan7102]

Impeller kit help? Plastic chutes, uhg.🤮

[@IndRepair]

The impeller kit does help but it wears out that thin paint on the metal of the impellar housing and starts to rust out even faster. Thanks for watching!

[@chadsydorowicz2589]

The chodes that make these are sooo dumb...

[@IndRepair]

Definitely

[@jimeckenrode1271]

That sir is a pitiful excuse of a snow blower.

[@IndRepair]

It sure is the bottom of the barrel (no offence Powersmart) throwing your money away quick. Then you see everyone try to resell them for cheap during the spring. Cycle I see around here every year

[@JohnSpruce-u2h]

I think what we have here is a operator who couldn't poor pee out of a boot with the directions written on the heel.

[@IndRepair]

Definitely like to leave it in the boot instead why pour good pee out?

[@Thurnok-kp6cy]

Dude, you're blowin white mud. But yeah, it's a piece of junk.

[@IndRepair]

Sloppy sloppy! Thanks for watching!

[@bobbob6162]

Lots of junk, clean your yard….what a mess……

[@IndRepair]

Lol

[@michaelhowell1331]

Hello= You threw a rock at your truck so why should anyone listen to you =Bye

[@IndRepair]

Lol

[@fartsackjack7081]

more like snow floppin ....LOL new camera eh

[@IndRepair]

Had it a while now! First time using the clip though!

[@johndenver8574]

Chinese-made engines are crap. Honda will kick any other engine. I recommend a track-drive Honda. Where nothing and I mean nothing not even snow above the blower will stop it.

[@IndRepair]

They make a great blower and engine!! Thanks for watching!