The best of two blowers

[Bar Nuthin 877]

I needed the side plates for an old 42" snow thrower (96-42ST01).  A generous member, @davidtmercer, offered up a set for free providing I took the entire blower. Worked out great, since my brother lives about 15 miles away and was able to pick it up for me.

The blower he gave me is a different model (06-42ST05). There are a few differences in the two blowers.

Mine has the adjustable steel rollers to adjust the height, where this new one has steel skids. It also has a wear bar across the bottom.

The base of the discharge chute is different too. It has a plastic sleeve that the chute rotates on and different guides holding the chute in place.

The blower David gave me is in a bit rougher condition as far as some surface rust, missing chain, and a couple of bearings appear to be shot. but I now have the parts to have one complete snow thrower.

My question is, which setup would make the better machine? The one with the steel wheels, or the one with the skids. Also, which chute guides are better - the one with the steel guides, or the one with the plastic sleeve?

 

 

 

  

Edited February 3 by Bar Nuthin
spelling

[ebinmaine 69,515]

I tend to lean towards wheels over skids

[Racinbob 11,398]

I had one with the steel wheels and now have one with the skids. In actual usage there's very little, if any difference. Some might think the wheels would be better on concrete or asphalt drives and the skids better in dirt/gravel drives. Maybe but it really didn't matter. Again, I've had both surfaces. All in all I would give the wheels a bit of an advantage. The reason being is that it makes it easy to move the blower around when it's not mounted. I made a dolly dedicated to the blower I have now with the skids to solve that. As far as the chute rollers I can't say. My current one is a tall chute and entirely different there. I would probably lean towards the steel if I had to choose. Overall I would go with the wheels and a tall chute.

[Ed Kennell 39,634]

I have also used both wheels and skids.   Both work well on paved surfaces.    The skids were better on the stone road.  The wheels were a big plus when moving and storing the blower.

 

I actually added larger adjustable height wheels to mine to prevent it from digging in on the stone road.

 

Like this borrowed picture.

 

 

[Bar Nuthin 877]

1 hour ago, Ed Kennell said:

I actually added larger adjustable height wheels to mine to prevent it from digging in on the stone road.

 

Whoa! I like that!

[peter lena 8,960]

@Bar Nuthin  found those blowers a gold mine for  rotational movement , everywhere , from the  snow chute snow slide gasket , to every related movement spot , also add a  screw on ball to the chute  lever end , makes , gloves / mittens easier to use . that drive belt set up , is nothing but additional drag , on every related movement spot , and related pulley  bearings , auger drive chain , open gear and chain lube . how about that pulley frame , steel to steel  saposed to be movement spot ?  cleaned out and replaced , hi temp , polyurea  grease ?  have often said my blowers moved by hand at the pto belt drive point  ?  this is all detailing , if you want to . when you engage pto , how easily  dies it  spin up ?  smooth / easy ?  was just out  , plowing , oiled blade face , was rolling snow like nothing ,also  plow steering  quadrant , was swinging with ease . also plowed snow with the sun ? moved it all over to the sun side of driveway , melting now to drain . had about  4-6   snow last night , pete

[rjg854 11,666]

Put larger wheels on mine 

[Pullstart 63,371]

I like those lights Randy!

[rjg854 11,666]

1 hour ago, Pullstart said:

I like those lights Randy!

It does make it nice to be able to see around the shoot.