38" Two Stage Snow Thrower????

[mattd860 162]

For sale locally is a 310-8 with a 2 stage thrower that I've never seen before. Can anyone identify it? Is it a TORO model?

[dennist 139]

Bercomac?

[mr.pipes 4]

That is a Ber-Vac blower. I think Ber-Vac and Bercomac are the same or one bought the other out. Canadian made now but not sure about before. I have a Ber-Vac weight bracket and the sticker is the same as on that blower.

[mattd860 162]

Ok thanks. Now the question is how well this will perform when compared to the Toro 44" 2-stage and the 42" single stage????

[mr.pipes 4]

I have never used one or seen one in action so I can't say. Bercomac still makes blowers so you will find reviews online. There are vids on YouTube as well. I think it is your next best bet if not as good as a Wheelhorse. I thought I heard they made them for Wheelhorse at one time but not sure how true that is. There are many people here who know this history stuff very well who might be able to clarify. I say if the price is right and it looks good go for it. Get the model # and check for parts availability first.

[mattd860 162]

Contacted seller and he said the tag says Wheel Horse Model W0238 D.

After googling the model #, it appears to be made by Ber-Vac.

[mr.pipes 4]

Contacted seller and he said the tag says Wheel Horse Model W0238 D.

After googling the model #, it appears to be made by Ber-Vac.

The third pic down of the PTO side there is a black and silver sticker down low. That is the same as on my Ber-Vac bracket. If it has a Wheelhorse number than maybe what I remember about them making them for Wheelhorse at one point is correct. I wonder if someone else made all of the Wheelhorse two-stages?

[mattd860 162]

I called Bercomac and they said it's neither a Ber-Vac or Bercomac blower based on the model #. Ber-Vac actually bought Bercomac about 15 years ago. They gave me the number to a Ber-Vac Canadian warehouse and I spoke to a lady who couldn't understand my English and gave me the phone # to some Massachusetts Ber-Vac dealer however the number she gave me was wrong. Got some poor elderly lady on the other end who was very confused when I asked if she can fix a snow thrower LOL.

Anyways - does anybody have contact information to a Ber-Vac dealer in the US?

[dennist 139]

This was the post that has the same number your talking about http://www.wheelhorseforum.com/index.php?showtopic=23923 Hope this helps!

[mr.pipes 4]

You could try jim@jimsrepairjimstractors.com or 651-208-7199. They sell blowers and the bracket I have I believe. Decent amount of info on the site.

[mattd860 162]

Jim was no help. He said he didn't even recognize the part number.

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,351]

UncleBo here on RS has one for his 520 however it is either 44 inch or larger. I used it and it throws snow just as far as the toro 2 stage. I think I would prefer the smaller 38 inch since these blowers as so heavy !

[TT-(Moderator) 1,145]

That particular Berco blower was sold through Wheel Horse dealers (as a Wheel Horse attachment) prior to them producing their own two-stage blower.

There's actually a picture of one in the 1987 commercial/professional sales brochure.

At that time, parts were available through Wheel Horse.

[mattd860 162]

That particular Berco blower was sold through Wheel Horse dealers (as a Wheel Horse attachment) prior to them producing their own two-stage blower.

There's actually a picture of one in the 1987 commercial/professional sales brochure.

At that time, parts were available through Wheel Horse.

Did TORO take over production of the parts?

[TT-(Moderator) 1,145]

No. Toro built their own thrower beginning in 1990.

I would imagine that dealers (or distribution centers) placed their orders directly to the manufacturer of the equipment.

A lot of times the manufacturer supplied a "crossover" parts list with THEIR numbers so the dealers knew what OEM part number to order.

That blower was around for at least 3 years before the Toro 44" two-stage was available. Find a dealer that was in business in the mid/late 80's (that kept their older manuals/paperwork) and you should be able to get some info & part numbers.

[danjmah 71]

That particular Berco blower was sold through Wheel Horse dealers (as a Wheel Horse attachment) prior to them producing their own two-stage blower.

There's actually a picture of one in the 1987 commercial/professional sales brochure.

At that time, parts were available through Wheel Horse.

This may be the picture of the Snow Thrower in question TT speaks of (from my 87' WH catalog).

[Tim 97]

my neighbor had one of them, worked great!!

[C-160 Tractor 1]

it does look cool and capable... But i would hold out and get the toro 44" dual if you want a dual stage.

Get a used one even if you have to straighten it up a bit like I had to.

It's wider and thats better because it sticks out past the tires and just cuts a nice wide path for the tractor to drive behind.

and its made by WH Toro and they have all the parts easily accessible if something was to ever break on it.

Can you find parts for this dual stage easy as well?

:banghead:

[TT-(Moderator) 1,145]

Now that I think of it, there was a discussion about one of these not long ago.

The manual is available at Mike's "My Wheel Horse" site:

W0238 manual .pdf

[mattd860 162]

Yeah I think I will hold out for a Toro 44" thrower. I don't want to be stuck with a broken unit.

[sgtsampay 117]

Yeah, I have a local wheel horse dealer around here in Fairfield and he delt with/still has several of those blowers. He calls them Ber-vac and says that they were as good or better than the Wheel Horse blower.

I also want to get a two-stage but I will wait for the show to see about getting a good deal on one. I got one for C-160 for a great price, I'm sure i can get myself one for the same or better. I jsut got to wait.

Anyway, was that guys asking alot for it? I'm thinking if it cheap enough jsut grap it.. My 2 cents.

[mattd860 162]

I'm having second thoughts on the thrower. I've talked the seller down to $350 and that's the lowest he's willing to go. Is it worth it for that price? I can probably sell my single stage thrower for $200-250 which would offset this purchase price quite a bit.

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,351]

I would say buy it!! If you do not, please let me know as I will !! Thanks-

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,403]

$350 for the blower AND the tractor? No brainer----buy it!

Mike......

[sgtsampay 117]

Buy it! The dealer that has those wants to sale jsut the blower for $800! so buy it and then you get a good looking tractor out of it also!