Snapper (26") 249cc Two-Stage Snow Blower

I bought this unit in '09. It definitely throws the snow as advertised and the engine runs flawlessly. However, make sure you purchase large quantities of shear pins for the auger as they break with the slightest resistance. I've already gone through 6 in two mild seasons. I can only imagine how many I'd use in a heavy winter. Also, if the weather is very cold (20 or less) the gears tend to stick and you lose control. The machine will not go into neutral. I've had it checked and the shop can't seem to find the problem. I just put it back in the garage and let it thaw. Overall, an average machine. I'm not sure I'd buy another.

I bought this unit in '09. It definitely throws the snow as advertised and the engine runs flawlessly. However, make sure you purchase large quantities of shear pins for the auger as they break with the slightest resistance. I've already gone through 6 in two mild seasons. I can only imagine how many I'd use in a heavy winter. Also, if the weather is very cold (20 or less) the gears tend to stick and you lose control. The machine will not go into neutral. I've had it checked and the shop can't seem to find the problem. I just put it back in the garage and let it thaw. Overall, an aver... more

The machine is plenty rugged with heavy duty every thing but it is an ergonomic disaster.

1. The handle bars are tilted for easy gripping on dead flat surfaces but if you run up on a chunk of hard snow or small snow bank, the front lifts and drives the drive and auger levers into your wrists

2. The pivot center ie wheels, are too far to the rear giving the front skids a leverage advantage over the operator holding the handle bar. If you hit a hard spot with the skids or the auger housing sides the machine will throw you around like a rag doll.

3. With all that weight so far ahead of the pivot point turning is a bear. The manual says to release one of the drive wheels to make steering easier but you lose 50% of your traction. The drive wheel pushes the machine to the right like a skid steer. Again the pivot point is to far to the rear.

I have a 30 year old Ariens that I use most of the time. I had to buy this Snapper 2 years ago because of two 24" snow storms in a row. I had broken the Ariens and was told I couldn't get parts for it. I was desperate and this was the last one available (a demo unit!) I paid top dollar and have been very disappointed ever since.

Snapper makes heavy duty stuff but I'd like to know the name of the lawn mower engineer who designed this snowblower!!! I want to sell it back to him

The machine is plenty rugged with heavy duty every thing but it is an ergonomic disaster.

1. The handle bars are tilted for easy gripping on dead flat surfaces but if you run up on a chunk of hard snow or small snow bank, the front lifts and drives the drive and auger levers into your wrists

2. The pivot center ie wheels, are too far to the rear giving the front skids a leverage advantage over the operator holding the handle bar. If you hit a hard spot with the skids or the auger housing sides the machine will throw you around like a rag doll.

3. Wi... more

I ordered this on December 8 and paid for priority shipment, only to learn a couple weeks later that it was out of stock. (Snow Blowers Direct refunded my $50 without issue.) I was a bit perturbed since I was trying to get it in before leaving town for the holidays -- finally got it at the house just before the New Year weekend. I've had it now for about a month, and it's been a fairly snowy month at that.

On receipt, the blower had a bit of minor shipping damage -- broken spout rotator cover (just a piece broken out of one side of this plastic cover) -- nothing major and nothing I was going to return it over. There's a bit of assembly required upon receipt, hooking up the handles, chute, and a few control lines. Just takes a couple wrenches and maybe 20-30 minutes. After that, it's ready to work.

This blower works quite well. It starts like a champ (so far, I've only used the pull start) and hauls through most anything, including hard pack and even slush. Strange weather this year! I live in the mountains of northern New Mexico at an elevation of about 7,600 ft., so we get good quantities of snow.

I do notice that when I get into heavy drifts or deep snow, the engine can really bog down and sputter a bit. I may have to do some adjustments given the altitude, as I think it should be able to handle a bit more than I've thrown at it so far. I also think I need to adjust the drive as the first reverse gear hardly moves the unit.

I've also had the misfortune of picking up a few rocks while blowing out the neighbor's place, but no matter as they didn't do a thing to the chute. It seems to handle the impacts well. It could use a bit more weight in the front when going through areas where the snow has been packed down by traffic, but after a few passes, it generally gets through to the sidewalk.

The controls on this guy are great. Once you engage the auger, then the drive, you can let go of the rotor handle to manipulate the chute on the run using your right hand. I have a very steep driveway with a wall on one side, so I'm constantly shifting both the rotation and elevation of the chute and both can be done on the fly with the simple flip of two convenient levers -- one for rotation, one for elevation. Without the drive engaged, the wheels rotate pretty freely, so manipulation isn't too bad, though don't think this isn't a bit of a brute!

I did have a problem after one or two uses when I noticed the bolt on the chute rotator control had sheered off -- not sure if it was this way when it arrived, or if this happened at some point during use. A trip to the hardware store and a small amount of repair time and it's working good as new.

Overall, I rate this as a good kick-butt blower.

For some reason, I was under the impression it would come with a light, and it does not -- that's an optional accessory I haven't found listed here on Snow Blowers Direct, but I could use one -- there is an alternator connection for it. I'm not sure where I got the idea it comes with a light, but it's something to keep in mind.

I ordered this on December 8 and paid for priority shipment, only to learn a couple weeks later that it was out of stock. (Snow Blowers Direct refunded my $50 without issue.) I was a bit perturbed since I was trying to get it in before leaving town for the holidays -- finally got it at the house just before the New Year weekend. I've had it now for about a month, and it's been a fairly snowy month at that.

On receipt, the blower had a bit of minor shipping damage -- broken spout rotator cover (just a piece broken out of one side of this plastic cover) -- nothing major and not... more