I have a single stage MTD 21" snow blower and the paddles are worn. Why should I replace them?
Thanks, Jim

I have a Yard Machines 3.5 HP single-stage snow thrower with a 2-cycle engine. It has been tempermental this winter (and last) but pretty much follows a very odd trend. After I get it started, which may take some effort, it will run fine for about 5 minutes. Then it bogs down like the choke somehow got flipped on and it will eventually die. I have checked the choke many, many, many times, with no result. If I let it sit and cool off for 5-10 minutes, it will (sometimes) start back up and then will do the same thing after about 5 minutes.

WHAT IS UP WITH THIS ENGINE? I can't figure it out.

It's snowing like crazy outside and I can't get the snow thrower to start because the button or primer bulb has fallen off. I can order a new part, but this will take a number of days. The button simply pushes air into the hole so it can start from a cold start-up. Does anyone have a MacGyver technique to fixing this with a common household item?

It was not that long ago that home lawn care was a matter of having a goat, a few cows and maybe some other live stock roam freely in your yard. These living grass cutting machines could chew and mulch your grass and fertilize it too. But in this day and age, unless you live on a large farm where cows will still do the job of trimming your grass for you, there are some more advanced grass cutting tools that will make any routine yard care task easier and faster.

The modern day workhorse for cutting grass is of course, a lawnmower.  Homeowners can be very passionate about the appeal of their lawn and a good regular cut is actually healthy for your grass.  A reliable lawnmower with a sharp blade is your most important piece of yard care equipment.  If you're in the market for a new mower you'll find that prices can vary greatly for a range of mower types and by brand name. But you don't have to break the bank to get a good cut.

Your mower is a machine that needs regular maintenance and the better you care for your lawnmower, the better it will cut your lawn season after season.  A well maintained machine will last a long time, saving you money in the long run.  Refer to the mower's owner manual for recommended maintenance and follow those guidelines.

Keeping the lawn neat involves more just mowing, though.  A trimmer is a good option for cutting over grown grass along walls and fences.  As with mowers, you have many choices when it comes to brand names and features including manual trimmers.  Somehow, a good cut just does not look complete until you've trimmed the long grass around decks, fences and patio stones.

Most people go for a power trimmer with a plastic line that needs to be replaced every so often.  The plastic line cuts grass, weeds and small plants with no trouble. You should always wear safety glasses and ear plugs when using one of these bad boys.  And always be certain to operate the trimmer when you are well clear of people or animals.  These machines are relatively inexpensive for most residential lawn care jobs but a gas powered trimmer that is contractor grade can easily run a few hundred bucks.

A spreader or two is vital for evenly laying out fertilizer, weed killer and other lawn treatments that can help keep the lawn weed free and looking lush and green. One sort is like a small lawnmower with no blade, just a tub with small holes and a roller that dispense material. Easy to use and long-lasting, they're adjustable for a variety of applications.

The second type of spreader is a hand-held unit, usually plastic with a rotary handle. They're perfect for specialized applications of seed for patching small lawn areas, distributing dry fertilizer beads and so forth.

This might seem obvious but you'll want a couple of good rakes too.  Rake away heavy amount of leaves in the fall because leaves left on the ground can cause grass to overheat or to get too little water.  In areas that get winter snow, at the end of the season the grass will be compressed into thatch.

If your lawn is not raked when necessary, it can prevent aeration from reaching the soil leading to uneven or patchy growth patterns. De-thatching requires rigorous raking with a sturdy, wide tooth rake. The more malleable fan rake is great for loose grass trimmings and leaves.

Other basic yard care essentials include:
- a long handled fork for turning soil
- a long-handled shovel or spade for a variety of gardening tasks
- a quality garden hose and nozzle
- garden gloves, safety glasses, ear plugs
- a sharpe pair of hand prunning tools

You can get a lot done with just these basic yard care essentials and the better you maintain your tools, the longer your lawn care equipment will last.  You don't have to spend a lot of money.  If you're on a budget (and even if you're not), check out neighbourhood yard sales because you can often find these yard care items in excellent condition and at bargain prices.

Ariens 1028 Snow Blower Thrower eBay Auction

Durable and powerful, that's how you can describe Troy Bilt snowblowers. Troy Bilt is, with no questioning necessary, definitely one of the most popular and most trusted brands of snow blowers. The brand has managed to establish a trustworthy platform in the market of snow blowers. Several consumers have learned to rely on the function and capabilities of Troy Bilt snow machines. Troy Bilt is just one of the many brands that offer snow blowers but their powerful models definitely stand out from the crowd.

Troy Bilt for Moderate Snow

Troy Bilt provides consumers with several choices when it comes to buying snow blowers. The brand supports two main types of snow blowers, namely the moderate-duty ones and the heavy-duty ones. The moderate-duty snow blowers are best for single driveways but also have enough power to clear snow from double driveways. As long as your snow coverage is anywhere between six and twelve inches, you can use a Troy Bilt snow blower.  Common features that can be found on the moderate-duty snow blowers from Troy Bilt include steel augers that can easily break through hard snow and ice.

The models also come with a high-speed impeller that gives the machines an added power to push snow out the discharge chute. One of the models under this category is the 60-3759 with a 14.5 GT 305cc OHV engine and a 28 inches clearing width. This is a two-stage snow blower that features a tall chute and a 4-way joystick for easy controlling. Its engine is a Briggs and Stratton winterized piece which means you have a pretty reliable engine powering up the entire machine. Its intake height is 21 inches and it has six forward and two reverse speeds. The machine is also easy to operate, with its electric start. But for flexibility, the model still comes with a manual back-up starter. Other features include a steerable wheel drive, heated handles, single-hand controls, Poly slide shoes for driveway or floor protection, 12-inch Xtreme augers, 4-shear pin auger design, 12-inch impeller, 16" x 6.5" X-Trac tires for safe and steady traction. The handles are also foldable and the machine comes with built-in headlights. In short, this two-stage snowblower is definitely a great solution for your snow clearing needs.

If you find it a bit expensive, check out the 208cc OHV model with a PowerMore OHV winterized engine, 24 inches of clearing width, and 21 inches of intake height. The machine comes with 6 forward and 2 reverse speeds, an electric start, a taller chute that resists cracking, denting, or rusting, and heated handle grips. This snow blower is easy to operate with its steerable wheel drive and single-hand controls. The machine features pretty much the same range of features of the previous model but the tires and augers are of smaller sizes.

Troy Bilt for Heavy Snow                               

Heavy snow is also not a concern to worry with Troy Bilt snowblowers. Troy Bilt provides a heavy-duty line of products for heavy snow coverage. These products are engineered and packed with more features and more power to do the job required. One classic example of such a model is the Large-Frame Two-Stage Snow Blower, which comes with an electric start, a steerable wheel drive, 16.5 GT 342cc Briggs and Stratton OHV winterized engine for energy efficiency, and a quiet operation. It has a 45-inch clearing width and a 22-inch intake height. While using this machine, you can also choose from 6 forward and 2 reverse speeds and get assistance from the dual in-dash yard lights and tool-less drift cutters. This model also features a tilt and crank remote chute that can be aimed in various directions. This Troy Bilt model also wins hands down with its 16" impeller, which is known as the largest size possible in Canada.

Pros: Briggs and Stratton OHV winterized engines, electric start, tall chutes, heated handles, Xtreme augers, X-Trac tires, and poly slide shoes.

Cons: Prices may be a bit higher than those of other brands.

The Verdict

Troy Bilt has built a strong and well-recognized reputation in the industry.

You can find more about <a rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/article_exit_link');" href="http://www.snow-blower-guide.com/troy-built-snowblowers.html">Troy Built Snowblowers</a> on our <a rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/article_exit_link');" href="http://www.snow-blower-guide.com/">Best Snow Blower Reviews</a> website.

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32:1 will only run with full to half choke how can i fix this?

I have a ariens 910017 8HP snow blower. It wont start when I pull on the string.However if i try to start it with some gas or starting fluid it runs great for a like a minute then dies.And it wont run unless I try the starting fluid. The gas line goes straight from the tank to the carb. I have new oil and gas in it. spark plug too. A buddy of mine said to gap the plug thats why its not starting but that dont seem like that would be the .ANd the gas seems to be reaching the carb from what I can tell what else could this be? problem.