Yard Machines 31A-32AD700 22-Inch 179cc OHV 4-Cycle Gas

Product Description

, DuroStar SD1300 Snow Demon 16-Inch 9.7 Amp Electric Snow Thrower ,Snow Joe 322P 12-Inch 7.5 Amp Electric Snow Thrower , Snow Joe Ultra 622U1 19-Inch 13-Amp Electric Snow Thrower , Snow Joe SJ621 18-Inch 13.5-Amp Electric Snow Thrower With Headlight ,Greenworks 26012 12-Inch 7 Amp Electric Snow Thrower From the Manufacturer The Yard Machines two-stage snow thrower is compact and has a 22-Inch deck. The snow thrower is equipped with a 179cc OHV engine for maximum power, performance and durability. Mitten Grip Recoil Starter makes it easy to start the engine- even with mittens on! 180-Degree, E-Z chute rotation with a rugged polymer chute adjusts easily and resists clogging, rusting or freezing.


This review is from: Yard Machines 31A-32AD700 22-Inch 179cc OHV 4-Cycle Gas Powered Self Propelled Two-Stage Snow Thrower (Lawn & Patio)
Let me give everyone a word of advice about buying this snow blower: don't. And for that matter, I suggest you don't buy any machines made by MTD (they make machines for TroyBilt, Yard Machines, and others). Why? Because their answer when it doesn't work as it should -- and all I've asked this machine to do is move about four inches of snow -- is to "take it to a dealer/repair shop."

Here's the whole story: The first time I used it it stopped about 1/2 way through my mid-sized driveway; the auger just wouldn't spin anymore. It just sat there, mocking me. I stopped it and finished the driveway by hand. I read the manual, tightened the auger control, and it worked fine (not when it was snowing).

Next snow (again, about four inches at most), it made it about 1/10th of the way through the driveway. Auger wouldn't turn. I turned it off, parked it, and again finished the driveway by hand. E-mailed MTD customer care. Worthless response was: "Take it in." Nothing more, no suggestions as to what might be going on. Just take it in. Keep that in mind, if you get a piece of junk from MTD, their answer when it breaks will be: "Take it in." Lesson 1 learned: don't expect a "real" response from MTD customer care via E-mail. You can guess what they'll say: "Take it in."

So I did. It was the belt. Though the machine had been used just twice, the belt wasn't covered because it was more than 30 days from when I bought the machine (see what happens when you plan ahead and buy a product before you need it?). Lesson 2 learned: don't buy an MTD product before you need it, because if you do, then when you first use it and it breaks, you'll have to pay for it.

I replaced the belt on my own dime, brought the machine home, and sat it in the garage. Next snow storm (again about four inches on the driveway when I cleared it), the thing worked, but clogged up very, very easily. I would stop it, clear the clog, start it again, stop it again, clear the clog, start it again, stop it again, clear the clog . . . you get the idea. I finally give up, finished off the driveway by hand (this is getting to be a habit), and parked it in the garage. When I parked it, it was still working.

So today we're in that big February 2011 northeaster. It's Tuesday. 4-8 inches promised today, up to two feet tomorrow. I get home from the office, start the snow blower and engage the auger handle. Can you guess what happened next? The auger wouldn't turn. It just sat there not moving. This, of course, makes this machine useless to me me.

So I parked the machine in the garage and . . . you guessed it, finished the driveway by hand. I came in and called MTD (I've learned about trying to get help by E-mail). Their answer? "Take it in." Sure, he said some more about how this machine isn't known for that, and that the service guy would have to take a look at it to find out what's wrong, and if he can't figure it out he should call them, etc. etc.. But mostly what he said, and the long and the short of it is, "Take it in." So that's what I'll do. Thursday. In the meantime I'll be buying a bigger, better shovel, and once this season is done I'll flog this stupid, useless machine on fleabay or craig's list and buy a real machine. And I'll make sure that no matter what brand it is, that it isn't secretly made by MTD. Because that's a company whose products I never, ever want to buy again.

And I suggest you don't, either.