After 20 years of reliable winter service, it’s time to let go of my trusty and somewhat rusty MTD Yard Machines snow thrower. Those loose bottom belts are for the auger, but the problem that prompted me to open up the gearbox was the difficulty in pushing the snow blower when the traction control isn’t engaged. It keeps grabbing, with a “chug, chug, chug” effect. The gear plate has seen a lot of wear, and it’s covered with fine metal shavings.
The new snow thrower is, like my old one was, a Consumer Reports Best Buy, the Troy-Bilt 2410. It’s currently on sale for $629, which isn’t the lowest price it’s ever been, but I can’t risk waiting for a better deal. You can pretend the two snow blowers are cats or dogs looking up at the camera, like the countless pet pictures everywhere online.
The tires are smaller and closer together than on the old beast, which is good for moving around in the garage. The engine is equivalent to 6.5 HP, compared to the 8 HP Tecumseh on the old one, which still starts and runs great, but a 24-inch model with a more powerful engine costs $900. I’m not praying for snow, but I’m looking forward to giving the Troy-Bilt its first run.