PowerSmart PSSW24 24 in. 212cc 2-Stage Electric Start Gas Snow Blower Expired

Buy the bigger more expensive one. The reason: The end of the driveway snow plow mess. Most snowblowers can handle 8" of snow on your driveway easily. Where the less powerful ones fail is the big piles at the end of the driveway left by the town snowplows. Neighbor has a 5hp that I see him struggle with every 8" or more snow storm. The machine wants to ride up that mess rather than cut through it. He has to muscle the machine down and sometimes it still will ride up.

Other snow blower tips:

- Put fuel stabilizer (like Sta-bil) right in your gas can as soon as you buy gas and use it in all of your small engines, especially the snowblower. If gas is left in without stabilizer it will gum up the carburetor and you won't be able to start it when you need it. Sporadically used machines, especially snowblowers are prone to this. Just keep fuel stabilizer in the gas can and use that gas and you don't have to worry about it. Can keep the fuel stabilized gas, in the snowblower tank. I have electric start and never need it as mine always starts first or second pull. For at least 10 years.

- Spray all painted parts down with WD40 to keep it from rusting from towns salt mix at end of driveway

- Leave a one width pass on your driveway for last. After you do the towns end of driveway salty mix, that last width pass back to your garage will serve to clean the salt out

- Not a fan of plastic chutes. I would only buy it IF A replacement is readily available. The chute is hugely important. Without it the snowblower is useless. Worker at Lowe's told me his plastic chute broke ( not same machine but I believe it's inherent in plastic) after about 4 years use. I'd buy a spare chute and have it on hand.

- If you are tall ( probably 6' 2" or above) ….some machines have low, unadjustable handles. You will be muscling the machine around at the street when turning snowblower around. The low handles will cause you to have to bend to do this and the machines are heavy. Very easy to strain your back. Get one with tall enough handles so you won't have to bend.

Brought a few years back. Very disappointing.

Plastic chute is not a concern.. it's been standard for troybilt and many craftsman for years.
I will caution people if you don't know how to fix stuff like this yourself talk to the repair shop you use before buying one ..
I do that work for a living...while it looks like a Loncin engine, parts and parts information is usually non existent from companies like this.
It's made in China and sold at a very low price point by a big box store.
We get and turn away several "no idea who made it" mowers, generators, and snowblowers every year.