"Ed Pawlowski" wrote in message
news

"Worn Out Retread" wrote in message

My old machine was a 26 inch with an 8 HP Tecumseh engine. It was barely
adequate in heavy snow especially where the snow plough has filled in the
end of the driveway. I don't want to repeat the experience.

More power may not always be the answer though. If you put a 20 HP engine
on that machine, would it blow the packed snow or would it just break the
shear pin, bend the auger and damage other parts? You may be asking the
machine to do more than it is designed to do, no matter the engine size.

I certainly can't say because I did not see or feel the snow you had. My
small machine takes a while with it though, you just have to take small
bites.
10 and 12 HP machines were handling the same amount of the same type of snow
quite well without overworking the machines. I know very well about taking
small amounts but when you are trying to move snow from the foot of the
drive that is 4 to 5 feet high, even small bites takes a lot of power.
Having used snow blowers for about 40 years, I think that I have some idea
on how to handle them and what to expect of them.

I just don't want to buy a pony when a real horse is what I need.