On 11/26/2014 10:59 AM, Jeff Wisnia wrote:

I still own a 1964 Airens Sno-Throw which I believe was one of the
earliest self propelled snow blowers marketed to home owners. It still
starts up and runs great, and even has a 120 VAC electric starter on it
so I can start it in the garage and then run it out the door. I put
chains on the wheels so it can move up slippery slopes. About the only
repairs I've made to it were replacing a few belts and auger shear bolts
and welding some new pads on the front "skids".

I call it "The Widow Maker" because there are no safety features on it
I've found. If it is moving forward or backwards in gear and you let go
of the hand grips it just keeps on going.

I used it every winter on our 90 foot long sloping driveway until I
turned 76 years old and SWMBO made me stop using it after my feet
slipped while I was heading uphill on the driveway, I lost my grip on
the handles, fell down and watched the Airens keep going up the hill on
its own.

I scrambled off to the side and watched that Airens slowly turn around
and start back down the sloping driveway heading towards the spot where
I'd fallen. It finally stopped moving when it ran off the driveway and
onto the lawn. Watching that was enough to leave me shaking.

That's when we signed up with a professional plowing service. I still
fire up the Airens once in a while if I need to neaten up the pavement
area in front of our garages, but I've sworn to SWMBO (and myself) that
I won't take it up the driveway again.

Jeff

There is a certain macabre "lost in space aliens
trying to kill the whole human race" kind of
humor to the situation. I'd guess that watching
your formerly docile snow blower chewing its way
across the lawn towards you does not seem humor
at the moment, any more than Jaws and the threat
of Ebola.

I'm with you, no sense risking injury.

--
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Christopher A. Young
Learn about Jesus
www.lds.org
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