Braber Agriease pto snowblower quality

   / Braber Agriease pto snowblower quality #1  

winddance

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Jun 14, 2004
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Has anyone owned one of these? I am looking at the 50" rear pto blower for $1199 at NorthernTool. Is it a quality attachment, or is it a piece of crap? How does it compare to other low cost units like the Meteor? Thanks!
 
   / Braber Agriease pto snowblower quality #2  
Has anyone owned one of these? I am looking at the 50" rear pto blower for $1199 at NorthernTool. Is it a quality attachment, or is it a piece of crap? How does it compare to other low cost units like the Meteor? Thanks!

I'm also interested!
 
   / Braber Agriease pto snowblower quality #3  
This brand of machinery is made in China. We've had problems with quality control...some are OK, others have poor welding, frame alignments, etc.
 
   / Braber Agriease pto snowblower quality #4  
What a shame. It would be really nice to find a no-frills blower for this price that was not junk. Here in Nebraska, new 72" typically sell for around $5k. Used is about half that.
 
   / Braber Agriease pto snowblower quality #5  
If you buy a 48 inch Pronovost PUMA rear mount in group 1 or 2 it will outlast your tractor.


The chinese flailmowers they are selling are very poor in quality and I would not buy one.
 
   / Braber Agriease pto snowblower quality #6  
Has anyone owned one of these? I am looking at the 50" rear pto blower for $1199 at NorthernTool. Is it a quality attachment, or is it a piece of crap? How does it compare to other low cost units like the Meteor? Thanks!

Try your nearest John Deere dealer and inquire about a Frontier snowblower. Comes in a 48" or 54".

I bought a 64" at my JD dealer and the price cam in at $100 less than a Martin Meteor.

I would guess the Frontier 48 or 54 would come in at $2000 or less, a good quality unit.
 
   / Braber Agriease pto snowblower quality #7  
Well... I figured I have wasted more money on things over the years and decided to buy one and see what it's like.

Here is the review I posted on Northern Tool's website...

"I normally do not have the time, or inclination, to write product reviews. I am so impressed, on so many levels, with this product, the manufacturer and Northern Tool, that I felt I should let others know about my buying experience.

I must admit, I was very skeptical of a 72" snow blower that sells for about half of comparable units. I did research on Braber Equipment and had some questions for them before buying the Agriease blower. The customer support folks at Northern Tool were great about putting me in touch with the right person at Braber. He was able to answer my questions about quality, pricing and parts availability. I felt so comfortable with his replies that I immediately placed one on order.

Mine arrived considerably sooner than I expected, which was a pleasant surprise. As with any 700lb item that is shipped, there is always the chance of freight damage and my new snow blower did have some minor damage. The Northern Tool customer service reps were very responsive and gave me instructions on how to handle it. The folks at Braber had a part ready to ship immediately, so I could not have asked for it to be resolved any faster.

Upon arrival, I honestly expected to see a snow blower that resembled a high-school metal shop project. What I received was a well-constructed piece of equipment that will still be working long after I am gone :) The fit and finish is the same as what I see on other brands sitting on implement dealer lots.

Bottom line, if you are looking for a solid snow blower at an incredible price, do not hesitate to buy the Agriease."
 
   / Braber Agriease pto snowblower quality #8  
I don't know why anyone would even consider chinese tools, tractors or attachments.
It all SUCKS.
Electronics is one thing, but when you buy a tool, attachment, tractor, etc. and you don't have the money for a new brand name piece, just buy a used quality name piece. It will still outlast Chinese junk.

One of the only Chinese tools I owned was a bench vice I bought a Sam's Club. One day I was pounding on a mower blade on the "anvil" that was part of the vice. I swung and hit the blade, cracking the anvil. Upon closer inspection, it was filled with BODY PUTTY! LOL
 
   / Braber Agriease pto snowblower quality #9  
All very good points. However, after looking at the basic mechanics of snow blowers, I concluded it's not rocket science and if something broke or was not made of heavy enough material, it would not take much to fix or upgrade the unit.

I agree with you, something like a tractor would scare me. But something with so few moving parts did not concern me. I have a good friend who has worked at the local New Holland dealer for many years. He came out and helped me get it off the pallet, tighten bolts and fill the gear box. He said this unit is every bit as stout as the ones they sell at the dealership. He also said the unit is actually a little heavier than the 72" unit they sell.

Again, thanks for the comments, all very good points.

Builder, you have a great Christmas.
 
   / Braber Agriease pto snowblower quality #10  
Upon arrival, I honestly expected to see a snow blower that resembled a high-school metal shop project.

I've been down the Chinese Highway with stuff both big and small. With rare exceptions there are serious flaws that are not immediately noticeable. Poor quality bearings, crap chain, cracked welds covered with paint, non-visible shaft misalignment, butter bolts etc. etc. are all problems I hope you don't end up with on your machinery.

I truly hope you don't find it necessary to revise your review, after some hard use on the unit.

Quality problems are much too frequent on a wide range of manufactured goods. Both zerk fittings on my new Bush Hog Brand rotary mower tail wheel refused to take grease until I removed them, cleaned up the holes and installed better quality fittings. One of the fittings was drilled and tapped at a 60 degree angle to the face of the tube! Chinese wheel assembly....who knows these days?

That said, I did get a deal on several pallets of Chinese Toothpaste and used it to fill my rears. With the Propylene Glycol sweetener, it will never freeze!:D
 
 
 
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