renegade snow blower

[Malibu 496]

I am looking at buying a new tractor, and want a rear mount blower for it. The dealer is wanting to sell me a 66" renegade blower for $2000. Are these decent blowers, or do you think I should pass on it and find something else?

Thanks

 

[IH3444]

http://www.walcoequipment.com/file/s-1- snow blowers and pusher_renegade.pdf

 

[NHbotanut]

Haven't heard of them but looking at the brochure, they look pretty stout. Looks just about he same design as my JRW which was also made in Canada. I'd say go for it.

 

[DABSGT]

I have never heard of that brand, last year I picked up a 66 inch Woodmaxx rear blower heavy duty works great. Best Wood Chippers Shredder | Wood Chipper.

 

[rbargeron]

There have been quite a few snowblower brands over the years - never heard of a bad one.

Anderson, Agro Trend, AgPlus, Allied, Buhler, BerVac, Badger, Coop, Couture, Detson, Erskine, Farm King, Ford, George White, Hagedorn, Husky, IFE, Inland, International, JRW, John Deere, kubota, Lorenz, LuckNow, Lull, MFD, McKee, Meteor, New Idea, Normand, New Holland, Poulan, Pronovost, RAD, Renegade, Roberge, Steiner, Smyth, Schulte, Sittler, SnowMachines, Woodmaxx, Woods, Walco,

And several more I'm sure. Snowblowers are simple - they don't get used very many actual hours so they tend to last a long time. Even an old rusty one may work just fine if the gearbox and bearings are ok. Sometimes you can find a heavily-built older one really cheap that will last many winters.

6-foot and bigger rear mounts are so big they need to be stiff and rugged just to function right. They have to be made stronger than the smaller ones - hence their long life.

 

[PILOON]

On a used blower the gearbox would be the biggest expense in an overhaul situation.

Basically everything else (bearings, chains shafts and joints are common 'off the shelf' components).
That is naturally if there has not been a major 'collision' sort of mishap.

We recently OH'd a 7' Pronovost; changing all bearings, chain etc. The biggest cost was to sand blast it totally and re paint.
Chain, bolts and bearings were less than $100. and it looks and spins like new but considering a replacement was up in the $5K range it is a good deal and will go another 8 years. We still need to renew the skids or maybe simply reface them.

From personal experience I will attest that a blasted , primed and re painted blower will out last a factory paint job, at least in the looks department.
My blower cost me $400 about 8 yrs ago and I did total teardown, blasted, primed & repainted and changed all bearings and today is is as good as new and still looks it too. (and it is the lighter duty BerVac model.) Oil, grease and proper grade of sheer pins is the trick. Also I touch up the finish when I put it away in the spring B4 rust attacks.(ice and snow won't make rust, water does)

 

[rbargeron]

On a used blower the gearbox would be the biggest expense in an overhaul situation.........

That's true - bit it is rare that the gearbox needs work - even on quite old machines. It has an easy life as ag equipment goes. They often get their worst beating when trying to take off a long-rusted impeller.