[ggsteve]

I want to give Sears credit where credit is due. This Snapper 27" walk-behind snowthrower sure looks like a quality weapon for the money. Powerful engine, electric 4-way chute control, heated handgrips, dual headlights, all steel. If I had to quibble it would be the three paddle impeller.

Here's the link:
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_07188768000P?prdNo=10&blockNo=10&blockType=G10

I would be very interested in this unit if I hadn't found a great deal on a used Ariens this summer.

Also, look what's on the Sears webpage for 3PH blowers. Did Sears buy Northern Tool?:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_SPA5772S1276126601P?prdNo=20&blockNo=20&blockType=G20

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_SPA5772S1319798701P?prdNo=17&blockNo=17&blockType=G17

And finally Sears has this new snowthrower for the $6000 tractor. Looks to be made by Berco, and if you look close, you can see that it looks like a mock-up, quickly welded together and spray painted:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_07164428000P?prdNo=15&blockNo=15&blockType=G15

And a cab for it:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_07164476000P?prdNo=6&blockNo=6&blockType=G6

 

[PA318Guy]

No idea if they got Northern or not, but they've come out in a big way this year with some decent tractor offerings so maybe they've decided to be serious about this end of their business!

 

[JMoe]

Not a bad looking mo-sheen. There's a LOT of choices in the $1000 segment though. IMO, if I was going to spend a grand or more, it would have to be one of the big name brands like Ariens, Toro, etc..

Joel

 

[rscurtis]

Check very carefully, that could be a revived Murray in Snapper clothing. If you want a real Snapper, find one of their Simplicity built machines from about 2005-07, or go back to an original Snapper unit, they were virtually unchanged from the early eighties. I was a Snapper dealer for many years and either of those is a good choice- well built and as simple as can be, unlike some of Toro's latest iterations. This advertised unit is Snapper's attempt at going "down market", along with some of their latest mowers which are a disgrace to the name.

 

[Don B.]

I used to work for Sears; I have alot of sears stuff around, bought from garage sales, CL, auctions etc and because of "how" my employment ended in 12/2001 I have not spent a dime in a Sears store since. I just got a deal on a 2 yo "green and yellow" model 828D 2 stage w/locking diff, spotlight, and more grease fittings than I've ever seen on a walk behind snowblower before.

 

[C2H8O]

That Sears looks impressive. I am surprised to see electric spout controls on a $1000 machine.

And finally Sears has this new snowthrower for the $6000 tractor. Looks to be made by Berco, and if you look close, you can see that it looks like a mock-up, quickly welded together and spray painted:

Naah, they ARE thrown together and spray painted. I have seen the front-end stuff for their tractors and I am not impressed.

 

[cosmo74]

Check very carefully, that could be a revived Murray in Snapper clothing. If you want a real Snapper, find one of their Simplicity built machines from about 2005-07, or go back to an original Snapper unit, they were virtually unchanged from the early eighties. I was a Snapper dealer for many years and either of those is a good choice- well built and as simple as can be, unlike some of Toro's latest iterations. This advertised unit is Snapper's attempt at going "down market", along with some of their latest mowers which are a disgrace to the name.

it's not a rebage murry it's the real deal execpt it has a briggs engine in it instead of a kohler

 

[ggsteve]

Naah, they ARE thrown together and spray painted. I have seen the front-end stuff for their tractors and I am not impressed.

Don't confuse this front mount snowthrower with the Agrifab used on the lesser Sears tractors in the US. I do not wish to disparage the Agrifab thrower, a number of our members here have them and report that they perform well. However, I believe the Bercomac built units are on a different plane of existence and I feel lucky to have one. If you look at throwers from many respected brands like Kubota and New Holland, you will see that they often are manufactured by Berco and rebranded. Even our neighbors to the North shopping at Sears Canada get Berco-made throwers. I hope in the future Sears starts marketing them down here, although I doubt mine will ever fail, thus eliminating the need for a new one!

 

[nobog]

Very close to a Snapper M1227.

See my review at:

http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?t=121935

happy shopping!

 

[ggsteve]

Very close to a Snapper M1227.

See my review at:

http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?t=121935

happy shopping!

Yes, it looks just like it except for the electric vs. manual chute deflector.

 

[Snotrocket]

I could never see myself dropping $1000 on a walk behind snowblower.

For $1000 you can buy a yard plow truck and ride around with the heat on. :trink40:

 

[ggsteve]

I was just at Lowes to see if I could pick up an end of season sale on a push mower (they had almost none left, the economy must be improving). While I was there I checked out the John Deere snow blowers. The 28" JD is very similar to this Snapper except it doesn't have the electric chute deflector and it does have a cast iron auger gear case. The Deere is selling for $1299, don't know if the gear box and green paint is worth $300.

I also checked out the 30" Poulan Pro that Sam's Club is selling for $899. It's been improved since last year but I'm still not impressed. Tiny gear case, less than robust impeller, small chute for a 30" blower, lots of plastic, and the oil plug drains right out over the right axle.

 

[pepilapeau]

Nice looking machine but I prefer used machines. I picked up a 28" 9hp big wheel craftsman blower last year for $150 put $100 into it and the thing is unstopable. I just can't justify spending $1000 plus on something that you can get used for less than half the price.

 

[ggsteve]

Nice looking machine but I prefer used machines. I picked up a 28" 9hp big wheel craftsman blower last year for $150 put $100 into it and the thing is unstopable. I just can't justify spending $1000 plus on something that you can get used for less than half the price.

Yeah, patience pays off. I got an Ariens 1128 in very good shape for less than half price, but it took a couple years to find the deal, and be the first one in line to call! I'll get a JD 318 that way someday too!

 

[JMoe]

I was just at Lowes... While I was there I checked out the John Deere snow blowers. The 28" JD is very similar to this Snapper except it doesn't have the electric chute deflector and it does have a cast iron auger gear case...

Exactly. Like rscurtis said earlier in this thread, this particular Snapper, the John Deere and many others are indeed built on this same EXACT Murray platform. Briggs (or MTD??) now owns Murray, so you could say it's a Briggs built unit. Snapper (and many others) don't make thier own snowblowers. Simplicity large frames are unique to Simplicity (if they still make'em). The orange Ariens are all Ariens, the higher end Toros are all Toro and Honda makes Honda. MTD and 'Murray' make and rebadge all the rest.

Joel

 

[rscurtis]

it's not a rebage murry it's the real deal execpt it has a briggs engine in it instead of a kohler

I've never seen a snowblower with a Kohler engine. If you move up to the next model, a 305CC 28" machine, you're getting into real territory. It's $300 for one more inch but that's a Simplicity built machine.

 

[jesemd]

I am in the market for a snowthrower and this Snapper and the Murray also on their site have been driving me crazy all day. The sale price ends tonight so I need to decide quickly...

Murray: http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_07188965000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2

I know that the Snapper, Simplicity and JDs are all built by Murray/Briggs using the Murray style drivetrain and some slight overall differences. I understand the Murrays were the same units, with the old NOMA style auger housing.

The overall design cant be that bad or JD and Simplicity wouldnt put their name on it. If JD didnt care I'm sure they could buy MTDs even cheaper.:hide:

So, are the Murrays really that bad? Does anyone actually have one?

Thanks