Powersmart 21 inch Single Stage 196CC Gas Snow Blower,PSS1210M

I was a little hesitant when I was given this PowerSmart Single Stage 21-inch Gas Snow Blower to review as part of the Spark Reviewer Program. I live in Northern Wisconsin, and we have already had over 30" of snow this year. Most people up here use a two-stage snow blower, as it supposedly has more power to break up the wet snow and ice. When this snow blower came, it took my son and myself close to two hours to put it together. The snow blower did not have any oil or gas in it (due to shipping). We had to go out and purchase a special oil for this snow blower. We were thrilled with the idea of having a second snow blower, as the big two-stage blower always seems to need some work...which is not unusual when you live up here. I knew that the single stage snow blower was supposedly more effective on dry, powdery snow rather than wet snow and ice. This snow blower has a recoil pull-start, which my son had me try out the first time to see if I could handle it. No problem. It started up on the second pull! When I started it, the snow blower jumped a little, as it has a more compact design than the big two-stage snow blower. This snow blower has a 21" intake and is designed to handle snow up to 13" deep...shooting it out up to 30 feet away! It also has a rust-proof exterior, which was great because we use a lot of salt up here. This snow blower was amazingly effective for a compact design snow blower. My son commented about the rubber impeller rather than the metal blades of the two-stage snow blower. Fear not....This little snow blower was capable of getting through all the snow in the driveway. The only place where we had any difficulty at all was at the foot of the driveway, where the city plows all the hard packed-down snow and ice from the street. To be honest though, the big two-stage snow blower cannot handle all that snow and ice either. We always end up doing some hand shoveling in that location. I was amazed at the features and power of this PowerSmart Single Stage Snow Blower. I would not have any reservations with recommending it to anyone.

This snowblower came almost already put together. The remaining parts that I had to put on were very easy to do. Its a good size but not too heavy to where I couldn't push it. There was no problem with picking up the snow and blowing it away but I did have a hard time moving the blower piece to another direction but I'm not sure if its supposed to be this way or will loosen up over time. Anyway, it's a keeper and would also make a great gift.

I found the PowerSmart snowblower to have many pros and very few cons. The snowblower arrived well packaged, and 99% assembled. Easy to assemble, except for the fact that the tension cable which engages the auger wasn't connected inside the snowblower. A side cover was removed to install it — some metric tools required for assembly. Assembly should have been to only secure the handle to the machine using no tools of any kind. My situation with the cable would be a fluke. This lightweight model would be easy for nearly any age to maneuver and navigate. The pros include easy one start pull. Simple to understand choke, gas, and running operations. The snow chute has the ability to turn smoothly to 180°, and the top of the chute can control how high or low the snow is thrown. Not having to mix oil and gas is a huge plus. The snowblower is indeed more compact and won't hog all your garage space. I would recommend using this snowblower on fresh snow as it doesn't do well on old icy blocks and chunks of snow. This is a while the snow is falling, and just as it ends, type of snowblower. The cons would be the exhaust will blow directly on to you making your winter coat, hair, and all clothing reek of exhaust. You'll want old clothing if you don't want to stink or have your closets stink. I found the location of the start pull cord a bit awkward, although it does always start on the first pull. The fuel tank is quite small, making it easy to overfill, so you'll want to fill it outside to prevent a mess in your garage. Fuel tank cap has a vent hole in it, and it purges fuel. I advise leaving a bit of room to avoid the purging onto your garage floor if you have a garage you like to keep clean. I have never owned a snowblower in the past due to the weight of the machines, the mixing of gas and oil, and the massive storage. Owning this snowblower gets rid of all the reasons one may not have owned a snowblower in the past. I live in Minnesota and know what winter means and what is needed for equipment. I highly recommend this unit, and the best advice for using the snowblower is to get the snow while it is fresh and not days old iced-over snow. The snowblower is not self-propelled, making it another reason to use while snow is falling or fresh.

This is a single stage, 4 cycle snow blower. "Single stage" means the spinning auger gathers up the snow and blows out of the discharge chute in one action. It is less powerful than a 2-stage blower, but is perfect for area with only moderate amount of snow. "4 cycle engine" means the oil and gas are in separate compartments (i.e. you don't add oil in the gas). It is easier to start than the "2 cycle engine". The blower came in a box with a few small tools. Only minor assembly is needed to set it up. This includes installation of the two wheels, discharge chute and the upper handle. The manual is easy to follow. The engine has a primer bulb and choke lever, making it to start easily. Since there is yet any snowfall in my area so far, I don't know how well the blower can clear the snow especially the wet ones. I hope I can update my review later.

First off let me say that I have not had the opportunity to see how this machine fairs in the Snow, as we have not had a snow event since it arrived. This is a review of the build of the machine only. This Snow Blower has an excellent motor to power it, which is very compact. The body is made of high impact Plastic that I like rather than Metal that tends to rust and corrodes. This has all of the needed safety mechanisms for safe operation. It does not come filled with oil and you will need to purchase 5-30 W oil to fill the crankcase. Assembly will take a little bit of time as in my case I needed to remove one side panel to attach the tension spring which took a bit of time. Filling the oil can be a bit cumbersome but doable as they included a funnel to make it easier and cleaner. It is rather lightweight for a snowblower which is wonderful for getting it in and out of the house. My only complaint is that the Snow shute is supposed to rotate so you can change the direction of the snow discharge but the machine that I got, it can not be rotated, it stays in a fixed position. If you need a Gas powered Snowblower and you do not want a MONSTER of a machine I feel that this would be an excellent choice.

The blower came tonight; the box is very heavy so might need an extra set of hands to help move it. I'm not great with gas powered engines but I was happy to see there is a oil hole and gas hole, so no mixing. You start it with a pull string. I really wished it had an electric start but not this time I guess. Some assembly is required and they include a wrench and screw driver along with a small funnel for the oil I think. You need to put the wheels one, Install the upper handle and the chute. Add oil and gas and your ready to plow some snow. Well shoot I put the whole thing together and didn't find a use for the tools that came with it so I'm at a loss as to what they are for. We don't actually have any snow to plow right now but in South Dakota a foot or two of snow is right around the corner so I will really love having a strong machine to help me out. I currently have a battery powered snow blower that I just love. It isn't a power house but has moved a lot of snow for me. This machine is larger than my current model so it has a wider clearing path at 21" wide. This makes a huge difference because you can get a lot more done a lot faster and it can tackle about 12.5” high snow banks. I'm happy that the auger is rubber. It really grips the ground and doesn't leave much snow like some others that have a hard plastic auger. The machine is made very solid and the plastic parts are very thick high grade plastic. I think that the choke switch is in a bad spot, it's almost hidden under the center back of the unit, with a tiny sticker to tell you which way to set it, I had to get on the floor to read it. To start it you have to make sure the plastic key is pushed in (an extra key is included). There is no twisting like a real key it's just push in to unlock/start and pull the key out to stop. Press the bulb a few times to prime the engine and pull the string and it starts right up. I was a little disappointed that to turn the chute, you have to manually lean down and reach for a handle to twist it. My current machine has an electric switch on the handle that you hold to move the chute. I like that better. I am happy with this blower. I know it's going to be reliable and last as long time.

I would give it a 5 star if the manual was a bit better. It's only a few nuts and bolts that you need to put-on to complete the installation. You will need a 13mm wrench or a socket for the installation. Oil is not included, which is not a surprise, but 5W-30 is easy to buy at any auto parts store. Assembly was easy, I was able to put it together in about 10-15 minutes max. I added oil and filled enough gas to test it. It started after 3rd or 4th pull, so no issues there. Auger came on when I pulled the bar. All good so far. Seems well built. The manual is very basic, not that detailed. Parts list is provided, you may have to search for replacement parts online. I got it for under 200 tax, which I consider it to be a great value. I am in NJ and we do not have any snow right-now in April, so will have to wait until winter to test it out. I have no doubt that it will work. I do my own maintenance as much as possible, and will do my best with the hope to keep this running for several years.

This snow blower does not allow you to push it with out hitting cement, therefore making it very hard to use. The blade or something is way too low to the ground. There is no way to adjust it at all. I shouldn't have to struggle or lift it to try to operate it. Its a struggle. It's should operate smoothly and it doesn't. Plan on sending it back.

i really cannot comment on the quality, as i do not have the order yet. There has not been any communication as to why the order is delayed. I was told on 1/10 in the morning, FedEx would deliver my order between 10-2, and it was out for delivery. That was not true. I even mentioned going to the FedEx Ground location in Lebanon Ohio and picking it up...

The machine 22 inch gas snow blower has a vertical scraper that makes it impossible to push snowblower on level ground. You have to raise it an inch or two off surface making it impossible to remove snow off my driveway without doing so. Is there a modification?