Customer Reviews

Powerland PDST24 24-Inch 196cc 6.5 HP OHV Gas Powered Two Stage Self Propelled Snow Thrower With Electric Start (CARB Compliant)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(25)

 

 

If you look at the three dates for the reviews of this item that appear prior to this one you will note that they were made in the late summer or early fall. *Before* the first snowfall.

I bought this machine last year from a warehouse club that has a "no questions asked" return policy. It was terrific and easy to set up and looked great in my garage until the first snowfall.

The first time I took it out it worked great for almost the entire first driveway then the belt slipped off. It took me about 90 minutes to figure out how to get it to go back on. It really takes 2 people to fix. The next time I took it out, it happened again. I was able to fix it faster, but it was the same problem. This is not a fun thing to have to work on when you need to be shoveling snow so you can make it to work on time. The second time it happened I was really careful with repairing it. I made some adjustments and got the belt properly tight. Again the next time it slipped off. I took it back to the store and hired a guy to plow my drive the rest of the winter.

I got a real good look at the machine while I was fixing it and I'm not impressed. There is nothing there that speaks to quality craftsmanship, but an awful lot that says "slapped together with the cheapest parts that fit".

Buyer beware!

This snow blower is junk. The cables to engage drive and auger stretched out the first season. No way to adjust them so I had to cut them then install a cable tightener. What a headache. Then about 5 min into using the machine the snow and ice would melt down onto the throttle linkages freezing the governor wide open. If you continue to run machine it will blow the motor because it runs wide open with no governor. I shut off the machine then went in to get a hair dryer to thaw out throttle linkages/springs. This machine does not have a cover over the linkages like other brands of snow blowers. I used tin foil to cover the linkages. Primer button cracked into little pieces thus making cold start-ups impossible until I ordered a new one and replaced it. All this and less than 20 hrs of use. Bottom line don't buy. I will sell you this one for 200.00 it runs great! ha ha Only been used one season.

When it comes to buying snowblowers online, the "one click and you're done" concept definitely doesn't apply. What a mess: the freight company that handled the free super-saver shipping required me to take time off work to be home during business hours, the box arrived scraped, the instructions were idiotically in the bottom of the box underneath the 185-pound snowblower, following the very poorly presented instructions to put the handle in place draws the cables controlling the machine hopelessly taut, setting the stage for disaster. Because the cable controlling the gear shift was so taut, the machine initially started up in like 6th gear and pulled me across the sidewalk at approximately 50 miles per hour until I pulled out the key, not an optimal way to remove snow.

The instructions state they are for this same exact model (the PDST24), but they're not. The chute assembly (the thing that spews out the snow) has, according to the instructions, "flange keepers and a hairpin clip," but it doesn't. The wrench they sent doesn't fit all the bolts, you need your own wrenches. The instructions do not clearly identify or explain how to set the choke control, the throttle control, the fuel valve lever, the engine switch (which you set to the left if you want the engine to start), or the key. With further guidance from the weird 5-page addendum entitled "Snow Thrower Assembly Manual," which uses a combination of puzzling pictures and cryptic directives like "Start the engine, adjust the Right Wheel Supporting upward or downward, to make the Unit move immediately when the Right Handle Control is engaged, and stop moving immediately after disengaged; tighten the hex flange bolt after adjustment," nobody is probably going to figure out how to operate this snowblower anytime soon by reading the instructions.

I never used this machine to remove a single flake of snow, so I can't say how it holds up over time. When I showed the machine to a neighbor, it wouldn't start. Ignoring the instructions completely, we got it started (I think we pushed every switch to the left), and I sold the machine to him, with the cable problems disclosed, for $225, just to be rid of it.

I ordered this snow blower from BJ's a few weeks before Christmas and before a lot of the bad reviews on here were written. All I can say is I've had no issues at all yet. After placing the order I received a call from customer service saying my machine was being sent and to inspect the package when delivered and if there was any damage to decline delivery and they'd send out a new one. About a week later the shipping company called and scheduled a delivery time. They were on time and the box was fine.

I can see how someone not mechanically inclined might be a little confused when opening the box. You have to lift the entire handle assembly and screw it into place -be careful the cables can get caught around the two screws on either side but its pretty obvious. To mount the lever that operates the shoot you have to take off and then put on a o-ring. Just use a pair of needle nose pliers and put each end in the holes on the o-ring and your set-no need to be Macgyver. For the oil fill up be aware there are two screw off openings on each side-just pick one and slowly with a funnel start adding a little oil at a time..check the level..add a little and do this until it's just about touching the top and your done. Again not brain surgery. Ok now for the hard part starting her up. I use the electric start so plug the cord into the machine and then an outlet. Fill her with gas- I used 87, put the gas lever all the way to the right so that it's completely open. Move the choke about a third of the way to the right. Move the red lever all the way to the left where the rabbit running is. Make sure the key is in the ignition (I have never removed it) , pump the red button three to four times and then just press the starter button....she has started 20 times on me on the first push. Now let her run for a minute or two and gradually move that choke lever all the way to the right and now your ready to move snow.

It takes an hour or so to master but soon you will look like you've been doing this for years. Start off on 1 and hold the right lever down to get her moving and the left to operate the auger- oh forgot to tell you make sure you liberally apply a nice grease to all the moving points for the chute..once you do this she will move like butter and your will love it.

And really that's it for me so far. I live in jersey and we just got hit with 25 inches. She got my entire property done in a hr and it would have taken me 5 with a shovel. She cut right through it with no issues, never had to unclog the shoot once,no belt came over...she worked flawlessly. Went out the next day with the same result, and the next..machine works very well. I love that the chute is metal and not plastic like almost all the others at this price point. I think eventually those plastic chutes will break. I just went out and did some pretty icy mess and no problem. If I run into any issues or if the belt starts slipping off like it seems to have for a lot of people then I'll update this post but right now I have to give her 5 stars...

Only used 3 times, The Augers do not turn, the Belt is coming through the casing & as a result is unable to start. The Arm to turn the snow blower chute was welded on and it separated & is now unable to move snow chute. I took it to a local snow blower shop and they said that they had never heard of the brand other than another machine that had been brought into the shop in a similar condition, also purchased from Amazon.

Powerland PDST24 24-Inch 196cc 6.5 HP OHV Gas Powered Two Stage Self Propelled Snow Thrower With Electric Start (CARB Compliant)Powerland PDST24 24-Inch 196cc 6.5 HP OHV Gas Powered Two Stage Self Propelled Snow Thrower With Electric Start (CARB Compliant)

Ibought this snow blower in 11/2010 i used it on three storms and it broke on all 3 storms,the first time was the fly wheel got a new one the second and third time the belt kept comming off after that i replaced the belt and tightened it used again and the belt broke and slipped again after that putting back together and another part broke called the dealer would not do anything got it from overstock they stated send back to them at my cost and they would see how nuch it was worth and send us what they thought it was worth.it is a piece of crap not worth anything.do not buy this item or any from powerland they do not stand by there product.

This item broke it's second time out. Won't bother with all the gory details which you can get on other reviews. Can't ship it back to Amazon because of hazardous materials. They said to contact Powerland. Powerland won't take it back because they didn't sell it. The sole recourse is to take it to an approved service place and Powerland will send them the necessary parts under the warranty. Labor cost is on us. Went to the Costco site and read the reviews. I see Costco no longer sells this piece of crap.

Part two-- After filing a complaint on Amazon's website, my wife just heard from Amazon. We are getting a full refund. We don't have to get it back to them. The guy from Amazon suggested we donate it to a high school shop class to give the kids something to practice on. Will do!

Used the snow blower 5 times, and had to repair it 4 of the 5 times. It is not worth the time and money, next time I will buy a craftmans

I bought this just before the last snow storm. I read all the terrible reviews but still bought it hoping everyone was wrong. I should have listened!!! First of all, it was delivered without oil. OK...so I bought the oil. Then....the assembly. Who wrote those direction??? They must have been translated by an non-english speaking translator. I tried using the blower. Had a terrible time starting it, finally used the electric start. The chute control was horrible...very jerky and rattled a lot. The drive wheels didn't work well so I attempted to adjust the skid shoes. So after the nightmare (4 hour) assembly ( and understand, I am really good at assembling these things) while adjusting them, 3 of 4 bolts came off easily...the 4th was faulty and took 2 hours to remove. I almost used a hack saw to take it off. So now I have to replace the faulty bolt. Did you ever feel you bought a lemon? And guess what?? It CANNOT be returned. After all this....a friend of mine offered me a Troy snowblower for free. He bought it 2 years ago and now hires someone to clear his driveway. Over $600.00 dollars down the drain. Listen....this snowblower is an expensive piece of junk. Don't make the same mistake I did. I wish I would have listened to the reviews of others. If you don't want to listen...I'll sell you mine.

We received the snow blower with a flat tire. When we tried to pump air into it, the tire is not correctly sealed to the rim and the air seeps right out. I contacted Amazon and they gave me the contact # for Powerland. We called several times and left messages. We have not received a phone call. The snow blower is not usable at this point.