Customer Reviews

Yard Machines 31C-040-800 Snow Fox 12.5-Inch 8.5 Amp Electric Snow Thrower

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(32)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

I just cleared 14" of snow off my driveway and used nothing but this machine. It is fabulous. I know the manual says it can handle up to 6" of snow but believe me this thing handled this last snowstorm without any trouble. Granted I only took 1/2 swaths but still it handled it beautifully. It even handled the stuff that got plowed into the end of my driveway from the road. This Snowfox really does shoot the snow at least 25 feet except when you have the chute turned left or right, then it shoots about 5-8' tops.
I would highly recommend this machine for anyone.

I have a short driveway and about 60 feet of sidewalk, so i couldn't justify spending $600 or more on a gas-driven beast of a snowblower. I got this machine after our first snow in late December. Since the east coast has been hogging all the snow this winter, I hadn't had a chance to use it here in South Dakota (usually the harsh winter capital of the nation) until mid-February. Now that I have, though, I'm very pleased.

As mentioned by others, throwing snow to the side only moves it about six feet. This worked fine for my sidewalks (the 12-inch cut let me get the whole sidewalk in three furrows, which took about five minutes).

A pointer for anyone clearing a small amount of snow: I worked out a decent system for the driveway where i start down the middle and throw snow a few feet to each side as I work my way to the edges. By the time I get to the edges, I'm throwing the accumulated pile off onto the grass. This clears the driveway rather well, though obviously it wouldn't be as useful in 20 to 30 inches of snow as some other people have seen this winter.

Power cord management is the only real downside to this device. I find myself spending a pretty good amount of time tossing the cord out of my way as i go and down the driveway. It's a minor annoyance that i still hope to find a solution for.

In all, i can now clear my drive and sidewalk in 20 minutes or so rather than the 45 to 60 minutes it took me by shovel. it also fits neatly in my crowded garage. A great little product.

I bought this back in Aug 2004 and it patiently waited in my garage... today, in the northeast, we are getting 20" or so... I didn't wait - when 6" was on the ground I went out and used this machine for the first time. I figured out within 10 mins that if you want the machine to throw the snow anywhere the blades need to be aimed straight ahead, when you adjust it left or right it really cuts down on the distance... that being said, I decided to use this machine side to side on my driveway... because when I was in the middle using the left or right angle, it couldn't get the snow passed the driveway and onto the grass area. But, when it is aimed straight ahead - no problems! Works pretty well.

Purchased through Amazon several seasons ago. Pretty much meets the manufacturer's claims regarding performance. Gave it away when we left snow country. Our needs are different now that we're back in snow country, so I purchased a Toro 1800 Power Curve. Several observations on the Snow Fox:

-Throws snow a HUGE distance when blowing straight ahead. However, will barely move snow out of the way when discharging to left or right.
-Light and maneuverable, handles make it easy to pick-up to clear steps and such
-Like all throwers where the scraper is designed to always contact the ground, this model does not like uneven surfaces such as tilted concrete slabs or gravel. It will catch on the edges and stop moving forward or the impeller will strike the ground.
-Managed to crack the impeller by striking a stone or something and jamming it against the housing. Crack did not reduce performance and made machine look more menacing.
-Unit shipped fully assembled. Plusses and minuses here ... sure you don't have to put it together, but the carton is huge and light and poorly braced inside. My carton arrived crushed. Handles on thrower were bent, but straightened easily when I took 'em across my knee.
-Hangs on the pegboard nicely out of the way.
-Due to resistance losses you are limited to 150 feet of power cord length.

Finally, remember the old adage ... 'When all else fails, read the instructions'

Gary

I purchased the MTD Snowfox for light amounts of snow. It works well handling several inches of snow. I have owned it for one season, and had to order parts from MTD Parts Direct - a new "scraper bar" $24, and new "auger" $46, and $15 for shipping.

Expect to order a replacement scraper bar rather soon as the soft plastic wears down easily on cement. The unit will begin to leave a thin layer of snow as it passes over the ground. If you let this go too long, you will wear down the auger as well, limiting effective snowthrowing and causing vibration. It will take about 1/2 hour and basic tools to replace both.

I bought the Yard-Man version of this machine. Not much different except the labeling. I've used it in three separate snowfalls this year and I am a satisfied customer. Most of the reviews I have seen here have been positive and I generally agree with what they say. Some have been negative and I will address some of their points:

1. The choice for most people is between a $600 gas-powered snow thrower that they will use two or three times a year and a $160 electric snow thrower (I actually bought mine from the factory for $140) that they also will use two or three times a year. So if you fault the machine for not being as brawny as a gas-powered thrower you must credit it for being a relatively inexpensive alternative to a tool of only occasional value.

2. The need to replace scrapers and augers, based on my experience, comes from improper use of the machine. If you hold it too vertical, the scraper and auger will come in contact with the pavement. You can tell when you're doing that by the grinding noise it makes. That's why those pieces will wear. If you insist on scraping down to entirely bare pavement, that's what will happen with any snow thrower.

3. You do need to keep cord management in mind when you are operating the machine. Any run of cord longer than 200 feet is going to reduce power and using small-gauge cord will do the same. You need at least 14-gauge power cord. If you attach the cord according to directions, using the cord tether supplied with the machine, the cord will not drop off. You have to be careful not to run over the cord, because it will jam the auger. Just remember, when you have to stop to relocate the cord, that this little electric machine always will start the first time, every time.

4. It's indisputable that the Snow Fox throws snow to the side a far shorter distance than it throws directly ahead. The way to address this issue - if it's a problem for you - is to clear a driveway with diagonal cuts, so that snow you blow directly ahead of you is well away from the driveway. Trying to do it lengthwise on a driveway will mean you have to move the same snow more than once.

5. There's no question that using the Snow Fox is more time-consuming than using a 20-inch, gas-powered machine. However, because it's so light using it is not nearly as tiring as shoveling or pushing a heavy, gas-powered machine. Again, in most places (I'm in Indianapolis) you're only going to use it a few times a year. And please refer again to my points #1 and 3. In addition, it makes a lot less noise than the two-cycle engines of the gas-powered blowers.

This year, we had a 12-inch snowfall, which is rare. I wondered whether the Snow Fox would be up to the job. I found out, to my surprise, that by reducing the swath a little and by using the diagonal technique described above, it did a fine job. Took longer than it would have with my neighbor's big Toro, but it handled the task.

The next week, we had a four-inch snowfall that was right down Snow Fox Alley. I would bet that my little electric thrower did just as well as the big boy next door. And that was with an immediate start, a quiet motor and no two-cycle exhaust.

Hope those comments answer some criticism. If you have a snow-clearing rage of less than 200 feet, live in an area with less than two feet of snowfall a year and have no concerns about your masculine image, I say give the Snow Fox a try.

Perfect for a City Dweller or some one with a property that has
a Double Parking lot and 100 feet of three feet wide walks
this SNOW FOX does a Great Job!
The Snow Thrower was delivered in a Perfect Box.
I called MTD to order a spare scraper, they are really helpful.
So far we had 3 storms of under 6 inches snow.
This has paid for itself.

Shoots the snow about 50 feet away.
The neighbors are looking at this machine in amaze!

Lucky, I bought one before the nasty weather appeared.

Good Luck all you other Snow Fox owners!

I got this as a Christmas present and had my first opportunity to use it a few days ago. I have to say it does what it says it will. I cleared my entire driveway, front walk, and walk leading to my front porch in about 15 or 20 minutes. It does really throw the snow quite far when the chute is adjusted straight and not to the sides.

Our first winter snowfall of any note brought 4 inches of powder to our house. I'd bought the Snow Fox ahead of time just in case, and it works great for me.
The main problem for us is the driveway - 80ft long, 10ft wide and right down the side of the house. I can shovel the path in the front yard and the sidewalk, but it takes a good 90 minutes to get any serious snow off the driveway like that.
The Snow Fox does a great job for me. The blower chute has three directions. Left and right it throws about 8ft. Ahead it throws about 15ft. It's electric, so there's the potential hassle of the cable following behind you, but that also means it's pretty quiet. You can use this without waking up your neighbours. The cut width is about 13 inches and there is a little spillage either side when you use it, but nothing to worry about.
It took me about 20 minutes to clear our driveway of 4 inches of snow (remember about 800 sq. ft)
Because it's electric, the snow paddles don't quite reach the ground. Instead there's a blade type affair right at the bottom. To use the Snow Fox, you need to tip it slightly forward so the blade scrapes along the ground. When you get it, you might think the handle is way low, but once you lift it to a comfortable height, the amount of forward tip is perfect and it drives the little blade under the snow. This scoops the snow as you push forward and the paddles throw it out through the snow vanes.
This is probably not the snow-blower for large jobs, but it's quiet, and it works great for small driveways and paths.

I concur with the other reviewers about the shipping and handling. My Fox arrived in perfect condition but the box was totally hosed by the time it got to us.

We use our Snow Fox here in Breckenridge, Colorado. We don't have a lot to shovel, but due to our average snowfall, it still gets tiresome. Now, I look forward to shovelling.

I looked at the Toro, but opted to spend a little more for the MTD Snow Fox. I wish it had a little more powerful motor. The handle should be adjustable for people taller than Danny DeVito. I have to stoop to use it. Also, the low angle of the handle makes getting into tight places a challenge. That's my main disappointment, but it isn't anything that would discourage me from recommending it.

The Fox comes with a three position chute for directing the thrown snow. Here's where a more powerful motor would really improve the machine. In either of the angled positions (straight ahead, 45 degrees to the right or left) the snow dribbles out of the machine. This is inspite of the fact that in the straight position the snow shoots out 20 feet.

I took the cover off of mine and used my Dremel to add an extra position for the chutes. Now, my blower is a 5 position model. All I need now is to swap in a 5 hp motor (c;