Why do snowthrowers always break during big storms?

[dave54]

Not even after I was nearly done. Right as I first started on the 4 foot berm.

Had to do it all by hand (back, shoulders, arms, etc).

[Wandering Daisy]

I guess a lot of the big-boy snow blowers use on the highways also broke. I read that a fraction of them were in working condition at one point in the storm. My daughter has a house at Soda Springs. They will have to eventually dig to get in. She has two teenage boys- just about as good as snow blowers.

[dave54]

.... She has two teenage boys- just about as good as snow blowers.

I am well past my teenage years. Turn 70 next month. I am too old to mess with the white stuff. Should have stayed in Arizona longer.

Meanwhile, it is an $80 part and involves dismantling the transmission to replace. It is a 20 year old machine. Time to decide -- repair or replace?

[Wandering Daisy]

Actually, my daughter hired someone to dig them out this year since they would not be able to get up there for two weeks. It probably cost them more than a new snowblower. And yes, shoveling at our age is out of the question - wrecking your back would cost more than a new blower.