The Briggs and Stratton 1696610 is a powerful 2-stage snow blower designed to handle clearing deep snow quickly and efficiently. If you live in a snowy part of the US then planning ahead for the inevitable snowfall is a yearly tradition for you. Nobody wants to think about clearing snow before it happens, but unfortunately, if you don’t plan ahead, you’ll likely be unable to buy a snow blower locally as they tend to run out quickly as soon as the first snowfall is announced. Briggs & Stratton makes a range of excellent snow blowers for all types of snow depths.
The problem with snow blowers and homeowners is that they wait until a winter storm paralyzes their home and neighborhood before coming to the realization that a snow blower might actually be a good investment. Most people don’t want to spend money unless they have to, but sometimes you need to plan ahead.
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When it snows everybody runs to their local lawn and garden store looking for shovels, ice salt and snow blowers. The problem is, stock is limited so there’s a good chance that snow blower will be sold out. If you’re reading this then you’re someone who likes to plan ahead, which I commend you on.
Excellent Build Quality | Briggs and Stratton 1696610
Facts about Snow Blowers
Are you sick and tired of clearing snow from your driveway with a shovel? Even if you don’t damage your back it will take a lot out of you. I’m sure you’ll have better things to do than lie down on the couch until you’ve fully recovered.
A snow blower like the Briggs and Stratton 1696610 strikes a nice balance between price, power and quality. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it does almost everything for you. All you have to do is press start and push. If you were alive in the 19th century and someone showed you a modern day snow blower, you would think it was a gift from the gods. This is an impressive machine due to its ability to move large amounts of snow as fast as you can push it.
Upgrade : 27″ with heated Hand Grips
More Power : Elite Series — Briggs & Stratton Elite 1227 (1696815)
Why is this snow blower better?
Let’s look at a few tips when using a snow blower
How To Use A Two Stage Snow Blower Effectively
You can’t just drag your snow blower out of the garage and turn it on. There are tricks you’ll need to know if you want to tackle your garden in the most effective way possible. We’re going to brush over the big ones right now:
Always Start In The Middle – If you were vacuuming your carpet you would start at one side of the room and work towards the other. When you’re using a snow blower this will be counterproductive.
You would only be throwing snow somewhere you’ve still to target, so it would be adding to your workload. When clearing snow from your driveway or lawn start from the middle and work outwards.
VIDEO | How to Choose & Use a Snow Blower
Remember To Slightly Overlap – A lot of snow blowers have a clearing width of 24 inches, but you won’t be able to take advantage of every inch. You’d end up with lines of snow in your garden when you’re finished.
To prevent this from happening you’ll need to slightly overlap the area you’ve just hit. You’ll maybe only clear 20 inches worth of snow at a time, but you won’t give yourself more work to do at the end.
Don’t Aim Towards Your Home – Great snow blowers have the ability to rotate up to 200 degrees. This means no matter where you are in your garden you should be able to aim your chute towards the outermost edges.
Under no circumstances must you let the chute point towards your home. Ice and other debris might cause a lot of damage. For safety reasons, never throw the snow anywhere you’re unable to see it land.
Believe it or not. Snow Joe makes a battery-powered two-stage snow blower that rivals many gas-powered snow blowers. It’s quieter, lighter and easier to maintain. It might be a good alternative depending on the amount of snow you need to clear. Either way, technology is giving consumers more options, which is a good thing. Read our in-depth review of the Snow Joe ION8024-XR. I think it’s important to know your options before choosing the right model for you.
Some of the main Features of the Snow Joe ION8024-XR:
- Revolutionary battery-powered, self-propelled two-stage snow blower
80V Max (2 x 40V/5.0 Ah) EcoSharp rechargeable lithium-ion batteries provide up to 30 minutes* of whisper-quiet runtime and are compatible with all iON tools - Integrated, illuminated push-button display: LEDs indicate direction, speed selection, battery power levels
- Cutting-edge 4-speed digital drive system (3-speed XPORT for rapid return at the end of a snow-clearing run)
- Serrated steel auger moves up to 1000 lbs of snow per minute; cuts a path 24 in. wide by 13 in. deep without damaging surface
- Thumb-control 180° auto-rotate adjustable chute throws snow up to 32 ft
- One-handed lock-and-adjust chute deflector to put the powder precisely where you want it
- Ergonomic trigger grips provide optimum comfort and reduce stress from squeezing for comfortable clearing
- Dual 3 W LED headlamps light the way for safe nighttime snow removal
- Powerful 2500 W brushless motor increases battery efficiency, maximizes motor performance, decreases noise and vibration and extends motor life
- TracAssist snow tires for maximum traction in winter-weather conditions
- Reversible skid shoes
- Load sensing technology to optimize engine performance
- ETL approved; Full 2-year warranty; Includes 2 batteries dual-port charger
**Learn more about 2-stage snow blowers by reading our 2-stage snow blower buying guide.
Common Snow Blower Mistakes You Must Avoid
Thanks to the price tag that comes with buying a snow blower you should always exercise extreme caution. There are mistakes you’ll want to avoid so you don’t end up wasting your money. Here are the top ones you should never ignore:
Don’t Buy Anything Too Big Or Too Small – You need to think carefully about the size of your snow blower. Some models are extremely wide, but it’s unlikely they’ll suit your garden unless you live in a mansion.
It’s also easy to go too far in the opposite direction. How long do you think it’s going to take you to clear snow with a tiny blower? You’ll have to go up and down your garden hundreds of times.
VIDEO | Snow Blower Safety
It Should Be Suitable For Steep Terrain – This will depend on the land where you’ll be using the snow blower, but even slightly steep terrain can cause problems. A self-propelled machine will still let you down.
You need to look at models like the Briggs and Stratton 1696610, because they all have multiple speeds to choose from. If your snow blower is moving fast it’s going to climb up steep terrain.
You Need To Deal With Packed Snow And Ice – Any kind of blower can deal with light snow, but what about when it’s packed? Your auger will usually have to crush up ice and spit it out too.
Two stage snow blowers will always have an advantage over single stage models. The steel auger will destroy packed snow and ice before passing it into the impeller to throw out the discharge chute.
VIDEO | Two-stage vs Single-stage snow blower
A Large Intake Depth Is Sometimes Crucial – If there is enough snow in your garden you’ll have no choice but to clear it up. When the intake depth isn’t large enough to tackle deep snow you won’t be able to.
It’s pointless owning a snow blower you can only use if there is minimal snow. On the other hand, you might live somewhere with mild winters. Just ensure the intake depth can handle the amount of snow you expect to fall.
How To Get Your Home Ready For The Snow
Once you own a snow blower you’ll need to start preparing your home for the snow shortly before it arrives. It’s not essential when you use a shovel, so you’ve probably never thought much about it before. Let’s discuss a few things you’ll need to do:
Remove Any Large Rocks Lying Around – You never know where you’re going to find large rocks in your garden. Hopefully you don’t discover any when you’re clearing snow. Move them well out of the way beforehand or it will cause lots of damage.
Lift Extension Cords Off The Ground – Do you have any extension cords running through your garden? A steel auger blade ripping through anything electrical isn’t good. You have to pay close attention to this if you hang up Christmas lights.
Don’t Forget About Your Child’s Toys – When your child is playing outside it’s unlikely they’ll bring any toys back in with them. You’ll have to keep checking the garden all the time. Make sure your hose isn’t sprawled across the lawn too.
Staking Out The Edges Of Your Lawn – Once the snow hits you might not know where your lawn ends. You don’t want to run into anything like little shrubs. You can prevent this from happening by staking out the edges of your lawn in advance.
Please Note: You’ll need to make sure the pre-season maintenance of your snow blower has been carried out. This won’t apply to you until next winter as your machine will be brand new.
VIDEO | Snow Blower Maintenance
Why Everyone Loves Briggs And Stratton
Snow blowers need lots of power, so you always want to guarantee the one you own has a great engine. Briggs and Stratton is the biggest small engine producer in the world, so they definitely know what they’re doing.
They’ve been in business for over a century and still gain millions of new customers every year. At this moment in time it’s safe to say they’re one of the largest players in the competitive power tool industry.
VIDEO | Briggs & Stratton Snow Blowers
Briggs And Stratton | 2-Stage Snow Blowers
The company offers a wide selection of 2-stage snow blowers, but there are a few everyone seems to gravitate towards. We’re going to look at the amazing features right now, so you’ll know exactly what they’re capable of when it snows:
Please Note: If you’d like a more in-depth look at the snow blowers please click on one of the links below. We don’t have time to run through every single one of their features.
Note : All of these have a 24-inch clearing width, powered by a 208cc engine. The differences are in the details.
- Briggs and Stratton 1696610 | Two Stage Snow Blower
- Briggs and Stratton 1024MDS | Two Stage Snow Blower
- Briggs and Stratton 1696614 | 2-Stage Snow Blower
Review : Briggs and Stratton 1696610
Two-Stage Snow Blower
Features:
- 24-Inch wide clearing path with a 20-inch Intake height
- Powerful 950 snow series 208cc engine for 9.5-foot-pounds of torque
- Push button start offers quick and easy starting
- Adjust the direction the snow is thrown from left-to-right with the left side chute crank
- Self-propelled snowblower with six forward and two reverse speeds
- Durable steel frame and chute and notched steel auger can take on snow and ice with ease, durable aluminum gear box provides long life
- 13-inch by 5-inch heavy-duty tires.
- Friction disc drive system
- Friction disk drive system and equipped with an electric start for effortless starting
- 3-year limited equipment and engine warranty
Overview | Briggs and Stratton 1696610
The Engine Will Start In Very Cold Conditions
You’ll find a 950 Snow Series 208cc engine with 9.5 foot-pounds of torque on the Briggs and Stratton 1696610, so nobody can question its power. Whether it can actually work in cold conditions is an entirely different matter.
Snow blowers need to be able to handle extremely cold temperatures. The 1696610 engine will work down to 20 degrees below zero. It’s also unlike most gas engines thanks to a push button electric start, which eliminates the need to pull a cord.
It’s Possible To Throw Snow Up To 35 Feet Away
If you reach down to your left you’ll be able to adjust the chute crank. This will let you decide which direction the snow goes in when it’s thrown from the blower. It has the ability to turn a full 200 degrees in seconds.
Most snow blowers turn 180 degrees, so it’s nice to have a little extra turning capacity. The Briggs and Stratton 1696610 has enough power to handle the needs of most homeowners, as far as snowfall goes, once the snow enters the high speed impeller it can be launched up to 35 feet away from the blower, leaving your snow conveniently far away from where you’re working. Isn’t that the goal — to relocate the snow. Well, it does that as you’d expect.
6 Forward Speeds + 2 Reverse Speeds Available
When the 1696610 snow blower is moving at its maximum speed it will reach up to 6 miles per hour, which is pretty fast when you think about it. Once you’re in reverse it can reach a maximum speed of 2 miles per hour.
The friction disc drive transmission has a total of 6 forward speeds and 2 reverse speeds to make your life easier. The Briggs and Stratton 1696610 weighs 175 pounds, so a self-propelled snow blower with multiple speeds is essential.
Oversized Controls Increase Your Comfort Level
You know the 1696610 blower engine will work in temperatures down to 20 degrees below zero. Your body will only work in those temperatures if you’re wrapped up, which means you’ll always have to wear a pair of gloves.
These can sometimes be problematic on a few snow blowers, because it’s too hard to use the controls. Briggs and Stratton added oversized controls so it wouldn’t be an issue. You can easily use the 1696610 while wearing thick gloves.
The Sturdy Construction Will Last Many Winters
Investing in a powerful two stage snow blower doesn’t come cheap, so you’ll want the Briggs and Stratton 1696610 to operate for many seasons. The sturdy construction means it’s definitely going to last the distance.
You’ll see solid steel everywhere you look. It has a durable steel frame and chute. The 12 inch notched steel auger will destroy packed snow and ice. There is also a tough aluminum gearbox and heavy-duty 13 x 5 inch tires.
A Very Large Clearing Width And Intake Height
A clearing width of 24 inches is pretty good if you don’t have a huge garden. You won’t need to drive back and forth for hours, but you’ll still be able to squeeze into tight spaces. The intake height can never be too big.
The Briggs and Stratton 1696610 has an intake height of 20 inches. When combined with the clearing width it will handle huge amounts of snow. Only those living in certain areas will ever experience snow so deep.
Briggs & Stratton 1024MDS Review
Best heavy-duty — Two Stage Snow Blower : Elite 1024 (1696807)
Features:
- Briggs & Stratton 950 Snow Series Engine specially designed to start strong and power through in the toughest winter conditions
- LED Headlights : Allows you to see in the dark of night.
- Push button electric start offers quick and easy starting, down to 20 degrees below zero
- Dual-trigger steering releases the left or right wheel to help make tight turns at the end of a driveway or pathway
- Free Hand Control offers one-handed operation of the snow blower, allowing a free hand to rotate the chute or adjust the speed
- Dash mounted chute rotation and deflector controls allow for easy adjustment of snow throwing direction on-the-go
- Sturdy construction with a durable steel frame, chute and control panel and notched steel auger so it can take on snow and ice with ease
- Heated hand grips with on/off switch keep your hands warmer while clearing away the cold snow
Overview | Briggs and Stratton 1024MDS
Notched Steel Auger Destroys Snow And Ice
When you’re working in terrible conditions you need an auger you can trust. The 12 inch notched steel auger on the Briggs and Stratton 1024MDS will easily rip through packed snow and ice. It can handle lots of it at the same time too.
The powerful snow blower has a clearing width of 24 inches, which we’ve already said is a good size. It’s also got a 20 inch intake height like the Briggs and Stratton 1696610. The 3 impeller blades will throw snow out at high speed.
VIDEO | SETUP — Briggs and Stratton 1024MDS
Remote Chute Rotation And Deflector Control
There are a couple of important things you need to be able to do when handling lots of snow. Not only do you need to choose which direction it goes in, but you’ll want to adjust the height too. It will give you full control over where the snow lands.
You’ll be able to do both of these things directly from the control panel in front of you. Everything works electronically, so it’s as simple as moving a lever. The 1024MDS chute will be able to rotate up to 200 degrees.
Dual-Trigger Steering Is Great For Turning
Even though the Briggs and Stratton 1024MDS will propel itself forwards you want jobs to be hassle-free. When a 225 pound 2-stage snow blower is simple to maneuver around it’s a pleasure to use. That is why you’ll love the dual-trigger steering.
You’ll have access to triggers on the handles of the snow blower. When one of them is engaged it will release the left or right wheel. This will give you the power to make tight turns without putting much effort into it.
Easy To Operate The Machine With One Hand
You’ll get to choose between 5 forward speeds and 2 reverse speeds. You will also have to adjust the chute on a regular basis. There are so many controls you’ll need to use, but don’t worry because you can operate the machine with one hand.
It’s safe to lift one hand off the handles without running into any difficulties, but you won’t want to do it for longer than is absolutely necessary. The handles are heated and they’ll keep your hands toasty when it’s freezing cold outside.
LED Headlights Let You Work When It’s Dark
It gets dark much earlier in winter, which isn’t great when you’re at work all day. You’ll have to use your snow blower at night in low light conditions. It would normally increase the chances of you having an accident.
Luckily the Briggs and Stratton 1024MDS blower comes with bright LED headlights. They’ll illuminate your garden allowing you to see everything in your path. The controls will be completely visible too.
Start It With One Quick Press Of A Button
Once the weather gets too cold you don’t want to be pulling on a cord. You won’t have to because the 950 Snow Series 208cc engine includes a push button electric start. You just need to be close enough to an electrical outlet.
Sometimes you’ll need to turn the snow blower off when you’re in the middle of a job, but you won’t need to drag the 1024MDS back to your garage. There is a recoil start built into the snow blower as a backup solution.
Briggs and Stratton 1696614
Two Stage Snow Blower
Features:
- 24-Inch wide clearing path with a 20-inch Intake height
- Powerful 950 snow series 208cc engine for 9.5-foot-pounds of torque
- Friction disk drive system and equipped with an electric start for effortless starting
- Equipped with an electric start for effortless starting
- 3-year limited equipment and engine warranty
Overview | Briggs and Stratton 1696614
The Snow Blower Is Easy To Use In The Dark
You’ll use the snow blower a lot in less than ideal light conditions, so you’ll be pleased to know a number of features make it easier for you. The 950 Snow Series 208cc engine starts at the touch of a button down to 20 degrees below zero.
There is an integrated LED light mounted onto the front of the Briggs and Stratton 1696614 lighting up a large section of your garden. It’s also safe to use with one hand when you’re playing around with the controls.
Snow Will Be Launched Up To 40 Feet Away
The 3 impeller blades will be able to launch snow up to 40 feet away. It has a 12 inch notched steel auger capable of handling mountains of snow. The clearing width of the 2-stage snow blower is 24 inches, so it’s the same as the other models.
An intake height of 20 inches means it’s identical to the Briggs and Stratton 1696610 too. Once the snow eventually passes through the auger and impeller you’ll be able to control where it lands. You’ll have easy access to a 200 degree dash mount crank.
It Has 6 Forward Speeds + 2 Reverse Speeds
Think about how deep 20 inches of snow would actually look like sitting in your garden. Even with a self-propelled blower it would take time to plow through it. The friction disc drive transmission will take away all your pain.
You’ll have 6 forward speeds to choose from and the quickest runs at 6 miles per hour. There are also a couple of reverse speeds with the quickest running at 2 miles per hour. The ability to reverse helps you out in tricky situations.
Large 14 Inch Tires Offer Great Traction
If you’re in a hurry to finish you might decide to choose the quickest speed available. What do you think will happen if you end up stumbling onto ice? Luckily when you’re using the Briggs and Stratton 1696614 two stage blower you’ll be fine.
This is because you’ll have large 14 x 4 inch tires to help with traction. The treads are wonderful in freezing conditions too. You’ll be able to stay in complete control of the machine even if you’re only using one hand.
It Comes With Reversible Steel Skid Shoes
There are steel skid shoes on the Briggs and Stratton 1696614, so they’re not going to wear down like plastic ones. They’ll last twice as long as you think, because you’ll be able to flip them upside down after a few years.
You’ll be able to adjust them in seconds and this will let you tackle any surfaces without causing unnecessary damage. The steel skid shoes on the 1696614 blower will also help the machine cut through snow and ice a lot easier.
184 Pounds Is Still Considered Lightweight
The 1696614 snow blower weighs 184 pounds, which would normally be considered heavy. It’s actually lightweight compared to lots of heavy-duty dual stage snow blowers. The weight is distributed perfectly so it’s easy to handle.
Despite the lightweight design it’s got to endure lots of extreme winters. Thankfully, it has a solid steel design like the other models. The snow blower is 43 x 26 x 56 inches in size, so it’s not too difficult to store away.
Is the Briggs And Stratton 1696610 the snow blower for you?
Once you start using the Briggs and Stratton 1696610 it’s going to force you to wonder why you’ve been wasting your time using a shovel for years. The other models are equally impressive if you’re looking for something more powerful.
Now it’s time to figure out which one you’re going to buy.
