The Husqvarna ST230P provides 30 inches of self-propelled, gasoline-powered snow blowing action. It has remote chute and deflector controls, power steering, heated handgrips and LED headlights. Nonetheless, is this orange snow blower a lemon?
Husqvarna ST230P: Key Features
- 30-inch snow clearing width
- Two-stage system with ribbon auger and impeller
- Gas-powered snow blower with 291 cc 4-cycle engine
- Friction disc transmission: six forward speeds and one reverse
- Handle height is adjustable to a comfortable level
- Power steering with trigger levers for tight turns
- Electric starter connects to power outlet for starting engine
- Dual LED headlights provide better illumination than a single light
- Heated handle grips with on/off button
- 16-inch heavy-tread tires for good traction in the snow
- Plastic skid shoes can be raised, lowered or reversed
- Remote chute rotator adjusts snow throwing direction
- Remote chute deflector changes snow throwing angle
- Clearing stick is stored within easy reach on top of the auger housing
- Quiet muffler: sound level at your ear is about 88 dB(A)
Assembly
The snow blower is usually delivered in a box on a pallet, so it obviously needs some minor assembly. Read the included product manual before proceeding any further. You would probably need to assemble the snow throwing chute and the handles. The engine also needs fuel and oil. You should check all nuts and bolts to be certain they are not loose before operating the snow blower for the first time.
Operation
Try adjusting the handlebar to a comfortable height. The heated handle grips do not seem to provide much heat, so keep your gloves on. You can plug the electric starter into an outlet and press the button to start the snow blower. The recoil starter is useful as a backup starting method or for restarting a warm engine.
The 30-inch width of the ST230P means that it takes less time to clear a driveway when compared to using a smaller 24-inch snow blower, such as the Husqvarna ST224.
The power steering has two levers: one on the left and one on the right. Press the left lever to turn left and the right lever to turn right. The lever disengages the specific wheel so that the blower can make a tight self-propelled turn.
The friction disc transmission and speed lever provide six forward speeds, but it is doubtful if you would ever use the higher speeds for snow throwing. The first forward speed is already almost too fast for deep snow. However, the reverse speed is quite slow and might test your patience.
Belt Drive
Some owners have experienced problems with the belt drive system of the auger. The belt either falls off or is shredded to pieces. This is something to keep in mind. You might also need to replace the belt after minimal use.
Husqvarna ST230P: Conclusion
The 30-inch snow clearing width means that this snow blower is too big for small driveways. You should only get this snow blower if you have a large driveway or entrance road.
The biggest problem with the ST230P (and the other Husqvarna snow blowers as well) is its annoying tendency to destroy belts. You might have to replace the auger drive belt regularly and keep extra belts in the garage.
Overall, I do not recommend the Husqvarna ST230P snow blower, even though it has a large clearing width and lots of features. The various problems with the belt drive, power steering and engine might indicate that it is simply not reliable enough. Therefore, it seems like this 30-inch orange snow blower might be a lemon!
Please note: it seems like the Husqvarna ST230P two-stage snow blower has been discontinued, so this review is probably not relevant anymore. I suggest looking at the smaller Husqvarna ST224P two-stage snow blower with power steering, which might still be available (view ST224P on Amazon).