Briggs & Stratton 1697116 Review

Brief Summary: This post is a comprehensive look at the Briggs & Stratton 1697116 Single-Stage Gas-Powered Snow Blower, and whether or not it worth purchasing.

After reviewing a myriad of different snowblowers, all of which bear their own distinct style, features, capabilities, and setbacks, I have to admit that I'm getting quite exhausted with all these supposedly top-of-the-line snow blowers.

This is not me saying that each of them doesn't have their respective strengths which make them worthy of looking into.

This is me saying that sometimes, a simple person like me likes to get back to the basics.

A snowblower that does what it says and is free from any of these marketing fluffs that the more "modern" snow blowers have in their makeup.

In the Briggs & Stratton 1697116, we might just have such a machine.

I'm talking about a no-nonsense kind of snow blower that can plow unapologetically through the roughest winter conditions -- doing what it says it does and doing it well.

Are these just a pipe-dream from a tired snowblower reviewer, or is the Briggs & Stratton 1697116 really a machine that can make me proud to own?

Well, reviewing snowblowers is exactly what we're here to do so let's get it started!

Briggs & Stratton 1697116 Features

• The engine. The engine is quite an impressive piece of machinery if I do say so myself. Capable of powering the augers to plowing a 22-inch wide and 13-inch deep cleaning in its wake. It has 127cc of displacement and is strong enough to throw snow at a distance of about 33 feet. None of this is particularly surprising since the engine is gas-powered. Whether you love them or hate them, gas-powered snow blowers are generally more powerful than electric snowblowers. They also come free of the need for cordage and to be constantly attached to an outlet. For all its glory, there is one downside to the engine which we'll get into later.
  

• Quick-adjust deflector. This is by no means that big of a deal but it's definitely a nice little touch to have on an already pretty solid snowblower. The quick-adjust deflector means you can easily change the height and throwing distance of the chute with a simple squeeze of the chute-mounted handle. Another note to make is that although this might be the first time I'm talking about this feature, it is by no means exclusive to the Briggs & Stratton 1697116. Many snowblowers, both gas and electric, have this feature -- at least the ones worth considering.
  

• Remote-controlled chute mounted on the handle. Another nice little feature of the Briggs & Stratton 1697116 is that most, if not all of its controls, can be found right on the handlebar. This includes the remotely controlled chute. This offers a greater level of control and lets you simply start the machine be on your merry way.
  

• Rubber-edged augers. Most snowblower users have experienced this at some point: you're going about your snow-blowing business and everything seems to be going pretty way. Then when the season changes and the snow melts you find that your driveway floor is scratched up. The steel blades of the snowblower seem to have gotten way too close to the pavement, leaving marks and dulling themselves in the process. Rest assured that nothing like that is likely to happen with the Briggs & Stratton 1697116's rubber-edged augers. These things can cut through snow down to the pavement without leaving any marks. Being made of rubber also makes it less likely to wear and rust over time.

Additional Features

• Though the unit is not self-propelled, once the augers start plowing it's pretty easy to maneuver.
• The handlebars are also foldable, allowing for much easier storage in your garage. That being said, at 84 pounds this is one heavy boy which might be a problem if you have a smaller frame or aren't very strong. You're really gonna have to push to get a machine of this size and weight to go where you want. But hey, it makes for a great workout!
  

For more amazing single-stage snow blowers, check out the Snow Joe SJ625E, and the Briggs & Stratton 1022E 22 Inch Snow Blower.