Husqvarna ST124 Review: 24 in Two-Stage Snow Blower, Warranty and Specs

Warranty-backed peace of mind in a standard 24-inch size. A 3-year bumper-to-bumper warranty covers more of the machine than the 2-year terms common at this price, and the separate 5-year engine warranty covers the most expensive component for longer still. For owners who plan to keep a snow blower a decade, that coverage has real value.

The ribbon auger is the design detail worth understanding. A ribbon auger uses spiral steel ribbons with open space at the center instead of solid paddles. Husqvarna says it mixes air into the snow, which makes heavy snow easier to break up and feed to the impeller. Open ribbon designs are commonly chosen for packed and wet snow, where solid augers can pack snow into the housing.

The 21-inch intake is a half inch to an inch taller than most budget 24-inch machines, useful for plow berms, and the all-steel chute avoids the brittle-plastic problem budget chutes can have in deep cold.

The listing leaves out numbers buyers use to compare. Throw distance, electric start, drive speeds, rated capacity and weight are not in the feature bullets. Most 24-inch two-stage machines at $999.00 include electric start, and the PowerSmart 24 212cc states a 45-foot throw and electric plus recoil start for $899.99. Confirm those details on Husqvarna's ST124 page or in the operator manual before you order.

Stock is the second issue: the listing has shown limited availability. Popular snow blowers thin out once storms are in the forecast, so buy early in the season.

It is also a gas wheeled machine, so it needs oil, fuel care and off-season storage, and it has less grip than tracks on steep, icy driveways.

Praise themes in verified owner reviews of Husqvarna ST-series two-stage machines:

• The warranty length as a deciding factor at purchase.
• Good performance in heavy and packed snow for a 24-inch machine.
• Traction from the 13-inch snow tires on typical driveways.
• Solid feel of the steel chute compared with plastic chutes.

Complaint themes:

• Setup steps on delivery, including adding oil and adjusting cables.
• Turning effort on a heavy wheeled machine.
• Finding authorized service locally for warranty work in some areas.
• Shear bolts breaking on hidden objects, which needs spares on hand.

Buy it if

• You clear a standard two-car driveway and want the strongest warranty at this size.
• You get heavy, packed or wet snow where a ribbon auger helps.
• You have a Husqvarna dealer nearby for warranty service.
• You want an all-steel chute rather than plastic.

Skip it if

• You need confirmed electric start and throw figures without checking elsewhere.
• Your budget is closer to $500; the WEN SB209E costs $493.77.
• Your driveway is wide; the PowerSmart 26 costs the same with 2 more inches of width.
• You want no gas; the EGO SNT2405 is the battery 24-inch.

Probably not. A three-stage snow blower adds a front accelerator auger that chops snow and feeds it to the main auger faster, marketed for deep, packed and icy snow. Those machines, such as the Cub Cadet 3X, are mostly dealer and home-center items and cost more than a 24-inch two-stage.

For a two-car suburban driveway, a two-stage with a 21-inch intake and a ribbon auger already handles plow berms and wet snow; the practical difference is speed through the very worst snow, not whether the driveway gets cleared. Where a three-stage or a larger two-stage pays off is on long driveways in lake-effect or mountain snow. See two-stage vs three-stage snow blowers and the end-of-driveway plow pile page.

The listing states a 3-year bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 5-year engine warranty. Read the terms in the manual for residential versus commercial use and for excluded wear parts, and register the machine promptly. Gas engines sold in the US must carry EPA emissions certification, and in California CARB certification.

Check the CPSC recall database at cpsc.gov/Recalls for this model before buying, and before buying used. Keep spares on hand: the Husqvarna shear bolt kit ($9.49) is listed for Husqvarna two-stage machines from 2008 on, so match the part number to the ST124 manual. The snow blower maintenance guide covers oil and storage.