superbuick

http://www.speedwaysales.com/toro-powerlite-snowthrower-p-134.html?osCsid=dfbeabc1dec5335565c95882463e2d40

Do yourself the favor and save the $10 for a proven design. It'll also be more powerful and lighter.

As stated above - The R*Tek IS a briggs motor, but not designed by briggs.

Lawnboy designed it as the Duraforce. (this is good - Lawn Boy's entire history is based on designing 2 stroke engines for OPE and Marine use)

Toro bought Lawnboy.

Toro took the motor and renamed the piston-ported version of it (used in snowblowers) the R*Tek (stands for RELIABLE TECHNOLOGY).

Toro sold the engine design/rights to Briggs, who now manufactures it.

You'll also quickly find out that the ratings on your new snowblower are extremely conservative. The R*Tek makes an easy 7hp (or more) and that blower will throw more than 1700lbs/minute.

Snowgo - I think you'll be OK with the electric chute rotation.  When working, it should work better and faster than a hand crank.  OF course your concern is a valid one should it break (I have no experience with the electric units)  The Quick Stick on the Toro is a nice feature if speed and precision is your desire with chute angle/rotation.  The Toro, Simplicity, Snapper, and Ariens are all equivalent for the most part in quality and capability within a given size range.

The Toro 221 series (and the 210) are 2 strokes.  They are VERY underrated at 6.5hp, lightweight, reliable, and very easy to start.  The Toro 421, Snapper, and Honda are 4 strokes that are marketed as superior but in reality are more complex, heavier, weaker, and require regular oil changes.  The common knock against 2 strokes is the "messy mixing of oil and gas"- this is a complete load of crap.  If you can make a cup of tea, coffee, or lemonade, then you can mix oil and gas.  You buy a gallon of gas, then dump the pre-measured bottle of 2 stroke oil (included with the snowblower and available at any hardware store, home depot, lowes, etc.) into the gallon of gas.  Done.  MUCH easier than changing the oil in your 4 stroke motor each season.

When it comes to single stage snowblowers, I'm partial to 2 strokes and also to the Toro auger design.  I've run the Honda 520 quite a bit, but never the snapper (though I used an old MTD that had the same auger design and it isn't very good).  In back to back comparisons, the Toro 2 stroke out threw the Honda handily.  I've never run the Toro 4 stroke, but with the way the 2 stroke performs I can't see a need to.

aa335 wrote: I'd also recommend looking at the 221 Toro.  I'm not hesitant to say it is far and away the best single stage snowblower currently on the market.  Its worth a look.  The Toro auger/housing design throws snow incredibly well.  If you insist on 4 stroke (aka insisting on less power, more weight, and more maintenance) then check out the 421 Toro.