Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

ok. background.
I have a double driveway that is a decent size. I used for 10 years a Toro 1800 electric that worked pretty well. replace teh belt at 5 years along with the plastic auger. it needed the belt again at 10 years, but by then the handle was so rusty it rusted off. as the bolts broke and the sides were so rusty if I went inside to replace the belt, it was not going to be able to be sealed up again. so it was done. but worked very well. I was actually impressed with what this little electric could do.

so now I decide to get a gas snow thrower. I wanted an Ariens 6/24 two stage, but 160 lbs and no way to get it home do to size, weight, and I can't lift that much. so I decided to try the Toro Power Clear 221R ($599 from a local long time hardware store). a single stage with a new design and a real slick chute rotating control.
This has a 2 cycle engine.
well, the chute works real slick, and it cleaned right down to the pavement. but I was  not impressed with the fact, that is his larger, 5hp gas engine, etc and seemed to do about as good as the old toro 1800 electric when it was new.  and a new toro 1800 is only $279 shipped no tax from amazon.

The Toro Power Clear 221R cleaned down to the concrete driveway better than anything I have used, but other than that. I'm a little disapointed with it's performance in the deeper stuff EOF end of driveawy plow left over crud. it was only maybe 5" at most of plow stuff. no boulders, etc. it seemed to not do as well as the little 1800 electric. I felt like I was going have to jam it into that stuff as it dod not want to move it at all. and I did not want to force it, wrecking anything. I tried to come at it from an angle so just half or less of the opening was getttininto the snow, but that was not much better. again, I did not want for shove/force it as fear of breaking or ebdnign soemthing. now, wishing I had a two stage Ariens to rip away at this stuff. all th ewhile thingking, this is pretty easy EOD plow leftovers. as there is not ice, boulders, etc and not even that deep.

Also, starting, running of this machine.
I did a frist test start brand new on sat morning as the snow first started. I mixed the gas and toro oil per directions, shaking/mixing gas, etc. adjusting the choke, priming exactly per the direction and all. I'm kinda anal about following the directions of anything.
it did take about 12 or more pulls for the first time start. but I figured , well, it was new, never had gas in it. I let it run for 5+ minutes. never touching snow, etc.
then about 5 hours later (5:30pm), we had 3-4 inches on the ground of light snow. not a wet snow at all.
so i go out, started it, took two pulls, I did not prime since it ran 5 hours eariler. all fine
Then yesterday (Sunday) I went out, followed the directions, shake to mix and then fill gas tank up (actually, very little was used the day before) adjusted the choke, primed two times, holding in for a second after each push and used my finger without a glove on it for better priming per directions. and it took about1 4 pulls to start!!! for a brand new machine?  is this bad?
also it ran fine till the end. when done, I was actually brushing the little bit of snow off of it while it idled as it said to do at the end of a running session. there was not much, Ibut I wanted to keep this new machine in prime condition, making sure no snow was on it adn letting it idle for a bit to dry out, etc. then per direction, I engaged th eauger again to make sure it was clear before shutting down. right away, it shut down! There was no snow pack on the auger, etc all clear as I had just cleaned it.
then, I tried to stat it up again, it took about 5-6 pulls and finally started. then I tried to engage the auger again, and it shut down again. now I check the gas. looks like a good amount in there. I had filled it up, and it does nto seem to use a lot. so I try to start it again. it took about 15 pulls! I even hit the primer once to try to get it started. I was thinking it was not going to start! and a brand new machine! that was just running. well, like I said, after 15 or so pulls, it did start up. so I let it idle for about 5-6 minutes. then I tried the auger, adn this time it engage fine. so I let it run another 5 mintues. and shut it down.
But I'm really shocked at why it died two times at the end, when it was all clean, had gas & oil , etc. and then was also so hard o restart when it was just running.

also, I hate the nasty smell of the 2 cycle gas/oil. I felt like I smelled for hours afterword even though I changed my clothes, etc.
Just seemed like for over 2 times th eprice, and having to mess with gas and mixing oil, hard to start, etc it was not worth it compared to the toro 1800 electric.
also, in light snow, this thing pulls you down the driveway, way to fast. in deep stuff, it goes nowhere. if you try to lift it up or hold it back, it just results in it shooting snow from under on to your feet and not clearing as cleanly.
I feel like I shdoul take it back (if I can???) and try a Ariens 6/24 or just get one of those 1800 electric again. maybe both. the Ariens two stage for the big stuff, the little 1800 electric for cleaning down to the concrete and lighter snow removal.
The only redeaming qualities of this power clear 221R is it has a very slick working chute rotater. and it cleans down to the concrete better than anything else I have used/borrowed. but the smell, thehard starting and weak abilities for EOD plow leftovers, makes me feel underwhelmed about my new purchase. and for $599 + tax. that is not good.

btw, My father has had a Toro 5/20 compact two stage since 1991 with never a problem. 5hp, 20in, 4 forward & 1 reverse. never failed to clear anything the plow left, etc.
I saw Toro makes a newer version of this, 5hp & I think 22in?. but the local store sell it for $899!!! ouch! and they are like $650 online from ?questionable? places. at $750, the Ariens 6/24 is bigger, more power, more features and $150 less. and only $150 more than what I paid for this lightweight Power Clear 221R

Long post, but I can answer parts of it.

Sounds like you have grass is always greener syndrome. I just bought a 221R also, and I've used a 7524 Ariens two stage for the past two years along with the little Toro 16" Powerlite.

First, it's a misconception that a two stage will just blast through EOD like it wasn't there. Maybe the big horsepower and/or tracked models do that, but the little ones stop dead when they hit anything crunchy and just spin the wheels. Packed snow? Stops dead. Ice? Stops dead. EOD? Stops dead.

Your complaint about the speed that it tries to pull you is just lack of familiarity. Yes, you can set the speed of a two stage and plod along behind it. But even the fastest speed is too slow for light snow, and every time you want to turn around, you have to screw with it. And every time you hit some crud or a drift, you have to gear down. The single stage sets it's own best speed. In 5" of snow, it blasts through much quicker. If it hits something hard or deep, it slows itself down.

About your fear of hurting it--don't worry. I got through a 20" snow with the little 16" Powerlite. Just shove it into the drift until it almost stalls, then pull it back. Repeat 1000 times. :) Took a while, but it didn't damage it.

My experience with Toro 2-strokes is that they can need a lot of priming. First start of the winter needed 10-15 pumps. Then it sputtered to life in a couple of pulls.

Hi.
Sorry too contradict what jon just wrote, but the very last thing you want too do with a Toro with an rtek engine is overprime them.
Those engines are notorious for severe flooding due too too much priming.
They squirt anywhere from 1/8-1/4 oz. (estimate) of fuel per prime. And once they are flooded they are stuggle too "unflood".
It's not unusual too drain 3 or more oz of raw fuel from a crankcase and with that much fuel floating around they will not start no matter how many times you pull or how long you lay on the electric start button.
I can give an exact procedure but if it.s starting on one prime or none at all works....then only prime that much.
I agree that some of the older toros, with diaphram carbs may have needed some extra primes....but the rteks dont. I've replaced a lot of starter motors that were badly flooded.
And if you think it's not performing up too snuff on the EOD.....take it back too the dealer and have them check it out. It might just need a cable adjustment or something simple. They should have no problem checking it out for you.

Oops--sorry for the bad advice. Lots of pumps worked for the old 16" Powerlite. Haven't started the new Powerclear yet.

Jon.
We replace lots and lots of dried out and cracked primer bulbs on Powerlites.
As the rteks start getting older we'll replace lots and lots on them also. (they're the same)
I can understand why you had problems with your powerlite priming. I replaced 3 today.