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

Isn't the whole idea about easy turn that u can make a turn while still moving and not have to stop?? Toro shows the video that while snowblowing,u can turn and continue on with your snowblowing.Borat the way u r saying to use it ,why bother getting easy turn.Just tilt it back swing it around and continue.Maybe Toro has a better system??Toros system turns on a dime and they just continue snowblowing....

mikiewest wrote:

Have you used a machine with an easy turn feature?   

A machine in two wheel drive doesn't turn anywhere near as easily as a machine in one wheel drive.  Your suggestion to just "tilt it back swing it around and continue" does not relieve the load from one wheel does it?  Therefore the resistant friction of two wheel turning in dissimilar circumferences will not be relieved.   I'm certain that if I were to operate the Simplicity in one wheel drive, it would be as maneuverable as the Toro you refer to.   I prefer to use two wheel drive and and use the easy turn to make major adjustments to direction of travel.   Maybe Toro's system is better.  I have never used one so, I wouldn't know.

Toro's system is similar, except you can release either wheel rather than just one as on Simplicity's. Is that right mikiewest?

Regardless, I think the usage is a little bit of circumstance and personal preference. 90% of the time I turn as borat suggests -- after disengaging the drive. Yet sometimes, if I'm in the middle of a pile of snow, ice, and slush (say, left behind by the city plows), I will keep the machine engaged when turning. It's just easier to have the momentum. And honestly, it doesn't entirely matter which direction your turning. Yes, it is easier to have the 'drive' wheel on the outside, but in my scenario, all I want is that motion to overcome the machine's inertia.

Toro's system is called power steering, but it's not a differential as with Ariens, nor Easy Turn as with Simplicity.    Power steering works simply by squeezing the left trigger to turn left and the right trigger to turn right.  To turn left, the left wheel stops turning to allow only the right wheel to give you turn-to-the-left power.  To turn right, the right wheel stops turning to allow only the left wheel to give you turn-to-the right power. 

At my school job, I have used a Husqvarna blower with power steering.  It does exactly as I have stated above, so the Toro is the same thing.  It's a pretty cool set-up.  It's the next best thing to an Ariens differential, which I have also used at work with an early 90s Ariens ST1032 tank.

We can use machines to suit our circumstances.  Each to his own.