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

The 221 and 2450 are equal in terms of their ability to move snow. The engine is the same - the 221 is just a newer chassis with some neat features (better chute control) and the ability to accommodate a larger, heavier, weaker 4 stroke motor. Weaker? Yes. The R*Tek in the 221 and 2450 will out-throw the tecumseh (and the 4 stroke honda single stage) all day long. Talk to the lawn boy guys and the landscapers who run them (the R*Tek is a piston-ported version of the Lawn Boy Duraforce motor) - they reserve the Duraforces for the longest, wettest, thickest, meanest grass that stalls out all the other 21 inch commercial mowers (honda/briggs/kawasaki powered). That 4 stroke wont seem so appealing when you have to take the snowblower apart to change the oil every year. The reason the 421 is rated at 1800lbs/minute vs 1700lbs/minute is marketing, pure and simple. If you go back a few years and look at the CCR3650 (basically a 2450 with better chute control) you'll see that it is (under)rated at 1800 lbs/minute. They claim a HP difference between the 2450 and the 3650 but this is untrue - disassembly of the units show the exact same motor with the exact same carburetor and exhaust configuration - and this carries on up to the 210/221 as well. So....if the 3650 with the same motor as the 221 and 2450 was rated at 1800lbs/minute, why the change? ;-)

Here's some pics of my units as well as some disassembly pics to show I'm not making things up :-)

Disassembled 2450 to check the exhaust and carb


2450 and 221 side by side



2 Duraforce (R*Tek Lawn Boys)