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

Looks like with Tecumseh out of business, toro is developing their own 4 cycle engine on their 421 single stage (163 cc) and their powerlite model (87 cc).  Anyone know anything about these new engines?

Apparently the Power Lite has been changed/upgraded to a Power Clear 180.

http://www.toro.com/home/snowthrowers/gassinglestage/180.html

aa335 wrote:
Thanks for the link aa335.  Looks like Toro has completely redone the powerlite.  I wonder if this new 87 cc 4 stroke engine is an improvement or worse than the 98 cc Tecumseh 2 stroke engine that was on last year's model?

But, Who makes the engine? Toro doesn't make engines, they buy them from someone....


Friiy

There is some suspicion that the motors are chinese-made knock offs of Honda or other OHV designs.

Unless its turbocharged, or some sort of high compression/high rpm snowblower racing motor, there's no way an 87cc 4 stroke (ohv or not) will be more powerful than a 98cc 2 stroke  with both running on the pump gasoline.

Less power, more weight, more width....sounds like a winning combo

If you like the small, compact sized units, pick up a Powerlite while you can still get one.  The new units are unproven, and I have my doubts they will be superior to the Powerlite.  Nonetheless they'll sell more because there's "no more messy mixing of oil and gas!!!!!"  (you know, the huge mess created by dumping a little pre-measured 2.6oz bottle of oil into a gallon gas container......similar to the giant mess created when you make a cup of coffee, or mix up some iced tea.......)  The Home Depot crowd will love it.

On the 421 I anticipate a performance improvement over the L-Head tecumseh, but wonder about durability/reliability with what appears to be, at this time, a no-name engine.