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

Njal’s machine is an 8265 and a classic.  It’s one of the best machines in it’s class ever made with fairly robust parts.  Their great castiron gearbox on their bigger commercial models was used in the homeowner models of 8hp and larger.  Zerks on the augers and also fitted into the auger support bearings which were one piece, triangular, and mounted to the case so no insert bearing.  I never so one with any appreciable wear even on commercial models.

Below is the inside of the 8265.  Nicely painted including the spings and moving parts.  It used a chain case with two gears.  The chain case rotates on the hex shaft and carried the friction disk to the front.  The top of the chain case was mated to a shift bracket 8 x 2 inches with a slot in it to catch a bar at the top of the chain case (hidden from view).  The shift lever moved the chain case across the hex shaft and the tractor engagement clutch raised and lowered the bracket causing the friction disk to mate with the drive pulley.  All simple movements with stout parts.  Adjustment of the clutches is done by changing the length of chain up by the handles and very simple to do.

Below is an 8260 which was the model a generation behind the 8265.  It used the same tractor internals and auger assembly.  The 8265 has handle bar changes, shift lever upgrade, better chute with a remote hood control that works without freezing up at least on the machines I’ve had.  The chute was upgraded and tossed at a good angle for distance.  The 8265 tossed the same as a Toro 824 XL of the same vintage, very well.  The 8260 with it’s short chute and forward lean is not the best for distance or consolidated flow.  It’s splatters low like most of the old machines and has so of a shotgun belch but good enough for a long two car driveway with a widened garage area.  

Below is an older 10301 heavy duty version about the same vintage as the 8260.  The 8260 and 65 were intermediate heavy frame but used the same parts as the 10301.  It has a  pair of lights and a wider bucket but the running gear the same.

Snapper did not make lots of changes over the years.  They had a good design and stuck to it.  They also made smaller less robust machines of 5 and 7hp at a price break like Ariens and Toro and the quality ok but nothing like the bugger machine.  The gearbox in those was aluminum with smaller gears. 

I put the John Deere chute on both machines and they tossed very well with it.  All these models have pin lock so no differential but the 10301 is easy to handle as are the 8hps.  At 30 bucks each these machines were a decent deal.  The 8260 needed a carb cleaning but a float needle was installed just in case.  It was used commercially in Boston for many years.  It needed zero parts to be operational, the bearing and flanges were fine with minimal wear along with the friction disk.  The 10301 has had many years of service and nasty looking like the 8260 but only needed a spring and carb work to be operational.  The owner had a 2 inch pipe section wedged in back of the tensioner arm for drive.   

All in all great machines and quite unlike the new Briggs/Snapper models which seem to be Murrays.  The new models are nice but no where near the quality of the older pre-Briggs machines.  Quite a change to go to a Honda.  I would consider it a step up.

New toys are always nice.

 Then slap 7% sales tax on that. ouch!

That is what made me look for a used one in good shape ..

I'm sure that toro is one fine machine,or people wouldnt be buying them.

From what I read there track record is outstanding...