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

The final 3 in the running were the Ariens 27 Deluxe, Simplicity L1226E and Toro 826OE. Ariens started the $$$ range at $1100, Simplicity was about $1200 and Toro topped it at $1300. I think these were pretty fair prices even on the big blizzard's eve of destruction.

I was most impressed with the Toro 826OE for it's tight tolerances in the impeller housing (about 3 mm between impeller tip and housing) and the impeller bypass that recirculates excess snow back to the auger if it's feeding in too fast. This Honda-like fit makes for efficient use of the smallish Briggs and Stratton 250 cc and in fact it throws farther than my neighbor's low tech  MTD with a rip-snortin' hemi-like 312 cc.

The 826OE is not a loaded machine -- no fancy steering or heated grips -- just a sturdy, well designed thrower with a bright light and electric start. The lighter weight of the 250 cc allows for tossability even with both wheels pin-locked. Most wives though, would probably need one free wheel to handle it with confidence. The auger gearbox is so heavy duty that Toro eliminated the shear pins -- the dealer says engine stoppage or belt slippage is your cue to investigate. Plus the scoop housing and auger have a super glossy coating that's slicker than snot -- very little sticks to it.

I like the joystick chute control -- one hand quickly adjusts for windage and elevation.  I believe it might freeze up more readily than a traditional screw gear though.  At one point it felt a bit stuck, but a firmer tug on the joystick freed it. Aiming the chute is very easy and intuitive. You can do it on the fly and there's no "turn right to go left" like on a screw gear.

The intake is well sized to the engine. I tested it out in last week's snow. The 18" had settled to an icy 14" and I ran through it in each gear.  First and second gear were cake. Third was just right -- the engine settled into it's power zone and was throwing about 35 feet.  Fourth worked almost as good as third but was uncomfortably fast around obstacles. In fifth the engine began to bog, but throwing distance was not affected much.  In sixth the engine bogged noticably and throwing distance dropped to about 20 feet. So fourth handled open stretches and second and third gave greater confidence around cars. 

The final test was EOD -- where my old 5 HP MTD would plop out ice turds and die. The plow had left 3 foot high frozen ridges imbedded with bits of gravel. Using first gear the Toro chewed right into these and flung it nicely about 20 feet. The engine was working hard in the power zone but not lugging.

I paid a bit more for the Toro 826OE, but I'm pleased with the sturdy construction and overall quality. 

Thanks guys.

Blizzard Update:

Just finished clearing about 12" of heavy wet snow off the driveway here in southeast PA.

My intial reservations about the joystick chute controller were unfounded. I was out for about 1.5 hours and the machine was covered in packed snow. The chute controller worked flawlessly. It's easy and quick. 

I found that 1st and 2nd gear functioned the best in this heavy wet stuff. Higher gears would leave a trail out the sides of the scoop. The throwing distance is awesome! 35 and 40 feet. I have to be careful now not to blow out the kitchen and dining room windows. 

The Toro 826OE used about half a tank in 1.5 hours -- roughly 1.5 quarts.

I used the 826OE on my neighbor's driveway tonight. It had the fulll 21" deposited by this blizzard. That happens to be right to the top of the Toro's intake housing -- a perfect test.

I was able to motor right through in 1st gear and throw 35 feet. On subsequent passes I could cut full swaths in 1st gear leaving no trails. I could use 2nd and 3rd as well if I cut about a 20" swath.

I am extremely pleased with this little thrower. I wanted throwing distance and man it throws. In the picture below I am cleaning up the last 8" of this blizzard. The deflector is low because I am throwing into the wind at this moment, but look at the tree behind me. That's how high she was throwing earlier.

 

I'm in SE PA as well and we got hammered with 20 inches today on top of the 28 that we got over the weekend.  Extremely unusual for this area.  I ran my snowblower for 5 straight hours today doing my driveway as well as four of my neighbors.  Two of my neighbors had very small single stage blowers and the other two had electric blowers and none of those were worth a darn in this snow.  My only issue is that I looked like a freaking snowman by the time I was done.  Will have to look into a protective cab if this type of weather keeps up.

Your Toro did a real nice job cleaning your driveway.  I'm sure that your old 5hp machine couldn't come close to hitting the throwing distance of that Toro.

Do any of the Toro 826 owners find the lack of freewheel steering on this model to be a pain?  Is it better to spend the extra $ and get the free wheel steering?

joed wrote:

I have the 1028OXE and believe me the dual freewheel steering is well worth it. My 84 lb wife can operate it without any problems. Well she still gets a bit nervous but she does ok. The freewheel steering is a dream! So easy to use, try it and you'll see.

Now if I can just stop getting flat tires from roofing nails from when they redid our roof!

joed wrote:
The answer will depend on the age and physical condition of the responder's back.  25 years ago it was nothing for me to muscle around a large snow thrower with both wheels locked.  Today, with a suspect back, I want a machine with either free-wheel steering or a differential.  So personally I think that it's a desirable feature.  Especially since a good snow thrower can last many years...and the back you have today may not be the back you have a few years from now.

joed wrote:

A machine the size of the 826 (at 220 lbs) is about the heaviest I would want to muscle around with both wheels pin-locked.
Of course the other option is to unlock (un-pin) one wheel and put up with a little torque steer when trying to go straight and a
tendency to want to turn easier away from the powered wheel and more difficult into it.

The single axle unlockers (Ariens Deluxe series) are merely an operator controlled means of "un-pinning" a wheel with the
same limitations on steering.

Try these two systems on pavement at the dealer and see what you think. Pavement will demonstrate the worst case turning
difficulty as the wheels will slip more easily on snow. 

If you want full benifit from power steering, upgrade to systems like Simplicity/John Deere Easy Steer,
Toro Freewheel Steering or Ariens Automatic Traction Control.  If the lady of the house will be using the machine, power
steering is usually required.

On the downside, a power steering system requires more maintenance (cables, linkages, differentials) and adds to the
potential for mechanical failure.

samdog wrote:
Wait a minute...now I'm confused.  I thought that the handgrip mounted unlocker lever on the Ariens Deluxe series was the same system used on the Simplicity and Toro and is designed to remotely un-pin and re-pin a wheel.  (Toro has levers for both wheels).  I also believed that the only upgrade to this system was on the Ariens Pro series which has a true differential.

Yes, I believe Toro uses dual unlockers for unrestricted turning in both directions.
(It's the use of only one unlocker that limits turning.)

The Simplicity/John Deere Easy Steer is a differential and I believe Ariens Auto Traction Control
is a differential as well. The Deluxe Platinum uses Auto Traction Control as well as the Pro Series.
See the Ariens spec sheet here:  http://www.ariens.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/Sno%20Spec%20Sheet.pdf

samdog wrote:
I guess what is confusing me is the description of Easy Steer that Simplicity uses on their website.  It sounds like the same single remote unlocking lever that Ariens uses on their Deluxe line. 

http://www.simplicitymfg.com/products/snow-throwers/signature-pro-commercial-duty-dual-stage/

Signature Pro Commercial Duty Dual-Stage Features

• Easy-Turn™ helps you navigate even the toughest turns with little effort. Simply pulling the trigger on the handle releases the drive power to the right wheel for easy maneuvering and 180° turning. Easy-Turn is standard on all large frame two-stage models.