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

This seems to be a feature unique to this model. It looks interesting:

Pivoting Scraper Available exclusively on the Toro Power Max 1128 OXE, this innovative design allows the scraper to pivot front to back, clearing down to the pavement and preventing sudden stops from cracks or contours

This is expensive for a 28" unit. The pivoting scraper, unusual impeller (below), and left and right wheel unlocks seem to be its main features. It lacks heated hand grips, common in its price range.

Power Max® Auger System A breakthrough in snowthrowing technology, the Power Max® auger system handles more snow in less time to get the job done fast! This revolutionary system meters snow intake. Snow not immediately thrown is returned back into the auger, providing maximum impeller speed and snowthrowing velocity. The expanded chute base with its inverted, funnel shaped design has a larger opening and a non-stick surface to minimize snow build up.

We bought the Toro 1028 to avoid the hassle of getting the pivoting scraper. The dealer said they are a headache and the guys who clear the walks at the local colleges avoid them like the plague. The 1028OXE is cheaper and doesn't have the scraper. We are soooo glad we didn't get it. It's a trip to the dealer to fix it if it jams and that's like 2-4 weeks wait time and that's a lot of storms you'll be shovelling if it breaks on you. The Toro Auger system really works well, it throws even heavy wet EOD stuff really well. I have videos on YouTube of ours doing the EOD. Heated hand warmers might be good but I've never had them so I don't miss them. I have leather snow gloves so I might need those hand warmers if it gets colder than -50F. But if it's that cold, the snow can wait. The Toro's quick chute feature is really nice and fast to use as well. Toro makes a great machine that works and works well.

Saw your review and video, they are nice. However second hand reviews of guys employed to clean college walkways are not the conclusive final word. Sort of like listening to Obama on economic or health care policy; they have the job but not the expertise to make a judgement. 

This has been a high end Toro feature for years; if it was a problem it would be dropped. Most dealers probably have no experience actually using it, and may have never serviced it. If your dealer takes 4 weeks for a mid-winter repair of a broken unit you have other problems.

The issue doesn't appear getting stuck, I can't imagine how it could get stuck so it couldn't be freed, but does it ride over compacted snow rather than lift it? Or, does it seamlessly follow the ground contour, as the manufacturer says, allowing it to scrape along the ground without damaging it like a shovel.

I looked at the pivoting scraper and it doesn't seem to be prone to hanging up.  Simple spring loaded scraper bar pivoting around the auger shaft.  It's been around for while, not a novelty.  Even if it does have problems, it can be taken care of by a homeowner of reasonable mechanical ability without waiting 4 weeks for the dealer to fix. 

Dealers sometimes, but not always, will push to sell what he has on the floor with better profits, and/or badmouth what he doesn't.  Anecdotal recollection of working pros told by a salesman is not a data point for trending. How do you tell when a salesman is lying?  His lips is moving.  :)  Just kidding.

We all can be doubtful of Toro's plastic doodad and John Deere / Simplicity electrical doodads that potentially could leave us shoveling snow by hand.  But come on, these are all manageable risks.  It's a snowblower, not a car.

While some companies boast about metal this and that to appeal to your peace of mind, while confusing you with idiotic terminology of benignly simple wheel differentials, Toro keeps it simple and shows you what it does.  Go to their website and check out the animations.  No Pro, Platinum, Deluxe, ATC, THF, automatic, semi-automatic, automotive-style this and that.

But does it work? Does it go over compacted snow or scrap it up? Does it follow the ground better than a regular scraper? Toro charges a two hundred dollar premium over the 1028 for the pivoting scraper and 342 vs 305 motor. that is also over $250 more than the Ariens Platinum which has heated hand grips and a overrunning clutch differential, like a Detroit Locker. However the Toro also has the enlarged impeller housing (the Ariens has a larger impeller) and I'm very unclear if the differential is better than the manual left/right freewheeling release.

Searching hasn't revealed anyone who has tried both.

I can't say that it worked because I haven't used it myself.   I think the pivoting scraper on Toro's 2 stage snowblower wasn't meant to follow the contours of the ground, but to deflect in case you hit a crack on the pavement.  This allows you and the snowblower to continue to go forward and not come to a sudden stop.

 But you make a good point, as well as some other people in the past.  Toro's pricing seems out of touch when comparing features against a Simplicity, Deere, or Ariens.

DavidNJ wrote:

Ok well first off the guys who do the colleges around here make their living doing it. They own the machines and the pivoting scraper hangs up way too often and can jam. so while these guys are not the final word they make a ton of money clearing sidewalks among other plowing jobs in the winter and this is a lot of walkways we're talking about. So they certainly have experience and the dealer sells the 1128, it's more money and he would have been happy to sell me the one he had in his showroom. He's also the John Deere dealer and sells to local farms. I know because we have a big far directly across the street. Thy use plows up there as it's huge and mostly unpaved but I've known that guy since I was 12 years old so if he reccomends a dealer that he himself uses it's a safe bet they are good. This delaer is local and has been around a long time. So if you want to buy a pivoting scraper just buy it, don't try and justify your decision. It's a hassle for guys that own 4-5 snowblowers and do this professionally. That's good enough for me. Call up your local dealer and ask him what could go wrong with the pivoting scraper see what he says. We avoided it based on good advice and we get down to pretty much bare tar. If you really want it buy it. I'd rather save the money for something more important.

DavidNJ wrote:

Ok well first off the guys who do the colleges around here make their living doing it. They own the machines and the pivoting scraper hangs up way too often and can jam. so while these guys are not the final word they make a ton of money clearing sidewalks among other plowing jobs in the winter and this is a lot of walkways we're talking about. So they certainly have experience and the dealer sells the 1128, it's more money and he would have been happy to sell me the one he had in his showroom. He's also the John Deere dealer and sells to local farms. I know because we have a big far directly across the street. Thy use plows up there as it's huge and mostly unpaved but I've known that guy since I was 12 years old so if he reccomends a dealer that he himself uses it's a safe bet they are good. This delaer is local and has been around a long time. So if you want to buy a pivoting scraper just buy it, don't try and justify your decision. It's a hassle for guys that own 4-5 snowblowers and do this professionally. That's good enough for me. Call up your local dealer and ask him what could go wrong with the pivoting scraper see what he says. We avoided it based on good advice and we get down to pretty much bare tar. If you really want it buy it. I'd rather save the money for something more important.

My local dealer thinks its fine and there is no first hand report of it hanging on the Internet, at least none that I could find.

The 1128 also has the larger 342cc motor vs. the 305cc motor on the 1028.

How is the Power Max Auger? That is a unique design, with a relatively narrow tapered shoot and an extra return passage to route some of the snow back into the scoop.

The Auger system seems to work really well. I've never had mine clog at all even with heavy wet snow. Since you're going to get the pivoting scraper please post how it works out for you this winter.

The Auger system seems to work really well. I've never had mine clog at all even with heavy wet snow. Since you're going to get the pivoting scraper please post how it works out for you this winter.