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

I am looking for a new blower. I have about 1400.00 to spend . I am looking at the 2 machines listed above. I had an Ariens 824 for 28 years but have never had a Toro. I prefer the Toro dealer but both dealers are ok. Any Ideas on which is a better choice or other suggestions ?

Thanks Ivan

Could you add what you are trying to do? That is, where you are located, the amount of snow you get, the size of the area plowed, whether it is flat or hilly, what type of surface (pavement, pavers, concrete, gravel, etc.), what sort of end-of-driveway issues you encounter, what size, strength, and physical condition the person doing snow removal is?

Toro's advantage is the joystick chute and the 2" wider bucket.  Ariens  advantages are heated handgrips, bigger impeller (14" vs. 12"), steering assistance, same size motor but with ball bearing crank journals, and costs about $170 less.  I don't think you could go wrong with either one. 

im45us wrote:

If the Toro has the dual skid steer and the quick chute I would go with that since those really make a difference in how the machine handles. I really like my Toro it works great doesn't bog down, although if I'm going too fast it will ride up a bit. It chews into even hardened snow banks with gusto and even shoots out stuff that had been plowed up a month before. Mine is teh slightly larger 1028 but the 826 should do just as good a job and the auger system they use is amazing.

According to SnoBlowers Direct the Toro has no steering.  If it did I probably would have bought it.

slinger wrote:

Although the Toro has a smaller impeller, they have the same tip speed and should have comparable snow removal rates and throw distance.  The Toro has a Toro-unique impeller housing designed to return unthrown snow to the scoop, reducing the load on the impeller so that can be focused on snow removal. The Ariens Platinums has two sticks on the console, one direction and one deflection; the Ariens joystick is plastic that feels that way, although no one has reported problems.

The Ariens has a differential that powers the inside wheel in a turn. It is automatic and has no cables or other mechanisms. The Toro levers let you power the outside wheel on turns, often marketed as power steering. It also lets you disengage both wheels for a quick pull backwards.

I believe Snowmann said Ariens only specified the ball bearings for the Chinese made engines while they were concerned about quality; he reported they switched to sleeve bearings. The engines are probably identical for all purposes. The Ariens has more metal in the construction.

Both are fairly light on the nose making them easy to handle.  The Ariens has a more 'metal' construction. Looking at my 14 yo MTD, both the plastic and metal survived. In some places corrosion under then metal required a wire brush and repaint...but those parts are metal on both. On the other parts, the plastic didn't break but looks more worn.

Either is probably fine. If you are a dainty 5-2, maybe the power steering is a good thing. If you have more deep snow or some tight areas, the 24" may be better. If the 26" makes a difference over 24", the question would be why not 28" or 30"?

Snowmann wrote:

The Polar Force Ariens spec 205cc and 249cc engines (built by Briggs) do however include the ball bearing crankshaft journals. Competitive Briggs snow engines (all 3 Briggs trim levels as well as the Briggs-built Husqvarna Endurance series) do not have this. They have sleeve bearings.

You have to move up to the 828 OXE before you get the dual trigger steering.  The 826 has none.

slinger wrote:

You are correct. The rest of that post said they had spec'd forged crankshafts and have no switched to cast as the quality was found acceptable.  My memory faultered. My error.

slinger wrote:

Well then I'd suggest that he go for the 828OXE even if it's a bit more it's worth it. Lots of dealers have sales and many dealers (not all) will work to make the sale if they know you are buying now.

828 looks like a nice unit.  For the additional $200 (more than the 826) you get the highly coveted dual trigger steering and a 2" wider bucket, the other features are about the same as the 826.  It would be a great choice if you are looking to spend that much and want a machine that big.  The Platinum 24 will set you back about $1200 whereas the 828 goes for around $1700  (not taking into account any special deals as previously mentioned above).

The Toro site says the 826 has the freewheel steering.

I asked the question at the beginning. I am in Mass and I just got rid of a 28  year old ariens 824 that was getting tired.My driveway is small but my end of drive way is about 40 or 50 feet so that is why I need the bigger machine. The dealers I want to go with have a limited selection . Price for the Ariens was 1319 and 1400 for the Toro. I can check other dealers but these 2 are some of the best on the north shore. Not sure if I can mention names?

Looking at the Toro website I don't see much difference between the 826 and the 828.Two inches wider and a little more heavy. Steering seems to be the same on both.

Tou say you need a bigger machine.  Bigger bucket?  The Ariens you mentioned has the same size as what you've got.  More hp?  These 2 machines are both about 8hp.  Both of these should throw further than you old one due to improved throw design, impeller rpm, etc.  You need to go into more detail about what you want the new machine to do that the old one didn't.

I got rid of my old machine because it was tired. Was getting hard to keep it going. I don't need the new machine to do more than the old one. I would like it to do the same only a little better.

im45us wrote:

Seriously come up to new Hampshire that's where I live and NO sales tax as long as you have a way to haul it. I can give you the names of several good dealers in the Manchester NH area if you'd like? Sales tax is a killer in Mass, but none of that here. You might get a great deal too. Last year was slow up here for sales, not all that much snow.

I was just saw the Toro 726 and the a mix of mid range and low end Ariens at Home Depot. Side-by-side, the housing on the Toro seemed a bit thin; obvious if you tap your foot against the side of the housing where it may brush a curb. Also noticed they added a long diagonal support behind each impeller blade; it doesn't appear any other manufacturer felt the need to do this.

DavidNJ wrote:

Well that explains it it'sa much cheaper one because it's sold at Home Depot. Buy a much better one from a Toro dealer. You won't dent the better ones so easily even if you are stupidly careless and actually do find a way to drive your snowblower into a curb at high speed ala NASCAR.

Home Depot sells (and for that matter stocks) the same units as the dealers. That 726 is $1000 at Home Depot, which sells, but doesn't stock, the full Toro and Ariens line. Which, BTW, is the same as the Ariens and Toro dealer here. The Simplicity/Deere dealer has the full line on display. Below are the 726OE and 826OXE. Point out the differences.

Steve, have you considered thinking before typing?

While we are on the topic, let's add the Snapper/Simplicity 26 LARGE FRAME (I haven't looked at the MEDIUM FRAME and can't comment). You can quickly tell the difference; the Large Frame has that black auger end housing on the outside, the Medium Frame doesn't. Well built, good reviews. These have a fair amount of nose weight to keep it down and have handlebars that pushing adds traction with minimum nose lift. Build like a tank. The chute deflection and direction is electric, two switches, one near either grip. In the showroom they seem quick and accurate.  A bit awkward to manuver outside of the snow though. That same design requires quite a bit of effort to raise the nose. No steering or hand warmers on the 26". This is similar to the 30" Deere I like, although that has the same Hillard AutoLok differential as the Ariens Platinum 24".

The Husqvarna Crown 24" has the same 249cc B&S engine, the same 'power steering' as the Toro, hand warmers, ball bearings on the auger, etc. http://www.husqvarna.com/us/homeowner/products/snow-throwers/11524e/ I've looked at the 30" that has a hydrostatic transimission available. The Internet has pictures both with the closed auger design pictured here and an open one like the Ariens, Toro, and Snapper pictured above. The Husqvarna brochure shows both on the same page! The dealers can't even find out from Husqvarna. My local Husqvarna dealer has never delived a Husqvarna Crown snowblower and doesn't know either.

Looking at these pictures I noticed the Husqvarna has a similar handlebar design to the Simplicity/Snapper/Deere. Note they are both angled up in front, even more so in the Husqvarna picture. The closer they are to perpendicular to the axle centerline the less pressing on them raises the nose as it adds weight for traction. Note in the earlier pictures the Ariens and Toro are close to horizontal, tilted slightly down in front.

Looked at the Simplicity L1428E and it looks very good . Two questions. 1. chute rotation is electric and I like to keep it simple. I know that Simplicity makes a great machine but will this be something I am always fixing?  2. How important is the dealer if you are really buying a great machine. My 28 year old Ariens that I just sold was in a repair shop one time. My local Simplicity dealer only sells the signature pro models and not the other models so I will have to travel about 1 hour away for a dealer. I might as well go to New Hamshire to avoid the sales tax if I am traveling that far.

DavidNJ wrote:

It's obvious you don't think at all, unless it's anal retentive BS and yeah I can tell the differences since I have the 1028OXE which is one up from the 828 which is on the right.

You can clearly see the dual trigger controls on the rear of the handlebars and the bucket is slightly taller and wider.

You know only what you read you have no practical experience with any of these models.

Stop being a Drongo, if that's even possible for you.

That is about the features, but not about the design. Both have idential scoop designs.

You definitely sound like someone who bought the fully loaded MTD for Sears or Lowes.

DavidNJ wrote:

Since I have videos of my wife and I using the Toro 1028OXE on YouTube, clearly you are a half wit.

You are also the one who bought an MTD and will likely buy another after you have satiated your OCD in this forum.

Good luck with your Toro. Just saw a Husqvarna Crown at a Husqvarna/Toro dealer. the Toro looks and feels like Pinto compared to the Husqvarna Crown's Mercedes. Of course, the Toro was more expensive.

DavidNJ wrote:

Keep on dreaming, no way you will spend any real money on a snowblower. You'll buy at Home Depot or Sears for certain. All talk, no action.

Oh wait maybe you'll buy one at Walmart. Either way you'll end up with something that is less efficient than a motivated 12 year old with a shovel.

This is the Toro impeller. It is the only impeller where the manufacturer thought it was so weak it needed a thin stamped reinforcement:

This is the scoop on a 24" Husqvarna Crown:

Note the reinforcing bar on top, the stiffening beads all over. The thickness is even visible in this picture. It appears to be the stiffest I've seen, although I haven't compared it back to back with the Simplicity Large Frame or Pro. The auger design is 'different', and I haven't figured it out.  The handlebar geometry is the best I'be found so far. I can put my hands on the grip and press down with my weight (Must have been over 100# of force) and the scoop stays on the ground. Pulling back on the handles raises the scoop. The key is force down on the grips pushes through the axle not around it.

The console is also well laid out. The cable chute rotation is a bit ununsual, but the control is precise and easy to manage. Only the Simplicity/Deere/Snapper electric controls are easier.

By contrast the Toro looks like it should be sold at Toys-R-Us, which probably explains why Steve is comfortable with it.

Yeah ok, whatever, you are real good at posting pics. Let's see some pics of you blowing snow with whatever new machine you will supposedly buy.

I don't see any pics of you blowing snow, just blowing hot air.

DavidNJ wrote:
Yea, I am not so sure I would want to buy a snowblower that the manufacturer decided to reinforce the load bearing parts of either.

Lets get one of the plastic impellers, those are much better.

Shryp wrote:
Reminds me of the days when US auto manufacturers hung crude weights off of transmissions to counter driveline vibrations rather than have tigher production tolerances that balanced the assembly in the first place.

DavidNJ wrote:
Y.........

slinger wrote:
The 826oe is last years model and did not have power steering.
This years model which is called 826oxe does have power steering, I just bought one myself.

giocam wrote:

Congratulations!

It's a great machine, post some pics of it this winter blasting out the snow.