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

TMI! LOLOL! I can't find the 2450 locally and want to buy that away. The Power Clear 180 is very tempting too and available here. Just not sure if it has enough power. Though we usually get 1-4" of snow at a time.
The other machine is a McCulloch MC621ES but I can't find any reviews on it.

kellyinkc wrote:

I think the one on the left is a Toro 221 or 421 which finished ahead despite shorter throw distance. The one on the right is a Honda 520, which I felt was rammed in snow to purposely stall, the guy just gave up standing around for a few seconds before restarting the engine.

The McCullough does have the longest throw out of the three snowblowers.  However, nothing beats this one: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_O6g_uHAA4&feature=related

Anyways, I'm not saying the Mccullough is bad or good, but with the company shaky history, I'd be a little cautious buying a product with unknown support later on.

aa335 wrote:
Thats a Honda?  I could not tell. I was thinking that too, what about support after the sale. So it seems the Toro is the best option.

kellyinkc wrote:
In the video showing three snowblowers, the one on the right is the Honda 520.  If you ram it into heavy snow, it will stall.  Been there, done it.

As far as support, Toro dealers and Ace Hardware are all over, at least in my area.  Toro single stage have been pretty reliable, reasonably well built, and I think Toro went the extra mile to make it the most user friendly.   To me, I don't want a machine with just grunt power, I want some finesse or refinement too.  Not saying that the Mcculloch doesn't have any, but I haven't seen it in person to say anything negative or positive about it.

superbuick wrote:
I may have found one!
http://kansascity.craigslist.org/grd/2028432777.html
I need to go check it out. Hopefully it is not too bad.

Well, did you get it?

aa335 wrote:
No....... By the time I saw it and called it was gone. :( That fast. I am a little leary of buying used though. The unknown on how the engine was treated.

Sounds like a new 221QR is your best bet.

Hey Kellyinkc,

MTD products are distributed under quite a few brand names and the differences between like products may be nothing more than the color, the logo, and the price tag.

No doubt the buy for resale business is thriving.

I purchased a MTD Snowblower 10 years ago and not only did MTD discontinue the model line but specific parts are no longer available either.

When I spoke to the people at MTD I was asked how old the machine was which was followed by an Oh Well!

Trying every warehouse on the internet It did not take me long to realize that  I now have a new yard ornament because the parent company has decided it no longer wants to support a legacy product. It is really kind of a shame because other that one critical broken part that costs around $25.00 the thing runs like a champ.

To have the part custom made would end up costing a small fortune so I decided to spend the extra bucks and purchase an Ariens Pro model.

Although the high end commercial version machines are more expensive the parts are not likely to change or be discontinued.

Quite frankly I have more than enough lawn ornaments.

Starwarrior

Curious.  What is the factory number of your machine?  What part did you have trouble with?

Hi Trouts2

MTD YARD MACHINES (SNOW THROWER) 26 INCH TRAC DRIVE MODEL:315E740F352  ENG: 8HP TECHUMSEH

The Rear Track Drive wheel  is no longer available.  (Part MTD631-0002)

I replaced 1 last year and should have ordered both. As soon as I replaced the broken one the other side started to show the same stress cracks .......!@#&%C$*&%C$

I looked around but to none are available and  I really do not want to take a chance and have the thing break down right in the middle of a storm.

It really doesn't owe me anything and has given me quite a few years of solid service. When I contacted MTD in effort to find one they kind of just shrugged it off.

Starwarrior