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

I picked up this old 1983 Toro Power Shovel for dirt cheap.  I found some info on the internet, took it apart to inspect/clean/adjust/lubricate.  Put it all back together and gave it a test run.  These things are incredible!  We've had some serious heavy wet snow here recently.  Not real big dumps.  Maybe 3 to 4 inches at a time.  Certainly deep and wet enough to be difficult to shovel.   I bought this thing for clearing off our fairly large deck.  Couldn't be happier with it's performance.  Why Toro ever stop making these with the gas engine is beyond me.   For it's diminutive size, and little 21cc two stroke engine, this thing can move a lot of snow. 

I've been looking for one of these last several weeks.  I have not come across one yet.

From what' I've seen on videos, it does fairly good job.  Very light and powerful.

They only made them for three years apparently.   The one I got is the first year of production.   When I first got it, I notice that the pull start was not working properly.  I pulled on it numerous times and it just wouldn't engage the engine.   It took a ridiculously fast pull to get the engagement palls to engage.  I could see that being very annoying.   I took it apart and saw that the machine is virtually unused.  The pull start rope was still white, everything inside was clean as a whistle.  Compression is excellent as is the power.  The snow rotor looked virtually new.    I've come to the conclusion the pull start mechanism must have malfunctioned early in the machine's life and it was put a way in a shed left for dead. 

Other than the pull start, there wasn't anything else that needed fixing.  I fixed the pull start problem by spraying WD-40 into the cap that holds the engagement palls.  Thing works like a charm and is so light and functional that it's actually fun to use. 

Nice score on that mint unit.  I wanted to get a powered shovel to clean around the deck but don't want to deal with frozen electrical cord.  Unfortunately, Toro only offer the electric power shovel, which has the power curve rotor that I like, but not the cord part.  I was thinking of combining the Toro electric power shovel with my Stihl Kombi Motor powerhead, but that would make it heavy and unwieldy.  I might try it some day just for the heck of it.

If you're ever want to unload that little Toro gas power shovel, I'll be interested in buying it.

I've got one of those units - its amazing. Great find borat! Works great for clearing off decks/patios/etc when there isnt too much snow, but you dont feel like shoveling or sweeping. A friend and I put some videos up on youtube of us using it last year in about 3 inches of snow.

Yeah, those were awesome videos.  I like how powerful they are without electrical cords getting in the way.

As much as I like it, I'd love to find a wheel kit for it. 

Anyone out there know of a kit looking for a machine to put it on?

Funny you should say "wheel kit".   I was thinking if I wanted a wheel kit for it, it would become a Toro S-200 with vanes.  I mean after using the power shovel for some time, it may become tiring and I might want it to move a little smoother or maybe pull itself forward.

Do you think a pair of skids would work better than wheels?

"Do you think a pair of skids would work better than wheels?"

I'm not sure how skids would do.  I suspect that they might interfere with the skid plate on the bottom of the machine.  The wheels allow the machine to tilt forward for full contact of the skid plate then angle back to lift it completely off the surface.   If skids were to be used, they'd have to circular and positioned similar to the wheels to get the same effect.

 I saw the video of a guy using a wheeled power shovel and it sure looked like the way to go. 

The wheel kit definitely makes a huge difference. The video you saw is at my friends house, his unit has the wheel kit. Mine does not, and it is not as easy or convenient to use as the one with the wheel kit. Mind you, its still great, the wheels just make it better. I had a thought similar you yours aa335, but after trying his unit with the wheels I was sold on it.

Yeah.  It's a pretty sweet deal the way it is.  Wheels would be too good to be true. 

I haven't ruled out fabbing something myself.    I'm going to look around for a couple small stroller wheels, some high tensile stainless steel strapping to mount a ss axle.  Figuring out the geometry will be the tough part. 

Superbuick:  Is there any way you can get a couple picks of your friend's power shovel with the wheel kit so that I can see how things line up?  If possible, it would be greatly appreciated.