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. 

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. 

borat wrote:

Borat, Going to look at one tomorrow possibly with the wheel kit included. What would you say is a fair price for a good condition unit,original owner with manual? If I get it I'll shoot some pics for you.

Now that I know how well they work, I'd pay $100.00 for a good one even without wheels.  With wheels would be a real bonus.

borat wrote:

I'll keep you informed. Thats what I was thinking about. I will see what tomorrow brings.

Borat - I will gladly snap you a few photos. Look for a posting soon.

superbuick wrote:
Thanks.  Much appreciated.

Hasn't snowed here in a while.  Getting a little antsy. 

5 inches in Chicago this past Saturday.  Wet and heavy kind.  Cleared the neighbor's sidewalks too, about 5 houses worth, just extra 5 minutes to do.  Now it's really cold, temps in the teens.

Expecting some more snow on Thursday.  Hopefully it's a good amount and not so cold.   I got Friday off so bring on the snow.  :)

I picked one up today in very good running condition @ $110.00 wheel kit included. Here are the photos

Great find/buy Hirschallan.  Thanks for the pics, too.  These things are so rare and tough to find - you got a nice one.  You can clean that handle up real easily with some steel wool and WD40 if you want to bring back the shine.

How does it run?

Borat - I assume these pictures will suffice?  Let me know if you need some different angles or whatever though, and I'll be glad to snap them for you.

Nice find indeed. 

Excellent pics.  They are more than sufficient.  Thanks a million. 

The wheel assembly looks complicated to reproduce.  Certainly looks very robust and well designed.   I doubt that I will try to copy it.  Now that I have an idea of the geometry, I'll have to start looking around for some stuff to fab something a lot simpler.

The unit I bought for $50.00 was virtually new.   When I first got it, the pull start wasn't working right.  It took a very fast pull to get the engagement palls to throw out to connect with the starter cap.   The rope was still white and it was fairly stiff.  I suspect that the previous owner couldn't get the pull start to fire up the engine and just put the machine away very early in it's life.   This thing is close to being mint.  I completely pulled it apart, inspected/cleaned, lubed where required and sprayed some WD-40 under the engine starter cap.  That's all it took to loosen up the palls.  Thing fires up easily now and runs like a charm.  No belts on this thing.  All nylon gears.   These things will last  even with minimum maintenance.  Take car of the engine and it will probably be a lifer.  Not too many parts are available for these things.  Fortunately, the wear items can still be had.  We can still get rotors and scrapers for them.