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

Well, I've been deciding on a new single stage snowblower for the last 12 months, seems like forever.  I don't over-analyze, but even David would give up in frustration.  :)  Impulse buying is not in my blood, and buyer's remorse is just not acceptable.

Finally decided to pull the trigger on the Toro 421QE.  Yes, it's a 4-stroke and electric start.  Before you manly guys jump in and say I don't need electric start and save myself $100, I'll say it for you.  I don't need electric start, my wife does.  :)  .    The extra $100 is insurance for marital bliss.  Cry once and I don't have to hear the b*tching about should have, would have, da da da.  The 4-stroke was my personal decision.

So just after a week of this brand new shiny red toy sitting pretty in my garage, the time was right to play and get dirty.  Got 3.6" of snow accumulation overnight with a bit of icy crust on top.  I was hoping for a foot of snow but any accumulation more than a shovel full is welcomed.  Little red Toro 421Q went out on a maiden voyage at 06:30 AM taking on heavy density snow with enthusiasm and good speed.  I'm thoroughly satisfied with the performance and handling.  This Toro 421Q has got to be the most balanced single stage in all performance category.  The 4-stroke 163cc Loncin engine with compression release was easy to start,  quiet, smooth, and has good amount of torque.

In comparison, my 12 year-old Honda HS621 has the tenacity of a pit bull when it comes to the heavy snow.  The extremely rigid and high rotational mass auger was designed for extreme packed snow and slush.   It's a heavyweight fighter that likes to land close and determined punches.  However, the Toro 421Q is agile, fast, and extremely maneuverable.  The Quick Shoot is awesome, changing the chute direction while turning is easy and fun.  The snow discharge distance is impressive.  But in actual use, for practical reasons, I only discharge it 10 to 15 feet away.  No point trying to get maximum distance while 50% of that snow comes back at you in windy conditions.

Toro has got the drivetrain / rubber auger efficiency and user friendliness down to a science with this 21" single stage.  Designed to perfection while all the other brands are playing "me too" and catch up with Toro's auger efficiency, while attracting buyers with lower pricing, bigger engines, and loaded features. 

For comparison, the next closest competitor would be the new for this year Simplicity / Snapper SS922EX at $600.  The McCullough MC621ES is even lower price at $500, a 208cc engine, and has the longest pissing distance so far.  The problem is, it doesn't have Quick Shoot or anything remotely close.  And lastly, where can someone buy one of these?  What's the future of this brand / company?

So unless you are constantly digging out of piles left by the snowplow, or your house is the last house on a large cul-de-sac and need a 2 stage machine for 90% of the work, don't forget to give this little red wonder a try.  

As an owner of a Honda HS1132TAS and HS621, the new Toro 421QE is a definite keeper.

stresst wrote:

Don't worry the Toro 421 is a decent machine but the nasty EOD is still the realm of 2 stages. Once you actually use the 826 you'll be sold. It's tough buying something and having to wait to use it. But you'll blow through snow with the 826 that would stop the 421. Unless you get very little snow the 826 is a better machine. aa335 also has a 2 stage snowblower as well. So if it gets nasty the 421 will sit in the garage.

joed wrote:
I have no idea what engine that is in the Powerclear 180.  Although it seems quiet and smooth, the performance is very lackluster.  Definitely could use more power, a lot more.   The kind of snow that I encountered this morning would leave the Powerclear 180 spitting out snow only 3-5 feet from the chute, at a very slow walking speed, not the brisk walk speed of the 421Q.

The 180 chassis and the auger seems fine, as well as the overall design of the snowblower.  I actually like the overall package and style of it.  However, the engine is definitely not well matched to the snowblower.  One more thing, there's no reason the Powerclear 180 should not get the Quick Shoot feature, other than additional cost that will potentially cause lost sales.  At least it should get the chute directional of the electric Power Curve 1800.

Since the release of the Powerclear 180, there's been fuel leak issues which there is a safety recall.  I hope Toro is working on a solution for a different engine.  It's a very promising model with a very rocky beginning.

snowmachine wrote:
Actually, if the engine is flooded, you'd want to remove the spark plug and pull start manually to clear the accumulated fuel from the combustion chamber.  Using the electric starting would only compound the problem.

The electric start would come in handy if you do happen to break the recoil start cord though.   Maybe this is what you meant.

aa335 wrote:

Up in Canada, HD is selling the "CA$899" Toro Power Clear 221 QE for CA$675, and then tonight is the last night for a further 10% off with HD card application 1st use = CA$607.50. I am going to walk across and take a look before they close, would be a 2nd machine, have a $100 HD gift card from the 28 purchase. Any thoughts - good price? The videos linked to are real impressive.

True... I've been there with a Yamaha Phazer snowmobile with a sticky float. Talk about cylinders full of fuel. Total hydrolock with gas. aa335 wrote:

NotMoneyGuy wrote:
Is the sale ending tonight?  Is it applicable throughout all HDs in the GTA?  That's a really good price.

NotMoneyGuy wrote:
Surprising to see those promotions this early in the snow season. I would get it with that kind of deal.  Do it!  There's no doubt it is an impressive snowblower.

aa335 wrote:

Oh, yeah!  CA$607.50 + 13% tax = CA$686.48 - $100 HD gift card = CA$586.48 on new HD card. Thanks aa335. (and sorry to 2-stroke your thread temporarily).

I had a bad feeling about the walk, so I took the car. Actually the wife had the bad feeling, I had the good feeling. (I knew I would buy it.) That'll teach her to let me out of the house when I tell her a deal is almost over and I just want to take a look....

 

joed wrote:

No, only the 10% HD card application first use further discount ended at closing Dec 22/10. These come and go. My receipt shows 6 minutes to spare, took them forever to knock off the $100 gift card together with the 10% promo, had to get the manager over to call the head cashier over to pull it off.

The CA$675 price started today, I'm guessing. My store had around 9, I read some had 60. Call around, SKU 490090.

NotMoneyGuy wrote:

No, only the 10% HD card application first use further discount ended at closing Dec 22/10. These come and go. My receipt shows 6 minutes to spare, took them forever to knock off the $100 gift card together with the 10% promo, had to get the manager over to call the head cashier over to pull it off.

The CA$675 price started today, I'm guessing. My store had around 9, I read some had 60. Call around, SKU 490090.

Wow, that's an insane price.  Congratulations on getting a great snowblower for such a good price.  I was at HD today and they seem to have a lot of these left over.  I just bought a toro 826 two stage a few weeks ago.  Now, I'm looking at the 221q and I'm so tempted to buy it but that would be overkill.  In addition, there's the issue of space too.  So, I started looking at the little powerclear 180.  I can fold that one and tuck it away nicely and maybe use it on small snowfalls.  They also had it on special at $374 but I'm not sure if it's a good unit or not?  It looks well-built but I'm not sure if that engine is any good.