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

Hey, welcome to the forum.

I've recently bought a 421QE and just wrote a quick review about a week ago.  I've gotten 3 hours use and so far have not experienced any fuel leaks.  Your case is the first one I heard of fuel leak.

There  are several other new 221Q / 421Q owners that have been very happy with it and not had fuel leaks.

I don't like buying from snowblowersdirect.  I find their pricing deceptive.  Marked up higher than MSRP, then given a discount. 

Even with delivery charge, my local dealer price is still lower.

I pretty much agree with aa335.  I  like to support the local dealer.

aa335 wrote:

This is in reference to the 180...  Not all 180's leaked.  I bought two last year and neither of these leaked.  But I still took these in for the recall as I didn't trust these longer term.  I never heard of the other Toro's having an issue so this is new to me.

allenm wrote:
I know this forum attracts people who are interested in 2 stage snowblower.  But singles perform so well in most situation that it's worth mentioning.

I have also bought a new 421QE and used it 3 times so far.  I agree with what everyone says about the quick chute control - awesome!

I have no fuel leak problem - and have not read of any  - with the 421's.  The only problem I have read about - is some blow back past the

bottom scraper - in some past reviews.

I personally think the 421 Toros are the top single stage blowers presently offered.

Catt wrote:
I could have bought mine from a nearby state that comes with free shipping and no sales tax.  After hearing too many reports of damaged shipping, I don't want to deal with that.  My local dealers are pretty decent so they get my support.  I'm not the type who tie their time with questions about the product only to drive to another big box store to save a few dollars.  If people provide value-added services, they should be properly compensated. 

Just registered to post a link to another reference to a possible Toro 421 fuel leak, but I don't seem to be able to do that.
Here's the link,but you will need to copy and paste to access it.

I'm sorry to say everyone. I purchased my Toro 421Q in Dec 2009. Didn't really used it much in Jan 2010 (maybe 3 times) becuase the lack of snow fall. But the winter of 2010 was here and went to use my 421Q. It was fine after use until gas leaked out into the garage. The smell travelled through out the house. I tell ya, that scared the heck out of my wife and I. At first, i did a google search on gas leak problems on my Toro. Really didn't find any thing and pertain to my model.  I took the unit to the dealer I purchased it from and they said that it could be the carburator. When they looked into it, the said it was my gas i used was dirty and cause the valve to stay opened. After it was all said and done, it cost me $120 of cleaning and repairs. I sucked it up and paid for the repairs.

Now with the snowfall on Saturday Jan 8th, 2011, I fired it up and used it. No problem and no gas leak. However, 5am in the morning, my wife wakes me up and said she smells gas. Of course, I check the garage, looked at the Toro and all of the gas leaked out. I will call my dealer and asked him to what going on. Also, I really hoping he will not charge me another ridiculous amount for repairs that should be covered by Toro.

I will let everyone know how that goes.

I just have a super hard time believing that Toro dealers are not that helpful.  Toro dealers in my area are pretty good and helpful.  I just don't understand why people are paying for repairs that should be covered under the warranty period.

For those of you that are experiencing a safety related problem, (and a gas leak certainly qualifies), here's some CPSC information.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC’s Hotline at (800) 638-2772, teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. Consumers can obtain this press release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov.

If the CPSC gets enough complaints, Toro will be required to correct the problem.

CharlesW wrote:
Where's the link?  Looks like the moderator removed it.  Is it a taboo to post link to another forum?

Here's what the link said -  " 421 QE leaking fuel

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aa335 wrote: Evidently the link was removed by a moderator.
I did try to find any reference to what links could or could not be posted before I posted and didn't find where posting a link to another forum was prohibited.
Obviously it is.
No big deal, but a simple PM or notation as to why it was removed would have been nice.
I think it is called common courtesy.
That said, I will say "So Long" since I will probably be removed anyway.

You just described my problem exactly.  Oil sump was full of fuel so off to the dealer it went.  Parts are on backorder and it will probably cost me because they thought that the carb was dirty due to old fuel.  I have called Toro and they don't have a recall on this model but probably should have based on the number of people having this same problem of leaking fuel.

To people that have fuel leak on the 421q, what is the first 4 numbers of the unit serial number ?

Is fuel leakage still a problem or has Toro addressed the problem on the 2010/11 421QE's?

jackrabbit000 wrote:
I'm not sure if these problems are isolated or epidemic.  The 421Q model has been out 3 years.  1 year with Tecumseh engine, 2 years with the Loncin engine.

CharlesW wrote:
Don't worry, you're not a troublemaker.

I've read the Terms of Use and the policy for external link is loosely worded.

We've got characters here who's done worse and they are still here. 

Actually, I have no problem with the link being removed.
What I didn't care for was the fact it was removed with no comment as to why.
Obviously, they don't have to explain their actions to me, but common courtesy would have been to either post or PM me why the link was removed.
I'm not really sure I care to be part of a forum where they practice censorship under the guise of moderation.

And yeah, I know how the game is played.
I have been both an administrator and a moderator of a forum.

Catt wrote:

Toro had a gas related recall on some of the 2450/3650 units some years ago. My serial # was not affected but there was a run of machines that were. If memory serves correctly it had to do with tanks splitting. It seems every time a manufacturer changes a supplier in order to save $ something goes wrong. Toro is pretty good when it comes to dangerous situations like fuel leaks and that is why it is a good idea to register your machine with them. They are not so good if the recall isn't dangerous. I had a $1200 mower with an engine failure issue that affected about 40% of the units but because it wasn't a safety hazzard they treated it with benign neglect.

Marc

I work in a business where a prospective customer comes in wanting things produced exactly or almost the same as what their current supplier is giving them and 20% lower target price. This is after 5+ years of price reduction.

Brilliant! Squeeze the existing supplier dry then come to us to see if we can do better.  No quote ,thank you. :).

Now you know why things are made elsewhere but here. We could not afford our own American made products. Give a thought next time you make a discount store purchase. We are driving our own jobs away. Sorry to digress. I'm getting old and cynical :)