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

Just the ones I use. 

I second the banning of Ariens selling single stage units. I had the same one and my brother has one. It only throws in 1 direction.  Turn the chute and it plops out and goes nowhere. Love my Toro single stage units.

Knee_Biter wrote:
Mine would only throw straight ahead which for a 7hp machine was ridiculous.  And I made sure that all the belts and such were to specs.  Another disaster that I owned was a 2-cycle 4hp Ariens METRO two stage snow blower.  I'm feeling a bit queasy just remembering that calamity. 

knee_biter
Thanks for taking the time to post the pictures and doing it so quickly.  Makes a huge difference being able to actually see the piece. 

That is similar to what I was going to fabricate. But I was planning to bend it in a little further towards the top of the chute.  So that the show would be guided or directed in more towards the main stream. I was also going to put one on both side leaving at least 2 1/2" in the center of the two. Maybe a little shorter as well.  And use stainless steel.  

Knee_Biter wrote:
What Toro single stage model would you recommend?   I'm looking for something when we don't get enough snow to fire up the 11.5hp machine.  I thought the Ariens 722 single stage would fit the bill but no luck...as you know.

I have a toro 2450 and love it.  It is an older model but I think there are still a few new ones floating around.  Do a google search and see if you can find one.  Even if you have it shipped in. Cant go wrong. Or look on Craigslist for a used one.

http://www.acmetools.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product4_10052_10101_65893_66674_-1?cm_mmc_o=7BBTkw*4wygtzEf*mtB55bET*VyBpAgfl&cvsfa=2702&cvsfe=2&cvsfhu=3636363734

Knee_Biter wrote:
Thanks.  I'll start looking for one.

MN_Runner wrote:

Wow such big compliments  actually my wife is filming me and I am filming her. She says thank you. I am using currently a Canon 870is a truely fantastic camera. Canon makes really great cameras. Too bad they no longer make the 870is. Thankfully I will be getting a HD Camcorder for a late B-day present and we are getting a GoPro HD Hero camera as soon as the LCD bacpac is released for it. We WILL be mounting it on the snowblower!

We were at the indoor go kart track this evening and really wished we had it. I lapped my wife 3 times!!! LOL The track also uses GoPro cameras. I think your son did a pretty good job considering he nearly got blasted by the snow, haha. See a quick chute would have swung it right out of the way and more to the left. Oooooh can't wait to see a GoPro mounted on the Toro and in Hi-Def!

Just curious why you don't use YouTube? They convert the video for you and format it and everything. believe it or not I currently edit my videos on my PS3 with the free software and can even upload to YouTube from the PS3! Cool stuff!

Tell your son he might get famous and his friends can watch him on YouTube.

I'm looking forward to your next video.

Steve & Cathy

If you want something that is really, really easy to move around.  Light enough to hang on your wall or pick up to cut down drifts. The little old Toro Snow Master 20, S200 or S620 are great little blowers.  Good for up to about 4 or 6"  But they will blow any kind of slush and never clog the chute, because there is no chute.  I've even blown 2" puddles of water and slush.

You can find used ones all over the place. For between $100.00 and $125.00 in really good shape and around $75.00 for good runners. Or $40.00 for beaters.  You usually want to put a new carb diaphragm in them for about $7.00 or $3.00 of Ebay.
I carry one around on the back of my truck on a hitch bracket I made.  They only throw about 10 to 15'. Not exactly a Tim Taylor machine. But they are fun little workhorses.

Here is my fleet:

Honda HS520AS, 2005 model                                Honda HS1132TAS, 2009 model



                     Honda HS621A, 1999 model                                               Toro 421QE, 2011 model




Out of these 4 machines, the Toro 421QE is my personal favorite.  It's perfect. 
Well balanced handling, convenient Quick Shoot, good throwing distance, and the engine has serious grunt and power to deal with slush and EOD piles.

AA335,

A nice army of Toros and Hondas. 

All we need is a snowblower video called "The Ressurection of Forgotten Snowblower Going Over the Deads".  I highly recommend Trouts for this highly anticipated movie clip.