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

I see an MTD single stage, 5 h.p. 21" width, with a two cycle Tecumseh engine in it for sale locally for $200.00.  Looks to be in good shape. 

Does anyone have any experience with this model and if it's a good/reliable performer and buy or not?  

I would say that is too much to spend.  I had one that plugged up constantly.  I don't remember the HP, but it was a 2 cycle Tecumseh and 21".  Maybe mine was just worn out as it was given to me used and I never replaced the rubber on it.  It probably could have used a new belt too, but I tightened up the old one and it seemed fine.

It never had and problems starting or running, but you should be able to find one for half that price.  I have heard the Toros and Hondas are much better single stagers.

I'd most certainly prefer a two cycle Toro.  However, I've never seen a used one listed for sale anywhere around here and I have NO intentions of buying a new one.  

  If in ok shape those are pretty good machines.  I know two pro guys who use them for cleanup.  They love MTDs.  It's been a long time but I think the one I had was 4hp and ok.  I've never paid more than $50 for a single stage outside of $100 for a mint CCR2000E and $200 for a new Toro 2450.  They don't have fuel shutoffs so if left in the right storage conditions like full tank, hot, dry location they crap up quickly.  I got a two year old Powerlite for $50 from a guy with big house and wagon Lexus.  He hardly used it, left the gas in the first year so it just hung around.   He picked up a two stage and just did not care about the bucks.  

 

Funny thing is that the following is now being advertised.

"small-mid size electric start, gas,  two cycle,Toro Snowthrower approx. 6 years old"

I'm thinking that it might be something equivalent to the Power Clear 221QE. 

I've asked for more details in order to confirm what it is.  They're asking way too much for it $475.00.  Claim they paid $1200.00 which I wouldn't doubt from the local Toro gouger.   Nonetheless, a new 221QE can be had at Home Depot for $599.00. 

From the info provided, If you had to guess what it is, what do you think it would be?

New info....

It's a CCR2000, the manual says it's  a 38181-3900001 & up??? 

It's supposed to be in very good shape.  What would you say it's worth?  

My guess would be that it's a Toro Snow Commander.  That's the only one that with gouging may have sold for over $1000.  Just a guess.

Never mind...in light of the new info.

Any idea what it would be worth if in excellent condition?

 I'm confused over what you wrote.

If it was advertised as a 6 year old they paid $1200 for and asking $475 the poster is a hose head and someone I would stay away from .  I don't follow up any wacko posts. 

I think the new info section refers to the above in that you learned it was a 38181 which I assume is the same price, $475.  If that's right then the money is silly.

Comments on price related to eastern Mass.

Around here 2000's go for $20-$300 asking and I'm not sure how many actually sell at the higher price.  The 39xxxxx serial is 1993 and a lot of years.  It would have to be in excellent shape for the high price.  I would not pay that though.  The most I ever payed for one was $100 and it was in excellent external condition but would not start.  Every once in a while I take a chance.  That's what you want is dead meat.  You can get one running in an hour so dead is price goes down.   Won't start is almost always crapped carb.  Worse case you do a ring job.  Over the last few years I've had I think 4 2000's the rest well under $100.  All turned out to have good motors.  Your always taking a chance on single stages with compression so I would not pay much.  I'd rather pay low bucks and put the money into parts and end up with something strong than pay high and take a chance possibly endind up with the same repair as a $20 machine.  If one has had the paddles changed I don't buy it.  If worn paddles I don't buy it. 

You're going to mess with any SS you get so get a low price dead whatever that won't start.

trouts2 wrote:
Trouts:

I'll give you a bit more info that I've received.

The woman selling the machine said that her parents bought it for her as a house warming gift six years ago from the local Toro/Ariens super-gouger.  She says they paid $1200.00 for it, thus her expected high re-sale price.  I e-mailed her back advising her that her parents had been shafted and just because they were hosed, doesn't make the machine any more valuable.  I offered her $200.00 if it's in good condition.  She countered with $300.00.   These things are very scarce around here.  Maybe one or two a season show up in local classifieds, so, if it's in excellent shape, I might spring for  a couple hundred.  It's still $476.00 less than a new one at HD. 

We'll have to see how it goes.

Borat,

Does that come with a controverial friction disk drive?

MN_Runner wrote:
Ahhhhhh, no.

Why do you want to buy a single stage snowblower?  What void would that fill?

MN_Runner wrote:

Because I don't have one.   I like toys/tools and in particular, two cycles.  

MN_Runner, excellent point, the friction disk model (CCR200E-FD) is very rare and probably accounts for the $1200.  If FD equipped I'd snag it in a heartbeat.  You can show it at the Fiction Disk Convention 2011 nest spring in New Jersy.

>>>The woman selling the machine said that her parents bought it for her as a house warming gift six years ago

How can that be?  There is no such thing as a 6 year old CCR2000E.  ??  Is the thing a 38181?

>>from the local Toro/Ariens super-gouger.  She says they paid $1200.00 for it, thus her expected high re-sale price. 

I get fed crapola every week.  Deelers don't go crazy gouging they have to say within limits or loose their dealership.  $1200 is fantacy land made up by the lady.

>>These things are very scarce around here.  Maybe one or two a season show up in local classifieds, so, if it's in excellent shape, I might spring for  a couple hundred.  It's still $476.00 less than a new one at

   OK, your in a different ballgame than here for sure.  There's several a week here and that does not include what get up and sold in one day so the listing disappears in hours or a day. 

>>I offered her $200.00 if it's in good condition.  She countered with $300.00.

(I just realized I have no idea what the Lunney is worth in US).   My stuff has been in US dollars.

At $250-$300 sight unseen what would you really want to pay factoring in bad rings, scraper worn, augers worn?  Would that total be when all replaced?  Close or away enough to a new one and worth the risk?   You can get a Toro 2450 or other better models for $300 around here.    Come to Boston for a week, by a bunch of machines cheap and take them back to Canada.

Loonie and U.S. buck are at par. 

Can't see myself spending a grand or more to go to Mass. to pick up used Toro single stage snow blowers to bootleg in Canada.   Not good business...  Know what I mean? 

The woman changed the age of the machine to 4 years old.  Does that sound right?   Don't doubt the $1200.00.   The Toro/Ariens dealer in this town is outrageous.   I've heard numerous horror stories about that particular dealership and experienced parts price gouging first hand.  I'd suspect the price is also including our famous 13% in taxes.   

Either way, if she's receptive to my offer, maybe I'll pick it up. 

Borat,

Ask the woman what she does with the leftover wine after the guests are gone?  If she says the wine is discarded then do not buy the snowblower as she is a liar.  But if she says she is saving it for a next party then she is telling the truth.  But do not buy that snowblower as she did not pay $1200 regardless whether it has super FD or not. 

Borat,

Does she look like a honest seller?

The 4-6 years old eliminates it being a CCR2000 so I don't understand where the 38181 comes in.  It may be she has some old user manual she thinks belongs with a much newer model. 

The models ran CCR2000, 3000, ? I think 2450, 3450 then three or four up to 2010 so lots of years between the 2000 and 6 years ago.  It just seems fishey.  If it's really a 6 year old machine then any > 4-5 hp would be very new and $300 a good price for up there.  They sell for that and more here, depending on the model much more. 

Whatever.  As long as the case is nice you can fix anything so not a big deal.  A good running CCR2000E all the way up through the >5hp newer models are nice machines.  You'll probably love it, sell the oil gulping Simplicity and throw in with the single stage redneck aa35 who is selling off his Hondas to by more Toro SS's. 

I'm flattered that you call me a redneck, perhaps a Freudian slip, but I'm not the one running vagabond snowblowers through cemetery. By the way, the only Honda going up for sale is the two stage, only to make room for a smaller Yamaha.

AA335,

When are you going to Canada to pick the BLUE machine?

I'm not an impulsive buyer, so no plans for the immediate. We'll see if Yamaha decides to bring them to the US. I'm not familiar with the logistics of bringing one from Canada. Also, I don't know how Honda will respond to Yamaha competition. Perhaps a HS928TCD with dual electric motors for the tracks, plus the usual Teflon lined chute. Honda in the US have been unchallenged for 15 years so we get the watered down models which leaves it open for criticism why such a high priced machine isn't aptly advanced and equipped.

Sorry for going off topic.

aa335 wrote:

There is a lot of truth to the unchallenged Honda mentality. Again, off topic, but last year, when I was looking for a generator, well, if you want one that is quite, and can run 12 hours a day, for days on end, you get a Yamaha, or a Honda (there may be others in the U.S.). So for the same price, same output, the Honda, doesn't have the extra features, no Boost, and get this, NO WHEELS, you have to buy a Wheel Kit. How crazy is that, 150lb generator, and no flipping wheels. Needless to say, I got the Yamaha, so that is twice now Honda has lost out to Yamaha with me.

Yes Honda does need a little competition, get them back to adding some features. And for the record, I am not a Honda basher, love their vehicles, owned two of them, just think they need a little more competition in the OPE area, make them beef up the features for the price they are charging!!!

trouts2 wrote:
The woman was getting the model/serial no. data from a manual(s) she has.  Might be for the wrong machine considering where the unit was purchased.   She's supposed to e-mail me a few pics today.  Maybe that will help identify what it is.  

Personally, I'd like an older unit in great shape with a Suzuki engine in it.   Not sure what the record is for the R-Tek engine.  I know that I can massage a Suzuki two cycle engine to make more power with no ill effects.  Not sure if I can do that with an R-Tek.  

Not a chance of selling the oil guzzling Simplicity.  I'll re-power it first.   Up here, a single stage will manage most snowfalls we have.  However, two or three times a year, it would be sorely over-matched.  

rubinew wrote:

I love Honda Generators. I owned one for 8 years, a 6500ES which I used for emergency power at my house, probably ran it no more than 100 hours, the thing was a work of art. I put it on craigslist 2 years ago when I got a whole-house generator, I sold it within 2 hours for every penny I paid for it. So I got one of their 2000 watt quiet generators which is another jewel. I use it primarily when I need some power far away from the house for power tools; my family uses it for camping. I purchased it because those things are like currency for boat owners. In 10 years, I'll be able to sell it for what I paid for it yet again. The Yamahas are good too, no doubt. But the market is such that people love the Honda generators and they'll pay a premium for them.

tkrotchko wrote:

Oh I agree, Honda generators are excellent. Up here, in non electric camping, you either see Red or Blue, that is the choice of camping. Every so often, someone new will pick up a champion for Canadian Tire, or Costco. It only takes a few hours before they realize they can't hear themselves think!  Of course some will get real long extension cords, stick them in the bushes, but they won't last the summer, so away they go.

What irritated me about Honda, was the extra charges for wheels. I expect if I am going to pay that much for a quality product, I should not have to spend some more, to put wheels on it, that is the only reason I started looking at Yamaha.

I have friends that have either, and both are same db, same power (2800 watts), reliability, etc, and price. I do hope that Yamaha contiues to push in the Canada market, and makes a push into the U.S. market, it will only help us as consumers.

rubinew wrote:

Agreed.  Let's hope Yamaha doesn't water down their models.  I already have a watered down red bucket, no need for a blue one too. 

How effective are single stage machines on grades?  Do they need assistance to get up hill or will they pull themselves up?

Any comments on the Tecumseh two cycle engine?  The Toro deal went south.  The woman was flip flopping on price, whether she wanted to sell it or not etc. etc......  So I gave her an ultimatum which she refused so I'm now onto a Craftsman single state with electric start, in very good shape for $150.00.