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

So I FINALLY got to use it the other day. First thing I did was shake the 2 cycle can for a few minutes to make sure it was well mixed. Then I poured it in the tank. I took my glove off and pressed the primer bulb twice covering that little nub. Turned the key to on set the choke and pulled. It started on the third pull. First time starting. Cool!
We received about 7 inches of snow.

That Quick Shoot is just down right cool. I debated whether I wanted it and a glad I splurged. I did not try the electric start.
I have a flat double concrete drive and the Toro had it done in about ten minutes. SO much easier than shoveling plus I am not getting any younger. There is a learning curve but that is part of the fun! IT does throw the snow far, it was powdery. ON the EOD is bogged down a little but did not stall. On shut down it sounds just like a Lawnboy, given the engines heritage.
I am impressed with it and would buy another.

borat wrote:
My neighbor has a 221Q and I have the 421Q.  In medium weight snow, the throwing distance is similar.  Neither engines are taxed too much.  They are so close that I don't notice the 421Q has more throwing distance.

However, when pushed into a cement thick snow, the 421Q will not loose RPM as quickly and still has enough rotor speed to eject the snow out of the chute.  The 421Q engine is quite gutsy and does 9.5/10 as well as the older Honda HS621 in this kind of situation. 

The 221Q would slow down and does not have enough velocity to push the thick toothpaste out the chute, instead it will spill out in front of the rotor.   However, surprisingly, the 2 stroke engine still have enough grunt to keep the rotor turning, just very slowly.

aa335:

Do you know what rpms the four stroke runs at?   Who makes the engine in the 421Q? 

The 221QE is supposed to be set at 4000 +/- 100 rpm.   Before adjusting mine, it was running between 3700-3800 according to the mini tach.   When I set it to 4100, there was a noticeable difference in power.  I'm wondering if your neighbour's 221Q engine is running at the correct speed?   Either way, four strokes are supposed have more torque and being a few ccs. larger than the R-tek, the added displacement should also increase torque.  

@borat and others who may be interested

I guess I should set the stage and provide some background info in case someone would question the performance of the 221Q versus the 421Q.

Both engines are in stock form.  No modifications were made to either.  My 421Q is new, so it has factory setting.  My neighbor's 221Q is 3 years old, may or may not be in top operating tune.  He hasn't messed with it so I assume it is factory setting.  So what I was comparing to is factory stock.  His paddles are a little more worn than mine so that might skewed the observation somewhat.

I don't know what RPM the four stroke runs at, but the engine is Loncin 163cc, probably a Honda GX160 clone.   Have not dig into the specs yet.  It sounds very similar to a genuine GX160 engine.  The GX160 has a more subdued sound, the Loncin has a little sharper bark to it.