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

Quick intro: From eastern Mass (half way between Boston and Providence RI). Need to invest in a snow blower that is robust yet easy to steer - well, one that has a good steering system. I'm about to have L4 & L5 vertebrae fused and during the healing process will need a blower that won't make me screw things up by bulling it around. Anyway, been doing a lot of research (lots of free time - disabled from work until back is fixed) and I am narrowing my search down to the Toro's OEX's (Power Max 826OEX, 828OEX, or 1028 OEX) and the Husky with power steering and the high impeller speed (11524E & 14527E) Questions, how do these steer? At this point that is the priority, I will tackle the other differences later. OR do you know of a RELIABLE machine that needs no body twisting or pulling to steer it. (I read reports that Troy-Bilt have unreliable reverse gears) thanks -Bill

Norfolker wrote:

Yeah, my wife is a real gem.

I think it's best to try out whatever units you can and buy the one you like the best. i don't know who makes Husky. I know Toro makes Toro. The Toro has an auger shear pin but does not have a differential shear pin. It's not easy to break a Toro shear pin. My machine has thrown chunks of granite, sucked in a Christmas wreath that coiled wire all around the auger and all that did was slow it down. Some other posters with Toro's have pulled even worse stuff into the bucket. Their Toro's are still running! I can't speak for Husky as they don't sell them in my area. If you can find people who own them and ask them as well as testing it out yourself. Toro is very reliable and starts with 1 pull and for me that's super important. Just try and get the dealer to work on your machine in season. At my dealer it won't happen, as it takes 2-3 weeks minimum. Find out your dealers service time during peak season, you might be surprised.

I am not  familiar with the Toro power steering, but here  in NB Canada, there are many Husqvarna and Husqvarna built Craftsman

snowblowers.  I have found that the power steering used on these machines( the 2 little levers under the hand grip) works very well and is easy to operate.

nothing complicated. just releases power to either drive wheel,for a gradual or zero radius turn.

royster wrote:

That is basically what Toro uses. Since we don't have Husqvarna dealers around here I have no way to compare them.

So far my Toro even with all the plastic on it has proved very durable.

thanks guys

yes Steve, I need to find someone who has a Husky, that's why I'm here < grin >

I appreciate the feedback about the "stuff" you've eaten with your 1028. That's incredible. Hope you don't find the neighbor's dog the same way (sorry)

and thanks royster, as Steve says, sounds like how a Toro works.

and I assume for both, when you pull both triggers, both wheels freewheel for easy maneuvering in the shed/garage

Norfolker wrote:

I hope you find someone who actually owns a Husky. I'd like to see one for myself. I would be able to tell if it was a similar design or a bit different. I certainly hope no dog would lie down under 20" of snow and not move with a loud snowblower coming right at it.

As far as manuvering, yes, with the Toro it freewheels when you pull both triggers, so the Husky might be the same.

Still I wonder who actually manufacters Husky?

Actually, Huskys don't have grip controls.  It's just "GEE  HAW" and then "MUSH" to start out.  After that, a single "GEE" or "HAW" will suffice for a turn in the appropriate direction.

The Husky , as you call it, is manufactured by Husqvarna, with 3 factories in the USA and mamy other around the world.   Their head office is in Sweden.

Steve_Cebu wrote:
Steve and everyone else:  I don't own a Husqvarna snowblower, but I have used one for a few extensive snow removal sessions at an elementary school I once worked at about 4 years ago.  I can't recall the model number, but it is 30" wide and has a 11HP (pre-torque/cc figure days) engine.  The Husky turned quickly enough when gripping one of the triggers.  It's not smooth turning like an Ariens differential unit.  The Husky was great for the on-a-dime turn.  To smoothly go around a corner, you have to grip and re-grip a few times to sort of imitate a smooth turn.  It's no big deal.  The point is that you don't have to muscle anything.  I must assume Toro's steering triggers have a similar effect when in use.  Triggers are triggers, I guess. (Update of 10-28-11:  After having bought a three-year-old Toro 1028LXE on 10-23-11, I tried out the steering.  It was very easy.  How it would compare to a new or very recent Husky, I don't know.  The one I used at work is from the 2006-2007 season.

Everything I've heard about Husqvarna snowblowers is that they build their own stuff.  Same for everything else they make, I assume, like lawn mowers and weed wackers, etc.

Steve, I don't think you'll find much is different with Ariens, Simplicity, and Husky.  Ariens has added cast-iron gear boxes across their entire regular line of blowers, and they have beefed up their control deck to 12-gauge steel, and they have a new halogen light.  They still have the ATC.

coasteray wrote:

Yes, my Toro will turn very quickly but speed is dependant on how fast you are going. In 5th gear it will turn very fast if you just grab the lever. The Toro is variable so if you squeeze a little it turns a little, squeeze a lot and it'll whip around in it's own radius. Cast Iron gearboxes are mostly just marketing. I was a machinist for a lot of years and we did work with cast iron, cast aluminum some of the time. Quality of the cast is a big factor not just the material. It's the gears inside the housing that concern me more. The Toro and Ariens gears seem pretty robust so the outside box being cast iron or aluminum isn't as big an issue for me.

I'd really like to find a dealer locally that has a Husky so I could check it out and compare it to the Toro.

Here's a link for the Husqvarna Dealer Locator: http://www.husqvarna.com/us/forest/dealers/dealer-locator/