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

I have had my Toro 421QE for 2 years with no problems.  I got the recall letter from Toro this summer and I took it into a local dealer to get the recall fix applied.  I picked up my snowblower from the dealer, took it straight home, and placed it in the garage where it has sat untouched since September.  I changed the oil on it this morning and decided to start it up.  I noticed that the key was left in the "on" position.  It started fine, but when I decided to turn it off, I found out that turning the key to the "off" position no longer stops the engine.  I was able to apply maximum choke as the only way to kill the engine.  I called the dealer and asked him if this was a problem why they wouldn't notify me about it when I picked the snowblower up.  They said the key might have went faulty in the meantime while it was sitting in my garage.  Sounds fishy to me.

Is it truly possible that the key could have went bad in 3 months of no use in a dry garage?  I am wondering if they just didn't bump a wire or something.  I do not know a lot about snowblowers, but I looked at the diagram and this model does not look too complex.  Does anyone know if this might be a quick fix that I could do myself? Key and switch parts look pretty cheap on the Toro store website.

Thanks!

So I just checked under the cover and saw that the wires are not hooked up to the switch.  I think I could easily hook that back up.  How can the snowblower run while it is not hooked up to the ignition switch?  Is this as easy as a fix as it looks?  I just want to make sure I don't get the wires reversed and cause any damage.  Thanks.

Simursmack wrote:

This should not be hard.  If you wire it wrong then it would not start so doubt it will do any damage.  Show us the picture where the wire came off.

I'm not familiar with your particular machine. But typically the wires that would go to a key are simply connected together, in order to kill the engine. There is no polarity or particular "direction" to those wires. When they are not touching each other (via the switch that the key controls), the engine runs. When they are touching each other, it grounds out the ignition, and kills the engine.

If you have, say, 2 wires, and there are 2 locations for wires on the switch, then you're just about there, I'd say. Just plug them both onto the switch, if you see places where they should go. As MN_Runner said, worst case, it simply won't start, then just put them back the way they were. But I'd expect that once you plug them back in, you'll be fine.

I have a new Toro 221QE with probably the same switch.  If the key switch is left in, the wires have to come off the switch to remove the top.  Dealer simply forgot to hook up the wires when they re-assembled.   Nice post work inspection I might add??

Just put the wires back on.  Which to where doesn't matter.  As previously explained the switch just acts as a ground to interrupt engine spark.

Keep in mind the shoddy workmanship and total lack of customer service by the dealer that did your recall.

When it's time for more OPE purchases or service, you now know where not to go.

Making the mistake is forgiveable, putting the blame on you is not.

It's no wonder why dealers have such a bad overall reputation. (Fortunately, I have a good one)

I would hook up the wires to the switch.  To stop the engine the switch just shorts out the coil to ground, no need to worry which wire goes to which side of the switch.  Some engines only have one wire but if your machine has a plastic cover then they would use 2 wires.

See the parts manual that is available on-line from Toro.com  (https://homeownersolutions.toro.com/portal/server.pt/community/product_center/225#manualsResultPage).  There is nothing hard about the connection so looks straight forward.  Give it a try and let us know.

Most mag type ignition systems use a ground to shut down the engine, If the wire was not connected it could not ground.

I reconnected the wires and it worked fine.  It was extremely easy and I'm glad I didn't haul that snowblower all the way to the dealer just to rehook a few wires.  Thanks to RedOktober for the explanation of the switch.  I am kinda surprised that the snowblowers are manufactured in a way such that if the switch fails the default is to keep the engine running....seems like a safety hazard in there somewhere.  Anyway, thanks to all who replied!

Simursmack wrote:
It's good to know a little bit about your snowblower so you don't get ripped off when taking to the dealer.  They could easily have plugged it back in and charged you 1/2 hour of labor and $8 in parts.

Speaking of safety hazard, I could easily raise a big stink to the dealer about neglecting to reconnecting those wires and I have no way of safety shutting off the engine.  It really depends on how the dealer respond or owning up to the mistake they make.   SInce your snowblower was serviced under recall campaign, I'm sure Toro would be interested that the service was properly performed since they are paying for it.