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

Guys,

I may get to go check out some SS's. One is a Yardman 21" 5hp 2-stroke. The other is a Toro CCR2000e 2-stroke.

I am leaning towards the Yardman, based on boratification possibilities. I'm guessing/hoping it has a 5hp Tecumseh, maybe the HSK850. The Toro would have a 4.5hp Suzuki engine, from what I understand. I don't care about electric start. Any reason to avoid the Yardman? I realize it's probably not as solid/durable a machine as the Toro. But if it could be ramped up more in the power department, I could live with that. Thanks for any feedback.

>>> I did try the Ariens with the HSK600 at 4600 RPM.

     I had the same problems here with 2 HSK600 machines running at varying speeds.  The load was just too much for them.  They either blugged up or slipped their belts.   The 4.5hp HSK850 did a little better but would only go a few feet before having problems.  

    Good that your modified paddle machine worked ok. 

Just curious, how could you tell the belts were slipping? Was it audible? Only asking because it's possible mine was slipping at times last night, and I just didn't know it. I tried to get the belt pretty tight, but it could still be slipping under heavier loads. Even when the engine was close to stalling, snow was still moving around, so the paddles certainly hadn't stopped turning, but it could have slipped periodically.

I was thinking that if you could put a smaller-diameter sheave on the engine, the extra revs on the HSK600's (or, frankly, the -850's) could be used to provide more torque to the paddles, at the expense of losing some of the extra throwing distance. More torque was really what was needed last night.

 

    Yep, very tough snow.  I also used a Toro 2450 and 3650 which also had big problems and were useless with clogging and belt slip.  Those machines are in good condition and I think the belts and tension ok but need re-checking after the very poor performance. 

 

    The Toro 421EZ did very well on the driveway area having no problem at all.  It out tossed the dual stages in the driveway area easily and was impressive.  Almost no sag in the Lincon 5.5hp 163cc engine.  

    The EOD was a problem though.  It got the edges of the EOD OK but the middle higher sections could not be handled.  It required lots of pushing and back and forth movement to take very small bites before stalling.  It was too much of a hassle to use so finished up with the two stage which also had a tough time but much easier to use.

 

     The 421 was so impressive it’s getting the pole position for storms.  There is a requirement here to have a machine that can lift snow up over stored machines which are tarp covered.  It requires something like a chip shot.  It’s tough for any dual stage in most conditions.  The single stages are better at it in good snow, even a 3hp Powerlite so I always start with them.  The 421 will be very good at that in most conditions.

    If the snow had ben a bit better the 421 would have been able to get the EOD.