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

What is the verdict on the newer 4 cycle Toro single stage blowers?  Are they as good and powerful as the older two strokes?

trouts2 wrote:
Very true.  The Loncin engine is almost a carbon copy of the GX160 engine that's on my Honda HS621 snowblower. 

One thing I don't understand is that the Loncin engine has a primer bulb, while the Honda engine doesn't have it. 

I just bought a toro 621E as I wanted the electric start. Haven't had much snow yet in northern minnesota but I have used it twice on lighter snow falls. I had a honda 521 recoil before this one. The toro is quieter running than the honda was. The honda did blow the snow farther than the toro. The toro will pull itself along nicley where the honda never felt that way. I use a toro 3650 two stroke at work and I would have to say I like the 621 better. I'm not taking anything away from the 3650 as we have used it where we shouldn't of and it just keeps right on running and running. I do like the electric start on the new one, glad I got it.

Came across a nice used Honda HS520 (2 years old) and bought one this morning at 7:30AM.  After a nice run and smoke (just kidding) then tried out the used blower on my pond.  Did not have a huge expectation but hoping it was good enough to clean up the pond.  It was not bad and actually blew the snow fairly well and much better than my old HS35.  Using the SS was a little more work than expected because I had to drag it out from my garage to the pond, which was a chore.  It started good and blew it well.  I used it for about 40 min nonstop but the fuel usage was very minimal.  It was very clear that having both 2-stage and SS are a great idea if you have room in the garage.  I think it is easy enough for my wife to use.

MN_Runner wrote:
I got 3 of those "easy for my wife to use" snowblowers as well.  All types, recoil and electric start, 2 stroke and 4 stroke, big and small, foreign and domestics, loud and quiet, cheap and expensive.  Got all my bases covered, wife hasn't used any of them.  Good thing I didn't buy it "specifically" for her to use. 

You can bring a horse to water, but you can't make it drink. 

Oh well.  She lets me keep my snowblowers, so I'll keep her. 

I found a great application for SS.  Put on a pair of ice skates then use your SS to propel you forward on the pond.  You can go pretty fast.

That sounds like a new class of racing.   Imagine the possibility of modding the snowblower and rubber paddles to get more speed and bite.

Heh. And in the Unlimited Class, V-6 rototillers with the tines replaced with circular saw blades for extra traction.

i just need Borat's help controlling the thrust.  Not sure if the GC160 can handle 6000rpm of abuse.  I could care less if it blows up.

GC with an overhead cam should handle higher rpms.  Push rod engines aren't quite as willing.