redtaven

                                    Happy New Year to All:

I made the decision to cancel my Toro 926 OXE as home depot sent e-mail about a 7 day delay and so again I see the Winter for NY as over and will wait till next season.

I would like feedback as to the whole Briggs&Stratton issue of supplying snow blower engines to manufacturers but also being in the snow blower manufacturing business with their own brand Simplicity and owning Snapper. Toro may have made the made the right decision in leaving B&S. The web has stories of B&S engines which need warranty work but getting delays while B&S tend to their brands first.

I want to get an Ariens next season but feel as though they are in a no win situation, if Ariens switches engine manufacturer they risk losing business as I am sure Toro is. If Ariens does not then they are dealing with a manufacturer that may be giving preferential treatment in engine build quailty to thir units first as well as better overall warranty service.

I tried to write a review on the Toro 926 OXE mentioning some of these issues on HD website but was rejected either because I never took possession of the unit or  because I mentioned the riff between B&S and its engine clients. I feel sorry for American manufacturing with the unrelenting pressure to be competitive with Chinese made products. It seems Toro, Ariens and others have little to no choice but to either stay with B&S or seek another engine manufacturer which means Chinese.

I feel B&S is in the best position to reap from this arrangement as they still have that name recognition even if their engines too are made in China. I also can not fault B&S as they are just trying to survive as some of their clients turn from them to less expensive Chinese made engines. B&S has no choice but to make up that lost client income by taking on manufacturing their own units.

Any thoughts on what brand snow blower to consider given these issues and your thoughts on it as well.

RedOctobyr wrote:
Yes I agree I felt kind of wrong telling both the trucking supervisor and Home Depot that the box is wet. But I did make the point that it is one thing for me as the buyer to get it wet but another for it to be delivered as a "new" item already wet, be it the box or the machine was wet. I should have taken the chance and signed for it. But that is past, time to move on to sneaking in the snow blower I re-ordered later that day without the wife and kids knowing about it...lol

FrankMA wrote: Sorry but not up on who or what CL is?

I am in the doghouse with wife and kids as I spent so much time on the snow blower and waited most of yesterday for delivery and had to cancel movies with family for yesterday...snow blower is a taboo word right now.

But thank you all for your ideas and information...Happy Holidays.

Well Home Depot came through and got the Toro 926 OXE delivered in under 7 days...unfortunately it rained all last night and when the ESTES trucking company came to make the 2nd to last delivery to me. I found the carton ripped in half along the top front middle and worse water dripping out from the bottom, that the carton coming apart at one corner seam and the entire top left side and bottom saturated with water. I asked to open the box and inspect but told I had to sign for it first...I refused.

I tried to get HD to help and all they can do is refund my order and told me that the Ariens 24 deluxe is discontinued and reason why they are not carrying it any longer. They believe a new unit will be replacing it next season...for those that care.

What to do now go back to the toro or just wait a season till word comes out on this new 265cc Loncin engine?

Well I ordered the Toro 926 OXE from Home Depot Online...given a great deal...total cost with delivery is a bit under $1200. Really feel uneasy about purchasing such a "high end" unit with an unproven new engine from a relatively unknown Chinese engine manufacturer. Yes I know Briggs and Loncin are all made in China but still uneasy. Still have time to cancel...

I could get the Ariens 24 Deluxe for less than $900 total almost a $300 savings. The major difference between the two would be the lack of hand steering controls on the Ariens. But Ariens is all metal from the ground up, chute, deflector and all. The paint jobs on the Ariens looks rock solid.

So as you see really on the fence. I hope Toro is not out to make a quick buck on their reputation.

Again any thoughts on the Ariens deluxe or Toro on clearing a 50 foot section of my driveway with no place to put the snow but toward the front which is over 50 feet away. The drifts on a 8-12 inch snowfall can get to be 3 to 4 feet high in parts of my rear driveway. I have to use a wheel barrow to clear it out in years past.