oldcrow

Well, it's been an interesting winter. More snow than usual, and bitter cold like I haven't seen in 5 years. This was not the season to rely on a shovel - I'm feeling a lot better now about buying at January prices.

My little Toro 4-stroke handled most of the snow events with ease. It rips through powder like nothing - I pushed it into 26" with no problem. Wet snow is a different story, though. We've had a couple of major wet snowfalls since my last writing, and I have to say this single-stage machine was really laboring. It did get the job done, but often required a lengthy smash-and-backup routine when the depth went above 20".

In all fairness, this type of duty is probably beyond the machine's capabilities.Fortunately, this is only an occassional event here. The engine did surprisingly well in the wet stuff, until this last snowfall - which was nearly slush it was so full of moisture. Took twice as long as normal to clear the drive and walkways, and chute clogging was a real problem. I finally was able to tax the engine to the point where it stalled, but you wouldn't believe how thick and heavy this snow/slush mixture was. I think a small 2-stage model would have bogged down in this slop as well.

I'm givng the new Toro good marks for performance. Most winters aren't as bad as this year, so I doubt if I'll be pushing it to the limit very often. That said, it's an excellent dry snow machine - with more wet snow capability than you might expect. The chute control continues to impress me, but the extra cost is a bit hard to accept. By the way, the chute did freeze up after use (as they all do), but I'm happy to report that it took very little effort to break it loose - and the control still worked smoothly. The crude feel of the engine still bugs me somewhat, but not enough to break the deal. Think I'll be hanging on to this machine for now.

If you're in an area than normally gets less than 70" a year and you don't have a 500' driveway to clear, I'd say this Toro will do fine as your primary blower. For the bigger snow, a 2-stage can't be beat - but this little unit is quite capable in a pinch.

67L48 wrote:
Yup, I agree. In spite of the chute control, I would have bought the Honda in a heartbeat - if one was available. I'm sure I would have been much more satisfied with Honda's engine (you kidding?), and if I decided to sell there's no doubt I'd find a willing taker.

Strange that snowblower prices in CO remain fixed like that. I would have figured sales volume would encourage competition among the numerous dealers. Guess they just went the other way - you know, the "Screw the Consumer" school of business. Methinks there is a statewide OPE association at the bottom of this plot. Imagine that.

I live west of the Mississippi, but I can assure you that deals are possible here. Usually, around mid-April the first of the markdowns appear, and the patient buyer may find a 50% off deal in May of June. Of course, this assumes that the unit you want is still available - many of the Hondas, Ariens, and Simps are out of stock by February. You also must account for seasonal differences - a mild winter generally means a suplus of stock - therefore a better chance to deal.

You have a better chance of finding what you want online, but shipping costs can offset an otherwise good deal. From what I've seen, many dealers or auctions offering "free shipping" will adjust their selling price accordingly. No free lunch, folks. However, patience can pay off for the savvy Internet buyer. Sounds like the way to go in your neck of the woods.

I feel your pain, brother, since I was forced to buy a snowblower in January! I suppose once you amortize the cost over 8 or 10 years, it's a lot easier pill to swallow. Sure beats shovelling.

borat wrote:
Roger that. Will check the schedule online.

Hi Mike,

I don't have the specifics for your 724, but here are some good rules of thumb:

Use a high-quality detergent oil (Service SG or better), the same type of oil used in your car. 5W-30 is a good all-around choice, with an outside temp range of 0-32 degrees F. Below zero, 0W-30 would be preferred. Synthetic oil is highly recommended for all small engines. The yearly cost is negligible, since most small engines below 10 HP hold 1 quart or less. Your engine is probably around 8 HP, right?  Any of the synthetics will prove to be very cheap insurance. Benefits include longer time between oil changes, reduced wear on rotating parts, and superior cold-weather startup lubrication (a no-brainer here).

Synthetic oil also stays within rated viscosity over a much wider range of temperatures compared to standard mineral oils. Yes, snowblowers can overheat given the right conditions. Excessive heat can ruin a small engine in a matter of seconds. As I said, cheap insurance.

You may want to check Toro's website for more details on your particular engine. If it's out of production, there's probably a current model that's close. Toro has spec sheets and PDF manuals for all their current machines. Good luck.

http://www.toro.com/home/customercare/interactivemanuals.html#5

borat wrote: Yes, I was referring to brake horsepower, the standard of the day. Losses in the drive train gobble up significant horsepower. Also, the showroom offerings took a real HP hit due to the second generation of emissions standards (I had a 1971 model). The 550 HP figure sounds about right for 1969. though. The 426 was famous for it's bottom-end strength, as proven in top fuel racing. So, it's not that much of a stretch to imagine 850 HP. Still, that must have been one well-engineered package to produce 850 HP with normal aspiration (carbureted).

Surprised they didn't mention Ford's version of the Hemi - the 429 CI NASCAR engine. They were available in limited numbers on the street, and many were salvaged from former cop cars. This would seem to be the only engine of the day which could compete with the Mopar mill.

Also surprised to see such low numbers on the Chevy 427. Although they turned high revs (and burned out quickly), the truck version (with 4-bolt mains and forged rods) was  the motor of choice for many street racers. In a little 2100-Pound Camaro, it was a religious experience for sure (if you could keep the tires on the rims). If the factory induction was used, though, that would explain the low figures. GM was way behind the curve in this respect - even the Corvette suffered from severe breathing problems until fuel injection came along.

Would you happen to know what channel/network this program appeared on? Would like to give it a look-see for myself. There are a lot of things about the 60's and 70's that I'd just as soon forget. Cars aren't one of them, though.