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paul78zephyr


Joined: Jan 26, 2006
Points: 3

New Toro snowblower already broken
Original Message   Jan 26, 2006 1:54 pm
Hi all,
Back in October I purchased the first snowblower I've ever owned. I live in eastern Massachusetts. I used to plow my driveway with a small doser blade on the front of my Sears garden tractor (the one I posted about the B&S engine that threw its conn rod), did that for 7 years, before that I just shoveled but Im too old and have developed a bad back. Anyway I got the top-of-the-line Toro 1128 OXE model 38650 with the Techumseh 'Snow King' 11HP engine. I had comparison shopped the equivalent Ariens unit but based on everything I read -including on this forum- the Toro was the better unit (they both had the same engine).

Well right after I got it I put a 'Tiny Tach' hour meter on it. I was using last Monday, we got around 5-6 inches of wet heavy snow. The snowblower had less than 2 hours of running time on it (the TinyTach reads only in full hours). I was just about done (it takes about 20 minutes do do my driveway) when all of a sudden I recognized that the unit had lost it drive mechanism. The auger was still working but no forward or reverse. Being a brand new unit still under warrenty (when I purchased it Toro was having a special offer that included a 3yr warrenty - normally they give 2 yrs) I really did not want to start taking it apart and I called my local dealer where I bought it and they said they would come and get it. I asked if it could be something as relatively simple as a broken belt - they thought not but could not be sure. After I spoke with them I decided to look at the belt so I removed the plastic cover (3 small screws) that they are under. When I removed the cover I instantly saw the problem. The belts were fine but each belt - one for drive and one for auger) has a small idler pulley pressed against by a spring it to keep the belt tight. The drive belt's pulley is mounted on a pivoting bracket and is held against the belt with a 'torsion' spring. I could see the idler pulley - it wasnt even sitting agaist the belt. Then I could seen the spring. At first I thought the spring had somehow slipped off the bracket but then I could see that the end 'tang' of the spring had snapped off.

So the dealer has repaired the unit (they called and found just what I did) and I should have it back tommorow, the repair done under warrenty. But it calls into question -in my mind- the reliability of the unit. That a $1.00 spring could take down a $1600 machine is very disconserting. I also called Toro to vent on them my disappointment with this. Maybe it was just a 1 in a million defect in that spring. I could see a unit several seasons old perhaps, but a unit with 3 uses and less than 2 total hours?

What do you think?

Thanks,
Paul
ps My good neighbor across the street has an Ariens snowblower. He loves his, alway touting its ability, and told me to get one. The fact that my Toro quit and was picked up by the dealer (and will be delivered) during the day while he is not home has saved me some embarrisment.
Replies: 7 - 16 of 30Next page of topicsPreviousNextNext page of topicsAllView as Outline
plymouthsteve


Joined: Feb 12, 2006
Points: 17

Re: New Toro snowblower already broken
Reply #7   Feb 12, 2006 10:00 pm
I've had the exact same problem with Ariens8524 purchased winter 04-05.  Spring has been sheared twice in two years!  Frustrating.
steveinct


Joined: Feb 12, 2006
Points: 3

Re: New Toro snowblower already broken
Reply #8   Feb 12, 2006 10:09 pm
I also had an interesting problem with Toro. Mines the single stage 7 hp. It had some carb problems and the dealer fixed it no charge. Last year I couldn't get it to turn over. Toro you may know has a 3 pull (or two) start guarantee. I took it back to the dealer and he was going to charge me 57.00 for the repair. I said I thought it had a pull start guarantee? He said that only applys if it starts at all.

I almost blew my top. He knew I was a local customer and I would buy other equipment from him. I tend to stay away from HD and the like. He didn't end up charging me but it was a lesson in warranty language.

mml4


Snow is good,
Deep snow is better!


Joined: Dec 31, 2003
Points: 544

Re: New Toro snowblower already broken
Reply #9   Feb 13, 2006 10:31 am
Hey Steve!

Your Toro dealer is a jerk!! Call Toro and describe what happened. GTS means just what it stands for- Guaranteed To Start.I am no fan of Toro (the company not the equiptment) but they wouldn't promote their products with that name if the policy was what the dealer tried to tell you.

If you really want to find out ask if there were any srevice claims put in by the dealer for your serial#.

Marc

SnapperV210P,Toro22177,TroyBilt42010Snowthrower,Craftsman Shredder,American Turbo Pressure Washer HondaGX200,Stihl011Saw,EchoPas260Trimmer Edger,EchoPB602Blower,EchoHCR150Hedge Clipper
Johnboy


Joined: Feb 15, 2006
Points: 1

Re: New Toro snowblower already broken
Reply #10   Feb 15, 2006 9:41 pm
You will not have to worry about that issue. Toro is aware of it and a service bulletin as been issued to correct it. The problem should not happen again.
coasteray


El Toro! 1028 LXE
Tecumseh 358cc
10hp


Location: NE Washington State
Joined: Mar 3, 2008
Points: 142

Re: New Toro snowblower already broken
Reply #11   Feb 8, 2011 4:08 am
A very old thread that I found while Googling the Toro 1128OXE.  Does yours (do you still have it?) have that pivoting scraper bar?  If so, does it work well, or hang up on bumps, or jam up on one side, etc?  I've never seen a blower with that kind of scaper bar.  I read a post recently suggesting it can be a pain.  Just curious.  Thanks.

  El Toro! 1028 LXE - Tecumseh 358cc 10hp   Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!
stresst


Location: The Village in the Middle of New York
Joined: Dec 11, 2010
Points: 213

Re: New Toro snowblower already broken
Reply #12   Feb 8, 2011 7:58 pm
plugger wrote:
I wouldn't worry about it.  I imagine that out of all the thousands of srpings they make a few are going to be bad. 

Yup, my boss has a 2009/2010 Mercedes S63 AMG, paid a tad over sticker and with tax it was over 200K guess what the POS has been to the dealer more then my 11 year old truck with 120,000 miles. Things break, its vey simple....I know it sucks to spend money on a product that you think is the best and have it fail but thats life.

TORO 826OXE
borat


Joined: Nov 10, 2007
Points: 2692

Re: New Toro snowblower already broken
Reply #13   Feb 8, 2011 8:21 pm
Complication leads to complications......
FrankMA


Location: Merrimack Valley/Northeastern Mass
Joined: Jul 1, 2010
Points: 587

Re: New Toro snowblower already broken
Reply #14   Feb 9, 2011 6:55 am
borat wrote:
Complication leads to complications......

Well said and very true....

Toro Wheel Horse 522xi GT, Honda HS928TA, Honda HS621AS, Honda HS520A, Toro CCR3000 (work in progress), Honda HS624WA (sold 08/23/2010), Stihl BR550 Backpack Blower, Stihl MS250, McCulloch MS1635, Honda EM6500SX Generator
edgenet


If you enjoy doing it, It's not work

Location: Toronto
Joined: Nov 27, 2010
Points: 84

Re: New Toro snowblower already broken
Reply #15   Feb 9, 2011 5:42 pm
Buttom line they do not make Toro's Like they Used to.

If you are getting paid for what you are doing No matter how much you Enjoy it,   It's a Job
borat


Joined: Nov 10, 2007
Points: 2692

Re: New Toro snowblower already broken
Reply #16   Feb 9, 2011 6:49 pm
edgenet wrote:
Buttom line they do not make Toro's Like they Used to.

They don't make anything like they used to.   Commercial domestic manufacturing is going for a crap in North America. 

 As large companies absorb the smaller high quality manufacturers, the first thing to go is quality.  They buy the name, change production methods to make/sell compromised products under the established brand name just to beef up the bottom line.  They'll ride the name until they run it into the ground. 

Those of us with a sense of history and the good fortune to know what a quality piece of equipment is, will lament the days when we could buy top quality domestic goods. 

It appears that if we want a premium quality snow thrower now, we'll have to buy if from Japan. 
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