Hi!
I got the big beast for the heavy snow. But we still get allot of 1t o 2-3 inches of slush.  I don't want to look like a fool making a racket with a big red 2 stage SB for such a joke’y snow…

Nobody is coming out with a shovel, because it’s not heavy enough, and they let the children shovel it. But the fact is, the kids are not always shoveling, and if they do, they don’t clean it well, they sort of play with shovel.  I don’t have the time. I come home after a day of work; I want to see that snow “away” a.s.a.p. And after a day the remaining snow turn into sleet/ice/black ice.

Also, even when we do get an overnight snow with 10+ inches, I have these couple long steps, which makes hard to use the big 2 stage. My driveway and walk path till the steps is flat and paved and I can use the 2 stage with ease.

So I have two reasons why I started thinking of getting a SS.

1)      To clear the steps

2)      To clear the so called “joke” snow

If I decide to buy a SS, should I buy the 1800 Power Curve (38381)? Will that do a job enough compared to the Toro 418 gas?

or should  I get The Power Shovel (38361)?  is thet good enough and will do both task well?

Help me out guys…I need some suggestions.

We have a 6 car drive way and I have to walk 92 feet till the steps… extension cords should not be an issue.

Here is a picture of the long walk, and the steps.

The long steps and the normal house steps

A SS blower is a great compliment to your snow removal arsenal. I'd suggest you get a either a new Toro 621 or 421 (depending on your snowfall amounts) or a used SS of your choosing off of CL. A nice Toro CCR 2000 or 3000 is always a good choice or a Honda HS621 if you really want to go for broke! I've used a 2 stage exclusively for the past 35 + years and started to use a SS last year. Having both a 2 stage and a single stage makes your clean up job much easier and less fatiguing than always having to use a big 2 stage blower.

The older I get the more I appreciate the lighter, easier to handle single stage blowers for anything less than 8". Most early and late winter storms involve snowfall amounts in the 4" - 8" range which is ideal for a single stage machine. Not having to bull around a 250 - 300 lb. beast for less than 8" makes life a whole lot easier and less painful the next day. Don't get me wrong as I do appreciate my big 9 HP, 28" Bucket 2 stage but only when the weather Gods have deemed it necessary to use (i.e. 8+ inches of heavy, wet or EOD type of snow)! I love the winter (and all seasons for that matter) so any tool that can make my life easier is my friend!

I'd agree with FrankMA a Toro 421 or 621 would be an ideal choice for smaller snowfalls. Up where I am I use the big 2 stage for everything. But a Toro SS would be ideal for 2-4 inches. It will probablt throw teh slush a decent distance. For 2-4 inches I have ot run my 2 stage in 5th or 6th gear to clear the snow properly. A single stage would rip right through it.

You'll be surprised how much snow a good SS machine can handle.  Sure, up to eight inches is probably ideal but in a pinch, it could handle more.  All depends on the type of snow.  I prefer to use the SS machines.  They are most definitely less fatiguing and are surprisingly effective.  Even an inexpensive used SS machine is a blessing to have. Did I say they were actually fun to use as well?

What about the electric ss? Won't they do the job ? I thing of using it to clean the outside house stairs as well, and the gas ones are heavy!

I was going to mention that. I have an old Toro Powercurve 1800 electric single stage. I used it last winter to clear off my deck (I have a 2-stage for the driveway). The deck is not a big area, but we got a ton of snow in New England last winter. I was impressed with how it did. Granted, the snow was not packed down, and I cleared it after each storm. I'd be more leery of using it for EOD. But it did well with the deck. It's also very light and easy to move around (I have to carry it up the stairs to my deck, which is about 10' off the ground). It might be a useful option for you. Very convenient (plug in the cord and go), and it sure beat shoveling the deck after each of the big storms we kept getting!

But if you don't want to deal with cords, or you want more power, etc, and don't mind more weight, a small gas single stage might be good. I just got a small gas single stage, a 3 hp, 22" 2-stroke Ariens (SS322). It's pretty light as things go, I guess. But at 60 lbs, it's a lot heavier than my ~25 lb electric, and also more awkward to pick up. I haven't gotten to try it yet, unfortunately. But even my little gas one (many are 5+ hp now) will be more powerful than the Powercurve 1800. A 15 amp circuit (1800W) can provide about 2.4hp max, to give a power comparison for the electrics. I don't know how much snow you typically get. But getting a gas single stage one up the single steps between the long flat sections should not be a big deal. I don't think the Powercurve 1800 or the gas ones would be very useful on the steps themselves (the stairs going right to the house). Maybe the Power Shovel would be OK?

Personally, I'd pick a unit by how it would do on the long flat sections with the individual steps, and just shovel the stairs that go right up to the house. Getting something really small like the Power Shovel, for the stairs, and then suffering along the 92 feet of walkway would seem like putting the cart before the horse :)

I would suggest getting the toro 418.  It seems like it would be perfect for your walkways.

Maybe it's just me but I don't see electricity and snow & slush going together very well.

I dunno....but at 3" slush.....I think I get better throw with the shovel. Just the way the auger/chute is.....I never had good luck

For your setup, I would just shovel a path on the stepped concrete. Hard to say for the rest, cause at 1-3" slush...bearing my few tries with the SS and having it just come up the chute and just drop, I end up shoveling a path. Generally if it's slushy enough, the sun does melt it away...

I whold get the power shovel for the steps it's self, cus I'm sick and tired of getting the snow down from the first step, then the next, then the next is already a foot deep. With a Power shovel, I can go Zooooom.... Job done. For the long steps and driveway: I think the 1800 electric should be fine, in case it can't handle it, I could fire up the big 1028. Also, it happanes allot, that I'm away with my family from Friday afternoon, and when I come home Saturday about 1:00am and find a foot of snow, I need a way to quickly open a path for my wife and baby caridge. I'm dead scared from my neighbors to fire up a 305cc B&S mid night... They may wake up and get it in to my wife the. Next day, then I get it from her... So by having the 1800 electric, I could at least open a path to walk up home, mid night. A gas ss is about $400. Power shovel $100. 1800 is $300. Same $400 for the electric combo. Feel free to criticize me if you feel I'm wrong. I never used a snowblower in my life, so I'm guessing here... Your all long time pro's.

Not crazy about electric OPE of any type.  Something to do with electricity, extension cords, moisture on the ground and me.   However, in your situation where noise might be an issue, it might just be your only choice. 

I purchased a single stage Craftsman 52844 last March.   I was surprised how much work I could do with it.   (  See the Review section)    I call those small snowstorms nuisance snowstorms.   Not enough snow for my 2 stage Husqvarna, and too much work to shovel,. A single stage is the answer.

borat wrote:
I'm with Borat on this one.  It is a hassle dealing with electrical cords getting in the way and a pain to wind up and put away wet electric cords when you're done.  I rather shovel in this case.

I don't call any snow "joke" unless it's so light that the wind can blow it clean off the driveway.  If it can stick and pack when walked on, it should be cleared off any way possible.

In your situation, a small and lightweight SS that is easily to lift up and down on the steps would be ideal for that long walkway.  Maybe a Toro Powerlite, S620, CR20, or a 418.  The Toro 418 is probably the quietest of the bunch, but it is also the heaviest.  Also a good 18" shovel and/or 24" wide snow pusher when it is light snow 3 inches or less, and that doesn't disturb the neighbors.  You'll need a shovel anyways to clean up the steps and the stoop before the door way.

Since you mentioned that the driveway can hold six cars, I'd probably go up in size on the SS to the Toro 621 and try to carefully go up and down on the steps on the rear wheels.  It can be done.  This is such a capable snowblower that you won't need to bring out the big Toro until it's more than 8 inches.   Trust me on this one.  I rarely take the big 2 stage out unless it's really bad and I have to cut through the EOD.  If you got the room to store the 621, go with that.  There's only 3 steps to deal with so it's no big deal even if it's heavier.

Great Point about winding up 100 foot of wet wire, it is sure a pain in the neck.

if I get the 418, is it worth the extra $30.00 to get the electric start? or most of the time it starts with one pull any way?

also, isn't 87cc 4-Cycle Underpowered? if its only 87cc, let it be a 2-Cycle, so we get twice the power?

and about the Toro engines, Who makes it for toro? Briggs? China?

Thanks for your input.

I purchased the Toro Power Clear 418ZE last month for much the same reason, hauling out the big 2 stage for 2-3" of snow is a bit much.  Here's some info that might help if your planning to spend about $400 - if your concerned about noise the Power Shovel (38361) and 1800 Power Curve® (38381) are about as loud as a Circular Saw (approx. 100-105db) which is much quieter than the Power Clear 418Z (38272/38282) about as loud as the 2 stage (approx. 110-120 db).  Some of the videos I've seen on the Power Shovel are impressive, you might be able to get away with it just by itself, but the Power Curve might be better suited for your long walkway  - its basically the electric version of the Power Clear 418 so it should handle quite a bit of snow at half the weight.  I would start off with the Power Shovel first, you could always get the Power Curve later on and if they're sold out you still have the 2 stage to fall back on, but at least you would  have something to do a quick path for those late night/early morning arrivals.  Good Luck and keep us updated.

The Toro 418 has a chinese manufactured engine, maybe by Loncin.  Electric start isn't needed unless there's a medical or physical issue.   My 1 year old Toro 421QE with the Loncin engine starts on one pull, just like my 13 year old Honda HS621 with the GX160 engine.  I'm not impressed or enamored by the "one pull" bench mark.  If the machine is maintained well and not neglected, it should start easily within 3 pulls.  That would be fine by me.  I get frustrated if it doesn't start after the 7th pull. 

Anyways, I have engines from Echo, Stihl, B&S, Honda, and Loncin.  I don't have any reservations about the Chinese Loncin engine.

Total is: 2 stage for the big snow storm. Gas Single stage for light snow decorations. And a power shovel for the outside house stairs. Am I correct? Just want to Know if I need the electric start on the ss? After spending $1,700 for the 1028, I need to take it easy now...

Looks like you have complete shopping list.  I opted for the electric start, it was an additional $50 between models at Homedepot. Although, it starts easy enough there is almost no resistance on the recoil, but figured if my wife was courageous to use it she can use the electric start.  I don't think you can buy an electric starter for $50 and put it on after the fact, so it is $50 well spent.

I'll probably end up buying an electric for my wife to use on the front steps and that part of the sidewalk I can't get to with the tractor. The reason I'd go electric is that I'd never need more than 25' of cord, there's a GFCI outlet right at the front door. I agree that 100' of cord in the snow is crazy - 25' I can live with, but no longer than that. If I went gas, she wouldn't use it and I'd get stuck having to do it!

You don't need electric start on Toro's. My wife is tiny and she can start our 2 stage with 1 pull every time.

If you do use electric then by all means make certain you have one of those kitchen or bathroom breaker switches.

Electric start on a SS machine is about as necessary as an electric shoe lace tier.  Not required.  By the time you find the extension cord, plug it in, push the button, it would be running already by using the pull start.  Provided the engine isn't over-primed/flooded, it should start on the first pull.  All of mine do.

If your considering ease of use for your wife, you'd best buy an electric.  No offense to women but most are not quite as attracted to the smell of gasoline and tend to be intimidated by most things with gasoline engines.  The leap from vacuum cleaner to electric snow blower is much easier than to a gas operated machine. 

No snowblower goes up steps and down very well, the Power Shovel would be my choice for that task.  Widing up an electric cord has to be easier than getting a gas powered anything up the steps.  Besides hernia operations aren't cheap, or convenient either. Oh, and the power shovel costs what ?  a Hundred Bucks, maybe less at the Home Dumpo.

JoelKlein wrote:
Even though you have a few steps at the door, they are not all that wide.  I would probably just use an old fashion shovel.  The electric shovel doesn't have directional, it just shoots everything forward.  Since you don't have a lot of control on the direction, sometimes the wind just blows back the snow.  A regular shovel can get a whole lot closer to edges and corners.  And sometimes when the snow so deep, you can't tell where the edges of the steps are, it's better to use a shovel instead of having those fast spinning plastic auger whack the concrete.

If you think you may need electric start on the SS  in the future, go ahead and get it now.  It's cheaper than retrofitting it afterwards.