Question about new Toro Snowblower

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scudpilot

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I am going to buy a new Toro single stage snow blower and don't know whether to get the 721R manual start or spend the extra 110 dollars and get the 721E with electric start.
I'm replacing an old 5hp 2 stroke craftsman single stage that is just tired.
I saw that the Toro doesn't have a battery but you have to plug in an extension cord to start.
Can anyone give me opinions on the convenience of the electric start, or is it just a hassle? The only reason I'm considering electric at all is for my wife if im out of town.
Thank you in advance
Pete from Pittsburgh
 
I have one of these and mine starts so easy with one pull I never use the electric start. That being said I bought the electric start model for the same reason you are considering one, my wife can start it if necessary.
 
The electric start is way better than battery. just keep the extension handy and boom fires up year after year.

My 2 cycle ccr2450 and ccr3600 both fire up on the first pull everytime though... and its a light pull.

Not sure how easy the new ones are.

I have a 4 cycle yard man and it has choke, throttle, and electric start.. its really hard to start but the electric start usually works after 5-10s of putt-putting.


Both my toro's were great, super maneuverable and able to take 12" of light stuff easy, 8" heavy no problem. more than 12" gets abit much but after the first pass I would just do 2/3 width and it works great.
 
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I'm partial to electric start. One reason is I seem to always hit my elbow on something using the manual start.
Was your Craftsman manual start and did your wife use it. Also what are her feelings on the matter?

Lucked in 3 years ago in July. Saw an ad in the Pennysaver and got a 5HP Craftsman single stage, 4 cycle with electric start for $75. The old gent told me he always started it by hand and in one pull.
 
Like the others here, my Toro is also electric start, I inherited it.

No, I NEVER use the electric start, it always starts first pull, and being a two-stroke it pulls very easily. I did once plug it in to see if the electric start works.....it does....but it is more work to pull a cord over to it then to pull the starter rope that's already there!!

I think my wife could likely start it easier with the recoil starter than trying to figure out what to plug in where.
 
You might be better off with a cheap two stage blower rather than a single stage. I've never seen a single stage that worked well, even in only a few inches of snow.
Maybe for a walkway or sidewalk, but not a driveway. Especially the way this winter has been.
 
Originally Posted By: oilpsi2high
You might be better off with a cheap two stage blower rather than a single stage. I've never seen a single stage that worked well, even in only a few inches of snow.
Maybe for a walkway or sidewalk, but not a driveway. Especially the way this winter has been.

Living in Buffalo I have both and use a single stage most of the time for the last 20 years. My single stages have always been Craftsman. 5HP being better than 3HP. 93" is our annual snowfall.

Single stage are quicker and get down to the bare pavement on the driveway and sidewalk. The two stage is for the end of driveway, to clean the plowed snow, dumped by the city in street cleaning and big snow events of 12" or more.
 
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Originally Posted By: ronbo
Originally Posted By: oilpsi2high
You might be better off with a cheap two stage blower rather than a single stage. I've never seen a single stage that worked well, even in only a few inches of snow.
Maybe for a walkway or sidewalk, but not a driveway. Especially the way this winter has been.

Living in Buffalo I have both and use a single stage most of the time for the last 20 years. My single stages have always been Craftsman. 5HP being better than 3HP.

Single stage are quicker and get down to the bare pavement on the driveway and sidewalk.


What about at the end of the driveway after the plow goes by? I waited until the storm was over and the pile was as tall as the mailbox and about 40 feet wide. No way a single stage is clearing that! You'll be out there all night.
 
Originally Posted By: oilpsi2high
Originally Posted By: ronbo
Originally Posted By: oilpsi2high
You might be better off with a cheap two stage blower rather than a single stage. I've never seen a single stage that worked well, even in only a few inches of snow.
Maybe for a walkway or sidewalk, but not a driveway. Especially the way this winter has been.

Living in Buffalo I have both and use a single stage most of the time for the last 20 years. My single stages have always been Craftsman. 5HP being better than 3HP.

Single stage are quicker and get down to the bare pavement on the driveway and sidewalk.


What about at the end of the driveway after the plow goes by? I waited until the storm was over and the pile was as tall as the mailbox and about 40 feet wide. No way a single stage is clearing that! You'll be out there all night.


You are right Sir, it's why I have both types.
The two stage is for the end of driveway, to clean the plowed snow, dumped by the city in street cleaning and big snow events of 12" or more. The single stage wouldn't be able to do it.
 
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Originally Posted By: oilpsi2high
I'd rather have just one snow blower


It's always good to have a backup. Had to go that route before.
 
I bought a snow thrower because I'm getting old, so I mine has electric and pull. I use the electric for the initial start then use the pull after it's warmed. It's always good to have a backup too.

Have someone rebuild that two-stroke and have two machines.
 
Toro has the guarantee 1 or 2 pull start or they will fix it for free.
There is 100.00 difference between the recoil and electric start.
If it was my wife that would even attempt to move the snow she would have the electric start and heated handles just in case.
I haven't ever needed to use my electric start after 6 winters.
 
I have just retired a 20 year old recoil start Toro single stage snow blower. Never had a problem with it starting in 1 or 2 pulls. Replaced the spark plug every 2 years and drained the gas at the end of each season.

BTW, replaced it with a new Snapper 22" single stage snow blower with electric start for $450. It starts easy with a single pull. Can't see needing the electric start, as long as I keep it tuned.
 
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Originally Posted By: Lubener
Originally Posted By: oilpsi2high
I'd rather have just one snow blower


It's always good to have a backup. Had to go that route before.


Shovel. Doubles as exercise.
 
Thank you for all the replies..
I ended up buying the 721 E electric start in case my wife ever uses it.
Everyone was right though.... It starts amazingly easy with the pull start. Pretty impressive. This is really a quality machine. We are supposed to get 3 inches of snow tomorrow in Pittsburgh and look fwd to using it.
As a side note after the first use, I'm going to use the Amsoil ASE 10w30/30 small engine oil. Think it takes 20-22 ounces.
Pete
 
Originally Posted By: scudpilot
Thank you for all the replies..
I ended up buying the 721 E electric start in case my wife ever uses it.
Everyone was right though.... It starts amazingly easy with the pull start. Pretty impressive. This is really a quality machine. We are supposed to get 3 inches of snow tomorrow in Pittsburgh and look fwd to using it.
As a side note after the first use, I'm going to use the Amsoil ASE 10w30/30 small engine oil. Think it takes 20-22 ounces.
Pete


Good choice. Bought the same blower several years ago, the last year of the 2 cycle. Bought the electric start because 1) I could and 2) Bought it year end and that is where the best deal was at.
 
Dad has a 2007 Ariens 28" snow blower with a Tecumseh 350cc engine. I have NEVER gotten this thing to start with the pull cord. Not when cold. Not when thoroughly wramed up. I have no idea why. No other OPE has been this difficult for me, new or old. For this machine, the electric start is a MUST.

My 2011 Ariens 28" Deluxe has the 250cc B&S OHV engine and seemed cold-hearted at first. But then I replaced the Champion plug with an NGK and after using the electric start almost exclusively, I tried the pull start and it fired right up. I think I'll use the pull start from now on.
 
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