Opinion please? Repair two stroke or buy four stroke snowblower?

[ic0517]

Have a 18? year old Toro 2-stroke. Last year it wouldn't start because the primer bulb was too cracked, so I replaced it. In the process I broke the plastic standoffs in the shroud that the screws go into that hold it to the handle. And then one of the screw/wavy washer is some where in somebody's lawn, the other in the basement. Without the screw the shroud moves, slowly pulls the choke out, and kills it, so I have to push the handle back with my foot. Hey, it was the last snowstorm, I made do.

So its either fix or buy a four stroke.

Would like to be free of mixing oil and gas and trying to figure out what to do with the leftover during spring. But I don't know what the downside to four stroke is. Have to change the oil every year? I was under the impression two stroke they just use reeds to control intake and exhaust, and no oil, its in the gas, simplicity defined.

 

[02SE]

I have a 2-stroke. I like it for it's power for it's size. But, I hate breathing and smelling like the exhaust fumes.

If I needed a new snowblower, I'd probably get a 4-stroke for that reason alone.

My ultimate plan though, is to be out of town whenever the white crap is falling.

 

[Bigshankhank]

Get the model and serial number of the unit off of the identification plate then go online and seek out the parts you need. I pickup free yard tools all the time which only need a small part here or there and the owner tosses them to the curb because that part is not readily available at Home Depot. Seriously, google is your friend, if the blower works well get the small niggling parts back in order and continue enjoying that unmistakable two stroke aroma.

 

[NoDak]

if you getting older (like me the last few years) I would go with a new one.

the quality of life features on the new ones makes the issues that you put up with on your old one a mute point.

adjustable pivot and throw angle are very nice (my old one only had pivot, had to stop and adjust manually the throw angle)

two wheel drive/single wheel drive option (single wheel makes it easer to move around)

head light (nice but for me its not needed)

electric or manual start (my ariens rarely doesn't start on the first pull - if I have the choke set correctly)


a lot of these I didn't have on my old blower (2007) and these make my life a lot easier and saves me time compare to my old one. what use to take 2-3 hrs now takes about 1-2 hours.

only downside, my old blower had a super granny gear for that deep snow, my ariens slowest gear is still way to fast and I haven't been able to adjust it to be slower.

good luck

 

[m85476585]

I've used a four-stroke snowblower, and I would still smell like exhaust fumes after. I'm sure it's not as bad as two stroke that's burning oil, but I don't think these things have catalytic converters.

 

[philsey]

At 18 YO, your troubles are just beginning.

You know, don't you, that Murphy will pimp-slap yer ass in January .... when there's a foot of snow .... and the snowblower selection is shite?

Be proactive.

 

[MSRP.]

if you getting older (like me the last few years) I would go with a new one.

the quality of life features on the new ones makes the issues that you put up with on your old one a mute point.

adjustable pivot and throw angle are very nice (my old one only had pivot, had to stop and adjust manually the throw angle)

two wheel drive/single wheel drive option (single wheel makes it easer to move around)

head light (nice but for me its not needed)

electric or manual start (my ariens rarely doesn't start on the first pull - if I have the choke set correctly)


a lot of these I didn't have on my old blower (2007) and these make my life a lot easier and saves me time compare to my old one. what use to take 2-3 hrs now takes about 1-2 hours.

only downside, my old blower had a super granny gear for that deep snow, my ariens slowest gear is still way to fast and I haven't been able to adjust it to be slower.

good luck

I have a solution that involved diddliny with the throttle cable that connects from the handgrip. I accidently nudged/stretched mine this weekend when changing the oil on the 4stroke, and it now moves dead slow in all the speeds.
Need to make time dickering with it before the big snow comes in, thanks for the reminder.

4 stroke will ultimately not last as long, but the last thing I want to be doing in the morning cold before work is mixing 2-stroke GO juice. Oil change once a year, and regular gas for me, please and thank you.

/winteriscoming

 

[philsey]

So its either fix or buy a four stroke.

So, what did you do?

 

[ic0517]

Sorry about that.

I fixed the two stroke.

I found a replacement shroud on some online store, it was only $34, and I had a 'misconception' on how it was held together. I thought the self-tapping screws went into a plastic stand off, turns out they go into a piece of sheet metal. So I went to the local Ace, got some non-self-tapping 1/4-20 bolts and fresh thread-locker, and went to town. If I could have figured a way to get my hand up in there and put a nylon-insert nut on behind it, I would have.

Won't know til April if I made the right choice.

Also set myself up for some "I told you so" in not buying a new one.

 

[NoDak]

I have a solution that involved diddliny with the throttle cable that connects from the handgrip. I accidently nudged/stretched mine this weekend when changing the oil on the 4stroke, and it now moves dead slow in all the speeds.
Need to make time dickering with it before the big snow comes in, thanks for the reminder.

4 stroke will ultimately not last as long, but the last thing I want to be doing in the morning cold before work is mixing 2-stroke GO juice. Oil change once a year, and regular gas for me, please and thank you.

/winteriscoming

thanks for the suggestion.