Customer Reviews

TORO Power Clear 221QE E/

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is my first snow thrower. I'm 67 years old and until I developed a shoulder problen a couple years ago I was fit enough to shovel the snow we get here in Pa. Then last year we got more snow than we had in quite a few years but my neighbors were kind enough to clear my snow with their "BIG" snow blowers. I was thankful for it but was surprised at how their blowers were so tough to maneuver...several gears forward, reverse gear and very heavy machines. Anyhow, I started to feel guilty having them clearing my snow so I decided it was finally time for me to get one of my own. I did a lot of research and decided that for my size driveway and sidewalk the Toro Power Clear 221 QE was what was right for me. After clearing a couple of small (3-5 inches) dry snowfalls I was sure I made the right decision. Then, yesterday we had a wet 9-11 inch snow fall and am more convinced than ever that this is one great snow thrower. The Toro went through the wet snow with power to spare. Some of the area I cleared was even deeper and more compact where the snow plow had pushed snow up against my driveway entrance. Sure, I couldn't go directly through it but neither could my neighbors with their "big boys" but the Toro is so light and maneuverable compared to theirs that with a little back and forth action I was able to clear that snow quicker than they did. Those big blowers may be ok for long straight stretches but when it comes to maneuverability the Toro wins hands down. Based on my experience yesterday I have no doubt that this snow thrower can easily handle 10-12 inches or more of powdery snow without breaking a sweat. In addition this Toro will clear snow right down to the bare surface while my neighbor's don't quite do that.
I was a bit concerned about going with a 2 cycle engine because I thought it might not have enough power but the salesman told me that the 2 cycle has more torque than the higher priced model with a 4 cycle engine. Trust me it has power. Yes, you have to mix gas and oil but this machine is worth the effort.
If you have a typical suburban home and property, and you don't typically get a couple feet of snow at a time, this Toro model will make you smile...it did me.

I got into a Toro 221Q with electric start and I'm very pleased with its performance. On 12/11/10, we received 20" of snow. The 221Q ripped through the snow and the Quick Shoot system for adjusting the shoot's direction on the fly was a breeze to use and greatly reduced the time and effort of blowing out my driveway because I didn't need to bend down to adjust the shoot angle. Moreover, adjusting the height that the shoot discharges at was also easy and useful for blowing snow over four foot high banks of snow. When the plow came by, the Toro had enough power to carefully slug through and blow compacted snow.

This new Toro 221Q replaced a fifteen-year-old Toro 4.5hp CCR2000E that I sold in working order for $250.00. Apart from Toro's clever shoot adjustment system, an unsung feature is the self-adjusting scraper that is mounted behind the paddle. The scraper on this new 221Q easily outperforms the fixed scraper on my old CCR2000E and does a better job of scraping the snow off of smooth pavement surfaces and tracking straight on slopes. As for the other reviews: if the belt squeals or slips, then it is time to toolessly adjust the cable. The directions for belt adjustment are in your owner's manual. When putting your snowblower into storage, run it out of gas or you may gum up the carb and your blower will not start since your dealer likely started your blower after replacing the electric start.

Anyway, I'm pleased with the power and ease of use of Toro's 221Q.

I love this snowblower. Just got it in time to blast through 8" of new snow this morning. The quick chute feature on it is really convenient and well as the adjustments on the discharge chute. Very user friendly... easy to start and control.

Good job TORO!

Sincerely,

Everyone on my blocks new best friend.

After hastily wasting money($400) on a Sears(MURRAY) single stage machine several years back I decided to buy a quality machine. The Sears machine had auger issues from the start and I rarely got a full season out of it. Of course each time the machine was repaired the winter was over and my 30 day repair warranty was useless. The straw that broke the camel's back was this past Christmas storm that dropped over 20 inches of snow here on Long Island. Within 10 minutes the cable that was repaired last March came off and parts went flying. Six and one half hours of shoveling later and I was determined to buy a new 2-stage machine.

After much research, Honda, Toro and Ariens seemed to be the most respected brands. Honda was not an option because of the price. So it was between Toro and Ariens. Toro 722E, though a little pricier, was my choice because of the fact that they have no shear pins. So after searching for the best price on the internet and reading reviews on all the sites I found that many people had shipping and set-up issues with their purchases. At the same time I had researched local service facilities in my area. I thought I should visit my local Toro service dealer and check out what he had to say about my choice. I was surprised when I found his price to be more than competitive with the lowest internet prices I had found(SORRY AMAZON!!!). So I put a $200 deposit on the 722E and planned to pick up the machine the next day. Later that evening I began to consider my storage situation since I have no garage. I have a low Rubbermaid vinyl shed that I stored the Sears machine in. Took measurements and went to pick up the machine with my fingers crossed. NO GOOD!. My shed was too narrow and too low. No what? The dealer suggested a single stage Toro and said he thought I would actually be better off with it instead of the 2 stage machine. He said I would finish in half the time of a 2 stage and I would still be able to clear the plowed snow at the end of the driveway as long as I didn't try to plow a full bite at a time. A customer was at the counter buying new auger blade rubbers for his machine and he agreed with the dealer's opinion. They suggested I opt for the 221 2-cycle engine as the new model 421 4 cycle was having fuel issues. So off I went, slightly disappointed with a single stage 2 cycle machine, but I loaded it in the truck with some gratis 2 cycle oil and off I went, anticipating the next storm.

OK. HERE'S THE PAYOFF!
Yesterday, January 12, 2011, Long Island, NY, 14 inches of snow fell and I had 3 foot drifts in my drive way. Topped off the tank of the new Toto 221QE. Too lazy to get the extension cord for electric start, I set the choke, primed it and pulled the starter handle. Nothing for a few pulls. Opened the choke and pulled a few time to clear it out. Set the choke half way, primed it again and it started on the second pull. Off I went and boy was I surprised. This machine is awesome. Night and day compared to the Sears machine. Throwing snow a minimum of 20 feet. Had to struggle to keep up with it initially as the rubber auger really scoots it along. Quick-Shoot system works great, though it only controls the direction. To change the height and distance you have to reach over to the chute but the adjustment mechanism is very easy to use as you press the spring loaded handle, adjust the chute a release the handle all in one motion. The end of the driveway went very quickly as well though I did have take smaller bites. To be fair this snow was not wet or compacted very much so as I said in the title so far so good. Heavier wetter snow will be a different test but I will update this review as I encounter different conditions.

My apologies for the long review but I wanted to share my experiences and thoughts on buying this fairly expensive piece of equipment that for many of us we wish we didn't have to use and sometimes is just a paperweight waiting for a piece of paper.

In conclusion I would recommend this machine but ultimately I would say buy the best machine you can afford. If service is an issue, then factor that into the equation. This machine weighs about 80lbs and I was able to lift it by myself onto the tailgate of the truck. When I need service I will be able to get it there without a problem. With the 2 stage machine at 160lbs that wasn't going to happen! At-home service is expensive. And lastly I was glad I checked with my local dealer as their price was competitive, they demonstrated the machine on delivery so I know the machine was set up correctly and I did not have to worry about shipping damage. All real considerations when making this purchase during winter!!!

I LOVE this snow blower. Every time I use it I think it was the best purchase ever.

I love that I can change the direction of the discharge quickly and easily without bending over. I love that if there are only a couple inches of snow I don't even bother to put on warm clothes - I just jog behind the blower and I'm done in a few minutes. I love that I can chew a path to the mailbox through the sludge left by the snowplows. I frequently help 5 or 6 or 14 of my neighbors as well, because it is so quick and dare I say -fun-.

I have had mine for 3 years without any issues. I have recommended them to others who now love them as well.

Somewhat disappointed in Toro. While they probably have made advances in the chassis and blade design, it almost seems as if they are using engine technology from 20 years ago. How is it that Detroit figured out how to make a car start every time more than half a century ago but Toro can't figure out how to make their engine start every time on the first or second pull? You'd think they go get a $2 sensor to mix the right amount of fuel and air in the engine and automate the choke. (And make the sensor easy for the user to replace) The choke system they are using is similar to what was used in the Ford Model T!

One tip I can give is to ignore the instructions for starting after the first time. Priming it even once after the first time will drown the engine. It seems to start easier if you don't prime, pull the chord once before turning it on, turn it on and pull the chord once or twice again. I can't say if this is only with a few Toro snow blowers, but it seems they only tested new engines once and never went back to start it again after the first use, as their instructions don't work. I have a neighbor who has the same model without an electric starter and he has the same problem. After I told him to ignore Toro instructions for starting and use mine, his snow blower starts now without many problems. The instructions and diagrams for adjusting the control cable are also useless. I wonder if they just failed to update their instructions and are using the instructions for an older model. And, the electric start is basically useless, so get the model without one and save $100. It would be nice if the gas tank was removable and had markers so you could get the right of mix oil and gas in it. Handles on the front and back for lifting it would also be nice.

I will say that once you have it going, it moves light snow very well. For wet snow, only put the snow blower in half the width of snow.

All in all, while the unit is adequate with some work, I expected better for $700. Engine technology has come a long way in the last 50 years, but Toro doesn't seem to have. I'm going to take it in for servicing to see if there is just something wrong with this unit and will report if I find anything that changes the review.

Of course I haven't tested them all, but for 2" to 12"+ it is the best snowblower I have ever used or seen in use... Unlike the 2 stage models it cleans down all the way to the pavement. Unlike the 2 stage models it also can clear a couple inches of snow and does not have the huge weight of the others... This model is light weight and yet beefy enough to clear 12" deep snow drifts... I just did it!

I bought this snowblower in mid-December. I did everything that the manual recommeded to do i.e. used fresh gasoline with the correct oil mixture, set the choke to the right, prime two times, but the snow blower would not start. I even hooked up the electric cord for the electric start option. Still no result. So I took it to the Toro dealer. They called me 2 days later and said the blower is ready for pickup. When I went there, I asked the technician to let me start the blower. When I tried to set the choke to the right, he said not to do it or else I will flood the carburetor. The owner's manual does not say that and instructs to set the choke to the right and then prime one or two times. In any case without setting the choke the machine started right away. Ever since that trip, I have been able to start the snowblower without using the choke. The dealer charged me $25 for inspection services although the blower was brand new (only 2 days old). So much so for Toro's 2 year "guaranteed to start on one or two pulls". This means that if the snowblower does not start on the first or second pull and one has to take it to the dealer for service, it is going to cost money. So what good is this warranty! I wrote to the Toro corporate office as was suggested by the Customer Service for a refund of the $25 which I had paid the local dealer, but a refund was refused.

Another problem with this machine is that the thrower chute does not sit snug and even though the 3 srews are tightened securely, the machine makes a lot of noise when running because the snow chute is shaking on the machine.

Toro may have good machines, but their customer service is horrible. The reason I sent the receipt for a refund was because this is what their customer service supervisor has suggested I do. My recommendation is to go to Lowe's or Home Depot and buy a Yard Machine snowblower for a much lower price and use the savings to get the machine serviced just in case it has starting problems. Also check out the no hassle refund policy at both these stores.

I certainly would not recommend spending around $700.00 for an expensive mahcine and receive horrible customer service.

OK, this is the biggest disaster I have ever seen. I had an Ariens snowthrower for over 30 years. Change oil, sparkplug and that was it. No problems. Started every year for 30 years. But, it was tired so I replaced it with a Toro. I was talked into it and, against my best judgement, I went for the little less price. NEVER AGAIN!!

In two years, I have had the starter die and now it is sitting in my garage, after a new starter has been put on (by authorized dealer) and it will not start. Further, a single stage is just too small. This is more of a gas powered "broom" than it is a snow blower.

The parts, you can tell, are very cheap. Take the fancy red cover off and you will see the tiniest and cheapest looking device you have ever seen. DO NOT GET SUCKED INTO THE LOW PRICE. Go for the real thing. Toro is a great brand name from years ago but clearly they have cheapened the heck out of their machines.

Thought Toro was such a great name.

When the conditions are ideal for this blower (ie. dry powder no deeper than 3 or 4") work beautifully.

Only problem conditions are rarely ideal. Any deviation from that with a deep snow, or a wet snow, and this blower works like dog crap. Constant clogs, and I mean every 2 feet, on wet snow.
belt slippage on wet or deep snow, you get tired of the screeching noise.

What a waste of money. nothing worse than being all excited to use your blower, only to have it work like crap. To rub salt in the wound, seeing neighbors with their blowers with no trouble as you struggle to get 5 feet, only to give up and go back to the shovel.

On a positive note (if there is one) they had a nice choice in engine. so far no troubles. the workings and design around it are worth dog crap though.