It sounds like you like the Toro. I tend to lean that way as well. The bad thing about buying a Tecumseh engine however is their waning existence. Aftermarket will take care of common items. I would suspect that Toro would take care of warranty snaffus if they would arise- but best to get their position. In a perfect world Tecumseh would honor the warranties and parts for a while. Not that there are many engine warranty issues anyways with a thrower.

I know people are down on Tec engines.
But the L head (or at least it looks the same) on the Sears never missed a beat.

Well, I have had 2 Toro snow blowers in the last 26 years. The first one, a 3521, lasted 20 years. My present one is an 826. No problems at all. The Tecumseh engine fires every time.

So if you like the Toro, go for it.

Enjoy the journey.
eal51 in western CT

The Toro is made for them by MTD. IMHO, the Ariens is a much stouter unit albeit for more money and fewer bells and whistles. A snowblower works hard in the conditions many of us are presently facing and this is no time to send a boy in to do a man's job. I sell parts and we are getting a lot of complaints about the lighter duty machines.

Wow Canguy- I didn't realize the Toro throwers were MTD built. Is it just the 2 stage units? Please don't burst our bubble by saying the power curves are built by MTD too! I would have to agree with you seeing as tho the Toro 2 stages are MTD built. Toro always had something special w/ their throwers.

The Toro looks MTD-ish, their Quick Stick chute control is
used on the new Troy Bilts and White Outdoor. I was looking at the new Troy Bilt's at big blue store last weekend, all had Intek Snow engines. Sure they're all a little lighter than the Ariens, not by much. I just serviced an Ariens 1128 with a Tec OHV, loud obnoxiuos exhaust. I live in SEMass along the coast and the snow is usually wet, nothing cloggs faster than a steel chute.

Hi Canguy.

I find that statement hard to believe, but I've been wrong before. Can you provide a link or some proof that Toro 2 stages are made by MTD.

Thanks, Kevin

Unfortunately, Toro played into the hands of Home Depot to please their shareholders. Their new 2 stages are nowhere near the tanks they once built.
They still build the single stage units which are among the best in the class. The larger models have very reliable, easy to start Briggs and Stratton 2 strokes and really move snow.

I always liked the 21" chassis for the average joe. The Power Shifts were real great too. The drum augers were great- unless you had to get one off and it was rusted on. And the fact you didn't have to mess with the shear pins. RIP Toro.

I know the Toro riders sold in HD are made by MTD, but I'm sure the snowblowers are not. I got a steal on my 826LE in the spring of 2006. Due to not much snow that winter they had a 35% off sale. I still hesitated. Then they went to 50% off. The next morning I stopped and the only larger unit besides the MTD's was one Toro 826LE. Reg. price $1000. Now $500. Opened up a charge and got another 10% off. Out the door at $450.
It's a great machine for me and I'm very happy with it.
Click the link to see how it throws.

Here is a link that might be useful: Toro 826LE in action

Its so easy for someone to start a false rumor on the internet and fail to support it with evidence. I do believe that Ariens build a lower quality machine for HD, as does everyone to make it into the store.

I have the 828 xle sitting in my barn. Used it briefly to clean up the bits shoveling didn't do. Impressive throw on that snow.

So why is it 55degs here today. Typical.