Toro 1800 18-Inch 12 Amp Electric Curve Snow Thrower #38025 Best Quality

I purchased this machine autumn 2007. We received 5 meters (15 foot) of snow last winter in Québec, useless to say that the snow thrower has to work hard! It performed well to clear the driveway (15x20) and pathway. Since we received that much snow, I found the machine to be limited when having to push the snow high enough to reach the top of the snowdrift. And when the snow is more dense, it's sometimes hard to push the machine through snow because of the large sidewalls (each side of the blade). This is more a problem because of the flimsy handle. The main problem I had with the machine is when snow gets in the case, condensation and humidity make the strap slip so the blade won't turn... When that happens, you have to let the machine dry in a warm dry place and it comes back to normal. That's the main problem with the Toro 1800.
Richard
UPDATE, february 2009:
I bought this machine because I don't like noise and I don't like to use gas. The machine broke a few times this winter for the same reasons : the strap. Well, no, a bearing too. But the problems are always, as others have decribed here, with the strap or what is around it.
This product could be great. It's light, silent, does not pollute air, takes little footprint.
But after 2 straps and a bearing in the month, I began to ask myself if it was a strong enough product for my use. And worse, the strap started to fall off the pulley each time I used the snowblower. It was enough for me. The machine is now in the recycle bin.
If you have a few inches of snow from time to time, it may be ok for you. But if you have snow like I do here in Quebec (more than 10 feet/year), don't buy this machine. It's made for light work only. And I hope the engineers at Toro will beef up the "drivetrain" if they want to keep customers for this type of product.Get more detail about Toro 1800 18-Inch 12 Amp Electric Curve Snow Thrower #38025.

Toro 1800 18-Inch 12 Amp Electric Curve Snow Thrower #38025 Get it now!

I bought one these last December 2007 from Amazon Prime and could not be happier with it. I live in northern Vermont where it snows so much the town I live in plows all of the sidewalks. I look forward to snow storms now. Where it used to take up to 3 hours of back breaking work pushing a snow scoop to clear the snow from my driveway and parts of my yard I now have the job done in less than half an hour. Light, 25 pounds. Works every time. It will throw fresh snow at least 25 feet. Last winter I had to dig a path to my oil tank about 60 feet from the sidewalk through three and half feet of snow. With a shovel the job would have taken a couple of hours at least. With the Toro it took 15 minutes. I was facing the snow bank while standing on the sidewalk, I picked the unit up and tossed it out in front of me about four feet and pulled and pushed the machine back and forth until there was an 18 inch wide, four foot long, three and a half foot deep trench in front of me. I stepped into the end of the trench and repeated this procedure until I reached the tank. We had so much snow last winter I was volunteering to help clean out my neighbors driveways. Amazon Prime had the unit plus a 100 foot extension cord sitting on my back porch 26 hours after I placed the order for an extra $3.99. Get more detail about Toro 1800 18-Inch 12 Amp Electric Curve Snow Thrower #38025.

Toro 1800 18-Inch 12 Amp Electric Curve Snow Thrower #38025 Buy Now

I have been unable to assemble my snow thrower. The two sections of the handle need to slide into place and to do this you're supposed to push in from the sides. I don't have enough hands to push in at the same time as pushing down, and I have been unable find a way to to get it together. I am hoping I can find someone to help me out, but in the meantime, I'm stuck. I should have bought locally from a store that would sell it to me fully assembled. Live and learn. Get more detail about Toro 1800 18-Inch 12 Amp Electric Curve Snow Thrower #38025.

Toro 1800 18-Inch 12 Amp Electric Curve Snow Thrower #38025 Order Now

I used this blower 2 times before the belt burned up. Took it in to have it fixed and it last 1 more time. Maybe the snow here in Califorina was too wet but do not spend any money on this!! I read all the great write up's that people sent in and can only thank some one in Toro wrote them.Get more detail about Toro 1800 18-Inch 12 Amp Electric Curve Snow Thrower #38025.