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Had problems with the weakest link, the nuts and bolts holding the directional hood on. With better quality steel for the little pieces, washers, screws, nuts and bolts (they strip with a little torque) this would actually have been a pretty decent snow blower. After a terrible time mounting the hood with these bolts and nuts, and holding the washers on too,the rest of the assembly wasn't bad. Probably better to have another person's hand to hold the rubber and metal washers on each side of hood, while installing the blower's turning device. I thought everything would be fine, even though, I couldn't get the bolts to go all the way through the nuts' bad threads. So the blower hood remained too loose. (Directions warn against OVERTIGHTENING). Threads started stripping even with a little torque. I did get the hood mounted. Then for about 5 minutes snow didn't leak out. However with motor vibration, the hood moved continuously all over the place. It was supposed to stay set, around round blower head. It was frustrating. I blew snow all over my neighbors cars and into the path which, I was trying to clear. I live in a townhouse development with narrow paths and sidewalks, so distance wasn't an issue. It actually did an exceptionally good job there--just not in a good direction. I don't know if I'd get this model again, it could just be that lot of nuts & bolts, were bad?
On the positive side and if the hardwarde was manufactured properly, this Toro 1800 would have been a powerful little machine. It threw a good distance,(a good 15 to 20 feet) and, that was even with a 100ft. 14G extension cord. They advertise 30ft. Maybe with a very short 6' cord it would have thrown that distance? I assumed I'd lose some power, with a longer cord, but they must have designed it well in that area. It all comes down to where your snow ends up that made the difference between good and not so hot.
In summary: if you find that your LARGE MOUNTING BOLTS and NUTS, look okay with decent, EARLY threading, you'll probably be happy and love this blower.The snow will end up where you want it since the hood will stay in place. It was light-weight, easy to handle, even for a 103lb., 4'12" woman (this sounds taller than 5'). I could handle it just fine even in a wet snowstorm.
It would be a nice blower for townhomes' or row homes' walks and driveways--BUT search for the hardware and test the threading prior to taking it out of the large box. You'll save yourself a lot of time if you need to pack it up and return it. KEEP THE INSDIE CARDBOARD SIDES AND TOP, just in case.
Get more detail about Toro 1800 18-Inch 12 Amp Electric Curve Snow Thrower #38025.
