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[This is an update of a review I posted Feb. 19, 2005]
I have had this snow-thrower since Jan. 2005, and liked the idea of an electric alternative to the dangerous gasoline-powered monsters. I bought an electric lawnmower when I was in So. Calif., and loved it for the 20+ years it ran flawlessly! I was hoping that this electric snowthrower would be a repeat of the good lawnmower experience, but it was not.
There are REAL disadvantages to such a lightweight snow thrower, as I have painfully discovered.
PROS:
1.) As I previously mentioned, no hazardous gasoline nor oil to mess around with!
2.) This thrower can be used immediately; just plug it into the heavy-duty cable, and go! Immediate starting, no gas to pour, no oil to check nor change.
3.) Lightweight: a woman should be able to carry it to where it is needed.
4.) RELATIVELY cheap acquisition price when compared to gasoline-powered throwers.
CONS:
1.) This pee-wee CANNOT handle anything but paved driveways or walkways.
2.) SLOW... when the snow gets wet or high (over 10 inches) it is pretty much overwhelmed.
3.) Noisier than you think: it surprised me with the impeller noise!
4.) The tiny, tiny wheels are a joke: they freeze up with snow and ice and then act as a poor "set of skids", actually slowing you down.
5.) The electric cord (12 gauge,150 feet in my case) is the least of the inconveniences - gets in the way, slows my progress down.
6.) SERVICE IS A REAL PROBLEM: None of the Toro dealers know how to service this thing after a problem arises; it is an unconventional snow thrower!
7.) When the snow really flies with accompanying winds, the ELECTRIC POWER GOES OUT! Now I know why my neighbors prefer self-powered (gasoline) snow throwers!
8.) The impeller (or whatever Toro chooses to call it) is made of PLASTIC, not steel. Mine has already been replaced (at one year old point) due to total failure.
9.) The output chute tends to rotate away from the direction in which I point it, which means I have to stop and readjust it continuously. I have attempted to tighten it up so it won't rotate, but I have been unsuccessful.
If you need a real snowthrower because of serious snowfalls, then get a two-stage self-propelled one, like most of my neighbors have; that's what I am looking to purchase now!
The other detail that Toro doesn't make obvious, is the fact that this should be used on PAVED DRIVEWAYS AND WALKS ONLY!! I live in a rural area with neither, and this Toro regularly picks up a rock or pine cone and hurls it 20-30 feet! That little trick has only broken one window (so far).
This tendency - picking up rocks - has also caused the Toro to become non-functional. A stone got caught in between the impeller and the lower lip of the intake and froze the electric engine. The Toro has not worked since that incident, despite two trips to the Toro dealer in Redding, CA.
The tendency to pick up loose rocks and gravel can be lessened by keeping the push-handle down below your waist as you push it through the snow - which in turn keeps the front intake slightly elevated so no loose objects can get sucked in.
When ten (10) inches of measured snow fell earlier one season (2005), my 100+ foot driveway proved to be pretty much the maximum that this machine could handle. In fact, after the snow plow left his "donation" in my driveway, it was quite difficult getting through that mess.
A suggestion: get out early before the snow melts - and compacts itself - this makes it easier to keep the chute clear of "wet" snow, which is more difficult to clear out.
With last evening's (this was Feb. 18, 2006) light 7 inch snowfall, the Toro worked fine. It still took me 1.5 hours, but I did a 60+ foot path in the backyard, too. Again, a PAVED surface would make the chore much easier and manageable.
Would I buy this machine again? DEFINITELY NOT. I'm maxed out with 150 feet of 12 gauge cable, and after a 1.5 - 2 hour workout with this machine, I think a two-stage snow-blower would be better! If I lived where the driveways and walkways were paved and the snowfall was light, then yes, I might purchase the electric Toro again.
I hope my review helps you make your best choice!Get more detail about Toro 1800 18-Inch 12 Amp Electric Curve Snow Thrower #38025.
