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

I ordered this snow thrower late night Jan 7 2005 and received it on Jan 13 2005 using the free shipping method, way to go UPS! And it got here just about at the right time. The first chance I got to test this machine was on Jan 19, 2005, 2" snow on the ground. It ran for 10 minutes and it stopped running at all. I opened up the machine to check the electrical circuit and it turned out that there was a loose wire to the trigger, snapped the loose wire into the connector and the machine comes back to life. It was not a good feeling when you bought something online and it broke. It was a good thing I can fixed it without tearing down the whole machine. Toro needs to do a better job at quality control. The real test happened the past weekend, I had 11" for most of my two car wide, 50 feet long drive way. Near the entrance, after they powed the street, it was 16". This machine take care of the 11" area with ease, especially after I figure out how to manage the extention cord. For the 16" area, I found it was a lot easier for me to pick up the machine and shave 5 -6" off the top of the powed snow than trying to remove the snow from under it. Overall, I am really satisfied with my decision to buy this machine except for the fact that I had to do a little bit of repair work.Get more detail about Toro 1800 18-Inch 12 Amp Electric Curve Snow Thrower #38025.

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I have previously reviewed this product last month with a 5-star review, but felt compelled to write another review based on the OUTSTANDING performance of this little wonder during one of Boston's largest snowfalls in history this weekend. I live just north of Boston, where we got 36" of snow. I again admit that when I first took the Toro out and the machine sank in the snow so I could no longer see it that I wished I had bought a gas powered snowblower. Was I wrong...again!!! This little machine was able to completely remove all the snow from my 6-car driveway and all walkways. Granted, this machine is not designed for three feet of snow, and I often had to break the piles down with a shovel first. Still, this machine did 90% of the effort. What would have taken me 4+ hours before took 1 hour with this machine. It was funny to watch all my neighbors with their big gas beasts laughing at me when I first took out my plastic snow savior. In the end, I was the one that was laughing since I was done way before they were, and didn't have to deal with the countless stalls my neighbors did (and they have smaller driveways!). I also had a few people walking by asking me about the machine as they have never seen it before. Many people want an electric alternative but think the little Toro can't handle it. Hopefully I was able to change a few minds as well! If this machine can handle 3' of snow, it can do anything. I can't say enough about this machine, and I would highly recommend it to anyone.Get more detail about Toro 1800 18-Inch 12 Amp Electric Curve Snow Thrower #38025.

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I hemmed and hawed for over a year on this product before relenting to myself this past fall and ordering one. All I can say is that I should have placed the order over a year ago. WOW what a powerful machine. I just cleared 14 inches this past weekend from the "Blizzard of 2005" snow. It ate it up with no problem. I was done before most of my neighbors lugged out their beheamoths and got them started. I live in Northern New Jersey, so this machine can clearly "cut it" for the kind of snow we normally get. It being electric, the "cord management" can be a bit tricky, but well worth the minor aggravation. I like the fact that since it's electric, I can leave it in the house by the back door if I know it's going to snow overnight. I literally plugged it in and went out the back door, down the steps and onto the driveway. Fabulous machine!Get more detail about Toro 1800 18-Inch 12 Amp Electric Curve Snow Thrower #38025.

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I have previously reviewed this product last month with a 5-star review, but felt compelled to write another review based on the OUTSTANDING performance of this little wonder during one of Boston's largest snowfalls in history this weekend. I live just north of Boston, where we got 36" of snow. I again admit that when I first took the Toro out and the machine sank in the snow so I could no longer see it that I wished I had bought a gas powered snowblower. Was I wrong...again!!! This little machine was able to completely remove all the snow from my 6-car driveway and all walkways. Granted, this machine is not designed for three feet of snow, and I often had to break the piles down with a shovel first. Still, this machine did 90% of the effort. What would have taken me 4+ hours before took 1 hour with this machine. It was funny to watch all my neighbors with their big gas beasts laughing at me when I first took out my plastic snow savior. In the end, I was the one that was laughing since I was done way before they were, and didn't have to deal with the countless stalls my neighbors did (and they have smaller driveways!). I also had a few people walking by asking me about the machine as they have never seen it before. Many people want an electric alternative but think the little Toro can't handle it. Hopefully I was able to change a few minds as well! If this machine can handle 3' of snow, it can do anything. I can't say enough about this machine, and I would highly recommend it to anyone.Get more detail about Toro 1800 18-Inch 12 Amp Electric Curve Snow Thrower #38025.

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After seeing a neighbor use this machine last winter I knew I had to have one. Unfortunately, I couldn't get one at that time since Amazon and other retailers were sold out. Luckily, Amazon re-stocked for the new winter season and I snapped one up.

Let me tell you this thing is money well spent. It cut my snow removal time by about two thirds. What used to take 3 hours I got done in 1 hour. I'll probably get faster with experience. While my other, manual shoveling neighbors were still going at it, I was relaxing in my sweats drinking a cup of hot chocolate.

It handled a 14" inch storm admirably. While rated for 10" it can be pushed into deeper amounts to 'cut' into the snow. For deeper drifts it's light enough to pick up and skim off the top until it's low enough to go at normally. One reviewer said it's not good for taller people because the handle is too low to the ground. I'm the same height as him (6ft) and had no problem with the handle height. The unit is not meant to be used with the handle at the same height as when at rest. It's designed for the handle be held up at such angle so the skid plate underneath glides across the pavement. When used properly, it eats down to the pavement. The wheels on the rear of the unit are only used when backing up the unit...not while going forward. This is all explained in the manual which Amazon links to as a .pdf file (don't you just love Amazon?).

The next storm here in Philly (late Feb, 2005) was a wetter, heavier snow of about 7 inches. I did my front driveway before I went to work - something I would not have considered before since it's at least an hour task. The Toro once again proved its value as I was finished in about 30 minutes. Whole driveway and sidewalk. Threw snow easily across width of my driveway onto garden (about 15 ft).

One minor gripe is that I wish the handle were collapsible for easy storage. The other thing that is a bit of a hassle is electric cord management. 100ft of cord can be cumbersome but, in my opinion, less of a hassle than dealing with oil and gas and maintenance of a gas powered unit. Do yourself a favor and get a cord reel. I picked up a hand reel locally at Wally World for about five bucks. Makes cord management much easier.

Update: January 2010
After 5 years the rotor gave out. Sypmtoms were motor would run but rotor would stop turning when it hit snow. Result = no snow being thrown. On exam, the rotor looked okay but I was able to turn it independent of the rotor shaft which should not be possible. I took the side plates off and removed the rotor. The left side, it is supposed to have 3 bosses (protrusions) that engage the coupler --they were stripped bare. It's easy to see why this would happen: the rotor is plastic and the coupler is metal...metal won out. Unit was easily fixed however with a $25 rotor (delivered price) ordered from Toro's parts website. Note: you will need a 5/16" or 3/8" allen wrench (depending on model year of your 1800) to remove the rotor shaft...that cost about $3 at my local Harbor Freight Tools. My total cost to repair for parts and tools was $28! After 5 years I got off cheap. From stories I've heard I know a gas unit would have set me back at least $150 to repair.

Still 5 ***** stars.

Get more detail about Toro 1800 18-Inch 12 Amp Electric Curve Snow Thrower #38025.

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I just got finished doing 3 houses with this machine. More than 18 inches of snow. Not only that, I was also able to get through the snow piled up by the plow at the end of the driveway. Because the machine is so light I just picked it up and placed on the top of the plowed in pile. The blower cut through the pile from the top down.

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Used this for the first time today: dug my 50' driveway out from 12"-16"of snow (mostly dry, powdery stuff). Am surprised at how strong the motor is. Saved me at least 2 hours of hard shoveling and no strain on my back either. My only nitpick is that it's tricky to tighten down the hood on the exhaust chute to just the right tension, and you have to use tools to make adjustments. The force of the snow kept pushing the hood up so that snow went out at a higher angle than I would have liked. Will need to tighten it down some more after the thrower has dried out. Other than that, the thrower works great: plug it in and go.

Update 12/20/2009: Took it out for the first time this season. It went 10' down the drive and then stopped. Outlet was fine, cord was fine, blower not. I shoveled the drive by hand, ordered a replacement off Amazon, then figured "what the heck, I got nothing to lose at this point" and opened it up. (Note to self: next time, just take off one of the black side panels rather than immediately unscrewing everything holding the big, shiny red cowling on...) I didn't smell or see any melted plastic and all the belts were intact. Then I noticed that the ends of the black wire that connect the motor to the on/off switch in the handle had come unclamped. (smacks head!) I hooked them back up with a new electrical connector, put all the screws and bolts back on, and the thrower fired up just like new and I was able to clear the pile of snow the plows had just deposited at the end of my drive. Lesson learned - sometimes appliances _can_ be fixed by the user.Get more detail about Toro 1800 18-Inch 12 Amp Electric Curve Snow Thrower #38025.