Comments on: Troy-Bilt Vortex 2490 Snow Thrower Review – Why You May Not Want This Snow Blower!

By: C hardy

C hardy — Fri, 12 Feb 2021 20:37:33 +0000

My troybilt 3 phase in complete waste of money.it keep clogging up and don’t throw the snow any distance.

By: Al

Al — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 21:45:38 +0000

In reply to Paul.

The alignment of holes is something I didn’t know. Have tried to use allen wrenches with vice grips, which didn’t work yet. Maybe i had the alignment wrong. Thanks for your advice – very understandable and practical.

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 20:26:12 +0000

In reply to Al – from BC – Canada.

Hi Al, I have a 1/4 inch steel rod about 2 inches long. I hold that with a vice-grips and tap the rod with a hammer to drive a broken shear pin out. Saves on the fingers and you should be able to get to that back shear pin. By the way – the back hole lines up with the front shear pin hole. That makes it a lot easier to find the hole where the pin is sheared off in.

By: Al - from BC - Canada

Al - from BC - Canada — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 19:20:08 +0000

In reply to Paul.

Paul – Thank you for the advice in correcting the chute control mechanism. I took it apart, and put it back together and it works properly now – unlike when I wrote my previous concerns. Had to replace two shear pins, and have another that is broken off but is stuck in the hole – so works as it should for the time being. Really hard to get at the back sheer pin – I even took part of the mechanism apart, but not all of it.

By: Joe

Joe — Sat, 19 Dec 2020 22:26:25 +0000

I have a Troy Built Vortex 26″ and I despise it. It’s clumsy and awkward to maneuver It clogs repeatedly, moving he chute is like wrestling. It burns through gas. I’m not sure that the “heated handles” do anything at all but worst of all, when the pin broke on the front auger, it was impossible for me to replace – awkward with no room for maneuvering. When I called a local dealer, he told me “we don’t service those!” I finally found someone to fix it but dropping a $100 each time for what should be an easy repair is too much to bear. And you know it’s going to break again soon. I wish I have my 18 year old Craftsman 24.” I gave it to a friend who happily reports how well it performs after every storm.

By: Paul

Paul — Sat, 14 Nov 2020 14:42:38 +0000

In reply to Al – from BC – Canada.

Hi Al, On the top of the square tube that holds the entire chute, right under the gears, there is a pin with a clip or a nut & bolt. There is also a clip in the chute control rod out by the chute. Remove that and the entire chute assembly lifts off. Pay attention to how the chute control rod fits so you can get it back together. While it’s apart play with the joystick to see if the binding is in the joystick or in the chute gears.

By: Al - from BC - Canada

Al - from BC - Canada — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 20:50:19 +0000

I just tried to romove 8+” (20+cm) of wet snow with my Troy Vortex 28″. My experience was opposite yours – the snow plugged up frequently. Even at 1/2 wide it worked more like a pusher than a picker-upper-blower. I also had problems with the chute rotation joy stick. Had to turn it by hand. Second season – wish I had my old two-stage back.Tried to remove chute to add rubbers to ends of impellers (like youtube video), but couldn’t get chute off. Will have to study more – after I take my hand scoop and finish my driveway.

By: Paul

Paul — Sat, 16 Nov 2019 02:07:13 +0000

In reply to Lois Gorman. Hi Lois, That is a real pain when it keeps happening! It actually sounds like the belt tension is too great. So, when you push the handle down it's causing too much stress on the cable. Please look in your operator's manual and it will show you how to adjust the tension on that cable (auger belt tension) It's easy to do and the adjustment is right on the back of the snow blower.

By: Lois Gorman

Lois Gorman — Sat, 16 Nov 2019 01:15:10 +0000

I want to know why, after using my 3 stage for 1/2 a season, I had to replace the auger cable. It broke where it attaches to the auger. Then it broke again in the middle of the first 3 inch snow of the next season. It is the clamp on the end of the cable that keeps breaking. It isn’t much stronger than a necklace clasp! Can I replace it with something stronger?

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 13:37:59 +0000

In reply to Diana schaeffer. Hi Diana, You can always get parts for your Craftsman through searspartsdirect.com. Engines can be expensive but other parts generally are cheaper than buying new. That said, you get a lot more snow than a residential snow blower like your Craftsman is designed to handle. According to the climate data you have been averaging 180 inches of snow a year, your Craftsman was designed to handle 50 inches a year! You don't have a large area to clear so a heavy-duty 24-28 inch is a good choice. These snow blowers are $300-600 more than a Craftsman but well worth it for durability and long life. I'll give you a few choices. Ariens Dealer Models: These Ariens snow blowers will clear you area a lot faster than you Craftsman and throw the snow up to 50 feet. These Ariens will last 15 to 20 years with a little maintenance. Ariens Platinum 24 SHO. Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO Toro Power Max HD: Toro makes one that is perfect and one that is a little under powered for you snow. These Toro's will last 15 to 20 years with a little maintenance. Dealer Only: Toro PowerMax HD 826 OHXE is a little under powered but still a very heavy duty snow blower. The Toro PowerMax HD 1028 OHXE is the Toro I would choose. It is rated commercial and will throw snow 50 feet. You can buy it at your local Toro dealer or through Home Depot here: Toro Snow Removal Power Max HD 1028 28 in. Ohxe Two-Stage Gas Snow Blower 38802