https://www.makeoverarena.com/best-snow-blowers/

Hi Paul, I typically have my 400 square-foot driveway, plus I like to go over the lawn around my house for about 140 linear feet about 2 feet wide. So a total of maybe 680 square feet. The gas version seems so eager to chew up the snow in short order, that I am surprised it doesn’t get out of the garage and do the whole job by itself, while I am still eating breakfast! It would be great if the battery version could compete with it. Thanks for your expertise and neighborly advice. David

Hi David, I have an E26 sitting in the box right now in the garage. I should get a video up on it soon.

It has the same power as the 826. How big is the area you need to clear? That will determine if the batteries will be large enough for you.

Hi Mike, You don’t need an extended warranty. They are a scam. My biggest issue with them is if you do use it they take your snowblower off to some service center miles away (sometimes 100 miles or more) and it just sits there for months before someone gets around to fixing it.

The Toro Power Max HD is one of the most dependable snowblowers on the market. It will easily last as long as your old Craftsman and most likely will never have an issue with anything.

Change the oil after the first 5 hours (I use Mobil One)
When are done using it turn off the fuel shutoff before you turn off the engine and let the engine run until it uses all the fuel left in the carb. That way if you have any moisture in your fuel it won’t freeze up in the carb. That also keeps the carb from gumming up over the summer.
I put 2 tablespoons per gallon of SeaFoam in my gas all the time. The fuel stays fresh that way.
DO NOT use E15 fuel!
Finally when you are done clearing snow let the run the snowblower for 15-30 seconds to male sure all the snow is out of the impeller area. That keeps it from freezing up for next time.

I took the extended warranty by Allstate for now, have 90 days to cancel it, if it’s not needed. Based on what you see among the snow throwers you’ve dealt with, is there a real need for the extended warranty?

I’m looking at the 3 yr warranty that comes with the Toro to see what it covers. The chute, chute deflector, and impeller housing cover are liftime warranty, 3 yrs covers the rest? The engine should be the most expensive to replace should it fail. I can replace many things myself but sometimes having someone with way better knowledge do the job is worth the expense.

Just looked closer at the extended warranty and it states: Coverage “Start Date” (the day I purchased it) and “End Date” 3 years after expiration of the manufacturer’s warranty. It reads like it will continue 3 yrs after Toro’s warranty, that can’t be correct.

Hi Paul, My Toro 826 OXE has done well for me in Portland, ME for 5 years, even with my bad back. If it’s not too early in the season to comment on the Toro E26 (or maybe even E24) with a 60V battery, I’d appreciate your thoughts. Getting away from the noise and fumes would be a plus, but I would want it to chew through the snow and handle as well as the 826 OXE. Thanks for any thoughts now or later in the season at your convenience. David

Hi John, yes it has the ACS. It’s 10 hp, 28 inch. If you want to go new the 1428 has the trigger steering.

Hi Mike, You want the cable to be loose when the drive handle is not engaged. When you push down on the handle you want the cable adjusted so that the spring expands 3/8-1/2 inch. So screw the turnbuckle onto the screw until you get that tension. Then run the jamb nut down to the turnbuckle. Use a pliers to hold the turnbuckle and then use a wrench to tighten the nut up against it. Once tightened it will hold and stay tight.

Hi Paul, Thanks for all your helpful info. I have a Toro 828 and the cable linkage for the auger disconnected yesterday during usage. I screwed the turnbuckle into the threaded section a few turns and turned the jam nut up to meet it. But the jam screw quickly descended down the threaded section during usage with all the vibration. How many turns should the turnbuckle be set onto the threaded section? And how do I keep the jam nut up there once I get it up to meet with the turnbuckle? Thanks, Mike.