Toro Power Max® 826OXE (26") 250cc Two-Stage Snow Blower

It was a challenge to assemble. Instructions inadequate. Also it is way too tall even though I lowered it as much as possible. It still does not clear my garage but it does keep the blowing snow off of you. Also the Power Max snowblower needs, as far as I am concerned, the extra weight in the front with or without the cab. It is too light to cut to the bare ground without it. It should not be an extra item but one that comes with your new blower.

Also with the 20 plus inches of snow we just had in Illinois two weeks ago my 250 cc 26 inch Power Max never broke a sweat. It threw the snow 20 plus feet with ease also noting now this particular snow was 10% water and 90% snow making it a lighter snow but all in all for power I give it an A and for ease of handling I give it a C+. It is still a very clumsy machine. Also I will try tire chains next year to see if power steering improves with better traction. It is the turning that has been a problem. Also the turning levers take bigger hands to reach them while still holding the handle bars thus increasing difficulty in operating blower.

It was a challenge to assemble. Instructions inadequate. Also it is way too tall even though I lowered it as much as possible. It still does not clear my garage but it does keep the blowing snow off of you. Also the Power Max snowblower needs, as far as I am concerned, the extra weight in the front with or without the cab. It is too light to cut to the bare ground without it. It should not be an extra item but one that comes with your new blower.

Also with the 20 plus inches of snow we just had in Illinois two weeks ago my 250 cc 26 inch Power Max never broke a sweat. It threw ... more

I live in Fallston, Md and finally we had a good 10-12" of snow. The snowblower worked great . Starting was a breeze either with the electric start or the pull handle( one easy pull did it). The blower went through the snow pretty easily. Never clogged!! Even the ice junk at the end of the driveway from the plow was cleared fairly easily.

The machine handled well and the power steering was very useful (not just a gimmick) The chute was easy to maneuver with only one hand and can be moved easily on the fly. The only comment about the machine is that the shoot control is over on the left side of the machine next to the traction handle so at times you almost feel like you're 2 hands are too close together when moving the shoot. I think it would have been much better if the shoot control was on the right side of the machine where your "free" hand is. That would be less cumbersome.

Overall after my first use of the machine I am very pleased. Probably could have upgraded to a 28" however I have limited storing space.

Also , I want to say dealing with Snow Blowers Direct was great. I was a little hesitant making such a big purchase with an online company that is not in my state but everything was smooth. Their phone operator was easy to work with and pretty knowledgeable about their products. The delivery was right on time and the delivery people put the machine into my garage at my request instead of just leaving it the middle of my driveway.

I live in Fallston, Md and finally we had a good 10-12" of snow. The snowblower worked great . Starting was a breeze either with the electric start or the pull handle( one easy pull did it). The blower went through the snow pretty easily. Never clogged!! Even the ice junk at the end of the driveway from the plow was cleared fairly easily.

The machine handled well and the power steering was very useful (not just a gimmick) The chute was easy to maneuver with only one hand and can be moved easily on the fly. The only comment about the machine is that the shoot control is ov... more

I just bought this snowblower. There are not enough words to describe how good it is.

First, the joystick is amazing. Left, right, up, down, stick snow where you want it very quickly.

Second, the freewheel power steering is gold. This blower literally turns by itself simply by holding down the transmission lever and lifting up on the little lever located under the handlebars. If you want to turn manually, just let go of the transmission lever, squeeze both levers under the bars, you turn at wheel.

Last, the Briggs engine is very solid. I used to own an Ariens Platinum Deluxe. I found this Ariens blower to be good but far too back heavy, thus making harder to turn than the Toro. This blower far surpasses it. It's well balanced, strong, easy to move, and efficient. I highly recommend it.

I just bought this snowblower. There are not enough words to describe how good it is.

First, the joystick is amazing. Left, right, up, down, stick snow where you want it very quickly.

Second, the freewheel power steering is gold. This blower literally turns by itself simply by holding down the transmission lever and lifting up on the little lever located under the handlebars. If you want to turn manually, just let go of the transmission lever, squeeze both levers under the bars, you turn at wheel.

Last, the Briggs engine is very solid. I ... more

This is my first snow blower ever. It arrived ahead of schedule and I was so excited I wrote a review before we used it. I shoveled as the snow blower was used today in our 2 feet of fresh snow.

It was extremely hard to push and we were shocked to think that something that is 222 pounds was not self propelled. We even checked the trunion thinking it was not installed correctly (per the directions on traction).

Still I watched as he turned several shades of red pushing the snowblower up and down the driveway as well as the walk (angrily, I might add).

Once we were done with most of the driveway (3 excruciatingly awful hours later) we were ready to sell our brand new Toro on EBay until we read Colin's review: THE COTTER PINS ARE NOT INSTALLED WHEN IT IS DELIVERED.

Colin writes-"The fix was simple - the unit is shipped with cotter pins installed through each axle but not through the wheel hubs. Simple reassembly cured the problem, but why is it not mentioned in the manual?"

SNOWBLOWERS DIRECT, please put in a special pamphlet in a BRIGHT COLOR warning new users to install the cotter pins before use. If you have always had machinery like this, it might be a no brainer, but if you have never used something like this before, how would you know?

SBD RESPONDS: We are working with Toro to solve this problem; instead of opening every box to add a piece of paper we think a brightly colored sticker might work better. Thank you for your input!

This is my first snow blower ever. It arrived ahead of schedule and I was so excited I wrote a review before we used it. I shoveled as the snow blower was used today in our 2 feet of fresh snow.

It was extremely hard to push and we were shocked to think that something that is 222 pounds was not self propelled. We even checked the trunion thinking it was not installed correctly (per the directions on traction).

Still I watched as he turned several shades of red pushing the snowblower up and down the driveway as well as the walk (angrily, I might add).
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After carefully following the manual's set up instructions the machine started immediately BUT would not drive in any gear!

The local dealer I contacted offered to pick up the unit - at my cost - in order to diagnose the problem.

I had to resort to a Google search where I immediately found others had experienced the same frustrating problem.

The fix was simple - the unit is shipped with cotter pins installed through each axle but not through the wheel hubs. Simple reassembly cured the problem, but why is it not mentioned in the manual?

This is a solid axle machine - no differential or wheel clutches - so it is very difficult to turn. In hindsight I should have bought the more expensive, and larger, Toro 828 or another make altogether.

After carefully following the manual's set up instructions the machine started immediately BUT would not drive in any gear!

The local dealer I contacted offered to pick up the unit - at my cost - in order to diagnose the problem.

I had to resort to a Google search where I immediately found others had experienced the same frustrating problem.

The fix was simple - the unit is shipped with cotter pins installed through each axle but not through the wheel hubs. Simple reassembly cured the problem, but why is it not mentioned in the manual?
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