Toro Power Clear™ 221QR (21") 141cc Two-Cycle Single-Stage Snow Blower w/ Quick Chute

Originally purchased the Toro Power Clear 221QR (model#38583) brand new from my local ACE hardware store on Dec 7th 2007. It was the first time I had tried a remote chute control on a blower.


Previous blowers:
Machines I'd owned included a 2-stage Craftsman track-drive, a 2-stage Ariens hybrid (2-stage but with rubber-tipped auger, wheels are not power driven), and a Honda HS621 single stage. At the time, I still had the Honda and the Ariens.

Description of snow clearing duties:
Our property (which has 2 driveways, a Trex deck, complex-shaped cement patio landing, separate shop/garage approach, and curvy sidewalk) and our elderly neighbors' drives I'd often clear actually justified a 2-stage machine with the heavy storms on the east bench of Salt Lake City, but the track-drive machine and even the hybrid free-wheeling 2-stage Ariens proved too awkward to maneuver in the tight places that demanded sharp, frequent turns and frequent adjustment of the discharge chute direction.
The Honda HS621 SS was more maneuverable, but often times the chute clogged up, it wouldn't throw far enough, it weighed a porky 100 pounds (heavy for a SS), had difficulty and bogged-down badly when attempting the EOD pile-up for the plows, and the cost of replacement paddle rubber was ridiculously high.

After using the 73-pound 221QR for a couple of storms, I put both the Honda and the Ariens up for sale in the local want-ads and never looked back.
A couple years ago in autumn, I did pick up a used Toro PowerThrow 622 (model 38062) 2-stage unit (for a price I couldn't refuse) to clear my neighbors' drives in the event of more super-storms. So far, I've used the 2-stage just twice, and even then I turned back to the 221QR because it's so much easier, more maneuverable, and clears their very steep driveways down to the pavement, which the 2-stage won't do.

'Quick Shoot':
The Quick Shoot feature is a deal-maker for me. While controlling the discharge direction with good precision using my right hand (and without stooping or reaching), I can still stay on path, throwing snow while guiding and steering the machine around obstacles without pause or interruption. This is essential, with all the turns, obstacles, and maneuvering my pavement and deck layouts demand. The placement of the slide/aim control knob and its position on the handlebar is so very well configured that frankly, I'm surprised how well this thing's designed and how really good it performs as the first of its kind from any manufacturer. I wouldn't change a thing here.

Power:
Though the Toro company doesn't give numbers for the torque or horsepower rating of this 141cc 2-stroke engine, I've read that it's in the 5-to-6 HP range. This seems about right. Compared with my previous Honda HS621 (a 6 HP, 21"), the 221QR has noticeably more torque down low, throwing power, and doesn't bog down nearly as easily as the Honda's 4-stroke did.
I've seldom been challenged with "limits of a SS" with the 221QR when throwing fresh snow - even in storms that have laid down close to a foot. However, when re-throwing packed, wet stuff, or in deep and frozen EOD piles, the fact that it's a SS does sometimes reveal those limits. To its credit though, even a 2-stage unit won't move a lot of that slushy, semi-packed stuff either (looks like the output from an ICEE machine at 7-11).
More power and torque is always nice, and though the 221QR throws pretty impressively for a SS, I wouldn't turn down another horse or two!

Durability:
Can't complain here. This current 2014-2015 winter is the 7th season for my 221QR. I've lost count of the number of driveways, walks, decks, even areas of the street it's cleared. It's on its 4th (or 5th?) set of rubber and 3rd scraper bar. The one and only repair was a $2.95 nylon guide pulley for the auger engagement cable, which wore a groove after -who knows- N-thousand in/out cycles.
I've been rough on this machine, muscling and jamming into frozen banks, EOD piles, and foot-deep slush puddles. It's been used as water-pump at times, and I honestly expected it to quit from water immersion shorting out the engine electrics. But it didn't. It's been very heavily used, yet it shows no signs of retiring. Still runs strong.

This last summer (when used snow blower prices are cheap) I picked up an extra, very lightly used (almost new!) 221QR for $280, just in case my old trusty '07 decides to give up the ghost some day.

So far though, it still starts first pull, still has the original spark plug (I clean and gap it once a season), original belt, original bearings, wheels, engine, pulleys, etc. etc. Never had a problem with the chute freezing, binding, or failing in any way. I did disassemble it once and lubed the cables and plastic gears with a light low-temp grease, just as a preventative.

Toro has updated this model with a more powerful 4-stroke upgrade. I've read these are great machines, too. Still, I like the lighter weight 73-lbs vs. 84-lbs, and the freedom of low maintenance that the 2-stoke engine offers (no oil changes, lighter weight, fewer moving parts, faster warm-up, higher power&torque-to-weight ratio, faster response for bog-down recovery,...simpler overall).
I now have two blowers: a 221QR and also a 2-stage older Toro. But if I could have and keep only one machine, I wouldn't hesitate. It'd be the 221QR.

After reading all the reviews here, I felt the need to give my story. I am a landscaper who during the PA winters clears 50 driveways a day. I send out 2 crews(1 guy with shovel, 1 guy with Toro). This machine is absolutely the best for the money. My guys take them in and out the truck easily, up and down steps, and on to customers decks.

Anybody who is complaining that the chute freezes or recoil has broken must be leaving the blowers OUTSIDE. My machines are garage kept and have never had a problem, and if you do the math each machine is doing more snow in 1 day than these other machines are doing in a year.

So take it from me, the machine is the best all around snowblower for snowfalls under 12". If you consistently get 20" then by all means get a larger 2 stage blower.

This is the second model of this type that I have purchased. The first was for myself. With winters in New York state as they are, I needed something really reliable and easy to use. This is exactly the ticket. Great to start and blows snow so good it actually makes it fun to have it snow and use it.

The second one I purchased for my 84 year old father. He found it a pleasure to use, he liked mine so well that I bought him his own. I highly recommend this for the blowing power to remove the snow and the ease of use. I can hardly wait for another winter to start.

I've had a Toro for over 30 years. My last Toro I bought in 1994, and it's still running & starts on the first pull. Wanted a second Toro so my boys can help out. The 38583 is an outstanding machine. No problems starting it and it really makes quick work of any snowfall and man it throws the snow! The only problem I have with it is my boys and I fight over who gets to use it instead of the older machine.

The last 2 years in Oklahoma we have had some heavy snows. Nobody locally keeps snow blowers in stock so after the Feb 1 snow I decided to buy one. I had used an 18 years old Toro that I borrowed from a man who moved down from Wisconsin. It worked fine but it was too small for my 100' X 20' drive.

I received 221 today and the machine is fantastic. We received another 6" today and I drove down to FedEx when they opened to get the machine. Now all the neighbors want to hire me to clear their drive. I'm going to do it to pay for the machine.

Ordered the Toro 221QR snow blower just in time for the next big snow storm we had in January...had 17.5 inches of snow. First time we tried our new snow blower, it was a blessing. Started right up....17 inches was no problem...we even used it on the deck...worked great.

First time this year we don't care if it snows, now that we have the Toro to blow the snow. I ordered it on a Thursday night and received it on Monday..Fast Fast fast. Thanks Snow Blowers Direct...Great Service

I've owned my 221qr snowblower for approx 3 years now, runs just like the day I got it. Well worth the little investment of cash.

Easy to lift so you can go do the in-laws driveways as well. Shoots the snow over a 5 foot fence with ease. Other than a couple hard starts over the complete season I am very pleased with the machine. The only drawback I can see is the cost of the replacement paddles $40 each here in Canada.

I purchased the Toro based on a recommendation from a friend. I shopped around and found Snow Blowers Direct had a decent price and a great reputation. Buying from this site was very easy.

My snow blower arrived in 2 days. This thing works great, it’s easy to start and operate. The best part is my wife thinks its fun and has volunteered to clear the driveway every time it snows!! I can stay inside and keep warm.

I love this snow blower as it is easy to handle and for Chicago Winters very good even when we have heavy snow. Even my 13 year old son and my wife can operate it.

I've owned this snow blower since Nov. 2007 and the chute control routinely freezes during the winter season making it impossible to rotate the chute (even manually). Part of the control cable is external from the sheath that attaches to the Quick Shoot blue handle. This collects moisture because in blowing snow conditions it gets covered with ice and snow. Moving the handle back and forth releases some of that water into the cable sheath and after several uses, the water builds up. You may start using your snow blower, but if the temperatures are in the single digits (Fahrenheit scale), the water in the cable will freeze and the chute can't be moved until it is thawed. But even if you thaw out the cable, unless you can force the water out or add some anti-freeze to it, it will just re-freeze again and again. Sometimes my garage is above freezing and sometimes it goes below, so often I go out to find the chute frozen is some position. I have learned to move the chute fully to one side or the other before storing the snow blower back in the garage, so I can use it somewhat next snowfall. Never store it with the chute pointing directly forward. Toro's 800 number is useless and they don't seem to have a work-around for what I consider to be a serious design flaw.