Toro has recalled about 6,700 two-stage snow blowers because the auger can fail to disengage when the control lever is released, posing an amputation hazard. Toro has received five reports of the auger remaining engaged, but no reports of injuries, consistent with a release from the buyer Product Safety Commission. The auger is that the corkscrew-shaped mechanism inside the snow thrower, which pulls in snow before the snow is ejected through the chute.

The snow thrower recall applies to the Toro Power Max 826 OHAE with the model number 37802. Consumer Reports has not tested this model but has tested and recommends a variety of other Toro two-stage gas snow blowers.

Details of The Snow Thrower Recall

The recall: About 6,700 Toro Power Max snow blowers. The recall involves only model 37802, a two-stage machine with a 26-inch-wide clearing width. Only specific serial numbers are subject to recall; Honda Snowblower Problems you will find an inventory on the Toro recall page. The model number and serial number are located on the rear of Toro snow blowers.

The risk: The snow blower’s auger can remain engaged even after the control lever is released, posing an amputation hazard.

Incidents/injuries: Toro has received five reports of the auger remaining engaged, but no reports of injuries.

Where and when sold: Home Depot, Ace Hardware, and Toro authorized dealers nationwide, also as those retailers’ websites, from November 2020 through January 2021, for about $1,200.

Snow blowers are available in quite few configurations: single-, two-, or three-stage, alongside compact models and people that are corded or battery-powered. Our snow thrower buying guide is the place to find out about the various types. you’ll also jump to our ratings to seek out the simplest models.

Here are seven of the foremost common problems you’ll experience together with your snow thrower this winter, and CR’s expert advice on the way to fix them.

Snow-Blower Solutions

The Problem: The Blower Won’t Start

If you’ve got a gas model, first check to ascertain whether there’s gas within the tank. If the gas blower has an electrical starter, confirm the blower is plugged into an outlet. Otherwise, if the gas is quite 30 days old, ethanol within the fuel may have caused moisture to create up within the equipment . Use a gas siphon to empty the gas from the blower, then refuel with fresh stabilized gasoline and check out again. For electric models, confirm the tool is plugged in or that the battery is fully charged.

The Problem: The Auger or Discharge Chute Is Clogged

Turn off the engine of a gas snow thrower or unplug the cord, or remove the battery, of an electrical model. Use a clearing tool or broomstick to clear the clog—never your hands or feet, albeit you’re wearing gloves: A stationary auger and impeller are often under enough belt tension to harm hands and feet, even with the engine or motor off.

 The Problem: The snow thrower Is Difficult to Maneuver or Lurches Forward

Over time, the cables that send power to the wheels got to be adjusted to use proper tension to the belt on two-stage snow blowers. If you squeeze the drive handle and therefore the snow thrower jerks forward, you’ll got to tighten the road. Unclip the cable from the handle and comfortable up the line’s threaded adjustment at the bottom of the machine, then reconnect the clip and test the handling. Adjust again as necessary until the lurching stops. After adjusting the cables, make certain to spray some lubricant at the pivot points of any moving parts.

The Problem: The Machine Leaves an excessive amount of Snow Behind

A flat ingot on the underside of the machine chisels snow and ice off the bottom and into the auger. Running over concrete, asphalt, and gravel can wear the metal down, leaving furrows of snow behind. Prop the snow thrower up and take away the bolts that hold the bar to the housing, and replace it with a replacement one. (Check with the shop where you purchased the machine, or search by brand at Snow Blowers Direct to order one online.) Adjust the new bar to be about ⅛ inch above the bottom . Caution: confine mind that you simply shouldn’t run a single-stage snow thrower over gravel because it can devour and throw the gravel with the snow, possibly damaging windows or injuring passersby. the matter is exclusive to single-stage blowers because their augers make direct contact with the bottom , unlike two- or three-stage blowers, which have augers that don’t touch the bottom .