By David Adams, Retail Finance Manager, The Toro Company

You’ve heard those obnoxious jingles on television – ones that relate bad credit scores to working in seafood restaurants or driving beat-up cars. So how do you keep that credit score high in order to make use of financing on the mower of your dreams?!

The first step may be understanding what a credit (FICO) score actually calculates. Simply put, a credit score is the numerical representation of your credit worthiness based on your history of using credit. The FICO range is between 300 and 850, with the higher score being better.

Calculating exact scores is a trade secret, but it can be broken down into the following categories:

• Payment History (35%) – Do you pay your bills on time?
• Credit Utilization (30%) – What’s your ratio of current revolving credit debt to available revolving credit?
• Length of Credit History (15%) – How long have you managed credit?
• Types of Credit Used (10%) – What’s your mix of revolving, installment, or other credit?
• Recent Credit Searches (10%) – Have you recently been applying for, or opened, new lines of credit?

Keeping scores high can be as easy as paying bills on time. If you’ve made late payments in the past, changing this behavior going forward is the quickest way to raise your score.

Closing any unused credit lines, like credit cards, won’t improve your score and will likely hurt it. You want to have a low ratio of debt to available credit. Closing down lines of credit reduces your available credit, which increases your debt ratio.

For example, if you have $3,000 of debt on Credit Card A with a total credit line of $5,000 and no debt on Credit Card B with a credit line of $5,000, your total credit available is $10,000 with a debt of $3,000 (30 percent debt ratio). If you were to close that unused Credit Card B, your total available credit would drop to $5,000. With your outstanding debt still at $3,000, your debt ratio has now doubled to 60 percent, which lowers your score.

The bottom line is your score plays a big role in your chances of being approved, not just for credit, but for the best available rates and terms. Scores over 700 are generally considered good and will likely get you approved. The best available terms – like zero percent interest or no payment financing promotions – usually go to those with higher scores. A lower score could land you with interest rates in the teens or not qualify you at all.

By working on paying bills on time and keeping a low debt ratio, your FICO scores will start to rise. But scores aren’t the only thing lenders look at. They will look at how stable your life appears to be, too. Things like the length of time at a job or living at an address can also play an important role in the decision.

So start living smartly and establish a stable playing field — and maybe those nagging TV jingles will leave your head for good!

Snowblowers

• Toro Power Max Snowblower Operator Safety Training Video – English
• Toro Snowblower Operator Safety Training Video – English

Zero-Turn Mowers

• Timecutter Z/ZX Operator Safety Training Video – English | Spanish
• Toro Zero Turn Operator Safety Training Video – English | Spanish

Lawn and Garden Tractors

• Toro Riding Mower Operator Safety Training Video – English

View the Toro Product Safety page for additional information.

“Having old gasoline in the tank is the most common reason snowblowers won’t start,” explains Mark Daly, senior technical service representative for Toro. “One of the most important things you can do to promote good starting is to have fresh fuel.” Stale gas can leave harmful deposits in your product’s fuel system, he reveals. If the gas in your snowblower is more than thirty days old and your machine won’t start, he suggests taking it to a dealer so they can remove the gas. Then put fresh gas in your tank. Adding a fuel stabilizer can help keep the gas fresh through the entire snow season.

The same is true for oil. “Changing the oil at the end of the season is a good rule of thumb,” says Daly. “That way, you’re ready to go when the season starts.” If you haven’t changed the oil yet, he suggests doing so now. Consider using oil specifically made for outdoor equipment. Toro’s full synthetic 4-cycle engine oil is designed to protect your outdoor equipment. This oil contains higher anti-wear additives not found in automotive oils and helps your engine start, even in bitter cold temperatures.

Another common issue during the snowblowing season is foreign objects getting stuck in the machine. “Believe it or not, the most common object to get stuck in snowblowers is the newspaper,” says Daly. Before you set out to clear your driveway or sidewalk, be sure it’s free of debris and objects.

Daly suggests doing a simple inspection of your snowblower, which can also help keep it ship shape. “Before you do any work on your machine,” he cautions, “be sure the engine is off and the spark plug wire is disconnected.” If you have a single-stage snowblower, inspect the rotor blades for wear. When a rotor blade edge has worn down to the wear indicator hole, both rotor blades and the scraper should be replaced. If you have a 2-stage machine, check the skids (the part attached to the side of the auger housing). This part lifts the auger and scraper off the ground, preventing the auger from coming in direct contact with the pavement. Be sure the skids don’t show signs of significant wear. If they are damaged or very thin, they need to be replaced.

Sometimes starting problems can be simple operator error. Check your owner’s manual for the proper starting procedure for your machine.

If you like to perform your own maintenance or product repair, Toro offers genuine Toro® replacement parts online at www.shoptoro.com. Toro’s easy-to-use parts look-up tool utilizes your model and serial number to help you quickly identify the parts you need to keep your Toro equipment running like new.

How Single- and Two-Stage Snowblowers Work
Single- and two-stage machines remove snow using different throwing actions. With a single-stage snowblower, a high-speed rotor gathers and throws the snow in one efficient motion. Toro’s Power Curve technology allows the rotor to help propel the unit forward, making it easier to use and more maneuverable. Single-stage snowblowers also clean down to the pavement, eliminating the need to go back and shovel or sweep to finish the job. Single-stage machines are great for most paved driveways and sidewalks. Because they clean down to the pavement, they should not be used on unpaved surfaces. They are best used to clear up to 9” of snow at a time. Single-stage machines are also great for wet, slushy snow because of the scooping action of their curved paddles.

A two-stage snowblower is typically bigger and more powerful, making them a good choice for deep snow. If you live in an area that gets a ton of snow each year, a two-stage snowblower can be the way to go. Perfect for tackling “lake effect” snow, snowfalls of 12-inches or more, or big snow drifts, Toro two-stage machines first gather the snow in with a heavy-duty, serrated auger. Then a high-speed impeller takes over, launching the snow from the chute, throwing it out of your way. Two-stage snowblowers are perfect for large driveways, gravel surfaces, and hard compacted snow.

Electric Snowblowers Pack Plenty of Power
For small areas such as decks, steps, patios, and small sidewalks — where a larger snowblower won’t reach — you might consider an electric snowblower like Toro’s Power Shovel or 1800 Power Curve. Both are easy to use and virtually maintenance free. Just plug one in, and you’re ready to take on whatever Mother Nature dishes out. The Power Shovel is great for those lighter snowfalls when your snow removal service doesn’t cover the job. This powerful machine will tackle snow up to six inches deep on any hard surface.

Visit Toro’s snow selector tool at www.toro.com/snow to help determine which model is right for you.

1. Don’t fight the wind.  Whenever possible, point the chute downwind so that the wind helps you blow the snow.
2. It is usually best to move up and down the length of a driveway, not perpendicular.
3. In strong crosswinds, start on the upwind side and then work downwind:
   
4. If little or no wind, first cut a path down the center of the driveway and then work in “circles” so that you can keep the chute throwing to one side.  This pattern allows you to always throw snow to the right and reduces the need to change the direction of the chute:
   
5. Throw snow as far into yard as possible.  Throwing snow only to the edge of a driveway or walkway will lead to high snow banks and will make it more difficult to remove snow during the next snowstorm.
6. Keep up with the snowfall.  Most of the time, it is easier and faster to clear 6 inches of snow twice than 12 inches of snow once.

Safety Tips
This is only a partial list.  Please refer to your snowblower’s Operator Manual for all safety instructions.

1. Keep the area clear.  Make sure people, kids and pets are far away from area to be cleared of snow.
2. Clear objects that might be under the snow.  The morning newspaper or the dog chain love to hide on the driveway, buried under snow.
3. Do not wear loose fitting clothing, such as scarfs or bulky jackets, that may get caught in the machine.
4. Turn off the machine when stepping away from the operator position for more than a few seconds.
5. NEVER use a hand or foot to clear clogged snow from the machine.  If the chute is clogged, TURN OFF the engine, WAIT 10 SECONDS and then use the chute clean-out tool or a broom handle to remove the clog.

If you’re planning to do your own maintenance or just want to see what Toro recommends, here are tips that will help you prepare for winter. See your operator’s manual for further details on performing any of the maintenance mentioned.

If you prefer to have a dealer do any necessary maintenance or repairs on your mower, now would be a good time to contact them. Once spring comes, their shops will be extremely busy, and they could have long delays.

1. Fuel system preparation
   Add fuel stabilizer/conditioner to the fuel tank. Run engine for five minutes to
   distribute conditioned fuel through fuel system. Stop engine, allow it to cool, and
   drain fuel tank or run engine until it stops. Either choke or prime the engine, restart it
   a third time and allow it to run until it stops. Continue to attempt to restart the engine
   until it no longer will start.  While the engine is still warm, change the engine oil (and filter, as applicable), if this service is due.
2. Cylinder/Piston care
   4-cycle engines
   Remove spark plug and add about one tablespoon of oil through spark plug hole.
   Slowly rotate engine several times using starter rope or key starter to distribute
   oil. Reinstall spark plug, but do not connect spark plug wire.
   2-cycle engines
   Slowly pull recoil starter until resistance is felt due to compression pressure, then
   stop. Release starter tension slowly to prevent engine from reversing due to
   compression pressure. This position closes both the intake and exhaust ports to
   prevent outside air entry, which can result in corrosion of the cylinder bore.
3. Tighten fasteners as needed.
4. Service air filter as described in operator’s manual.
          
5. Clean unit thoroughly.
                                                            
6. Touch up all rusted or chipped paint surfaces.
7. Battery (if applicable) –
   Remove battery from unit and fully
   charge prior to storage.
8. Replace damaged or worn parts.
9. Sharpen and balance the mower blade(s).
    
10. Lubricate unit per the operator’s manual.
11. Storage
    Ensure engine has cooled. Cover unit and store in a clean, dry location out of the reach of children.  Note: Never store unit in house (living area) or basement where ignition sources may be present, such as a hot water heater, space heater, or clothes dryer. Gasoline and fumes are highly flammable and explosive. Fumes also can be dangerous if inhaled.