I was considering the PowerShift before I bought my 1128DLE Ariens. I thought the drum was a postive feature but I guess I was wrong and glad I bought the Ariens instead. Your experience may explain why the PowerShift was discontinued. I noticed that the latest innovations in snowthrowers were never incorporated in their "FlagShip" model which indicated a sinking ship. I don't even think it even had a remote pitch control. If I need more weight on the chute to overcome icy conditions, I just throw a 20 pound bag of kitty litter on the intake chute. Another problem that I heard was that after a while (years), extending the chute caused "side play" on the extension mechanism which caused the internal chain to rub on the housing. (From an OPE repair center)

Certainly check/clean the exhaust ports. It is hard to tell anyone not working with them how to tell by feeling the weight whether the muffler may be plugged but that is a possibility also. If you suspect this, when you finish charcoaling, throw the muffler in the grill and leave it until grill and all are cooled down, tap out residue. If you don't have a charcoal grill, throw it in the neighbor's. (grin) Use some SeaFoam in your fuel mixture then. If cleaning the exhaust ports does no good, look on the left side of the carb while facing the air cleaner, there should be a brass screw, perhaps set in a well, try adjusting this a little, turn in, clockwise. Turn in until the engine falters, turn out until the engine falters, split the difference, well maybe leave just a little rich. Walt Conner

Im working on a 2014 Toro XT6715-2070 149cc engine where its having issues on warm up. After starting it will run well for about 30 to 40 seconds or so then start to stumble for about 10 seconds, then runs OK for about 20 seconds, then goes back an forth doing this for about two and a half minutes then just starts to run well from then on. After its ran for about 6 minutes it still does not fully open the choke butterfly. The carb is a new OEM carb and I pulled the fuel filter to eliminate any possible issues with fuel restriction. The air filter is also new. Iv had this on other identical mowers and have not yet found a solution. The choke is one of these that mount directly the muffler and is the size of about a fifty cent piece that mounts flat on the muffler. It does not appear to be adjustable in any way. if I hold the choke rod open fully I do not experience this issue. Im sure Ill see this again so if anyone has any information for me that would be most helpful.

I've had my Toro Model 20684 GTS (Suzuki 2-stroke) Mower new since 1988 and I never even changed the spark plug until yesterday. I am loosing power when it needs it and I can't understand why. It still starts in 2 or 3 pulls, the compression seems ok by the way it feels when I pull the starter rope, no scoring observed thru the intake port, (I have not checked the exhaust port yet), I rebuilt the carb yesterday because the inside diameter of the fuel line was grossly deteriorated, causing particles of rubber to clog the inlet to the carb. Interestingly the manual states no ethanol should be used because damage to the fuel system can result, I wonder if this was the cause for the grossly deteriorated fuel line? (All the gas around here states up to 10% ethanol!). The only issue with the rebuild is the governor setting, I need to figure out how to set that so the idle is back to low rpm as normal, not it seems to be left to cut speed if you know what I mean. My mistake was not to mark the relative position between the governor shaft and the governor arm, (any help anyone?). Well it looses power when it needs it, higher grass, and it is so frustrating, It runs great under no load. I believe the lower crank bearing is going because I can hear a knock of late that is not normal, like the knock you may hear when the bag gets full and the blade is hammering away at a grass clog, but it knocks when it is clear. I wonder if there can be an air leak by the lower bearing that cause its lose of power, but I also believe an air leak will likely cause it to seize up, so I am stumped. Is there anyone out there who can help me out? It's been a great unit but I refuse to believe it has reached the end of its service life! Help!!!!!!!!!!