Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

Hi all,

      I had an old (from the 70's) Ariens snowblower that got lots of use! It truely was a great machine...very rugged! When the connecting rod decided it wanted to see the sun, I replaced the whole machine with a leftover Ariens 8526LE. This new machine has the pin that goes through the axel so you decide if you need/want 1 or 2 wheel drive. Now on my old machine, it work in a similar manner but we (my dad first) always kept it in 2 wheel drive. Turning it was never looked apon as a chore except when doing the sidewalk and you have gone to the end of the "nice neighbors" house and wanted to turn around! This ment you were going to have to step into the snow or make a turn around. When I blow out the driveway, I never did the 180 at the end...I would always blow in the same direction. Now with all the newer bigger machines, a differential or some type of turning aid has been employed. I just don't get it....unless you have a curvey driveway???, it would seem to add more parts to break. I just don't find turning a quality (heavy) blower that big of a deal...

Am I alone?

If not, what kind of terrain are you blowing?

I was wondering the same thing. I am looking to get(thanks to the advice from the people here) an Ariens 926LE, though it is in the high twos weight wise I was still able to easlily turn it when looking at the home depot, I assume it is even easier on ice. My friend who has an ariens with a differential says it is very easy to turn, and it would seem like it would be. I weigh 185 though, I have friends who probably couldnt turn this thing if there lives depended on it.

Does anyone know if the Axle with diff would fit into a Deluxe model arien, and how much the part would cost?(I assume since it is belt driven the differential would be built intot he belt on the drive shaft in place of the pulley) I am already having to cover the difference between the 9.25 HP and the 7.5 HP, so I can't see myself dropping another 300 for the professional.

Brian,

I am in agreement. My Toro 726 does not have any kind of turning aid. I could wish for it to turn easier, but it's not that bad and I for one would like to keep things as simple as possible. Adding "features" such as these is fine until they break, and then they make matters just that much more complicated. Unfortunately, adding features is usually a matter of gamesmanship as to who can figure out and add the next attractive new gimmick that they figure will give them an advantage over the competition.

AZ

As I mention in another thread.... I had a 5/26 and now use a 10.5/29.  Steering is not, and has never been, a big issue!!!  I checked one out at a dealer the other day, just to see if I was being "pig-headed" and came to the conclusion that , at least for me, this is a non-issue.  I read about "plastic parts" and "other stuff" and I just can't see getting involved with all that ..... while there are others who MAY be involved since they use their machines as part of their livelihood....but I'm not clearing a dozen or more driveways...for THEM it might be a big deal....for ME, it's just something else to go wrong.  I get my thrills through other channels. But if you MUST have the biggest, the brightest, and the best....go for it!!!   Next year, there will be SOMETHING ELSE to entice the user, novice or veteran!!!

*(:>)*

I have a 926DLE and I definitely notice increased steering effort with the axle locked... especially when in the garage or on dry pavement.

On snow or ice it isn't a big deal since one of the tires can slip. But I do normlly throw snow with it unlocked for better directional control on my curving sidewalk, and to make the turns at the end of each run up and down my driveway. T use a back and forth pattern and crank the chute to the direction I want the snow to go. I only lock when in really deep stuff or on ice.

I wouldn't suggest that everyone run out and buy a thrower with a differential, but for ease of maneuverability without having to manually unlock the pin, it is great, and I don't think the mechanicals are going to blow up in 5 or 10 years....

John Davies

I have great faith in the system used by Ariens, but from what it sounds like the craftsman is the one with the plastic parts, and I guess tha yard machines would have them to as they are also MTD.

I notice a big diference in the ease of turning between having both wheels locked and only one wheel. I also notice a lot if difference in traction and I tend to keep the wheels locked for this reason When I am blowing I don't notice the effort to turn with locked wheels at one but after about 5-10 driveways I am more tired than I would be with easier stearing.  I also go through about 5-10 locking pins a year and the hole in the axle is getting deformed. I may have to buy a new axle sometime soon.

For me getting either a trigger release or a differential unit is a drem I hope to have come true sometime soon.

BBgarage wrote:
If you look at the Ariens Parts Radar older models listed a Diffenential Kit as an option.  It was over $200 plus labor.

I grew up in Andover and lived in Marblehead and Amherst, NH before moving to Boston. I don't know a single person in any of those locations who owns a Pro model: they are designed to meet the needs of folks who run them 3-5 times as much as the average homeowner will. The longer you wait the easier the decision will be because the inventory is decreasing pretty quickly.

Here's another  perspective. The biggest, most powerful two snow blowers on the market will blow about twice as much snow per minute as the least powerful models. The least powerful models will move snow about  100 times faster than you can by hand.

My father bought a 5hp Ariens when I was 17. I'm still using it, along with some others, and I'm 52.......Pull the trigger.  The 926LE is an excellent choice for you, as is the 7524.

Ya, thanks. I think we are going to pick up the LE tommorow. I called all the home depots in a 20 mile radius, one has one left on hand, 5 put me on hold too long, and one gets a new shipment of many tommorow.

BBgarage wrote:
Read the manual and go over all the setup steps. Home Depot is notorious for imprecise setup. Pick up some fuel stabilizer, a gas can if you don't have one, a pack of extra shear pins, and a quart of air cooled engine oil or a quart  of synthetic. Take a few minutes to wipe it down with automotive wax, floor wax, beeswax, - ski wax - wax it!  Make sure the key is off, and the spark plug disconnected when you have your hands inside there: fewer than 10 fingers is a dating disadvantage.  Some ear protection - either foam plugs or the earmuff style - is required if you do not want to permanently damage your hearing.

Two men can usually lift them but ramps are a lot easier if you've got to load it.

Did you call Walt's by chance? There's a dealer in Watertown as well.

cleanmaxx_brian wrote:
This is why I started a "Show Room versus Throw Room" thread.

Light weight in showroom = good / in RW = bad. I used my Ariens ST824 for 5 feet and locked the wheel for anything but putting it in the basement.  The new trigger style on all these machines are nice features but lets see if they work after five seasons. The old machines are just a whole lot simpler than the new ones. The new OHV engines are a big improvement, though.

Garandman,

I figure my Toro with all the plastic is maybe 30 lbs lighter (that's a guess) than a comparable Ariens...and for that I'm thankful. As far as weight is concerned, more might be too much for me. I handle it ok but larger or heavier would not do for me. For a person capable of handling more, maybe larger-heavier is better...I don't know. But I would hesitate to offer blanket statements that a heavier machine is better. Better to recommend that the buyer study each machine and learn as much as possible. I realize it's not possible to test each one in the real world. This is yet another instance where a reputable dealer will make a knowledgeable recommendation to the buyer that probably can't be easily obtained from the big box store. I believe this is how I ended up with a Toro well suited to me as opposed to something else not as well suited to my abilities.

AZ

So I will be picking it up most likely in box later this morning(its 12:47). I plan on picking up a bottle of silicon spray, some more WD-40, some synth oil, maybe at the car shop on the way home, and I guess some shear pins(which home depot carries?) I have wax.

Anything else?

AZinOH wrote:
That's fair commentary. For one thing, weight distribution is at least as important as total weight. 

Boston officially got 8.6" of snow, but then it rained a while and by the time I got home it was 5" of mashed potoatos . I was wishing I had one of those weight kits as that is tough going. If you are in an area where you get light, fluffy snow, that's much less of an issue. Last winter we got one storm of 25" - plus drifts - but it was light and you could just blast through anything but what the plows compressed.

my 926 LE has no trouble when turning during the blowing, however turning on 0 degrees is difficult. I mastered my own sharp turn technique, but that is still not 0 degrees. Basically, I stop, shift into 6th, start and turn, it turns really quicly and easily. Partly because the wheels skid for a few seconds loosing traction.