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

I purchased an Ariens 11528LE at Home Depot as you may remember, and basically had to resetup the machine, because it was not assembled correctly.  After spending hours getting the chute controls to work perfectly, and waxing her, I got the chance to run her in her first snow storm and she died.  She ran fine for about 20 minutes, started sounding very rough, before I could shut her down I heard a loud bang, after which oil came flowing from the block like a river.  After talking to my local service guy, who happens to live in the neighborhood, she was diagnosed with a blown piston, a cracked block, and pronounced dead.  I returned her to Home Depot, and they were not happy about taking her back, even though it had been less than 30 days.

I saw that blowers are now on sale there for 20% off at HD.  I think I overbought with the 11.5hp.

Anyone have experience with the 7 or 9 hp model Ariens?  My drive way is single car width 75feet long opening to double wide in front of my garage, and I have 100ft of sidewalk.  Could I get by with a 7hp living just north of Boston near the water?  I used to own a Ariens 824 and loved that machine.

Anyone have any experience with the 7hp Ariens with heavy wet snow?

Any help would be appreciated.

If you have a HD credit card you can get an addtional 10% off or a total of 30% off list. (first purchase only)

I don't know if you had a chance to try the trigger before the engine let loose but that is one feature I wish I had. I don't believe the 926LE has the trigger.

I have 2 newer machines. The 8526LE and the 1128DLE.  When I bend down to lock either machine at the wheel,  the exhaust blows directly in my face.

I have a 2006 926LE Pro and in my opinion it performs as well or better than the 2005 1128 LE  I used to have.  I haven't measured the thowing distance but it seems to throw the snow further than the 1128 did and it can move the cement like sand/salt/ice mixture at the end of the driveway.  The 1128 would cough it up but the 926 will throw it. 

This is a worst-case scenario if ever I heard one. You admit that the machine from HD was not set up properly, then the engine suffers a catastrophic failure within 20 minutes. I can understand why you might want to give Ariens a second chance, but even with a discount...why would you want another machine from HD? How certain are you that the machine you bought was absolutely brand new? Maybe "Timmy" accidently ran it with low oil before you got it, or maybe some other meathead customer did and then returned it to HD. If you were to be "unlucky" a second time, the situation might be more difficult to resolve. If I were you I'd be shopping for a good dealer right now...or at least a different box store.

AZ

mike the 11hp has:

ohv engine quieter  and smoother and the hand trigger. (also hand warmer)

neither of which u would get w./ the 9hp.

if u get one storm a yr that the 7hp has trouble w/ u will be kicking your butt.

the 7HP is a compact model, much smaller that the one you got that blew its rod.  At somepoint that engine was neglected or damaged, did you check the oil before you ran it when this occured?  If you think you overbought try the 926LE, the lock for the wheels is ok and it honestly isn't hard to manuever with the big tires it has with both wheels locked, especially when there is snow on the ground since the ground is slick and lets you slide it around.  I haven't used it in snow yet but so far I have really enjoyed it.   You can lock or unlock either wheel so if you don't like exhaust in your face just unlock the right wheel rather than the left wheel :P or turn the engine off when doing it.

I would have to agree that you should find a dealer to buy a blower from, its not worth saveing the money only to go through another problem that could have been avioided with a good dealer at the start.

Hope it all works out.

MikeSnow wrote: I live in Boston and used to live in Marblehead. The new 7.5 hp machines are Compacts, much smaller than the 824 you had. The older 7hp machines work but 8+ works better.

I'd guess based on talking to dealers and seeing what's in stock at most HD's that the 926LE accounts for 1/2 to 2/3rds of the machines sold around here.

The wet concrete AKA snow we get near the ocean - often saturated by rain after falling - only gets blown 5-10 feet but the machines handle it well - especially compared to shovelling! You won't get the plumes of snow that folks inland get, but they move it fine. I put a coat of automotive wax inside to prevent sticking, others use anything from ski wax to Pam or WD40.

newjerseybt wrote:
Here's a fix for that safety issue. Caution - this topic has generated considerable comment on this forum - use at your own risk!

http://home.comcast.net/~johnedavies/page5.htm

John Davies
Spokane WA

Good idea!  I  am afraid to do the mod until I am out of the 3 year warrant though.

JohnEDavies wrote:

looks like a good fabrication, i would hold off until the warranty is over,  might impede the exhuast from coming out full flow possible,you might consider add a top so it blows down and away.  Not sure if the older models have the option but my new 926LE can lock or unlock either wheel with the pin.  Simply freeing the other wheel might be the easiest solution, although mine seems to manuever ok w/ both locked when its on the snow.  Just some simple ideas/tweaks :)

Hello Mike,
I read your post and I can empethize with your problem somewhat as my Brand new Toro alss suffered a recent failure - although not nearly as catastrofic as yours (see my new post on this forum). Anyway I live in MA too. Boxborough, just west of Acton and Concord. My concern from your post is that my Toro has the same 11HP Tecumseh Snow King engine that your Ariens does. I agree with he fellow that said that you should NOT get a machine such as this at HD. For that much dough you should buy from a reputable outdoor power equipment company - where the people know what they are doing and mechandise is not 'recycled' - that DEFINATELY happens at places like HD.

I would get Ariens and Tecumseh involved in your issue as well. They both have toll free numbers. Explain what happened and see what they say.

Paul

I went snow blower shopping today and was amazed at the price difference between 926LE at Home Depot for $799 and the 926DLE at my local dealer for $1,599.  I guess I will be buying an 926LE at home Depot, because an $800 difference I can not justify between the two machines.  I understand the differences in the machines from this forum and the brochure, but at that price, I could buy two, and have one standing by for when the first one breaks, for less than the cost of the pro model..

I checked out the 7524E, but am afraid it would not have the weight or power to cut through the heavy stuff at the end of my driveway left by the plow.  Nothing worse than buying a blower and then discovering she is just not capable of doing what you want her to do.  I learned that lesson on my 11hp craftsman, which is why I sold her.

I think I need the threat of a major snow storm to kick my butt into gear and buy one. 

Thanks for all of your valuable advice guys!

Mikesnow,

If you wait for a big snow, all the blowers will be sold!!

Buy now, with no snow !!

                                                                                    Fred

mike have you considered buying an 1128LE at a dealer?  Most dealers also sell the 926LE too not just the pro.  I'm sure the dealer would set up an 1128LE find and doubt u would have an oil problem.

I mean engine problem :P

I visited 3 local dealers, and none of them had a 11528LE or were willing to order them.  They kept telling me it was the end of the season and I should have started looking at snowblowers back in August/September, thanks for the advice guys, maybe I should start shopping for air conditioners now.  All 3 had the 926DLE Pro at $1,599, and the other machines in the pro line.  I think I am going to roll the dice and buy a 926LE at a different Home Depot this weekend, re-setup the machine myself, double check the oil, and see how she runs.  I will never touch a reconditioned machine after that last machine.

MikeSnow,

If you buy from HD, buy it in the box.

Save the assembly fee, and you do it all, as you will learn a lot about your machine!!

IMHO

                                           Fred

MikeSnow wrote:

Amen to that Brother! That HD reconditioned machine may have been seized before and then freed up by pulling the starter after it was cool. Engines don';t necessarily blow the first time they seize!!

From what you wrote you seem comfortable in setting up a machine by yourself. Suggest you go to any HD that has the machines on sale and buy one in the box!! One that has not as yet been molested by the helpful HD expert. Also check the oil even though the ones I've seen at HD have been shipped with oil in them. 

Marc

MikeSnow wrote:

Mike,

Buy both till you decide which one to hold on to. HD will always be glad to take the return. "WHEN THEY ARE GONE  THATS IT"

The price is too good to let them slide by.

When deciding between the 926LE and 926LE Pro try to frame it as a long term buy.  5 years from now you'll have forgoten the difference in price but will still appreciate the extra features.

yeah, gotta love the pro...  even the cast iron gearbox looks manly, and the differential - that just oozes testosterone.

oakville wrote:
OK.  Kind of strange reasons to buy a snowblower but who am I to judge?  Are your sure about the testosterone?  I checked the manual and didn't see any lubricant specification for the differential. 

We bought one of these (11528 DLE) early last season.

It saw about  8 hours of use last year (our aging John Deere 1032 is still kickin').

It had some problems, though.  The auger engagement had to be tightened up and the pullys on the engine's shaft had to be better aligned.  To me, these were classic examples of slipshod set-up by the good folks at Home Despot.

I changed the engine oil  after about 2 hours, then again at the end of the season along with the gear oil.  I also ran a little top-oil (MMO & some 2-stroke oil) in the gas for the first 2-3 hours.

It's seen  another 3 hours or so this year so far.  I'll change the oil at the end of the season again, regardless of the total numbers of hours.

Runs great and throws powder 40'+ ... but no way I'd ever get the engine started by hand.  NEED that electric starter.

--- [b]Bror Jace[/b]

you'll love the 926LE, its not to big, but not small, and is surprisingly manuverable even with the wheels locked.

Good luck and enjoy the new blower, its a shame that you got screwed with that first one, I hope this one, assembeled and such by you, will run like a dream.

My 2006 wasn't that bad, but it had problems too.  Several trips and several hundred $$$ to a dealer made this an even worse bargain.  It won't throw wet snow period.  All kinds of dealer adjustments haven't worked.  Even the headlight blew out.  When the snow is wet and heavy I drag out my old 10 HP 32" simplicity to get the job done.  A heavy bear to handle but at least it gets the job done.  At times the Ariens chute will not hold position too.  Wet snow  simply clogs the Ariens 1128 LE impeller and chute and smells like rubber burning (most likely the belt overheating if I keep pressing down on the control hoping to get at least chunks of wet snow to fall out).  It also doesn't have a slow enough speed for the machine to process heavy wet snow.  All adjustment failed to make a slow enough speed.  Is this a design flaw?  It seems to me that this machine is improperly designed to process heavy wet snow, while the simplicity 10 HP 32" seems to handle it (also has super slow speed setting-maybe that helps). 

   You did not give the factory number so guessing it's an Tecumseh 11.5 OHV 28 with 6 inch wide tires.  That's a great machine.  Slush is very subjective but that machine should handle just about anything.   The factory speed is probably around .9 MPH for that but you've set it lower.  With working the clutch it should be able to do a good job. 

Maybe it was out of adjustment and your keeping it engaged when clogged and burning the belt has made things worse.  It should do much better and is capable of much better.    If I have the model right your chute problem is probably just a nut tightening under the gear at the back of the chute below the spring.  Maybe you have a dealer problem rather than an Ariens problem.   

>>All adjustment failed to make a slow enough speed.  Is this a design flaw?

    The speed from the factory may be too fast.  Maybe your dealer setup was on the high side.  Seems like you adjusted it as low as possible.  To get those super slow your have to feather the clutch or stop and go, jerking along. It's not so much an Ariens design flaw as the limits of a friction drive.  Most of the time first is ok.  At times the machine has to be "worked" to get to go slow.  You auger belt is probably screwed up and not adjusted so doing poorly in sluch.  That machine should be capable of matching the Simplicity.  If it can't something is out of wack and not the fault of the design.  You spent several hundered bucks at a dealer and your chute flops around.  If you talked with them and told them the things you listed in the post and they could not correct things especially with all that money you need another dealer.

Also, after taking the first, full bucket width, pass, you can take smaller bites which will allow the impeller to process a little less snow/slush.  That should allow the machine to keep up with the amount of snow that it can toss out.

I was hoping to adjust my speed down a bit as well.  When I looked at the friction disk being nearly centered on the drive wheel I realize it probably wasn't possible.

I think that another interesting way would be to change the impeller gear to spin a bit faster compared to the auger.  Doubt it can be done easily, though.

If any of you are looking for aftermarket parts for your snowblowers, there is a site with tons of parts at this address

www.c-equipment.com

That wouldn't happen to be your site by any chance, would it? I notice you registered today and have 4 posts, every one of them is a plug for it.

MikeSnow, I'm interested why HomeDepot would fuss about taking it back. These big box stores thrive on easy returns. What was their beef?

You do know that his posting is 5 years old and he only has 16 posts.  I am pretty sure he will not reply.   tkrotchko wrote:

Knee_Biter wrote:

I do now ;)