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

Well finally I will get to try out my new snow blower I bought last year! It is already to go...adjusted, waxed up, snow shooter applied, and 93 octane in the tank

OK Mother Nature...let's see what ya got!

I finally get to use my brand new Ariens 926LE hear in MA.

Yankees s--k :)

Mike

Boston 8lows!

Well the new machine got LOTS of use today! I put it to the test with lots of EOD heavy wet stuff. At least 10 houses and they were all done twice. We got aprox 15 inches of snow but with 50 MPH winds, we had some deeeep drifts!

Pluses:
Powerful and really will throw snow 40 feet!
Seeing your neighbors struggle with lesser machines!!!!
I like being able to take both hands off the machine and it still runs. (My old Ariens had a safety lever)
The tires provide extreme traction (see below for the other side)
Engine starts on first pull as long as you use the choke
That little shovel thing is great. I used it at least 3 times.


Negatives:
Reverse is so slow that it is useless! So I had the push down on the bars and pull it back. (I now have a killer backache!)
The tires have so much grip that it makes turning hard. I prefer Ariens old tires...it is not like I ever got stuck with em!
My right wrist/hand is tired from squeezing the auger lever.


Over all
9 out of 10

You can adjust the shift linkage so the disk moves a little farther over in reverse and gain a little speed. The owner's manual may cover this.

Check your tire pressure. Most snow throwers seem to be shipped with 20 psi for easy rolling. But the operating pressure is usually 12 psi, which allows the blocks to deform and makes it easier to manuever.

This is an older, simpler Ariens tractor but explains what is going on.

When the friction disk is where it is in the picture, you have "high" gear. Moving it into the center gives you lower ratios.

When you shift it past the center, you put it into reverse. You'll see the design allows limited travel in reverse, but yours can probably be adjusted so it is a little farther out on the disk, giving you a little more speed.

Garandman wrote:

hirschallan wrote:
Even if this is the case, I could loose a little forward speed...it goes faster than it can gobble when the snow is deep.

Thanks all, will look into making this adjustment ASAP!

I don't know - I don't have your machine nor have I read your manual. 

You have five forward speeds, though, so even if they were all a little slower it still wouldn't really make a difference, would it? You could cut more detents into the shift gate to make up for it if you desired.

Garandman wrote:
Got Ya! Thanks

Moving your 1st forward speed closer to the center of the drive plate will reduce wheel torque and friction disk life. Don't get carried away...

PK