snow blower question

medfield

Joined: Nov 10, 2006
Points: 1

snow blower question
Original Message Nov 10, 2006 6:56 pm

Ok ive seen it in this forum over and over again. My quesiton is similar, but I never really found an answer.

I am without a doubt going with ariens, I went to a snapper dealer and they were basically simplicities with plastic shoots. They are a nice alternative but I want to step up to the ariens pro line in hopes of a nice christmas gift for my dad. He had an ariens he got from his dad from the early 80's, it was 9hp I believe. The ariens models weigh about 30 pounds more than the snappers and others on the market, so I am guessing its a heavier metal in the auger area?

My question is about the auger gear case, cast iron sounds great, but is it really worth the extra money to go with one? I really see that as the only advantage in the PRO line, and being an advantage in only that it will outlast the engine probably. But the word aluminum in that area of the snowblower really doesnt sound great either, especially in the one area that does all the work.

My last quesiton is what is the real difference between the tecumseh ohv and the b&s ohv............im sure they both have cast iron sleeves, im not worried about pollution or much sound/vibration I just want a snowblower that will last a long time and the engine keeps on kicking

I am going out tuesday the 14th to purchase one... hopefully I can resolve some of my suspicions by then, my plans right now are to buy the ariens Pro 9.5hp
http://www.ariens.com/snow_products/professional_sno_thros/9526_dle/

Any response would be gratefully appreciated

km_21

Joined: Jan 8, 2007
Points: 2

Re: snow blower question
Reply #4 Jan 8, 2007 11:29 pm

Indecisive wrote:

I just bought an Ariens 9526DLE. A couple of nice differences in the PRO line vs. the other Ariens models is not so much the iron gear case but the differential axle for easy maneuverability and the Briggs Intek engine. (This link will help you see the features of all of the Ariens models at one time: http://www.ariens.com/pdf/Ariens_Master_Spec_Sheet.pdf). All full-size two stage snow throwers are big and heavy, and this model one is one of the biggest and heaviest. You need easy maneuverability with these machines, and that is why I bought this particular Ariens model. The Pro line is the only one that talks about easy maneuverability on the Ariens site. Bought it sight unseen from a local dealer that I found on the Ariens site. They assembled and delivered it for free. I have not started it yet, but I know that the Briggs OHV Intek engine is supposed to be a lot quieter. The muffler on it is huge. (There is a review on this site about Briggs Intek engines and the person was replacing his old Tecumseh with an Intek. They said it was definitely a better engine.) I also like the narrower width of 26", because when you add the width of the skids, you're over 28", and I was barely able to get it through the side garage door. Also have some narrow sidewalks and other smaller areas and don't want to tear up the grass accidentally. I guess the biggest selling points for me were that no one ever says anything bad about Ariens, it comes with a 3 year warranty, and I plan to keep it a long time. For me, it's worth the extra money not to have to worry about anything going wrong when I crash into those big piles of snow and ice that the snow plow invariably leaves me at the end of my driveway. This puts a lot of strain on the machine and I just want it to work year in and year out. I also want to get the job done fast and easy. To me the extra money will be worth the peace of mind and the ease of use. The hand warmers will also be nice for your father. Since I cannot lift this blower onto my porch any longer like the old one-stage I had, I also got a little electric Toro from Northwest Power Tool for $109 (free shipping). Just enough to do the porch, steps and the deck, so I feel I'm all set. Hope this helps.

Indecisive:

I'm looking at the 9526DLE, but was also looking at the 11528DLE. I have no sidewalks and will take the snow blower out the main garage door, so the width isn't such a big deal. I don't really suppose that the extra 2 inches will mean any fewer passes along the driveway, but maybe the extra 2 hp would help it get through large drifts. Does your 9256DLE ever bog down if the snow is high? Do you think that I'd ever really be able to tell the difference for the extra $400? I live in Colorado so we know snow - it's usually pretty light but there is always the mess at the end of the driveway when the plow comes along.

The Toro web site says that having heavy duty auger gears and box means that the shear bolts don't break so quickly. I presume that means that they use bolts with higher shear strength - do you know if that's the same for the Ariens in the DLE vs LE lines? I've broken a few shear bolts in my day, would be nice if they would be just a little tougher.

I bought a Husqvarna 11HP, 30" snowblower last week at Lowes but 20 minutes into a light 6" snow the impeller/auger drive pulley sheared off the shaft. I liked the power and the width just fine, but what's the point of spending $1200 if the thing is going to break out of the box, so I returned it today. (Extra points for Lowes, they were great about both sides of the transaction.) I'm assuming this won't be the case with the Ariens.

----------------------
Craftsman 8HP, 24" Tracked Snowblower, Circa 1980

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