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

I've been saving my pennies for a commercial grade snowblower and am now trying to decide between Simlicity and Ariens. I do 10-30 short ( 30-40ft) single width ( 10-15 ft) driveways. Snow is normally in the 5-10" area with occasional forays into 20-24". So far this winter we've only had 3 major accumulations.

I've looked over their web sites, read and reread the glossy brochures and chatted up some local dealers and both seem like good machines.

Here are the similarities:

1. B&S OHV engines
2. Heavy metal contruction
3. Controls seem about equal
4. Hand warmers
5. Lights

Here are the differences:

1. Ariens has differential while Simplicity has "Easy Turn" which is equvalent to the Ariens deluxe models
2. Simplicity has power shift, basically really low gearing for when you get bogged down
3. Simplicity has electric chute rotation

I've lusted after a differental drive for a while now but the Simplicity is less expensive and has features that may outweigh the differential. I've also heard some people casting aspersions on the Ariens recently, mostly having to do with factory setup. On the other hand the few Simplicity folks seem to have almost a religious fervour about their machines.

I know I'll ultimately go with what "feels best to me" but I would like to get other people's opinions before spending a load of money.

Well, you might already know my recommendation. Simplicity all the way. I think their quality is a little better than Ariens, and with a lower price it would be a no-brainer to me. Plus, if you're doing a lot of short driveways I would imagine that you do a lot of turning. So the electric chute control would probably be a welcome feature. And it has heated grips.

My only concern with the Simplicity would be the electric chute control. It's another part to wear out. The dealers I spoke with had said that they hadn't heard of any problems with the electric motors, but it's up to you to decide if it's a feature that you want. I couldn't justify it for my home machine, so I bought a used 8 horse model with a manual crank. But if I was doing a lot of driveways, it think it would be worth it.

Ariens are good machines, but it does seem that there are a lot of complaints about little quality issues. Maybe a lot of these have to do with the dealer set up (or lack of it from HD) but it's enough to make me hesitate to recommend an Ariens.

I think it does come down to what you like best, and how well you like the dealer. A good dealer will make all the difference with any brand.

Nib,

Which models are you thinking of buying??

Fred

What to get?

I'm still debating.

Ariens

9526DLE - Agile, wouldn't mind 28" instead of 26"
11528DLE - Right width, like the power, maybe more tiring since heavier

Simplicity

P11528E - Right size, like the power, maybe too heavy.

I'm currently using a 28" blower which I put an 11HP B&S Intek engine on. It chugs through snow quite nicely but is sometimes a bit to heavy to "muscle" around. It has a pin lock system so I don't lock/unlock the axles that often. It would also be nice if top gear were faster.

I lean towards the larger machines but wonder if what I really want is faster ground speed, since most of the time I am running in the top gear.

I just remembered that that Ariens top gear is the fastest I've heard of. I don't know how the Simplicity compares.

The point about easy to turn is bang on, the short driveways require a lot of turning thats why I lean towards the differential but wonder if its really any better than the trigger lock systems It seems to add to the cost of the system. The other thing is ease of turning the chute so the electric chute turner is kind of interesting as long as it is reliable, lasts a long time and is easy to repair. The Toro joystick looks ideal from that point of view. Ah decisions, decisions, decisions

Nib,

Of the blowers you posted, I'd go with the Simplicity!

Reason, no recalls, better QC at the factory, and I think a much better built machine!!

You might also think, Toro. Check out their "Virtual Powermax tour", appears to compare toro to Ariens!!!

On their web site regarding their blowers, about same price as what you are looking at.

Choice of Toro or Simplicity, with your turning requirements, I'd go Toro!!!

Fred

Nibbler,

You might want to read the Snowblower Reviews at this site,

if you have not already done so.

Fred

I have read reviews in the past but decided to have another look to see if I've missed anything new.

Guess what - there aren't any. I did a search on "snow blower" nothing, "snow" turned up two things, a snow shovel review and a review of the 11 and 13HP Snow Intek engines by B&S. I then went through all the listings by hand - da nada.

I know there were some there but I suspect none were recent enough to stay "live".

Nib,
You have to go to the Abbys home page, click on Snowblowers, Very bottom of the page, click on reviews!!

The Toro 828 might be a good machine for you, light, powerful enough,and reasonable price.

Fred

Id offer my two cents but then I have never had a Simplicity blower, I have worked my neighbors tractor and it was a very good machine,. Simplicity has always had a good name, so has Ariens and I do own one of those. Mine is a 924 series brought in Nov of 1992. and this is the first year I have any problems with that machine, belts and roller bearing wore out and had to be replaced. After returning the unit home from the shop the very next storm it went down again this time a little silly spring broke and I could not figure out where it belongs, lost all gears and its now back at the repair shop.. but fifteen years without problem counts for much..

Phil C
Western MA and we get a lot of snow normally

I don't think you'll go wrong with either Simplicity, Ariens, or Toro. They are all good machines. I do like that Toro stick for turning the chute. I was seriously looking at those last fall. I just didn't want to spend the money for a new one. My only concern with the Toro is what happens if you break the chute control handle? It's plastic, so it can break. (probably doesn't happen often, but my local dealer said he had one in for repair with a broken handle) I don't know what that would cost to replace. It's sort of along the same lines as the electric motor on the Simplicity chute control. Sometimes simpler is better.

I think you just need to go try all 3 models, and see which one feels best for you.

The Agway by me has the pro Simplicity models which have the classic chute crank. The dealer won't order the new models till the old sell. (my guess) The older models take about 5 turns lock to lock to fully swing the chute. My 2003 Ariens 1128DLE is 2 1/2 turns lock to lock. Much faster.

The newer Ariens chutes are even quicker but need to be set up correctly to work perfect. I've noticed most HDs do not set up the chute control correctly.

I am not sure if the newer pro model Simplicity machines have the quicker new chute control that the less expensive homeowner models have.

For the first time I am reading on different sites about Toro and Craftsman plastic chutes breaking from ice impact. Maybe because the weather got extremly cold this year and the plastic got brittle? (my guess) I'll stick with metal.

For your info, some of today's plastics are as tough or tougher than steel.

Take a look at a recent SUV or truck fender liner they are plastic.

I have not seen a broken one yet!!

They are operated in 0 temps or colder, over gravel roads and no damage!!!

Do a Google search on plastic bushings and bearings.

It will open your eyes to how tough the new plastics are!!

The USAF F-117 is about 30% plastic, flys comba missons in 70 degrees below zero temps

at about 700 MPH and pulls at least 6G's.

So please do not think plastics are a cheap sub for steel.

Some are much more expensive than steel, stronger than steel, but easier to shape or form!!!!

That is why Toro went to the plastic housing and chute!!!

Fred

I have had my Simplicity 10560E for just a year now and Love it !! The 10.5 briggs has plenty of power for the EOD and steering is easy to with the trigger lock to release the wheel.
The Simplicity to me is more like a commercial machine that will last a lifetime of homeowner use and then some. The oil is even a dream to change with the included drain hose.
 I prefer the metal chute to the plastic , we have a mountain of plastic body panels from Saturn's to Honda's where I work. Just go to any Body shop and ask how they hold up in the cold.

I am aware that some plastics have characteristics that exceed those of some steels. I also suspect that the US military's buget is just a wee bit bigger than mine .

Unfortunately there are a lot of plastic parts on snowblowers that are not there because they are better than steel. They are there because they are less expensive and unfortunately they are also cheaper. We have already had a number of postings this year about plastic chutes being a problem, my neighbour two houses down likes his machine except for the plastic chute which he has to regularly nuresmaid. It seems that any time there is a posting about plastic parts it to bemoan a problem, not praise it. At the same time there haven't been any posts talking about a Toro problem in quite a while. This could be due to a lack of owners or a lack of problems. Thats why I'm getting people's opinions and most importantly their experiences.

I plan to be talking with a Toro owner to confirm his impressions about the plastic on the Toro. Last year he was quite happy with it but hadn't had a lot of usage yet. This year he will have had some more so we shall see if there has been any change. I expect to get a glowing report since I believe the Toro's are good machines. The Quick Stick chute control is the best solution I've seen and beats any of the two leaver systems in terms of ease of use and speed. I don't know how robust it is nor how easy it is to adjust and/or repair. In addition Toro's website doesn't have a "Commercial Duty" section, its all homeowner and although its probably insignificant I want to try and verify it.

One thing that I have been struggling with is whether the differential is really any better than the trigger actuated axle lock/unlock. Most machines that have the trigger operated axxle lock seem to have 1 while the Toro has two. Is two actually better than 1?  I don't know, but I'm hoping people will chime in with their experience. Does two work better than one? Does a differential work better than an axle lock/unloack system?

montyss - Does the Simplicity turn better one way than the other? Thats the justification for two triggers on some machines, I was wondering what experience has shown.

jubol - Thanks for the info on where to find the review, silly me I was pressing the "Reviews" button at the top of the discussion thread.

If Craftsman or Toro had a chute made out of the new Xenoy material that Honda uses
in their 21" mowers then I think the impact problem would never surface. However the Xenoy deck material is expensive.

If the chutes were made out of the layered Kevlar (bullet proof), the chutes would hold up better than steel and the snow would never stick. Unfortunately it is cost prohibitive as mentioned above. Give it some time though.

Nib,
If you buy the Toro 8 HP blower, It probably has a 10 HP Engine on it when you check the specs.

So wy buy the 10 Hp Toro for more cash when they are the same.

Just different decals on them!!!

Fred

jubol - Good point about the engine. I am leaning towards the B&S Intek Snow so maybe I can narrow the field using that as a criteria.

The main problem is I'd like to have one of each but can only afford 1.

The turning has been no problem with just the one trigger lock for the one wheel for me on the Simplicity. It seems to me that there was a discussion on the engines last year before I purchased mine and the 10.5 briggs is the same as the 13hp.This could be why it will go through the snow as well as it does no effort at all . The briggs so far has started with 2 pumps on the prime and just a lite pull on the handle . I had a Simplicity garden tractor that was from the early 60's till just a few years ago and could still buy parts for it and hope to have the same for the snowblower a machine that will last for years to come and not just a throw away.

I had a hunch that the main thing about the axle lock/unlock system was not being able to unlock either wheel but being able to unlock a wheel. When I switch the pin on my blower it is very easy to turn in either direction. The problem is that I like having both wheels turning most of the time.

I seem to remember that the engine discussion was in the 9-10.5HP range with the conclusion that it was the same engine.

I got a 11HP B&S Intek and it was noticeably nicer than the 10.5HP Tecumseh "L" Head it replaced. In addition the output shaft was 1" as opposed to the Tecumseh's 3/4" shaft. As I understand it the cutover point is 11HP, less is 3/4" 11 to somewhere higher is 1".