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

Got it to replace an Ariens 8 hp that I bought in '95. (For about the same money)

Although it has (at least) 2 hp over the old one, it acts like it has more than twice the power. And at first I was doubtful of the electric shute control, it sure is handy as hell.
The heated handgrips were actually too hot on high, had to kick them down to low. And the snow got scared.

Anyway, this thing rocks!

Tubby wrote:

I'm going to do the same thing with the wiring, I agree that for such a nice machine, it doesn't look like the wiring was very well thought out.

I had the Drainzit hose also and they are nice, but I wanted a tool-less alternative.

Thanks to the Moderator for fixing the pictures!!

Tubby,

Congrats! I just bought the same machine. I like the oil drain mod you put on. Where did you get it? Mine also came with a hose.

BTW, on mine, when I use the power chute the headlight dims significantly. I think I'll disconnect the light and see if the chute is even faster.

Donmac, I sent you a PM

I find the light only dims when the chute is at one extreme or the other, when the motor is stalled out.
If it is dimming in the middle of the arc, I would make sure all the connections are tight, especially the ground and source connections.
Since A large percentage of the operation for me is at night, I need the light.
Hell, I would not mind making it a little more  "Homer Simpson" look and putting some LED driving lights on it! They only draw about 3 watts, and put out a surprising amount of light.

Nah, the 'yella one is plenty!

Now to be a bit more critical:
The chute was froze in place this morning, had to hit it with a heat gun to free it up. Hmmmmm.

Also, where the control cable runs through the little piggy tail thing on the chute, has worn the insulation away completely, I have only run a gallon through it. It is bare for about 1- 1.5".

Tall dog,

Nice Mod!!!

However, on your oil drain, take off the nipple and screw in a hose barb.

When changing you oil, slip a piece of vinyl tubing that fits the hose barb, then  drain it into a container.

Tubing is flexible!! Makes it easy to drain into a container!!  IMHO

                                Fred

jubol wrote:
Yeah! Fred I agree, I think I'm going to install a kit like that when oil change very easy too. Send us a pic Fred!

Dennis,

You might want to look at a product call Drainzit    ! !

Just Google for it!

                        Fred

Tubby wrote:

Tubby, haven't had the chute freeze up yet. Thanks for the heads up on the cable, I'm going to spray wd-40 on it so hopefully it will slide instead of binding.

jubol wrote:

Fred,  it might be a little hard to see in the pictures, but I've got a 45 degree elbow coming out of the ball valve so that the brass hose nipple sticks out away from the machine and down at an angle. All I have to do to change oil is put the spout from the container over the nipple and open the valve. There is no need for an extra piece of tubing. As long as I change the oil when it's hot, it drains out really quick.

If anyone does this mod, note the light duty spring I installed to make sure the valve doesn't vibrate open. Just drill a small hole in the valve handle and attach the other end of the spring to an anchor hole on the machine. Probably didn't really need it, but it provides peace of mind.