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

After reading of the hardship some of the newer Ariens models have with handling, some have been called "...a bear to handle", I want to get something that's really easy to navigate with.

Am confuzzled by the discomatic and the various names for drives.  Which model(s) has the traditional tried and true differential?  That is, one without wheel pins and/or hand levers to control drive and steering?

I'll go one step further and say I'm looking for one with a small intake (24" or so) and with a powerful engine.  And are last years models any different than this years models?

Harold wrote:

Harold, Yes, that price is decent, at least from what I've seen so far at two local dealers.  I've seen it as low as $1265 at one dealer, and for, I think, about $1289 at another dealer.  Considering that my son paid $800 for his used 1996-year Ariens ST824, I think that an extra $500 for a new machine doesn't seem too bad. 

As far as other things to know about, I'm still concerned about the Tecumseh engine being on that machine.  Updating my previous post about Ariens and Tecumseh:  According to the response I got from Ariens from an email last week, they have enough Tecumseh engines to satisfy current orders, and have some excess models (with Tecumseh engines) available for order, but still don't know about the future for Tecumseh parts availabilty quite yet, hopefully within a month.  They have also secured Briggs & Stratton engines for additional units for an expected time frame of late November or early December 2008.  I'm wondering if you could order a 924DLE with a Briggs engine.  That would solve any fears about Tecumseh parts availability.  At least it's worth asking a dealer, or even contacting Ariens through their web site.  Good luck, and let us know what happens.

If you want to consider other brands, take a look at Husqvarna's Professional series model #924SB-XLS.  It has everything you would ever want.  Hydrostatic drive for infinite speeds (like Honda), 24" width, 23" width, power steering levers, halogen headlight, premium-grade cables, electric start, 12" auger and impeller, Tecumseh 9HP OHV engine (future problem?), remote chute rotation and deflector, hand warmers, bearing auger support, grease zerks, single-hand lever operation (very standard feature on most brands), drift cutters and weight bar included, 16"x4.8" wheels, blah blah.

The only thing Troy Bilt has with power steering is the Storm 3090 model ($1099 at Lowe's), but it's 30" wide, too much for your door.  So avoid Troy-Bilt because their other models don't have power steering.  Too bad.

According to the Ariens site they had a naming convention that tells you what you want to know.

A model with a "d" in the name has a differential I.E. 926DLE - about 9HP, 26" swath, Differential, comes with a Light and has Electric start.

In their explanation of the term "Discomatic" they describe 3 versions, Professional Duty, Deluxe and Compact. All refer to the method used to change the speed and direction that the traction system moves the unit, they are not part of the differential.