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

Hello All.

Here are my few complaints about my Ariens 1130DLE snow thrower. Over the last few weeks I have been getting my snowthrower ready for the years to come. After realizing how much it rusted in just one year, I figured it was best to start sooner then later.  I am super glad I started this now as some things haven't been easy. Like the removal of one rusted wheel to the axle. Anyway, won't rehash that here as its in the other post about it.

Here are my complaints. I really don't see why they should even be a issue with such a well built machine.  My first complaint is lack on anti seeze on integral components that should be easy to remove for maintenance.  Today I spent some time taking off the attachment pulleys (two bolted together for dual belts). I did this after reading how hard it could be to remove after a few years of operation. Things like gear pulleys, heat and hammering to remove it, seem to be common.  So why not anti seeze it?  Maybe they do, but after getting mine off today, certainly no indication it was done on mine. Granted mine wasn't that rusted and came off without much trouble, but it was rusting. Few more years and I am sure I would be in the same boat as the rest when it comes to tough removal.  So why not the few extra dollars to anti seeze these components?

My second complaint.  All the rakes that hold the bushings are screwed in with self tapping bolts. When you purchase the rake there is no thread in it, so you screw in the bolts which grab into the rake. I cannot understand why the rakes would not have threads? Why not a bolt with a nut on the end? Why is this a issue for me? Well I cannot seem to back out a bolt without snapping off the head. Then, I am stuck either purchasing another rake or trying to removing the broken bolts, which isn't easy.  I cannot understand why these rakes are not made so that they can come off easier with better bolt system. If somebody here has a trick on removing these self tapping bolts, please let me know. PB blaster does not seem to help at all. Just as a note, the rake is $9.95 and the bolts are $1.45 at my dealer. So with three bolts in each, it doesn't take much to need $15 in parts for just one rake.  With two on the auger, it will run me over $30 to get it out if I want to anit seeze it.  At least when I put it back together I can use bolts/nut. But would be nice if there was a thread in the rake.

That is it. These seem to be minor issues that ariens could easily rectify to make these machines easy to maintain. 

Cheers
Goofie Newfie

goofienewfie wrote:
I'm sure this is a cost-cutting thing because it saves a few seconds when the machine is
assembled and saves a few nuts per machine.  There is probably also less chance of  the
screws coming loose from vibration, though on my 1999 Ariens there are bolts with nuts
in these positions. 

Rust and vibration don't go well together.  You can grease everything (I always dip a bolt or
nut in thick waterproof grease when re-installing it) but this could make it easier for the
thing to unscrew from the vibration.  You also have to be careful not to overtighten the part
since it's easier to turn, but not turning it enough almost guarantees that it will vibrate off.

I notice that those screws are awfully small, which doesn't help.

Paul    (who's not terribly fond of bean counters)

pvrp wrote:
That's what I was thinking, tho I am hoping that is not correct.  I paid good money for this machine and to find out that it was to save time and money, wouldn't seem right for this amount. I would happily pay more for things to be done right, the reason why I bought the ariens.

Yes, I agree. grease everything. I will keep a eye on things to ensure it doesn't unscrew/vibrate off.  Talking about grease, what grease do you use for moving parts, Like the gears? What is a good grease for low temps?

As for over tighten the part making it easier to turn, I am not sure I understand that part. You mean easier to get off later?

Yes the screws are small, a more robust screw would probably even do, ever tho I would perfer a bolt and nut.

lol, I am not fond of bean counters either, specially counting on a machine you don't expect it on.

Cheers

goofienewfie wrote:
Me too.  At least Ariens still appears to be the best of the best.  I find it hard to believe that no
one else offers models with a differential.  I couldn't imagine being without it.  I'm anxious to
see how the new limited slip one works, it'll be nice not to stick my nose into the exhaust pipe
everytime I want to lock the wheels.

It's too bad that the old farm implement philosophy of making things to last forever seems to
be quickly disappearing, if it's not already gone.  Now it's all about figuring out what is the
minimum required to generate X number of sales while providing the shortest lifespan the
customer will accept.  Maybe Ariens should open up a custom shop so we could specify the
features we wanted :-)  And pay for it.  For example, I would really like the most power for the
narrowest auger width.  My dream Ariens is a battery electric start 13hp 24" blower.



Do you have Canadian Tire in Newfoundland ?  Here's a grease they sell that would be ideal :

   http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?%3Eprd_id=845524443278235

Product data sheet from Shell :

http://www-static.shell.com/static/ca-en/downloads/shell_for_businesses/oils_lubricants/1-17.pdf



I meant that if you're used to applying a certain amount of torque tightening a screw or bolt
(after having broken a sufficient number of them to acquire a sort of torque-wrench-of-the-
wrist) applying grease will throw off your calibration and you have to tighten less than you're
used to or risk going too far.

Paul

Hi Paul;

Yes, that make total sense now about not over tighten the greased bolt. Thanks for explaining that for me.  That grease looks good, will have to pick up a tube on what now seems to be my daily visit to Canadian tire.  Just a note, you CT link did not work for me, but I found it when I searched their site.  Thanks

Picked up a tube of that grease today. Have to say thanks for the advice, what a great grease. Very silky between the fingers, feels like great quality.  Thanks!

pvrp wrote:

By reading the very frequent complaints about Ariens machines, I have to say "best of the best" is a considerable over statement.   In my opinion, they're in the top five of the best snow throwers.  However, I'd rate them in around fourth after Honda, Simplicity/Snapper/JD, Toro.   They're not the machines they used to be.

borat wrote:
I was expecting someone to bring Honda up, but not the others.  I haven't gotten
up close with all of them but from pictures and specs I don't see what would lower
Ariens with respect to the others, but then I'm only referring to their Pro models and
how they compare with the top models of the other companies.   It looks to me that
solidity-wise the Ariens is at least the equal of the others, if not more so, but the big
thing that puts Ariens way ahead of the others is the differential.

As for Honda...  I have to admit that to me the idea of Honda making a snowblower
in the first place is kind of a strange idea and their implementation of it reflects this. 
It's like using a GoldWing to plow a field.  In my mind a snowblower should be more
like an old tractor, few parts (inexpensive to replace) and everything built so that it
could be left for a few years at the end of a field but then be put back in service with
little effort.  Big lumbering heavy parts, the very opposite of spiffy Japanese mechanics.
Something you can work on yourself without needing thousands of dollars of special
tools.  Honda's front end has never impressed me either, too light and somehow
doesn't look quite right (and they only recently fixed their weird skid shoes, or lack
thereof).

Cars are a different matter, I drive Japanese, but for snowblowing I'd rather have a
Harley :-)  I get a kick out of starting my 10hp Tecumseh flathead.  Chug, chug, chug,
sputter, chug, chug, chug.  What vibration, what noise !   But after ten years it's still
like the day I bought it and will probably be the same in another ten, or twenty.

Then there's the price of parts.  I have this Honda four-stroke brush cutter.  I wanted
to buy another head so I could switch from a blade to a string with a single screw
instead of having to spend a bunch of time dismantling and reassembling things to
switch from one to the other.  The price for a second head (minus the guards,spool
and so on) was almost the price of the entire machine. Imagine the price for parts
and repair to Honda's hydrostatic drive.

I have a 1995 Case 1845C skidsteer loader which is also built the American way,
every part is overly robust and its four-cylinder C-u-mmins [this software won't let
me put those three letters together] diesel always starts like a car when I fire it up,
even in winter.  All parts are readily available and cheap.  Just like Ariens.  By the
way this machine, with chains, is a real snowmover (though I bought it for
landscaping).   I've noticed that skidsteer loaders have also gone the route of
decreasing robustness and increased complexity.  Too bad.

To you Honda owners, I'm not trying to pick a fight :-)  I seriously considered buying
one this year but the fact that they won't turn on a dime was the main fault since it
will be used to clear a lengthy wheelchair ramp with u-turns and a tracked machine
would have been a pain (now if their tracks could be operated like the wheels of my
loader, which can spin on itself, it would be a different matter). I may still buy one
oneday (in another life I was a Honda motorcycle mechanic) but if I do it will be more
like buying a motorcycle or sporstcar,  for the fun of babying it  and working on it in my 
garage to keep it shiny new.  While the Ariens spends the night in the doghouse.

Paul

goofienewfie wrote:

I'm thinking that maybe you could contact Ariens via their web site and give them your feedback in precise terms.  Maybe they will take the advice to make some changes in these areas you've mentioned.  Certainly the bolts could come with nuts if they wanted to manufacture the parts in question that way.  I think it would be a good idea.  It's also a good idea about treating the parts to prevent rust.  If you contact them, please let us know what Ariens' response is.  That would be very helpful. 

  this is how  the companies make there money....  im surprised no one on this forum has mentioned it in the past.  when you purchase a new machine " disassemble" and anti-seize stuff.  my small engine teacher here in minnesota worked for the polaris dealer and the upper people told him this exactly,  that this is how the make they money is selling parts later.    take briggs and stratton..... right now we are sellin g a 5hp vertical mower engine for $139.00.   2 yrs down the road from proper maintenance, i will sell him a new $40.00 carb plus gaskets and such.   get the point.   

mech12 wrote:

Yep! same thing everywhere and most in China. I always make my wife smile about China, when I go to Walmart to buy something to hang on the wall they always come with screws....yeah screws chineese screws, if you miss your first shot they strip right away, that's how thing are made now, zinc plated sounds good but you know what is really zinc? it's crappy steel :)))))))))))))  So to get competitive to asiatic we now north american made our stuff like them what a mess, we are far from the tough steel 1959 ford truck