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

Hello everyone and greetings from your friendly neighbor from the north.  This is my first post on this site and I am looking for help in selecting a snow blower.  To give you some background I live in Kingston, Ontario, Canada beside Lake Ontario.  We receive a wide variety of snow types (wet and dry), and amounts (zero-20 inches).  I am looking to clear two driveways, both flat, each 25-30 feet wide by 30-40 long.  On is asphalt in good condition and the other is a gravel (finely crushed and well packed over the years) also in good condition.  As the snow season is allready underway and this neck of the woods is snow blower deprived I am somewhat limited to my choices.  The limited selection I have does seem quite good.  The two options are: Ariens 927LE, 9hp, 27 inch, Tecumseh snow king L head, aluminum gear box, costing $1434 to my door and Simplicity L1428E 9.5hp, 28 inch, Briggs & Stratton Intex, cast iron gear box costing  $1637 to my door.  The Ariens is from a box store of similar color and the Simplicity is from a dealer who will set it up, start it up and deliver.  I not a experienced mechanic so I feel that this professional set up help would be beneficial.  I originally decided to buy Ariens but through some research and comments on this site am begining to have some doubts in the quality of todays product from Ariens and and worried about the closure of Tecumseh.  I a m not as familiar with Simplicity and have heard concerns regarding their remote chute control freezing.  I do like the fact that Simplicity has a cast iron gear box and feel that the service I receive will be better given the fact that the box store associate informed me that the Ariens repair person does not treat box store purchsees very well and puts them at the bottom of the list.  Is this decision just a personal preference like Chevy or Ford or is there a distinct advantage from one model to the next.  I think that either snow blower will treat me well and like the savings of $200 with the Ariens but would gladly spend the money to get a better, longer lasting machine.  Please help with any comments you have.  Thank you in advance for your comments        

The Simplicity is considerably more robust than the new Ariens machines.  Do a side by side comparison.  For instance, Ariens uses plastic bushings, Simplicity ball bearings, cast iron heavy duty gear case and heavy duty gears within,  and a better engine.  I know there are a lot of  Ariens proponents who participate on this forum and would like to think otherwise.  However, when you compare the two machines side by side, you'll readily see which is the better built of the two.  For $200.00 difference, I wouldn't think twice about it.    

What's the story on freezing chute controls?  Never happened to me.  Am I missing something or was it the newer electric controlled unit?   My chute control is a rod/gear arrangement with a cable actuated deflector.  I've had  the deflector freeze up once but that's typical of any cable controlled deflector.  Never had a problem with the chute control.

Hello Borat.

Thanks for your prompt post.  It was something I read here in a post about the new eletric remote chute controls having problems freezing up.  Not speaking from personal experience.  Your beleif that the Simplicity is a better machine over the modern Ariens is a common trend I have been hearing over the past few days.  Just to pick your brain would that have been true a few years ago or is it a new fad along with the modernization of the Ariens company.  Do you htink having a tech doing the first time set up of the machine is beneficial?  Thanks again.

I can't say for sure when the Ariens transition began.  It appears to coincide with the introduction of their products to the box stores.   There are repairmen/dealers on this forum that would probably know if they're willing to admit that it has actually happened. 

If you're not mechanically inclined you might want to ensure the dealer has done a proper maintenance inspection.  Usually a product will have a check list that the dealer is supposed to use when preparing a machine for a customer.  It's supposed to be included in the cost of the product.  Personally, I've yet to buy anything where the dealer had actually carried out the check list requirements let alone complete the  check list.   Ask for the check list and go through it with the dealer if you want to ensure the machine has been properly prepared.  I do my own work.  There's nothing on these machines that I can't deal with and I know how well the work will be done.  Even a product as well built as the Simplicity needs some personal attention.  Primarily in the lubrication of wheels/axles, drive chains, control cables/gears.   Also ensure the cables are adjusted within proper operating tolerances.  Check the air pressure in your tires as well.  Too much pressure will reduce traction.   All of the above should be done by the dealer before you get it.  I'll wager however that much of it will not be done unless you go step by step through the check list with the dealer.   

Others here will be able to help more than I can. I just wanted to add a few things since I was also looking at both of these units

After doing some research, I decided to purchase the Simplicity 1428.  Unfortunately the dealer sold out a few days before my decision.  I liked the heavy duty cast iron gear box and sturdy auger. Not sure if it really matters, but I also wanted the B&S engine on the Simplicity over the Tecumseh on the Ariens (Tecumseh no longer made)

The closest Ariens dealer is 45 minutes away. He carries the 1130DLE, but this unit is just too big to store in my garage.  I spoke with Ariens about the 924DLE, but they are short on engines, so the 924DLE is no longer on the list.  I wanted to stay away from HD because of the discussions of improper assembly. However I spoke with someone at work today about the 624E he bought from HD, and he said it came in a box and he put it together himself.

I checked out the 927LE today and it is also in a box, a very big box mind you. I would put it together myself so at least it would be my fault if I did something wrong. But again, according to the guy I spoke with at work, it sounds like there wasn't much to do.

I also checked out the Toro 826 LE. It's about $300 more than the 927LE. The Toro doesn't have the Fingertip remote lock/unlock axle control, and it comes with an 8hp Tec vs the 9hp on the 927LE. Because of the weight, the Toro does seem to be easier to move around, but it's hard to tell with the unit not fired up.  The chute control on the Toro is slick too.

My main concern with the 927LE was buying from HD. If I buy this unit and have a problem, I'm going to have to lug this beast 45 minutes away. But my concern about HD putting the unit together may no longer be an issue.

Did you ask when/if they might get more simplicity blowers in. I think that  Snapper make simplicity twin.  Did you check there?  A good dealer is a nice thing to have around. 

You could scoot over to Fenelon falls (peterborough) and pick up this 11526 with a cast iron gear box.

Craigslist: Commercial Duty Snowblower - $1500 (Fenelon Falls)

Underdog wrote:
Yeah. The dealer tried to order more, but they said they couldn't get any more. I sent an email to Simplicity to verify, but I never got a response.  I don't know of any Snapper dealers in my area.  Might be worth looking into.

I did contact other Simplicity dealers in the area. A couple said no one was buying them, so they stopped carrying them. One said he canceled his order because the shipping charge was too high. Another was ordering the 30 inch cut unit.  The dealer who sold out was charging $1250.00, so that's my expectation.

The new John Deere is very similar to the Simplicity 1428, but the one thing I didn't like was the manual lock/unlock of the wheels. The Simplicity has the remote trigger. The Deere was also $100 more than the Simplicity.

Sounds like you are really in a pinch finding these.  Personally I would opt for Arien's differential (automatic traction control) over the trigger lock. But  I've only used the trigger in the showroom.  I wonder what folks are saying about the Husqvarna.  The new blowers have hydro drive but no cast iron gear box and not trigger lock. 

http://www.usa.husqvarna.com/node3295.aspx?nid=84643&pid=78458

The Ariens differential is really nice.  It keeps power to both wheels all the time, whether you're
turning or not, and turning is as easy as if the wheels were both freewheeling.  To me this feature
alone keeps Ariens above everything else even if its robustness has suffered a bit of late.  It's kind
of surprising that no other manufacturers offer this (that I know of anyway).  And Hondas, for all they
may be, must be just about impossible to turn.

That Husqvarna is a strange beast.  What happens when the snow is higher than those small
augers ?  Like just about any snowbank.  Seems to me that the augers will eat their way under
the snow, then the snow above will jam against the part of the intake that is above the augers,
and then the machine will just stop going forward ?  Doesn't make sense.

Paul

I am entering a second winter with my Simplicity 1524. I love it. The machine is great, never bogs down. Turning is easy and intuitive with their trigger control. I have the electric chute control they've been putting on the higher-end series for many years. The motor never even hesitates. I know some feel this frill is unnecessary -- and I can't disagree. But it's really a simple system and a nice convenience. I brush the whole unit down with my car's snow brush when I'm done and have never had any trouble. Last winter, we experienced record snow in SE Wisconsin and we're already ahead of where we were last year at this time! Briggs is a local company for us (I know their mfg is all over) -- that and my respect for the local dealer is what swayed me. It's funny that we never talk about electric start as a feature anymore, because it's always standard. Yet, I haven't used mine since the day I got it. And the B&S OHV always starts on the first pull.

By the way, stay on with this forum -- the folks here are great -- really helpful and knowledgeable.

Good luck!

I see a lot of talk about people saying HD puts the Ariens snow throwers together wrong. But I cannot see this as being a big issue. Seems like some mom and pop dealer hype going on in a way. No doubt you will get better service from a dealer, but as for them being put together wrong. I am unsure if this is such a big deal. It seems to me that most of the unit is assembled at the factory.  Looks like they only flip the handle bars up, put on the chute and connect the rods and cables. Not much to that and if done wrong can easily be adjusted by yourself. Last year when I was looking at purchasing, I would have steered clear of buying at HD for that reason, I didnt have a choice tho as HD didn't have them at all and I started early. I still wonder if HD even carried Ariens last year? They had lots this year and still do for the lower units.  None the less, I am unsure if I would let the assembly rumors hit as hard as they say. If you have some tools and a place to work on the machine, you can probably fix any issues that hd manages to do wrong and I might suggest you do that anyhow as my chute wasn't properly aligned/grease and I bought from a dealer.

goofienewfie wrote:
Yeah, it looks like the machine is 99% assembled when HD gets it. The guy at work said he had to attach the chute. I suspect there are a few other things that need to be done, but nothing most of us couldn't do ourselves by reading the manual.  snowmann probably knows how much additional assembly is needed.

My concern is not having a dealer near by for repairs/maintenance.

I just assembled a 9526DLE out of its box.  I bought it that way since I had to
transport it quite a ways and as I was going to take a lot of it apart anyway, to set
it up to my liking, figured it would be better if the dealer didn't touch it.

Unbending the handlebars is no big deal (though I wouldn't trust anyone at a place
like HD with even this step).

The chute was not a simple matter.  The instructions in the manual are a bit vague
and it's not easy to get the hex rod inserted properly to be able to install the hairpin
clip.  Nothing that someone with some experience can't handle but it did take me a
while to get it right.  I also greased everything as there wasn't any lubrication to start
with (it did say to do so in the manual).

I doubt HD does any kind of lubrification and rust prevention so if I was going to buy
from them I'd take it in the box.

Paul

"I just assembled a 9526DLE out of its box."

Me too.  It is very simple even for the those who are not mechanically inclined.  You unfold the handlebars and put in 4 bolts.  Then you  put on the chute (2 bolts).  Using needle nose pliers I poped off the cotter pin, put the chute handle on, and that's it.  All and all about 20 min including reading the instructions (which aren't that great).  This is my first SB'er and I bought it to ward off the snow...So far it's been working like a charm..10' C yesterday and 13'C  and raining today. 

Honda is a different breed of machine.  It is better than anything else on the market, by  a lot.  The hydrostatic transmission not only saves you time but saves you HP, which can be redirected to the auger/impeller assembly.  Honda's don't clog. 

pvrp wrote:

Hondas are lighter,  so they're easier to turn.  Also because of the hydrostatic transmission, you can slow down and speed up while turning/blowing.  My hs828 turned with one hand on the bar, and one hand spinning chute.  The HP rating is also deceiving, because Honda motors are low-torque monsters.   Also, they're better balanced towards the bucket, so they don't dive up when snow gets tough.  I've had both ariens and Hondas, and without a doubt the Honda is 3x the machine.  A smaller honda will do the work of a larger "convential" machine.  Ive got a 1336 dle pro with the full differential,(MISTAKE) and I'd have to say its nice and easy to turn when there's no snow, but put 6 inches on the ground and you have reach down, get a face full of muffler exhaust, and lock it anyway because the wheels spin out.  JUNK JUNK JUNK

Cross Ariens off your list.  If not Honda then Torro, or Simplicity,  next maybe a shovel.

As I mentioned earlier, I bought a new Aries pro a few weeks ago.  On the day after I bought it
I ran it for four and half hours non-stop (except to change the oil) in two-foot-deep packed snow.  
I went through five shear bolts that day as my driveway is half-finished and currently is topped
by 0 to 2-1/2" crushed rock (some pieces are more like 4"-6") and the ground wasn't yet frozen.  
I cringed everytime I felt the crunch but apart from some minor paint wear inside the chute the
machine looks and runs fine.

I still haven't made up my mind about the changes that have been introduced in the last ten years
to Ariens blowers but I can say that they are (well, at least mine is)  capable of putting in a good
day's work without complaint.

And, again, the differential is worth serious consideration.

Paul

Its just not the same.  To me the its like the difference between freshly squeezed OJ and flat orange soda.  I like the look of the metal channels on the Simplicity, but I've never used one so I can't make a comment about balance or speed.  If you look at the Ariens the handlebars are small 3/4" tubing.  Mine flexes quite a bit when I move it around.  I'm sure its fine on smaller blowers but the whole thing is just out of porportion. 

Point being, for the same money you can get a smaller Honda that would do the same work as a bigger machine.