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

I had a Ariens 927LE Snow Blower delivered to my home yesterday. I am actually disapointed with the control features. Its my first snow blower, and Ariens reccomended to me as being the best buy for me. I am located in Newfoundland, Canada. Very heavy snowfall amounts

The up and down control is manual that I was aware of but the side to side chute control is in front of the control panel, Its not located in the control panel or underneath. You have to reach over your controls and crank the chute, with a ice auger like handle. My wife, is not very tall and this contol would be quite a challenge when she chooses to use ut. My blower has yet to be started other than a demostration when it was delivered and I am quite sure I will be returning it and buy another blower elsewhere.

in this video I found it will show exactlly what I am referring too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMf5NhnuiZY (around the 49 second mark)

Anyone know why it has a control like this? I was told that it was not on the model the year before. And this is their 75th anniversary. I am not interested in upgrading to a higher model as its too much of an expense.

I almost bought the same machine. I thought for the money that it wasn't a bad deal but I knew about the chute control before I was considering it. I got carried away and ended up buying an ariens 9526 dlet pro model in the end. I looked at a few machines in the price range of the 927le ariens and I kept coming back to that one for some reason. Good luck with whatever you decide on.


Coldfingers

I got to agree, that would be annoying. Specially for somebody small or if you ever wanted a snow cab. When I purchased mine last year, I can not recall seeing any with that type of rotation device. I was looking at the smaller Ariens at Home depot the other day and they have a better control then that, even tho I wasn't impressed with it either. At the time I was thinking it was put together wrong or needed grease, it was a quick look on the way out the door.  I do know that the next model up would have a better control, but imagine it probably a fair difference in price as it comes with differential and "bigger" engine.  I have also noticed that my model has downgraded by removing the handwarmers. 

You may want to look into Toro as that is the only comparable to ariens in Newfoundland and the chute control should be much nicer with the Toro. If you live on the Avalon and your looking at the Toro, be sure to ask about their service as the main local dealer here is not great in that department. John deere is selling units this year that is said to be a simplicity, although the price and options are different.

       one word             toro

thanks for the replies, I looked at the toro last night, I was told from a few friends that purchased them from the only dealer in my area, that their service department is horrible, and they are all the time behind on repairs and matinence.

Four words:  Simplicity/Snapper/John Deere.

Simplicity/Snapper/John Deere, none of these are available in my city. And I might be correct to say they are not available in the province of newfoundland

coreyn wrote:

Well that sucks.   No John Deere dealerships in Newfoundland?   Having trouble with that one.   They have dealerships all over the world. 

I called the local dealership today (Nortrax Canada Inc, the only dealer listed in Newfoundland) just after posting here and asked if they sold snow blowers/throwers, and the woman said that the only small snow equipment they sold were attachments for lawn tractors/sit on mowers

Looking at the same model I was also disappointed at the ackwardness of the chute control.  I played around with the controls at the local box store and was astounded at the placement of this control.  You have to reach over and down with your left hand to operate the chute.  I am not short at 6'3" but still found it ackward.  Good luck in finding a replacement.

 

This won't solve the basic problem, but if there is a spring with a nut on its lower end underneath the gear mechanism at the end of the crank handle, try loosening it a bit to see if that at least makes it easier to turn