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

So who exactly is still making snowblowers with the best parts?I keep reading about ball bearings as opposed to metal bushings or plastic bushings etc?Is it Simplicity?Or Honda?Do they use the better more reliable parts?A store next to me is selling a left over Simplicity Pro model 28" width with the crank handle for the chute rotator not the electric rotator.Would that have the better internal parts?

I own an Ariens aprox 5years old as well as a Honda that is aprox 10 years old. At work we have a 1 year old Ariens and a 1 year old Honda. I will tell you this. The Honda will throw snow much further than the Ariens at home and work. BUT ! my Ariens is much better built then the Honda. Much more solid. Heavier metal. And much cheaper/low cost replacement parts.

mikiewest wrote:

Don't bring the name of the product into the picture when shopping.  Look for quality components on all of the machines you're comparing.   Keep track of which machine has the most complete list of quality components.  Compare the price of the machines to determine if the machine with the best components is worth the extra money.  If in fact it is more expensive.  If you're looking at a couple hundred bucks for a machine that will be less costly to repair and possibly last five or ten years longer than the others, go for it.  That's the process I used to buy my Simplicity last year.  As far as I know, they're still being built with the good stuff.   

pvrp wrote:
Yes, I agree.  Its very refreshing to see somebody of his nature replying to questions in forums.  When looking at machines to purchase last year, I was very impressed to see snowmann posts and spoke volumes towards company values. 

Don't want to spoil the jubilation of all you Ariens fans but let's not forget.  An Ariens salesman is an Ariens salesman.  Of course you're going to hear all the good stuff.  That's his job. 

What I found interesting after reading the article was that he mentioned that many of the components will either last or outlast the designed life of the machine.   My question is, what is the life expectancy of the new Ariens machines?  Will they be around in thirty years like many of the older models?    Coasteray is obviously a very  well informed individual.  His questions are  a very good outline of what he felt might be deficiencies in the newer products compared to the older units.   Not having examined an Ariens to the extent that he has, it becomes abundantly clear that very many changes have been made.  Whether they are positive changes or not is yet to be proved.  Only time will tell.   For some reason, I get the feeling that given the trend toward planned obsolescence in manufacturing these days (washers, dryers, refrigerators, etc.),  the likelihood of a "more durable" machine than the old units might be wishful thinking.  We'll have to wait and see. 

Then there's always the Chinese import.  Where do they fit into the mix? Isn't this a the heart of the quality issue? Will customers spend $1300 on a Simplicity/Ariens in tough times when they can spend half of that  on a no-name clone? And if they won't or if not enough will, is there a market for quality products?  Have snowblower technologies advanced in any way over the last 20 years?  Few would agree that snowblowers are  better/more reliable products than 20 years ago.  And the primary reason most have lost quality is due to competition.  And yet the market is only getting more competitive.  Are we in for more of the same?  Where will it end?  I have heard of China import snowblowers but this is the first one I have ever seen  ($85 FOB Shanghai):

Engine power: 9.0hp-11hp/6.6kW

• Start mode: electrical start
• Battery: 12V
• Lamp: 15W
• Working width: 70cm
• Working thickness: 54.5cm
• Weight: 115kg
• Dimensions: 140 x 180 x 111cm
• Oil type: unleaded oil
• Fuel tank capacity: 6L
• Lubricant tank capacity: 1.1L
• Gas needed per hour: 0.8L/hour
• Type of transmission: friction disc
• Type of wheel: track
• Number of gears: five forward/two reverse speed
• Turnable chute: manually horizontal and vertical
• Chute one rotating angle: 190 degrees
• Chute two rotating angle: 70 degrees
• Certification: EPA/GS
• Warranty: two years limited warranty

• Delivery Details:
  FOB Port:
  Ningbo or Shanghai
  FOB Price Range:
  US$ 85 - US$ 100
  Lead Time:
  20 - 35 days

• Package size: 119 x 78 x (78 + 10)cm
• Loading:
  • 20-foot container: 26 pieces
  • 40-foot FCL container: 60 pieces
  • 40-foot HC container: 90 pieces

85$ !!  That's actually pretty funny.  Just buy one for each storm and throw it away after.
Not only would you be ahead financially but it wouldn't take up any room in the garage.

Paul

A few videos of these Chinese GIOVANNI blowers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMLb9H-TRLw&lt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFMwAek7S3k&lt

Looks like similar model under different brand name. Also another video on this site.

http://www.zonemotos.com/souffleuses.html

borat wrote:  
Sorry Borat, I'm not a salesman, and like most folks here, my paycheck is earned doing something other than surfing the internet at night perusing these postings. I am simply interested in the opinions here and have knowledge to share to help others. There is no sales pitch in any of my postings. I've not indicated anything other than factual details and technical assistance in my 6 years on this forum (or 3 on the other). There is explanation and supporting information with everything that I've written.

That said, I'm wondering about your "sales pitch". You've indicated in several posts that your Simplicity 9528 is built better than Ariens models, but only make a general reference to "bearings versus bushings". Can you clarify to us all what you're referring to in more explicit detail?

BTW, the Ariens' life target is 20 years. The machines can surpass this requirement with great consistency and can last longer with proper care (as many legacy units have done). And yes, many changes have been made. Manufacturing technology has evolved much since the "good old days" so to speak. Cars last twice as long now (maybe not Chryslers, heh...); with good engineering there is no reason to think a snowblower cannot last as long as its predecessors even without metaphoric Muncie "Rock Crusher" tranny's and Ford 9" rear ends. 

Sometimes it seems we are all standing around a GTO Judge saying "they don't make them like this any more" when there is an Acura TL sitting right next to it that spanks it in 0-60 and the quarter mile and lasts 3 times longer (no offense to anyone who likes Chryslers or hates foreign cars, and I'm not sure where all these muscle car thoughts came from...?, and I know the TL has nothing on the looks of a Judge...).

PK

Possibly as good or better then a lower cost U.S unit. ...............

"That said, I'm wondering about your "sales pitch". You've indicated in several posts that your Simplicity 9528 is built better than Ariens models, but only make a general reference to "bearings versus bushings". Can you clarify to us all what you're referring to in more explicit detail? "

I think your post over at OPE pretty much summed up the differences between the new Ariens machines which in my view are not built to the same standards as the present day Simplicity products.  Coasteray highlighted most, if not all of the items that he seems to think were changes in manufacturing practices that do not appear to be as robust as those found in older Ariens machines and are still available on Simplicity products, such as bearings, cast iron gear cases etc. etc.  Therefore, I do not see the need to re-hash them here.  You have put forth your position that you feel the new Ariens machines will be better than the legacy products and my position is that only time will tell if in fact that is true.   From the frequent number of complaints about Ariens machines recently, it doesn't take too much imagination to see that something is amiss.   Every manufacturer that makes changes to their product by incorporating less expensive components and construction techniques will alway explain it away as "improvements".   I assume that those same "improvements" have been the cause of the decline in the durability of large appliances and other products that historically had lasted twenty year or more but now are lucky to last five years.   I've been around too long to believe that cheaper components will extend the life of any product.  I believe that many others know this as well.