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?

It's ironic with all my questions from the other forum that there isn't a dealer within 60 miles or more from my home that actually carries Simplicity snow blowers, so I can't even take a look at them any time I want, good as they seem to be, to compare them with Ariens.  I saw one John Deere cousin the other day, and that was the 1332 model.  Simplicity models probably look like that one.  At least I have their new brochure.

I suppose that somewhat explains the inquiry about Ariens, besides the fact that there are plenty of Ariens dealers in my area. I can also access Toro, Husqvarna, Honda, and John Deere, but Simplicity?  Nope, not yet.  I have always had a liking for Ariens blowers, though my only experience with them has been at my school job with the ST1032 tank (with a cab) from the early 1990's.  We should all want Ariens' blowers to have an excellent build to last a long time because it's obviously good for all of us and the industry.   It's also hard to say what Briggs will do to Simplicity/Snapper/John Deere blowers over time.  Yeah, I guess only time will tell about any company's machines. 

However, hats off to Snowmann for the very honest and detailed look inside the Ariens machines from his engineering viewpoint.  I think we needed to know this.

I'm glad this discussion has been able to traverse two forums.  We all need to know this material, and I'm not only referring to Ariens, but Toro and Simplicity/Snapper/John Deere as well.   Well, Honda, too, but they cost  too much, and don't even have Easy Turn, power steering, or a differential. 

We all just want to see high-quality machines to be made well into the future.   Here's hoping the biggies will continue in that long tradition.

Geez, $85 Chinese blowers.  Give me a break.  I think I'll go out and buy that Troy-Bilt "Storm 3090" I saw at Lowe's (heh, heh...)

Off to Los Angeles for a week.  A break from our arctic weather and coming snowstorms in this week's forecasts.  Merry Christmas, everyone!

I suspect that either a "0" is missing from the end of the price or that is the bulk shipping price. I.E. Order 1,000 and its $85 per unit to ship them FOB somewhere

I'd also like to add my thanks to Snowman for his comments. The posting on the other forum was very good.

Comment on the less expensive material debate. Sometimes it has to do with availability of materials. For instance, my parents built their house using concrete blocks just after world war II. Basement rooms were only a certain size to minimize the span of the floor joists. It took time to build but looked and was very robust. Nowadays most basements use one or more steel I beams with jack posts to do the load bearing. You end up with more open space and more "decorating" options. Its faster and less expensive to do it that way ... now. I've always felt that ball and roller bearings were "better" but I can see that a lot depends on the details of implementation as to which is actually better for a particular application. In addition when you engineer a product there are always tradeoffs, thats why space shuttles cost more than large air craft.

Borat is correct in saying time is the ultimate tester but at the same time I think Snowman has done a lot to alleviate my concerns. either way I still lust for snow machines that I am still saving my pennies for.

pvrp wrote:
I believe it was $85 for shipping.

I see it listed for $1499 here:  http://www.edamsport.com/detail/prod/19.html

jeff72 wrote:
Ah.   I knew the Chinese could make cheap copies but this was something else.

I guess I was thrown by the term FOB which means the price without shipping.

Paul  (who wouldn't have bought one anyway...)

Weather snowmann is selling or not, I couldn't care less. Actually I think its quite novel and smart of ariens if that was the case. The future of marketing and possibly even sales is the internet. Grasp it as soon as possible, I says. But aside from that.  Snowmann has provided some great information on many things and helped many people, including myself.  Helping, can also result in sales, so really its win, win.  As I said before, I think it looks good on the company weather its for sales or not.  At least we are being feed information, what we do with it is up to us. I can choose weather I agree, disagree, believe or not. 

Maybe simplicity, snapper, john deere, toro, etc.. should take note. 

These made in china snowblowers are showing up more then ebay and a few websites. There is a person trying to sell these locally here in my town. Asking $1500 for 11hp. Have to be nuts to pay that for it. Though I haven't seen it and don't care to at that price. By a craftman with a briggs for cheaper, tho I really don't care for that either. Just saying.

As for $85 - 100 price. I too believe this to be wrong. Its not the price for shipping. They never give shipping prices, you have to contact them for that.  But if you look on that site you will see that all things in that category are priced the same $85 -100.  I have also searched other manufactures of snowblower units in china and the going price seems to be $350 - 500. So I don't think you have to add a 0 either.  I not sure what is going on there, but something doesn't seem right.

I have ordered directly from china before and have had good experience dealing with them for customer service sake. The product was great as well.  Why did I order from them? Cause the product I was going to by here was made in china, I got it for less the half ordering direct and came to my door in 4 business days, I don't know if I could get something in the rest of canada that quick. I was impressed and will order direct from china again if I need too.

The shipping on these units must be high tho, as they weight enough to put the price up there.  Minimum I have seen to order is 26 units. The crowd listed in this post eariler wants minimum of 100 ordered.

The guy in vancouver selling these has several websites selling many things from china. I guess he is fully into importing.  I should say tho, you should be careful ordering some things from china, as many may not meet regulations and could cost you problems, specially if your going to sell it.  Electrical items could cause a fire, lead, etc.. Be carefull

I found out with these new china built engines they don't sell individual parts a least not the people our shop buys from, an example being if anything breaks on the carb they send a WHOLE carburetor,  a guy brought one in, the recoil spring needed replacing (brand new MTD Bolens single 21inch) they don't sell springs they just send a whole new recoil, and for cheap.

In the two years since this thread was last active, I wonder what kinds of comments anyone has about their particular experiences with Chinese engines.  I think it would be especially good to hear from small engine mechanics and dealers. 

I think reliability is directly related to use, need and conditions. If you have light to average snowfall a few times a year and perform proper maintenance then many of the cheaper snow blowers will work well. I bought my first 'new' snow blower in 96 for $900, MTD, and it is running great, with original parts. This year, I will put new belts in it before giving to my Dad. Now in my current situation, way more snow, drifting, hard packed snow, etc, I needed an upgrade. I also needed something my wife could start and use in -30, when I travel. So I went with a more expensive model, that I know is reliable. No experience with Chinese products, but Japanese are very well built and reliable. There are 20 - 30 year old Japanese models out there, still running strong!

coasteray wrote:
I think that some B&S engines are made in China now.  I recently purchased a new power washer with an 8hp B&S Intek engine on it.  I have to say that if that engine was made in China then they're doing something right.  First pull starting every time, smooth power, etc.

As far a snow blower reliability I think that the older machines were very reliable but then again they were mostly featureless machines so there wasn't a whole lot to fail.  My Ariens ST504 has never needed anything, not even an adjustment, in 20 years. Of course it was a very simple two stage and as basic as can be.  My newer Ariens 11528 has a lot more features that can go out of whack.  Headlight, remote axle lock, remote chute controls, hand warmers, etc.  So while I would be thrilled if I get 20 years of trouble free service out of it, I won't be disappointed if something needs replaced or adjusted on it.  Just so the transmission, gearbox, and engine hold up. 

Speaking of engines, what usually blows out first...the snow blower or the engine?