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

I bought this machine because I needed a rugged machine that would last me. I would rather purchase a "Tim Taylor" machine rather than fuss with an inferior one. This beast has 13hp, 36" wide, locking diff, heated hand grips, light, elec start, ect.... I have a 100 foot paved driveway. It has snowed 4 times since I purchased it, and it has broke down on me 3 times.  everything from a factory recall that i wasnt notified of, so it burned belts (4)!!, to nuts & bolts falling out, chute breaking, auger stops turning, wheels stop driving, etc.... The dealer has a special place for it in his shop that they dont fill when it is at my place. I believe this machine would last forever,  if i dont use it. The dealer stood behind me 100% when I told them enough is enough I wanted something done, money back, or a replacement. Now it has snowed today, 20", I have a bad back and have to shovel while the ariens company sits on my $3000.00. Anybody else have this problem?

I absolutely bought the wrong machine.   But I don't undestand your point that a 13hp machine with a 36" bucket shouldn't be able to spit 6" of snow in the lowest gear possible.   This is the first time I've had someone suggest I should have a smaller machine, because I'm asking too much work from the biggest, baddest, snowblower ariens could make.    I believe my point WAS that this machine couldn't do the job I was asking of it, which is anthing more than 6" of powder.  Go figure, a snowblower that's affraid to get wet.

 If you look at the honda the chute is directly at the top of the impeller, making the throwing distance the same to either side.  Also, they don't put the battery directly in the path of the snow coming out of the chute (not that you should waste your money on electric start with a honda).  Maybe that's the reason in 10 years it only clogged when I sucked up a blue tarp.

I will be the first to admit I bought the wrong machine.  Its great to turn as you head back to the garage to gas up (gas hog) or to tighten the belt, or to let the auger/impeller thaw out because it doesn't like to get wet.  Honestly, buy a cheap, cheap cheap machine instead of wasting your money on an expensive one that was built cheaply.

I have a Honda at work and at home and both have the chute off center.

Ok Ok.  I understand what you mean with the need for release of snow at the tangent to the circle, and how its going to be off-center no matter what if you want to get all you can from the centrifugal force of the impeller.  Just like throwing a discus.  But take a good look inside both chutes, working and not,  and you'll notice how much more the snow bounces around in the ariens, and how the chute/auger in the honda spins the snow out.  Maybe its the size/speed of the impellers, where a faster impeller would mean it could be smaller and therefore less of a difference from right to left or whatever you want. 

Honda throws the snow farther, and its not just the power of the motor.   I've had a lot of xtra time to think about it while I'm working on this machine, instead of actually using this machine.  Other ariens may be fine, but this one model is a dud.

The Honda has a much smaller space between the impeller and the housing. This is why it throws like it does. If you install a Clarence impeller kit o n the Ariens it will become a new beast. I know because I did it on my 1128dle.
http://smllengns.tripod.com/

The clearance between the impeller vanes and housing on my  Simplicity looks to be around 1/16th of an inch.  It throws snow better than anything I've used before.  I agree that closer vane/housing tolerance will eject snow further and at a faster rate.

I couldn't agree more that the 1336 Pro is an expensive piece of junk. I am looking foward to all the breakdowns described because i've been lucky there so far but I've got a 2 year old machine. My complaint is that it could not cut through 4" of powdered snow without clogging.  After an hour or so of this recently I had had it and sent it into a snow bank and got my shovel. After a half hour of shoveling, I broke the shovel over the 1336. Poor shovel!  I've tried silicone, WD40, belts, Etc.  I hear Honda is the one. Ariens chute design is a LOSER!!

fpjungle wrote:

Don't rule out Simplicity/Snapper.  They're top notch.

I agree that the machines should not clog but they do. For aprox $35 and an hour install give Clarences impeller kit a try. Your machine will not clog and you will be amazed. I have a Honda and Ariens And yes the Honda is a quality machine but the Ariens once modified with the impeller kit becomes a new machine. Spend a few bucks and use what you got or sell it and spend more and get the Honda.

I've had a 12/36 ST for 11 years, using it for business approximately 60 hrs a season in various states of snow conditions from slushy to chunky ice. I've ran news papers through it and made confetti, hit conrete trowels and chunked them out into scrap metal, ran gravel like a machine gun and basically abused the machine. I maintain and paint it regularly. In the off season it gets all points maint. Before xmas 08, I was having carb issues and had to order a new carb from Ariens. (11yrs of abuse later) While it was on order, a storm was expected and since I have alot of people counting on me, I decided it was time to upgrade to the machine I had been drooling over for 5 or so years. The 1336 DLE.  So December 27, 2008 I bought it for 3345.00 in Denver. This machine is above and beyond the awesomeness of the 12/36. I have to down throw snow because it is a launcher. The automatic differential is great, the quick turn chute is an arm saver, and heated handles means I can go gloveless if I want. If you are having problems, you either got a lemon, or the setup is wrong from the dealer. (govener, carb or?) I would not go around bad mouthing the best snow removal machines ever made. All others are just inferior, period. Hopefully they (Ariens, not your dealer) will hook you up with another machine or dial it in properly for you.

Good Luck

I accidentally ran over a Sears catalog with my Ariens 1130DLE, and it turned it in confettis... My wife wasn't too happy about that! The catalog, of course... The snowblower did not suffer any damage at all.

I just had to stop the engine to remove the plastic bag that had wrapped around the auger axle... And pickup all those tiny pieces of paper before they fly in the neighbor's front yard!