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

Hi, Next year I will be buying a new blower and I have decided between the two above. I do believe they are both very good machines. I want to know if anyone that owns a hs928 thinks it is underpowered. I noticed the Ariens 11528 has a 11.5 hp and the honda only has a 9hp. I don't mind spending the money on a quality product but I don't want to get something that is underpowered.

18degrees, welcome to the Forum. 

Welcome 18,

So do I lol.... 

C

Hi - new to this forum and looking for some input.

Long-time fan of Ariens snowthrowers. This fall, traded in my old Ariens for a top of the line Ariens 11528DLE. Took delivery in November. Yesterday, we took a first big snowfall - one-foot of snow.

I joyfully cranked up my new machine - and it let me down. Engine raced up and down. Called the dealer who was sympathetic but told me couldn't come to fix it til Monday. Dealer suggested water in the carb bowl. So, on his advice, disassembled new snowthrower. Required lots of disassembly because fuel and electic lines routed right under the carb. Drained the carb. Put it back to together. Fuel hose clip broke during the process -- ugh. Found an old one in the basement and put it back together.

Took it out to clear my "black diamond" driveway with my son and wife helping. Engine racing and f@rting. First the chute deflector froze. Then the defector rotator froze. As I am doing the driveway, I named the thing - Damien.

Called the dealer and someone will be here to fix it Monday. To mollify me, they are doing the two-hour service free of charge.

QUESTION FOR THE FORUM:

Dealer also sells Honda. Thinking about sending Damien back from whence he came and getting a Honda HS928WAS. I have a 170' driveway, steep hill.

Advice and counsel please!

Wboro

Did it run well when you took delivery?  If so, is there something to make you think water could have gotten into the system?  Is it possible the problem is that the gas in the blower was a warm-weather formulation?  Or had been sitting in the snowblower since last season?

I'd want to try to understand the problem before deciding on the solution.  There are really just three places something could have gone wrong: the factory, the dealer, or by you.  Only the first justifies trading it in on a different brand, and even that is debatable.  If the dealer messed up, I wouldn't trade in for a Honda unless he gave you a real sweetheart deal, since it's more likely you could find another dealer to service the Ariens than finding one to service the Honda.  If it happened at your end and didn't cause serious damage, then there's really no reason to trade it in. 

The unit arrived from the dealer "gas-ed and ready-to-go." The unit was stored was in a heated garage. I started it up and tried to use it.

I can see my way past a little bad gas. Having cables ice and freeze on the first outing is a failure at the factory or the dealer when they built / prepped it. I will be speaking with the Ariens Zone Manager regardless of my decision. I am really disappointed.

I need a reliable unit with a chute and deflector that I can readily adjust because of the layout of my yard. That they failed on its first outing, doesn't bode well.

For the difference of a few (more) $$$, I could get a hydro-static drive and unit that weights 100 lbs less.

Let's see, a reliable snowthrower, more nimble and a more advanced transmission (compared with the Ariens slip-o-matic disk system). Keep in mind that I have used Ariens products for going on 30 years. I laid down $2k for a third. I am not walking away from a brand I haven't know or used or years. The bitterness of a failed product is is a powerful factor.

I see a *second* Honda in my garage soon.