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

I have been to both local Home Depot stores in my area to check out the Ariens. Both stores had probably 4-5 blowers on display. At both stores, when I tried the chute direction lever (Platinum edition), it was either very loose and didn't stay in position when I let go, or it was extremely hard to rotate the chute. Not ONE Platinum blower had it's chute working good, at either store. Is this a setup issue with inexperienced staff, or just a indication of a crappy design? I want to buy a Ariens, but not if the chute is going to work like this.

It's the results of high school kids with no experience, fired up on six cans of Red Bull, being given access to rudimentary tools.

If you buy anything mechanical from the big box stores, go over every fastener, control, and adjustment before you press it into service. There are plenty of posts here providing excellent information regarding snow thrower set up and maintenance. A participant (Trouts) recently posted a very concise and thorough list of procedures.

Check it out.

Yamama wrote:
For what it's worth, I noticed the same thing in my area with the Home Depot Ariens.

It does work correctly if its not set up by some kid at home Depot.I went to an Ariens dealer and tried them out.They work just fine.

Guess it depends where you shop.  I bought a 24" 7hp at Home Depot and it's worked flawlessly now for five seasons.  All I've done, besides seasonal storage, is typical maintenance like checking the belts and changing the oil.  Got a great deal on it at end of season and with a coupon.

But alas, I to was looking at the Platinum line at a Home Depot.  The pin drive on my Ariens has just been too much for me to handle.  They just had the 30" version and I need something narrower and was told they couldn't order it.  Really wish they could.  After seeing comments on this board about HD assembly, I studied how well chutes worked etc and they were fine.

I once brought a 1970's Ariens to a local dealer for repair... made such an ordeal of a simple broken weld on the wheel flange.  Looked at new ones there and he made it seem they were goddesses.

I'd go out of my way to shop at the local HD and wish they had the 24" platinum version.   Am sure there must be some good dealers around, they're just not in my area.