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

Hi everyone,
I think a few of you here have seen my page, but I never formally introduced it here..
first, the backstory:  ;)

I bought a 1971 Ariens Sno Thro last January.
I became so intrigued by the machine that I immediately started looking up information about it on-line..
I then decided to make a webpage about what I had found..

less than a year later, thanks to the generosity of many other "antique snowblower enthusiasts" my site has grown to eleven pages!
and still growing..

So a big "thank you" to everyone who has shared information and photos with me!
and allowed me to use their photos, brochures, manuals, and other data on my page..
my Ariens site is really a large "group effort" and I really appreciate all the help!

here is the updated page:

http://gold.mylargescale.com/scottychaos/Ariens/index.html

thanks,

Scot

I enjoyed all the photos and stories about them you've collected there.  Nicely done.  Thanks for posting the link.

Thanks Scot, I'm having fun reading your web pages as I have been using a 1971 Ariens just like yours up until this year. My father bought it used back in the mid-70s. It has served us very well all these years. I just bought a new Ariens (30" Deluxe Platinum) a couple of weeks ago to replace it as my 1971 Ariens was having trouble with the large amounts of heavy, wet snow we've been getting the past couple of winters. I hope your new blower/thrower serves its purpose for you and that you get many good years out of it. Bob

Scott,

 

   Nice web site. 

 

   Page 9 with the engine refit is interesting.  The early machines star gear is tough to re-route because of being towards the center of the intake barrel.  The guy did a nice job.   

 

   Your primer is missing on the pictures shown and mentioned on the discussion you pointed to but no fix mentioned.  I have a lot of trouble starting those machines without the primer.  With the primer and a clean carb I can get mostly first pull starts.  How many pulls does it take to get started without the primer?

thanks guys!

glad you are enjoying the page..

Trouts,

yes, my machine came with the primer button missing..I havent looked into replacing it, and honestly, it doesnt seem to be a problem with it not being there!

the machine starts just fine without it..

it takes 3 or 4 pulls if using the rope, starts "first time" if using the electric start..It sits in my garage when not in use, which is *slightly* warmer than outside, but not much..the coldest I have tried to start it, so far, is probably about 25 degrees..no problems!

im my (limited) experience, primers dont seem to be terribly necessary..I bought a new Craftsman mower in 2006..used it for one whole season before I realised it even *had* a primer button! ;) of course this was "summer use", so maybe the primer isnt as necessary when its warmer..but still.

someday if I attemopt to fully restore my snowblower (or if I get a different engine) I will probably have the primer back, but for now, not having the primer seems to be a non-issue..

thanks,

Scot

(sscotsman quote): the machine starts just fine without it.. it takes 3 or 4 pulls if using the rope, starts first time if using the electric start.. (unquote) Hmmm ... okay maybe my '71 Ariens isn't exactly the same as yours. There is no electric start on mine. Difficulty starting the old machine is also a big reason I bought a new one. In really cold weather, the rope wouldn't recoil back into the engine until the temps outside warmed up a bit ... which could be for weeks at a time. Not a good situation. My fix for this was to store the snow blower in the heated rear entry way to my house. When I had the snow blower stored in the garage over the winter, it was a real bear to start (at the times when it was warm enough for the rope to recoil back into the engine). Sometimes I'd get so tired pulling the cord that I'd have to take a break for a few minutes before going at it again. I worked up quite a sweat too. But since storing it in a heated area, it would start after maybe 4 to 15 pulls (as a guess).

By the way, I'm sorry if my posts don't seem formatted too well. It seems that the text editor for the software being used for this forum is disregarding my "return key" ... maybe other keys as well. ?? For what it's worth, I use a Mac with Safari as my browser.