We got a mess of this wet slushy stuff some were calling snow yesterday. Snow just can not be any heavier than this stuff. I knew it was gonna' Make the blower work hard. I have a 2005 Ariens 926 pro. There was maybe 5" of the stuff. It was the biggest challenge the blower has seen and while it barked at me more than ever it was impressive to see and hear. The unit threw the stuff a minimum of 10 ' . This was for the pure slop. I thought for sure thr chute would clog on this, even though it has never has before. There were moments that it filled up but then but then "fudged?" out somehow. Never really missing a beat. Maybe stumbled but not missing. For the max throwing distance it didnt seem a whole lot shorter than normal . It varried as the snow changed throughout the drive. The neighbours blower was benched and he resorted to the trusty shovel. I did his 2 contract jobs a few doors down and a couple more drives as well. All in all the blower earned its spot in the garage ( like it hadn't before? ).
STILL AN ISSUE is that irratating slipping fricktion slip drive. Never liked it never will. Damnit, when I say go, GO!! Now it only happened a few times and recovers within seconds but it pissed me off every time. I've sealed the unit up to prevent water/snow intrusion but I'm goin' back in. They've peppered this drive housing with so many openings forcing its fate. To me it is unacceptable behaviour and I want to beat it into submission. Can you tell I hate it?
I'll lighten up a bit and praise the differential. What a work of art it is and a pleasure to turn. Effortless one handed turns and goes where I piont it. I have a trigger to lock both wheels when needed like the super heavy EOD yesterday. It did not unlock immedeatly upon release but that is a minor adjustment I'll tend to shortly.
The motor, a 9.25hp some say is the same as their 11ish hp. Now I have no idea if it is or not but I can say without reservation that this 9hp is plenty. Who can't love more hp but I'm guessing that there can't be much difference. My driveway layout is such that I have to send that snow a long way and this unit does it.
All in all I am very impessed and can you beleive even with the fricktion slip "drive" I would do it again?
On a side note there were some single stage units around town that were doing an impressive job in the giant slurpee.
Tomorrow gonna' heat the garage and give the beauty a mid-winter wax.
