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

I just purchased a new Ariens 921022  and should be receiving it in about a week or so.  Aside from adding fuel/oil is there anything I should do or needs to be done in order to get this snow thrower Winter/snow ready?
It's replacing a 16 year old, 5HP MTD on its last leg, I can't wait to see the difference in performance/power.

Thanks for any help/tips

aa335 wrote:

You got that right! Don't know who was more excited, him or me. It was really a piece of cake, at least time-wise compared to putting together the Weber Genesis a few weeks ago. Teaches them valuable lessons in so many ways. Oh, to be almost five again....

Spartan wrote:

After the manual's called for 15-minute attachment belt run-in, I adjusted the belt finger a little closer to the twin belts on the side opposite the idler. Tried to get it closer than the 1/8" (3 mm) maximum called for in the manual on page GB-31.  As a total noob, we were initially trying to centre the belt finger with 1/8" on both sides. Closer reading led to realizing that the non-idler side was the critical one to get within spec.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXnq_5ZoCiU

@ Spartan,

Had your Deluxe 28 out yet? Not much reading around here on that particular new 921022 model. We finally got a good punch of snow here north of Toronto and the new toy was out yesterday and today. Total first timer noob and very happy and impressed. (Where does all the snow go? LOL).

Cheers!

I bought one of these from Home Depot last week. My local dealer want $300 more so it was a no brainer. So far no snow yet so I can testify to its performance. I did have to make some adjustments to the machine when I got it home. It was a little low on oil, the tire pressures where 4 pounds off, the skids where set at different heights, and the linkage was not tightened down all of the way. No that big of a deal but something I do not feel I should have had to do, especially the oil in the engine. Chance of snow on Saturday. Hopefully we get enough to test the machine out.

Congrats on your purchase of the 921022. Listen, considering one of these after our huge storm last week in the NorthEast that dumped 26" of snow in our area. I'm totally not mechanically inclined. How difficult would it be for me to put this thing together? There is talk about tightening belts and such. Have no idea how tight they should be or otherwise.

NJRonbo wrote:
You can download the manual and review the assembly and set up procedures here:

http://www.ariens.com/corporate/Pages/OwnerManuals.aspx

The model number will be the 9xxxxx number.  For the serial number just make one up like 11111.
Most of them are fairly similar, but you can get a few manuals if you like.

NotMoneyGuy wrote:

I think you should lower your scraper bar a bit. You are leaving a lot of snow behind that could ice up. My dealer had mine set like yours. But 5 mins with a wrench and now when the sun comes out we have actual blacktop. My elderly relative can't walk on any kind of snow, so for us lowering the bar is mandatory. Before the snowblower we had a guy who plowed. He left about what you have. She fell and broke her hip on the ice that inevitably forms from being surrounded by trees.

He may not be able to lower the scraper bar further. If he has a driveway like mine anyway. I have such bad breaks in the concrete I  have to leave the scraper bar much higher  than normal or it's a jarring experiance. I have smooth pavement envy! I made special skids to help with the problem . 

Steve_Cebu wrote:

Thanks Steve. I'll look into it. Page GB-26 talks about both the scraper blade and skid shoes.

http://apache.ariens.com/manuals/04135800_ENG.pdf  Direct link to manual.

BTW, just got my Feb 11 C*nsumer Rep*rts today, they like this machine. I'll start a thread on it with pics.

NotMoneyGuy wrote:

My driveway is rolling and far from flat and it's on an incline and yet dropped down it cleans like a single stage. True I will have to replace the scraper bar every 4-5 years or so but that's ok. Ariens makes a good machine and while I wouldn't give up my Toro for one they are still good machines. I don't know if my scraper bar is adjustable or not but I dropped my skids all the way down and I'm real happy with the way it cleans the driveway. The Honda 928TAS that I had had skid shoes in the rear due to the tracks and that hung up all over the place. The side skid shoes are much better for my type of driveway.

I look forward to seeing some pics of your baby in action.