Abby’s Guide > Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) > Discussions > Last years experience with Ariens platinum machines and Toro oxe machines
Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions |
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Briantun
Joined: Oct 13, 2010
Points: 14
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Last years experience with Ariens platinum machines and Toro oxe machines
Original Message Oct 13, 2010 12:51 pm |
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From what I have read, some of you wrestled with a decision to purchase Toro OXE models and Ariens platinum models for different reasons over the last couple of years. Would those that did wrestle with this decision last year or beyond, speak to your experience with your purchase and whether you were ultimately happy with the choice you made or would you have made a different choice? I have this delemma this year and it is making me nuts. Toro 826 oxe or Ariens Plat 24. I have spoken to 2 different dealers that sell both machines and both reccomend the Ariens over the Toro. Thanks for sharing your experience and thoughts!! |
FrankMA
 
Location: Merrimack Valley/Northeastern Mass
Joined: Jul 1, 2010
Points: 587
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Re: Last years experience with Ariens platinum machines and Toro oxe machines
Reply #15 Oct 21, 2010 8:10 pm |
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If your driveway is pristine and brand spanking new, you might be better off with a skid shoe that is smooth and like teflon or something. For me I don't notice it. I just don't want to buy skids every 2 years if there is a better option available.
That's about right as far as wear & tear on the skid shoes goes. I went through about 3 or 4 sets over the 10 years I used & owned my HS624 and a couple of those sets were the commercial skid shoes. Those are about 1" thick bar stock and do definitely last 5X longer than the residential skid shoes. The scrapper bar is another item that sees a lot of action but I only replaced one of those. These are however, typical wear items and will need to be inspected & replaced on a fairly regular basis. Just part of the snowblowing experience!
Toro Wheel Horse 522xi GT, Honda HS928TA, Honda HS621AS, Honda HS520A, Toro CCR3000 (work in progress), Honda HS624WA (sold 08/23/2010), Stihl BR550 Backpack Blower, Stihl MS250, McCulloch MS1635, Honda EM6500SX Generator
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Steve_Cebu
Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 888
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Re: Last years experience with Ariens platinum machines and Toro oxe machines
Reply #16 Oct 21, 2010 8:42 pm |
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That's about right as far as wear & tear on the skid shoes goes. I went through about 3 or 4 sets over the 10 years I used & owned my HS624 and a couple of those sets were the commercial skid shoes. Those are about 1" thick bar stock and do definitely last 5X longer than the residential skid shoes. The scrapper bar is another item that sees a lot of action but I only replaced one of those. These are however, typical wear items and will need to be inspected & replaced on a fairly regular basis. Just part of the snowblowing experience!
Thanks FrankMA, yeah it's a wear item, but I'm hoping that there is something out there maybe that skid with a wheel that would last a lot longer, hard to say. But the skid shoes can't cost much. I'm sure I can get 2 more years out of this pair if I flip them when they wear out on one end. Commercial skid shoes would be good too. How much they cost in my area is another matter. The Scraper bar seems ok so that should be fine for a few years.
Just curious, how much did you pay for your skid shoes?
This message was modified Oct 21, 2010 by Steve_Cebu
"If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you live in New England." "If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in New England."
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woweh
Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 13
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Re: Last years experience with Ariens platinum machines and Toro oxe machines
Reply #17 Oct 21, 2010 9:21 pm |
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HEY< I HAVE a Toro 8/26....MF does all my cleaning, incl EOD easily. I will have to post some pics to really see it in action>Like Steve mentions, Toro is the cats ass in snow blowing and technology/strength> Care to compare?!!! Will not cut up other good blowers but I sure like my 2 Toro's!!!Single and dual stage, both in use throughout the winter...Steve my wife is from your home town!!! Ilo Ilo??! Email me>>>Dom
D & L
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FrankMA
Location: Merrimack Valley/Northeastern Mass
Joined: Jul 1, 2010
Points: 587
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Re: Last years experience with Ariens platinum machines and Toro oxe machines
Reply #19 Oct 22, 2010 6:48 am |
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Thanks FrankMA, yeah it's a wear item, but I'm hoping that there is something out there maybe that skid with a wheel that would last a lot longer, hard to say. But the skid shoes can't cost much. I'm sure I can get 2 more years out of this pair if I flip them when they wear out on one end. Commercial skid shoes would be good too. How much they cost in my area is another matter. The Scraper bar seems ok so that should be fine for a few years. Just curious, how much did you pay for your skid shoes?
IIRC - the Commercial Skid Shoes were about $50.00 vs. $ 30.00 or so for the Residential version. Typical Honda in that you pay big $$$ but you do get what you pay for in the grand scheme of things. BTW, the Commercial ones are worth the extra $$$ as they are very heavy duty and last much longer than the Residential version. I've recycled them a few times by welding a piece of flat bar to them when the contact shoe has worn away.
Check out the thread below for another option that looks like it has some merit.... It's the posting from rafdog at the bottom. Replace Skid Shoes With Wheels?
This message was modified Oct 22, 2010 by FrankMA
Toro Wheel Horse 522xi GT, Honda HS928TA, Honda HS621AS, Honda HS520A, Toro CCR3000 (work in progress), Honda HS624WA (sold 08/23/2010), Stihl BR550 Backpack Blower, Stihl MS250, McCulloch MS1635, Honda EM6500SX Generator
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Steve_Cebu
Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 888
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Re: Last years experience with Ariens platinum machines and Toro oxe machines
Reply #20 Oct 22, 2010 8:22 am |
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HEY< I HAVE a Toro 8/26....MF does all my cleaning, incl EOD easily. I will have to post some pics to really see it in action>Like Steve mentions, Toro is the cats ass in snow blowing and technology/strength> Care to compare?!!! Will not cut up other good blowers but I sure like my 2 Toro's!!!Single and dual stage, both in use throughout the winter...Steve my wife is from your home town!!! Ilo Ilo??! Email me>>>Dom
D & L Hi Dom, yeah I'm a big Toro fan and my asawa likes using it too. She's from Cebu not Iloilo, that's one island over. I lived in the Phils for about 5 years, saw a lot in that time. I have friends who live in Bacolod so just a ferry ride over to Iloilo. They have no need of snowblowers over there. 
"If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you live in New England." "If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in New England."
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Steve_Cebu
Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 888
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Re: Last years experience with Ariens platinum machines and Toro oxe machines
Reply #21 Oct 22, 2010 8:49 am |
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IIRC - the Commercial Skid Shoes were about $50.00 vs. $ 30.00 or so for the Residential version. Typical Honda in that you pay big $$$ but you do get what you pay for in the grand scheme of things. BTW, the Commercial ones are worth the extra $$$ as they are very heavy duty and last much longer than the Residential version. I've recycled them a few times by welding a piece of flat bar to them when the contact shoe has worn away. Check out the thread below for another option that looks like it has some merit.... It's the posting from rafdog at the bottom. Replace Skid Shoes With Wheels? Wow that's pricey, I hope the Toro skid shoes are cheaper. I have been keeping up with that other thread as well. Wheels like that guy used would make it too high for me. I'm not sure about the roller thing the other guy is advertising. Looks good but how long will it last?
"If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you live in New England." "If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in New England."
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Briantun
Joined: Oct 13, 2010
Points: 14
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Re: Last years experience with Ariens platinum machines and Toro oxe machines
Reply #22 Oct 23, 2010 3:47 pm |
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Steve, Any sticking issues with the Toro's chute? I read somewhere somebody used PAN because he had some issues. ??? Thanks, Brian |
Steve_Cebu
Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 888
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Re: Last years experience with Ariens platinum machines and Toro oxe machines
Reply #23 Oct 23, 2010 5:43 pm |
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Steve, Any sticking issues with the Toro's chute? I read somewhere somebody used PAN because he had some issues. ??? Thanks, Brian Hi Brian, no I haven't had any issues with the plastic chute although the dealer tells me it's a good idea to use Pam on any machine. I can't see it sticking for very long on the augers. The dealer also sells Ariens and they suggest using it on ANY snowblower. It can't hurt, but I've never needed it. Nothing has stuck to that plastic but snow will stick on the augers and inside the bucket. But nothing bumping it a couple of times on the driveway won't clear.
This message was modified Oct 23, 2010 by Steve_Cebu
"If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you live in New England." "If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in New England."
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snowmachine
Location: Washington State
Joined: Nov 12, 2008
Points: 268
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Re: Last years experience with Ariens platinum machines and Toro oxe machines
Reply #24 Oct 24, 2010 9:08 am |
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I've had good luck with the Sno-Jet spray: http://www.snowblowersdirect.com/Ariens-2983500/p824.html http://www.searspartsdirect.com/partsdirect/part-number/SNO-JET/0071/071
This message was modified Oct 24, 2010 by snowmachine
HTTPs://ouppes.com
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