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

I bought an Ariens snowblower last year and I am just now getting around to prepping it for the winter.  It has no forward/reverse drive so I took the under plate off and saw the friction wheel has no rubber that on it.  I assume this is causing the drive problem. 

Is replacing the friction wheel a DIY job?  If it is, can someone provide step-by-step directions?

Model number is 932101

Thanks in advance for your help.

I think you want to have a look at page 21 here on the service manual:
http://apache.ariens.com/manuals/00046800.pdf

Also, here is the owners manual:
http://apache.ariens.com/manuals/032456D_ENG.pdf

Parts manual:
http://apache.ariens.com/manuals/03243900D.pdf

It is a DIY job if you are handy with tools. Follow the directions in the service manual Shryp indicated above & you should be home free. I'm assuming this is not a new machine if the drive wheel rubber is worn right off? Now that you are right in the thick of it, you should take the opportunity to check the condition of the various shafts & bearings etc for wear and lubrication. Might as well do it all once, or at least know how much farther you can go before something else breaks. Sounds like the previous owner wasn't into regular maintenance.

>>I'm assuming this is not a new machine if the drive wheel rubber is worn right off?

 

   It’s a 2002 824 and has a 4 inch friction disk instead of a 6 inch.  A 4 inch should hold up fairly well but possibly the machine is in a snow belt and doing a big area.  Around Boston doing a decent size area that thing would hardly be worn although I did meet a guy who went through two Ariens machines in 6 years.  Claimed they were junk.  He was an aggressive animal when it came to clearing and beat his machines severely.

 

   Interesting machine.  It’s got 15 inch augers running at 141RMP and impeller at 1410 (12 inch impeller).  It probably collects well and tosses very well.