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

I just came in from blowing about 12' of the white stuff. My machine has about 4 hours on it as it's new this year. I'm starting to notice that I have to push it to get it to dig in. Once this evening, on a clear patch of driveway, with the traction clutch engaged, and the unit in reverse, it wouldn't budge till I yanked on it. What could this be? The manual suggests three things: belt, friction disk and speed selector. Anyone have any hunches as to which one of these it might be, if any?

Chuck

Chuck1,

Did the wheels stop turning or was the traction deficiency between the tires and the ground? Is it only in certain gears, or only in reverse?

PK

PK,

The wheels stopped turning in reverse. Seem OK in forward.

Chuck

Hi...


I'd go thru the Owner's manual's list of ALL adjustments...


Dave...

I would put chains on the wheel. But, hay, thats just me.

Terminator20 wrote:

Terminator20,

It wasn't slipping like that, it was more like it wouldn't move.

Chuck1

  Marshall,

             Another Ariens problem, again.  ! ! 

                                                                 Fred               

                                                    

Fred, show a little respect or couth dude, Paul from Ariens is replying right here in this thread. No need to point that out to him and certainly no need to point it out to me. 

Thanks Fred.

Marshall  

     Marshall,  

               What happened to the First ammendent ????

                                    Not allowed here!!!!!

                                             If so, I'm gone!!

                                               Fred

Your wheels are not engaging under load, is that correct???  I would also assume it is either 1st gear forward, or sloew gear revers(or R1).  You need to adjust the linkage that connects to your go lever for the drive wheels.  It sounds like it is close, but I would do an initial 2 full clockwise turns and try it.  Then slowly go in 1/2 turns till you find the sweet spot.   GL, BIll.

Chuck1 wrote:

This is what happened to me when my linkage fell apart inside, though hopefully this isn't your case.  Most likely just needs adjustment.

The part of the owners manual I found helpful was to put it in 1st gear when not running, lift the front and roll slowly forward when depressing the drive clutch gradually.  When it locks up, hold the lever where it was and measure from the top of the tip of the handle bar to the tip of the clutch handle, should be 6.125 +/- .25 inches.  There is a diagram in the manual.  First thing would be remove slack from the cable, second would be to check the belts.  In my case repairing the linkage then pulling a tad more slack out of the cable got it to 6" exactly and there was still a tiny bit of slack in the cable (which there should be)

-Dave

Fred, settle down biggun, no ones squelching you. I was telling you there's no need to tell me, I read as you do. But, I was mainly pointing out that Pauls trying to help this guy out right here in this thread. I just think we could use a little restraint under the circumstances, the man doesn't have to come here and be helpful to our members. 

It seemed like my other Ariens 1128 LE, when put into a big pile of snow (several inches above the auger housing) seemed to stop, even with the auger clutch engaged.  The wheels didn't try to spin.  Can this do any damage to the unit?  I'm usually in gears 1-3.  My unit squeaked when it was moving throwing snow.

Fred, I don't find a problem with you voicing your opinion, that's what forums are for.   

Marshall,

              I do not see any comments by "Snowman" on this thread!

                                                      Where is he ??

                                                                                      Fred

Refer to figure 18 GB25 in your owners manual.   Or here if you dont have handy.  http://manuals.ariens.com/Owner_Manuals/Ariens_OM/924124_128,335_338,516,517/00294700_eng.pdf

AJace wrote:

It will wear the friction disc out very quick and put rubber all over the friction plate, or glaze your belt over smooth rendering it useless (depending which part is slipping).  $7 part either way, but it takes 287.5 hours to replace and clean out the goo :-)

-Dave

Fred, you'll find the All button between the original post, and the replies.  Click it and you'll find what you've been missing. 

Chuck1,

If you have plenty of drive in forward, but not reverse, it's likely the shift rod needs an adjustment. It's real easy.

Remove the hair pin from the trunion under the dash. The trunion is the piece that is threaded to the top of the shift rod where the shifter handle connects. Remove the trunion from the hole in the shifter handle. Place the shifter into Reverse 2. Pull the shift rod upward towards the dash panel as far as it will go. Next, thread the trunion up or down the shaft until the pin on the trunion is exactly level with the hole in the shifter. Replace the trunion and pin.

Likewise, the same could be true if your unit did not pull well in first or second forward gears, but fine in R1, R2 and the faster forward gears.

However, if the unit does not pull well in both forward and rearward gears, it's more likely the traction drive cable needs to be adjusted to increase the force of the rubber drive disk on the drive plate.

Paul Koltz

Engineering Leader

Snow Products

Ariens Company

I actually had same troublw when mine was new. It was not a matter of wheel to ground (or snow) traction. It was simply a matter of wheel not moving in 1 st speed fwd or revers. If you lift the blower off ground, the wheels would turn. It was NO BIG DEAL. I simply went to owners manual, and followed adjustment procedures spelled out, and then it was fine. I would not call this a defect, just simple adjustment. It may have worked fine when 1st used. After breaking in I readjusted and it was fine again. I am happy. I am sure I would be happy with a toro , simplicity, or other well made machine, but I have NO GRIPES or regrets that I bought the Ariens. I would certainly reccomend them to family or friends. When these things are put together at dealers any more, the proper time is not spent getting all just perfect. That is the price we pay as a society always looking for a better deal. Service is lost. Even local dealers can not  spend the time they used to be able to.  It is either cut costs to stay competitive, or lose some business.

 Not everyone is willing to spend top dollar for the best. I bought from my local dealer, but I am sure he could have spent more time prepping it. I don't care what brand.  Society as a whole wants it for less. You have to pay one way or another.  Some of you will say "I am willing to pay a premium" for the best service. I hear people I work with say the same. We make good money, yet when it comes down to it those same people are ALWAYS looking for the cheapest. They don't practice what they preach, as a whole.

Chuck...

because your from Newfoundland ,i will have to say you need everything that ariens can do and then some.be glad you have a top line machine.

for anyone that dosent know  Chuck lives in the snow capitol of Canada.some people in his area dont get to see out there first floor windows for a couple months..

that being said you mentioned in youir post that you almost had to PUSH it to get it to move and it wouldnt back up unless you gave it a pull.

i would say you have to tighten up the sdjustment a bit.

Paul said it was a cable adjustment  and i would say tighten it up a small amount at a time until it will go ahead in 1st

i beleive your manual will give a detailed description of this adjustment.

have a cup of coffee or a wobbly pop and read that page .

you should have no trouble getting in the zone.once it is adjusted right that machine will just about crawl over your house.

kids dont try that.

later chris

Patience folks, it is as Bill is pointing out simply an adjustment issue..... 

C

Folks,

Thanks to you all for the prompt responces - I really appreciate it! A special thanks to Paul from Ariens.

It's too late for me to go at the machine tonight. . .10:50PM here on the island. I'll be sure to try those adjustments tomorrow . I'll let you know how I make out!

Cheers,

Chuck

jogo wrote:
jogo--
    I couldn't agree more.  This past weekend i did things to/with my "lil" 824 that would have broke a lesser machine(in fact my neighbors did break- ended up doin his drive for him).  My 824 is no doubt my favorite piece of OPE, and i will always own products from the big orange-A.  Funny thing is(and I didn't know this till after i bought mine) all the guys here at work that have SB's have ariens machines of various years.  IMO, ariens is a great company, that makes a great product, that has great support after the fact.  How many toro engineers post here?  simplicity? Honda?  craftsman?  Remember, Paul posts here not as Paul, but as Paul from ariens.  I think it's great that he does that and i think it's great that Ariens allows him to do it.

SnowRemover wrote:
What a warped way of looking at Pauls contributions. You really go out on limb to try to downgrade them, I'm embarressed for you.  

Well, I finally got around to trying some of the things you folks suggested, and, it was a snap. All I did was turn the adjusting nut for the traction drive cable one turn clockwise. After I did it I pulled the machine outside, fired her up, put her in L1, engaged the traction clutch and I skied behind it as the machine dragged me down the driveway!! Then I tried reverse, same thing. I put a significant amount of resistance against it as it was backing up and it felt really strong. It's unbelieveable how such a tiny adjestment had such an effect on the machine.

Thanks again to all for the comments and assistance.

Cheers,

Chuck

Good for Chuck! I am glad these guys suggestions helped.

In racing, 1/10th of a second slowers is last place. Small things do make a difference sometimes huh? LOL

Chuck1 wrote:
Chuck, i think you just invented a new sport, Snowblower skiing!!!  Hey if the tractor guys can have rally races, the snowblower guys can ski  ;)

Yep it's a snap.  Remember ya might have to adjust it again slightly  periodically(once a season) as well.  Like I said ya just gotta find that sweet spot on it, and I knew you were close.  Now go have a Miller High Life and celebrate a job well done.