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,

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  ;)