Abby’s Guide > Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) > Discussions > Which is better, "easy turn" or "Automatic Traction Control?"
Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions |
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JohnWI
Joined: Nov 15, 2010
Points: 38
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Which is better, "easy turn" or "Automatic Traction Control?"
Original Message Nov 15, 2010 4:49 pm |
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Thinking about doing a little side-work and I'm wondering if anyone has any complaints about the Ariens ATC concept? It kind of freaks me out to think about NOT having both wheels fully engaged. I think I would prefer having the levers to disengage a wheel, but this is contrary to what their PR is advocating. I just don't quite get the concept. Is it 1WD unless it slips? or is it 2WD unless one is "blocked?" I know that a lot of areas I'd be doing were on a bit of a grade. Also, The wheels of today are a lot "grippier" than those of old. Are chains really necessary?
This message was modified Nov 15, 2010 by JohnWI
2011 Ariens Pro 28; Toro 210R, older Powerlite and a generic single stage w/ Tec. engine. God Bless America! |
New_Yorker
Preach the Gospel always, use words when necessary
Location: Long Island, NY
Joined: Nov 26, 2010
Points: 219
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Re: Which is better, "easy turn" or "Automatic Traction Control?"
Reply #12 Dec 4, 2010 8:51 pm |
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Sounds like your previous snowblowers were in severe service or you typically over drive the snowblower into piles. I don't have any thing against or in favor of friction discs but I hope your new Honda hydrostatic transmission will able to endure the same conditions. If the hydro trans go south, it will be expensive, compared to burned or worn out friction discs.
I too have Honda hydro trans and I'm careful of not abusing it. This is my first hydro unit with little reliability experience so I err on side of caution. Wet or dry snow, I let the auger does most of the work chewing snow rather than forcing the bucket in with the power of the hydro trans. I'm confident it can take that kind of abuse, but using it more akin of a snowplow rather than a snowblower, I don't know for how long it will last. Sorry but 'overdriving' is impossible. The machine was never out of its lowest speed position, and even that was unable to push the auger into the snow pile without me pushing it as well. The Friction wheel rubber slipped, either because it was worn or the drive plate was worn smooth. That is why I got rid of the machine and bought the Honda. I'll have to use my strength to turn the Honda, the old Craftsman-MTD had steering triggers, but that is far easier than providing the forward movement of the machine. If I bought a 'Friction Wheel' machine I'd never buy one with tracks again. the Tires have a chance of slipping when they can't move forward, the track machine simply makes the friction wheel slip. The Town I live in and a number of others in the area use the Honda's for sidewalk clearing, they've held up well, and municipal workers are never easy on the machine, or careful about how they use them. When they used the friction wheel machines they bought either John Deere or Ariens machines, but they don't anymore. In fact the Town had a new HS 1132 TAS on order with the same Honda dealer I bought mine from.
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