Ptindy- My 93 year old Father has that exact machine. Make sure the chute control cable is cable tied to the handle down tube/frame to keep it out of the way of the muffler. If the cable tie is missing/broken the outer sleeve on the cable will melt and you will have to replace it . There were two upgrades on the machine :
1-There is a "baffle" kit that prevents water from leaking down on to the belts thus causing them to slip. A 15 minute job that is well worth the time. I installed it on my father's unit when new - some guys who did not install the kit reported losing power to the wheels due to belt slippage.Ariens sent me the kit under the warranty for free.
2-One of the shafts in the tractor section that goes through the outside of the frame can rotate and cause the whole in the frame to egg shape. They devised a kit which is nothing more than a clevis pin which passes through a hole already present in the shaft.The pin prevents the shaft from turning which eliminates the problem.Total instalation time for the pin is about 2 seconds once you remove the inspection cover.
There is an optional dual belt kit for the auger which I never put in because I find nothing wrong with the way this machine throws in stock configuration.
The L head Tecumseh is loud and reliable and takes 26 ounces of 5-30 oil. Put a vice grips on the drain tube to hold it still when you loosen the cap as the cap is a tight fit and will unscrew the tube from the engine block. Take the shear pins out and grease the zerks and spin the rakes before reinstalling the pins. Use OEM pins as replacements. The unit has the sandwhich style aluminum gear box which has been trouble free but not being the cast iron variety I feel better about original spec. pins. The torque setting on the pins is 11 ft. lbs.
I hope the previous owner used the fuel shut off and your carb is not in need of any cleaning. There is a drain pin on the bottom of the bowl. We shut the valve and run it dry after each use and then hold a rag on your finger to drain the bowl. No carb issues and it starts every time.
Lube the wheels /axles as Borat suggested and make sure they are both in the locked position. We have found trying to operate it in the free wheel mode is less than desirable.
Don't forget to ask the previous owner for the electric start cord which came with the unit and the 2 spare shear pins.
I would call Ariens about the two kits and also order a manual if the guy didn't provide you with one. It's a good machine and Ariens is a pleasure to deal with over the phone.
I'm not sure what machines go for up in Canada but the unit was $999 (USD) when new at Home Depot. In the spring of 2006 after a season of very little snow the dealers were stuck with large #s of blowers and cut the price by 50%. We paid $499. $750 Canadian may be pretty close to what the original owner paid for it.
Marc
This message was modified Mar 18, 2011 by mml4
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