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

First post on these forums and I like the snowblower specific format. I got an old Ariens 910019. It looks to be a 1974 with a Tecumseh 6hp. Belonged to an employee of mine and then my boss. Got it on the cheap and it looks to have had a pretty easy life. I rebuilt the carb and motor runs well. I'll be tearing it down some to do regular maintenance as much looks original including maybe the belt and even the shear pins. The shafts do turn fine when I pulled them with the orange paint and I greased the auger.

Question is on wheels and exactly how they come off. It has a differential on the left side (when the operator position). We will start with the other side. No diff on the right and I got the plastic hubcap off and there is a gizmo that does not look like anything on the parts list. This is a 4-eared piece of sheet metal that has a "cage inside. I do not know if this is one part or two. Looks like the ears hold on the hubcap and i do not know if this piece is just supposed to slide off. It is pretty rusted. Or, I do not know if the "cage within it comes off and how. I assume parts are not readily available and i do not want to mangle anything. Then looks like wheel is 3 bolts. The manuals available online say nothing about this. I guess wheels never needed to come off of things then. Then.....we'll get to the diff side.

I want to take these off as the tires look original and are a bit dry rotted. One is losing air very slowly. Tire size on originals looks 4.1- 6. I will not use chains and if anyone can also recommend tires and maybe some installation hints. Thanks for any help. Probably lots more questions to follow as I go along on the machine.

The 3 bolts remove the rims from the hubs.  I would recommend 13x5x6 Snow Hogs or X-Traks.

Most people agree the X-Trak pattern is better, I have only used the Snow Hogs.
New tubes might be a good idea too, make sure to 90 degree get bent valves.

I bought mine here:
http://www.jackssmallengines.com/snowblower_tires.cfm

And here are some other links to try:
Ebay
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/category_tires-wheels+snow-blower-tires
http://www.summitracing.com/ -- They had them cheap during the winter, good luck navigating their site though.

Here are some videos for changing tires:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75nQulNhX7g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs_Gpn5i3_0

The thing with the "ears" is the spindle cup.   It's a base plate with 4 arms/ears that stick up over which the hub cap fits.   The spindle cup is held in place with a cotter pin.  There is no cage like thing as an original part.   On the that side of that hub there is only the cap, spindle and pin. 

The original spindle cup number is 3376 now superseded to 01238200.   If you google the new number you'll get hits for suppliers which list them.  Some dealers may have old stock.  Dealers with junker boneyards can be a source.

Thanks Shryp and Trouts.

I do not see any cotter pin holding the "eared" nut on, but on second look apperrs with the 3 bolts out it will clear the hub and maybe it is back behind the axle. I assume that you can clear the diff knob on the left side the same way?

Thanks for the tire recommendations. Are these all tubed? Or tubeless tires? Are there tubes in them OEM? Going to hook the tach and check engine rpms and next split the case and change what looks to be maybe an original belt. I can make out what looks Ariens 72047 or Ariens 72041 on it. Then glean and lube 'er up.

Ariens has all the manuals for free download.  The manuals list the OEM part numbers.
http://www.ariens.com/corporate/Pages/OwnerManuals.aspx

The tires I have seen have all been tubed, but I have not seen the older series like you have or the newer series.

After you remove the 3 bolts the rim will clear all the hubs just fine.