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slinger


Joined: Sep 22, 2010
Points: 158

2010 Ariens Platinum 24" - higher impeller speed
Original Message   Oct 5, 2011 5:02 pm
I have a 2010 Platinum 24.  I only seem to use it for EOD duty and the occasional heavy storm.  I use my singe-stage for everything else.  Could I optimize my Ariens by removing the stock 250cc Polar Force engine and bolting on a bigger engine...let's say a 342cc or something similar?  Is there a bigger Briggs (Polar force, Intek, etc.) that would mount on that frame and accomplish my objective without too much modification?  The stock engine is ok, but if my goal is to cut down the EOD pile and be able to throw it across the street would the big motor/24" bucket combo get me there?  I don't care about the warranty.  Can anyone recommend a specific engine for this project and the associated parts (pulleys, belts,etc.) that might be required?  And of course some extra shear pins! 
This message was modified Sep 23, 2014 by slinger
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stresst


Location: The Village in the Middle of New York
Joined: Dec 11, 2010
Points: 213

Re: 2010 Ariens Platinum 24" EOD Machine?
Reply #1   Oct 5, 2011 8:08 pm
You sound like me! LOL

I purchased the Toro 826OXE last year and I immediately wanted more power as well. I actually posted the identical thread as you! lol  I never did get an answer and now im looking for a new blower. Back to your dilema imo with a 24" bucket you will more then fine. I was probably more then fine with a 26" bucket with 26"+ snow!

I did a quick search and only found one 24" blower with a larger engine, it was the Simplicity P1524E which is a 305cc engine on a 24" wide bucket which imo is friggen huge!

TORO 826OXE
slinger


Joined: Sep 22, 2010
Points: 158

Re: 2010 Ariens Platinum 24" EOD Machine?
Reply #2   Oct 5, 2011 8:20 pm
Don't get me wrong...I know that the engine is sufficient for most stuff.  Like others have said, when I go through a large EOD pile, I slow down but the engine will still bog down some, and affect the throwing distance a bit.  I just want the machine to be able to do the job a little quicker with better throw distance.  I don't care if it sounds stupid, I was just wondering if it could be done fairly easily.  I fully expect to have to do some modifications. 
FrankMA


Location: Merrimack Valley/Northeastern Mass
Joined: Jul 1, 2010
Points: 587

Re: 2010 Ariens Platinum 24" EOD Machine?
Reply #3   Oct 5, 2011 8:32 pm
You two guys ought to buy one of each and give the rest of us a report on the performance of each machine. I had a 6 HP, 24" bucket machine for 10 years and really had no complaints. Yeah it would bog down in heavy EOD type of garbage but that was to be expected (IMO). I really don't think there is any type of silver bullet out there that can handle every type of snow condition or snowfall amount.

I would think that standing behind a 10 - 13 HP engine on a 24" platform would be fatiguing to the operator and abusive to the overall platform. Anybody that has ever blown out the EOD after a huge storm in which the plow has come by several times can attest to the shuddering and vibrations that occur when trying to work your way through that type of crap. I just think you need a bit more weight and a larger platform to handle that stuff on a regular basis without destroying the machine. YMMV...

Toro Wheel Horse 522xi GT, Honda HS928TA, Honda HS621AS, Honda HS520A, Toro CCR3000 (work in progress), Honda HS624WA (sold 08/23/2010), Stihl BR550 Backpack Blower, Stihl MS250, McCulloch MS1635, Honda EM6500SX Generator
slinger


Joined: Sep 22, 2010
Points: 158

Re: 2010 Ariens Platinum 24" EOD Machine?
Reply #4   Oct 5, 2011 8:44 pm
The Platinum 30" gets the 342cc engine.  Is the steel any thicker on that unit?  Is anything beefed up more on that unit than on the 24"?  Probably not is my guess, unless there is a thicker plate on the mounting platform.
aa335


Joined: Nov 29, 2008
Points: 2434

Re: 2010 Ariens Platinum 24" EOD Machine?
Reply #5   Oct 6, 2011 10:27 am
I don't how much seat time you guys have behind a 10+ hp snowblower tackling a ice encrusted, 2 foot tall EOD pile.  There's a lot of vibration, buckets bouncing around, ice impacting the bucket.  The snowblower wants to go where it wants to go, including climbing up the snow.  The operator is constantly manhandling these natural tendencies and it gets pretty fatiguing real quick.  The snowblower is 250+ pounds with more traction than the operator behind it, good for the snowblower, bad for the operator when it wants to do its own thing.
This message was modified Oct 6, 2011 by aa335
aa335


Joined: Nov 29, 2008
Points: 2434

Re: 2010 Ariens Platinum 24" EOD Machine?
Reply #6   Oct 6, 2011 11:37 am
slinger wrote:
Don't get me wrong...I know that the engine is sufficient for most stuff.  Like others have said, when I go through a large EOD pile, I slow down but the engine will still bog down some, and affect the throwing distance a bit.  I just want the machine to be able to do the job a little quicker with better throw distance.  I don't care if it sounds stupid, I was just wondering if it could be done fairly easily.  I fully expect to have to do some modifications. 
This message was modified Oct 6, 2011 by aa335
trouts2




Location: Marlboro MA
Joined: Dec 8, 2007
Points: 1328

Re: 2010 Ariens Platinum 24" EOD Machine?
Reply #7   Oct 6, 2011 12:30 pm

 

       Ariens made an 11.5/24 until about 2004 which was a nice machine. It tossed very well and was no problem to use.  It had a 12 inch impeller which ran at 1310RPM.  It did not sag much when tossing so usually running the impeller at peak velocity.  They go $350 to $700 used around the Boston area.  It would be hard to find a better tossing machine unless a Honda or Yamaha. 

     I put an 11hp on a 924050 Ariens 24 frame which was not as well balanced as with it’s original 8hp but no problem to use.  Most makers 8hps run on the same frames as their larger hp machines with larger buckets which helps offset the larger weight.

     

       A bigger engine would help to offset the RPM drop from EOD loading.   An 8hp is a decent engine though.  You could try setting it for 4000 RPM to boost the impeller speeds.  You could clear most of the time backed off on the throttle and when you wanted a boost take a thinner cut and run it at full throttle. 

 

    You could go to a slightly oversized auger drive pulley for an impeller speed boost also. 

 

    An impeller kit might improve things depending on what that model has for an impeller arm to barrel gap.

 

   Throwing tough EOD across a two lane street would be tough for any machine.   Your machine has a 3 blade 14 inch impeller which I think turns about 1200 RPM not 1310 as for the 12 inch impeller models.  A bigger engine would get you a boost but a smaller cut would equal what you’d get from a 13hp mounted on your machine.  If you can’t get the distance you need with a smaller cut then a bigger engine would not do much.   You’ll have to boost the impeller velocity. 

 

   Check the archives for jrtrebor’s modifications to his machine.  You can get an idea of the velocity numbers you’d have to shoot for and the pulley arrangement.

       Ariens made an 11.5/24 until about 2004 which was a nice machine. It tossed very well and was no problem to use.  It had a 12 inch impeller which ran at 1310RPM.  It did not sag much when tossing so usually running the impeller at peak velocity.  They go $350 to $700 used around the Boston area.  It would be hard to find a better tossing machine unless a Honda or Yamaha. 

     I put an 11hp on a 924050 Ariens 24 frame which was not as well balanced as with it’s original 8hp but no problem to use.  Most makers 8hps run on the same frames as their larger hp machines with larger buckets which helps offset the larger weight.

     

       A bigger engine would help to offset the RPM drop from EOD loading.   An 8hp is a decent engine though.  You could try setting it for 4000 RPM to boost the impeller speeds.  You could clear most of the time backed off on the throttle and when you wanted a boost take a thinner cut and run it at full throttle. 

 

    You could go to a slightly oversized auger drive pulley for an impeller speed boost also. 

 

    An impeller kit might improve things depending on what that model has for an impeller arm to barrel gap.

 

   Throwing tough EOD across a two lane street would be tough for any machine.   Your machine has a 3 blade 14 inch impeller which I think turns about 1200 RPM not 1310 as for the 12 inch impeller models.  A bigger engine would get you a boost but a smaller cut would equal what you’d get from a 13hp mounted on your machine.  If you can’t get the distance you need with a smaller cut then a bigger engine would not do much.   You’ll have to boost the impeller velocity. 

 

   Check the archives for jrtrebor’s modifications to his machine.  You can get an idea of the velocity numbers you’d have to shoot for and the pulley arrangement.

slinger


Joined: Sep 22, 2010
Points: 158

Re: 2010 Ariens Platinum 24" EOD Machine?
Reply #8   Oct 6, 2011 8:08 pm
trouts2 wrote:

 

       Ariens made an 11.5/24 until about 2004 which was a nice machine. It tossed very well and was no problem to use.  It had a 12 inch impeller which ran at 1310RPM.  It did not sag much when tossing so usually running the impeller at peak velocity.  They go $350 to $700 used around the Boston area.  It would be hard to find a better tossing machine unless a Honda or Yamaha. 

     I put an 11hp on a 924050 Ariens 24 frame which was not as well balanced as with it’s original 8hp but no problem to use.  Most makers 8hps run on the same frames as their larger hp machines with larger buckets which helps offset the larger weight.

     

       A bigger engine would help to offset the RPM drop from EOD loading.   An 8hp is a decent engine though.  You could try setting it for 4000 RPM to boost the impeller speeds.  You could clear most of the time backed off on the throttle and when you wanted a boost take a thinner cut and run it at full throttle. 

 

    You could go to a slightly oversized auger drive pulley for an impeller speed boost also. 

 

    An impeller kit might improve things depending on what that model has for an impeller arm to barrel gap.

 

   Throwing tough EOD across a two lane street would be tough for any machine.   Your machine has a 3 blade 14 inch impeller which I think turns about 1200 RPM not 1310 as for the 12 inch impeller models.  A bigger engine would get you a boost but a smaller cut would equal what you’d get from a 13hp mounted on your machine.  If you can’t get the distance you need with a smaller cut then a bigger engine would not do much.   You’ll have to boost the impeller velocity. 

 

   Check the archives for jrtrebor’s modifications to his machine.  You can get an idea of the velocity numbers you’d have to shoot for and the pulley arrangement.

       Ariens made an 11.5/24 until about 2004 which was a nice machine. It tossed very well and was no problem to use.  It had a 12 inch impeller which ran at 1310RPM.  It did not sag much when tossing so usually running the impeller at peak velocity.  They go $350 to $700 used around the Boston area.  It would be hard to find a better tossing machine unless a Honda or Yamaha. 

     I put an 11hp on a 924050 Ariens 24 frame which was not as well balanced as with it’s original 8hp but no problem to use.  Most makers 8hps run on the same frames as their larger hp machines with larger buckets which helps offset the larger weight.

     

       A bigger engine would help to offset the RPM drop from EOD loading.   An 8hp is a decent engine though.  You could try setting it for 4000 RPM to boost the impeller speeds.  You could clear most of the time backed off on the throttle and when you wanted a boost take a thinner cut and run it at full throttle. 

 

    You could go to a slightly oversized auger drive pulley for an impeller speed boost also. 

 

    An impeller kit might improve things depending on what that model has for an impeller arm to barrel gap.

 

   Throwing tough EOD across a two lane street would be tough for any machine.   Your machine has a 3 blade 14 inch impeller which I think turns about 1200 RPM not 1310 as for the 12 inch impeller models.  A bigger engine would get you a boost but a smaller cut would equal what you’d get from a 13hp mounted on your machine.  If you can’t get the distance you need with a smaller cut then a bigger engine would not do much.   You’ll have to boost the impeller velocity. 

 

   Check the archives for jrtrebor’s modifications to his machine.  You can get an idea of the velocity numbers you’d have to shoot for and the pulley arrangement.

       Ariens made an 11.5/24 until about 2004 which was a nice machine. It tossed very well and was no problem to use.  It had a 12 inch impeller which ran at 1310RPM.  It did not sag much when tossing so usually running the impeller at peak velocity.  They go $350 to $700 used around the Boston area.  It would be hard to find a better tossing machine unless a Honda or Yamaha. 

     I put an 11hp on a 924050 Ariens 24 frame which was not as well balanced as with it’s original 8hp but no problem to use.  Most makers 8hps run on the same frames as their larger hp machines with larger buckets which helps offset the larger weight.

     

       A bigger engine would help to offset the RPM drop from EOD loading.   An 8hp is a decent engine though.  You could try setting it for 4000 RPM to boost the impeller speeds.  You could clear most of the time backed off on the throttle and when you wanted a boost take a thinner cut and run it at full throttle. 

 

    You could go to a slightly oversized auger drive pulley for an impeller speed boost also. 

 

    An impeller kit might improve things depending on what that model has for an impeller arm to barrel gap.

 

   Throwing tough EOD across a two lane street would be tough for any machine.   Your machine has a 3 blade 14 inch impeller which I think turns about 1200 RPM not 1310 as for the 12 inch impeller models.  A bigger engine would get you a boost but a smaller cut would equal what you’d get from a 13hp mounted on your machine.  If you can’t get the distance you need with a smaller cut then a bigger engine would not do much.   You’ll have to boost the impeller velocity. 

 

   Check the archives for jrtrebor’s modifications to his machine.  You can get an idea of the velocity numbers you’d have to shoot for and the pulley arrangement.

       Ariens made an 11.5/24 until about 2004 which was a nice machine. It tossed very well and was no problem to use.  It had a 12 inch impeller which ran at 1310RPM.  It did not sag much when tossing so usually running the impeller at peak velocity.  They go $350 to $700 used around the Boston area.  It would be hard to find a better tossing machine unless a Honda or Yamaha. 

     I put an 11hp on a 924050 Ariens 24 frame which was not as well balanced as with it’s original 8hp but no problem to use.  Most makers 8hps run on the same frames as their larger hp machines with larger buckets which helps offset the larger weight.

     

       A bigger engine would help to offset the RPM drop from EOD loading.   An 8hp is a decent engine though.  You could try setting it for 4000 RPM to boost the impeller speeds.  You could clear most of the time backed off on the throttle and when you wanted a boost take a thinner cut and run it at full throttle. 

 

    You could go to a slightly oversized auger drive pulley for an impeller speed boost also. 

 

    An impeller kit might improve things depending on what that model has for an impeller arm to barrel gap.

 

   Throwing tough EOD across a two lane street would be tough for any machine.   Your machine has a 3 blade 14 inch impeller which I think turns about 1200 RPM not 1310 as for the 12 inch impeller models.  A bigger engine would get you a boost but a smaller cut would equal what you’d get from a 13hp mounted on your machine.  If you can’t get the distance you need with a smaller cut then a bigger engine would not do much.   You’ll have to boost the impeller velocity. 

 

   Check the archives for jrtrebor’s modifications to his machine.  You can get an idea of the velocity numbers you’d have to shoot for and the pulley arrangement.


I looked closer at my Platinum 24 tonight.  The frame has two sets of engine mounting holes.  The set being used for the current 250cc engine and the exact bolt hole mounting pattern required for the 342cc engine.  They must use the same frame and just put either a 24" or 30" bucket on it.  In my manual it states the impeller speed at 1010 rpm (3702 ft/min. tip speed).  Yes, the idea is to use a slightly larger auger drive pulley with the larger engine to see if I can get a little better throw out of it.  Impeller to barrel gap is around  1/4". No modifications have been made there.  The two engines have the same shaft diameter, length, and height.  I might need a new, larger belt finger if I increase the diameter of the auger drive pulley.  The engine mounts almost directly over the drive wheels, perhaps just slightly to the rear of them.  The bigger engine adds 30 lbs.  If the balance is thrown off significantly I could always add the front weight kit.  It just sounds like a fun project.  If it works well I'll have an Ariens Polar Force 250cc engine with the ball bearing on the PTO and <5 hours run time for sale!   

This message was modified Oct 6, 2011 by slinger
slinger


Joined: Sep 22, 2010
Points: 158

Re: 2010 Ariens Platinum 24" EOD Machine?
Reply #9   Oct 7, 2011 8:59 pm
I think the project has come to a screeching halt because I can't find a larger impeller pulley (sheave) for the motor shaft.  Stock is 2.5" diameter and is used on both the Platinum 24 and 30 with the 1" dia. engine shaft.  Ariens service tech told me there is no larger one available.  A 3.5" would have been just about perfect, raising impeller rpm from 1010 to around 1400.  Combine that with the 3 or 4 extra hp that the 342cc engine would have provided and that puppy should have thrown like a major league pitcher!  The only other part that I would have to fab up is a new belt finger to fit around the new larger pulley.  There are other pulley manufacturers that make that diameter, but the Ariens part seems to be kind of a special design.  Cr@p, that would have been fun  :-( 
Bill_H


Location: Maine
Joined: Jan 12, 2008
Points: 354

Re: 2010 Ariens Platinum 24" EOD Machine?
Reply #10   Oct 7, 2011 9:02 pm
Did you check McMaster-Carr?

Who the hell let all the morning people run things?
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