In 1994 I bought an MTD Snowblower from Sears-Roebuck with the 'Craftsman" brand on it, it was 9 Hp 26" with tracks (Virtually identical to Cub Cadet model 700 you can buy today, also made by MTD) The paint began peeling away from the unrusted metal within a few months. This was the new 'Powder Coat' paints used because the old rust resistant paint and primer combo's of prior years had been outlawed by the Government VOC rules, and obviously they hadn't gotten the whole thing down pat. After 15 years it still never rotted away to the condition of the Ariens pictured here, which tells you how abused and neglected this Ariens machine had to have been treated.
I dont agree the Ariens in this thread was necessarily "abused and neglected"..
Once the paint was gone, and rusting began, even the most well-cared for machine would continue to rust, just from normal use..
Keep it going for 10 years or so, and the result is the machine at this top of this thread..
and the rest of the machine, tractor and engine, looks fairly normal..not abused.
I think the sad shape of the bucket can be 99% blamed on the bad paint..not owner neglect.
Scot
