1) The Ariens AX engines are contract manufactured by LCT which is a US company based out of Traveler's Rest, SC with manufacturing facilities in China. LCT has a joint manufacturing partnership with Lauson/CPC out of Janesville Wisconsin who hold the remnants of Tecumseh Power. All Ariens AX engines and parts are serviced and supported directly through Ariens. That is, the warranty and service process is unified for the machine and engine rather than having to work with the engine manufacturer to get service and support separately (although that is still an option).
2) Along with the power upgrade from last year (up 2.0 ft-lbs torque), the Platinum 24 gets larger 16" tires and a 2nd generation Auto Turn. The latest Auto Turn releases power from the interior wheel for tighter turning radii, has a wet sump for longer life, and unlocks faster than the old system (formerly called ATC, Auto Traction Control). I hope this helps. PK
I added the numbers to Snowmann's comments to help simplify my comments:
1) I saw a new 2013-2014 Deluxe 28 with the new AX engine while at Home Depot today. It sure looks different. I wonder if this new LCT/Lauson/CPC engine line is going to be a really good thing when compared to Briggs, Honda, Kawasaki, and Subaru, for example? I'm hoping for something really good here.
2) So this new Auto-Turn is going to make turning even easier, that is, no muscling to turn the blower? Would it be as easy to turn as the old-style differential that Ariens used to have back in the early 2000s and the 1990s? My son has a 1993 Ariens ST824 with its differential that is absolutely effortless to turn. Of course, that old system wasn't perfect since you could end up with one wheel slipping while one wheel keeps turning if you hit a slick spot with that one wheel, for example, but I'm only trying to say how easy it is to turn. I hope this new approach will duplicate that ease.
I'd like to hear some comments about the new engine and new Auto-Turn when some guys out there have experience with them.
El Toro! 1028 LXE - Tecumseh 358cc 10hp Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!
