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

Hi All,

     First post here but before I start, I must say great board! I have read through many of the pages here and have learned a lot already!

OK, here is the story. My dad gave me his old Ariens snowblower 2 years ago. It has a 24 inch cutting path and has a 8HP techemsa engine. It has 5 or 6 speeds forward and one reverse. My best guess is it is 17 to 20 years old. On the outside, it is in pretty good shape as it was always kept in a garage. When i got the machine, it ran but not very well...it had to have the choke 1/2 way out and would pop through the exhaust. My dad would leave gas in it and he probably neve changed the oil!!! I took care of the easy stuff and changed the oil. I made it through the first winter and this past fall, I cleaned out the carb real well and got it to run MUCH better! I still could not push the choke in all the way though. Well today I started the machine up and before I could get to the fist pile of snow, I blew the connecting rod out the side of the block!

So I showed my wife who says we can't live without a snowblower (Oh do I love her!!!) so I explained we will need $1,000 for a replacement. I got the OK :)

My questions are:

1, Is this really worth fixing?

2, Is my old machine worth anything? I live in Wantagh Long Island NY If anyone is interested

3, If I replace, I am looking at Ariens 8526LE, or the 926DLE or the Simplicity 9560E or 1060DLE....are my choices good?

Thanks everyone,

Brian

http://www.pbase.com/cleanmaxx_brian

I guess I should also note my needs...

I have a 4 car driveway and a corner house with lots of sidewalk. I also blow out a bounch of other house and my older neighbors Our snow fall is like 8 inches at a time but I am a believer in overkill A 24 or 26 inch path would be perfect for my needs. My old machine, a 24 was fine. I could have everybody clear in 4 hours...

Well that picture tells the story well.  Welcome to the forum.

That's where the majority of the Tecumsehs throw the rod.

If the machine is in good condition you can look at a replacement engine and go that way. 

If the rest of the machine looks like it needs major work, just replace it.  But be warned if it is that old you will not find the quality in all the machines that are out there.

Ariens, Snappers, Simplicitys, Hondas - they are all top line machines.  Just look at what you can find left around and compare them.  If you see something that you think will suit your needs, go ahead and buy, if not maybe wait until next season.  The snow has to stop soon - right?

Sherri

Thanks Sherri,

I have read on these pages of other engines like mine with the same failure...Maybe I should lean to the new B&S engines...

So if I buy a new machine, is it better to buy at te end of the season or wait for the newer model and buy in the fall?

There are sales on to get rid of them this time of year, but you have less to choose from.  It's really a choice you will have to make when you shop around to see what's left.  Do you see one that grabs you or is it more like well it's a nice machine but...

Do some looking and see what you can find and go from there.

Sherri

hmmm...

i looked closley at your pic of the tossed rod, low oil condition somewhere along the line.

brakedown in luberication...definate cause of ventilation.

that being said ,my estimate of age puts it a little older than stated .i would say its a late 70s model and has points and condensor .

this makes a shortblock possible but a bit more costly.

i would check the rest of the machine out to see if its economical to replace the engine .

a new ohv engine will have you in the snow for the least amount of cash .

but a new machine will give you a warranty  and less headaches.

best buy right now seems to be the 9 horse snappers and simplicities. no interest no payments or somthing like that.

im pretty sure that next seasons snappers and simplicities wont have the capability as this years...seems that the 9 ,10 and 11 are all the same engine .

so this makes the 9 a good unit.

later chris   

I'd recommend getting a new machine.

BTW Where did you say you live again? :-)

On a more serious note.

I just put a B&S Intek Snow  engine on a machine that I had blown the engine on late last season. The block looks very similar to your picture.

The new engine is working great. The main problem that I have is that some times the snow is thrown too far ;-)  I also broke part of the transmission. I don't know if its the extra torque of the new engine or simply a 13 year old part finally giving up the ghost..

The point that I'm leading up to is that putting a new engine on is both doable and will probably lead to a noticable increase in performance. The thing to consider is what shape is the rest of the  machine and how hard is it to get replacement parts in case something else breaks.

If you decide to go the new unit route I'd recommend the following:

1. Given you do a bunch of driveways get something that is easy to turn the Ariens DLE or the trigger traction release both appear to be good;
2. Fast ground speed makes a big difference, 6 speeds, all too slow is a pain;
3. Mention your decision on the forum, you might get someone who wants to restore the old machine or at least use it for parts to help restore another machine. Either way its better than junking it.

Thanks for all the great replys!

So here is the latest and final chapter... I went on e-bay and found:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=42230&item=4364901542&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
This guy is 25 min away so I gave him a call. He explained that he purchased 6 Ariens 8526LE's to keep at a new contracted  job site. (He does snow removal during the winters and yard work during the summers) However he lost the deal and is now stuck with the units. The retailer would only give him store credit so on to e-bay he went!  Well to make a long story short, he sold me one for $875 cash and that means no tax Brand new still in the box! That seams like a good deal no???
I brought it home, put it together and ooogled at the new features!  I gave it a quick start and hit a small pile of snow (Whats left from today) and it tossed the heavy wet stuff  an easy 25 feet.  The only thing I wished it had was the better axel of the 926DLE but  it is not like my old machine had it ...and I have never tried it, so I do not know what I am missing!
Now is there anything I should check on this new  8526LE? I have read some people having minor problems...with the build quality and not the machine itself.

Now as for my old machine, a buddy of mine has a cheap snowblower and it has a 8 HP Techumseh engine so this summer, we are going to try and fit his motor onto my old machine. I really hated to just "throw it away".

snowshoveler wrote:
I checked the oil level just now after the rod damage and the oil level is still in the good zone.  However a break down in lubrication could have been the cause. I do not think my Dad changed the oil in it very often... Could it just have been from use? This machine has moved a LOT of snow in its lifetime! As for your age guess, I bet you are right! I just called my mother and she said my father bought it USED 20 plus years ago!!! (Now that is a guy who knows his machines!!!)

I also read the post that showed that all of the Simplicities machines with the  B&S engines are 12 HP. What is the deal with my new machine? Is there a chance that it too has more power than what the label says????

By the way, where do you live again?

I live in Wantagh, Long Island New York.

Cool, I was just wondering where it was snowing today. Welcome.

Brian,

Welcome & good score on your new machine!

Now, since I won't be getting your old machine, let me pass this on. You mentioned fitting another engine to your old machine. When I took another look at your pic of the peek-a-boo-I-see-you connecting rod, I noticed that the black fuel hose seems too long. If the fuel shutoff valve is lower than the carburetor, that could explain your lean running condition. Having this hose lower than the carb can cause fuel starvation.

Marty

OOOO Good catch Marty, I never thought of that but it make perfect sense.

I must admit to you all now that I have read EVERY SINGLE Ariens post in this message board. And to be honest, the Tecumseh  rod issue is scaring me. It seems if you run a tad low on oil, expect to see the inside parts on the outside  I hope the newer engines do not have the same problems!!!

Brian,

There are thousands of older snowblowers donned with Tecumseh's that are still going strong. If you check your oil often & keep it clean, the Tecumseh will serve you well as it has done for MANY others. BUT - I will say this, they are less tolerant to low oil conditions.

Marty

You asked about things to do with new Ariens.

I believe Ariens comes with an extensive owner's manual and it details the break in procedure. RTFM.

 Basically you have to change the oil on the engine after a relatively short period of time and you have to adjust the belts after they have worn in a bit.. Its also a good idea to go over everything and check for things that are loose that shouldn't be.

cleanmaxx_brian wrote:

Hi Brian,

Thanks for all the replys. Here may be the real reason I threw the rod...When I was working on the carb over the summer, it over reved...a lot!  I fixed it but she was screaming at one point.  Now it ran fine all this summer but I bet it stressed something.

As to the power issue, there is no way to really know for sure but as long as this 8.5HP can hang with my old 8HP, I will be happy.

Now for all you picture junkies like me I have taken some pics of the old and new machine. I bet some of you guys can really tell me what I had and when it was made!

http://www.pbase.com/cleanmaxx_brian/ariens

Based on the condition of the old one, it certainly looks like it would be worth putting a new engine on.

 Brian,

If I had your blower with the blown engine, I'd rebuild  her and put a little bigger engine on it.

That would give you  a strong backup blower!

Save the carb on your old engine, rebuild it, why it's adjustable. Use it on the engine you buy.

Check out;  Small Engine Warehouse for a replacement engine. Good prices!!

                                                                                  Fred    

Hi all,
   Well "I" wont be rebuilding the old machine as I just do not have room for 2 snowblowers. My buddy is going to try and fit his 8HP engine on it. We both feel that my old chassis is better then what he has now even though his is much newer.

I went new because I figure $300 for new ebgine and I could still have problems with something else...after all this is an old machine. SO for $575 more, I got a nice new one

"IF" I did not give this old machine to my friend, would it be worth anything as is??? Is there a market for machines with blown motors?

Brian,

The ol' gal served you well....time to say goodbye. If you can afford a new snowblower by all means get one (especially with your wife's blessings)!!!

I got rid of my old 1970's Ariens two years ago and got a Simplicity 1170E and have not looked back. It's a great machine and built like a tank.

The folks on this forum have done some detective work and discovered that all of the Simplicity Large Frame snowblowers 9-12 HP have a 12 HP engine with different stickers on them!!!

So, if you bought the 1060DLE you would really be getting a 12 HP Briggs OHV for the price of a 10HP!!!

                                                                                 Dan

just got home from service school and looked at your pics again.

your con rod parted at the crank end of the rod.

the rod was also melted and smeared where it runs on the crank...that takes over 900 degrees farenheit to occur.

that means a luberication failure,either not enough oil or dirty oil.

when excessive rpm is the cause of engine failure the con rod will break right below the piston pin.

if you dissasemble your engine make a note of the colour of the governor gear.

 its a plastic gear that is white when new,if the engine is ever low on oil the gear will turn a yellow colour .

if the oil is low enough to cause damage the gear will turn a darker colour ,eventually going brown.by this time you are using a shovel.

later chris   

More good info, thanks Chris.

Here is a question...when I started this machine, it started kinda ruff and the rpm fluctuated a bit. it then blew. The engine was not on more than 60 to 90 seconds! Do you think in under 2 minutes it could get that hot or do you think that the damage was probably done the last time I used it.

When I got this old machine, my dad gave me a bottle of lead additive. He said that I needed to add a little to the fuel for this machine...could that have had anything to do with the failure?

I know it is all rather pointless at this time but it is still good information to keep under the belt.

Different topic: On my new machine (Ariens 8526le) I have started it and made sure everything was working good. I then ran the engine with the fuel cut-off turned off to use up the fuel in the line. I am putting Stabhl  (SP?) in the tank...is there anything else I need to do to store a new machine. And of course this machine takes normal unleaded gas right?

cleanmaxx_brian wrote:

Brian,

OK Thanks Richie

the old engine was dying long before you got to use it. i have seen them run for many years after i have noted that an engine was low on oil.

most people never know what happens to there engine,it just quits.

the lead substuitute is supposed to help with valve guides ...its a questionable practice.

and your new blower ...you should put stabilizer in your fuel when you purchase it. and then when you are finished with it ,which we never know until its to late you are already done.

later chris

Hi all!!! I am back!

Remember me?  Well after a year with my Bradley 32 inch mower (see my reviews) it has been great! The Craftsman Yard Vac was a life saver again! Lots of leaves!!!

So now it is SNOW season again! I have winterized all of my summer OPE and brought out the Ariens  Lets see what this puppy can do!!!