MuskyHunter

I lost my manual to my OHV Techumseh 7524 and don't know what the mfg suggests for preparing it for the summer.  Another in my family has the JD version of the same unit and suggested I should ad some stabil and run it periodically in the summer.  I won't remember to get it out and run it periodically in the summer so I was planning to drain the fuel from the tank and the carb but I thought I recall reading somewhere that when you drain the carb bowl it doesn't actually all come out possibly leaving some build up inside the carb.  What is the proper procedure for summerizing my unit?

Thanks.

For all you recent Ariens owners, you may want to check all your fittings, caps and other essentials to make sure they are torqed down properly.  I bought mine last winter from a small local dealer who assured me it is better to buy from him than HD.  I paid a little more for this.  We didn't get much snow last year so I only got to use it two or three times last season.  This summer I noticed it was leaking oil.  The dealer replaced the drain tube because the cap had been cross threaded.  I don't think the dealer would have removed and replaced this durring assembly, likely it was installed at the factory.  It had only been used twice this season prior to today when I attempted to clear a 12" snow.  After one pass I noticed a ton of oil all over the side of the unit.  It was actually also spitting out of the muffler but I couldn't tell where the primary source was.  After I shut it down and looked it over I found that one of the oil fill caps on the block (not the fill tube/dipstick) was missing.  Apparently with that cap off it created a pressure problem that somehow allowed it to put oil through the muffler.  Upon inspection I found the other fill cap to be loose.  The dealer didn't remove or replace either of these caps because they used the fill/dipstick tube.  I grabbed a wrench and started checking bolts and found several that were not torqued down, also not likely items the dealer had anything to do with. 

I bought a 724 Ariens a few weeks ago.  Last week I received a call from the dealer about the Tecumseh engine.  He wanted me to read the build date and other numbers off a decal on the engine.  Apparently they had a recall recently.

I've read many threads on this site about compact machines being under powered so now I'm second guessing my decision for a 5520E.  My driveway is approximately 3 cars wide by 3 cars long and I live in midwest where it doesn't snow like Buffalo.  I initially thought I would spend about $450 on a single stage since I feel guilty about not shoveling such a small driveway.  Then I realized what I really dislike about shoveling is the EOD pile.  I can't imagine a single stage would do a good job at the EOD.  That's how I decided on a 2-stage.  Piling another $150 onto the problem I realized I could get a Ariens 5520 for $599.  I didn't opt for the 7524 because it was $310 over what I orginally set out to spend and the 5520 appeared capable siting there in the store, especially considering my small drive. 

Since we don't get more than a couple large storms, mostly small storms that add up over the season I want to believe the 5520 can handle my small driveway.  Is this sound logic or am I being penny wise, pound foolish?

I read another post on this site that stated they saved 10% at Home Depot on their Ariens purchase with one of the many coupons they have or something to that extent.  I called my local HD to inquire about a coupon.  They told me I could save 10% if I got their credit card but that was it.  Does anyone know of any other HD coupons available without having to take their credit card?  the additional 10% would make the 7524 more palletable for me.

Thank you.