Snow Blower/Thrower

[NoDak]

ok this will only apply to those that get snow and have a need for one. now my first snow blower was a MTD 24" bare bones one for around $600 that I have had trouble free for the last 7 years excluding the pull rope breaking off and DIY fix. it starts up just fine even though I neglect it every year.

I have narrowed my choice down to an Ariens 920021 series 24". any inputs/thoughts/gripes about this brand? I don't have much of a driveway that I need something more fancy like the 26" or 28" since I can do the whole parking pad (3 car garage) in about 1hr normally, 1.5 hrs if its deep.

I've looked at the craftsman, but that freaking joystick of a remote rotate/pivot looks flimsy as hell. look at the cub cadets, but meh on the controls like the craftsman. Husqvarna/Honda are out as there are either not available or way to damn spendy.

again thanks for all inputs.

 

[Ask10]

I have narrowed my choice down to an Ariens 920021 series 24". any inputs/thoughts/gripes about this brand?

Stay away!!! Haha, okay, I may have got a bad batch, but when I was working up in Utah our shop bought 4 of those, almost identical (I think ours were 28"). By the end of 2 months, 3 of them were out of commission. One the differential "broke" (one wheel drive after that), one the blade drive mechanism (not sure of the name exactly) needed replacement, and #3 just burned a lot of oil. Maybe the piston rings never seated correctly or something, but every day was a smoke show and we got tired of it. #4 was one of our backups and was sparingly used, so it might have explained why it didn't die. The fact we had to use it though was sad.

Either or, 3 of 4 with major problems is a bad record for me, so since then I haven't touched anything with the Ariens name on it. Until someone can show me convincing evidence that they've made improvements to their designs/products, I wont be buying them.

 

[wnelax04sr5]

i used to have a 90's toro snowblower, don't know the actual age cause i bought it off a neighbor when he moved. thing ran and still runs like a top, threw snow like nobodies business, even wet heavy stuff.

replaced that 2 years ago with toro powermax 826 OE. its been great, cuts right through any snow, heavy and wet stuff as well as frozen and crusty snow, a few days after the fact. throws anything no problem and the joystick design for the chute is surprisingly easy to use and hasn't given me any issues. the briggs and stratton powering it has also been good, only regular oil changes at the start and end of every winter. highly recommend.

 

[NoDak]

greatly appreciate the feedback folks. anyone else?

only reason I was really looking at the ariens was that they come with a 3 year warranty plus if I buy by October, they throw in another 2 years free, excluding the motor, since the engine manufacturer warranties that separate.

 

[RandyDaytona]

i used to have a 90's toro snowblower, don't know the actual age cause i bought it off a neighbor when he moved. thing ran and still runs like a top, threw snow like nobodies business, even wet heavy stuff.

replaced that 2 years ago with toro powermax 826 OE. its been great, cuts right through any snow, heavy and wet stuff as well as frozen and crusty snow, a few days after the fact. throws anything no problem and the joystick design for the chute is surprisingly easy to use and hasn't given me any issues. the briggs and stratton powering it has also been good, only regular oil changes at the start and end of every winter. highly recommend.

I also have a Toro, made right here in Minnesota. It has run like a champ for each of the five winters I've had it. Only problem I had was that I found it to be a bit too light on occasion, like when we had some ice and slush. That can be solved with some wheel weights - just been too lazy to get them for the few times I've needed them.

If I had it to do again, I'd get a wider one. Mine is 26". That's a fairly standard width, but next time I'll probably spend the extra money to get a commercial model, which can have widths up in the 30's. Seems like a small difference, but it's a big time saver - especially when you have to clear the driveway before work.

My driveway is currently about 150 feet long, plus an oversized parking area in front of our 2.5-car garage. However, we're planning to move off the lake - where we essentially have a lot the size of a postage stamp (with neighbors on top of us) - and get a place with some acreage. So the area I clear will likely be increasing. I'm confident that I can sell my current machine for a good price if I upgrade, which only speaks to Toro's quality, IMO.

 

[wnelax04sr5]

I also have a Toro, made right here in Minnesota. It has run like a champ for each of the five winters I've had it. Only problem I had was that I found it to be a bit too light on occasion, like when we had some ice and slush. That can be solved with some wheel weights - just been too lazy to get them for the few times I've needed them.

If I had it to do again, I'd get a wider one. Mine is 26". That's a fairly standard width, but next time I'll probably spend the extra money to get a commercial model, which can have widths up in the 30's. Seems like a small difference, but it's a big time saver - especially when you have to clear the driveway before work.

My driveway is currently about 150 feet long, plus an oversized parking area in front of our 2.5-car garage. However, we're planning to move off the lake - where we essentially have a lot the size of a postage stamp (with neighbors on top of us) - and get a place with some acreage. So the area I clear will likely be increasing. I'm confident that I can sell my current machine for a good price if I upgrade, which only speaks to Toro's quality, IMO.

i should have mentioned the width. mine is also 26", and for my driveway this means about 35-45 minutes clearing time for an average of say, 8-10" of snow. However, i also have an atv with a plow, so for lighter snowfall i don't even use the snowblower, for the really deep stuff i usually have the day off anyway so time isn't much of an issue

 

[RandyDaytona]

i should have mentioned the width. mine is also 26", and for my driveway this means about 35-45 minutes clearing time for an average of say, 8-10" of snow. However, i also have an atv with a plow, so for lighter snowfall i don't even use the snowblower, for the really deep stuff i usually have the day off anyway so time isn't much of an issue

I actually tried to justify the ATV/plow combo, but the wife saw through my ruse... Plus, I don't have a lot of space to actually 'push' the plowed snow without it falling back into the driveway - easier to blow it.

Next house I may actually get a small tractor with some kind of thrower attachment. I'd love an old Unimog with a snowblower, but I'm sure my wife would see through that ploy, too .

 

[NoDak]

Stay away!!! Haha, okay, I may have got a bad batch, but when I was working up in Utah our shop bought 4 of those, almost identical (I think ours were 28"). By the end of 2 months, 3 of them were out of commission. One the differential "broke" (one wheel drive after that), one the blade drive mechanism (not sure of the name exactly) needed replacement, and #3 just burned a lot of oil. Maybe the piston rings never seated correctly or something, but every day was a smoke show and we got tired of it. #4 was one of our backups and was sparingly used, so it might have explained why it didn't die. The fact we had to use it though was sad.

Either or, 3 of 4 with major problems is a bad record for me, so since then I haven't touched anything with the Ariens name on it. Until someone can show me convincing evidence that they've made improvements to their designs/products, I wont be buying them.

was this the sno-tek versions or the actual ariens?

did this have the friction disc drives? the one I am looking at has a cast iron gearcase and actual gear drive. they warranty the gear case 3yrs (+2 if you buy before end of October currently).

I currently use a 24" but moving up to the 26 or 28 was too much of a jump in price $200 and I hate the chute crank compared to the 24" crank.

and if I get too much snow, I just drive over it in the 4runner to get to work and deal with it when I am done with work. the warden drives a Tacoma 4x4 and the daughter just picked up a 2014 rav4 so I can skip the snow blowing before work.

 

[Ask10]

Ours were the actual Ariens models (orange, not black). As for the friction disc drive compared to the gear case I am not 100% sure because this was in 2009. I am leaning towards being gear driven because I do remember ordering having to order a "lock pin" for one of them. Not the sheer pin for the blades (which we also needed), but a pin related to the "drivetrain".

Second hand info, I was the manager and the guy below me was having difficulty getting the right part, but at home depot, I eventually got it. So, to the best of my recollection, I am thinking they were gear driven models and that the pin that sheered or whatever, was the differential pin that holds the spider gears.

Ours had warranties too, but it was damn near impossible to get them fixed in a timely fashion. There were always calls to be made, loops to jump through, receptionists that had no idea what you were talking about when asking about your "case number", etc, so in exchange, the Mexicans next door fixed them and I let them use them to clear their drives when they needed. Sold them after the snow season was over.


EDIT: Now that I think about it, I think we actually had two 24"s and two 26"s or 28"s because the chute crank I recall was different on two of them. As to which had which gearbox I apologize, I can't remember.

 

[wnelax04sr5]

I actually tried to justify the ATV/plow combo, but the wife saw through my ruse... Plus, I don't have a lot of space to actually 'push' the plowed snow without it falling back into the driveway - easier to blow it.

Next house I may actually get a small tractor with some kind of thrower attachment. I'd love an old Unimog with a snowblower, but I'm sure my wife would see through that ploy, too .

yeah the drifts i create tend to upset, but alas the plow CAME with the atv so I've gotta use it, right?

 

[sportrunner2001]

we have the exact same one that @wnexlax04sr5 posted a picture of. the only reason we bought it was because it was the last one that bismarck had a few years ago when we got a ton of snow. I like it a lot, starts easy, easy to control and maneuver. also it has the ability to connect an extension cord for electric starting. So far the only problem Ive ever had with it is the shute joystick, when its really cold you just have to pull the blue lock upwards to get it to stay in the right horizontal spot but its no big deal especially after 3 or 4 winters

 

[NoDak]

Ours were the actual Ariens models (orange, not black). As for the friction disc drive compared to the gear case I am not 100% sure because this was in 2009. I am leaning towards being gear driven because I do remember ordering having to order a "lock pin" for one of them. Not the sheer pin for the blades (which we also needed), but a pin related to the "drivetrain".

Second hand info, I was the manager and the guy below me was having difficulty getting the right part, but at home depot, I eventually got it. So, to the best of my recollection, I am thinking they were gear driven models and that the pin that sheered or whatever, was the differential pin that holds the spider gears.

Ours had warranties too, but it was damn near impossible to get them fixed in a timely fashion. There were always calls to be made, loops to jump through, receptionists that had no idea what you were talking about when asking about your "case number", etc, so in exchange, the Mexicans next door fixed them and I let them use them to clear their drives when they needed. Sold them after the snow season was over.


EDIT: Now that I think about it, I think we actually had two 24"s and two 26"s or 28"s because the chute crank I recall was different on two of them. As to which had which gearbox I apologize, I can't remember.

thank you.

I know on the 28, the crank handle is in front of the panel closer to the engine. on the 24 the crank handle is below and behind the panel farther away from the engine.

 

[NoDak]

follow up on this purchase.

well after using this snow blower a few times I've run into some pro's and con's (I am using an Ariens Compact 24 - 920021)




pro :

1. the full metal thru out makes a big difference compared to my old 24" MTD.
2. nice that I have 2 shear pins with easy storage access
3. goes thru snow with hardly any bog down with light to medium snow fall
4. can lock both or only 1 drive wheel

con :

1. snow opening not as tall as my MTD (MTD was like 24" tall)
2. 1st speed is too dam fast, my MTD 1st speed is like 1ft in 3-4 secs, this thing is like 1:1
3. the controls are not square in relation to the graphics for said controls (this exclusively applies to the control on the actual engine like choke)
4. pull start is hit or miss on trying to start on the first use after sitting awhile. doesn't help I don't really have access to non ethanol fuel easily. this is compounded by the controls on the engine in #3

over all I like the ariens, but I miss my ultra slow 1st and the taller <s><STRIKETHROUGH>chute</s></STRIKETHROUGH> impeller area

 

[IanB]

I got a Honda 928 tracked unit last fall, and it saved my ass last year, love this thing! Only had an opportunity to use it once so far this year though. It was spendy, but hoping it's the last time I'll have to buy one.