Time to Purchase a New Snowblower

I am a fan of the Ariens brand, however, there is a John Deere at this household. Hasn't broke/quit yet, so it's still in service. More than 20 years!

 

My father had one of the older John Deere. I think it was an eight horse and felt like it weighed about 1000lbs. But it would not quit. It wouldn't throw the snow as far as the newer ones but it kept chugging along.

 

I was lucky enough to pick up a used Ariens with 8 HP Tecumseh from my local farm store/small engine shop (<$400). It doesn't have electric start or power steering, so it is a beast to throw around (probably why is was traded in), but this sucker takes no prisoners. It always starts and always runs, no matter how deep and wet the snow. We don't get a tremendous amount of snow here, but when we get it, it's wet and soggy, and heavy. It is pretty common to get >12" a couple of times a year. That's when my blower shines. I have no experience with any other brand, so I cannot compare, but I'm super happy with my current blower. That said, have you considered a plow?

 

Ok, did some more research. The only ariens that have the polar force by Briggs motors are the commercial series and the biggest tracked model now for 2015. The ax series, is made by LCT, which is Chinese. That ax series is in compact, deluxe, platinum and platinum show and all but the biggest track models. The

So, if you can see if you can buy a 2014, not a 2015 model just for the american made motor. Unless you want the commercial one, which is more $.


After seeing what Briggs did to it's competition, buying them out in Tecumseh's case, I understand why they are going away from Briggs made motors, but Kohler is very close to brillion. Kohler's are very well made, durable motors. Being a Buyer as my profession, I notice these things, and some upset me like going to Chinese motors when another american option is literally a few miles away. I don't know, maybe bridges were burned between Kohler and ariens?

 

Definitely look for a good quality used. Even if it is from a shop that trades in a resells, it's going to be a better value than purchasing new. Unless, of course you need it "NOW."

 

My cutting buddy's dad retired from Briggs as an engineer. I get a bit of insight from him. He even said that Briggs admitted that Tecumseh's ( made 1 mile from me in Grafton WI) started better than Briggs motors, so when they had an opportunity to buy Tecumseh, they did, and then killed off the brand. That funneled more sales to Briggs.

 

That totally sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!
We've got an older rototiller with a Tecumseh motor an it, too, absolutely rocks! Sorry to hear that they were killed off by the Borg.

 

I've not seen a Kohler motor that wasn't good, but they may have a bad design or 2 out there. I don't have a ton of personal experience with Kohler's, aside from the twin 17 opposed in my parents gt 17 ariens garden tractor. It's an 84, bought new and still rock solid, even has PTO front back and center. The only other Kohler's I've used or known of have been single cylinders. Those have all been really good.

 

Yeah my Deluxe 24 is a few years old with the large cast gear case and an 11.5 HP B&S engine.

Another nice feature of Ariens is the serrated augers that chew through ice, slush, snow and neighbors newspapers

 

Apparently the first few years of Courage motors had issues, but that's been apparently fixed. The command series have been solid, from what I see. Courage motors were designed as a lower cost motor, so I could see there being issues until they worked that out.

 

Something I didn't know. HP ratings on small engines are not there anymore, displacement only. GLO

 

Yeah, I lucked out and I got mine at the right time I guess.

 

Good advice! Maybe you can find a better built NOS unit and on sale as it's not a current model. .

I wonder why Ariens doesn't use the Subaru small engine like their splitters? These engines come with a 5 year warranty (pretty sure this is the best in the small engine industry) and they are guaranteed to start on first or second pull....or at least that's what it says for my Ariens 27-ton splitter.

 

Yeah, it was a huge lawsuit. I'm a gearhead, and happen to live in Brigg's, ariens, kohler, simplicity, and formerly toro and Tecumseh's backyard. So I hear about these things. I think Briggs killed off the old toro too. There's an empty huge toro plant in Plymouth, wi, and Tecumseh's building in Grafton is shuttered too.

 

My thoughts would be that Briggs makes the snowblower engines to be cold running engines only, not sure subaru does...

 

I bought a Husqvarna this year and so far it's been good but not a lot of use yet with this whimpy winter we are having Not my picture this is off the net.

 

Nice looking unit.