grump

What's the drive train like, ie is it pin drive in two wheels or does it have a differential?

Can you post or PM their service number... thanks.

One is shown here: http://www.powerlandonline.com/product/PDST24/Snow_Blower_24_65_HP_on_Sale__free_shipping.html

Any information on who makes it, reliability etc appreciated.  Searching online was fruitless.

It doesn't seem to have pinned wheels....  am also curious how easily it'd navigate.

I wouldn't be afraid to buy from a HD rather than a local store.  Any company with a good reputation, such as Ariens, wouldn't have "authorized service center" from any shop that's going to second rate any of their customers. 

Suggest you try turning one that's running.   Some users think nothing of turning it, others call it a "bear" to turn. 

That's only because only one wheel is powering the machine.  Good luck standing on fresh fallen snow and lifting the wheels off the ground to turn it, as you describe.  Someone on this board once described it as wrestling with a bear.

Could have given you a great deal on mine.

I'll be thinking of the additional money as $30 year over the times I'll have it.  It is a lot to spend, though, on something typically used just a few hours every year.

Good luck with it.  It's great on those straight runs.

Guess it depends where you shop.  I bought a 24" 7hp at Home Depot and it's worked flawlessly now for five seasons.  All I've done, besides seasonal storage, is typical maintenance like checking the belts and changing the oil.  Got a great deal on it at end of season and with a coupon.

But alas, I to was looking at the Platinum line at a Home Depot.  The pin drive on my Ariens has just been too much for me to handle.  They just had the 30" version and I need something narrower and was told they couldn't order it.  Really wish they could.  After seeing comments on this board about HD assembly, I studied how well chutes worked etc and they were fine.

I once brought a 1970's Ariens to a local dealer for repair... made such an ordeal of a simple broken weld on the wheel flange.  Looked at new ones there and he made it seem they were goddesses.

I'd go out of my way to shop at the local HD and wish they had the 24" platinum version.   Am sure there must be some good dealers around, they're just not in my area.