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Blue9R


Location: Illinois
Joined: Dec 20, 2003
Points: 224

RE: Ariens Prototype Testing
Original Message   Jan 28, 2005 8:22 am

Upper Peninsula is the true test

Manufacturers flock to old airfield’s eight feet of snow to test their prototype snowblowers

By RICK BARRETT
rbarrett@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Jan. 24, 2005

For people who design snowblowers, heaven could be a closed, desolate air base buried under 8 feet of snow, where engineers can engage in hundreds of hours of continuous machine testing.

This week at such a spot, Brillion-based Ariens Co. is putting prototype snowblowers through the equivalent of more than 10 years of average homeowner use in a matter of days.

Testing at the former K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base, near Gwinn, Mich., has become an annual ritual for Ariens Co., which measures things like how many tons of snow a machine can move in an hour and what happens when you shift from two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive 13,000 times in very cold temperatures.

“There’s nothing like nature’s test,” said Dan Ariens, company president.

Wisconsin companies that make snow removal equipment, such as Ariens and Simplicity Manufacturing Inc. of Port Washington, have rushed to fill orders as cities from Milwaukee to Boston dig out from last week’s blizzard.

Such a massive storm can drain on this season’s inventory well before winter is over. It can also give manufacturers an early jump on next winter’s sales as homeowners vow not to be caught again without proper equipment.

Ariens might have to begin next year’s production cycle early, which puts more pressure on testing.

“We may have to call the guys in Michigan and tell them to work 15 hours a day instead of 12,” Ariens said.

The former Air Force base that Ariens uses is in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, about 23 miles south of Marquette. It has more than 5,000 acres of open land and miles of runways once used by bomber airplanes.

With more than 8 feet of snow on the runways now, it’s the perfect place to test snowblowers.

“We get the extreme cold so that we can freeze the units overnight and see how they start in the morning,” Ariens said. “You get the true test” of how a machine runs in cold, as well as deep snow.

The human side

A typical homeowner in southeastern Wisconsin runs a snowblower about 15 hours a year, according to Ariens. It’s much higher in some other states, where the machines can easily run 40 or more hours a season.

In field testing, Ariens looks at the human side of operating a snowblower for hours at a time.

“We measure things like the locations of handles and how much stress they put on wrists,” Ariens said. “Ergonomics, vibration, noise and spring tension are important.”

Ariens employees, including engineers and production managers, see for themselves what it’s like to push through the drifts.

Working in shifts that can last several hours, the testers tackle worst-case scenarios, such as running a snowblower off the edge of a road where it picks up gravel, sticks and other debris.

Snowblower technology has come a long way in recent years as the machines have become lighter and easier to use. Some of the biggest changes have been “ease of use” features such as better steering systems, said Troy Blewett, communications manager for Simplicity.

 

http://www.jsonline.com/bym/news/jan05/295904.asp

http://www.jsonline.com/bym/news/jan05/295904.asp

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TheKneebiter


Joined: Oct 22, 2004
Points: 233

RE: Ariens Prototype Testing
Reply #5   Jan 28, 2005 10:35 am
What ever happened to " leave well enough alone " and " if it's not broke dont fix it " ??     My antique Ariens 724 is a work horse. Why not use the proven heavy duty design of old with the newer chute for distance and the updated engines and let it be ?  All the companys are trying to add gimicks to sell there machines. Who needs a joystick ? I was born with one and thats the only one i need. Take a proven old design and let it be. No more using plastic and thin metal. The housing on my old 724 is thick and has no rust at all. My new 1128dle has a thinner metal and does not feel as heavy duty as my antique machine.    If Ariens came out with a retro built limited edition machine made spec for spec as there old 1970's machines i would be in line tomorrow for one.

Marshall


As Long As There Are Tests, There Will Be Prayer In Public Schools. ;- )

Joined: Sep 16, 2002
Points: 7730

RE: Ariens Prototype Testing
Reply #6   Jan 28, 2005 10:46 am
Price is the answer.
SnowRemover


Toro 828LXE

Location: Near Albany, NY
Joined: Jan 12, 2005
Points: 139

RE: Ariens Prototype Testing
Reply #7   Jan 28, 2005 10:49 am
Kneebiter,

Considering the retro-cars have been such a big hit, I think this would be a great marketing campaign.  Did you know that, according to Chrysler, most people that buy the HEMI's don't know what makes the HEMI engine different.  They just know that they want it.

Ariens could come out with the RETRO-724, jack up the price $200 and use the newer engines.  Then they can run an ad campaign that says:
"Don't make 'em like they used to?  Well we do - introducing the Ariens Retro line of snow blowers."

As for the joystick - I like mine on the Toro.  I almost have it down that I can pull the joystick exactly as I'm doing a 180 and never have to stop the machine from moving and still keep shooting the snow in the direction I want it to go.   Almost!

--SnowRemover


It is hard enough to remember my opinions, without also remembering my reasons for them!
--Friedrich Nietzsche
Dantheman


Location: Orange County, N.Y.
Joined: Jan 21, 2003
Points: 561

RE: Ariens Prototype Testing
Reply #8   Jan 28, 2005 11:08 am
While I would enjoy an Ariens built with the quality of my old 724...with heavier gauge sheet metal and larger cast iron gear cases.....I really don't miss my old one.

Ergonomically my old Ariens sucked. The handel bars were too short and the chute rotater was too low. No remote deflector either. All that bending over the machine to move it up a step on the sidewalk, turn the chute numerous times and adjust the deflector for wind took a toll on my back.

How about a modern Ariens with the heavier sheet metal and drive system, larger gear case of the old....with the modern OHV engine and ergonomics.  

That would have my vote.

                                                                                            Dan

terrapin24h


The more I learn the less i know

Location: Rochester NY, USA
Joined: Dec 18, 2003
Points: 628

RE: Ariens Prototype Testing
Reply #9   Jan 28, 2005 11:21 am
Dantheman wrote:
How about a modern Ariens with the heavier sheet metal and drive system, larger gear case of the old....with the modern OHV engine and ergonomics.  

That would have my vote.

                                                                                            Dan


Uh, didn't you just describe the pro line of Ariens blowers?  Sounds to me like you did.

--chris
2001 Homelite VacAttack Blower
2001 6hp Toro PPace 22" mower
2001 Ariens 824LE
2002 6hp 2400 PSI Excell Powerwasher
2004 18hp Craftsman 27375 42" mower
2004 42cc Craftsman 18" chainsaw
TheKneebiter


Joined: Oct 22, 2004
Points: 233

RE: Ariens Prototype Testing
Reply #10   Jan 28, 2005 11:34 am
Not true. My 1128 pro model is brand new and i could grab the side of the auger box with my hand and bend it in if i wanted. My old machine you could hit it with a sledge and you might get a scratch. Also the gear box in the newer pro might be cast but its no where near as heavy as the old models. terrapin24h wrote:
Uh, didn't you just describe the pro line of Ariens blowers?  Sounds to me like you did.
This message was modified Jan 28, 2005 by TheKneebiter


krislu


Location: Long Island, NY
Joined: Dec 27, 2004
Points: 148

RE: Ariens Prototype Testing
Reply #11   Jan 28, 2005 11:59 am
I have to say I think my Ariens St1236 which is about10yrs old is built better than todays models. I notice all of Ariens' newer models have plastic gears which flex when you crank the shoot left or right (side to side). Mine has a nicely machined metal worm gear and 3 yes 3 metal universal joints that don't flex at all. Build quality was better years ago but features and ergonomics are better today. I'm glad I got rid of my old mid '60 Ariens but am glad I don't have one of todays models either. - Kris    

           
Blue9R


Location: Illinois
Joined: Dec 20, 2003
Points: 224

RE: Ariens Prototype Testing
Reply #12   Jan 28, 2005 12:01 pm
LOL, well, blame the lighter weight sheet metal & castings on technology.

AutoCad type designing now allow the analysis of the mechanical stresses put on a component.

The result is a lighter weigh component with a designed 5 times safety factor versus the "best guess" of 15 years ago.

Also, if you haven't noticed, steel price increases over the last year have a major impact on current design trends.

Blue

Jonathan


I am a marvelous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man I keep his house. -Zsa Zsa

Location: Near Albany NY
Joined: Sep 12, 2004
Points: 320

RE: Ariens Prototype Testing
Reply #13   Jan 28, 2005 12:17 pm
I agree that the thickness of sheetmetal has changed over the years. Well illustrated by comparing my 1929 Ford with my 2003 Ford Focus.

2004 Ariens 11528LE, Troybilt Horse "Big Red" Tiller (original), Troybilt Tuffy Tiller (original), Sears LT1000 mower, Lawn Boy 7073 21" mower, Stihl FS55 RC trimmer, Poulan Countervibe 3400 chainsaw
Marshall


As Long As There Are Tests, There Will Be Prayer In Public Schools. ;- )

Joined: Sep 16, 2002
Points: 7730

RE: Ariens Prototype Testing
Reply #14   Jan 28, 2005 12:26 pm
Blue, welcome to Abby's, glad to see you made the trip across the river. 
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