Brian:
I bought one of these Ariens Cabs from my dealer here in Canada. You can buy it for much less in the U.S.A. I paid $248.00 plus tax but you can purchase one there for $189.00 plus $32.99 S&H
This is the site:

http://yhst-74625640488616.stores.yahoo.net/arwabesnblca.html

This Cab has been a Godsend for me. I hate wind and blowing snow on my clothes. The windshield stays clear just from the vibration of the Snow Blower. Wet snow is easily wiped off with a glove. This is a must-have piece of equipment for me, plus it comes with a heavy front-end weight. Instructions included and easy to install.

Ariens Walk Behind Snow Blower Cab W/ Counter Weight Kit

This Item is a Brand New Economical & Versatile Aftermarket Ariens Walk Behind 2 Stage Snow Blower Cab & Counter Weight Kit.

Kit includes Walker Cab and Counter Weight. Snow Thrower is Not Included in this Listing. Cab protects you from the blowing, swirling snow, and sleet that makes snow removal a miserable job.

FEATURES:

Optically Clear, Shatter Resistant Window Material.

Nylon Reinforced, Rip Stop Vinyl Material.

16 Gauge 3/4" Steel Tube Construction.

Adjustable Height and Position.

Steel Plate Ballast Weight Kit

Fits Ariens: 624E, 926LE, 926DLE

1328DLE, 1332DLE, 1332LE

5520E, 7524E, 11526DLE, 11526LE

Many Other Models are Available Also.

We ship to the following areas: The lower 48 states using UPS Ground shipping $32.99

Hi Clay:
I'am running an Ariens 927LE and purchased an Ariens Sno Cab for it (paid a premium price) and look upon it as one of the best investments I ever made. When in use, it's like using the Snow Blower in the garage. No wind, no snow all over you and seems like 15 degrees warmer than outside. As far as removal of the cab goes, it's not worth taking the time to do. I will take it apart in Spring for Summer storage and also make it easier to do my maintenace work if any. Then come Fall, back it goes and gets attached to the machine. There are some aftermarket Cabs out there and they are probably OK, but I love my orange Ariens Cab with the heavy duty material.
So the short answer is: Yes, a Snow Cab is definitely work investing in.  

This is a blower similar to the one I have, except mine has a pully and drive belt to turn fan, instead of direct drive as pictured.

By removing the fan part (looks like a big hamster wheel) from the shaft and installing paddles or string of some kind to the shaft . . . hey, success could be just around the corner!

Of course I would also have to install some kind of mesh or wire grate over the blower end to sift the smaller pieces through. Also, a piece of sheet metal to block one side of blower where motor connects. 

Next would be to install wheels, making it portable. This would be a heavy-duty machine. Those are my thoughts for now.

Any info would be appreciated.

To Snowblowerguy:

Regarding your Wheel Lock Device, Snowmann, who is an engineer for Ariens wrote this on another forum:

Sounds like the cable is still too loose. The manual states to take all the slack out of the cable, then to loosen the jam nut 1-3 turns. This was to be revised in a newer revision manual to a new specification (looks like it hasn't been published/revised yet). The setting currently listed in the manual will make the cable too loose. When you take the bottom cover off, grab the ratchett gear (the one with the external teeth, it's against the frame) and rotate it fully so it snugs against the spring loaded finger mounted on the pinion gear shaft. Now remove the slack from the cable, then tighten the jam nuts. It's important to note that while it is best to remove all of the slack to make this mechanism work right, if you pretension the cable by going a bit too far, that will also cause it to operate improperly. In reality, the operable range for this setting is like 0-1 thread turnback. It's a precision setting, but it will work great when properly set. The stroke on the trigger is just enough to index the "clicker" mechanism. If the cable is too loose (causing wasted stroke from the trigger), the ratchett gear will not index (causing the problem you describe). This mechanism is only in its second year. It doesn't surprise me that some dealers are unfamiliar. I hope this helps.

don1

Hi Everyone:

Just purchased an Ariens 927LE Snowblower. Installed Sno-Cab and Drift Cutters. For once I'm almost looking forward to the snow - ALMOST!

In reading about snowblowers, I came across an article suggesting it is a good idea to keep the tires raised off the ground so I built a Snowblower Axle Lift.

 Thought you might be interested and seeing it and perhaps build one for yourself. - Don

The link is:

http://mynetimages.com/album/don1/