Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

I purchased an Ariens 11528LE at Home Depot as you may remember, and basically had to resetup the machine, because it was not assembled correctly.  After spending hours getting the chute controls to work perfectly, and waxing her, I got the chance to run her in her first snow storm and she died.  She ran fine for about 20 minutes, started sounding very rough, before I could shut her down I heard a loud bang, after which oil came flowing from the block like a river.  After talking to my local service guy, who happens to live in the neighborhood, she was diagnosed with a blown piston, a cracked block, and pronounced dead.  I returned her to Home Depot, and they were not happy about taking her back, even though it had been less than 30 days.

I saw that blowers are now on sale there for 20% off at HD.  I think I overbought with the 11.5hp.

Anyone have experience with the 7 or 9 hp model Ariens?  My drive way is single car width 75feet long opening to double wide in front of my garage, and I have 100ft of sidewalk.  Could I get by with a 7hp living just north of Boston near the water?  I used to own a Ariens 824 and loved that machine.

Anyone have any experience with the 7hp Ariens with heavy wet snow?

Any help would be appreciated.

I have a 2006 926LE Pro and in my opinion it performs as well or better than the 2005 1128 LE  I used to have.  I haven't measured the thowing distance but it seems to throw the snow further than the 1128 did and it can move the cement like sand/salt/ice mixture at the end of the driveway.  The 1128 would cough it up but the 926 will throw it. 

This is a worst-case scenario if ever I heard one. You admit that the machine from HD was not set up properly, then the engine suffers a catastrophic failure within 20 minutes. I can understand why you might want to give Ariens a second chance, but even with a discount...why would you want another machine from HD? How certain are you that the machine you bought was absolutely brand new? Maybe "Timmy" accidently ran it with low oil before you got it, or maybe some other meathead customer did and then returned it to HD. If you were to be "unlucky" a second time, the situation might be more difficult to resolve. If I were you I'd be shopping for a good dealer right now...or at least a different box store.

AZ

mike the 11hp has:

ohv engine quieter  and smoother and the hand trigger. (also hand warmer)

neither of which u would get w./ the 9hp.

if u get one storm a yr that the 7hp has trouble w/ u will be kicking your butt.

the 7HP is a compact model, much smaller that the one you got that blew its rod.  At somepoint that engine was neglected or damaged, did you check the oil before you ran it when this occured?  If you think you overbought try the 926LE, the lock for the wheels is ok and it honestly isn't hard to manuever with the big tires it has with both wheels locked, especially when there is snow on the ground since the ground is slick and lets you slide it around.  I haven't used it in snow yet but so far I have really enjoyed it.   You can lock or unlock either wheel so if you don't like exhaust in your face just unlock the right wheel rather than the left wheel :P or turn the engine off when doing it.

I would have to agree that you should find a dealer to buy a blower from, its not worth saveing the money only to go through another problem that could have been avioided with a good dealer at the start.

Hope it all works out.

MikeSnow wrote: I live in Boston and used to live in Marblehead. The new 7.5 hp machines are Compacts, much smaller than the 824 you had. The older 7hp machines work but 8+ works better.

I'd guess based on talking to dealers and seeing what's in stock at most HD's that the 926LE accounts for 1/2 to 2/3rds of the machines sold around here.

The wet concrete AKA snow we get near the ocean - often saturated by rain after falling - only gets blown 5-10 feet but the machines handle it well - especially compared to shovelling! You won't get the plumes of snow that folks inland get, but they move it fine. I put a coat of automotive wax inside to prevent sticking, others use anything from ski wax to Pam or WD40.

newjerseybt wrote:
Here's a fix for that safety issue. Caution - this topic has generated considerable comment on this forum - use at your own risk!

http://home.comcast.net/~johnedavies/page5.htm

John Davies
Spokane WA

Good idea!  I  am afraid to do the mod until I am out of the 3 year warrant though.

JohnEDavies wrote:

looks like a good fabrication, i would hold off until the warranty is over,  might impede the exhuast from coming out full flow possible,you might consider add a top so it blows down and away.  Not sure if the older models have the option but my new 926LE can lock or unlock either wheel with the pin.  Simply freeing the other wheel might be the easiest solution, although mine seems to manuever ok w/ both locked when its on the snow.  Just some simple ideas/tweaks :)

Hello Mike,
I read your post and I can empethize with your problem somewhat as my Brand new Toro alss suffered a recent failure - although not nearly as catastrofic as yours (see my new post on this forum). Anyway I live in MA too. Boxborough, just west of Acton and Concord. My concern from your post is that my Toro has the same 11HP Tecumseh Snow King engine that your Ariens does. I agree with he fellow that said that you should NOT get a machine such as this at HD. For that much dough you should buy from a reputable outdoor power equipment company - where the people know what they are doing and mechandise is not 'recycled' - that DEFINATELY happens at places like HD.

I would get Ariens and Tecumseh involved in your issue as well. They both have toll free numbers. Explain what happened and see what they say.

Paul

I went snow blower shopping today and was amazed at the price difference between 926LE at Home Depot for $799 and the 926DLE at my local dealer for $1,599.  I guess I will be buying an 926LE at home Depot, because an $800 difference I can not justify between the two machines.  I understand the differences in the machines from this forum and the brochure, but at that price, I could buy two, and have one standing by for when the first one breaks, for less than the cost of the pro model..

I checked out the 7524E, but am afraid it would not have the weight or power to cut through the heavy stuff at the end of my driveway left by the plow.  Nothing worse than buying a blower and then discovering she is just not capable of doing what you want her to do.  I learned that lesson on my 11hp craftsman, which is why I sold her.

I think I need the threat of a major snow storm to kick my butt into gear and buy one. 

Thanks for all of your valuable advice guys!