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

I was at a local OPE dealer today, and was told that the Ariens 9526DLE is being fitted with a Briggs & Stratton engine, and that they would begin to receive these snow blowers probably next month, selling them for an extra $80.   

Questions:

1) Why is this change in engines occurring? Does it have anything to do with Tecumseh's engine division being bought by Platinum Equities?

2) Is Ariens going to go through their entire line of blowers and replace Tecumseh for Briggs & Stratton, in particular the Intek OHV engines?

3)  What are other blower manufacturers going to do with Tecumseh?

4) Is the Tecumseh L-Head on its way out? If so, why buy a new blower with one?   How about parts availability?

Thanks for any information anyone may have.

I'm waiting on a 9526DLE which is supposed to arrive at the dealer's any day now.  It will be
interesting to see if it has a Tecumseh or a Briggs & Stratton.  Given what I've been reading
lately I hope it'll be the Briggs & Stratton, mostly since it's supposed to be less noisy.

Paul

I've used both Tecumseh L Head and B&S OHV and while one may be "quieter" than the other, neither is quiet, they are both running with little more than a spark arrester and you should wear hearing protection ( keeps the ears warm too).

I have found that the OHV throughs snow better and had more power to go through deep snow while throwing it a good distance. However I am comparing an old L Head to a new OHV. I had also changed the pulleys on the engine a bit. to get more horizontal speed and a longer throwing distance. That change would require a bit more torque from the engine.