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

Ariens Snow Throwers are junk.!!  I purchased a model 926015 -ST11528DLE a couple of years ago from a dealer.. and have been fighting with them to replace the thing ever since. The first storm it wouldn't throw snow,  as the auger belt needed to be adjusted,,, then,,,, The drive mechansim (friction plate) stops working as snow leaks down from the engine to the plate and causes slippage. After several trips to the dealer (or former dealer as they gave up the line due to so many service issues) Ariens finially recognized there was an issue and had me go to another dealer for service where they installed a baffle cover ??that was to prevent the plate from getting wet...  Well.... let me tell you that didn't work at all.  My machine is still not working and is a piece of junk and Ariens will not replace it.. just want me to keep bringing it back to have it looked at again.    I will never ,,,,never purchase another Ariens product ever again....

I have an older version of the 11528 which has a different drive setup. There may be some others on this site with the same model who may have some suggestions.

 
Bob-I realize your angry and frustrated but in the spirit of trying to get the machine to work for you  consider the following :

Water on the plate and disk wouldn't prevent the wheels from turning completely. I know this probably contradicts everything you have been told but even if the drive were under water it wouldn't prevent the wheels from turning at all. You would get some motion or screeching or chirping or something. I would start by adjusting the the control cables and  belt tension according to your manual. It is not rocket science and can be done by anyone who can follow instructions. Once that is done and if it still doesen't work consider the following.

My machine is not an Ariens but does have a differential.On one wheel there is a center cap that covers a threaded shaft that has two large nuts.The outer nut locks against the inner one and prevents it from turning.The inner one is the tension adjustment for the differential.If you take off the outer nut and turn the inner one clockwise you will increase spring tension and adjust the point at which the differential locks / slips. My point is if the inner nut is not applying enough tension on the springs beneath it, the disks and chains and pulleys of the drive system may all be turning and doing their job but the wheels will not turn at all!. You will have to turn the inner nut until it makes contact with the springs and then 1 to 3 turns further. The more turns  clockwise after contacting the spring the more pressure it will take to make the wheels slip in a turn. I find one turn past contact is sufficient for my machine. Once again- If there is no spring tension the wheels will not turn at all.  You then put the outer nut back on thus locking up the adjusting nut and replace the hub cap.

Of course if the Ariens differential is different than mine this will all be meaningless to you. However most of the drive systems in the different brands are similar and I have a sneaking suspision your differential is out of adjustment. If it is different than mine you should find the  instructions in the Ariens manual on how to adjust it. I am presuming all belts are intact, all pulleys are locked tightly on their shafts with their keys or bolts in place, the chain on the final drive is intact and in place , the gears the chain rides on are locked on their shafts using either keys or locking bolts and the control cables are in adjustment.

It sounds like the dealer who worked on the machine didn't take the time to properly set the machine up or repair it when it was returned to him. You will get many different opinions about different brands of blowers on this and other forums but I don't think you will find anyone who thinks Ariens DLE units are junk. Yours is out of adjustment somewhere and is in need of a little TLC.

Good Luck and let us know how you make out,

Marc 

mml4 wrote:
I'm interested in hearing who manufactured your snowblower since I thought only Ariens had a differential.

[edit: I just noticed that you listed your snowblower in your signature line, a TroyBuilt 42010, and I see in
the parts manual that it has a differential as you say. Interesting.]

The Ariens differential is a single self-contained unit and is not adjustable as far as I know.
At least Ariens lists it as a single item (but then so does TroyBuilt) and makes no mention
of adjustment in the service manual.

Paul

pvrp wrote:

Paul- I am the fortunate owner of a pre MTD Troy-Bilt model 42010.  It is an 824 with cast iron gearbox,a real differential,handwarmers,electric start, and a light with a switch. The unit was built for Troy-Bilt by Bolens. All of the linkages are solid rods(no cables). There are 4 zerk fittings on the auger alone.To tell you how overbuilt this thing is it weighs 290lbs and thats for a 24" machine..The warranty was 7years. The parts manual / operators manual both of which came with the machine total 50 pages with lots of references for torque settings (like 11ft/lbs on the shear bolts) and diagrams for everything. The fasteners have welded nuts,nylocks of lock washers. No self tappers to be found. Very nimble because of the differential.You would never realize it weighed almost 300lb.unless you tried to move it with the engine off.

I could go on and on but let me say that it is the exact opposite of the type of equiptment MTD is putting out using the Troy-Bilt name today. The attention to detail defies description. It is the last step in the evolution of the Bolens line of Snow Blowers.

Marc 

PS- Paul the service manual lists the procedure for adjusting the differential on p23 under the section marked "Slip Differential Adjustment"  with an illustration on the top of that page marked figure 5-12.

Bob,

I am very familiar with your unit. Why don't you give some more detail on what it is doing (or what it is not doing) so we can get your problems diagnosed. Also please include your serial number. That unit may have been built over a 2 year period and there could have been some changes over that timeframe. I'm thinking your problems are related mostly to assembly or setup, at the dealer or factory (also possibly some dealers that are less than expert).

PK

Snowmann wrote:

Snowman

Thanks for you reply..

The Machine works initially then quits after usage...usually after a couple of passes up and down the driveway... I don't horse on the machine.. Usually keep it in 1st gear, go slow and do not force into snow piles..etc... I have had the dealer adjust the cable and so have I as I am pretty mechanically inclined and can read the manual. When I am snowblowing and it quits, I can actually lift the wheels off the ground and they still move.. but don't have enough power behind them when I  place them back on the ground to drive the machine.   I talked to a person named Joy last year who had me go to the dealer and they installed a baffle cover to prevent water from leaking onto the drive assembly.......and recently received and email back from a Jim S. telling me to take the thing back to the dealer again.. Personally,,I'm tired of having it in the shop all winter...  the serial number is 000556.  I hope you have the answer !!!

Oh boy, I guess I should have searched the posts before I posted mine, but in my anger and frustation, I posted. I am having the same problem that you are.with the same model. The dealer told me that he never heard of such a thing. Paid big bucks for what is supposed to be a great machine, but I guess if I cannot get Ariens to make this good, I will be out alot of money. If you get some satisfaction, please let us know, I am about ready to drive the thing into the front window of the dealer, Oh, wait a minute, I can't because it wont drive.

VentVentVent

Brian

Brought this back into the dealer t weeks ago where they could not replicate the problem.  Of course..... Ariens then sent them a new drive plate.  Ariens also said that there were a few machines that went out of the factory with a zinc coated drive plate, that when it got wet, would slip.  They replaced this and during the last storm I didn't have a problem!!!!!!   I've been holding on on making a judgement as to whether the unit is totally fixed.... or not.... until after another good snow storm.  Those of you that are still have problems should contact Ariens and have them replace the drive plate as well as install the baffle. 

bob1031 wrote:
Excellent news Bob.

mml4 wrote:
Interesting.  A guy down the street from me is selling his immaculately maintained pre-MTD 8hp 24" Bolens snowthrower for $125.   Based on Marc's comments I feel like I should buy it just to have an example of the "way they used to build em".

As for your problems with your ariens, I don't know the answer. I replaced a miserable Toro 1128 OXE with an Ariens 11528DLE PRO and that was the best decision I made. Not one service issue with the machine!

As for the pre-MTD Troy-bilt's nothing compare's to them now! (like any other machine built ten years ago) I live in the city where Bolens originated from. Then it was Troy-bilt. Troy-bilt moved to New York and then MTD started making their products. A far cry from what they used to be. Any pre-MTD Troy-bilt or Bolens is  no comparison to what is made today.

A few months ago Simplicity shut down and moved south. We used to have two of the largest outdoor power equipment manufacturer's here in the city and now we have none! How times have changed.

Paul7 wrote:

For $125 you should seriously consider that purchase. Is it badged Bolens or Troy-Bilt? If it's red and Badged Troy-Bilt it has the differential.

Marc

mml4 wrote:
It's red but has the Bolens name so perhaps it doesn't have the differential.

Paul- I clicked on the boxes at the bottom of your post but no photos came up.

Marc

mml4 wrote:
check out the following thread on how to post pictures.

http://www.abbysguide.com/ope/discussions/25867-0-1.html

How about people just admit that there isn't a decent snowblower built in this country anymore.  Its retarded.  Ariens sucks unless you like to work on them.   There, I said it.  Rig and fuss all you want.  Tweaking is for crackheads.   There's no excuse.  $100 bucks of steel, a motor, and a pump isn't that hard.  All you Ariens boyz who spew love for this piece of crap product are either in denial,  or dealers trying to protect a name, or have never used another snowblower.  MTD?  sure its junk but at least you're paying semi-junk price instead of $3000 for garbage!!!!!!!!

I was in the Ariens dealership last Friday (need a part?  of course I need a part before I sell this beast.)  and noticed the 1336dle doesn't have a motorized chute anymore, but a cable/joystick assembly.    I thought it was a good idea untill I tried the joystick.   Just when you think they can't make them any cheaper they surprise you.  And another thing:  Why do Ariens rust so fast?   

nhmatt wrote:
It's not that people are in denial but more so that some people can buy an Ariens, work the heck out of it, and never have a problem.  Then others can buy the exact same machine and have nothing but problems.   This is THE problem.   Quality control should be synonymous with the brand name.  If quality control is such that an unacceptable percentage of lemons due to set-up or whatever find there way into the hands of consumers then they're all junk.  One shouldn't have to hope to get lucky that they received the unit that works.

Sadly the problem isn't just unique to snowblowers.  I just decided to replace my 1975 refigerator with a new one.  The thing is 34 years old and still running strong and it's new home is my garage.  Went to a full line major appliance store and the salesman told me that he dosen't have a new refigerator in stock that will give me more than 10 years of service. 

Side Note:  Years ago I bought my first Ariens product, a lawn mower.  After a few years the orange paint started flacking off of the deck.  Not wearing off but literally falling off in peices the size of a book of matches.  I went to the dealer and asked to buy a can of Ariens orange spray paint to touch it up.  The dealer called Ariens and they said that the problem was due to a change they made in a cleaner to clean the metal of oil after their stamping process.  The new cleaner didn't work as well as their old one.  Anyway Ariens authorized the dealer to replace the deck with a brand new one.  I was happy.  Sometimes when a mistake is made it how the company handles it that defines their reputation.  Based on that experience I bought more Ariens lawn mowers, tillers and snowblowers.  Now that all happened over 25 years ago so todays company might be a whole different operation. 

mml4 wrote:
Still can't figure out how to load pictures so I'll just paste the link. 

http://lancaster.craigslist.org/tls/1007038329.html