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

I've got a 3 year old Ariens 8524 that's been used a whopping 4 or 5 times, maybe 2 hours total machine time.  Needless to say, we haven't had much snow in the past couple years!

It starts and runs great.  Auger works great.  But it wouldn't go forward.  I removed the plastic belt cover, and sure enough the belt had slipped off.  I managed to get it back on, and it will run in reverse but not in forward.  After tipping the machine forward and removing the bottom cover, I found the problem.  The pulley that the drive belt attaches to is loose and wobbles.  Looks like it's going to be a big pain in the arse to remove everything to get it out of there. 

I'm guessing a bad bushing.  Anyone have any advice or ideas?  Anyone had similar problems with their Ariens snowblower?

Regarding the model #, it is 932104.  I had forward and reverse prior to the belt replacement, that is why this seems weird.  I ran the machine with the belt cover off and it seems fine, even when engaging the clutch.  There was a little grease on the disc and I wiped it off.  

When it is in reverse gears, the friction wheel is near the center of the disc all seems aligned.  However, the forward gears move the friction wheel out toward the edge of the disc. Now when engaged, the pressure from the wheel pushes the disc at least 1/8 th inch due to the play in the shaft.  Perhaps enough not to provide enough traction? 

Again, I don't know if this is the issue, but it is the only thing I see that looks out of place.  There is no screw on the drive pulley shaft that allows you to tighten it.  I tried loosening and tighening the clutch cable but that didn't work either. 

My other thought is perhaps I need a new friction wheel with more rubber on it.  But my reverse works fine and so did the forward gears prior to the belt change.  Any other ideas are appreciated.  Big storm coming to CT again this week and I'm sure the dealer wouldn't get it back to me for a while.

Three possible causes: 1) wrong belt installation (take some pictures of the belt loop and show us how it is installed); 2) belt tensioner is not engaged or not working properly due to incorrect installation; 3) wrong belt length - trust you got the exact same length.

jbwool wrote:

I'm thinking maybe when you put the belt on you didn't get the idler on the right side of the belt thereby limiting the movement of your friction disc. Just a thought.

You could be right.  I don't have  a shop manual and put the belt on without knowing for sure what side.  

Guess it's time to find one on line and buy it.  Thanks.

Ariens has all their manuals available for download:

http://www.ariens.com/corporate/Pages/OwnerManuals.aspx

Thanks Shyrp.   Just downloaded it.