Which Snowblower?
- Thread starter mvedepo
- Start date
Ok update!
I have amended the list:
Ariens 30 Deluxe
Ariens 30 Platinum
Toro 1028OXE
I don't have a huge driveway but I am on the outside of a curve and get HAMMERED by the plow. It's not uncommon to get a 30+" berm at the end of my driveway. And being from southern WI it's rarely the light fluffy stuff. Throwing distance is also important to me. As well as my wife (5' 105") wife needs to be able to maneuver the beast. She doesn't need to do a ton of turning. She will mostly be going down the drive and reversing back
Here are my likes and dislikes:
Ariens 30 Deluxe - I like: crank chute and price.
Ariens 30 Platinum - I like: 342cc engine - Torn on the ATC and chute control
Toro 1028OXE - I like: Chute/deflector stick, how light and maneuverable it is, the power triggers, 305 cc in a 28" unit. I dislike: Some of the components feel flimsy. Especially the triggers and Quick Stick.
I am leaning towards the Platinum but no one, even at the dealers, can really explain the ATC to me. When the drive isn't engaged and you pop open the diff do both wheels rotate freely? If not is it the inner or outer wheel? If the drive IS engaged will the ATC help or fight you if you are trying to do a 180 turn? I have read conflicting reports on this.
May also consider a Simplicity L1528E or L1730E but haven't actually seen these units.
What do you guys think??
I have amended the list:
Ariens 30 Deluxe
Ariens 30 Platinum
Toro 1028OXE
I don't have a huge driveway but I am on the outside of a curve and get HAMMERED by the plow. It's not uncommon to get a 30+" berm at the end of my driveway. And being from southern WI it's rarely the light fluffy stuff. Throwing distance is also important to me. As well as my wife (5' 105") wife needs to be able to maneuver the beast. She doesn't need to do a ton of turning. She will mostly be going down the drive and reversing back
Here are my likes and dislikes:
Ariens 30 Deluxe - I like: crank chute and price.
Ariens 30 Platinum - I like: 342cc engine - Torn on the ATC and chute control
Toro 1028OXE - I like: Chute/deflector stick, how light and maneuverable it is, the power triggers, 305 cc in a 28" unit. I dislike: Some of the components feel flimsy. Especially the triggers and Quick Stick.
I am leaning towards the Platinum but no one, even at the dealers, can really explain the ATC to me. When the drive isn't engaged and you pop open the diff do both wheels rotate freely? If not is it the inner or outer wheel? If the drive IS engaged will the ATC help or fight you if you are trying to do a 180 turn? I have read conflicting reports on this.
May also consider a Simplicity L1528E or L1730E but haven't actually seen these units.
What do you guys think??
mvedepo, Hope this helps.
The Ariens ATC is a dual bidirectional over-running clutch. The ATC is all mechanical and cannot be "tricked" by certain conditions like computer controlled automotive ABS and traction control.
A couple of posts earlier regarding Home Depot & the Big Box Stores... this was my thought process. I have no great loyalty to the big guys but if they can knock 200 dollars of the same unit then I have to listen. My father-in-law owns a Hardware Store and I know how the Home Depots and Menards hammer these guys.
But at the end of the day, it's my money and in a time of recession I'm just a little bit cautious of how it's spent.
The Ariens Warranty is good at any of their dealers regardless where it's purchased and I'll be glad to support them when there's a need for maintenance.
The Ariens ATC is a dual bidirectional over-running clutch. The ATC is all mechanical and cannot be "tricked" by certain conditions like computer controlled automotive ABS and traction control.
A couple of posts earlier regarding Home Depot & the Big Box Stores... this was my thought process. I have no great loyalty to the big guys but if they can knock 200 dollars of the same unit then I have to listen. My father-in-law owns a Hardware Store and I know how the Home Depots and Menards hammer these guys.
But at the end of the day, it's my money and in a time of recession I'm just a little bit cautious of how it's spent.
The Ariens Warranty is good at any of their dealers regardless where it's purchased and I'll be glad to support them when there's a need for maintenance.
trailblazer1
New member
L1528E is very nice !!! 40' plus L1730E same just more power and wider Iam a simplisity dealer. you have to know there good if they build johndeere's blowers!!
get your facts straight
John Deere DID build walk behind snowblowers in Horicon back in the 70's-80's, including the 826/832 models... these were the 'never die' models (I still have one that runs like a top) before they were built by Ariens.... and to the previous poster, no, they are NOT made in Mexico. I will agree that Ariens are an outstanding piece of equipment.... probably because it's built in Wisconsin by people with real work ethic. Deere does NOT outsource to the 'lowest bidder', but to the company that will make a quality product at a fair price... they are not Junk, and your LOCO dealer must not be a 'genuine' Deere dealer or he would not be knocking the company that provides his livelihood. These days you don't know who builds what for whom... (kinda like the Pontiac Vibe which is actually a Toyota Matrix built for those who insist on buying 'American'. At one time Deere was building lawn tractors for Honda). Keep your Toro.
John Deere DID build walk behind snowblowers in Horicon back in the 70's-80's, including the 826/832 models... these were the 'never die' models (I still have one that runs like a top) before they were built by Ariens.... and to the previous poster, no, they are NOT made in Mexico. I will agree that Ariens are an outstanding piece of equipment.... probably because it's built in Wisconsin by people with real work ethic. Deere does NOT outsource to the 'lowest bidder', but to the company that will make a quality product at a fair price... they are not Junk, and your LOCO dealer must not be a 'genuine' Deere dealer or he would not be knocking the company that provides his livelihood. These days you don't know who builds what for whom... (kinda like the Pontiac Vibe which is actually a Toyota Matrix built for those who insist on buying 'American'. At one time Deere was building lawn tractors for Honda). Keep your Toro.
polarisrider1
New member
At one time Toro was Wheel Horse. (not the other way around) I had a pc. of crap Toro with the rubber beater bars. had to bring it in the house everytime to get it to start. Love my ARIENS it does not need the electric start it came with. Way easy to start.
The Ariens 28 deluxe walked right through the end of driveway berms with no exertion on my part and it has a hand lever that releases the drive in the left wheel to make it easy to turn. One of the big selling points for me was the all metal construction of the machine and the price was lower for the 28.
700classic
New member
Or the riser, handlebar hooks, left hand throttle,pipe,can? Looks kinda wide might be tough to sidehill.
We have an older 8hp MTD 2 stage that has been a reliable unit. Except the first time, out she ate the labs frisby; still flew. She has the old reliable Tecumseh SnoKing engine w/ electric start. The greatest invention for cold weather starting. All I do is service her with an anual oil and plug change. She does OK , but nothing to get excited about. No light on this model, so I mounted my own useing a 3volt sealed bulb. Wife needs to be able to see to blow snow!
harski
Member
mvedepo, Ariens is the way to go for sure! I bought the 927LE just a few years ago and have had no problems. I know I'm getting late in the game for input, in case you have bought already, but I'd be a little concerned on it's size in relation to your wife having to handle. It can have the bulky feeling when trying to maneuver around. Now, my neighbor has the 24LE and it handles just fine and even his wife gets out and uses it time to time and she measures up equivalent to your wife in size. They too live on a busier road and have to blow through the big plow burms.
All in all it's a good machine but again I'd be a little concerned about it's size. Maybe the power steering will help????
Good luck!
Harski
All in all it's a good machine but again I'd be a little concerned about it's size. Maybe the power steering will help????
Good luck!
Harski
Hey Harski,
I would have loved to do a 1028 equivalent in an Ariens. Unfortunately Ariens uses a 250 cc/8HP in their 28. Thats why I was considering the 1028 Toro. SO that left an Ariens 30 with a 10 or 11+ HP. I am keeping my Toro single stage. Hopefully the wife can use that if she ever needs to blow. If nothing else she can do 90% of the driveway with the Toro and use the Ariens for the EOD pile. Or better yet I am home for every snowfall!! :-D
I would have loved to do a 1028 equivalent in an Ariens. Unfortunately Ariens uses a 250 cc/8HP in their 28. Thats why I was considering the 1028 Toro. SO that left an Ariens 30 with a 10 or 11+ HP. I am keeping my Toro single stage. Hopefully the wife can use that if she ever needs to blow. If nothing else she can do 90% of the driveway with the Toro and use the Ariens for the EOD pile. Or better yet I am home for every snowfall!! :-D
The machine you buy at the big box store is NOT the same machine as you get at your local dealer. The BB stores contract with the manufactures to produce a machine for a price point which means they have to cut cost where they can. A couple places they skimp on are the drive axles and augur shaft. Check the model numbers between the 24” 8 hp at the local guy and the BB store, they will be different. Also the BB stores do not service anything they send it to the local guy to service, so why not start with him? If I can afford it I always try to buy from the local guy, better product, better service.
Canoepaddler
New member
mvedepo,
Before I bought an Ariens last year, I had to do my own research on their traction control because two different dealers could not tell me how it really worked. I was worried how it would work on ice, if one wheel would spin. No problem at all. I had the link below in my bookmarks. It's not working tonight, but hopefully it'll be back when you try it. They use a Hilliard over-run transmission. Simply put it drives both wheels, but when you try to turn, you basically push (over-run) the outside wheel. This works for left or right and also I think in reverse. I was really surprised how easy it is to turn. Personally, I release the clutch and turn it around by hand, while flipping the chute around with the other hand. Yes, it freewheels very easily when you release the drive. Here's what I found about the ones with the little levers to release or lock one or both wheels. If you only have one lever, the free-wheeling wheel will be only be on one side. Thus, when turning left or right, that wheel will be on the inside or outside. When it's on the inside, the drive wheel is on the outside. When you turn the other diretion, the drive wheel will be on the inside. So, one turn will be faster than the other. I'm very happy I didn't get one of those. Even with a two trigger one, you would need to be able to operate the chute control with either hand. This Ariens is so much simpler without any little levers. It's bigger than my old blower, but way way easier to move around. Good luck.
http://209.61.159.196/ope/discussions/49133-0-1.html
Before I bought an Ariens last year, I had to do my own research on their traction control because two different dealers could not tell me how it really worked. I was worried how it would work on ice, if one wheel would spin. No problem at all. I had the link below in my bookmarks. It's not working tonight, but hopefully it'll be back when you try it. They use a Hilliard over-run transmission. Simply put it drives both wheels, but when you try to turn, you basically push (over-run) the outside wheel. This works for left or right and also I think in reverse. I was really surprised how easy it is to turn. Personally, I release the clutch and turn it around by hand, while flipping the chute around with the other hand. Yes, it freewheels very easily when you release the drive. Here's what I found about the ones with the little levers to release or lock one or both wheels. If you only have one lever, the free-wheeling wheel will be only be on one side. Thus, when turning left or right, that wheel will be on the inside or outside. When it's on the inside, the drive wheel is on the outside. When you turn the other diretion, the drive wheel will be on the inside. So, one turn will be faster than the other. I'm very happy I didn't get one of those. Even with a two trigger one, you would need to be able to operate the chute control with either hand. This Ariens is so much simpler without any little levers. It's bigger than my old blower, but way way easier to move around. Good luck.
http://209.61.159.196/ope/discussions/49133-0-1.html
Thanks for the input. Wife threw a wrench in the works. She wants a 28" and she "authorized" me to get a Pro 28 or Simplicity P1728E. Sooooooooo I am now weighing my options with those. A 28" with a 420 cc 15 hp engine HAS to be a beast!!! :-D
Guess you could say I am the type that likes to bring a Howitzer to a snowball fight.
- 420cc Ariens Polar Force ProEngine by Briggs & Stratton®
- 28" Clearing Width
- Directional Snow Tread Tires
- 16” Steel Serrated Auger
- Automatic Traction Control
- Throws snow up to 50 ft
- Handwarmers
- Halogen Headlight
Guess you could say I am the type that likes to bring a Howitzer to a snowball fight.
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