Here comes winter

hank

Warnings ancross all Michigan. Dang it. My near 15 year old blower died after last winter. Hell of a time getting anyone to work on them anymore. The local shop I bought it from no longer sells or services them. Finally found a fella to work on it. Dropped it off in early September when it was still in the 80s. He replaced a ripped up belt. Finished 3 or 4 days ago and I’ve got it home just in time it appears.

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DrVenture

Guessing that you have a longer/bigger driveway?

That's great that you found a good repairman. My Ariens is 11 years old. It has the Subaru/Robbins engine and I just gassed it up and checked the oil yesterday. Starts on the first pull every time. Actually surprises me. Only problem that I ever had was something stuck in the carb. I took it off, sprayed heck out of it and viola, been great ever since.

I went smaller for storage purposes (22") and damn if that thing doesn't punch well above its weight. Glad you mentioned belts. I never even considered it as a consumable, and will look into ordering one up for drive and blower, just in case.

hank

Yes - A very long driveway + some out buildings. Typically 45-90 minutes continuous work depending on depth, etc. Ariens is a good name. Mine’s a walk behind 28” Honda on tracks. Went through 3 or 4 lesser machines prior to buying this. This one’s lasted much longer than any of them.

Amazingly this was the first time it failed, although there are some sheer pins I’ve broken and replaced on my own. In that case, half the battle is getting the garage heated up with portable propane heaters and the machine defrosted before replacing the broken sheer pin. Everything you do is twice as hard in the winter.

DrVenture

Yeah, yours gets a good workout! I do like Honda power equipment.

LOL - Yeah, I also use the propane portable for the garage in winter. I hear ya.

Derf

Cub cadet here. Hand warmers no longer work & wish I had looked into seeing why! To late know.
Just a few flakes observed this morning, Derf

hank

Derf said:

Cub cadet here. Hand warmers no longer work & wish I had looked into seeing why! To late know.
Just a few flakes observed this morning, Derf

I looked at Cub Cadet and a few others at Home Depot other day. Considering buying a backup for the aging Honda. A fella there mentioned that electric start is a great feature to have. No battery - just hook up to an electrical cord. I’ve never had one that didn’t start on the first or second pull. The only engines i wont’t buy any longer are B&S. Some of the recent ones are junk. A pleasant surprise is the Kohler on my log splitter. Runs like a dream. Steady Eddie. And one cool sounding engine. A bit like the sound of popcorn popping.