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Regarding starting issues, fuel stabilizer is your friend. For both lawn mowers and snowblowers, etc, since I've been diligent about siphoning older fuel at the end of the season and using fuel stabilizer, they've been very reliable (knock on wood). I run the engine with the remaining fuel and stabilizer until the mix runs out.
Attachment 454366
I didn't have great luck with Stabil, so I just drain the old gas completely at the end of the season.
I also use no ethanol gas, which locally (Reno NV) is easy to find at Maverick stations. Look for the blue pump handles.
Agreed on the go da better than ariens. Past couple years all the people new to the area were fucking “experts” and touted the Ariens. Now that a big year has returned the Ariens are sitting broken And they’re begging to borrow the Hondas. Sure as fuck can’t find one to buy right now.
yer wrong…
fact.
I didn't notice any difference w/the no ethanol gas, but I did notice that 86 or higher octane (need to double check) was spec'd for the Ariens (Briggs & Stratton) and I think Club Cadet.Quote:
Originally Posted by El Chupacabra
FWIW, I’ve had an Ariens (28 SHO), for seven seasons in Tahoe without any issues at all so far. No broken shear pins, no starting/running issues, nothing.
Mostly Hondas in the neighborhood, but no shortage of Ariens either. When I need to replace it I plan on taking a neighbors tracked Honda for a test drive, but I’d be perfectly happy sticking with what I’ve got.
Yeah I only run ethanol free super gas in my small motors (blowers saws and dirt bikes) and drain the carb and run it dry at the end of the season.
Change the oil, lube everything and cover it under the deck for summer. In the fall I fill it w fresh gas and the 928 starts up without hesitation. The only issue I’ve had w the newer Honda is the hydraulic which operates the tilt is finicky in extremely cold temps, which is to be expected. Unfortunately I’m poor with no garage and the blower sits outside 247 once the snow has piled up. I do take a small makita leaf blower to it after each use to remove residual snow from all areas so that it operates normally the next day. Over 70’ so far this season and it’s humming along nicely.
Neighbor: “ hey buddy, can I borrow your blower? Mine broke down.”
Me: “ sorry no, I can’t loan out the blower. But I’m happy to come down and blow out your driveway for ya.”
Golden rule right there. Cause if that thing breaks down I’m fuct.
I suspect you guys out west have mostly "snow" to snowblow.
In the east, we don't have nearly as much snowfall, but we are dealing with ice. Sometimes lots of it.
The ice breaks sheer pins, freezes solid when you finish, burns out belts, etc. etc. Ice has been the source of all the issues with my snowblowers.
7 years without even breaking a sheer pin is unheard of around here.
If you just deal with cold and snow, moving it should be pretty simple (but will take a while).
As soon as it melts and refreezes, things break.
All of the above here plus San Juan slurpy slop which is pure joy trying to move it multiple times due to high moisture content and weight. Then it freezes.Quote:
Originally Posted by ironhippy
This year has been the exception to our many freeze/thaw cycles and intense sun. Generally, we get up to a 30 degree temp swing every day. This year it stayed mostly below freezing and we did not get a lot of sun.
It tends to ski better too.Quote:
Originally Posted by ironhippy
pretty good ^^ except for snow blowing an area where you don't know what kind of shit they got lying everywhere, run over a chain or a stray piece of firewood and you blow a pin, I have never broken a pin in 12 yars since newQuote:
Originally Posted by jmedslc
I do my neighbor across the street cuz its really fast and I know he doesnt leave stuff lying around cuz I look at his drive way every day
I'll chime into the Honda fan club. When i was up i. Summit park, i had a sloped driveway and the tracked Honda was a life saver. Thing would start every time, and move tons of snow and drive up and down weird slopes launching the snow over to my neighbors driveway. Kick ass.
Now down here in the valley, i still have a Honda, but it's a small single stage one. It starts every time and makes short work of whatever i push it through.
we had hondas on the DH course at whistler and we were issued ice crampons to run them
Has Jeremy Renner posted an update here lately?
I've heard that!Quote:
Originally Posted by Touring_Sedan
I watched American Hustle last night. He was really good in that. Was also wondering if he did the interview yet.Quote:
Originally Posted by SumJongGuy
I’ve broken 3 shear pins so far this season, all very early on.
Update: I appreciate all the comments, I ended up being opportunistic and grabbed this sweet used Ariens Deluxe 30 for $500 a couple days ago. It is in great shape with very little use...the little rubber nobbies were still on the tires. Fires right up on the 1st pull.
It absolutely crushed the foot+ we got overnight. It also helped me get on the goodside of my new neighbors (we moved in this past weekend) by blowing off the sidewalks for my street. Very happy with the purchase and expect this will work great for my needs (especially since everything in my driveway/street is flat).Attachment 454458
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That’s a great deal. My neighbor has that machine. It’s not a tracked Honda but is a good machine. ESP at that price
Great deal. Be sure to download the PDF manuals for this model and engine.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dshack89
And while you are at it (and it's summer) get some replacement belts. You'll really, really, really appreciate having them in advance if they break in the middle of a snowstorm.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alpinord
If it's in as good of condition as you state you shouldn't need new belts for a few seasons though.
And a friction disk or two, along with shear pins.Quote:
Originally Posted by ironhippy
PSA Snowblower Traction Drive Fix
https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/...d.php?t=350694
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Apres 10 yrs I figured they were due so i just went one better and just premptively replaced them all in good weather wearing a T-shirt before it gets too hot or the bugs are out all the time thinking about how much this job would suck at -17CQuote:
Originally Posted by ironhippy
you would think those belts would be readily available for a 24" craftsman in a town with a Sears outlet that gets 5 months of winter but such was not the case
so replace them and hang the old ones on a nail somewhere just in case
I don't think Craftsman has made any of their own power equipment for at least the last 15 years. I'd wager that 80% of the blowers out there are made by MTD.Quote:
Originally Posted by XXX-er
well those chassis all look the same to me but its a 12yr old craftsman and there is no longer a sears at least up narth
but your takaway was suposed to be its always prefurable to fix something on your schedule with parts and tools you premptively sourced whatever they may be than trying to do it during a snow storm
you buy the belts I hope you got the right ones, hang them on a nail maybe they get lost,
OR fix it now like a good boyscout
I have only replaced belts in a snowstorm! I don't recommend it.
You'd think I'd learn, but I've done it 3 of the last 4 winters (with 2 different snowblowers)
Next year should be different. My wife is talking about buying a brand new sub compact tractor because she doesn't like the idea of having a used one.
We both drive 10+ year old Toyotas and live in the cheapest house on the street :confused: