Just bought this Snowblower ,Good,bad ??

[racerone]

I had my lube checked on Ram 2500 engine , front differential , transmission and rear axle at 160000 miles.----All of them were changed out.-----That " lifetime lube " on the snow blower worm box does give folks the warm feeling that they bought a quality product.

 

[crazy charlie]

Maybe I should just leave the auger box alone.The grease I was able to see looked extremely clean and the gearbox clearly never has any leak or seepage so maybe leave well enough alone. With my luck ,the grease I add will not be compatible with the grease already in there and then I am screwed.Charlie

 

[poconojoe]

I like to spray the inside of the chute and augers with a lubricant so the snow doesn't stick as much. WD-40, pam, pledge, whatever you have.

I have two of those machines.
Both 9hp, 26" chutes.

They both have "power steering". Little finger levers under the grip to steer it. Squeeze the right one and it disengages the right drive wheel, same for left. It beats manhandling it to turn. Great feature.

These machines can take a lot of abuse and run great.
Mine have two different brand engines which I dont recall at the moment.
One I bought over 20 years ago and the other was given to me when a neighbor died.

I had to replace the rubber clutch engagement part on both. (don't recall the exact part name, it was a while ago)
It's basically a rubber wheel that drives a metal wheel to engage the augers.
If you get a lot of squealing when engaging the augers or the augers fail to turn, it's time to change that out. Plus, you might see black rubber crumbs. It wasn't a hard job. I did mine and my neighbor's when he was alive.

 

[roscoe]

That thing is junk, doesn't even have headlights, a stereo, or a heated seat.
But ok for $100, I guess. LOL

 

[Lou C]

I like to spray the inside of the chute and augers with a lubricant so the snow doesn't stick as much. WD-40, pam, pledge, whatever you have.

I have two of those machines.
Both 9hp, 26" chutes.

They both have "power steering". Little finger levers under the grip to steer it. Squeeze the right one and it disengages the right drive wheel, same for left. It beats manhandling it to turn. Great feature.

These machines can take a lot of abuse and run great.
Mine have two different brand engines which I dont recall at the moment.
One I bought over 20 years ago and the other was given to me when a neighbor died.

I had to replace the rubber clutch engagement part on both. (don't recall the exact part name, it was a while ago)
It's basically a rubber wheel that drives a metal wheel to engage the augers.
If you get a lot of squealing when engaging the augers or the augers fail to turn, it's time to change that out. Plus, you might see black rubber crumbs. It wasn't a hard job. I did mine and my neighbor's when he was alive.

Friction disc

 

[poconojoe]

Friction disc

Thank you for that correct terminology! I couldn't think of the proper name!

The rubber wheel drives the metal wheel which drives the augers. The rubber wheel eventually wears out. No big deal to change it out though.

 

[Lou C]

I've got something even simpler. Toro single stage, just a simple belt. I love these little machines for their light weight and minimal maintenance. This one has a 5 hp Suzuki 2 stroke.

 

[racerone]

The rubber friction disc drives the wheels and not the auger.----I do not believe the friction disc can even drive the auger.----Too much load and that disc would slip.-----Old and simple drive concept that was on the Ariens machines 50 years ago.

 

[poconojoe]

I've got something even simpler. Toro single stage, just a simple belt. I love these little machines for their light weight and minimal maintenance. This one has a 5 hp Suzuki 2 stroke.

Yep, one of my neighbors has one like that. It's lighter and easier to handle.

His doesn't have any wheels that drive it, he has to push it, but it's not heavy at all. He pushes it forward and back, then forward to help it along, but it does work.

It's also surprising how it can handle some really deep snow. I was shocked how he was able to clear his driveway after nearly 3 feet of snow. Maybe not as easily as full blown 2 stage monster, but it does get the job done.

 

[poconojoe]

The rubber friction disc drives the wheels and not the auger.----I do not believe the friction disc can even drive the auger.----Too much load and that disc would slip.-----Old and simple drive concept that was on the Ariens machines 50 years ago.

Oh, I stand corrected, thanks!
Like I said, it was a while ago when I did the repair, so I must have recalled incorrectly.

 

[KJM]

My father had a snowblower like that and I found it had a tendency to want to ride up over deeper heavy snow rather then dig in. Hope you have better luck (and less snow!), for 100 bucks you can't really go wrong.

 

[The Force power]

Maybe I should just leave the auger box alone.The grease I was able to see looked extremely clean and the gearbox clearly never has any leak or seepage so maybe leave well enough alone. With my luck ,the grease I add will not be compatible with the grease already in there and then I am screwed.Charlie

I removed the plug-bolt and installed a grease-nipple, boy that thing was empty (25+ years old) when it was full it actually came out between the two halves (I expected to blow the seals lol)

 

[bassman284]

That thing is junk, doesn't even have headlights, a stereo, or a heated seat.
But ok for $100, I guess. LOL

Yeah THAT's a snow blower. Actually kinda wasted on a tiny bit of snow like that, but what the heck? Ya got it, use it.

 

[roscoe]

The rubber friction disc drives the wheels and not the auger.----I do not believe the friction disc can even drive the auger.----Too much load and that disc would slip.-----Old and simple drive concept that was on the Ariens machines 50 years ago.

Same drive system on dad's old -- 1969 -- snapper rear engine lawn mower.
Had to repower her in 2010, still going strong.

 

[matt167]

Same drive system on dad's old -- 1969 -- snapper rear engine lawn mower.
Had to repower her in 2010, still going strong.

Snapper still uses the friction disc on the RER's even today. The machine is the same minus a better deck and a couple new features. But they actually sell kits to bring the older ones up to the modern standard

 

[crazy charlie]

Cleaned the spark plug and carb and now it starts on the 1st pull.Cant complain about that except that the housing for the electric starter takes the skin off of my index finger knuckle when I pull start it.Very happy with my purchase!! Charlie

 

[sam am I]

takes the skin off of my index finger knuckle when I pull start it.

Gives new meaning to "Gets the ole blood flowing eh"?