ebinmaine 68,742 #26 Posted January 22, 2020 @WVHillbilly520H @pullstart The reason I want a walk behind is for space constraints and also for traction issues. The hill beside the house goes down beside the shed as well and that can get very very slippery from runoff. There is another area in the dog run that is similar. 28 is a Max width and walk behind really is a necessity, not a desire. In the future I would not be opposed 2 having a 44 wide on the front of another horse for the upper main driveway. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,742 #27 Posted January 22, 2020 First of all. Thank you everybody for your advice and help with what brands you like. We did a ton of research and obviously included this thread. We chose this machine because we felt like it would give us the best long-term reliability and bang for the buck. Also because I was able to purchase it off the showroom floor at a local dealer .... not use a box store. I was initially going to limit myself at $1,500 but I splurged just a bit. $1,599 plus tax and blah blah blah... I bought an Ariens Platinum 24 SHO. 369cc. 17 ft lb torque. Horsepower is not advertised but expert guesses put it between 12.3 and 13. 120-volt electric start. A light so you can see in the dark which is pretty important to us. Heated hand grips. I've never had those so I don't know if I like them yet. This machine has a very interesting feature called Auto-turn. I'm not at all sure how to describe it so I included Arien's own video at the bottom. I put it down into a snowbank in the back and this thing is VERY impressive. 8 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 26,101 #28 Posted January 22, 2020 Very nice! But...heated grips? Hhhmmm... is your colossus build gonna have a heated steering wheel and perhaps a heated seat? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,742 #29 Posted January 22, 2020 4 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said: Very nice! But...heated grips? Hhhmmm... is your colossus build gonna have a heated steering wheel and perhaps a heated seat? Don't eeeeven tempt me. To be honest. The SUV I drive has heated seats. I didn't buy it with those on purpose but I'm reeeeeeally beginning to like them. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 21,490 #30 Posted January 22, 2020 Nice choice! I have a similar Ariens and it’s great. Buying from a dealer was a smart move, their machines are always slightly better quality than the Home Depot and Lowe’s stuff. I’ve been told the big box stores can specify how they want the machines they are selling built (cheaply of course) so they can lower the price and lure in those that don’t know better. They specify a plastic bushing where a dealer machine will have a proper bearing for example. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,742 #31 Posted January 22, 2020 3 minutes ago, Sparky said: Nice choice! I have a similar Ariens and it’s great. Buying from a dealer was a smart move, their machines are always slightly better quality than the Home Depot and Lowe’s stuff. I’ve been told the big box stores can specify how they want the machines they are selling built (cheaply of course) so they can lower the price and lure in those that don’t know better. They specify a plastic bushing where a dealer machine will have a proper bearing for example. During our research I discovered that John Deere and several other brands absolutely DO THAT. That was the only one I was familiar with. Ariens as a brand claims that they do NOT do that. The difference with Ariens machines in the box stores is that they are limited to different models. I was also very impressed with the fact that many of the Ariens dealers stick to the recommended Ariens price. I paid exactly what I would have at this local small dealer in comparison to buying it online and having it delivered directly to my home. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WVHillbilly520H 10,374 #32 Posted January 22, 2020 @ebinmaine... May I suggest this ... Guide Gear Snow Blower Cab https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009H48KWK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_HHnkEbR67X3H5 ... I still think a cab is a valuable asset while operating any snow blower. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeacemakerJack 10,739 #33 Posted January 23, 2020 That is a BEASTIE for sure! I can’t wait to see the first video of that thing chucking a huge rooster tail into the sunny sky!!!! 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Achto 27,880 #34 Posted January 23, 2020 3 hours ago, ebinmaine said: Heated hand grips. I've never had those so I don't know if I like them yet. Congrats on your new machine Eric. I hope you like your Ariens as much as I like mine. The heated hand grips are a nice feature. You could run that blower in cold weather with out gloves but you'll wanna wear some to insulate your hands from the heat. It is nice to have the ability to turn them on when your finger tips get cold. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ohiofarmer 3,277 #35 Posted January 23, 2020 Very nice indeed. I can see Trina running it already. . She probably would say '' "Heated grips?, We don't need no stinking heated grips,” 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D_Mac 8,852 #36 Posted January 23, 2020 Great choice. Those are awesome machines. I hope you are happy with it. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,742 #37 Posted January 23, 2020 5 hours ago, ohiofarmer said: Very nice indeed. I can see Trina running it already. . She probably would say '' "Heated grips?, We don't need no stinking heated grips,” I don't remember her exact words but you're pretty close. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mows4three 826 #38 Posted January 23, 2020 Eric, My advise when using a snowblower: Be careful when you are blowing snow out of the dog run. Sometimes the rattling you hear in the blower isn’t caused by rocks. And, don’t direct this snow towards your vehicles. Once it melts, you’ll be in for a surprise. Dave 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,742 #39 Posted January 23, 2020 5 minutes ago, Mows4three said: Eric, My advise when using a snowblower: Be careful when you are blowing snow out of the dog run. Sometimes the rattling you hear in the blower isn’t caused by rocks. And, don’t direct this snow towards your vehicles. Once it melts, you’ll be in for a surprise. Dave That's just plain funny right there I might share this with Trina but if I do I might end up with my car covered with..... 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mows4three 826 #40 Posted January 23, 2020 Eric, Just like with Wheel Horse tractors, it’s only a matter of time until you get a second snowblower for Trina, then it will be all about upgrading and modifying them. The next thing you know..... 4 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Tuul Crib 7,338 #41 Posted January 23, 2020 Nice lookin machine ! Just hope it can get along with horses!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,742 #42 Posted January 23, 2020 32 minutes ago, The Tool Crib said: Nice lookin machine ! Just hope it can get along with horses!! It'll be okay Randy. It's not green. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,742 #43 Posted January 23, 2020 38 minutes ago, Mows4three said: Eric, Just like with Wheel Horse tractors, it’s only a matter of time until you get a second snowblower for Trina, then it will be all about upgrading and modifying them. The next thing you know..... I like your logic ... But what makes you think I would get a SECOND snowblower for TRINA? You think she's going to let me touch this one??? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
edgro 677 #44 Posted January 23, 2020 the heated grips are awesome. I also use heated motorcycle gloves when on the tractor. "Try it, you will like it" 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 63,174 #45 Posted January 23, 2020 21 hours ago, ebinmaine said: Don't eeeeven tempt me. To be honest. The SUV I drive has heated seats. I didn't buy it with those on purpose but I'm reeeeeeally beginning to like them. You and me both Buddy! The new Silverado has heated seats and steering wheel. I might have the A/C cranked and the steering wheel on come summer time! 1 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 63,174 #46 Posted January 23, 2020 That differential is like a backwards acting gov-lock or limited slip. In forward motion, it’s locked. Notice a range of motion from the axles? Slip a bit. Pretty slick Idea. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,742 #47 Posted January 23, 2020 2 minutes ago, pullstart said: That differential is like a backwards acting gov-lock or limited slip. In forward motion, it’s locked. Notice a range of motion from the axles? Slip a bit. Pretty slick Idea. Works pretty cool too. I really only tried it out on the smooth back deck. I'm very curious to see how it will work in a muddy rutted upper driveway that has 6" of snow over a tough surface. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 63,174 #48 Posted January 23, 2020 Just now, ebinmaine said: Works pretty cool too. I really only tried it out on the smooth back deck. I'm very curious to see how it will work in a muddy rutted upper driveway that has 6" of snow over a tough surface. Hey how much ground clearance does it have? Will it traverse a small obstacle course? Does it have independent suspension? Shocks? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,742 #49 Posted January 23, 2020 2 minutes ago, pullstart said: Hey how much ground clearance does it have? Will it traverse a small obstacle course? Does it have independent suspension? Shocks? Probably four inches. Yes. No. No. I feel another Pullstart project's coming on.... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Achto 27,880 #50 Posted January 23, 2020 (edited) Eric, I added one of these to my snow blower right after I got it just to keep track of maintenance. Maybe not necessary but kinda nice to have. https://www.amazon.com/NKTECH-Motorcycle-Snowmobile-Waterproof-Tachometer/dp/B073V4ZNRF/ref=pd_sbs_263_img_0/146-5488888-4636619?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B073V4ZNRF&pd_rd_r=76da16e3-975e-41fe-83a1-f76ce4ead40e&pd_rd_w=zCo4E&pd_rd_wg=F1ZbD&pf_rd_p=5cfcfe89-300f-47d2-b1ad-a4e27203a02a&pf_rd_r=PQET4410VX3EAZXR8HR9&psc=1&refRID=PQET4410VX3EAZXR8HR9 Edited January 23, 2020 by Achto 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
