The Decision has been made :) [updated]
Forums Archive Index > Outdoor Power Equipment > The Decision has been made :) [updated]
Author: EGreen
Date: 8 Nov 2005 2:41 am
[original post]
Been posting on abbyguide about my snow thrower choices. Right now the choice has changed from the 7524 Ariens Compact (truely compact and much to small for my needs) and Toro 826 to a choice between the Ariens 926 and Toro 826/828.
Its all about what kind of deal my father and I can get on either one. I like the rugged all Steel Ariens but would like the fact that my Lawnmower, Single Stage back-up and Snow blower are all the red with the white Toro lettering :P My father is being seduced by the toro triggers of the 828 and the joystick.
Just to summarize my thread for you all (and a link to it:http://www.abbysguide.com/ope/discussions/17638-0-1.html):
My long time snowblower (older than me, I'm 17) Hahn-Eclipse Snow Giant has died so its time to replace her rather than keep putting money into it each year (last 2 years it broke down, this year looks like a new engine is needed).
I live outside of Buffalo, NY. I don't get the brunt of the Lake Effect but still average a plentiful amount of inches of snow a year with big storms that pop up when ever they feel like it. I'm conviently located where in some cases a lake ontario storm can (and does) combine with a lake erie storm to pile snow up and up, so something with a good punch is needed. My driveway always gets a big "EOD" mess since I'm on the corner and the plow takes the turn wide first, and pulls all the lovely stuff from the middle of the small intersection and dumps it into my sidewalk entrance and driveway.
The 26 or 28 inch clearing width is great, 24 is suffice but the 7524 wasn't tall enough from the looks of it to handle the EOD (or larger storms), so we're going with the higher models, even just taking a half-way cut will certainly handle it and from what I hear an 8HP or 9HP will suffice (my 7hp Hahn-Eclipse-Snow Giant did the trick).
Expect me to post here from time to time with my experiance from the new blower, whichever is chosen. Now 'we' just need snow after its in my garage so I can play around with it.
[updated conclusion]
Well little known to me Ariens made a 8526LE $999, for some reason it didn't click in my head that for this year they upgraded it to the 926LE (that and I overlooked the Ariens 2006 lineup post). The local store (Jim's Lawn Equipment) was selling that for $999.
When we first walked in we didn't see it. The last one was in the back getting last minute adjustments to it as it aready had a home to go to. We saw 2 Ariens in the main show room, an 11526DLE and a 1336DLE. Although large and would be great to own they were both above the price limit. So after almost putting the OK on a Toro 826LE my father asked "what does Ariens have in the 1000 pricerange?" just to be curious, we figured it would be one of the smaller compact units.
Well we were wrong, he said "they make a 26 inch with an 8 1/2 HP engine". I was surprised to hear that, then he showed us the unit and corrected himself to say it was a 926LE.
Well....We go in tommorow to finalize the paperwork and then we will be the proud owners of an Ariens 926LE. The price is right, more powerful than the Toro 826LE (for same price), comes with the "shovel", driftcutters and all the others of a 926LE. Jim's was all out of them but they are on a truck scheduled to arrive soon (he was actually telling me they were suppose to arrive already and he is raising cain with the shippers). The controls are all steel contruction, no plastic as seen on the Toro.
Thats the model we are going to buy. I had overlooked the Ariens because of price (thinking I wouldn't find one for/under 1000 that wasn't a compact) but we couldn't say no to a 926LE for $999.
Author: krislu
Date: 8 Nov 2005 6:51 am
Green- Welcome to the forumn ! The machines your looking at are fine and will certainly do the trick. Just keep one other thing in mind when chosing, Service ! Should you need it you might want to go with the machine that has a dealer close to you. We would all love to hear more from you in the future. Let us know what you picked and how you like it when the snow starts to fly. - Kris :D
Author: faithfulFrank
Date: 8 Nov 2005 7:39 am
EGreen,
Welcome to the forum! I too live outside of Buffalo, NY, so I know what "Lake effect storms" are.
Good luck on your decision....let us know if we could help, and let us know what you decide on....we also have a review section....feel free to post there after you buy.
The Ariens come with nice retractable drift cutters for that end of driveway..
:lol:
Frank D.
Author: Chris S
Date: 8 Nov 2005 12:36 pm
Welcome Egreen,
Have you considered the Ariens 926 PRO model?
C
Author: EGreen
Date: 8 Nov 2005 12:46 pm
Chris S wrote:
Welcome Egreen,
Have you considered the Ariens 926 PRO model?
C
Yes I have but now the Deluxe has a great little "trigger" (I believe it does for this years model) that should help with turning from what I understand.
Plus we're trying to bargain down to the 1000 mark for the 828LXE, and its going successfully so far, last years model might just be talked down since it appears their isn't a shortage of new ones in my area for Toro, Ariens on the otherhand are alittle more scare and mostly just the big 10/11/13HP models but they still to are price competitive. At one hardware store the Ariens 11hp model was less expensive than the Ariens 9hp simply because it was last years model or something to that effect. My dad wanted to purchase it right away when I told him the bigger one was cheaper, then he saw the size and said maybe something just alittle smaller, and the price was still up above the limit.
Author: faithfulFrank
Date: 8 Nov 2005 1:01 pm
EGreen,
According to the newest Ariens catolog, the 926LE is still pin lock, without the trigger control......I just checked their website and verified this.
The 11528LE and the 1332LE have "the trigger", as well as all of the "Pro" series.
I know price is an important consideration, and there are good models at every price point. Just be sure to correctly decide what your needs are here in Western NY, and get what you need, knowing that you will have it and use it for years.......sometimes when you devide the cost by the number of years you will use it, an extra $20/year is a small price to pay for having the model that gives you the confidence to handle anything you need it to.
"Cry once when you buy it, then be happy for years after"
Good luck with your purchase! Any day you have a new blower in your garage is a good day!
I had to make the same decision last year....I figured that if I was dumb enough to live here, I'd better have the right tools to make it through the winter. My wife said, "Do whats best for the family...", knowing that whatever I bought may have to be used by her or the boys if I was stuck at work.
I let her pick out a new iron and ironing board, I picked out the snowblower :lol:
Whoever uses it the most and knows most about it, buys it.
Good luck!!
Frank D......fellow Western NY'er.
Author: EGreen
Date: 8 Nov 2005 1:13 pm
^^^ Yeah I've been telling him that but some dental work for my brother is also crunching the budget. I think it kinda hurts him to think about a machine out liveing him. Then again this Snow Giant out lived my grandfather.
Author: faithfulFrank
Date: 8 Nov 2005 1:31 pm
EGreen,
I hear ya! If it helps, I posted a thread the moderators were kind enough to make a sticky up on top called "Buying a snowblower? Read this first...."
Let us know how things work out....you are wise in shopping now and not waiting for that "first snowstorm" to buy...
Frank D.
Author: EGreen
Date: 10 Nov 2005 6:13 pm
Well little known to me Ariens made a 8526LE $999, for some reason it didn't click in my head that for this year they upgraded it to the 926LE (that and I overlooked the Ariens 2006 lineup post). The local store (Jim's Lawn Equipment) was selling that for $999.
When we first walked in we didn't see it. The last one was in the back getting last minute adjustments to it as it aready had a home to go to. We saw 2 Ariens in the main show room, an 11526DLE and a 1336DLE. Althought large and would be great to own they were both above the price limit. So after almost putting the OK on a Toro 826LE my father asked "what does Ariens have in the 1000 pricerange?" just to be curious, we figured it would be one of the smaller compact units.
Well we were wrong, he said "they make a 26 inch with an 8 1/2 HP engine". I was surprised to hear that, then he showed us the unit and corrected himself to say it was a 926LE.
Well....We go in tommorow to finalize the paperwork and then we will be the proud owners of an Ariens 926LE. The price is right, more powerful than the Toro 826LE (for same price), comes with the "shovel", driftcutters and all the others of a 926LE. Jim's was all out of them but they are on a truck scheduled to arrive soon (he was actually telling me they were suppose to arrive already and he is raising cain with the shippers). The controls are all steel contruction, no plastic as seen on the Toro.
Thats the model we are going to buy. I had overlooked the Ariens because of price (thinking I wouldn't find one for/under 1000 that wasn't a compact) but we couldn't say no to a 926LE for $999.
Author: Marshall
Date: 10 Nov 2005 6:42 pm
Don't you love it when a plan comes together. :wink:
Come back and tell us all about it, the excitement in typed words are great to read and hear. :D
Author: EGreen
Date: 11 Nov 2005 12:09 am
updated title :)
Yeah I'm glade we decided on Ariens, they look like something the highway department would use, Toro is nice but I like the steel to know there is "room" for accidental abuse.
Author: Marshall
Date: 11 Nov 2005 1:27 pm
I like it, congrats! :wink:
Author: EGreen
Date: 14 Nov 2005 6:12 pm
Well some slightly bad news, the new blower isn't expected to arrive and be available and delivered until around December 2nd, seems there was a mistake by Ariens with shipping the new models to the dealer and their not sure where they are/went. From what I understand their building more and sending them out. "Jim" said he would lend us a used snow thrower if we needed one in the meantime but we'll do fine with with our single stage Toro until then.
Home Depot on the other hand had many, many Ariens 926LEs. They charge for setup and dilivery unlike Jim's and honestly when I was there the ones labeled "sold" and were about to be put on a truck for dilevery look poorly done, on a few the chute controls didn't work right and on others wouldn't work at all. So we decided to be patient (hard but we shall wait) and go with the "hometown" dealer who I know will put the blower together right and for a good price. When you factor in the free assembly and delivery Jim's has a better deal than Home Depot (both start a 999, then then depot adds costs on, sneaky sneaky :P)
Author: snowshoveler
Date: 14 Nov 2005 7:54 pm
im glad you kept with the deal at the dealer.
you know you are getting a properly setup machine.
an ariens is like a .... special .
they need that little bit of finness at first to make everything perfect.
and then ,long years of reliability.
later chris
Author: Marshall
Date: 14 Nov 2005 10:16 pm
Wanna make a bet on where the shipment ended up?
HD, and I don't mean high definition. :wink:
Author: tallyhoe
Date: 15 Nov 2005 5:23 am
Aren't the Toro 826 and Ariens 926 delivered with the exact motor. From what ive read the horsepower difference is only a gimmick by Ariens. Same engine number yada yada yada.
Author: EGreen
Date: 15 Nov 2005 10:04 pm
Marshall wrote:
Wanna make a bet on where the shipment ended up?
HD, and I don't mean high definition. :wink:
I wouldn't be surprised, they had many of each model, more so than last year when we were considering units.
tallyhoe wrote:
Aren't the Toro 826 and Ariens 926 delivered with the exact motor. From what ive read the horsepower difference is only a gimmick by Ariens. Same engine number yada yada yada.
That I don't know about, maybe something is done with the muffler, carb, air intake, or a combination of all to add more power. As far as I'm concerned the Toro shouldn't be priced at $999 if they want to sell well against the Ariens.
The Ariens has the light (standard, the Toro priceing book says to add 50 bucks for a Light), all steel (Toro has the plastic which is durable but I still feel that steel is better, and since plastic is suppose to be a price reduction thing it still should cost less).
I'll talk to the dealer again to find out the truth. The Ariens 2006 post says they upped the 8.5 engine to 9.25, it doesn't say how, just says they did it. I really don't know if it is just "marketing" or not. I'd imagine they might change the air intake, filter, muffler, carb, or a combination of things to get an output inprovement. It also might be something with the transmission/gearing. Not sure in what way the rating is taken for snow blowers.
Author: faithfulFrank
Date: 15 Nov 2005 10:24 pm
EGreen,
Glad you stuck with the dealer...he sounds like a good guy if he was willing to lend you a blower if needed before Dec 2nd.........
Now your warranty will last longer...... :P
That Dealer may be worth his weight in gold if something is needed later....I'm sure he will take care of his own before he takes care of all the HD customers....
The wait will just make the actual getting of it sweeter....now just concentrate on Turkeyday, football, black Friday sales....don't even think about orange until NEXT MONTH..... :lol:
It will be here begore you know it........if you had it now it would just be teasing you until the snow falls anyway.
Frank D.
Author: EGreen
Date: 17 Nov 2005 9:27 pm
faithfulFrank wrote:
The wait will just make the actual getting of it sweeter....now just concentrate on Turkeyday, football, black Friday sales....don't even think about orange until NEXT MONTH..... :lol:
It will be here begore you know it........if you had it now it would just be teasing you until the snow falls anyway.
Frank D.
Well its getting to that time of season, the south towns of Western New York got their first dose of lake effect today/yesterday. Topping out over a foot in some places, I only got a dusting so its really just making me glad we're going to visit some family friends in kentucky to keep the white stuff out of our heads.
Author: robmints
Date: 17 Nov 2005 9:55 pm
EGreen wrote:
Marshall wrote:
Wanna make a bet on where the shipment ended up?
HD, and I don't mean high definition. :wink:
I wouldn't be surprised, they had many of each model, more so than last year when we were considering units.
tallyhoe wrote:
Aren't the Toro 826 and Ariens 926 delivered with the exact motor. From what ive read the horsepower difference is only a gimmick by Ariens. Same engine number yada yada yada.
That I don't know about, maybe something is done with the muffler, carb, air intake, or a combination of all to add more power. As far as I'm concerned the Toro shouldn't be priced at $999 if they want to sell well against the Ariens.
The Ariens has the light (standard, the Toro priceing book says to add 50 bucks for a Light), all steel (Toro has the plastic which is durable but I still feel that steel is better, and since plastic is suppose to be a price reduction thing it still should cost less).
I'll talk to the dealer again to find out the truth. The Ariens 2006 post says they upped the 8.5 engine to 9.25, it doesn't say how, just says they did it. I really don't know if it is just "marketing" or not. I'd imagine they might change the air intake, filter, muffler, carb, or a combination of things to get an output inprovement. It also might be something with the transmission/gearing. Not sure in what way the rating is taken for snow blowers.
E,
I think the light is standard on the Toro this year? I have not seen an instore price, just prices on the net. Gotta wait for the Orange Box to set the price, the dealers will most likely follow. Toro does have that Quick Stick and that could easily make up someones mind if that is a feature that is important to them. The others have some new versions of turning the chute, but the Toro system sure is nice. It is the version I like, but it has only been out a year, time will tell.
When your machine comes in you might want to stop by the dealer and check the adjustments out before they bring the machine over. The chute gizmo is the thing I would look most closely at. It seems like there is a fine line between too loose and too tight. If it is too loose the momentum of the chute seems to make the chute want to slam from one side to the other, too tight is, well, too tight. Chris is right, as usual, they sure work well when adjusted properly. But when they are not, they don't.
Author: EGreen
Date: 18 Nov 2005 1:25 am
I had read that the new Toro is standard with a light, but its an "option" apparently according to the Toro booklet given to the dealers. They now offer an 826LE w/ or w/o light and an 828LXE with triggers and an 828LE with out a trigger, the others remain the same I believe, didn't inquire into them. So all X versions will have triggers.
That was my understanding when he was explaining the different models and looking through the Toro book. Toro makes a great machine but I think the could drop the price some to cover more ground. The dealer was telling me he sells more two stage Ariens than Toro two-stage but the Toro single stage are by far the winners.
I thinks its just my father (and I) couldn't see paying $999 for plastic materials when all steel construction is available for the same price.
Right now the 6000 is $949, then the 828LE for $999. If they dropped the 6000 down to $850 and the 828LE to $875-$900 they would certainly give Ariens something competition in 2-Stage machines. I could see paying that much difference for steel/plastic, but not on par like it is now. Plus the 6000 R*Tek would be great to compete with the home depot machines. Now the only thing that runs into is their "Snow Commander" price, which is nearly the same as the engine in the 6000.
I'm sure Toro has their reasons for pricing or it might just be that Ariens (or the dealers) are offering the 926LE for below its true market value?
Author: EGreen
Date: 18 Nov 2005 1:30 am
EGreen wrote:
faithfulFrank wrote:
The wait will just make the actual getting of it sweeter....now just concentrate on Turkeyday, football, black Friday sales....don't even think about orange until NEXT MONTH..... :lol:
It will be here begore you know it........if you had it now it would just be teasing you until the snow falls anyway.
Frank D.
Well its getting to that time of season, the south towns of Western New York got their first dose of lake effect today/yesterday. Topping out over a foot in some places, I only got a dusting so its really just making me glad we're going to visit some family friends in kentucky to keep the white stuff out of our heads.
Oh the storm totals came in and some areas recieved up to 23 inches (over 2 Feet with drifts) of snow in this storm. I'm glad the Lake Effect machine dodged me this time. I hope the next big one will hit me... of course with my Ariens ready to roll in my garage... so the mid-week of the week of December 5th would be great :)
Author: EGreen
Date: 7 Dec 2005 5:35 am
Haven't posted in awhile, been busy with holiday shopping and car stuff.
Anyway the snowblower still hasn't arrived at the dealer, both myself and the dealer are getting frustrated with the way Ariens seems to just keep Home Depot stocked to the brim with plenty of blowers and he hasn't received his units yet. If it weren't for the dealer doing free [correct] setup and delivery we might go to home depot. I hope this isn't the norm for Ariens, the Toro sounds nicer now knowing that its in stock and can be delivered soon. Then again patience is a virtue :)
Hope it gets here before official winter begins, so far the big lake effect storms have stayed south so I haven't needed a big blower. My Toro single stage is ready to go with a full tank of gas and spare can.
Author: robmints
Date: 7 Dec 2005 8:21 pm
E,
Does the dealer have a loaner? It would stink to get a storm and not have a machine. This weekends storm looks to be east of you, but who knows.
Author: faithfulFrank
Date: 7 Dec 2005 10:26 pm
E,
Sorry to hear that you have not received the orange beast yet......
Batavia has not yet gotten too much, but I get a lot of very hard packed wind blown drifting.
I've blown out the driveway 4 times so far this year, and it can use it again tonight.
Not a lot yet, but I like to keep it down close to the blacktop when possible.
Once you get it, all this waiting will be a distant memory.
Frank D.
Author: Richie
Date: 8 Dec 2005 7:04 am
[quote="
The Ariens 2006 post says they upped the 8.5 engine to 9.25, it doesn't say how, just says they did it.
Hi folks,
Now at least I'm sure knowing that my Toro 828LXE has over 9hp with my governed speed back adjusted to run at 3,600 RPM's. Although, I'm sure that 9.25 HP L-head on the Ariens, which is the same motor the Toro has, refers to the engine run without a muffler and before emissions are added in a laboratory. I see the HP numbers still mean nothing these days and companies still try to pull the wool over our eyes. It must be real interesting to see how badly Sears Craftsman is fudging their engine horse power ratings. I should rate mine at 10 hp since it has the non-emission fully adjustable carburetor on it. :lol:
Author: EGreen
Date: 9 Dec 2005 10:20 am
Yeah I'm sure all the waiting is justified by what a great machine I know now it is (I'll get to that in a second). The Toro single-stage in my signature handeled todays blast of a "reported" 4 inches but the 40-50 winds put about 6 in my driveway and the EOD was around a foot, foot and half because the blow decided to go down the center of the road, pushing stuff to my side, then comeing around again and pushing it the rest of the way over, plow still hasn't done the otherside so i've held off doing my neighboors until then. I feel sorry for them as the only have one of those plug-in ones.
Anyway back to how I know the 926LE is a great machine. Saw one today in action just a few minutes ago while dropping my father off at the Local VA Hospital for his checkup (might have been the Pro because there was snow on the panel so all I saw was a 92 and piece of a 6). There was plenty of the brown slush and the thrower threw it pretty good for slush, once it hit the packed and powered stuff it sent it a nice distance. Now I just need to experiance it from the controls :P
Author: EGreen
Date: 17 Dec 2005 4:04 pm
Well called the dealer again today and found out it wont be around until January! Called several other local dealersa and they are all out of them too and not expected to get them until January too.
All the new shipments will come in with the Briggs and Stratton engine and an added $50 dollars to the price tag. So it will will be 1049 instead of 999.
I've been tinkering around with my old Hahn-Eclipse and its still tempting to find out information on how much engines cost and just bolt a new one on.
Author: jubol
Date: 17 Dec 2005 4:12 pm
Egreen,
Check the " Small Engine Warehouse.
Great prices on engines!
IMHO Fred
Author: EGreen
Date: 17 Dec 2005 5:35 pm
Thanks, those prices are not bad at all, especially free ground shipping :)
Pulled some numbers of the engine on my Snow Giant:
Model #: H70 130156A
Serial#: 2172R (Possibly this means "Febuary 1st 1972" as that sounds about right for when this was made.)
I wish this engine would fit on it, it may:
http://www.smallenginewarehouse.com/product.asp?PN=171432THD
Matches my Snow Giants color perfectly :P
Looks like these could be winners:
Briggs and Stratton (may not work since my chute control needs to be mounted on top of the engine, this rules out the newer OHV design engines)
http://www.smallenginewarehouse.com/product.asp?PN=12D413-0019
Tecumseh
http://www.smallenginewarehouse.com/Product.asp?PN=HMSK90
On the tecumseh website the picture looks to have similar bolts on top so the chute control may be able to fit, or new holes drilled to the chute "harness" to make it fit. Thats assumeing putting a 9hp engine on a 7HP rated machine will work out with the added power sent through it.:
Where my chute control mounts:
See what happens when you get attached to your OPE.