Forums Archive Index > Outdoor Power Equipment > Trying to ID Old Ariens machine ( and new member intro)
Date: 10 Dec 2006 9:39 pm
Hi, new member here in MA. Useful site!
I inherited a rather old Ariens snowblower.
I am trying to figure out what year it is, and verify the model number.
On the side of the impeller / auger unit is a tag with 7-10M 141871. I think that means the model is a 7-10M.
However on the rear of the unit below the motor is another tag that reads 10M6D 055844.
Both are Ariens tags.
It has a 24 inch cut I think, and a 6HP Tecumseh.
It didn't run when I got it, ( sitting a number of years I believe) so I carefully disassembled the carb, and it was just full of varnish. Took a whole can of Gumout and some compressed air, but I cleaned it up, and the machine then started on the second pull. The drive and the auger work great.
Now going through it with grease / lube etc. But it seems good.
Thanks in advance if anyone can tell me the age /model for sure....
Craig
Date: 10 Dec 2006 10:50 pm
Welcome to the Forum!
Hang in there, you should hear within a day or sooner from some folks in the know.
Date: 11 Dec 2006 12:30 am
Hi Craig & Welcome! :D
While I cannot tell you what year machine you have, I DO know that Ariens used different model numbers to differentiate between the tractor (the self propelled, rear part of the machine) and the front accessory part (ie: auger, sweeper)...
Marty
Date: 11 Dec 2006 7:24 pm
Hi & welcome...
Get all the numbers you can off the machine... then call Ariens customer service (www.ariens.com) to get all the info. you want... they likely even have owners/service manuals for it (<$10)...
I did the same 2-3 years ago for a 1960's Ariens snowthrower I bought used... they impressed me with the search I presented them with...
Dave...
Date: 11 Dec 2006 7:35 pm
dave___in___ct wrote:
Hi & welcome...
Get all the numbers you can off the machine... then call Ariens customer service (www.ariens.com) to get all the info. you want... they likely even have owners/service manuals for it (<$10)...
I did the same 2-3 years ago for a 1960's Ariens snowthrower I bought used... they impressed me with the search I presented them with...
Dave...
Thank you Dave, and Marty for the advice. I did what you suggested.
Also am going to get the manuals as well.
Have a great day
Craig
Date: 11 Dec 2006 7:40 pm
OK Craig...
I got the info. I needed from Ariens for the 196o's snowblower... the owner's manual... and service manual...
It was/is a sweet snowblower with true differential drive... it just did not throw the snow far and I decided not to invest the time & $ to investigate and resolve that... so I sold it the next year for same $ I paid...
Good luck with your... and Ariens still (likely) has parts for it !
Dave...
Date: 11 Dec 2006 10:21 pm
craigvalk wrote:
Hi, new member here in MA. Useful site!
I inherited a rather old Ariens snowblower.
I am trying to figure out what year it is, and verify the model number.
On the side of the impeller / auger unit is a tag with 7-10M 141871. I think that means the model is a 7-10M.
However on the rear of the unit below the motor is another tag that reads 10M6D 055844.
Both are Ariens tags.
It has a 24 inch cut I think, and a 6HP Tecumseh.
It didn't run when I got it, ( sitting a number of years I believe) so I carefully disassembled the carb, and it was just full of varnish. Took a whole can of Gumout and some compressed air, but I cleaned it up, and the machine then started on the second pull. The drive and the auger work great.
Now going through it with grease / lube etc. But it seems good.
Thanks in advance if anyone can tell me the age /model for sure....
Craig
This unit is listed in the Parts Radar on the Ariens website. Majorxlr8n is right, this sounds like the model number is for the drive only. 10M6D is the model number. PM me and I'll see if I can get you the date of manufacture (or at least the approximate year).
PK
Date: 12 Dec 2006 10:43 am
Snowmann wrote:
craigvalk wrote:
Hi, new member here in MA. Useful site!
I inherited a rather old Ariens snowblower.
I am trying to figure out what year it is, and verify the model number.
On the side of the impeller / auger unit is a tag with 7-10M 141871. I think that means the model is a 7-10M.
However on the rear of the unit below the motor is another tag that reads 10M6D 055844.
Both are Ariens tags.
It has a 24 inch cut I think, and a 6HP Tecumseh.
It didn't run when I got it, ( sitting a number of years I believe) so I carefully disassembled the carb, and it was just full of varnish. Took a whole can of Gumout and some compressed air, but I cleaned it up, and the machine then started on the second pull. The drive and the auger work great.
Now going through it with grease / lube etc. But it seems good.
Thanks in advance if anyone can tell me the age /model for sure....
Craig
This unit is listed in the Parts Radar on the Ariens website. Majorxlr8n is right, this sounds like the model number is for the drive only. 10M6D is the model number. PM me and I'll see if I can get you the date of manufacture (or at least the approximate year).
PK
:welcome:
There you go......you can't ask for better service than that.........
Welcome to the club!
Ken
:bc:
Date: 12 Dec 2006 2:14 pm
Circa 1968... She's got some experience alright...
Date: 12 Dec 2006 6:03 pm
[quote="Snowmann"]Circa 1968... She's got some experience alright...[/quote]
Thanks fellas. It surely is broken in! :lol:
I emailed Ariens with the info and shall see what they have to say.
I am mostly concerned with checking / changing the lube in the gear box on the auger, ( how much, what type ) and I am not yet sure if there is a belt or a chain on the drive unit that needs attention. Didn't want to start tearing into it before I get a manual. If it was a belt I am nervous already as it is likely dry rotted from sitting. Trying to get the monster right before a snowfall hits here in Mass.
Craig
Date: 12 Dec 2006 9:07 pm
I bought a used one and took photos of it and wrote down as many number I could find. I went to a Ariens dealer and they knew exactly what it was. Yours is probably a 10m60. I ordered the manuals and got the engine numbers.
Date: 12 Dec 2006 9:31 pm
[quote="wheely_boy"]I bought a used one and took photos of it and wrote down as many number I could find. I went to a Ariens dealer and they knew exactly what it was. Yours is probably a 10m60. I ordered the manuals and got the engine numbers.[/quote]
Judging from your pic and the parts radar on the Ariens site I'd say you are right. Thanks for that.
Have you changed the belt on it? I can see now that there is one there.
Wondering how difficult it is. I may go after that thing sooner rather than later.
Best
Craig
Date: 12 Dec 2006 10:47 pm
craigvalk wrote:
Snowmann wrote:
Circa 1968... She's got some experience alright...
Thanks fellas. It surely is broken in! :lol:
I emailed Ariens with the info and shall see what they have to say.
I am mostly concerned with checking / changing the lube in the gear box on the auger, ( how much, what type ) and I am not yet sure if there is a belt or a chain on the drive unit that needs attention. Didn't want to start tearing into it before I get a manual. If it was a belt I am nervous already as it is likely dry rotted from sitting. Trying to get the monster right before a snowfall hits here in Mass.
Craig
Craig, This is the old Helicon style gearcase. It uses Ariens L2 gear lube. You can use a 90W EP rated gear oil if none of that is handy. The replacement interval is 25 hours. http://manual.ariens.com can get you to the 910,XXX series snothros. Being that yours was sold as a tractor and head separately (looks like there is no online manual), you may want to just match up the unit that looks like yours. One should be an close to exact match. There is a gearcase service segment in these manuals. I got the mfg date from Ariens Tech Service Dept. It should be accurate. I would give this unit the full service being as old as it is. You'll need to worry more about the auger belt than the drive belt. It transmits the bulk of the power to the head. The drive uses a very minimal amount of power to propel the unit. That being said, the drive belt typcially lasts much longer.
PK
Date: 13 Dec 2006 7:08 am
PK many thanks.
I will be out in the garage tonight tinkering, and I definitely planned on going through the whole machine, no idea how well or poorly it was taken care of. Although if it lasted this long someone must have looked after it a bit, one would think....
Best
C
Date: 14 Dec 2006 7:23 am
craigvalk wrote:
Although if it lasted this long someone must have looked after it a bit, one would think....
Or its just a GOOD machine that can withstand neglect! :wink:
Have fun with your maintenance routine! Its always GOOD to get one's hands dirty...
Marty
Date: 19 Dec 2006 7:08 am
I was out doing my service work this weekend and glad I did. I went to change the oil in the auger gearbox and when I did so, only a few drops of oil came out. Refilled with fresh lube and all is well. I took the grease gun to the zerks on it and it actually appeared those had been maintained well. Fresh oil change, 5w30 synthetic, and the carb problems appear over as it starts on the first pull. Bring on the snow........
Craig