Ariens Consumer Two-Stage (20") 5-HP Snow Blower

This is my second winter with the Ariens 520E and so far it has performed flawlessly.

Because of my limited garage space I wanted a machine that wouldn't be in the way or take up too much room. This machine fits perfectly.

Also, being from Wisconsin, I wanted to help support the local economy, plus I've always heard that Ariens builds a quality snowblower.

When my old machine finally needed to be replaced, I did extensive searching and opted for the 520E. I have a two car driveway about 60 feet long so I really had no need for a larger machine.

If I have any complaint it is a minor one. The machine has 6 forward and 2 reverse speeds. I have yet to use anything other than 1st or 2nd and when the snow is deep, even 1st gear seems too fast sometimes. I can't imagine what 5th or 6th gear would be used for?!? Other than that, it works great.

I also wanted a machine with electric start (my old one didn't have it) but to be honest, it starts so easily with one or two pulls the only time I ever used the electric starter was when I first got the machine just to see if it worked. It did.

I could have bought a cheaper machine, but I doubt I could have bought a better one.

This is my second winter with the Ariens 520E and so far it has performed flawlessly.

Because of my limited garage space I wanted a machine that wouldn't be in the way or take up too much room. This machine fits perfectly.

Also, being from Wisconsin, I wanted to help support the local economy, plus I've always heard that Ariens builds a quality snowblower.

When my old machine finally needed to be replaced, I did extensive searching and opted for the 520E. I have a two car driveway about 60 feet long so I really had no need for a larger machi... more

I bought this unit on sale from a Big Box Store late in the 2006 season. I have a 100 foot driveway and need to throw the snow over a 6 foot fence. At first, the unit did not disappoint. It easily threw the snow over the fence - maybe more than 20 feet in distance!

However, while the engine was easy to start in cold weather, it was very difficult to get it from the "start" throttle and choke setting to the "run" setting. It tends to stall out over and over during this process. It's also a bit of a nightmare to start while the engine is warm (i.e. after you refill the gas tank).

During it's second season, it worked fine almost all the way through clearing the first snowfall and then it died and would not start again. I took it to an authorized service person. He couldn't figure out what was wrong, so he took the engine apart and it worked when he re-assembled it. Although he said he had trouble getting it to run "properly".

Since then, it has worked (with the same starting issues as above) however it's power has steadily diminished. It now can barely handle 6 inches of snow with the weels being driven without conking out, and has trouble getting the snow over the fence. The last time I used it, it conked out again and the recoil start cord broke off when I was trying to start it.

I'm not sure if this was a "lemon" issue but I'm going to avoid Ariens and Tecumseh like the plague with my next snow thrower purchase. I'm hoping I can trade this one in for parts (aside from the engine, everything else seems to be working perfectly).

SBD RESPONDS: TecumsehPower Company stopped manufacturing Tecumseh engines in December 2008. It has sold certain assets of its engine business to Certified Parts Corporation (CPC). It also has sold its Peerless transmission division to Husqvarna Outdoor Products.

The folks at Ariens Tech Support may be able to help you find another service location in Canada. You can reach them at (800) 472-8359, Option 2.

I bought this unit on sale from a Big Box Store late in the 2006 season. I have a 100 foot driveway and need to throw the snow over a 6 foot fence. At first, the unit did not disappoint. It easily threw the snow over the fence - maybe more than 20 feet in distance!

However, while the engine was easy to start in cold weather, it was very difficult to get it from the "start" throttle and choke setting to the "run" setting. It tends to stall out over and over during this process. It's also a bit of a nightmare to start while the engine is warm (i.e. after y... more

I have a long, narrow city driveway and a small lot. I needed something that was not excessively wide and could throw snow well out of the way.

This machine will throw snow over 25' with no problem and can get through everything with the exception of wet slush. Hard packed, salty snow from the plow is no problem.

So far this winter we have had over 100" of snow, so it has gotten almost daily use and has proved very reliable. All I have to do is put gas in it.

The only time it clogged was when my son ran over a plastic, child's snow shovel. (The machine was fine but there wasn't much left of the shovel!)

The only drawback that I have noticed is that the chute does not rotate as far to the right as I would like- it is the only reason my rating is not 5 stars.

It is very well built and has exceeded my expectations.

I have a long, narrow city driveway and a small lot. I needed something that was not excessively wide and could throw snow well out of the way.

This machine will throw snow over 25' with no problem and can get through everything with the exception of wet slush. Hard packed, salty snow from the plow is no problem.

So far this winter we have had over 100" of snow, so it has gotten almost daily use and has proved very reliable. All I have to do is put gas in it.

The only time it clogged was when my son ran over a plastic, child's snow shovel... more

I purchased a 3 family house in 2006 and bought this model for the following winter.

I thought its narrow width would help when I snowblowed between parked cars.

I feel it is underpowered for hard compressed snow that the city plow leaves. I have been told that a good snowblower should have at least an 8 horse-powered engine (this model only has a 5).

It's not very good at handling the inclines on the property either. I have learned to work with gravity when clearing any inclines.

Good for someone with a single-family property on a quarter acre or less.

Narrow clearing width equals multiple passes to get the job done.

I purchased a 3 family house in 2006 and bought this model for the following winter.

I thought its narrow width would help when I snowblowed between parked cars.

I feel it is underpowered for hard compressed snow that the city plow leaves. I have been told that a good snowblower should have at least an 8 horse-powered engine (this model only has a 5).

It's not very good at handling the inclines on the property either. I have learned to work with gravity when clearing any inclines.

Good for someone with a single-family property on... more