Ariens Deluxe Two-Stage Snow Blower Cab

After purchasing a new ST26LE late last year I wanted to add some upgrades to it. I'd already bought the Roller Skid wheels, heated grips, and drift cutters. But after another winter of snowfall after snowfall I'd had enough of being blasted by snow in the face thus ordered a cab. All in all it's a decent piece but I believe the mounting can be improved upon. The cab has enough weight that when you tighten up the pinch-bolts to secure the cab from pivoting forwardbackward you still can experience some slippage at times. The two things that will resolve this are to either use some friction paste as you use with carbon fiber bicycle handlebarsstems to keep them from slipping (even with proper torque)... or another simple thing is to just drill an 18" hole through the clamp area and crossbar and put in a steel rivet to keep things from rotating. Also make sure that the knob-style bolts that hold the cab onto the removable mounts are snug. They can back themselves out but you can use some blue Loctite or even some Nylon line wrapped around the threads to help out. The auger and chute controls fit right through the zippered opening, and the headlight is still plenty bright even through the vinyl window. All in all the cab works very well and does have a 2-year warranty too. I'd definitely recommend it.

After purchasing a new ST26LE late last year I wanted to add some upgrades to it. I'd already bought the Roller Skid wheels, heated grips, and drift cutters. But after another winter of snowfall after snowfall I'd had enough of being blasted by snow in the face thus ordered a cab. All in all it's a decent piece but I believe the mounting can be improved upon. The cab has enough weight that when you tighten up the pinch-bolts to secure the cab from pivoting forwardbackward you still can experience some slippage at times. The two things that will resolve this are to either use some friction past... more

I ordered model 921022 from Snow Blowers Direct on the advice of my insurance adjuster. I had a Ariens model 921021 which had been damaged beyond repair in an accident during transport. When I got the new model it arrived in a cardboard crate that had been damaged, however there appeared to be no damage to the unit, so I accepted it.

I did the necessary assembly per the instructions that comes with the unit. I even checked all the factory assembled nuts and bolts, oil drain plugs, etc., just to make sure nothing was overlooked or loosened during shipment. I checked the oil level, it barely registered on the dip stick which I thought was unusual as most companies ship with oil added as most companies do a test run, so I added enough oil to bring to the proper level on the dipstick. I then added gas and fired it up. It ran good, I let it run for about 15 minutes, then shut it down.

The next day we had 3 inches of snow so I was able to actually use the blower, it did the job quite well. I returned the blower to the garage, cleaned it up and put it away. In about another week, the blower cab arrived, so I went out to install it to the blower. When I got to the blower, there was a large pool of oil below and around the blower, the dip stick registered nothing. I could not detect how the oil drained from the unit even after removing the bottom pan and the shield on top. The drain plug was in place and tight.

I called Snow Blowers Direct and was told to take it to a local dealer to evaluate and repair. It has been there about two weeks now, we've had two snowfalls since - which I've had to shovel by hand - and I still do not know when I'll get the unit back. Needless to say, I am not pleased at all with the situation.

I ordered model 921022 from Snow Blowers Direct on the advice of my insurance adjuster. I had a Ariens model 921021 which had been damaged beyond repair in an accident during transport. When I got the new model it arrived in a cardboard crate that had been damaged, however there appeared to be no damage to the unit, so I accepted it.

I did the necessary assembly per the instructions that comes with the unit. I even checked all the factory assembled nuts and bolts, oil drain plugs, etc., just to make sure nothing was overlooked or loosened during shipment. I checked the oil... more

This other reviewers gave 5 stars, I would have also except for the mounting frame brackets. These brackets** will move or relocate as you tighten them where they attach to the frame where two frame pieces meet which do not form a 100% "round tube".

** despite the V-shape of the bracket to clamp securely to a round tube and its spacer

I found it helpful to cut up several small pieces of rubber strips from an old garage floor mat to form around the frame where you attach the mounting brackets. This improved or lessened the brackets from moving. I would advise having a helper during the assembly and in particular making the adjustments to shift the snow cab (up/down and left/right) before tightening the bracket clamps.

Am I glad I purchased the unit? Yes!

Would I recommend a small redesign of the frame mounting brackets? Yes! I'll be happy to be a "tester" for any improved part.

Would I recommend the snow cab for other Ariens owners? Yes!

This other reviewers gave 5 stars, I would have also except for the mounting frame brackets. These brackets** will move or relocate as you tighten them where they attach to the frame where two frame pieces meet which do not form a 100% "round tube".

** despite the V-shape of the bracket to clamp securely to a round tube and its spacer

I found it helpful to cut up several small pieces of rubber strips from an old garage floor mat to form around the frame where you attach the mounting brackets. This improved or lessened the brackets from moving. I would... more

In December 09 we got about 8 inches of snow overnight. I fired up the old snowblower I owned and started doing my thing. It was a 7 horse, 24" two-stage a bit over 10 years old. I picked up an extension cord with it. The cord wrapped around the auger and stopped the motor.

Not thinking anything of it I yanked out the cord and restarted it. It would move but not blow any snow. "Shear pins" I thought, but they were fine. Just then I noticed that the differential had blown up....again. I had just repaired this thing the previous year. I was just a tad angry.

So I went into the house and searched "snowblowers". How can you go wrong with a name like SnowBlowersDirect.com? (No guessing what they sell...) So I clicked on it. I did some looking and comparing the different brands on their site.

The day before at work a coworker and I were talking about the impending storm and he was telling me how much he liked his Ariens, so that's what I bought.

I ordered it on a Wednesday. I paid for the lift gate and express delivery because I still had 8 inches of snow on my driveway and it wasn't going to just go away; and shoveling a 130 yard driveway(yes that's 130 yards= 390 feet) is out of the question.

It arrived two days later, on Friday. I unboxed it, read the instructions and put it together. No big deal, really.

This is a big snowblower- it cannot be stopped. With 6 forward gears it walked through 18-24" drifts in 2nd gear. I was putting snow on my neighbors roof with this thing.

I love the chute controls, no more walking around the front or cranking the handle a couple hundred times. You aim it where you want it, it locks, and that's where the snow goes. Easy to start, easy to use, it's a great machine.

What used to take me 2+ hours now takes 45 minutes. And with the Ariens canopy I got for Christmas I'm blowing snow in my jacket and jeans, no more snow blowing back in my face. I'm completely protected from the wind, too.

In December 09 we got about 8 inches of snow overnight. I fired up the old snowblower I owned and started doing my thing. It was a 7 horse, 24" two-stage a bit over 10 years old. I picked up an extension cord with it. The cord wrapped around the auger and stopped the motor.

Not thinking anything of it I yanked out the cord and restarted it. It would move but not blow any snow. "Shear pins" I thought, but they were fine. Just then I noticed that the differential had blown up....again. I had just repaired this thing the previous year. I was just a tad angry.
... more

I always had a cab on my older model Ariens snow blower, and the old one I had about ten years or longer; it was a bigger model.

But I couldn't get my hands on the 30-inch since they were so back ordered; I even had a very hard time getting the Deluxe 27 inch- they were back ordered too, but I finally got one,

But the place I bought the snow blower couldn't get me the Ariens genuine OEM cab. I had a small fire that melted my old cab on my older snow blower so I know what it's like with, and without the cab.

Without the cab it rots- I even had the hand warmers and was dressed for winter but still the snow blew back and I couldn't take the very cold winter winds; and I am still a young guy. But I made sure I bought the cab when I bought the snow blower.

I haven't taken it out of box yet to check it out because if I don't get any more snow it'll make it easier to store during the warm season without the cab on. Once I get the cab on, it's there for good!

I would for sure recommend the genuine Ariens snow thrower cab to any one I know without a doubt.

I always had a cab on my older model Ariens snow blower, and the old one I had about ten years or longer; it was a bigger model.

But I couldn't get my hands on the 30-inch since they were so back ordered; I even had a very hard time getting the Deluxe 27 inch- they were back ordered too, but I finally got one,

But the place I bought the snow blower couldn't get me the Ariens genuine OEM cab. I had a small fire that melted my old cab on my older snow blower so I know what it's like with, and without the cab.

Without the cab it rots- I even had the ... more

I had a 1028 Ariens (another prosumer model). It had hand warmers, a cab, and also a 28 inch plow path.

I wanted to buy a 30-inch with hand warmers since it was bigger than my old one, but no way- everyone local was all sold out and way back-ordered.

I finally got my hands on one, but I had to set it up. I put it together and it started kind of hard at first.

It turned out I had the key off, and the choke in the wrong spot... after finding that out it started right up.

I tried it out in the frozen up snow I had left over, and it did as good a job as my 28 inch ever did.

I would recommend this to anyone looking for a pro-type Ariens snow blower with a very good size plow path.

I had a 1028 Ariens (another prosumer model). It had hand warmers, a cab, and also a 28 inch plow path.

I wanted to buy a 30-inch with hand warmers since it was bigger than my old one, but no way- everyone local was all sold out and way back-ordered.

I finally got my hands on one, but I had to set it up. I put it together and it started kind of hard at first.

It turned out I had the key off, and the choke in the wrong spot... after finding that out it started right up.

I tried it out in the frozen up snow I had left over, and it d... more

I ordered this Ariens 520EC from you because of your reputation as a solid internet retailer. The thrower arrived very promptly since I added priority shipment to my order, and I could not be happier.

I have quite a few acres of land and a long winding driveway, which this thing makes short work of. I strongly suggest making the extra investment with the snow cab and the clean out tool (if your model doesn't already come with this feature).

The cab keeps me warm with the strong winter wind, while the clean up tool makes short work of removing anything caught underneath in the blades (plus it keeps your hands safe!) It wouldn't hurt to have some shear pins hanging around either...

Thanks so much!

I ordered this Ariens 520EC from you because of your reputation as a solid internet retailer. The thrower arrived very promptly since I added priority shipment to my order, and I could not be happier.

I have quite a few acres of land and a long winding driveway, which this thing makes short work of. I strongly suggest making the extra investment with the snow cab and the clean out tool (if your model doesn't already come with this feature).

The cab keeps me warm with the strong winter wind, while the clean up tool makes short work of removing anything caught und... more