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Average Rating: 4.8 of 5.0
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Written March 13, 2010 |
| Love it but got it almost too late! |
| By Steve (Quarryville, PA) |
I got this snowblower in time for the last 4 inches of snow we had and it was great!
Sure beats killing my back by shoveling! |
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Written March 12, 2010 |
| Very Pleased |
| By William (Reading, PA) |
The whole experience was exceptional...
Using SnowBlowersDirect.com was an easy and very simple process. They were very professional and pricing was great.
The shipping company they used was fast, pleasant and easy to set up delivery (very accommodating).
I was a little worried about them delivering when I wasn't home and actually, they were early and I wasn't home; but the delivery was settled with little problem.
The snowblower was what I expected out of Ariens. High quality with almost no plastic on the entire machine.
The main chute was metal and the control panel was metal. This is a machine built to last. I used it once and it made easy work out of the heavy snow the plows deposited at the mouth of our driveway.
Plenty of power throwing the snow into the neighbors yard (definitely a plus in my eyes).
Seriously... this is the perfect home owner's machine for the person who does his own house and his neighbor's, and his neighbor, and their neighbor's house. |
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Written March 06, 2010 |
| Looks Really Solid |
| By John (Pottstown, PA) |
We have been through three really bad storms this winter in PA and I finally buckled and decided to get a snow thrower. Tough luck getting one after three bad storms (over 65 inches total so far). I finally stumbled across Snow Blowers Direct and found the Ariens 27" Deluxe I was looking for. All the reviews say it is great.
I ordered it from SBD and they were able to get it to me a in record time. We were expecting another storm but it fizzled out and there was no rush, but when I told them there was I did get it in three days. Awesome!
I put it together and ran it for the break-in period and everything worked great. The machine is really solid. There are no cheap parts on it as far as I can tell and it started up on the first pull! Very impressive!
Now I am hoping for a small storm to just test it out (forecast is for 50 degrees tomorrow. Not good!). My gut feeling tells me that it will do great.
SBD has been really great and a pleasure to deal with. I will leave another review if I get to run the Ariens with some snow this season. |
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Written March 05, 2010 |
| Big snow in New Jersey |
| By Paul (Franklinville, NJ) |
I didn't think I needed a snowblower until we received about 81 inches of snow this season.
I called every store that I could find in about a 50 mile radius from my home and nobody had any in stock. So as my last resort I happened to find Snow Blowers Direct.com on the Internet.
This was the only company at that time that had any blowers in stock. Well, I figured I better order one before it was too late. I researched a lot of different brands of blowers and Ariens seemed to come out on top.
So, I ordered one from Snowblowers Direct. I received it in about one week and I have to say that nothing stops this blower.
I cut through 2 to 3 foot drifts like they were nothing, and even ones that were packed with ice were no problem.
I would recommend this product to anyone and the service from Snowblower Direct was excellent.
In fact, I told a friend at work about my purchase from Snowblowers Direct and he also purchased a blower from them. |
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Written March 01, 2010 |
| Waiting for the next snow storm |
| By NPH (Huntingtown, MD) |
I bought the new machine after shoveling my way out of Snowmaggedon. Now, I am waiting for the next storm, which will probably never come and that is OK.
I did run the machine through several snowpiles and it is awesome. Overall, the snowblower is very well built and simple to operate. |
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Written March 01, 2010 |
| No new snow |
| By Will (Pasadena, MD) |
We have had no new snow since receiving our snow blower - and after record snows in Maryland, we are fine with that.
We did have to play with it, so used it on the old 20" of snow on the sidewalk. It did great! We mainly got it for my wife to use as I have to go in to work when it snows.
I feel good about her using it since she had NO trouble with the 20". We highly recommend it. |
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Written February 27, 2010 |
| I Should Have Bought It Sooner! |
| By Scott (Fairfax, VA) |
I've never had a snowblower before, but after hearing the list of the Washington area's Top Ten snowstorms, I realized that I was here for three of them.
I'm not shoveling Number Four. We're back in a pipestem with five other houses, and shoveling out a few hundred feet of driveway really sucks.
This thing really does shift the snow - what a difference from doing it by hand! I probably should have bought the drift cutters - the stuff was that deep around here.
The machine isn't light, and it takes a bit of practice to handle well - but it's worth the learning curve.
It's a very solid piece of equipment - I expect that it'll last a long time, and I'll certainly be less put out when the forecast is for frozen white stuff everywhere! |
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Written February 19, 2010 |
| Nice Blower, Suspect Factory Assy. Job |
| By Jesse (Boone, NC) |
My machine was shipped and received very quickly, 3 days and the truck driver was great to call so I could meet him to get the machine.
The box was perfect, turns out no lift gate required if pushing off to a pick-up truck so save yourself $50. No way he could drive to my snowbound house!
I shoved it off to a snowbank at my house then off that to the driveway Assembly was very quick but once I fired up the machine, the wheels wouldn't drive and it was 5 degrees outside.
It turns out the drive belt wasn't on the pulley and you can't just "push" it back on with the belt cover off. I had to pull the machine into my kitchen through the back door, and after an all night warm up and a call to the factory, open up the drive and re-install the belt.
While not a hard job in the end, it's a little disappointing that it wasn't right from the factory!
Be sure to buy lots of shear bolts if you're blowing snow off gravel like I am. |
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Written February 18, 2010 |
| Could not be more pleased with Ariens & SnowBlowersDirect |
| By Steve (Pasadena, MD) |
I never purchase anything without doing extensive research, and the Ariens brand and this 27" model stood out from the pack.
Aside from the fact that it was one of the top-rated models by a major consumer testing magazine, what really impressed me were the customer testimonials all over the Internet that went beyond those test-lab rankings.
Some models that rated higher by the testing lab were undermined by countless reports of failures and breakdowns in real-life conditions. Other models were astronomically more expensive. But the people who live in heavy snow areas (like Canada, Minnesota, and Alaska) consistently praise this brand and even this model. So I took the plunge--even from a vendor I'd never dealt with before, in a state far away.
Well, I couldn't be happier--either could my two neighbors who went in on it with me. Even two weeks after our 48" of record-breaking snow in Maryland, this thing cut through the iciest, most packed snow we could find.
It's just as easy to start with the pull handle as it is with the electric cord (handy when you're not near a receptacle), and is very easy to maneuver. The only tricky thing I missed when first reading the instruction manual, is that the left wheel lock lever is multi-functional: it locks AND unlocks the axle when plowing and maneuvering, depending on whether force is applied to the axle. A minor learning curve. Assembly was a cinch, and it even shipped with oil in the engine.
Lastly, I can't say enough about how impressed I am with SnowblowersDirect. I ordered the unit when it was back-ordered. They told me exactly what day it would be in, and said that I'd have it within 2-3 days after that. I'm thinking, there's no way that free shipping via ground is getting here that fast, but it didn't matter because none were available locally.
Well to my surprise, it went from Illinois to my door in Maryland in 24 hours. Unbelievable! And it was free. Can't wait for the next big storm.
Thank you, SnowBlowersDirect! |
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Written February 18, 2010 |
| Great unit, great service! |
| By Mike (Logan, IA) |
The auger broke on my 12 year old Craftsman snow thrower a few weeks ago and rather than spend $300ish to get it fixed, I opted to replace it.
Being mid-Winter, machines aren’t available locally, and being the winter from hell, I can’t be without a machine since we get nasty drifts that would take days to remove by hand.
I originally bought this same machine from the .com of a Big Box store, but after a day of them being unable to confirm that they really had a machine coming my way, I happily canceled my order after discovering SnowBlowersDirect.
The machine shipped the same day! Sweet :) I'm extremely happy with the service I got here at SnowBlowersDirect, and the price was as low as I found.
Oh, the machine itself -- I'm VERY happy with it so far. Unfortunately, I've already had to use it several times and it has performed nicely even with drifts up to about 5 feet tall. I feel like it can handle whatever Mother Nature sends our way.
This is a well-built machine. As much as I liked my Craftsman, this Ariens looks about twice as solid. I hope that it lasts twice as long :)
It took me about one hour to assemble from the first cut on the box to starting it up for the first time. The instructions could be clearer but it wasn't rocket surgery so I figured it out.
By the way, I haven't used the electric start yet because the machine has started with one pull each time. I never intended to pull start but with a single pull, it is easier than grabbing the electric cord.
Bottom line: Highly recommended! |
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Written February 18, 2010 |
| Remember shear bolts |
| By Ken Osborne (Marion, VA) |
I wrote an earlier review about how happy I am with the snowblower I bought here. People made fun of me when I ordered it after the first snowfall of the season.
They now want to know where they can buy one.
If you have a smooth paved driveway that never has debris such as rocks, limbs or children's toys, you may not need to worry about extra shear bolts if you keep the driveway clear of big chunks of ice.
I have about 300' of paved driveway and and an additional 800' of gravel driveway between me and my sister-in-law who lives next door. The gravel along with numerous trees with falling limbs provides ample opportunity for breaking shear bolts (especially as you are learning how to use it properly).
I ordered 3 extra shear bolts and the snow blower came with 2 extra. I broke 2 the first couple of times I used it and have broken 2 since. Since I only had one left, I ordered an additional supply.
The shear bolts are soft and break easily to prevent damage to the expensive parts. You will be tempted to substitute a regular bolt, but if you don't have a shear bolt but you will be risking expensive parts because you didn't think ahead. |
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Written February 17, 2010 |
| Oh Well |
| By Richard Moffatt (Wilmington, MA) |
I had a NOMA 11HP model with all the bells and whistles and I have to say that after using this model Ariens I am sorry I did not go bigger and with more features like the Platnium. T
hat being said, I think once I'm used to this machine it will probably do just about the same amount of snow as my other machine and seems to throw it farther.
It starts great and very easily. I am having trouble with the wheel lockout feature which does its own thing and won't lock predictably so I am not using it.
The construction and workmanship is flawless. |
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Written February 13, 2010 |
| Great relief |
| By Tom (Flagstaff, AZ) |
We got a foot of snow shortly after receiving our snow blower. What a relief to watch the snow fly through the air instead of having to shovel.
My wife and I named our blower BABB - Bad Ass Big Boy. Does a great job with little effort. |
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Written February 11, 2010 |
| Record Snowfall |
| By Chris Sperber (West Chester, PA) |
In my area we had the largest total snow fall in our history so far this winter.
I had an Ariens 522 (a small snow blower). It has served me very well for a number of years with absolutely no problems. However, I am getting older and I needed something a bit larger.
I bought the ST27LE Snow Blower. It was delivered today and I had it set up within 10 minutes. One pull to start the engine and I was in business.
It was the best purchase I made and EVERYONE that I talked to who have owned Ariens have never had a negative comment.
I also volunteer at Longwood Gardens and they also use Ariens snow blowers. It is made in America and it shows that we can produce an EXCELLENT product.
If you want a snow blower that is reliable and very well made, buy an Ariens. |
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Written February 06, 2010 |
| Blizzard |
| By Terry McCann (Little Egg Harbor, NJ) |
Tough machine. Snowing still! It ate up my newspaper and shovel and still running strong.
I, and the neighbors, are very happy I got this machine. |
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Written February 04, 2010 |
| MY NEW SNOW BLOWER |
| By John Johnson (Holbrook, MA) |
I would just like to say that the Ariens snow blower is the best. It is far superior to the snow blower I previously owned. I just have a couple of comments regarding the condition upon arrival.
1. The unit came with oil and the manual says to be shipped with no oil.
2. I was missing one cotter pin and washer for a cable connection.
Other than these two issues, I was extremely happy with the condition of the snow blower when it was delivered. It was well packaged which prevented any possibility of damage.
SBD RESPONDS: Just give the folks at Ariens a call, toll free, at (800) 472-8359; they'll be happy to send you anything missing from your shipment.
Be sure to have the serial number from your unit handywhen you call. |
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Written February 02, 2010 |
| A must-have: Cab |
| By Russ (Freetown, MA) |
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. |
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Written January 25, 2010 |
| Plown' the Road |
| By Jeff (Boston, MA) |
With heavy snow in the north east, I am very pleased with the big Orange Beast. Easy to start is an understatement. Easy to use is spot-on.
Even my 13 year old can do the driveway... now I can enjoy a hot cup of joe watching from the front window.
The unit cleared the heavy piles at the end of the drive way (from the street plow) with no trouble at all. It cleared a path down the street to the city drain with ease.
I'm grateful for spending the little extra for the larger unit. |
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Written January 25, 2010 |
| Great service and super fast delivery |
| By Chris (Sudbury, MA) |
| Great snow blower. I got great service and super fast delivery from Snow Blowers Direct.com! |
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Written January 25, 2010 |
| Looking for a no-nonsense storm tamer |
| By Richard (Fairfax, VA) |
After receiving a once every 5 to 10 years size storm in Northern Virginia I felt it was more work than I was able to handle.
Thank goodness I had the help from my family. We did several shifts each to clear the snow off the driveway with shovels.
I promised the Missus that I would do a couple of the neighbor's driveways if I bought a snow blower. I tried to find one in the area, that was not realistic. I could not find one anywhere.
So I turned to the Internet and found Snow Blowers Direct.com. I purchased the Ariens prosumer 27 inch 2-stage machine.
I wanted it fast and it came within 4 days of ordering it. I couldn't wait to get home and try it out. I was not disappointed with the quality or power of this storm buster.
I have a neighbor who was on vacation so his driveway was still waiting. I had a great time clearing it. It made me a little sad that I was able to finish it so quick.
I am still getting used to operating it but find it very easy to maneuver. I am glad to have something that can handle my needs without any concern that I did not get what I required to do the job in style.
I really love this machine. |
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Written January 18, 2010 |
| DISAPPOINTED |
| By Bill (Swansea, MA) |
I used this for 3 storms and it broke. The gears are shot.
It will be at least 3 weeks and it is the middle of January 2010. Gee, where is the quality considering the reviews?
I hope this is a one time thing.
SBD RESPONDS: You may want to check the Service Locator to see if there is another Ariens Authorized Service center in your area that has a shorter turn-around time.
Just click on the Customer Service button at the bottom of our web site; then choose Service Locator and click on the Ariens logo. |
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Written January 15, 2010 |
| Awesome Snow Blower |
| By JR (Freetown, MA) |
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. |
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Written December 30, 2009 |
| Good Product |
| By Ken Osborne (Marion, VA) |
I ordered from this site and the product arrived quickly and was better than described.
I am slow, so it was about 15 minutes from in-the-box to running. It was very easy to assemble and it started instantly.
There was enough snow left in the yard to do a test and it came through it great.
I quickly learned that you don't blow snow into the wind, and a cab would be a nice accessory. |
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Written December 15, 2008 |
| How Shear Pins Protect Your Snow Blower |
| By Jon Hoch, Founder (Bolingbrook, IL) |
You’re half way finished snow blowing your driveway and clunk… you hit a rock.
Your snow blower engine is still running at full speed, but the auger is jammed.
Here's the good news: Your machine was designed to handle this situation.
Here's the bad news: You’re going to need a shear bolt or two.
What is a shear bolt?
Typically, two shear bolts (or shear pins) connect the auger to the auger shaft.
They feature specially designed grooves, allowing them to snap if there’s too much torque. This prevents damage to the gear case and auger shaft.
If two-stage snow blowers weren’t built with shear pins, a snow-covered newspaper or a curb could cause hundreds of dollars in damage instead of a few bucks.
There are a few different sizes of shear bolts. The brass ¼” shear bolts are the most common and used on the smaller consumer-grade snow blowers. The black 5/16” shear bolts are used on larger prosumer- and professional-grade snow blowers.
It’s a good idea to have a few spare shear bolts on hand. Otherwise, prepare to finish the job with a shovel. |
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