I installed this kit on a Deluxe 30" model. The instructions are good but some steps could have had more detailed explanations with more pictures. This would have saved some time. It took me a day and a half to complete the install. Also included with this kit is the speed up kit which includes a larger drive pulley and new belt which increases speed by 20%.
Part of the install includes installing the speed up kit and removing the differential axle. It is replaced with a solid 1 piece axle. At the time of this writing, I have only used the snow blower once. I had plowed a path down a hill over grass. I tried this before with the same machine with wheels and was unable to make it down the hill. With the tracks installed, I was able to plow up and down the hill and over grass. The tracks are part of the carriage assembly which allows the unit to operate at different angles, normal, or about an inch above the surface, transport which is several inches above the surface, and deep cutting with drops the unit on its skids. The tracks are 5.5 inches wide and feel like a truck tire. About 16" of each track contacts the ground.
Ariens explained that you turn this like a shopping cart. On a snow covered surface, turning is a little harder but ok as long as you are not in gear. I was able to turn it on a dry pavement by staying in neutral. In some places on the grassy area they started to lose traction when I backed up because of a lot of loose snow but all I had to do was lean on the handles and it kept on going. When I had the wheels on I had to lift up and pull.
Also when reaching a pile of snow this unit with wheels used to start to climb up the pile until it was taken out of gear. With the tracks there is no climbing. It just digs in as the engine slows down especially if the angle of the unit is facing down in the deep cutting position. When moving from one end of the yard to the other, instead of pushing down on the handles to keep from scraping, you just change the angle to the transport position and the auger is raised to about 3 inches from the ground.
To summarize, if you have a small, level area and do a lot of turning, and don't mind getting stuck, you may want to stay with wheels. If you have a large area and want to clear a gravel or grass area in addition to a driveway and maybe a paver walk or deck, and are tired of getting stuck and don't want to scratch your driveway with chains, then buy the track conversion kit which includes the speed up kit.
I installed this kit on a Deluxe 30" model. The instructions are good but some steps could have had more detailed explanations with more pictures. This would have saved some time. It took me a day and a half to complete the install. Also included with this kit is the speed up kit which includes a larger drive pulley and new belt which increases speed by 20%.
Part of the install includes installing the speed up kit and removing the differential axle. It is replaced with a solid 1...
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Pros: Durable, Features, Easy To Use, High Quality
Cons: Expensive
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