Ariens (24") 205cc Two-Stage Snow Blower

Our 10 year old snow blower quit right in the middle of winter, and we knew we still had a few storms heading our way. Living in New Hampshire you can count on it!!

It was the best snow blower my husband had ever purchased. Service was fantastic from start to finish, we had the best experience with your company and will highly recommend it to any of our friends. The machine set up so easy, glides through just about any high snow pile. Extremely high performance. Maybe the light could have been positioned differently, but trust me no big deal.

I cannot say enough good things about the Ariens and would not own anything but....Keep up the GOOD quality and service because your reputation can only get better. One satisfied customer. Delivery was a piece of cake, absolutely no complaints!!! I totally give your company an A+ Thank You!!!!!!

Our 10 year old snow blower quit right in the middle of winter, and we knew we still had a few storms heading our way. Living in New Hampshire you can count on it!!

It was the best snow blower my husband had ever purchased. Service was fantastic from start to finish, we had the best experience with your company and will highly recommend it to any of our friends. The machine set up so easy, glides through just about any high snow pile. Extremely high performance. Maybe the light could have... more

Friction disc failure after 4 storms. Not covered under warranty. This part is considered a "Service Part". Should not have failed after less than 3 months of use! Disappointed

The 920014 has to be homeowner's best friend. Based in Wisconsin, Ariens knows a lot about clearing snow. My continued research for a Briggs & Stratton engine found that B&S had purchased the Simplicity Lawn Tractor Company who had previously purchased Snapper Lawn Equipment. Snapper make a nice snow thrower, however, retails at $1,499. They are huge.

The theory is that anyone shopping for a *small* two stage snow blower does not care about where the engine is made. Many took strong offense to this standpoint, so Ariens re-introduced their 24” model with a 6.5HP Briggs 205cc with 9 ft-lbs of Torque. This time around, Ariens included a Halogen Headlamp in the *dash* for visibility as well as electric start (no battery, but a 120V plug in for extension cord). Heated handles were an option.
All hardware is Grade 8 (120,000 PSI) and Standard as opposed to Metric.

I was able to easily find belts shoes and spark plugs as well as drift cutters. I painted with Krylon Chevy Engine Orange Paint for an exact match. Spray 1st coat very lightly and wait approx one minute for tackiness then you can pretty much hose down the metal without dripping or paint running concerns.

Ariens touts itself as being the "mower of the White House lawn".

Ariens snowblowers are characterized by a double drive system, where the blower is driven by the engine's crankshaft and the drive wheels are driven by the camshaft (which is a natural 2:1 reduction in driven speed). Older Ariens units used a very heavy gauge steel blower and rake (auger) design, and many of their older units remain in service after more than 30 years.

The 920014 has to be homeowner's best friend. Based in Wisconsin, Ariens knows a lot about clearing snow. My continued research for a Briggs & Stratton engine found that B&S had purchased the Simplicity Lawn Tractor Company who had previously purchased Snapper Lawn Equipment. Snapper make a nice snow thrower, however, retails at $1,499. They are huge.

The theory is that anyone shopping for a *small* two stage snow blower does not care about where the engine is made. Many... more

We bought an Ariens snowblower at Middleton Power Center in early fall two years ago. Part of the sales pitch was that if we bought it here (as opposed to a store like Sears) they would give us priority service so it would be fixed quickly, and it had a three year warranty. The store was pretty empty when we bought it, and we had never used a snowblower before so we asked them to teach us how to use it, which they did. We came home and happily used it for two years according to the owners manual and what they taught us in the store.

This year in mid-November, *before* any snow we tried to start it and it wouldn't start. We brought it in to the shop and they told us it would be 4-5 weeks. So much for their sales pitch of quick priority fixes if we bought it there. This is before any snow fell, so it seemed unusual to have such a long wait. But, since there were no heavy snows in the next 4-5 weeks I calmed down again.

Then, when we picked up the snow blower they charged us $56.96. I said, I thought you told us it was under warranty? They replied that something in the carburetor was plugged and it was our fault so it wasn't covered by warranty. They said, you were supposed to run your engine dry at the end of last season. I said that we did. They said, when it looks like it has run out of gas you have to open the choke and keep priming it to get every last drop of gas out. I said that we had read the manual and it didn't state that, it just states to run your engine dry which we did.

They said, well, you really shouldn't use gas with ethanol. I said the manual states that up to 10% ethanol is okay. They said that they tested many of the local gasses that claim to be 10% and they are actually 12 or 13%. I said that is not my fault. If Shell claims their gas is 10% ethanol, then I believe them. I also said that the manual says not to use "too high" of an octane, whatever that means, and that is why we had avoided the higher octane ethanol-free gas. The manual explicitly states 10% is okay, but not to use too high octane. He replied I could drive out to the Middleton Coop to buy low octane ethanol free gas. He also said that if we use gas with ethanol, we need to use fuel stabilizer. The manual states this is recommended (not required).

I am complaining both about Middleton Power Center and about Ariens. If there is some insider knowledge that a) one really should not use gas with any ethanol, and b) one should prime and choke to get every last drop of gas out at the end of the season, then this should be in the manual. If I am a good customer who does everything according to the manual and the snowblower breaks within the first three years, then I shouldn't have to pay for that.

We bought an Ariens snowblower at Middleton Power Center in early fall two years ago. Part of the sales pitch was that if we bought it here (as opposed to a store like Sears) they would give us priority service so it would be fixed quickly, and it had a three year warranty. The store was pretty empty when we bought it, and we had never used a snowblower before so we asked them to teach us how to use it, which they did. We came home and happily used it for two years according to the owners... more

I bought the Ariens Compact 24 because I needed a smaller snow blower with a smaller footprint in the garage. While this snow blower is smaller than my 36 inch tractor mounted wheel horse, it does a fantastic job! We had only one big snow fall this year, about 15 inches last week and the blower worked great. The snow was heavy but the Compact 24 blew it like crazy, and I used it to make paths in the yard that I don't do with the tractor and blower. I am very pleased, plenty of power, blows snow a long way and is easy to move around.

I bought the Ariens Compact 24 because I needed a smaller snow blower with a smaller footprint in the garage. While this snow blower is smaller than my 36 inch tractor mounted wheel horse, it does a fantastic job! We had only one big snow fall this year, about 15 inches last week and the blower worked great. The snow was heavy but the Compact 24 blew it like crazy, and I used it to make paths in the yard that I don't do with the tractor and blower. I am very pleased, plenty of power, blows... more

The first snowstorm I used my Ariens in was by no means a wimpy one. We had greater than 2 feet of snow. This was higher than the plow on my Ariens, of course, but I was amazed and pleased at how well it performed under the circumstances. Subsequent storms did not deliver as much snow, so I knew the workhorse would deliver the goods. My Ariens just may be the best tool I have ever purchased.

I purchased the 920014 in August of 2012. A good buddy of mine said Snow Blowers Direct was the way to go with the no tax and all. The shipping company left it on the curb and my wife had to try to drag it up our gravel driveway. I was at work when it was delivered and didn't want it to disappear on the curb. It was still the best way to go since I would have never gotten it in my car to get home.

I put it together in the fall and even waxed the machine twice just waiting for the winter.

Well, Nemo Blizzard finally came last night. I got the snow blower out of the garage before the storm because I knew my barn-style doors would not open. So I had it two feet from my backdoor with a cover on it, the extension cord set up and ready to go.

I woke up to Long Island's worst blizzard ever. I brushed off the cover, set the choke, pushed the button and I was off. I did my gravel driveway very quickly. I love the remote chute, and the deflector makes it so much easier.

Then I helped out 3 neighbors, did the fire hydrant, and started to do the street before the plows came. Then the plows came- so I re-did mine and the neighbor's end of the driveway.

I have the skid plates set very high for the gravel and it worked excellently. I had the motor on full blast for hours and I am still on my first tank of gas (I wish my car did this well on fuel).

I am now looking at getting chains for the tires because the 4 inches of ice that formed before the snowfall did hurt the unit's traction.

What a great machine so far...

I purchased the 920014 in August of 2012. A good buddy of mine said Snow Blowers Direct was the way to go with the no tax and all. The shipping company left it on the curb and my wife had to try to drag it up our gravel driveway. I was at work when it was delivered and didn't want it to disappear on the curb. It was still the best way to go since I would have never gotten it in my car to get home.

I put it together in the fall and even waxed the machine twice just waiting for the winter.
... more

Built like a tank and throws snow with ease.

Machine was shipped well, assembled in no time. A local retailer beat the pricing by a significant amount.

Struggled with the smaller hand push throwers for years. What a delight! A little mechanical ability would help however you don't need to be a rocket expert to assemble this. Instructions are pretty straight forward, step by step. Took it out a couple times and I really love this.... Merry Christmas to me!!!!!!

Assembly was a snap but checking the adjustment on the belts etc. was a bit of a pain. Threw some gas in it and it fired up first pull.

I've only had the opportunity to use it once and it worked flawlessly. This machine really can throw snow 40 feet...it cleared my PVC fence that is six foot and its up on a retaining wall which makes it about nine feet!!!

It definitely works better with both wheels locked and my only issue is I think the tires could use a more aggressive tread. I know thats really nit picking but I thought I should mention it. Its definitely not even close to being a deal breaker.

Awesome snowblower!!! I highly recommend buying this machine!!!

Assembly was a snap but checking the adjustment on the belts etc. was a bit of a pain. Threw some gas in it and it fired up first pull.

I've only had the opportunity to use it once and it worked flawlessly. This machine really can throw snow 40 feet...it cleared my PVC fence that is six foot and its up on a retaining wall which makes it about nine feet!!!

It definitely works better with both wheels locked and my only issue is I think the tires could use a more aggressive tread. I know... more