Great review and additional information Bruce, thank you very much for uploading this video. I'm using a 10 year old Ariens 1332 with a 13 HP Tecumseh SNOWKING Engine and it's provided faithful service with only general maintenance. This model didn't have the automatic locking differential but uses a lever on the handlebar to lock and unlock the axles, not as convenient as the new system but gets the job done. Ariens has continued to improve their snowblowers over the years and yours is a great machine.
Hi Heath…. I have an old Simplicity and an old Toro I still run, and they both have 8 hp Snow King engines. They made an excellent snowblower engine, and they will be in service for many years to come. My daughter has a 2000 Simplicity with a trigger on one side, and it definitely helps turn compared to my old fixed axel machines. Thanks for the positive comment, and remember… fear no blizzard with an Ariens in your garage!
Thanx for the walk thru! I'm getting a 2022 pro28. Delevery is only in 2-3 weeks, so i'm watching every newer Ariens vidéo on youtube. Speed control lever is adjustable... so you can lower 1st gear speed and this will speed up reverse at the same time. 6th is always fast at WOT... you need to go idle when moving it around... it gives the engine a break. You have yourself a Happy New Year!
Greetings. Glad you found the walkthrough helpful. That’s a good point that if you slow the engine down to idle, 6th may be just right for transport. I was always taught snowblower engines were made to run at full throttle when blowing snow, but I never thought about when your simply covering ground. Learn something new every day….thanks for the + comment, and happy new year to you as well.
Thanks for the nice walk through Bruce. Appreciate the details. First time user here. Just took delivery of a Great Lakes Edition from our local dealership here in Michigan. I have watched your other videos too and have been checking how you handle the machine with auto turn etc. Also watch a lot of Paul Sikkema who you mentioned. Keep up the good work and thanks again!
Thanks for the positive comment Tim. That’s an excellent machine you just bought! Hope you get some nice snow so you can get out and try the new Ariens out. If you get to beat up on any blizzards with that Great Lakes edition shoot some video and post it. Never gets old watching these big machines throw snow! Enjoy the new toy!
Great review Bruce! I have a 2019 Platinum 24 SHO as well. Excellent machines! You find yourself wishing it would snow more when you have one of these.❄️
Hi Adam. Your absolutely correct. This machine is so easy to use, I look forward to it snowing (can’t believe I’m saying that). It’s one of those purchases that are getting less frequent these days where you actually get something that performs as advertised! However, with you having one, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Let’s hope we both get a chance to play with our Platinum SHO’s soon! Thanks for the comment Adam.
Hi Chuck. I’m glad my videos helped you choose the right snowblower to fit your needs. I believe you’ve made an excellent selection. I’ve used quite a few snow throwers starting with an old 1960’s SnowBoy that my father had. The Platinum SHO is the finest snowblower I’ve ever owned. Soon, you’ll experience over the top power that can easily handle virtually any type and amount of snow Mother Nature, and your plow, driver can throw at you. Let me know how the first snow goes ( I hope you get plenty of snow to try her out in) Remember, fear no blizzard with an ariens in your garage, and thanks for commenting.
@@blowingsnow4fun One more thing. I just watched a video complaining about a lot of rust building in the area where the drive system is under the belly pan on a 2017 Ariens and this guy was implying that Ariens are notorious for this problem. Have you ever experienced this?
@@Two_Buck Hi Chuck. No I have not. When I bought this machine in 2019, I went together with two friends also in need of a new machine, and we bought 3 of them to get a price. I saw under the belly pan cover on all three last spring, and there was no rust to speak of. I have a video up that you can take a look for yourself. Ariens snow thrower on the inside after two seasons? Let’s drop the belly pan for the reveal. ruclips.net/video/gYKQaPD8gjs/видео.html This should be of interest to you.
@@blowingsnow4fun Ah...I should have guessed that you had already covered this subject. That video makes me feel better. I plan to take good care of mine with yearly maintenance, cleaning and greasing. I was hoping to use mine for the first time today as we were supposed to get several inches of snow here in New England. Unfortunately we got mostly rain and only about an inch of snow. I'm sure I will have plenty of opportunities to use it. Thanks again. Cheers.
@@Two_Buck I saw his video as well, and I was anxious to take a look inside mine. I shot the video and posted it so others could see what I saw, and draw there own conclusions. Glad it gave you some peace of mind about your purchase. No snow here either, and unfortunately none in the forecast. Maybe Santa will bring us some for Christmas?
I appreciate the quintessential Wisconsin Badger Rose bowl Sweatshirt. Great video - I just picked up a 2019 Platinum 24 SHO last year, hoping for a lot of lake effect snow again this year!
Hi Mitch. The Platinum SHO handles that lake effect snow really well here in Southeastern WI. Your really going to love this machine, and enjoy using it. Thanks for the comment Mitch.
Another great vid of your machine, Bruce! Just to comment on the gear speeds......... You said a guy "made another notch" to get a "creeper gear". A simpler way is to turn the machine up onto its auger housing, remove the belly pan, and adjust the vertical friction disc (the one that moves left or right when you shift). You will notice that in 6th gear forward, the vertical disc is way out toward the outer edge of the drive disc. (The further out, the faster it spins.) Conversely, the (factory) placement of that vertical disc limits how far it will travel past the center of the drive disc. (Reverse side). If you adjust your vertical disc away from the outer edge of the forward side, and more towards the reverse side, you will gain a little more speed in reverse. I'm positive that these manufactures do this so that old "Bubba the moron" doesn't run himself over in reverse. And I can't blame them. Lol
Thanks for the tip Paul, I’ll check that out next time I have occasion to drop the belly pan. I think I have it adjusted so 1 is as slow as I can go. ( which makes reverse as fast as it can be set to) If I turn the adjusting rod any further it contacts the disc slightly in neutral. I had another guy comment that the fast speed of 6th was for use during transport when you have the engine down to low idle. Makes sense …learn something new every day.
@@paulmysliborski4832 It’s all good Paul. I appreciate the info , and will check to see if it’s adjusted properly next time I’ve got her up in the service position. Always like to talk snowblower with anyone with anything g to share!
I just purchased a used 2018 24" Platinum SHO EFI. I've only used it once, but I love it so far. I've noticed that with so much power the front end likes to ride up a little. Have you experienced this at all? I was thinking of getting the weight kit.
Hi Jeff, sorry for the delayed response. Every snow blower I’ve ever owned rides up in certain conditions. Any time you head into anything that’s compacted, or frozen. Sometimes when you get rain on top of snow and it freezes, they’ll buck pretty good. These machines are almost 300lbs. Which is heavy for a snowblower. There are a couple of things that I would check if it wasn’t one of the aforementioned situations. Pull the plug wire and take the key out when your messing around with the auger/impeller 1. Check the condition of the scraper bar, and make sure it’s not bent or excessively worn. Replace if it appears defective/excessively worn. 2. Make sure your skids are set correctly. ( see owners manual or Ariens how to videos) 3. Make sure your tires are set at exactly the same tire pressure. 17-19 PSI is ideal. Having overinflated tires, or different inflation pressures can really raise hell with the way these new machines handle. 4.look at the augers for sign of being bent, or having struck something. If one side has an issue it can make them ride up. Knew a guy who hit a frozen twin bed sheet under a drift after a big storm. It took him an hour to get it out, and he bent the auger which made it buck up in certain conditions. Another guy was helping a neighbor and hit a dog leash cable under the snow, and same result . You’d think it would break the shear pin, but both those materials stretch and it’s not like hitting a chunk of ice. 5. You may be in too high a gear for the type of snow your trying to blow. Before I’d buy a weight kit, and try a bag of sand bungee corded on top of the bucket. Have to be careful it doesn’t get sucked in. I’m pretty sure the Ariens weight kits are 10 lbs. You don’t have one of those plastic walk behind enclosures on her? I have one of those on an old Toro 824 up at my cabin. I have a 20 lb. Sandbag attached to the top of my bucket to get the right balance. Also check to make sure you don’t have a broken shear pin on one side, and that can cause problems too.
Great review: Thank you. Re: The drift cutter bar knobs: I had the same problem with loosening them, even without gloves. I purchased and installed the Pro knobs which are elongated: Problem solved. Night-and-Day. They fit and use the same bolts.
Hi Chris…. Where did you purchase the pro knobs? Is there a part number or link that you could share? That sounds like just the solution I need! Thanks for the comment, and the compliment on the review!
@@blowingsnow4fun Hi there: The dealer ordered them for me: Part #: 7500105 $3.45 each. I also swapped out the chute clean out tool to the one with the brush as the Pro models have. Makes brushing the snow off when you're done a snap in just a couple of minutes. It comes in a kit that also replaces the plastic holder on the bucket using the existing holes. Snow clean out kit: part # 724081
@@Chris-fl5vh ….great tip, thanks! I’ll work on getting those knobs ordered. I didn’t know the pro clean out tool was different that the ones on the rest of the fleet. I’m going to research that and see if I can find a pic. I keep an old broom next to the SHO, and use that to brush it off before moving it into the garage.
Glad to help. If you Google it you'll get a few links showing it for sale with pics including Amazon: "Ariens Professional chute clean-out tool with brush". I'm also going to replace the skids with the commercial heavy duty ones from the Pro models. The parts folks at the dealer said they should fit. The standard factory ones on my machine are already close to wearing through.
I went to the Ariens poly skids after one year. When the snow gets deep, I take it up on my deck in back. The poly skids don’t leave a trace of any kind of mark. I put them on my Simplicity up North. They really have a much smoother feel to them than the metal ones.
I was leaning toward the Deluxe 28in SHO, do you think it'll be enough power? I have about a 8 car driveway+side pad and sidewalks, the biggest problem is the heavy mostly frozen slush by the road, the city plows throw it onto my driveway and that SUPER heavy stuff has clogged my old small weak blowers, hoping to save 300 bucks but maybe bigger engine is worth it....
Hi BK… sounds like you gets lots of wet heavy snow where you live. There’s no easy answer to your question. An 8 car driveway + sidewalk + side pad is a lot of snow to move! I would suggest you make two lists, one for the 28 SHO, & one for the other more powerful blower. (Not sure what your considering here) Here’s a few thoughts that may help with your decision. 1. I’ve never looked at my machine, and said “It was a waste buying this much power.” We had 7-8” of heavy wet March snow last night. The plow came by, and filled the end of my drive with about 30” of huge snow boulders mixed with slush. I watched other machines struggle, but mine went right through it. 2. A smaller bucket is easier to handle, store, and maneuver. 3. A bigger bucket will get the job done faster in smaller lighter snowfalls. In larger snowfalls, you’ll have to take a partial bucket, so it wont be faster. All blowers (including mine) will puke a little snow out the side if you have them in too high a gear. Today in that wet heavy crap, I did the long passes in my driveway in mostly 2nd, and s little in 3rd. EOD I had to do in 1st. 3. The 28 SHO is the best bang for the buck in snowblowers …Acrossed any brand. They will handle large amounts of snow, and the SHO impeller makes a huge difference. There a real good machine. 4. Not sure what it’s like where you live, but here the temp drops after it snows. Heated grips make a big difference when your out there, it’s 10, and the wind is howling. It’s about $100 for the Ariens heated grip kit, so if your adding them, that brings the cost down to $200 more for the bigger engine. 5. The bigger engine is going to use more gas, and it will take more oil when you change it. 6. Last thought is that I wouldn’t buy an EFI machine. They still have problems, IMHO, I’ve seen very little done to improve them since their introduction. The snow blower forums frequently have guys on them looking for help diagnosing and repairing them, both new, and old. If it’s a fuel pump its over $100, and OEM ones have been on back order for a while according to what I have read. When a carburetor starts to have issues,it gives you signs it’s struggling, and you have time to clean or rebuild it before it stops working. Not so with an EFI machine, there running fine, and suddenly they won’t run at all. It’s a big decision your maki g as either machine with routine maintenance will last you 20+ years. 20 years by $300 is about $15 a year. That’s not quite a 12 pack of my favorite beer. If you don’t mind, let me know what you decide, and then drop me a note letting me know how it goes when you get your first big snowstorm.
I just bought a new Briggs and Stratton 250 cc 27 inches wide by 20 inches tall 2 stage it has a fuel shut off and a led headlight and steel shoot steel dash heated grips that actually work that I like my 7 year old Troy bilt 24 inches wide by 21 inches tall didn't have a fuel shut off the heated grips didn't work from day one the plastic shoot would clog up and the shoot height would vibrate up on me no matter what position I put it in
Hi Jarrett…. Didn’t know they had regular ethanol free available around here yet. I usually pick up premium ethanol free up North, or on my way back as that’s all they have. I used to stop at a Fleet Farm in Oshkosh and they had mid grade, but they only have premium there now. Thanks for the tip. It’s got to be an emergency for me to put any gas with ethanol in any of my small engines.
I love your videos very informative! I'm thinking about buying either the deluxe 24 or the deluxe 28. I like the idea of getting the 24 but it seems like most go with either the 28 or the 30. I'm wondering why you decided on the 24 and do you think it's wide enough?
Hi Jeremy…glad you enjoy my videos! My main purpose with going with a 24” is space,and maneuverability. The location I store my machine in the garage is best suited to a 24” machine. I try to get up early, and clear snow before it gets driven on. I was looking at a 28SHO, or a Platinum SHO 30 when I was shopping. However, once I got the tape measure out, I could see it would be really difficult for me to park my vehicles in a position where I could get the machine out of the garage without having to pull a car out. I went and tried a 30, ( in the showroom) but the width made it feel clumsy, and way less maneuverable. You have to figure you gain 6” with a30, that’s probably one less pass in the driveway when clearing snow. You have to remember that every time you wank past the machine with grocery bags, every time you park, every time you pull a trailer in your garage, that 6” makes a difference. You get a little bigger engine with the 30, but with the bigger bucket, your machine is having to move more snow, so that’s a wash IMO. So the question, IMHO, is do you have enough driveway to make that extra 6” of inconvenience worth it all year long? Additionally, I find a narrower bucket is easier to handle when going through heavy wet snow, such as the EOD pile. Just my personal preference. In retrospect, I’ve never wished for a wider bucket under any conditions. Thanks for the + comment, and if you enjoy what you see on the channel, please consider subscribing. Let me know what you decide to get, and then how you like it.
@@blowingsnow4fun Well put! I just got a 2023 24 plat. I just have a shed to store it so the 24 will be nice to maximize space and still have the power. Get 200+" annually here mix of powder and wet
Hey Jeremy…congrats on the new blower. You’re really going to like your new Ariens. When you get your first big snow, and man handle it with your new Ariens, let me know what you think.
@@blowingsnow4fun I'm not Jeremy but thank you. Got to test it out on 10" of the good stuff today. Was super impressed with the overall functionality and power. Was able to take full buckets with ease. Coming from an old toro this thing was worth every penny so far and a game changer. Hand warmers were great too. Do you turn the gas off every time and let it run dry?
@steynerr …. Sorry Sean, your response was linked to Jeremie’s previous conversation, so I just assumed. I’m glad you were happy with your purchase, and believe you received great value for your hard earned $. I can honestly say, I’ve never had anyone one that I’ve steered towards the 24” Platinum ever come back disappointed. Thanks for the + reply.
What is the MSRP for the machine you have? What is the displacement of the engine? I'm in the market for a new 2 stage as the one I've had for the past 27 years just bit the dust?
Hi John. I paid $1498. In 2019, and just like anything else they have inched up every year since. I will say if you take care of this machine it should last 20+ years. Get ready for sticker shock …. This is the Ariens website:$1799.MSRP . It has a 369CC engine that puts out 17 lbs of torque ( it has over the top power!) If you have any other questions, I’d be happy to share any knowledge/ experience I have about the machine with you.
@@blowingsnow4fun Just bought a 22/23 Platinum SHO 24" myself the past month while they still have last year's model in stock. MSRP on that is now $1999, ouch! I almost wish my 1980 ST824 had worn out a little sooner, it would've saved me a bundle.
@@floobertuber ….I picked up a Ariens catalog while walking through a local hardware store a few weeks ago, and I saw the price was just south of 2 grand. Right after the pandemic when you couldn’t get snowblowers, the price just shot up like just about everything else. However, you have an excellent machine that with proper upkeep should last you 20+ years. If you divide that $1999 by 20 years it’s $99.95 a year. I know that doesn’t help with the original outlay of $, but it makes me feel better, when I look at the cost of buying quality over time of ownership. You’ll know you made a good move when you get your first big storm, and your cutting through that big EOD pile. After you get to use it, please let me know how your impressions of your new Ariens. I’m pretty sure your not going to be disappointed!
@@blowingsnow4fun Thanks for the supportive comment! Let's call it $66 a year, because I'm gonna make it last 30+, ha ha! My old ST824 was treated pretty badly (Green Bay winters, not the greatest upkeep) for its first 20 years, before it became mine... and still survived to 43 years. Even now it's not 100% dead, it just needs a fuel line and a broken starter-motor bolt removed (the bolt may be beyond my skills). But if the LCT AXs are built 2/3rds as good as that old Tecumseh 8-horse HM80, 30 years seems realistic. By then, they won't even be able to get spare parts for ME, so I'm not too worried about it beyond that point!!
Still working good? I'm a little leary about the chineese engine and EFI. I'm looking at a like new used 921048 24" EFI Sho Platinum, guy is asking 1.5k
Hey doc tube…. I don’t think the reliability is there with efi yet, and I would advise against it at this time. There are occasional treads that appear on the snowblower forums re efi. Battery problems, & fuel pump problems mainly. With a carb you get some warning when it’s starting to have problems. Running rough, needing to leave the choke on one click etc. No warning with efi. It just won’t start, and you need parts that frequently need to be ordered. Didn’t use my SHO much this winter as we hardly had any snow. Engine runs great, and I have a lot of confidence in it. From my understanding, block is made in an “Ariens owned & operated” plant in China. It’s assembled here. AX engines are great starters (with carb), and have excellent power. I wouldn’t hesitate on the engine, just the efi. If you like videos like these, and haven’t already, please consider subscribing to the channel.
@@blowingsnow4fun I appreciate the detailed reply. Apparently, even the later Briggs & Stratton engines were made in China according to some online articles. I agree with you on EFI is a bit too new to be trusted on snowblowers. Subscribed :-)
@@doctube2020 When I was shopping for a machine in 2019, I couldn’t find a single engine block from any manufacturer that came from this country. Most were cast in China, and the large Briggs engines were cast in Mexico. Let me know when you buy a machine, I’m always interested in what machines my subscribers are running.
@@blowingsnow4fun currently have a 2012 Ariens compact 24 with Briggs 205cc 9ft lb torque. It’s been good and still works well, but ever since my neighbor got an Ariens Sho 24 with 324cc engine I’ve had blower envy lol. I could use a blower that throws it further than my current 24. So I’ve been looking for a sho or sho platinum 24, 26 maybe a 28 but I like the smaller ones for city slicker driveways. I think the 254cc with 12.5 tq or bigger would suit my needs. I’m at 7k ft elevation which takes about 20% power away from naturally aspirated engines so I need a bigger engine.
I’m not sure what type of snow you get where you live, and that has a great deal to do with power needed with a blower. Speed if needed snow removal is also a factor, as if you get deep snow that needs to be cleared quickly so you can get to work, more power is required. With your elevation you’ll definitely notice the extra power the 24” SHO provides with its 17 ft lbs of torque. In a usual winter, I really need the bigger engine as we get a fair amount of deep wet snow here is SE WI. EOD piles is also a factor, as they salt my road frequently early in snow storms. Then when they eventually plow, my EOD pile is wet & heavy. I’ve never had a subscriber purchase an SHO, and come back wishing they had more power. One item of note. I ran pretty much all 8hp engines on all my blowers up until my SHO. The bigger engine uses slightly more gas, which is no big deal for me. In a typical winter, I probably spend a few dollars more on gas with the SHO. Sometimes when winters are mild, dealers are anxious to clear out remaining stock, so they don’t have to store them all summer. You may be able to get $50 or more off on a new machine at the end of the season? That varies from place to place, and dealer to dealer.
Hi Bruce, I just picked up a 2020 platinum 24 a few days ago from someone who decided to put a plow on his kubota tractor. I wanted to order some additional spare parts for it. I went looking for the model number and serial number. Could not find either on the machine. I am not sure if I missed something .Any idea what location it could be in? Or if does not come with those? thanks, Mrfixitofgg29
Hi Steven. They all come from the factory with a sticker with the model number and the serial number unless someone has peeled it off (highly unlikely as it’s needed for warranty service, and parts). On my machine it’s on the left side as you stand with your hands on the grips. It’s tough to see as it’s behind and just forward of the wheel. If you stick your phone back there, you should be able to snap a photo. My dealer writes both numbers on the cover of the owners manual so it’s easy to access. Not sure why they put it behind the wheel as every other snow blower I’ve owned has the sticker on the back of the machine just above the belly pan. It should be white with black lettering. Your going to love this machine. It’s got great features, and over the top power. The engine gets this growl to it when its into heavy load. Let me know if I can help you with anything else, and remember…. fear no blizzard with an Ariens in the garage!
@@stevenleonard9005 Hey Steven. I had to do a little looking myself. I don’t know why they put it there? Even the on-line info on the Ariens site says its located in the back just below the engine. It’s really in an inconvenient spot IMO. Your going to have fun in 20” with your new SHO! Take a video and post it if you can. Love to watch these machines throw snow! Let me know how it goes when you have time.
My current John Deere 928 E has a locking hub that lets me unlock to turn , but try doing that in deep snow . It is hard to unlock . I ordered a Ariens 30 inch Platinum SHO after seeing the auto turn feature . I am 67 and my 928 E is hard to turn , so time for an uograde . Your video here is of great help for a first time Ariens owner . Thank you for this video . I live in Wrightstown where are you from ? I ujse premium gas , 92 , no ethenol , and add sea foam
Hi Fourleaftaback. I’ve used both, but I’ve only owned 24’s. I have two reasons I went with the 24”. 1. If I go with a 30” machine, and store the machine in my garage. I have to pull one vehicle out of the garage to get the snow thrower out without scratching one of our two vehicles. I hate driving across the snow with a vehicle, and then removing the snow. You get tracks (sometimes packed snow, sometimes ice) that can last for weeks in the driveway that creates a slip hazard, and in my opinion looks like crap. That extra 6” doesn’t sound like much, but it makes things tight in my garage. #2. The 24” is definitely easier to steer, handle, and keep the bucket down in EOD pile situations. I’m 64, and each year everything gets a little harder. If something happens to me, my wife can handle the 24” if she needs to. I’m not so sure about the 30, visually it looks alot bigger when your standing behind those handlebars. Additionally…The 30 definitely clears snow faster because of the width of the bucket, especially in light powdery snow. The platinum SHO 24” has a 369 engine, the 30”has a 414 I believe. Consequently the throwing distance and the ability of the engine to keep up with clearing the bucket should be adequate with both machines (IMO). The 30 will use slightly more gas with the larger engine. How much faster, measure the width of your driveway, divide it by 24, and then by 30. Depending on thr length of your driveway, the extra 6” may be worth it in your situation? You’ll have to weigh the +, &-. The autotutn will make both sizes easy to handle when not blowing snow (moving around in garage). It’s $298.00 more for the 30. Machine length, bucket height, impeller size, height of handlebars are identical. Remember, the shoes stick out 1” on each side of the bucket, so the 24” is actually 26” wide. I m sorry, but I don’t remember if the handgrips are wider on the 30? My final thought is I’d travel to an Ariens dealer (big box stores are generally not allowed to sell the Platinum SHO’s. Handle the two size machines in the showroom, and get a feel for them. This is going to be where your going to really see what the machines feel like. Your spending $2000+ on a machine you’ll have for 20 years, there’s nothing that’s going to help you as much with your decision as actually grabbing the hand grips, moving them around, and getting a feel for what there like. Let me know what you decide to buy! Thanks for the comment.
@@blowingsnow4fun thank you so much! Very very helpful. I was having the same thoughts. I was wondering why I didn't see the platinum models at the BB stores. So now I know and will visit a dealer to check them out. Thank you! I'll let you know, but I am thinking 24.
Unless you really have a lot of area your clearing, I think the 24” will be more than adequate for your needs. It has all the features you’ll need, the engine has over the top power for wet or deep snow, the dual belts means your get instant torque to the impeller with no slippage, and love how easy the autoturn makes it handle.
I have a 2020 Platinum 24 and a 100' driveway. I live in New England and It does the job. Even though you have 6" more of bucket width on the 30, it is still only 21" high. We had an 18" storm here last winter and with the drifts I had to surrender to using on 2/3 thirds of the bucket in some places: It still threw the snow 50'. It's actually kind of fun seeing it throwing the snow off into the woods. (unless the wind is howling from all directions!)
Hi Chris… I run into swirling winds here after snow storms all the time. I’m 5 minutes from Lake Michigan, and we get real wild fluctuations in wind direction after our lake effect storms finally stop. I occasionally get comments from guys telling me I don’t know how to blow snow, but they don’t understand how the Great Lakes effects the wind direction. I can take 3 passes and the winds from the West, I start #4, and the wind shifts NE, and I have to pause to readjust my chute. I agree with your comment on throwing distance. I’m fortunate my neighbors could care less where I blow snow, there just glad I clear their snow when it’s too deep for their machine, or they just need help. I guess in some places guys freak out if you throw a little snow on their grass. It doesn’t bother me if anyone throws little snow on my lawn, it’s frozen water LOL. Lots more serious things to worry about IMO. There’s something therapeutic about watching that snow go flying, and the SHO is just the machine to make that happen, thanks for the comment!
Hey Chris. I have used my Platinum SHO with the OEM halogen light at night. The light does melt snow after it runs for a while and warms up (5 minutes at full throttle at around 28 degrees if memory serves me correctly) the lens does become wet, and the diffusion the water creates further limits the light output. The LED lens is made from a different material, and I’m not sure if the snow will cling to it or not. When I have a chance to use it in the dark, I’ll try and report back on how the OEM compares to the LED in real life. Thanks for the comment Chris, you bring up a great point!
Well it’s 16 outside and I just blew 6” of powdery snow. Snow clung to my dash, my hat and jacket. the top of my bucket, but none stuck on the lenses of the new LED light. I even picked some snow up and threw it directly at the light, and it just slid off. Don’t know if it has some kind of slippery coating, or it’s luck, or the type of snow, but snow would not stick to the business end of this light. I’ll report back when I use it in a wet snow.
@@blowingsnow4fun i dont have a Ariens, not really a big fan of chinese engines that has a american made body frame like Ariens. My honda engines are premium, like a Yamaha, the rest is chinese made. i almost bought a ariens as a back up, till i heard about the disc, and rusting. you heard of LCT? they are the ones making engines for Ariens today, these are chinese engines on Ariens snowblowers. made in the USA my black ass.
In 2018, I knew I was going to need a new snow blower, so I started doing my research. I wanted to purchase an Anericsn made machine (as I had happily previously owned Simplicity, and Toros with Tecumseh snow king engines) I was shocked that there wasn’t a single snow blower manufacturer in the US that was making engines here. The blocks are all made in China, with the exception of some of the Briggs engines that are made in Mexico. Yamaha snowblowers are not sold in the US. I looked at Hondas, as I have 2 Honda generators, a Honda boat motor, and I drive s Honda. I’m very happy with all my Honda equipment. It’s all high quality, and I was able to get it for prices that were higher than, but near comparable brands. I looked at the HS Honda blowers, and I liked them. High quality, well made, cleverly engineered, and they handled snow well. I couldn’t justify paying 2x’s as much, for their machine (and this is just MHO) for their snowblower as opposed to a Toro, or Ariens. Airens was the machine I felt offered the best bang for the buck in 2019. I went together with two friends and we bought 3 of the Platinum SHO’s. Now we’ve only been running them for 3 years (last year we didn’t get much snow here), but we’ve had zero problems, and no rust issues as you can see from my videos. I’m sure you’ll have many years of great service from your Honda, as there nice machines.
38oz. Of 5W30 oil is the capacity of the engine on the 24@ platinum SHO (369cc). If I am understanding your question correctly. I’ve had this engine since 2019, and it has never burned a drop of oil no matter how hard I push it.
Hi Michael. I did this review pre-season in Response to RUclipsrs questions of what I thought of the machine, and likes/ dislikes etc.(people were looking on buying advice on the machine, pre-season, and there was no snow here yet.) Anyone who wants to see it in use can watch one of my many videos of the machine in action on concrete, on grass, and & different depths/ types of snow. (We still have almost no snow here…. only one video of the SHO from this year of about 5-6”) Was there a question in particular you had about the machine I can answer?Thanks for the comment.
Great review and additional information Bruce, thank you very much for uploading this video. I'm using a 10 year old Ariens 1332 with a 13 HP Tecumseh SNOWKING Engine and it's provided faithful service with only general maintenance. This model didn't have the automatic locking differential but uses a lever on the handlebar to lock and unlock the axles, not as convenient as the new system but gets the job done. Ariens has continued to improve their snowblowers over the years and yours is a great machine.
Hi Heath…. I have an old Simplicity and an old Toro I still run, and they both have 8 hp Snow King engines. They made an excellent snowblower engine, and they will be in service for many years to come. My daughter has a 2000 Simplicity with a trigger on one side, and it definitely helps turn compared to my old fixed axel machines. Thanks for the positive comment, and remember… fear no blizzard with an Ariens in your garage!
Thanx for the walk thru!
I'm getting a 2022 pro28.
Delevery is only in 2-3 weeks, so i'm watching every newer Ariens vidéo on youtube.
Speed control lever is adjustable... so you can lower 1st gear speed and this will speed up reverse at the same time.
6th is always fast at WOT... you need to go idle when moving it around... it gives the engine a break.
You have yourself a Happy New Year!
Greetings. Glad you found the walkthrough helpful. That’s a good point that if you slow the engine down to idle, 6th may be just right for transport. I was always taught snowblower engines were made to run at full throttle when blowing snow, but I never thought about when your simply covering ground. Learn something new every day….thanks for the + comment, and happy new year to you as well.
Thanks for the nice walk through Bruce. Appreciate the details. First time user here. Just took delivery of a Great Lakes Edition from our local dealership here in Michigan. I have watched your other videos too and have been checking how you handle the machine with auto turn etc. Also watch a lot of Paul Sikkema who you mentioned. Keep up the good work and thanks again!
Thanks for the positive comment Tim. That’s an excellent machine you just bought! Hope you get some nice snow so you can get out and try the new Ariens out. If you get to beat up on any blizzards with that Great Lakes edition shoot some video and post it. Never gets old watching these big machines throw snow! Enjoy the new toy!
Great review Bruce! I have a 2019 Platinum 24 SHO as well. Excellent machines! You find yourself wishing it would snow more when you have one of these.❄️
Hi Adam. Your absolutely correct. This machine is so easy to use, I look forward to it snowing (can’t believe I’m saying that). It’s one of those purchases that are getting less frequent these days where you actually get something that performs as advertised! However, with you having one, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Let’s hope we both get a chance to play with our Platinum SHO’s soon! Thanks for the comment Adam.
Excellent video, thank you Bruce. I just bought the 2021 Platinum 30 SHO. Can't wait to try it out.
Hi Chuck. I’m glad my videos helped you choose the right snowblower to fit your needs. I believe you’ve made an excellent selection. I’ve used quite a few snow throwers starting with an old 1960’s SnowBoy that my father had. The Platinum SHO is the finest snowblower I’ve ever owned. Soon, you’ll experience over the top power that can easily handle virtually any type and amount of snow Mother Nature, and your plow, driver can throw at you. Let me know how the first snow goes ( I hope you get plenty of snow to try her out in) Remember, fear no blizzard with an ariens in your garage, and thanks for commenting.
@@blowingsnow4fun One more thing. I just watched a video complaining about a lot of rust building in the area where the drive system is under the belly pan on a 2017 Ariens and this guy was implying that Ariens are notorious for this problem. Have you ever experienced this?
@@Two_Buck Hi Chuck. No I have not. When I bought this machine in 2019, I went together with two friends also in need of a new machine, and we bought 3 of them to get a price. I saw under the belly pan cover on all three last spring, and there was no rust to speak of. I have a video up that you can take a look for yourself. Ariens snow thrower on the inside after two seasons? Let’s drop the belly pan for the reveal.
ruclips.net/video/gYKQaPD8gjs/видео.html
This should be of interest to you.
@@blowingsnow4fun Ah...I should have guessed that you had already covered this subject. That video makes me feel better. I plan to take good care of mine with yearly maintenance, cleaning and greasing. I was hoping to use mine for the first time today as we were supposed to get several inches of snow here in New England. Unfortunately we got mostly rain and only about an inch of snow. I'm sure I will have plenty of opportunities to use it. Thanks again. Cheers.
@@Two_Buck I saw his video as well, and I was anxious to take a look inside mine. I shot the video and posted it so others could see what I saw, and draw there own conclusions. Glad it gave you some peace of mind about your purchase. No snow here either, and unfortunately none in the forecast. Maybe Santa will bring us some for Christmas?
I appreciate the quintessential Wisconsin Badger Rose bowl Sweatshirt. Great video - I just picked up a 2019 Platinum 24 SHO last year, hoping for a lot of lake effect snow again this year!
Hi Mitch. The Platinum SHO handles that lake effect snow really well here in Southeastern WI. Your really going to love this machine, and enjoy using it. Thanks for the comment Mitch.
Well done video! Subscribed
Another great vid of your machine, Bruce!
Just to comment on the gear speeds......... You said a guy "made another notch" to get a "creeper gear".
A simpler way is to turn the machine up onto its auger housing, remove the belly pan, and adjust the vertical friction disc (the one that moves left or right when you shift).
You will notice that in 6th gear forward, the vertical disc is way out toward the outer edge of the drive disc. (The further out, the faster it spins.)
Conversely, the (factory) placement of that vertical disc limits how far it will travel past the center of the drive disc. (Reverse side).
If you adjust your vertical disc away from the outer edge of the forward side, and more towards the reverse side, you will gain a little more speed in reverse.
I'm positive that these manufactures do this so that old "Bubba the moron" doesn't run himself over in reverse. And I can't blame them. Lol
Thanks for the tip Paul, I’ll check that out next time I have occasion to drop the belly pan. I think I have it adjusted so 1 is as slow as I can go. ( which makes reverse as fast as it can be set to) If I turn the adjusting rod any further it contacts the disc slightly in neutral. I had another guy comment that the fast speed of 6th was for use during transport when you have the engine down to low idle. Makes sense …learn something new every day.
@@blowingsnow4fun I figured you might know.
Just trying to be of service. 👍🏻👍🏻
@@paulmysliborski4832 It’s all good Paul. I appreciate the info , and will check to see if it’s adjusted properly next time I’ve got her up in the service position. Always like to talk snowblower with anyone with anything g to share!
I just purchased a used 2018 24" Platinum SHO EFI. I've only used it once, but I love it so far. I've noticed that with so much power the front end likes to ride up a little. Have you experienced this at all? I was thinking of getting the weight kit.
Hi Jeff, sorry for the delayed response. Every snow blower I’ve ever owned rides up in certain conditions. Any time you head into anything that’s compacted, or frozen. Sometimes when you get rain on top of snow and it freezes, they’ll buck pretty good. These machines are almost 300lbs. Which is heavy for a snowblower. There are a couple of things that I would check if it wasn’t one of the aforementioned situations. Pull the plug wire and take the key out when your messing around with the auger/impeller
1. Check the condition of the scraper bar, and make sure it’s not bent or excessively worn. Replace if it appears defective/excessively worn.
2. Make sure your skids are set correctly. ( see owners manual or Ariens how to videos)
3. Make sure your tires are set at exactly the same tire pressure. 17-19 PSI is ideal. Having overinflated tires, or different inflation pressures can really raise hell with the way these new machines handle.
4.look at the augers for sign of being bent, or having struck something. If one side has an issue it can make them ride up. Knew a guy who hit a frozen twin bed sheet under a drift after a big storm. It took him an hour to get it out, and he bent the auger which made it buck up in certain conditions. Another guy was helping a neighbor and hit a dog leash cable under the snow, and same result . You’d think it would break the shear pin, but both those materials stretch and it’s not like hitting a chunk of ice.
5. You may be in too high a gear for the type of snow your trying to blow.
Before I’d buy a weight kit, and try a bag of sand bungee corded on top of the bucket. Have to be careful it doesn’t get sucked in. I’m pretty sure the Ariens weight kits are 10 lbs.
You don’t have one of those plastic walk behind enclosures on her? I have one of those on an old Toro 824 up at my cabin. I have a 20 lb. Sandbag attached to the top of my bucket to get the right balance.
Also check to make sure you don’t have a broken shear pin on one side, and that can cause problems too.
Great review: Thank you. Re: The drift cutter bar knobs: I had the same problem with loosening them, even without gloves. I purchased and installed the Pro knobs which are elongated: Problem solved. Night-and-Day. They fit and use the same bolts.
Hi Chris…. Where did you purchase the pro knobs? Is there a part number or link that you could share? That sounds like just the solution I need!
Thanks for the comment, and the compliment on the review!
@@blowingsnow4fun Hi there: The dealer ordered them for me: Part #: 7500105 $3.45 each. I also swapped out the chute clean out tool to the one with the brush as the Pro models have. Makes brushing the snow off when you're done a snap in just a couple of minutes. It comes in a kit that also replaces the plastic holder on the bucket using the existing holes. Snow clean out kit: part # 724081
@@Chris-fl5vh ….great tip, thanks! I’ll work on getting those knobs ordered. I didn’t know the pro clean out tool was different that the ones on the rest of the fleet. I’m going to research that and see if I can find a pic. I keep an old broom next to the SHO, and use that to brush it off before moving it into the garage.
Glad to help. If you Google it you'll get a few links showing it for sale with pics including Amazon: "Ariens Professional chute clean-out tool with brush". I'm also going to replace the skids with the commercial heavy duty ones from the Pro models. The parts folks at the dealer said they should fit. The standard factory ones on my machine are already close to wearing through.
I went to the Ariens poly skids after one year. When the snow gets deep, I take it up on my deck in back. The poly skids don’t leave a trace of any kind of mark. I put them on my Simplicity up North. They really have a much smoother feel to them than the metal ones.
I was leaning toward the Deluxe 28in SHO, do you think it'll be enough power? I have about a 8 car driveway+side pad and sidewalks, the biggest problem is the heavy mostly frozen slush by the road, the city plows throw it onto my driveway and that SUPER heavy stuff has clogged my old small weak blowers, hoping to save 300 bucks but maybe bigger engine is worth it....
Hi BK… sounds like you gets lots of wet heavy snow where you live. There’s no easy answer to your question. An 8 car driveway + sidewalk + side pad is a lot of snow to move! I would suggest you make two lists, one for the 28 SHO, & one for the other more powerful blower. (Not sure what your considering here) Here’s a few thoughts that may help with your decision.
1. I’ve never looked at my machine, and said “It was a waste buying this much power.” We had 7-8” of heavy wet March snow last night. The plow came by, and filled the end of my drive with about 30” of huge snow boulders mixed with slush. I watched other machines struggle, but mine went right through it.
2. A smaller bucket is easier to handle, store, and maneuver.
3. A bigger bucket will get the job done faster in smaller lighter snowfalls. In larger snowfalls, you’ll have to take a partial bucket, so it wont be faster. All blowers (including mine) will puke a little snow out the side if you have them in too high a gear. Today in that wet heavy crap, I did the long passes in my driveway in mostly 2nd, and s little in 3rd. EOD I had to do in 1st.
3. The 28 SHO is the best bang for the buck in snowblowers …Acrossed any brand. They will handle large amounts of snow, and the SHO impeller makes a huge difference. There a real good machine.
4. Not sure what it’s like where you live, but here the temp drops after it snows. Heated grips make a big difference when your out there, it’s 10, and the wind is howling. It’s about $100 for the Ariens heated grip kit, so if your adding them, that brings the cost down to $200 more for the bigger engine.
5. The bigger engine is going to use more gas, and it will take more oil when you change it.
6. Last thought is that I wouldn’t buy an EFI machine. They still have problems, IMHO, I’ve seen very little done to improve them since their introduction. The snow blower forums frequently have guys on them looking for help diagnosing and repairing them, both new, and old. If it’s a fuel pump its over $100, and OEM ones have been on back order for a while according to what I have read. When a carburetor starts to have issues,it gives you signs it’s struggling, and you have time to clean or rebuild it before it stops working. Not so with an EFI machine, there running fine, and suddenly they won’t run at all.
It’s a big decision your maki g as either machine with routine maintenance will last you 20+ years. 20 years by $300 is about $15 a year. That’s not quite a 12 pack of my favorite beer. If you don’t mind, let me know what you decide, and then drop me a note letting me know how it goes when you get your first big snowstorm.
I just bought a new Briggs and Stratton 250 cc 27 inches wide by 20 inches tall 2 stage it has a fuel shut off and a led headlight and steel shoot steel dash heated grips that actually work that I like my 7 year old Troy bilt 24 inches wide by 21 inches tall didn't have a fuel shut off the heated grips didn't work from day one the plastic shoot would clog up and the shoot height would vibrate up on me no matter what position I put it in
You should get 87 octane ethanol free gas from Road Ranger in East Troy. I get 10 gallons from them every 6 months.
Hi Jarrett…. Didn’t know they had regular ethanol free available around here yet. I usually pick up premium ethanol free up North, or on my way back as that’s all they have. I used to stop at a Fleet Farm in Oshkosh and they had mid grade, but they only have premium there now. Thanks for the tip. It’s got to be an emergency for me to put any gas with ethanol in any of my small engines.
I love your videos very informative! I'm thinking about buying either the deluxe 24 or the deluxe 28. I like the idea of getting the 24 but it seems like most go with either the 28 or the 30. I'm wondering why you decided on the 24 and do you think it's wide enough?
Hi Jeremy…glad you enjoy my videos! My main purpose with going with a 24” is space,and maneuverability. The location I store my machine in the garage is best suited to a 24” machine. I try to get up early, and clear snow before it gets driven on. I was looking at a 28SHO, or a Platinum SHO 30 when I was shopping. However, once I got the tape measure out, I could see it would be really difficult for me to park my vehicles in a position where I could get the machine out of the garage without having to pull a car out. I went and tried a 30, ( in the showroom) but the width made it feel clumsy, and way less maneuverable. You have to figure you gain 6” with a30, that’s probably one less pass in the driveway when clearing snow. You have to remember that every time you wank past the machine with grocery bags, every time you park, every time you pull a trailer in your garage, that 6” makes a difference. You get a little bigger engine with the 30, but with the bigger bucket, your machine is having to move more snow, so that’s a wash IMO. So the question, IMHO, is do you have enough driveway to make that extra 6” of inconvenience worth it all year long? Additionally, I find a narrower bucket is easier to handle when going through heavy wet snow, such as the EOD pile. Just my personal preference. In retrospect, I’ve never wished for a wider bucket under any conditions. Thanks for the + comment, and if you enjoy what you see on the channel, please consider subscribing. Let me know what you decide to get, and then how you like it.
@@blowingsnow4fun Well put! I just got a 2023 24 plat. I just have a shed to store it so the 24 will be nice to maximize space and still have the power. Get 200+" annually here mix of powder and wet
Hey Jeremy…congrats on the new blower. You’re really going to like your new Ariens. When you get your first big snow, and man handle it with your new Ariens, let me know what you think.
@@blowingsnow4fun I'm not Jeremy but thank you. Got to test it out on 10" of the good stuff today. Was super impressed with the overall functionality and power. Was able to take full buckets with ease. Coming from an old toro this thing was worth every penny so far and a game changer. Hand warmers were great too. Do you turn the gas off every time and let it run dry?
@steynerr …. Sorry Sean, your response was linked to Jeremie’s previous conversation, so I just assumed. I’m glad you were happy with your purchase, and believe you received great value for your hard earned $. I can honestly say, I’ve never had anyone one that I’ve steered towards the 24” Platinum ever come back disappointed. Thanks for the + reply.
What is the MSRP for the machine you have? What is the displacement of the engine? I'm in the market for a new 2 stage as the one I've had for the past 27 years just bit the dust?
Hi John. I paid $1498. In 2019, and just like anything else they have inched up every year since. I will say if you take care of this machine it should last 20+ years. Get ready for sticker shock …. This is the Ariens website:$1799.MSRP . It has a 369CC engine that puts out 17 lbs of torque ( it has over the top power!) If you have any other questions, I’d be happy to share any knowledge/ experience I have about the machine with you.
@@blowingsnow4fun Just bought a 22/23 Platinum SHO 24" myself the past month while they still have last year's model in stock. MSRP on that is now $1999, ouch! I almost wish my 1980 ST824 had worn out a little sooner, it would've saved me a bundle.
@@floobertuber ….I picked up a Ariens catalog while walking through a local hardware store a few weeks ago, and I saw the price was just south of 2 grand. Right after the pandemic when you couldn’t get snowblowers, the price just shot up like just about everything else. However, you have an excellent machine that with proper upkeep should last you 20+ years. If you divide that $1999 by 20 years it’s $99.95 a year. I know that doesn’t help with the original outlay of $, but it makes me feel better, when I look at the cost of buying quality over time of ownership. You’ll know you made a good move when you get your first big storm, and your cutting through that big EOD pile. After you get to use it, please let me know how your impressions of your new Ariens. I’m pretty sure your not going to be disappointed!
@@blowingsnow4fun Thanks for the supportive comment! Let's call it $66 a year, because I'm gonna make it last 30+, ha ha! My old ST824 was treated pretty badly (Green Bay winters, not the greatest upkeep) for its first 20 years, before it became mine... and still survived to 43 years. Even now it's not 100% dead, it just needs a fuel line and a broken starter-motor bolt removed (the bolt may be beyond my skills). But if the LCT AXs are built 2/3rds as good as that old Tecumseh 8-horse HM80, 30 years seems realistic.
By then, they won't even be able to get spare parts for ME, so I'm not too worried about it beyond that point!!
Still working good? I'm a little leary about the chineese engine and EFI. I'm looking at a like new used 921048 24" EFI Sho Platinum, guy is asking 1.5k
Hey doc tube…. I don’t think the reliability is there with efi yet, and I would advise against it at this time. There are occasional treads that appear on the snowblower forums re efi. Battery problems, & fuel pump problems mainly. With a carb you get some warning when it’s starting to have problems. Running rough, needing to leave the choke on one click etc. No warning with efi. It just won’t start, and you need parts that frequently need to be ordered. Didn’t use my SHO much this winter as we hardly had any snow. Engine runs great, and I have a lot of confidence in it. From my understanding, block is made in an “Ariens owned & operated” plant in China. It’s assembled here. AX engines are great starters (with carb), and have excellent power. I wouldn’t hesitate on the engine, just the efi. If you like videos like these, and haven’t already, please consider subscribing to the channel.
@@blowingsnow4fun I appreciate the detailed reply. Apparently, even the later Briggs & Stratton engines were made in China according to some online articles. I agree with you on EFI is a bit too new to be trusted on snowblowers. Subscribed :-)
@@doctube2020 When I was shopping for a machine in 2019, I couldn’t find a single engine block from any manufacturer that came from this country. Most were cast in China, and the large Briggs engines were cast in Mexico. Let me know when you buy a machine, I’m always interested in what machines my subscribers are running.
@@blowingsnow4fun currently have a 2012 Ariens compact 24 with Briggs 205cc 9ft lb torque. It’s been good and still works well, but ever since my neighbor got an Ariens Sho 24 with 324cc engine I’ve had blower envy lol. I could use a blower that throws it further than my current 24. So I’ve been looking for a sho or sho platinum 24, 26 maybe a 28 but I like the smaller ones for city slicker driveways. I think the 254cc with 12.5 tq or bigger would suit my needs. I’m at 7k ft elevation which takes about 20% power away from naturally aspirated engines so I need a bigger engine.
I’m not sure what type of snow you get where you live, and that has a great deal to do with power needed with a blower. Speed if needed snow removal is also a factor, as if you get deep snow that needs to be cleared quickly so you can get to work, more power is required. With your elevation you’ll definitely notice the extra power the 24” SHO provides with its 17 ft lbs of torque. In a usual winter, I really need the bigger engine as we get a fair amount of deep wet snow here is SE WI. EOD piles is also a factor, as they salt my road frequently early in snow storms. Then when they eventually plow, my EOD pile is wet & heavy. I’ve never had a subscriber purchase an SHO, and come back wishing they had more power. One item of note. I ran pretty much all 8hp engines on all my blowers up until my SHO. The bigger engine uses slightly more gas, which is no big deal for me. In a typical winter, I probably spend a few dollars more on gas with the SHO. Sometimes when winters are mild, dealers are anxious to clear out remaining stock, so they don’t have to store them all summer. You may be able to get $50 or more off on a new machine at the end of the season? That varies from place to place, and dealer to dealer.
Hi Bruce, I just picked up a 2020 platinum 24 a few days ago from someone who decided to put a plow on his kubota tractor. I wanted to order some additional spare parts for it. I went looking for the model number and serial number. Could not find either on the machine. I am not sure if I missed
something .Any idea what location it could be in? Or if does not come with those? thanks, Mrfixitofgg29
Hi Steven. They all come from the factory with a sticker with the model number and the serial number unless someone has peeled it off (highly unlikely as it’s needed for warranty service, and parts). On my machine it’s on the left side as you stand with your hands on the grips. It’s tough to see as it’s behind and just forward of the wheel. If you stick your phone back there, you should be able to snap a photo. My dealer writes both numbers on the cover of the owners manual so it’s easy to access. Not sure why they put it behind the wheel as every other snow blower I’ve owned has the sticker on the back of the machine just above the belly pan. It should be white with black lettering. Your going to love this machine. It’s got great features, and over the top power. The engine gets this growl to it when its into heavy load. Let me know if I can help you with anything else, and remember…. fear no blizzard with an Ariens in the garage!
@@blowingsnow4fun Thanks Bruce. The one place I didn’t look. I’ll take a peak tomorrow. I picked this up just in time. Up to 20” predicted for Friday.
@@stevenleonard9005 Hey Steven. I had to do a little looking myself. I don’t know why they put it there? Even the on-line info on the Ariens site says its located in the back just below the engine. It’s really in an inconvenient spot IMO. Your going to have fun in 20” with your new SHO! Take a video and post it if you can. Love to watch these machines throw snow! Let me know how it goes when you have time.
My current John Deere 928 E has a locking hub that lets me unlock to turn , but try doing that in deep snow . It is hard to unlock . I ordered a Ariens 30 inch Platinum SHO after seeing the auto turn feature . I am 67 and my 928 E is hard to turn , so time for an uograde . Your video here is of great help for a first time Ariens owner . Thank you for this video . I live in Wrightstown where are you from ? I ujse premium gas , 92 , no ethenol , and add sea foam
Your welcome Mike…glad it was of use
I live in Sourthern New England and I am trying to decide if I need a 30 inch or if I can get away with the 24.
Hi Fourleaftaback. I’ve used both, but I’ve only owned 24’s. I have two reasons I went with the 24”. 1. If I go with a 30” machine, and store the machine in my garage. I have to pull one vehicle out of the garage to get the snow thrower out without scratching one of our two vehicles. I hate driving across the snow with a vehicle, and then removing the snow. You get tracks (sometimes packed snow, sometimes ice) that can last for weeks in the driveway that creates a slip hazard, and in my opinion looks like crap. That extra 6” doesn’t sound like much, but it makes things tight in my garage.
#2. The 24” is definitely easier to steer, handle, and keep the bucket down in EOD pile situations. I’m 64, and each year everything gets a little harder. If something happens to me, my wife can handle the 24” if she needs to. I’m not so sure about the 30, visually it looks alot bigger when your standing behind those handlebars.
Additionally…The 30 definitely clears snow faster because of the width of the bucket, especially in light powdery snow. The platinum SHO 24” has a 369 engine, the 30”has a 414 I believe. Consequently the throwing distance and the ability of the engine to keep up with clearing the bucket should be adequate with both machines (IMO). The 30 will use slightly more gas with the larger engine. How much faster, measure the width of your driveway, divide it by 24, and then by 30. Depending on thr length of your driveway, the extra 6” may be worth it in your situation? You’ll have to weigh the +, &-.
The autotutn will make both sizes easy to handle when not blowing snow (moving around in garage). It’s $298.00 more for the 30. Machine length, bucket height, impeller size, height of handlebars are identical. Remember, the shoes stick out 1” on each side of the bucket, so the 24” is actually 26” wide. I m sorry, but I don’t remember if the handgrips are wider on the 30?
My final thought is I’d travel to an Ariens dealer (big box stores are generally not allowed to sell the Platinum SHO’s. Handle the two size machines in the showroom, and get a feel for them. This is going to be where your going to really see what the machines feel like. Your spending $2000+ on a machine you’ll have for 20 years, there’s nothing that’s going to help you as much with your decision as actually grabbing the hand grips, moving them around, and getting a feel for what there like. Let me know what you decide to buy! Thanks for the comment.
@@blowingsnow4fun thank you so much! Very very helpful. I was having the same thoughts. I was wondering why I didn't see the platinum models at the BB stores. So now I know and will visit a dealer to check them out. Thank you! I'll let you know, but I am thinking 24.
Unless you really have a lot of area your clearing, I think the 24” will be more than adequate for your needs. It has all the features you’ll need, the engine has over the top power for wet or deep snow, the dual belts means your get instant torque to the impeller with no slippage, and love how easy the autoturn makes it handle.
I have a 2020 Platinum 24 and a 100' driveway. I live in New England and It does the job. Even though you have 6" more of bucket width on the 30, it is still only 21" high. We had an 18" storm here last winter and with the drifts I had to surrender to using on 2/3 thirds of the bucket in some places: It still threw the snow 50'. It's actually kind of fun seeing it throwing the snow off into the woods. (unless the wind is howling from all directions!)
Hi Chris… I run into swirling winds here after snow storms all the time. I’m 5 minutes from Lake Michigan, and we get real wild fluctuations in wind direction after our lake effect storms finally stop. I occasionally get comments from guys telling me I don’t know how to blow snow, but they don’t understand how the Great Lakes effects the wind direction. I can take 3 passes and the winds from the West, I start #4, and the wind shifts NE, and I have to pause to readjust my chute. I agree with your comment on throwing distance. I’m fortunate my neighbors could care less where I blow snow, there just glad I clear their snow when it’s too deep for their machine, or they just need help. I guess in some places guys freak out if you throw a little snow on their grass. It doesn’t bother me if anyone throws little snow on my lawn, it’s frozen water LOL. Lots more serious things to worry about IMO. There’s something therapeutic about watching that snow go flying, and the SHO is just the machine to make that happen, thanks for the comment!
Led's are great but the halogen keeps the snow melted off the lens
Hey Chris. I have used my Platinum SHO with the OEM halogen light at night. The light does melt snow after it runs for a while and warms up (5 minutes at full throttle at around 28 degrees if memory serves me correctly) the lens does become wet, and the diffusion the water creates further limits the light output. The LED lens is made from a different material, and I’m not sure if the snow will cling to it or not. When I have a chance to use it in the dark, I’ll try and report back on how the OEM compares to the LED in real life. Thanks for the comment Chris, you bring up a great point!
Well it’s 16 outside and I just blew 6” of powdery snow. Snow clung to my dash, my hat and jacket. the top of my bucket, but none stuck on the lenses of the new LED light. I even picked some snow up and threw it directly at the light, and it just slid off. Don’t know if it has some kind of slippery coating, or it’s luck, or the type of snow, but snow would not stick to the business end of this light. I’ll report back when I use it in a wet snow.
friction disc problems, rusting. is this a Ariens thing?
Not sure what your referencing, I haven’t had any friction disc problems or rusting? Does your machine have these issues, and your asking my opinion?
@@blowingsnow4fun i dont have a Ariens, not really a big fan of chinese engines that has a american made body frame like Ariens.
My honda engines are premium, like a Yamaha, the rest is chinese made.
i almost bought a ariens as a back up, till i heard about the disc, and rusting.
you heard of LCT? they are the ones making engines for Ariens today, these are chinese engines on Ariens snowblowers. made in the USA my black ass.
In 2018, I knew I was going to need a new snow blower, so I started doing my research. I wanted to purchase an Anericsn made machine (as I had happily previously owned Simplicity, and Toros with Tecumseh snow king engines) I was shocked that there wasn’t a single snow blower manufacturer in the US that was making engines here. The blocks are all made in China, with the exception of some of the Briggs engines that are made in Mexico. Yamaha snowblowers are not sold in the US. I looked at Hondas, as I have 2 Honda generators, a Honda boat motor, and I drive s Honda. I’m very happy with all my Honda equipment. It’s all high quality, and I was able to get it for prices that were higher than, but near comparable brands. I looked at the HS Honda blowers, and I liked them. High quality, well made, cleverly engineered, and they handled snow well. I couldn’t justify paying 2x’s as much, for their machine (and this is just MHO) for their snowblower as opposed to a Toro, or Ariens. Airens was the machine I felt offered the best bang for the buck in 2019. I went together with two friends and we bought 3 of the Platinum SHO’s. Now we’ve only been running them for 3 years (last year we didn’t get much snow here), but we’ve had zero problems, and no rust issues as you can see from my videos. I’m sure you’ll have many years of great service from your Honda, as there nice machines.
How much oil is the 17 torque take
38oz. Of 5W30 oil is the capacity of the engine on the 24@ platinum SHO (369cc). If I am understanding your question correctly. I’ve had this engine since 2019, and it has never burned a drop of oil no matter how hard I push it.
Huh?
How can you do a review of a SNOW BLOWER and never leave your garage? LOL!!!!!
Hi Michael. I did this review pre-season in Response to RUclipsrs questions of what I thought of the machine, and likes/ dislikes etc.(people were looking on buying advice on the machine, pre-season, and there was no snow here yet.) Anyone who wants to see it in use can watch one of my many videos of the machine in action on concrete, on grass, and & different depths/ types of snow. (We still have almost no snow here…. only one video of the SHO from this year of about 5-6”) Was there a question in particular you had about the machine I can answer?Thanks for the comment.