Good to hear from you. Those old Toro's are great machines. My dad, bless his soul, bought 2 brand new 1980 Toro's one for his home, the other one for the cabin up north. I always maintained them for him. One is a 524, the other is an 824. Both have Tecumseh engines. I have them now and they both still work perfectly. I did add an impeller kit to the 524. Tried it out during the 9 inches of really wet stuff we had back in February. Never did clog and blew the heavy wet stuff about 15'. Big improvement over not having the impeller kit installed. I used the 524 to do my driveway, sense it is paved and the 524 has that spring loaded scraper that does a really nice job of getting right down to the pavement. Well, as long as no car tracks have packed the snow down. I am going to check out some of your videos when you are using your old trusty Toro 824. Hopefully, spring will be upon us soon and the snow blowing equipment can put away for another season. Oh yes, I did try some Dupont Snow & Ice Repellent on my single stage wheels. It didn't seem to help much. The wheels are hard, and the snow just seems to stick to them when the snow is wet. I use mine mainly on the back deck, so it is not big of a deal. I will check out your other videos and I may even subscribe.
I’ve heard alot of positives about impeller kits really helping with some blowers. I agree… I hate it when someone drives on my driveway and packs that snow down before I can clear it. If I can, I get a square old metal shovel out I have, and scrape them off. Thanks for the + comment.
This is the kind of snow that shows how good your snow blower is. Here in southeastern MI back in February we got hit with 9 inches of that heavy wet stuff. First time trying out my new Toro Power Max HD 1232 in that kind of snow. Wow, I was impressed with how the machine handled that type of snow. Snow distance was between 40 and 50'. Never once did the machine even hint of clogging. If it was ever going to clog, it would have in those conditions. I was blowing the heavy stuff for over an hour. My single stage wheels were getting packed with the wet stuff. I just use it on my back deck, so the wheels becoming packed with snow was no big deal. Enjoyed watching your Ariens 24' SHO make quick work of that heavy wet snow. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Russell. I have had a 1980’s Toro 824 for years, and always found it to be a very good machine. I had it down to a power max, and the SHO. They were both excellent machines. I agree with you, the heavy wet snow sure tests the metal of your machine…especially that EOD pile. I took a ride to go take care of a friends snow & I saw quite a few guys with their machines parked in the driveway and them shoveling the EOD pile. I have a four stroke toro 18” power curve that I use when there isn’t enough to get the big machine out. I get the same snow clumping on the wheels. It gets to the point where they feel square sometimes LOL. I wonder if a little armor-all or silicone spray would eliminate that and still give you enough traction to keep the little blower going straight forward? I’ll have to try that next year. Thanks for the positive comment. I have some video of my 824 blowing snow if your interested on my channel. If you like what you see, please consider subscribing.
@@blowingsnow4fun I was looking at the Platinum 24 and 928HD for a few years. When Toro discontinued the 928 it then came down to the Platinum 24 or Platinum 28 Rapidtrak. Rapidtrak was just too much additional money to justify and I really prefer something a bit smaller because it fits in my garage better.
Sounds like your toro 1232 is working out well for you. I like Toros as that is one of my final two machines that I considered, and I’ve owned several over the years. There made as heavy as they used to be, but no-ones machine is. Glad you enjoyed the video!
It melted from the bottom up here megaVortex. I blew mine around 8:30, and there was a good 10” . I went inside and had some coffee, and took a break. Went over to my buddies house to do his snow, and it was probably down to 7” by then, but a layer of slush on the bottom. I’ve got a second video that should go up tonight of me using his TroyBilt Storm to clear snow that you might enjoy. The storm did ok….it was no SHO, but it held its own.
We have only had two nuisance storms here in central New England so far this winter: a 3' storm of dry snow and a 3.5" storm of heavy slushy water. My 24" Platinum SHO dealt with this one throwing mostly water, but it worked hard and I have never seen the the spring loaded chute deflector bounce from the output. Impressive and NO clogging to clean out. This is a first for me on any machine in over 50 years of owning various snow blowers.
Hi Chris… my engine had that growl to it a lot today (you having one & know just what I mean) It handled the snow, and it threw the snow further than any snowblowers I saw working today, but the engine worked to do it. I took a ride and I saw alot of guys blowing their driveway, parking their machines, and shoveling their EOD piles because there machines couldn’t handle it. This was a storm you needed torque for.
Same here on the engine revs: the sound indicates it's working harder but the revs never drop. This is season three and I have never had to use the clean-out tool to clear out the chute.
@@Chris-fl5vh I’ve only had to use the clean-out once. That was to get a dog toy (horse or donkey) out that I ran over in the back yard. Never needed it to clean a plugged chute though:)
I have a Ariens deluxe 28 on order for 2023 and 2024 snow fall and hope it works that good for me,looks like these must be good for heavy wet snow which i get at times, thanks for your video and enjoyed watching it.
Hi Denversnider… the deluxe 28 is a great machine for the average homeowner. Your 254 engine is a little smaller than my 369, so don’t expect quite the same power as you see in my videos. I have used the deluxe 28, and I have several neighbors who have them. They do a great job handling most snowfalls. When you get the real wet heavy stuff, may I suggest you spray your chute (especially the round area at the base of the chute), with a silicone type spray. I like DuPont Teflon Snow and Ice Repellant, Aerosol 10 oz a.co/d/7pJL8nc which you’ll find on Amazon, & at Ace. Additionally shift to a lower gear & slow down. Your machine will throw snow a long way, and move tons of snow, so treat it well with regular routine maintenance, and it won’t let you down. Check out my how to type videos if you need some help. If you enjoy these videos, please consider subscribing to the channel. Thanks for the + comment!
Hey scrambler…. Yah, I probably could have taken a little smaller bite with this snow, but to tell you the truth I didn’t even notice the small ridges left behind. With my old Techumse 8hp machines, they struggle a little when they puke snow out the side, so I can hear it, and reduce my bite. There’s really much of a clue from the engine on the SHO, so I leave some ridges on occasion. Thanks for the comment
Nice. Seems to run true and straight. I've heard a lot of complaints about fighting the auto-turn but see no evidence from your video. Do you have auto-turn? Did you replace the metal skid shoes with an ABS alternative?
Hey Margoscargo… the early auto turns had balance issues which gave the auto turn fits. Ariens re-engineered the balance of their machines the year after auto turn came out, and it worked great ever since the first 2 years I had the SHO, I used the metal shoes, and no auto turn problems. I have a good sized deck in the backyard, and I started using the SHO to clear it after big snows. After the 2nd year I had the machine I put the poly skid shoes on so I could could take it on the deck without scratching it up. The auto turn works good with the metal skid shoes, but it even works better with the poly shoes. It’s a slick system compared to the older fixed axel machines, and it’s much easier to use than the trigger systems. My 270 lb machine can be turned with one hand, and is super easy to handle. You have to have your skid shoes adjusted correctly, and you MUST have your tires set to exactly the same pressure, and it will work great. If you’re considering an auto turn machine, go to an Ariens dealer, and play around with it in the showroom. You’ll be pleasantly surprised. Thanks for the + comment, and if you haven’t already, please consider subscribing to the channel if you like this kind of video.
@@blowingsnow4fun Thank you for the detailed response. I just bought the Deluxe 24 but no snow yet! I just purchased the ABS shoes as I have the same scratch concern as you. And yes, I have set up the machine top to bottom - including loosening the bolts to separate the the front and the back of the machine to ensure total equilibrium of the two parts. I bought it from a big box store and it needed some tweaking. The auger was turning while in idle too. Fixed that according to specs but I just hope the belt tension isn't too loose that the auger doesn't turn under load. Don't want to have to make adjustments in the snow! I also applied anti-seize to the wheels. They don't do that in the factory. SHO would be overkill for my needs. I traded up from a 179cc Craftsman that has worked reliably for nine years but barely throws wet snow. Going to a buddy for $200.
@@margoscargo Sounds like you bought a nice machine that will serve you for years. Let me know how if performs in the first big storm! I’m curious if the 2023’s live up to the Ariens reputation
Some reviews of the 24” Platinum SHO complain of the machine being too light in the front causing it to lift over the snow. Apparently to the point Ariens has a weight kit for it. Thoughts?
Hey user…. Any snow blower bucket (brand) will lift in the right conditions even with a weight kit. There is a a trade off as the heavier you make the front end of machine, the more difficult the machine becomes to turn & handle. Heavier machines do tend to lift less IMHO and the SHO at about 270lbs doesn’t lift much. If you try to run it in too high a gear in pack snow, or EOD piles it will lift some as the engine has so much torque. Most other machines bog, and slow down as they struggle with this scenario, where the 24 SHO just keeps going. I think the Ariens that I have used/tried have had an excellent balance overall. If you have problems with machines riding up an Ariens RapidTrack is what you need. With a light lift on the handlebars, and the squeezing of a handle, most of the weight of the machine if placed on the front, so it really stays glued to the pavement in challenging conditions. To answer you question directly, my 24” SHO does not have a tendency to ride up IMO.
Nice to see the Ariens throwing that wet snow. Here in Chicagoland, we got hit with 10" of wet snow and my old Toro paddle snowblower did nothing. My new Ariens Platinum 24" arrives in two days :) BTW... I just realized your camera is reversing the images as it appears your light is on the left side instead of the right. It confused me at first because you appeared to be driving with the right hand - thought you got a UK version of your snowblower
Hey Puffy….sorry about the reverse Immage . I try not to use it, but I shoot all my videos with my phone. Without a person to run my camera I can’t see when I’m out of frame, so I need to use my camera in the selfie mode more than I would like so I can look up at the camera and see if it’s capturing what I want. It gets old fast when you do a repair, or blow some snow, and only 50 %of what you want to show is visible. You’re really going to like the Platinum SHO. It’s so easy to handle, and it has the power & features to conquer any storm. When you use the SHO in your first big storm let me know how it goes . Remember, fear no blizzard when you have an Ariens in your garage.
We only had 2" near chicago where I'm at and most of it was on grassy surfaces. I missed out on the heavy snow band by 20-30 miles. Would have loved to have tried out my craftsman on some heavy snow. The SHO is really the king of snow it handled that stuff like it was nothing
Hi Andy…the snow was so wet and heavy it brought down limbs and trees, and with that cane wires. We had power, but there’s still people here without power. The SHO was throwing g pure slush when I turned around in the street. I took a ride, and saw lots of people blowing their driveways, but shoveling their EOD pile. Those plow piles were no joke. Walked the dogs when I was done, and saw 3 guys wrenching on their blowers. Talked to two, and the third was cussing to much for me to go near him. Guy1 was a broken impeller belt. Guy 2 was trying to repair controls for a chute that the wet snow overwhelmed . Guy 3 was throwing wrenches across the garage LOL. Interesting day.
It did really well Paul. I took a ride and saw lots of guys blowing their driveway, and shoveling the EOD pile LOL. This snow was REALLY HEAVY….super high moisture contend. The SHO was throwing pure slush when I’d turn it around in the road.
I’m not Paul…just don’t need it on the SHO. Two cabin blowers rarely see anything but powder being up North. So I don’t have one on either the Toro or the Simplicity. When I had them down here, if I sprayed them with silicone or Teflon spray, they wouldn’t plug, and the old Techumse Snow King had enough power and torque to handle the load. Maybe if I had a bucket bigger than 24” it would be a different story. I know a lot of guys love the impeller kits, and swear by them, but I don’t personally have any experience with adding them. My dad had a 24” 5hp Briggs Simplicity he bought new in the 70’s. The second stage was set up in line with the machine, and it had 3 thick rubber paddles for the impeller that were a tight fit. That thing really threw snow for a 5 horse. I remember taking it down the middle of the alley , and that thing was throw pure water 30’. It had a huge hooded chute that turned with cables. It was hard on impeller bearings though. Here’s a 7hp that looks just like it. I guess this was the original factory installed impeller kit LOL. ua-cam.com/video/V6ny49Oguxg/v-deo.html
Hi Jim…. No, that’s the camera. Sometimes I put it the mode that takes the video so the screen faces forward so I can see what I’m taping from a distance. (Selfie mode) All three of my self propelled snow blowers (Ariens, Toro, & Simplicity) the gear shift is on the right as you face the grips to run the machine. The chute control is towards the center left. The right grip engages the auger. The left grip engages the drive. Thanks for the + comment, and sorry for the confusion. I don’t have anyone to operate the camera, so that’s the only strategy I have for seeing if I’m actually getting video of what I want.
I kept it in 1 most of the time too. The SHO was handling it fine, just no need to push it any harder than I had too. Thanks for the + comment…I was kind of wondering what kind of snow they got in the Madison area:)
Hi Dkat, As long as everything is working properly, it is very therapeutic. Can’t hear calls or texts. I definitely unplug when I’m behind a running snowblower.
Hey Steve…. I’m assuming you meant If that’s 10” of snow? Snow was super wet and measured aprox 10” after the snowfall. Concrete was fairly warm, so the snow compacted some before I started working on it. Snow height was definitely less towards the end of the driveway, deeper towards the top. Bucket height is 22” at the front, so….your correct, the snow was not 10” deep Acrossed the whole driveway, but if you look at the snow towards the top of the drive, it was a little under .5 of the bucket height & that would put the depth at about 10”. Thanks for the comment.
Hi Christopher. It could, but I’d definitely have to spray the chute with some Teflon snow & ice repellent , or Pam or something or the chute would not clog in that slush. Thanks for the + comment& please consider subscribing to the channel if you haven’t already .
Some reviews of the 24” Platinum SHO complain of the machine being too light in the front causing it to lift over the snow. Apparently to the point Ariens has a weight kit for it. Thoughts?
Every snowblower is a compromise of balance. A well balanced machine like the Platinum 24 is easy to maneuver. A front heavy machine will dig into hardpack better but you also lose some traction on the tires. If you don't like the balance of this machine the solution would be to get the weight kit. But it is by no means necessary or a design problem. It's entirely dependent on your personal needs or wants. An Ariens Rapidtrak is the best of both worlds, but is not cheap.
Good to hear from you. Those old Toro's are great machines. My dad, bless his soul, bought 2 brand new 1980 Toro's one for his home, the other one for the cabin up north. I always maintained them for him. One is a 524, the other is an 824. Both have Tecumseh engines. I have them now and they both still work perfectly. I did add an impeller kit to the 524. Tried it out during the 9 inches of really wet stuff we had back in February. Never did clog and blew the heavy wet stuff about 15'. Big improvement over not having the impeller kit installed. I used the 524 to do my driveway, sense it is paved and the 524 has that spring loaded scraper that does a really nice job of getting right down to the pavement. Well, as long as no car tracks have packed the snow down. I am going to check out some of your videos when you are using your old trusty Toro 824. Hopefully, spring will be upon us soon and the snow blowing equipment can put away for another season. Oh yes, I did try some Dupont Snow & Ice Repellent on my single stage wheels. It didn't seem to help much. The wheels are hard, and the snow just seems to stick to them when the snow is wet. I use mine mainly on the back deck, so it is not big of a deal. I will check out your other videos and I may even subscribe.
I’ve heard alot of positives about impeller kits really helping with some blowers. I agree… I hate it when someone drives on my driveway and packs that snow down before I can clear it. If I can, I get a square old metal shovel out I have, and scrape them off. Thanks for the + comment.
This is the kind of snow that shows how good your snow blower is. Here in southeastern MI back in February we got hit with 9 inches of that heavy wet stuff. First time trying out my new Toro Power Max HD 1232 in that kind of snow. Wow, I was impressed with how the machine handled that type of snow. Snow distance was between 40 and 50'. Never once did the machine even hint of clogging. If it was ever going to clog, it would have in those conditions. I was blowing the heavy stuff for over an hour. My single stage wheels were getting packed with the wet stuff. I just use it on my back deck, so the wheels becoming packed with snow was no big deal. Enjoyed watching your Ariens 24' SHO make quick work of that heavy wet snow. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Russell. I have had a 1980’s Toro 824 for years, and always found it to be a very good machine. I had it down to a power max, and the SHO. They were both excellent machines. I agree with you, the heavy wet snow sure tests the metal of your machine…especially that EOD pile. I took a ride to go take care of a friends snow & I saw quite a few guys with their machines parked in the driveway and them shoveling the EOD pile. I have a four stroke toro 18” power curve that I use when there isn’t enough to get the big machine out. I get the same snow clumping on the wheels. It gets to the point where they feel square sometimes LOL. I wonder if a little armor-all or silicone spray would eliminate that and still give you enough traction to keep the little blower going straight forward? I’ll have to try that next year. Thanks for the positive comment. I have some video of my 824 blowing snow if your interested on my channel. If you like what you see, please consider subscribing.
@@blowingsnow4fun I was looking at the Platinum 24 and 928HD for a few years. When Toro discontinued the 928 it then came down to the Platinum 24 or Platinum 28 Rapidtrak. Rapidtrak was just too much additional money to justify and I really prefer something a bit smaller because it fits in my garage better.
Sounds like your toro 1232 is working out well for you. I like Toros as that is one of my final two machines that I considered, and I’ve owned several over the years. There made as heavy as they used to be, but no-ones machine is. Glad you enjoyed the video!
We got about the same amount here in MI, but she didn't stick. Arien's made quick work of it I see!
It melted from the bottom up here megaVortex. I blew mine around 8:30, and there was a good 10” . I went inside and had some coffee, and took a break. Went over to my buddies house to do his snow, and it was probably down to 7” by then, but a layer of slush on the bottom. I’ve got a second video that should go up tonight of me using his TroyBilt Storm to clear snow that you might enjoy. The storm did ok….it was no SHO, but it held its own.
We have only had two nuisance storms here in central New England so far this winter: a 3' storm of dry snow and a 3.5" storm of heavy slushy water. My 24" Platinum SHO dealt with this one throwing mostly water, but it worked hard and I have never seen the the spring loaded chute deflector bounce from the output. Impressive and NO clogging to clean out. This is a first for me on any machine in over 50 years of owning various snow blowers.
Hi Chris… my engine had that growl to it a lot today (you having one & know just what I mean) It handled the snow, and it threw the snow further than any snowblowers I saw working today, but the engine worked to do it. I took a ride and I saw alot of guys blowing their driveway, parking their machines, and shoveling their EOD piles because there machines couldn’t handle it. This was a storm you needed torque for.
Same here on the engine revs: the sound indicates it's working harder but the revs never drop. This is season three and I have never had to use the clean-out tool to clear out the chute.
@@Chris-fl5vh I’ve only had to use the clean-out once. That was to get a dog toy (horse or donkey) out that I ran over in the back yard. Never needed it to clean a plugged chute though:)
I have a Ariens deluxe 28 on order for 2023 and 2024 snow fall and hope it works that good for me,looks like these must be good for heavy wet snow which i get at times, thanks for your video and enjoyed watching it.
Hi Denversnider… the deluxe 28 is a great machine for the average homeowner. Your 254 engine is a little smaller than my 369, so don’t expect quite the same power as you see in my videos. I have used the deluxe 28, and I have several neighbors who have them. They do a great job handling most snowfalls. When you get the real wet heavy stuff, may I suggest you spray your chute (especially the round area at the base of the chute), with a silicone type spray. I like DuPont Teflon Snow and Ice Repellant, Aerosol 10 oz a.co/d/7pJL8nc which you’ll find on Amazon, & at Ace. Additionally shift to a lower gear & slow down. Your machine will throw snow a long way, and move tons of snow, so treat it well with regular routine maintenance, and it won’t let you down. Check out my how to type videos if you need some help. If you enjoy these videos, please consider subscribing to the channel. Thanks for the + comment!
Taking too big a bite and leaving snow trails. I always try to snowblow clean.
Hey scrambler…. Yah, I probably could have taken a little smaller bite with this snow, but to tell you the truth I didn’t even notice the small ridges left behind. With my old Techumse 8hp machines, they struggle a little when they puke snow out the side, so I can hear it, and reduce my bite. There’s really much of a clue from the engine on the SHO, so I leave some ridges on occasion. Thanks for the comment
Nice. Seems to run true and straight. I've heard a lot of complaints about fighting the auto-turn but see no evidence from your video. Do you have auto-turn? Did you replace the metal skid shoes with an ABS alternative?
Hey Margoscargo… the early auto turns had balance issues which gave the auto turn fits. Ariens re-engineered the balance of their machines the year after auto turn came out, and it worked great ever since the first 2 years I had the SHO, I used the metal shoes, and no auto turn problems. I have a good sized deck in the backyard, and I started using the SHO to clear it after big snows. After the 2nd year I had the machine I put the poly skid shoes on so I could could take it on the deck without scratching it up. The auto turn works good with the metal skid shoes, but it even works better with the poly shoes. It’s a slick system compared to the older fixed axel machines, and it’s much easier to use than the trigger systems. My 270 lb machine can be turned with one hand, and is super easy to handle. You have to have your skid shoes adjusted correctly, and you MUST have your tires set to exactly the same pressure, and it will work great. If you’re considering an auto turn machine, go to an Ariens dealer, and play around with it in the showroom. You’ll be pleasantly surprised. Thanks for the + comment, and if you haven’t already, please consider subscribing to the channel if you like this kind of video.
@@blowingsnow4fun Thank you for the detailed response. I just bought the Deluxe 24 but no snow yet! I just purchased the ABS shoes as I have the same scratch concern as you. And yes, I have set up the machine top to bottom - including loosening the bolts to separate the the front and the back of the machine to ensure total equilibrium of the two parts. I bought it from a big box store and it needed some tweaking. The auger was turning while in idle too. Fixed that according to specs but I just hope the belt tension isn't too loose that the auger doesn't turn under load. Don't want to have to make adjustments in the snow! I also applied anti-seize to the wheels. They don't do that in the factory. SHO would be overkill for my needs. I traded up from a 179cc Craftsman that has worked reliably for nine years but barely throws wet snow. Going to a buddy for $200.
@@margoscargo Sounds like you bought a nice machine that will serve you for years. Let me know how if performs in the first big storm! I’m curious if the 2023’s live up to the Ariens reputation
Some reviews of the 24” Platinum SHO complain of the machine being too light in the front causing it to lift over the snow. Apparently to the point Ariens has a weight kit for it. Thoughts?
Hey user…. Any snow blower bucket (brand) will lift in the right conditions even with a weight kit. There is a a trade off as the heavier you make the front end of machine, the more difficult the machine becomes to turn & handle. Heavier machines do tend to lift less IMHO and the SHO at about 270lbs doesn’t lift much. If you try to run it in too high a gear in pack snow, or EOD piles it will lift some as the engine has so much torque. Most other machines bog, and slow down as they struggle with this scenario, where the 24 SHO just keeps going. I think the Ariens that I have used/tried have had an excellent balance overall. If you have problems with machines riding up an Ariens RapidTrack is what you need. With a light lift on the handlebars, and the squeezing of a handle, most of the weight of the machine if placed on the front, so it really stays glued to the pavement in challenging conditions. To answer you question directly, my 24” SHO does not have a tendency to ride up IMO.
Nice to see the Ariens throwing that wet snow. Here in Chicagoland, we got hit with 10" of wet snow and my old Toro paddle snowblower did nothing. My new Ariens Platinum 24" arrives in two days :)
BTW... I just realized your camera is reversing the images as it appears your light is on the left side instead of the right. It confused me at first because you appeared to be driving with the right hand - thought you got a UK version of your snowblower
Hey Puffy….sorry about the reverse Immage . I try not to use it, but I shoot all my videos with my phone. Without a person to run my camera I can’t see when I’m out of frame, so I need to use my camera in the selfie mode more than I would like so I can look up at the camera and see if it’s capturing what I want. It gets old fast when you do a repair, or blow some snow, and only 50 %of what you want to show is visible. You’re really going to like the Platinum SHO. It’s so easy to handle, and it has the power & features to conquer any storm. When you use the SHO in your first big storm let me know how it goes . Remember, fear no blizzard when you have an Ariens in your garage.
@@blowingsnow4fun Thanks, will do!
We only had 2" near chicago where I'm at and most of it was on grassy surfaces. I missed out on the heavy snow band by 20-30 miles. Would have loved to have tried out my craftsman on some heavy snow. The SHO is really the king of snow it handled that stuff like it was nothing
Hi Andy…the snow was so wet and heavy it brought down limbs and trees, and with that cane wires. We had power, but there’s still people here without power. The SHO was throwing g pure slush when I turned around in the street. I took a ride, and saw lots of people blowing their driveways, but shoveling their EOD pile. Those plow piles were no joke. Walked the dogs when I was done, and saw 3 guys wrenching on their blowers. Talked to two, and the third was cussing to much for me to go near him. Guy1 was a broken impeller belt. Guy 2 was trying to repair controls for a chute that the wet snow overwhelmed . Guy 3 was throwing wrenches across the garage LOL. Interesting day.
Looks like no problem at all for the SHO, Bruce!👍🏻
It did really well Paul. I took a ride and saw lots of guys blowing their driveway, and shoveling the EOD pile LOL. This snow was REALLY HEAVY….super high moisture contend. The SHO was throwing pure slush when I’d turn it around in the road.
@@blowingsnow4fun Are you running an impeller kit Bruce?
Or is the SHO just stock?
I’m not Paul…just don’t need it on the SHO. Two cabin blowers rarely see anything but powder being up North. So I don’t have one on either the Toro or the Simplicity. When I had them down here, if I sprayed them with silicone or Teflon spray, they wouldn’t plug, and the old Techumse Snow King had enough power and torque to handle the load. Maybe if I had a bucket bigger than 24” it would be a different story. I know a lot of guys love the impeller kits, and swear by them, but I don’t personally have any experience with adding them. My dad had a 24” 5hp Briggs Simplicity he bought new in the 70’s. The second stage was set up in line with the machine, and it had 3 thick rubber paddles for the impeller that were a tight fit. That thing really threw snow for a 5 horse. I remember taking it down the middle of the alley , and that thing was throw pure water 30’. It had a huge hooded chute that turned with cables. It was hard on impeller bearings though. Here’s a 7hp that looks just like it. I guess this was the original factory installed impeller kit LOL.
ua-cam.com/video/V6ny49Oguxg/v-deo.html
I thought all Ariens snow blowers the drive was on the left and the auger on the right but yours looks to be the opposite is that right ??????
Hi Jim…. No, that’s the camera. Sometimes I put it the mode that takes the video so the screen faces forward so I can see what I’m taping from a distance. (Selfie mode) All three of my self propelled snow blowers (Ariens, Toro, & Simplicity) the gear shift is on the right as you face the grips to run the machine. The chute control is towards the center left. The right grip engages the auger. The left grip engages the drive. Thanks for the + comment, and sorry for the confusion. I don’t have anyone to operate the camera, so that’s the only strategy I have for seeing if I’m actually getting video of what I want.
Bruce, I had 7 1/2" here in Windsor Wis.
Was it super wet like it was here?
We had 10” of heavy pure slop. Power was out in many areas here, trees and limbs on streets & power lines.
@@blowingsnow4fun Wet and heavy. I kept it on 1 most of the time. Cut through like butter. Even at the end of the driveway where the plow came by.
I kept it in 1 most of the time too. The SHO was handling it fine, just no need to push it any harder than I had too. Thanks for the + comment…I was kind of wondering what kind of snow they got in the Madison area:)
When its working its kinda therapeutic LOL
Hi Dkat,
As long as everything is working properly, it is very therapeutic. Can’t hear calls or texts. I definitely unplug when I’m behind a running snowblower.
Nice video
Thanks… lots of wet snow here in March this year!
Is thats 10 inches of snow, then your blower intake must be about three feet tall.
Hey Steve…. I’m assuming you meant If that’s 10” of snow? Snow was super wet and measured aprox 10” after the snowfall. Concrete was fairly warm, so the snow compacted some before I started working on it. Snow height was definitely less towards the end of the driveway, deeper towards the top. Bucket height is 22” at the front, so….your correct, the snow was not 10” deep Acrossed the whole driveway, but if you look at the snow towards the top of the drive, it was a little under .5 of the bucket height & that would put the depth at about 10”. Thanks for the comment.
I bet you're Toro 8 24 power throw could go through as well!!
Hi Christopher. It could, but I’d definitely have to spray the chute with some Teflon snow & ice repellent , or Pam or something or the chute would not clog in that slush. Thanks for the + comment& please consider subscribing to the channel if you haven’t already .
Some reviews of the 24” Platinum SHO complain of the machine being too light in the front causing it to lift over the snow. Apparently to the point Ariens has a weight kit for it. Thoughts?
Every snowblower is a compromise of balance. A well balanced machine like the Platinum 24 is easy to maneuver. A front heavy machine will dig into hardpack better but you also lose some traction on the tires. If you don't like the balance of this machine the solution would be to get the weight kit. But it is by no means necessary or a design problem. It's entirely dependent on your personal needs or wants. An Ariens Rapidtrak is the best of both worlds, but is not cheap.