2016 Ariens Compact 24 Snowblower Walk Around
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- Опубліковано 3 сер 2024
- Shopping for a snowblower is frustrating! This year I settled on an Ariens model based on my price point and the available competition, including Troy Bilt, Toro, Husqvarna and others. In this video I do a complete walk around pointing out the features and design details which sold me on the Ariens Compact 24 model 92021. It's only September as this is published and I haven't been able to use the blower yet, but I wanted to get the information out there for other potential buyers. I'll update these comments after the first snow!
Update March 2017: After having a chance to do some snowblowing in recent storms I have a few more comments. I agree with one comment that the light tends to shine up in your eyes. I put a piece of black tape over the top of the lens, and that did the trick. The unit ships as "one wheel" drive, which makes turns easier. However, the right hand wheel can also be a drive wheel if you pull the cotter pin and reinstall it through the wheel hub and the inside hole of the axle. Doing this will make a big difference in driving through wet, heavy snow but it will also make turning more difficult. I found that I was able to take one hand off the blower clutch to adjust the chute direction as I went along, which is nice. All in all, I remain satisfied with my purchase and I think this unit will last.
March 2018 update: After removing the bottom plate (six bolts) to look into the axle area, I was somewhat alarmed to see that there was originally little or no grease applied to the drive gear or the axle itself. Since it was already showing signs of corrosion, I highly recommend opening this up as soon as you buy the unit and greasing the gear and the axle, both where the speed control slides and where the wheels slide over the axle. Though the wheels are pinned to the axle and don't turn on it, the grease there will help keep the wheels from becoming welded to the axle with corrosion. - Навчання та стиль
Very nice walk through video!! I bought mine, the updated version 920027 a month ago and will test it out tomorrow as we are expecting 3-5 inches here in Nassau County, NY. Once again, nice video and greatly appreciated!
"Your so tight with money you squeak when you walk" LOLOLOL I just about spit my drink all over when I read that. Good review as always!
I'm picking mine up tomorrow. Thanks for the great video 👍🏻
Nice snow thrower. Metal is the way to go. Plastic doesn't hold up as well. It cracks in the cold. Great video!!!
Toro has replaced their plastic chutes with steel so there must have been an issue, they had to replace them under warranty too. Plastic and metal don’t work too well in the cold either, all steel construction is a great idea, fabricated or stamped doesn’t matter… cast is not ideal but it works better for the gear boxes.
It took me a while to decide to get this one. I almost bought the power ax toro but I don't like plastic I like steel I agree 100 % on that. You did a very good review thanks .
I bought one in 2015. Great machine. Plenty of power. I lock both wheels for the power. I bought after market shoes ... huge difference in glide. I also added chains ... no need to explain that if you have ever used a snow blower.
The "bad crap" is always the end of the driveway and the cleaning up of the mail box. With chains and the new skids, this machine monsters through. Ice, small tree parts, everything. Just change the oil and grease each summer.
I spray the metal shoot with some cooking spray and nothing sticks.
Great machine!
You also did not mention that the drive gears are all metal: almost no one else is
@@BillMah43 Spray with Pam, Looooll, what a good idea! Thanks. Hard to cook eggs on a cold chute but... Thanks again.
Sorry. Dumb. How do you lock the wheels. New to blowers and I only got one spinning tire
I have an Ariens Compact 24 920014 bought in 2013 and I love it.
Use the exiting wiring and add an auxiliary led light. Put the light on a bracket and direct it down where the light is needed.
I looked at one today and really liked how easy it was to move. May be my first blower purchase. Right next to it as a Sno-Tek 24 which I think is made by Ariens but has alot of plastic hence the $300 cheaper price. Motors look to be similar, but not positive on that. Good job on the video.
Thank you for this review 👍👍👍
Great review!
I have the compact 20" Love it. Great for my small business. Usually fits perfectly between two parked cars
That's just it--sometimes bigger isn't better.
great video! im looking to buy one like this!
Best review well explained
Well done review...thanks
What is the key for? It's for safety, keep the key in the house and curious kids can't start the machine.
Love the comment "what is someone going to drive away with this thing." I always wondered why the key as well. I have had a few Ariens machines and a couple of years ago that light would shine in your eyes. Yours has the tinted top strip so that issue was addressed by Ariens. They were giving owners who complained a black sticker to put on the upper portion of the headlight before they added the tinted top piece that yours has. Would love to know how she performs in the next storm, keep us posted. Best of luck with it.
Interesting about the light--I wondered as much. If this one becomes a problem, it'll be easy to swap it out or modify the mount and install an LED light. I'm a good month away from any snow in my area, but I'll update this review when I have some experience with the blower.
The key is more of a safety feature. This way the kids can't start it up.
I have basically the same unit, the 920029. Difference being mine has the Auto Turn System. I paid $999 plus Tax. The Auto Turn Feature more than makes up for the extra $100. These are GREAT units. I do use the plastic skids. I actually had 2 other Snowblowers, one being an Ariens. I bought this for ease of use so my Wife could use it easily as I had to go into knee Surgery in December😂 I like it enough that I sold the other 2
I can’t believe this was $899 new! @ 3:15 Now it’s probably double that price
steel is better plastic cracks . thats a nice one ive seen lots of people making vids on this one they all love it !
Thank you for this video. You went into a lot of detail that many others do not!
I'm torn between this and their Compact 20". I am trying to go as small as possible for a two stage snow blower mainly because I just don't have the room in my smaller shed to house something like their Deluxe model which is a lot larger. I can't seem to find reviews but in theory both machines are the same even down to the engine but the front deck is only 20" wide. I might actually say the 20" model would be a little more powerful due to not being as wide collecting snow but that would make sense to me, unless someone can correct me.
Seems to be a good price point. I have seen single stage snow blowers that are $500... so for a few hundred more you get a good brand and a decent two stage.
A couple questions to ask you.
You show us that you can lock the chute discharge up and down, but what about side to side? I have a neighbor that when they are using their snowblower, you can see that the vibration eventually moves the shoot so when they reach the bottom of their driveway, rather than shooting snow to the sides, it's shooting directly in front of them often blowing back in their face... does the Ariens lock or how does it stay in the position that you choose when turning it left/right?
On Arien's website they state the the handles can fold in to preserve space which is a key point for me. Have use tried this feature and if you have, does it actually work and or is it a pita to do? My lawnmower has this feature but requires tools which defeats the purpose in my opinion since it's not a quick thing, takes some time.
Sorry for being so long winded but I liked and subscribed to your channel because of this review! Thank you for posting this, it's really helped in my decision to go with Ariens... I just gotta figure out the 20" or 24" like you have purchased.
-Nigel
The footprint of the blower if you include the handles is about 26 inches wide by 55 inches deep. If you folded down the handles you'd gain about 16 inches, but to do so you'd have to unbolt the top part of the handle and detach the rod leading to the chute. Maybe you'd do that for spring storage, but not after every snow storm. Of course, the handles are in the air so you could store things under the handles when not in use. As far as the chute, I don't see a locking mechanism, but the action of the crank handle is pretty stiff. I don't have a lot of experience with this unit in snow yet (that may change this weekend!) but when I tried to rattle and push the chute continuously by hand it stayed put. I wouldn't anticipate the problem you describe. Deciding between the 20 and 24 inch models is largely a decision about storage space. Sure, the extra width might save you one or two passes down the length of a driveway. So what? If storage space is at a premium then take a few more minutes to clear your driveway and go with the smaller unit. Bigger isn't always better. I mean, you could be killing yourself with a shovel, right?
Very true! Thank you!Please post an update and even perhaps a video of when you get snow. Love to see it in action and your thoughts / easy / nit picks of using it a few times.-Nigel
Nice video review. Very details. I agree about the skid shoes, i am going to replace them with plastic abreassive shoes once i get my snow blower.. what is the size of that grease fiting by the way.. so i get a grease gun while i am waiting for my snow blower. And is this the 2015-2016 model?
Yes, this is the 2016 model and any standard automotive grease gun will work.
My arrives tomorrow... ;)
that was a nice vid i just bought one today at home depot 24'' can't wait to play with my new toy but being that im from montreal our prices are much higher & also i don't think it comes with the halogen light like you have we always get it up the butt here in this lousy province ,but all that said can't wait to play with my new toy lolol
Don't forget to check where the axle pin is located. In one position you have single wheel drive, in the other position you have two wheel drive. Mine came in single drive, but I much prefer the two wheel drive.
talking about grease do you have to grease it when you receive it ( out of the box)or is it already greased ? i wanna make sure i don't burn the bearings or anything else
You may need to add oil to the engine, but I believe that will depend on the retailer. Otherwise, you should be good to go. Some of these are sold complete and ready to go, some are boxed and they may come with a bottle of oil to add to the engine.
Have you replaced the skids on your Ariens? Do you recommend any brand in particular? I have the same model from HD. My first snow blower purchase, so I'm curious about how to know where they should be set. I didn't notice anything about skids in the manual, but may have overlooked. Is it likely all Ariens come filled with oil from factory? I can't tell, as when I take out the dip stick there is oil up the whole thing.
Our first snow may be coming this week, but I did replace the stock skids right from the git-go. I found some longer plastic skids online--they're generic fit. I think the company was "Arnold" but I don't think the brand is critical. I did need to make some modifications to the skids to get them to fit, but it wasn't awful. Longer skids mean you'll span the little bumps or dips rather than dig in to the ground. I'm not keen on the metal skids, either, since they are more likely to leave scratches. For setting the skid height, put your snowblower on a shim to hold it off the ground and set your skids. For rough surface set the gap a little taller. Not too high, though, or you'll leave snow behind. Don't know if all the Ariens come with oil installed, but do check it frequently before and just after the initial start up. Wipe the stick down between checks and make sure it's on the mark.
I've had several of these as well as MTD's, Troy Bilt's, Cub Cadets, and John Deere's. I buy, repair, and sell them every winter. After a while, I see some of the failures and its usually NOT because something is made of plastic. Plastic has its place when designed properly. In fact, as you mention, its superior for use in the skids and often the chutes. I find most failures are the bearings, drives, and engines because people don't maintain them, not because of what material they are made from. You have to remember weight is important and these are price-point machines. The one that's $50 or $100 less at the big box store wins!
I agree--plastic can even be a superior choice in the right application. Maintenance is a problem in two aspects. One, owners fail to make the effort. And, two, manufacturers now tend to make maintenance difficult or impossible in their designs. Including some grease fittings and making oil changes easier would go a long way.
@@enduringcharm Agree. Designers are told to cut cost wherever they can and often lack experience with maintenance/repair. I am constantly frustrated by designs that are impossible to service because a designer didn't provide simple wrench clearances, or chose 3 different hex sizes from the parts bin, or whatever. Unfortunately, the owner survey says: "I have no idea what a zerk fitting is, don't own a grease gun, and don't care". Some believe 3-5 years is fine and then throw it out. Those are the ones I buy and fix. I still have my dad's 1962 Ariens and it works great (for a '62) , although I still prefer a newer model.
Great video! How much horsepower does it have....I've been looking for it everywhere and hoping I would have seen it when you shown the specs in the video...But nothing....Ready to purchase one as well..
The manufacturer doesn't publish a horsepower rating, but they do note a 9.5 foot pound torque rating on the machine. Don't get caught up in HP ratings, they are essentially meaningless. What's important is that the engine, gearing, and impeller size are designed to handle the load associated with the mouth opening. In this case I can attest that the machine has plenty of power to handle wet snow of considerable depth. I just used this machine last week on six inches of wet snow, and I've used it before on ten inches of wet snow. As long as you adjust your forward speed appropriately you'll have no issues.
Great Video, all I would add is that the auger gear box is iron (most are 2 piece pot metal). I think the main Compact upgrades over the standard 24" is headlight, gear box, larger wheels & slightly larger engine. I purchased the Compact for these reasons and the smaller size. My 24" compact is a 2018 model, got it 2 days prior to watching your video.
It replaces a huge 33" I had for many years. The morning I brought it home we had about 12" dump of wet snow.
MY COMMENTS...
I generally don't like it compared to my old unit. Seems like more work.. 1st gear (slowest ground speed) seems really fast probably equal to 3rd gear on my old blower. I have to walk fast to keep up with it (can't imagine ever using the 2 highest gears) & unfortunately the Ariens is full throttle all the time so I can't slow it down if I wanted to.
The front end (auger box) seems very light weight, I found that it creeps up into the wet snow instead of advancing straight into the snow, had to pull up on handlebars alot. The handlebar height seem a little low too & kills my back.
However, I was really tired (up all night) when I got it home & HAD to use so my wife could go to work. I didn't have time to look it over & make any adjustments. I ran it for about 20 minutes to a basic clean out & put it away. Maybe next time out I'll be more satisfied.
The reason I found your video, I was looking to see if anyone else complained about the FAST SPEED??? Maybe there is an adjustment needed? If I hold the engage lever part way down it reduces ground speed, however I expect it's slipping the friction drive wheel & will prematurely wear it out. Engine power seemed good, shifting, tube & deflector controls were very good. Overall I consider trading for different blower but will wait for next storm to give it another try. I originally selected this model for the same reasons you point out in your video. Thanks & hope to read more comments!
That is odd, because at the slowest speed my unit just barely crawls along. I mean, slug speed. I've only used that speed when I have significant build up at the end of the driveway from plows. Maybe take a look at the controls and see if something is amiss there. Seems unlikely that they changed the speed control from the 2016 to the 2018 models. I will say that when I first got the unit I also felt a little like I was fighting it, but once I set both wheels to drive and got used to the controls we learned to get along. I just used it a couple days ago on that surprise snow we got on the east coast. Started on the first pull after sitting all year.
I just dialed in my first gear speed after changing the friction plate on my 1993 Ariens 10-28. There are a few UA-cam videos showing how to adjust the speed of the gears with a few turns of pin on the linkage..
You say "auger gear box is iron (most are 2 piece pot metal)" But on Ariens, they were usually cast iron or cast aluminum. My 30 year old Ariens ST824 has the cast aluminum gear box. Never had a problem [or leak] with it, or any other thing on my thrower. Pot metal is rather undefined. The housings you see may be diecast in a zinc alloy - but not typically on Ariens. [Currently, Ariens website says gearbox is cast iron.]
Your speed issue seems weird to me too. It may be a misadjustment of the drive disc / friction wheel alignment. And why ground speed? Does it have fly and thus have air speed? ;-)
Many snow throwers' auger housings ride up as you mention. Ariens sells a "Front Weight Kit" that attaches to the auger housing to help keep it down. It's a big chunk (22" X 4" X 3/8") of steel and costs about $50 - $60m (in 2023) and weighs 10lbs. But you might find a similar sized piece of steel for less at a scrap dealer, recycler or industrial supplier that sells raw material.
Nice video, if you can check under that center plastic shround and see if you have a single auger drive belt or a double. If its a single, do yourself a favor and get the double kit.
Please note that 2018+ models do not include the AC cover and lanyard. Verified with dealer and I called Ariens support. Ariens will SELL the cover for $8.99 + $9.99 shipping plus $1.20 tax. Over $20 dollars. Duct tape is cheaper. I ordered an OEM compatible LED bulb from ebay since reports that halogen light is weak. Replacing the skid shoes too. All this and I haven't used it once yet.
Hello Mr. EnduringCharm, I used for the first time today my new Ariens 24 Classic. I paid $ 799 canadian. at Home Depot here in Quebec. This is the first time I used a snow blower. There was 3 to 4 inches of very wet snow and with the 2 wheel drive the machine was reacting very well. One thing, is it normal that when I engage the auger it gives a "klung" in the machine. Later in the evening I went to adjust the skates to their maximum height and I tried the auger again, without going out and curiously it seemed really softer. I can not see any relationship between the skate and the gear. I look forward to tomorrow to try it out again. I love this machine. Another thing, after turning it off, I try to restart it manuely and it does not work. I have to put it back on the choke for it to go again. Yet the engine is hot. Is it the same for you? Thank you. Ehhh! Very nice video thanks.
I'm not really sure about your "klung" sound--I don't notice that on mine, but it's all pretty loud anyway. You don't mention the ambient temperature as you were working, but for me I typically do not need to reapply the choke when the unit is at operating temperature. I just used mine again after a year of sitting and it started on the first pull.
@@enduringcharm Thanks for the answer, that was not cold, i used no gloves. I tried it today and at the beginning, no KLUNG but the engine raised up a second each time i push the lever down. After moving a little, the KLUNG start again. There is a ariens dealer on my street, i went there and explained it to him and he said that this is normal and he start to compare it to a large plane that landed on the runway bla bla bla i think into my self that it was not a good thing to legalised marijuana here in Canada. Anyway, i checked a video on youtube on adjusting cables and other thing... yeah both of the cable are very loose and need to be adjust. - ua-cam.com/video/8CkJz4YLFBc/v-deo.html - At 2:11 it shows the brake system, may be my KLUNG comes from there, we'll see. Thanks again and sorry for my english. Have a nice day. Gaétan
the key is so you can shut it off if you have to rotate the blades by hand to get a stick or stone out Safety first.
Understood--my joke was really only about the fact that they chose a key versus a switch. A key implies that you need to be able to remove it for security reasons.
I want to downgrade to the Ariens 21 pro single stage. But I think I'll keep my Honda HSS724 in case I get heavier snow. Is that a metal tank on that Compact 24?
so if you yous that snow blower non stop would you get 1 1/2 hrs or 2 hrs in fuel outa it ?
That I don't know. I usually don't keep track of that anyway, I just keep a gas can nearby and fuel up if I need it. The unit has a pretty decent sized fuel tank, though.
well some one will know lol...thanks anyways cheers ..enjoyed video
No mention of pulsing?
You are absolutely right the Ariens is well built compared to other snowblower brand. Plastic is the biggest selling point for me and Ariens is made in the USA. American quality, baby! No Made in China crap falling apart after a few years. All the other brand is made up of plastic.
Problem with this model is maintenance. Sparkplug is located deep so hard to remove. And the ignition coil defective in less than a year and it is quite a chore to replace. Why not made a model that is easy to replace cheap and most failed components?
I'm surprised to hear you say that. I showed the spark plug at 10:38 and I think that's about as easy as it gets for removal. I've got some motorcycles and trucks I work on where half the vehicle has to be removed for access or else you need to be a contortionist. I thought they did a nice job on access for draining the oil too.
SOE M PAING - I can't believe you wrote what you did because it makes you out to be a dummy. Did you replace your defective coil if and when it went bad? If so your a bigger dummy than originally appeared also. Ariens has a very nice warranty or didn't you realize this when you purchased it if you own own at all. As for spark plugs when one figures how many hours an average home owner uses their snow blower someone might need to replace one every 2 - 5 years it isn't like you need to just replace them for the hell of it. So again if you own one why did you replace the coil yourself when it would have been under warranty. I hope that I didn't hurt your feelings. Some people are just dummy's that expect others to be one also by believing what they write.
Can you tell me if you remove one side drive pin for easier turning? Is it beneficial to keep both wheels pinned or is it really personal preference? Thanks.
It really depends on the circumstances, including the amount of snow you are clearing and if the area has an incline. Having both wheels engaged results in better traction and easier straight lines. Having one wheel engaged means easy turns at the end of a run, but difficulty in blowing straight lines and less traction. Probably for most people having both wheels engaged is the better choice.
@@enduringcharm Thank you!
is the 28inch model better?
I believe it has a slightly larger engine but otherwise is very similar to the model in the video. A wider width isn't necessarily a better choice unless you have a lot of open space to clear. For me, I'd rather have the 24inch which allows me to maneuver between cars and take up less space in the garage.
enduringcharm i thinkt he 28inch had powered auger to swivel around, this the same?
and yeah, 24inch might be better for me to. i have to store it indoors, we hve no garage.
last question, is the one u have heavy? Im considering to carry it one story to do a deck unless you think thats not ideal?
It would require two strong people to carry it upstairs and it would be a poor choice to run something this size on a deck. You'd have a good chance of damaging the deck with the augur or the metal case. If you must use a snowblower on a deck I would look to a small electric model with a rubber auger.
enduringcharm ah so even tho this is a small compact one, its quite heavy?
i dont see it wrecking the deck wood, i mean the 2 slides on the side keep it half an inche above the ground no?
When are you going to add the link about the oil, like you said?
It was actually in the video, briefly--it takes 5w30 oil.
@@enduringcharm I saw that in the video, and I clicked on it, but it was not a link.
That's correct--I misspoke. It was just text, not a link. Any 5w30 oil will be fine. The brand is not important.
5w30 synthetic oil
Does this snowblower work on gravel driveway? Thank you in advance.
Any snowblower can be set up for use in a gravel driveway, but you should set your expectations appropriately. You can set the forward skids at a height above the stone so that you are not scooping up stone and sending it through the blower. As a result, you'll leave a layer of snow on the gravel and you should expect that an occasional stone may sneak through.
@@enduringcharm thank you very much for your detailed response, I appreciate it. From what I read a snowblower has to be two-stage or three-stage not one-stage for gravel....Is Ariens Compact 24 two-stage? thanks a lot for your help.
This is a two stage model. However, that just refers to the method in which the snow is moved through the machine. Single stage blowers may not have height adjustment, which may be the issue with gravel driveways.
@@enduringcharm thank you very much, that's what I wanted to know :) Looking forward to being able to clear my gravel driveway.
2 years later how do you like it ?
I actually just posted an update in the comments about keeping the unit well greased on the axle and the drive gear. Overall, though, I'm still happy. We had some very heavy, very wet snow recently and the unit handled it without trouble, including at the end of a driveway where a municipal plow piled snow. It will work in light snow too, but it's happiest in the 4-16 inch range, I would say. It starts without issue and I really haven't needed the electric starter. Full choke to start and then take it off almost immediately. Ergonomics of the unit are good and you can easily change the chute direction as you go. I've now worn out the plastic skids I tried and I think I'll go back to the original metal skids to see how they work. Anyway, no real complaints--it's a good value.
i might get one to change my 74 toro haha . thank you
I have an Ariens Compact 24 Made By Briggs % Stratton.
Missing oil cap at 10:49.
Ha! don't worry, it came with the cap. I had just been working on the unit before the video, that's all.
Anyone still using this machine in 2021? Would you buy it again and pros vs cons
I just used the one in the video on 20 inches of snow. Still going strong and I have no real complaints. However, I also had the chance to use an Ariens Deluxe 28 this week and I was appalled! It was awful. No power, no traction, and awkward controls. I shut it down and just shoveled since that was easier and more effective. So, it's the model, not the brand, that is most important.
@@enduringcharm thanks. I live in Ohio and just looked at a Ariens 24 deluxe today for $1,100 not sure how I want to go I think I only need to use it about three times a year. I have a signal stage Simplicity now but I might as well shovel. A lot of choices out there just trying to get best bang for the buck
I have the same one that I bought in January 2016.. We just had two back to back storms here and the Compact 24 performed like a champ... For my size driveway and sidewalk, thi sis the perfect size machine.. Pros are that it has started every time with no issues and it has saved my back from shoveling.. No cons yet.. and with UA-cam, I have learned to do all the maintenance myself..
Where's air filter
Most snowblowers don't have air filters because the snow flying around could clog them up.
Thanks
I used mine for the first time this week and very disappointed. The auto turn around or whatever they call it is a severe degradation from having both wheels engaged. This thing will barely make up a slightly sloped driveway in 8" of powder. I had to push it most of the time. Going downhill isn't bad but it's still work to keep it strait.
There is no throttle either...so the machine runs wide open all the time. Very annoying.
I ran a Troy Bilt for 5 years previous and loved it. I am very disappointed in this. Can't believe they even put something on the market that is so terrible to use. It starts good new, and the headlight is nice. Pretty much everything else is no good. I am pretty sure most of the comments posted on the Lowe's site is directly from the manufacturer. Unless all 810 of those people only used it on completely flat surfaces will little snow.
The model in the video doesn't have the auto turn feature you mentioned, I think that's the next level up. It looked like a gimmick to me, so I took a pass on that model. As for the throttle control, it seems virtually all new two cycle machines (blowers, mowers, generators, etc.) are now sold with a self-governor rather than a throttle. I'm not sure if that's due to regulatory issues with emissions or some other reason but I agree that I'd rather have an adjustable throttle.
Pete, just an update for you: This unit can be used as a single wheel drive OR a two wheel drive. If you pull the cotter pin on the right wheel, you can reinstall it through the wheel hub and then through the inside hole in the axle. With two wheels engaged it is more difficult to turn, but it will be much easier to get up your sloped driveway.
Plastic last longer . Metal rusts
Honda is the best
Depends...price and value they aren't..at all.