Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO Snow Blower Review
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- Опубліковано 8 вер 2024
- Like this video? Would you like to see more in the future? Please hit the subscribe button to help this channel out. This is the first time I used the Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO Snow Blower. I had a chance to use it on 6-10 inches of normal snow. Enjoy! You can read more at movingsnow.com
Be nice! I know snow blowers a lot better than video editing....
Disclaimer: Ariens dropped this snow blower off for me to review. Loaning this snow blower to review did not influence my opinions of it.
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Music: Junkyard Tribe by Kevin MacLeod. Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
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Please watch: "Toro 60 volt and Snow Joe 100 volt cordless snowblower in wet heavy snow!"
• Toro 60 volt and Snow ...
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I I have the exact same model, used it today on 18" of heavy snow. Absolutely awesome!
What a fine built machine with more than ample power!
My 31 year old Ariens 924S finally called it quits in this weeks Noreaster - threw the impeller bearing. Decided to bite the bullet and bought a Deluxe 28 SHO. Can't wait for the next storm!
How was your 28 SHO?
im a welder for Ariens ...i musy agree with one thing ..this shows how good our product kicks ass !
These are nice machines, but a shame Ariens didn't stick with Subaru engines. Great engines!
David, Yes, Subaru engines were nice. But Subaru announced last summer that it has decided to quit the small engine market.
Hate to hear that. I own several and like to repower or recommend them to other owners. Didn't want to go back with Honda. LCT are ok, but not a huge fan.
dont worry...they still kick ass ..they wont let you down trst me on this..they are tested hard ...beat to shit and still keep going...if you could just see for yourself how we test them ..omg ...you wouldnt worry about it.
Ive been working at Ariens over 5 years and its going strong ..you have the king of snow and it wont fail
Just picked up a 30" deluxe efi..cant wait to try it
Thanks for the sterling review. I just got mine today and went thru 12 inches of wet snow like nothing. My local dealer in upstate NY says this is their best seller. They told me to use fuel stabilizer all the time. I read the manual and it states the very same thing.
I have this same unit. Absolutely love it. Two engineering changes I would recommend:
1. Variable speed control. 2. A slower first gear. Just my two cents. Great video!
There are 3 types of trannys used.
1. Friction disk. This the one used in this Ariens. These transmissions are variable speed. They are just a friction wheel on a disk but you need to hold the lever in place and that's why there are notches for the speed. I'm wondering if the notches could be closer together. These trannys are extremely durable yet cheap to produce.
2. Gear drive. These use a variable cone drive (CVT) and are fairly new to the market. These are now as dependable as the friction disk but add about $150 to the cost.
3. Hydrostatic. This is the true variable drive. Ariens has them available on some Pro models. Honda and Husqvarna also uses it on some models. It adds $400-$1000 to the cost.
Paul, many thanks for your videos. I have picked this model . I'm in South eastern Washington state. 3rd winter here with well over a foot of snow here and I feel the Farmer's almanac is dead on for the next 5 years plus. Mini ice age. Last winter was with 18 inches plus, and for here that is a lot.
I recently purchased the Ariens 28 Deluxe SHO with the 306 cc engine from snowblower Direct price 1199 with free shipping and no sales tax was finally able to use it this past Saturday here in the Maryland area where we got 5 inches of fresh new snow it was no match for this monster machine I can't wait for the big snow so I can really find out what this machine is really about... I also added two 17 watt LED lights on the corner of each side of the bucket and man does it really light up the night.
I have the platinum 24 SHO . bought last year at the end of winter . Used it once this year in 28" snow fall. Did 4 different times with a max of maybe 10" of snow. I got a good deal at 1399.00 was $100.00 off the normal 1499.00. my old model was a Poulan PRO 28" 9hp . So far I changed the metal feet to poly skids. way better . The blower was delivered by my dealer and was stored in my garage for the summer and the gear in front leaked . dealer installed new seals . brought back and still leaked . They installed all new front shaft. that worked . Head light was DOA. what a PITA that was to change. As for snow so far Im not SUPER impressed compared to the Poulan PRO. I dont like the auto turn. Id rather have the levers on both handles. And the lever control for the chute is very sloppy. I will look for adjustment on that. The heated handle bars are very nice. also keep in mind the Poulan PRO was only $800.00 NEW . I was looking for durability so thats why I went to Ariens
If you have a long driveway the trigger steering works well because the snow blower will go in a straight line until you pull the trigger. The Auto-Turn works really well if you have a lot of maneuvering, curved sidewalks, wide areas, etc. to do. You steer it just by moving the handles (like a shopping cart)
Paul, don't you find the front end really hard to lift up on this model? I had to put weights on my dad's 30 SHO to help balance it more like his old 924-series 28" with the battery out front and the Tecumseh OSHK engine.
Paul,
I live in northern Nevada just 20 miles south of I-80 at 5,735 feet of elevation, and just a mile or two from the Ruby Mountains. Our weather is heavily influenced by the close proximity of the mountains. In the last week and a half we've received wet sloppy snow, then normal snow, and that combination was wind compacted and frozen solid by subzero temperatures. That was followed by several snowfalls of very light, dry snow that was also wind compacted. I've shoveled snow every day but one, and a lot of it is like digging through solidified plaster.
I have a 50 yard driveway, moderately sloped, that leads to a two-car garage with parking and turn-around area. The driveway is gravel. I have read much of your web site (thank you!) and all of it that pertains to 2-stage snowblowers, and have narrowed my choices down to two: the Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO and the Toro PowerMax 928 OAE. These are similar machines in terms of their mechanical specifications and capabilities. I don't care anything about hand warmers and other expensive amenities, so my choice between the two comes down to design quality, build quality, long term reliability, and support. I do all of my own maintenance on cars, trucks, motorcycles, and riding lawn mowers.
So my question is this: Will I be better served by the Ariens or Toro machine? Any wisdom you can offer will be greatly appreciated.
Russ in Spring Creek, Nevada
Hi Arthur, I like both machines a lot. Both are great choices. The only real difference is the Toro has a joystick chute control and the Ariens a more basic but bulletproof chute control. Both won't clog on heavy/wet snow and both will handle the powder easily. I suggest going to the Ariens and Toro dealer and buy from the dealer you trust the most.
Hi Arthur, I like both machines a lot. Both are great choices. The only real difference is the Toro has a joystick chute control and the Ariens a more basic but bulletproof chute control. Both won't clog on heavy/wet snow and both will handle the powder easily. I suggest going to the Ariens and Toro dealer and buy from the dealer you trust the most.
Hi Arthur, I like both machines a lot. Both are great choices. The only real difference is the Toro has a joystick chute control and the Ariens a more basic but bulletproof chute control. Both won't clog on heavy/wet snow and both will handle the powder easily. I suggest going to the Ariens and Toro dealer and buy from the dealer you trust the most.
@@PaulSikkema Hi Paul, Thank you! There's no dealer anywhere for 200 miles for either Ariens or Toro, so I will be ordering through your web site. When buying in that way, am I likely to experience better product support on one machine more than the other?
The Ariens Deluxe SHO is only available through a dealer. Because of that I don't recommend buying it online. The Toro is available through the Home Depot so you can contact them easily to get any warranty issues taken care of.
Looking forward to using mine, picked it up last week.
so glad I found this video. I've used an Aries before and it was great. I used a small Honda last year did not care for it. will be buying one of these tomorrow
How do you like your Ariens or did you buy a cub cadet 3x . .
I'm in the position you described at the end of your video. I purchased a 28 SHO and am waiting for snow. :( we were supposed to have 8" yesterday but it was too warm and we got about a half inch of rain instead. Boooooo! Thanks for the review, I'm glad my Ariens will eventually be up to the challenge.
Very nice, I have a Craftsman with an impeller kit but hes getting old. I'm saving now to buy myself a brand new Ariens for the next season, can't wait.
I just got the same one after running a regular delux 28.
The delux 28 couldn't handle one snowstorm in 5 years. It was wet heavy deep snow. Itll blow 30inchs of fluff. The sho will do more faster.
I found your website and reviews there really helpful in buying my first snow blower. I did other research as well including friends how have Ariens blowers. Big storm today and first time out with such a beast and I'm very happy. Keep doing what you are doing, I've already shared your site with others.
after todays storm here in mass my craftsman snow blower is gonna retire this looks to be the one i need
Yes, the Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO will handle that heavy/wet snow without clogging and throw it twice as far as the Craftsman.
I've owned Husqvarnas an I run an ariens pro 28s 420 cc brigs. Also have the 28 inch deluxe SHO they are all nice machines, but the ariens for ease of use, it's built WORLDS better then my husky.
Love my Ariens
I meant to say variable speed throttle. Idle and high speed are cost effective for Ariens to produce.
Why do you have a problem with full speed? people have asked me. Many times I am removing 4-5" of snow, where full speed is not needed. Your engine will last 2 times longer operating at 3/4 rpm.
The new EFI Ariens looks like it has a variable speed throttle. I wish I waited a year for the EFI.
Many advantages over carbs.
Thanks Paul! Great video!
I am looking to replace my 22 year old 8 hp 26 inch wide blower. It does not do well in heavy wet snow. Even with new belts and a pulley tensioner it struggles mightily. The Tecumseh engine is great with fluffy snow but when it can't throw the heavy stuff more than a few feet that's a problem. The Airen's 28 SHO fits the bill perfectly. My drive is only 100 long by 24 wide but slopes down. Christmas will be early this year. :-) Looks like the this thing eats heavy wet snow.
Your neighbors will be very jealous!
@@PaulSikkema I also saw your video on the Ariens 30 EFI. That thing is awesome but big bucks. Still an awesome machine.
Hi Paul. You really won't be able to tell much difference in throwing distance and what it will go through between a Deluxe 28 SHO and the Deluxe 30 EFI. Myself, I prefer the 28 inch machines. They will go through a normal garage side door and are just a little lighter which makes them more agile.
@@PaulSikkema Thanks Paul. I do like the idea of the EFI. But since it is so new on s snowblower application the jury is still out on the longevity and reliability. A lot more could go wrong and be more costly to fix than a regular float bowl carb. Nevertheless still a tempting option.
HI Paul, Between the development and implementation by Ariens/LCT it has been around for over 5 years now. And it's been in all of our other gas powered cars, truck and even chainsaws for years. That said, you will see a lot more EFI engines offered in snow blowers and lawn equipment in the next two years.
Paul, another good vid and review, she can surely throw. How would you rate the throwing distance relative to your vid with the Husky track model the biggest snowblower in Wisconsin?
+Cardo 1111 This Ariens snow blower only has a 306 cc engine so it doesn't throw quite as far as that Husqvarna but the Ariens Platinum 30 SHO with the 414 cc engine will throw farther.
Hi Paul, i was wondering if you could help clear up something for your followers [me too]. Who makes snowblowers for whom. Thank you.
I keep an updated list of the engine and snowblower manufacturers here: movingsnow.com/2012/whats-the-difference/
Paul, love your site and all your videos! Question, I'm looking at some used Ariens blowers before I go to the dealer. Have a Deluxe 30 and 1027LE selling for similar price. Both units look clean and garage stored but I'm curious your thoughts on off-season maintenance. I'm waiting to hear back from both sellers with more info for me but if the fuel wasn't drained or stabilizer used, would you say it's a big no-no? Is it a safe bet to say if the machine fires up, the carb is clean ENOUGH?
Thank you kindly!
If they start using the pull start the carbs is clean enough. If they have to use the electric starter then the carb will need to be cleaned - but usually 4 tablespoons of SeaFoam in a tank of fuel will clean it out.
If it won't start and particullary if the fuel valve was left open, you could be looking at $250 for a carb replacement.
Thank you so much for your reply Paul! When do you find the time for all of this haha Really appreciate it. Tell me more about the fuel valve being open? Do you mean it being left open for storage or open to start the blower?
I'm retired! I got all the time in the world :) If the valve was left open during storage. Myself, when it's time to put it in storage I start the engine, turn off the fuel valve, and let the carb run dry. That way there is no old fuel left in the carb.
@@PaulSikkema Haha, you still surprise me when all the replies you post along with the videos and all your informative posts. Interesting and good to know, what would be the reasoning behind leaving the valve open for storage?
Many owners don't know the benefit of shutting the fuel valve off. Bad gas/Ruined carbs is still the biggest reason why snowblowers won't start in the fall and owners have to spend money at a service shop to get ehm working again.
Hi Paul, great video. I am in the market to replace my Murray made snow blower and I'm going back and forth between Ariens and Club Cadet (MTD) and I would like to know if you have had issues with the auto turn. I have read some complaints about it. I kind of like the idea of the trigger levers for turning on the MTD which is the same as the troy-bilt. Could you say how they compare with each other?
Carl, come on over to movingsnow.com. We have had tons of discussion on this subject. That said, the only real issue with the auto-turn was a few snow blowers assembled wrong when they first came out and then the 30 inch has always been a little front heavy for it to work perfectly. For 2016 Ariens changed the balance point on all the Deluxe/Platinum snow blowers so they will never have any complaints again. The 2016 models have the gray rims.
Trigger steering works great for long runs because the snow blower wants to go in a straight line until you pull a trigger to turn. The auto turn works really well if you have lots of detail work. Plus anyone can use the auto turn because you just move the handles and the unit turns - nothing extra to learn. It's extremely simple mechanically - there's nothing to break or wear out.
+Paul Sikkema. Thanks for that expaintion. I hadn't read that anywhere and the dealer today didn't mention it. I wound up picking up the Platinum 24 today and used it. I have no problem with it. I did notice a bit of pulling when cutting into bit of iced up snow that was left at the edge of the driveway, but nothing really bad. I am satisfied with it.
Great! You will like that snow blower a lot. It has so much over-the-top power for it's size that you will catch the neighbor's watching you blow snow.
Im sold!
Being that close to the cars, I'd be afraid I'd pick up a rock and take out a window!
what do u think of the 24 inch model?
It's more money than the rest - but it will last longer and has more power than most.
Paul Sikkema the 24 is a cheaper model LOL
OK, it is more expensive than just about every other 24 inch model. The Ariens Platinum 24, Husqvarna ST324P and the honda's are the only ones more expensive. It will last longer than all the other 24 inch machines that are cheaper.
Paul Sikkema sorry i ment the compact 24inch is cheaper then the one u have
Got it! The Ariens Compact 24 is a good residential machine. It is missing power steering so at $899 you can find quite a few other machines that are comparable for $200 less. It's comparable to the Craftsman 88173, Husqvarna ST224, Cub Cadet 524 SW and the Troy-Bilt Storm 2460.
great video and do you buy all them snow blowers to test them to make reviews?
+James Sparacco I buy some, borrow some and some of the brands just drop one or two off to test. For example, I bought a Husqvarna ST327P and Toro SnowMaster this year. Troy-Bilt dropped off a Vortex 2490 and a Storm 3090 XP. Ariens loaned me this Deluxe 28 SHO. I've been doing this long enough that the manufactures know I'm impartial and dropping one off for review does not influence my opinions of it.
How I test these snow blowers:
When it snows I go out and clear my paved driveway, my neighbors gravel driveway, my brick patio and a large spot on the lawn for my dogs. When I get 15-20 inches of snow built up in the back yard I will also go out and compare throwing distance, clearing speed and traction. Each time the snow is different so over the winter I get a chance to try these snow blowers in all types of snow. I look at not only how it clears snow but how well it cleans the different surfaces, how easy the snow blower is to use and the little idiosyncrasies each snow blower has. My goal is not to find the best snowblower made. Instead my goal is to find the best snow blower for you. I know that each of you has a different budget and certain features are more important to you than someone else.
My methods are not "scientific," meaning I don't use damp wood chips or horse bedding to consistently test each snow blower. I don't have a checklist to make sure I look at the same features exactly the same way every time. Because of that my opinions are different from Consumer Reports.
ok, I was just wondering. you do a good job and thanks for taking the time to make videos and reviews, I like all snow blowers lol
+James Sparacco You are welcome. There are too many "paid endorsements or sponsored posts" out here on the Internet. In the U.S. if you got paid to write a review you are supposed to state that clearly but not everyone......
true
@@PaulSikkema what did you think of the toro snowmaster vs the Ariens? Which shoots in your mind if you were to buy one tomorrow?
Im trying to find this exact 28-SHO. Hard to find.
Does Ariens make the whole machine in house except the engine still? I was told different for a dealer today. Which i argued.
Was that mostly first gear you were in?
+savage420bansheeyo Yes, first gear is a nice speed and faster than other 2-stage snow throwers. Yes, Ariens makes the whole machine. An Ariens Dealer told you that?
+Paul Sikkema It's a nice machine!
Yes he did, said they are made by MTD now lol... I said no. I know they are affiliated with MTi Canada. www.mticanada.ca/en/ariens.html
Maybe he's confused. Almost makes me not want to buy from him now.
Do you have any 11/28 or 10/25 power max Hd video reviews?
Thanx man.
+savage420bansheeyo A good dealer that you trust can be hard to find. When I had the lawn service in the Chicago area I could never get along with my local dealers and had to travel 20-50 miles to find ones who I could trust, had parts in stock and had good mechanics.
I don't have any videos made of the Toro Power Max HD models. They have been around for quite a while now, are extremely dependable and will throw snow as far as the Ariens Deluxe/Platinum.
Home Depot doesn't sell the SHO. Where did you buy yours?
+sahmadi1000 The Ariens SHO models are only available at your local Ariens Dealer. Please go to Ariens.com and use their delaer locator to find a dealer near you.
Do you think the 28 sho would be much better than regular 30 deluxe?
The is nothing obvious that makes it a lot better than the Deluxe 30.
1. The 28 SHO will throw snow slightly farther than the Deluxe 30.
2. The 28 SHO will fit through a 32 inch door - the Deluxe 30 needs a 36 inch door.
3. The two weigh the same but the 28 inch will be slightly easier to use because it's narrower.
4. Clearing a normal 4-10 inch snow on a large driveway the Deluxe 30 will get done a few minutes sooner because of the extra 2 inch width.
@@PaulSikkema thanks for the info I was just torn between the two because the 28 sho doesn't come with the heated the 30 deluxe does for about the same it would cost to put them on the 28 I also get 2 foot deep wind drifts
The Deluxe 28 SHO is supposed to have slightly better performance than the Deluxe 30. The 28 SHO will clear up to 72 tons an hour and the 30 will do 71 tons an hour. The 28 SHO will throw snow up to 55ft and the 30 up to 50ft. Doubt the difference in performance is that noticeable if at all noticeable though. The 30 is obviously 2” wider and also has heated hand grips. They both have small advantages/disadvantages over each other. Overall very similar machines. Just have to compare a decide which one has the features that best suite your needs.
Why do you start it wide open?
Old habits
How does it do through heavy wet snow? Bog down?
Hi traxxas, The Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO is one of the best snow blowers for heavy wet snow. It has plenty of power and throws the snow farther than most of the other machines on the market. I recommend this snow blower a lot for the East Coast where they get those 24 inch Nor-Easter's that are all heavy/wet slop.
@@PaulSikkema excellent thanks for the feedback. I ordered one up. 👍🙂
What is the motor in hp?
Snowblowers in the U.S. are no longer listing in HP and haven't been for 10 years now. Why? There are at least three different government standards for HP in these small gas engines. Manufacturers wouldn't settle on one (Kawasaki used a different standard than Honda. Briggs and Kohler used a different standard, etc.) After a couple of lawsuits they just quit listing HP and only listed cc's.
That said, a few are now listing their engines in Foot-Pound (ft/lb). That better correlates with the rest of the world who generally list these engines in Newton-Meter (Nm).
So, my best guess is 9-10 HP. This engine has plenty of power to handle this snowblower.
Hello Paul I need to know what the actual horsepower of the AX 306 cc motor. I have looked on several websites that have conflicting ratings and how they come to the horse power ratings. Some say 15-17 cc equal 1 horsepower others say 25-27 cc equal 1 horsepower. So what is it. How many CC s per 1 horsepower. I know about the horse power complaints and lawsuits. It's all about CCs now and that is confusing and people just don't know. I see people buying snow blowers at the big box stores not knowing that the big snow blower they just purchased has too small of motor. Let's help people out so they know what to look for and not just purchase this big machine thinking it's going to conquer the snow blizzards
Hi Joseph, The only people who know are the engineers of the engine and maybe someone who independently put a dozen of them on a dyno.
You can't go by the comparison guides on the Internet because even my page movingsnow.com/2008/cc-to-torque-to-hp-conversion-update/, doesn't take into the account the actual design of the engine. For example, a 250 cc OHV engine may have 6 hp for long life air compressor but a 250 cc OHV engine in a racing motorcycle may put out 35 HP or more.