Sno-throw time

[Norm201]

I finally convinced my neighbor to give me his old 60's era Arien's Snow-Thrower since he hasn't used it in many years. He bought a new one several years ago. I have an fairly new one also but the quality is nowhere as good as the old ones. I've had to repair mine nearly every year since I owned it. At one point on one of the coldest and snowiest weeks ever I had to re-built the transmission on the damn thing. These 1960 era units never die. Today I cleaned it up and got it started but I think it needs a new carburetor. It runs rich with the choke all the way out. It'll stall when I introduce an air mixture.

My 10 year old unit.



My new (old) one (I think about 1968)



The new one can't hold a candle to the old style. The only concern is the safety factor. This old unit can kill if your not paying attention.

[BondiBlue]

I've busted out my 28" 2 stage Craftsman once already this year. I love that thing. Only a few years old so it runs like a champ still.

[Kennyg]

Originally Posted by Norm201

Today I cleaned it up and got it started but I think it needs a new carburetor. It runs rich with the choke all the way out. It'll stall when I introduce an air mixture.

Before the new Carb, you may want to consider soaking it in Seafoam for few days and/or a re-build kit.

It's obviously hard to tell without actually doing the shopping, but my guess is a new carb for that thing may be quite expensive.

But hey, just my thoughts.

[Groves]

I've always liked the Yamaha's
Would love one of the new ones with the hydrostatic drives.

[Norm201]

Originally Posted by Kennyg

Before the new Carb, you may want to consider soaking it in Seafoam for few days and/or a re-build kit.

It's obviously hard to tell without actually doing the shopping, but my guess is a new carb for that thing may be quite expensive.

But hey, just my thoughts.

No, You are making a good point.The engine is an old Tecumseh Engine and parts might be hard to come by. My neighbor cracked the mounting flange some years ago and he used that weld glue stuff to repair it. I might be better off looking for parts from a dealer who might have an old unit of the same vintage. I can try e-bay also. I think I can get it from Jacks Small Engine web site. Their prices seem to the best overall. The thing is the quality in just the sheet metal is thicker than the new ones. The mechanical linkages and gear mechanism for the short chute is very high quality. The piece of junk on my newer one mounted up in the air has a stripped plastic gear that cost about $25. And the same this will happen to it after one season. My son has one about the same age as mine and he also had to rebuild the transmission. My son-in-law has the old Ariens from my father-in-law that also goes back to the late '60's and it runs just like it was new. I wish I never gave it to him.

[Norm201]

Originally Posted by Groves

I've always liked the Yamaha's
Would love one of the new ones with the hydrostatic drives.

My younger son has I think a Honda that has the tank treads type wheels. It does a good job but if it ever stalls out and he can't get it going, its a bear to try and push one of those beast back to the garage.

PS... I never saw a blue colored unit. Makes for a hard to see in the night. I plastered my unit with lots of State Farm decals. At night when I'm near the road and on coming cars are there I light up like a Xtree.

[osufans]

Originally Posted by Norm201

No, You are making a good point.The engine is an old Tecumseh Engine and parts might be hard to come by. My neighbor cracked the mounting flange some years ago and he used that weld glue stuff to repair it. I might be better off looking for parts from a dealer who might have an old unit of the same vintage. I can try e-bay also. I think I can get it from Jacks Small Engine web site. Their prices seem to the best overall. The thing is the quality in just the sheet metal is thicker than the new ones. The mechanical linkages and gear mechanism for the short chute is very high quality. The piece of junk on my newer one mounted up in the air has a stripped plastic gear that cost about $25. And the same this will happen to it after one season. My son has one about the same age as mine and he also had to rebuild the transmission. My son-in-law has the old Ariens from my father-in-law that also goes back to the late '60's and it runs just like it was new. I wish I never gave it to him.

The tecumseh carbs aren't cheap...however the rebuild kits are. You can find just one for just about any carb for $10. includes seals, jets, gaskets..etc.

i just acquired a gokart that has a 6HP tecumseh...carb is all dirty and needs cleaned. i've heard mention that soaking in lemon juice is another trick.

so the question remains....what ya gonna do with the other one?

[Norm201]

Originally Posted by osufans

The tecumseh carbs aren't cheap...however the rebuild kits are. You can find just one for just about any carb for $10. includes seals, jets, gaskets..etc.

i just acquired a gokart that has a 6HP tecumseh...carb is all dirty and needs cleaned. i've heard mention that soaking in lemon juice is another trick.

so the question remains....what ya gonna do with the other one?

I'm not sure at this point. I won't get rid of the newer one. But the old one will be either given to my son or I'll store it.

[FXSTi]

Norm,

I had an Ariens that looked just like your new/old one. It came with the house and had not been run in at least five years. The previous owners had been in nursing homes for at least that long before I bought the house. It fired up after an oil change and fresh gas. It also worked like a charm.

Unfortunately, I picked up a chunk of metal and broke the gears in the auger. When I went to looking it over, I realized that the PO had replaced the shear pins with bolts. I've found dozens of examples in this house where he saved pennies by taking potentially expensive short cuts.

[Norm201]

Originally Posted by FXSTi

Norm,

I had an Ariens that looked just like your new/old one. It came with the house and had not been run in at least five years. The previous owners had been in nursing homes for at least that long before I bought the house. It fired up after an oil change and fresh gas. It also worked like a charm.

Unfortunately, I picked up a chunk of metal and broke the gears in the auger. When I went to looking it over, I realized that the PO had replaced the shear pins with bolts. I've found dozens of examples in this house where he saved pennies by taking potentially expensive short cuts.

Awe sh*t. Penny wise pound foolish. For the price of a lousy shear bolt.

For me this would be the ideal year to work on this thing because of the mild temps but I just don't have the room in the garage right now. I just wrapped it up and put in the back yard for the season.