1971 Ariens

Did most of the cleanup (sidewalk, edges of driveway) from last storm with a newer Husqvarna 7hp/24" two stage snowblower. The ones with deadman controls that have to be held down to engage the auger and drive. After a while they start hurting your hands.

Dragged out a 1971 Ariens 6hp/24" I've been meaning to get to. Lapped the valves, set lash, cleaned carb, fired right up.

The label on the handle says it all: "to stop wheel drive SQUEEZE handle". What a pleasure it is to use, doesn't throw as far as the Husky but hands not hurting from the safety squad is priceless. Under full load in a snowbank there's a nice 2" blue flame coming out where the muffler should be

Amazingly the electric starter still works after all these years!

very nice!
we have an old ariens garden tractor here that we use to pull the wagon around with

I used to work at a bicycle/lawnmower place when I was young and they carried Ariens. I can remember the salesman from the company was there and some lady was shopping and asked why they cost so much. The sales guy who easily weighed 200 lbs jumps on the deck of one lawnmower and starts bouncing on it like its a trampoline. Those things were built like brick *censored* houses. Bearings in the wheels and full axle, the decks must have been double the thickness of wally world brand.

Ariens snowblowers....tough rigs! Even the brand new ones aren't 2/3 plastic like the Toro's are now.

I still have one out back somewhere .... just needs an engine! Those things last forever. Few drive parts, unlike the Bearcat that comes to mind: 3 belts & 4 chains! Ariens does it all with one belt, no chain!

I have a '74 Toro 5HP and it still works pretty good. only paid like $60, need a couple auger bearing, belt and skidders. Found all the parts on ebay for under $50. Just fired it up the other day, took a few pulls, but ran.

Blue flames out the exhaust means the timing is off a little. Running with out a muffler.......ouch! Forget the hands, how
about the ears? Tough machines, I just bought a new one, still rugged and simple.