I have a friend of mine that had the cub cadet. After numerous times of not being able to get through hard packed snow and then having to use my Ariens, he decided to sell his and pick up and Ariens. They are far superior machines.
Bought this for my small back deck in the Eastern Sierra. ru-vid.comUgkxoHYZbq5g9fkcAtinlTqstNlje-UQkCHN We get A LOT of HEAVY snow so I was a bit skeptical but it was worth it! After the first storm of the year this has exceeded expectations! It throws snow very well, even 10-12” + that said the more it piles up the harder it is to maneuver the machine. It is exceptionally light weight and overall exactly what I was looking for. If you have a large amount of snow and a lot of area to clear, you may consider something with a drive engine to help maneuverability, but for decks, second stories, roofs etc, you can’t beat the light weight to great snow throwing ratio. Side note, the chute rotator is a bit flimsy and it initially didn’t seem to work, after a few uses it seems to have loosened up.
I have a 10 year old 11hp 30” arens. I take care of the engine when I store it. Change the oil yearly. I put stabilizer in the gas. I use carb cleaner once or twice per season. It Starts every single time. Never had a problem with it. Long driveway uphill… The snowblower is Old Faithful, it never fails. The most I have blown is 18 inches of snow here in New Hampshire. In low gear it handled it fine. Your every day 5 - 8 inches of snow are never a problem whether it is heavy and wet or light and fluffy. Most reliable machine ever.
My Ariens has been so reliable I'm keeping it. Inexpensive to maintain too. I bought it in May for $599, normally $1199. That was 10 years ago. It was my 3rd snowblower. There are cheaper snowblowers but Ariens offers the best value IMO.
Everybody's got their thing what they like.. I feel the same way you do about Toro. I think they make the best machines and they're the most innovative.. they were actually the first company in 1951 to make the first stand walk behind snowblower. They're always innovating trying to make things better. My Toro has never clogged never never once with their anti-clogging system. And because it throws the snow back out again to break it up twice It actually makes the snow a little bit easier and lighter to throw which puts less stress on the machine.. there are no share pin technology is unbelievable ( I've seen it firsthand by an accident bumping into a car rim under the snow I didn't know was there The machine stopped instantly just as advertised and I just backed up turn the machine back on kept going. Ingenious!! Then of course there are quick stick is the best most innovative shoe control there has ever been!! So easy, so quick no issues.. Some people say that Ariens is better made because it uses thicker metal and stuff like that.. This is not the case.. although Toro's is thinner metal they actually use a stronger type of metal to get away with that which resists corrosion and rust just as good as any Ariens while making the machine lighter.. again more. Innovative. Simple to use. Not knocking Ariens just saying Toro's just as good just as reliable but has more innovation in it. Yes they're going to be people out there that say I had a bad experience with Toro didn't last as much blah blah blah.. You can also find people that will see the same things about Ariens.. This is normal cuz not every machine is built perfectly some have issues It's the nature of production.. Happy snow blowing cheers...
Toros snowblowers are made in Mexico now and are sold untested. When blowing snow to the right side, it gets under my plastic belt cover and falls in and gets on my drive pulley and I lose all forward and reverse gears until it dries out. If they would have tested the machine in snow before selling it they would have seen it right away….
We live in to Colorado mountains so periodically get deep snow (2+ feet) and need a snowthrower to move it. We got an Ariens 24 inch with track drive since our area isn't flat. It is way more powerful and serious than the ones in this video. So after being impressed by our Ariens I was looking on craigslist during the summer and saw a guy selling an Ariens cheap. So I went over to his house and he told me hadn't used it in years and his wife said to get rid of it before she gets back from vacation. I bought it for $10 and took it home (sale also included an empty gas grill canister he didn't need). It is like the Ariens in this video, but as my research discovered it was made in the late 1980s. I got home and it started on the first pull (which it always does). So I replaced the oil, gas, spark plug, and the short fuel line. You can still get parts from Ariens for this old piece of equipment. I keep it on our deck (the track snowthrower is way too heavy to lift) and use it when we get too much deck snow to shovel. From this experience I have concluded that if a company can make a gasoline powered device and it still works well after more than 30 years, then that is the company to buy from because even if it costs more to purchase, over time it will cost a lot less.
Have an early '70s 8 HP 36" Ariens. Still going strong: New Snow Hog tires, new main auger bearing, oil change every spring (30 WT), impeller enhancement (using pickup box liner material), numerous shear bolts, some new belts, run the carb dry each spring/fresh gas in fall for first use, new pull starter rope as needed, replace gear box lube every couple of years, using it in Mn in 2020. That'd be about 50 years with original Techumseth 8 HP that's never been opened up. Throws snow with the best of them, starts great with pull starter.
I have owned an Ariens snow thrower for 15 years. Same machine and it still operates like new (looks like new as well). Easy to start (electric start) and durable. I live in northern Michigan and we get plenty of snow. Based on my experience with the products, I would buy an Ariens again if the ne I have ever dies.
Got a 2005 Craftsman snowblower, purchased from Sears.... Still working today, first pull starts every time. Everyone of my neighbour's have new machines and nothing but issues. Change oil annually and had to clean the carb once.
I just purchased the 3 stage Cub Cadet after a 14 inch snowfall we recently had. I've had an 28 inch 8hp MTD snowblower for over 20 years. Having said that the Cub Cadet was a beast at moving the snow. This is my first experience with Cub Cadet and I was impressed with their snowblower.
I'm thinking of getting the 1. Cub Cadet 2x 28" w/272cc engine (OR) 2. Cub Cadet 3x 28" w/357cc engine for $100 more. They both have the bigger wheels, and same features except Auger Type(2x vs 3x) and Engine Size(272 vs 357) are different. Do you guys have any recommendations? I'm also wondering about shear pins breaking too much on the 3x auger type, although I heard they now make special shear pins for the 3x models that don't break as easy. Thanks! 😎
Interesting. The Ariens was throwing more snow, further than the Club Cadet. With a larger "bite" it should do the job in less time so I was surprised by your conclusion. The Ariens engine sounded like it had more torque than the Club Cadet too, but that's just based on the exhaust note under load. The best machine I ever owned was a 2 stage Simplicity. All Steel, no frills and no storm ever stopped it - wet or dry snow. Good video.
I like my 2003 Simplicity with the channel arms and 305cc Intek engine. They made different stickers for the 9,10,11 and 12 HP models, but it was cheaper to use all the same 12HP Briggs and Stratton Intek on all of them, so that's what happened. Great machine. BTW Briggs and Stratton bought out Simplicity after Simplicity bought out Snapper, I'm not overly impressed with the latest offerings, but maybe I'm just annoyed they ditched the channel arms.
@@nunyabusiness5075 They didn't ditch the channeled handlebars. Still there on the Signature Pros. They did go to electric chute controls though, which I don't like.
I've got a 2002 10hp Ariens, in Maine. After all these years it's still going strong. Plugs and oil and a couple of carb cleanouts. That's it. I did purchase one of the professional ones with the cast iron gearbox. On another note. The previous snowblower in the family was a 10hp Snow King. I doubt if they're made any longer. Purchased when I was 6 yrs old. Tossed away when I was 55 yrs old. Amazing machine. It would start after being left outside, completely buried in a snowstorm. You'd reach in with one hand, prime it and pull the cord through the hole in the snow and it would be running inside a snowbank.
Nice. Southern Maine here. I am retiring my 1974 this year. Received it for free after helping with cleaning out a house. Gears were grenaded. I replaced them and some other parts from ebay. Ran fine for years but eventually the motor threw a rod. Found a 90s tecumseh snow king engine for $100. Direct bolt on although I had to sleeve the pulley. It has been running good, but she's tired. I recently bought a platnium 28" rapidtrak, but the way its going we may see little snow this season!
Same here! I purchased the Ariens 1024 "Contractor's Model" with the 10hp Sno-King Tecumseh engine in the winter of 2002. Linkage/belt adjustments, two oil changes, a grease job or two, one new spark plug (this year) and a new carb (3yrs ago) are all I've done to it. Starts on the first or second pull and has never failed me.
@@WHJeffB I've got some carb issues too. Mine will hunt sometimes. If I run it half choked it runs good. May have to replace the carb at some point but so far not needed. I have cleaned it a couple of times and a bit of fuel injector cleaner will straighten it out for awhile.
@@CraftsmanontheLake Yeah, I had the same problem with mine, and the same solution to it (partial choke). I just installed a new carb on the recommendation of a co-worker that does small engine repair on the side. Solved the problem and it's been running surge-free for the last 3yrs. Easy to do and I think the carb was pretty inexpensive.
I bought a house out here in the Rocky Mountains and set at 5200 ft a.s.l.. My 1st winter here I went to shovel the heavy wet snow and threw the shovel away! I said to myself I’m not into this heavy laboring at my age. So, I went on line and did some research on good snowblowers. I really liked the reviews on this 3 stage Cub Cadet and the night I brought it home the snow was super wet and heavy. It started up with the 2nd pull and took off running throwing the wet snow/slush half way into my front yard ! My neighbors up here heard the noise and were looking out their windows and couldn’t believe what they were seeing. This beast has a 357 cc engine and for the last 3 years hasn’t even thought of letting me or the other neighbors I do down! I love this machine and it Never been in the shop for anything!
I have a 24 yr old Dynamark Plus snowblower, 8/26 with a Tecumseh Snow King engine, best and only machine I've ever had, starts so easily, runs well, easy to maintain. It was the best $899 I ever spent 24 yrs ago, I'm in Guelph, Ont, CANADA.
The center of gravity is different on these two machines. Ariens has their axle balanced in the weight center of the machine. Whereas the Cub Cadet has their axle slightly to the rear of center thus making the front end heavier. It is completely personal preference which machine you feel more comfortable with. Ariens balance and manuverability vs a heavier more cumbersome front end. They both have their advantages depending on the type of snow and the owners willingness to wrestle the front end. A very simple way to keep the Ariens front end down under heavy load is to slow your speed and gently lift the handles up, thus pushing the front down.
I love the three stage blowers. From a service point of view. I'm a small engine mechanic, and I have a lot of overjoyed mechanically challenged customers, arranging to get their 200 pound snowblower to my shop so I can replace the shear pins on the central auger, and then arranging to get the same 200 pound snowblower home, after paying the repair bill. There great. Cha Ching. Don't get me wrong the technology does work, but it take more horse power to run the central auger. More hp = more fuel. Interesting note though, my local big box mega store was chin deep last year with three stage snowblowers, this year it's all two stage snowblowers with the exception of one products line. 🤔
3-Stage is mostly hype, when you really look at it there really is no 3rd stage, they just turned the auger in the middle to prevent clogging, they could have just designed an ACS like Toro did or just use a larger impeller like Ariens… all this 3x stuff and the auger and impeller are only 12”. Get a 14” like on the Ariens Deluxe, Platinum or Professional and you get the toughest snow cleared in no time.
Using my father in law's 1965 4 hp Tecumseh powered Ariens. Works fine if the snow is dry. Not so much if wet. Each time I use, I shut off the gas and run the carb dry, not knowing if/when I'll use it next. I credit that with starting first pull every time. First time each year, I drizzle some gas into the spark plug hole first. Also recently bought a Deluxe 28, for the wet stuff, since my shovelers are gone. Not as east to use as the old one, so only use it for the wet stuff.
I always had the impression that the Canadians prefered the Ariens snow throwers, over the other brands, because they are built for those long winters north of the Great Lakes. I live in Northern Kentucky. I'm lucky if get to use my Cub Cadet 24" two-stage snow-thrower more than twice a winter. This cheaper product works for me. I bought it in 2008. It's till working good. I just changed the engine oil.
Kept my CC for one year and sold it and got an Ariens. The CC is made (you know where) and the Ariens is made in the USA. The Ariens is the best, by far. They can last 30 plus years. It does the job of removing snow year after year.
In our market H Depot has been selling a 250 CC /8hp version of that Ariens 28 and I love it ! Any machine under 13hp is going to bog down on that snow plow gift at driveways end, the rest is easy for that Ariens. Example being our 40 inch 1 day state record that only front end loaders could move. After 4 days of being trapped I cut an 800 foot path to the secondary road just wide enough for one vehicle (including fire rescue) needed belts afterward but otherwise no problem ....40" of plow slop is going to beat up any non commercial grade machine and not just belts. The Cub 3 stage is a gimmick IMO with more sh-t to break !
Thank you for this video. I was hoping to see the auger speeds to compare with mine I just bought. I bought a 3x 28" Cub Cadet and I'm super anxious to get out on the snow. I upgraded from a 2x 24" and at the end you pointed out how the Ariens kept wanting to rise up, yeah my 2x did that a lot and I hated it. I'm sooo happy to see the 3x should start more grounded because it has that massive auger in the middle. You had mentioned you weren't sure why the Ariens didn't have a 3x. That's because Cub Cadet is the only brand with 3x because they patented it. Again, thank you for the video and your TEA (Time, Energy and Attention), to make and share this video.
@@speedster9622 From my understanding, it's from the rotation direction of the blades. They rotate in the manner that if you hit any solid snow and such, you can only go so far before it starts angling up. No matter how much pressure you try to put on the front to drive it starting on the ground, it'll just keep rising. I know this from experience of clearing snow for my currents with my then 2x Cub Cadet. I'm super anxious for the snow to start and keep coming now that I have my now, 3x Cub Cadet. I'm not sure my back could've taken anymore years doing this without upgrading in some form and I'm blessed that I was able to upgrade so nicely.
Interesting gimmick they call "3-stage" but in reality the only thing that will throw the snow further is a larger or faster impeller (that thing that spins to throw the snow up the chute). Sticking another screw on the front of the impeller doesn't do a thing for distance. Ariens has a larger impeller so it throws the snow further. Both good machines I'm sure, and there are other factors to consider (size, weight, cost, ease of maintenance) when buying one. My 20 year old Canadian made 11hp MTD Yardman just blew up so I took a good look and bought the Briggs and Stratton. Hope it lasts as long. I'm actually amazed at how little snow blowers have advanced in 20 years. Still using carburetors, disc-drive, with hand warmers only on the super-expensive machines.
I purchased 4 SnowTek 24 inch (made by ariens) blowers for my company 2 years ago and those throw snow farther and go faster than both of those it seems. Anything beats shoveling!!
I think each machine had its own limit ad long as you use it accordingly , it should perform well. I m having some problem with the 3 stage belt drive system .it tends to burn and break easily. The motor power didn't match with rest . Cub should upgrade their drive system consistently with motor. Have fun in the snow and happy holiday cheers..
I found a 24"x6"x.5" piece of steel that weighed about 20lbs. Painted and bolted underneath the front opening of my Ariens. Game changer! Set the proper speed and it does the rest. No more climbing up on the packed snow.
Ariens has an electronic fuel injection model that just plain won't bog down in a snow drift. As a small engine tech I was skeptical but seeing it in action made me a believer.
When we get a wet snow... I am the only one who has the Cub Cadet.. the exact one you have... the entire lock with there single stage blower counts on me to use my 3 stage to clear to bottom of driveways 9 20 HOUSES.. IT IS A 2018 MODEL... i NEVER DRAIN FUEL OVER SUMMER... i WAS UP AT 6AM CLEANING OUT JETS IN CARB.. TOOK 4 HOURS, BUT BACK TO FULL POWER.. jUST WISH IT WAS NOT -2 DEGREES OUTSIDE WHEN i HAD TO TO TAKE IT ALL APART. i LOVE THAT MACHINE.. WHEN i FIRST BOUGHT IT, I COULD NOT USE IT.. IT THE BELT EVERYTIME I STARTED IT.. THEY SENT A NEW ONE EVERY 3 DAYS... 4TH ONE WAS THE CHARM... It throws snow from my sidewalwalk, across the street, over easement onto peoples lawn across the street ! amazing power. (. hint. Remove idle screw, lift out idle mixtrture plug and drill out copper insert on bottom of it.. a well know trick to give it max power and prevents surging ! A 15 min process. Forget just drilling small hole as suggested.. just drill thru it.. you can leave it in.. but make the hole as big as possible !!! I actually have a Cub Cadet Dealer 16 min from my house.
I have a 2019 Ariens 28 inch Deluxe with a 306 AX engine and it throws wet snow around like a boss. It has Auto turn technology and once adjusted correctly it is a joy to use. I have 3 ruptured discs and I even do my neighbor's driveway when he's out of town for no charge .
I work for a company that supplies Ariens with steel in both plants actually 3 now in Brillion Wisconsin. I also own a 28 deluxe and can honestly say for the money it's hard to beat. Bought it in 2014 and 1st use was a snowstorm on superbowl Sunday in Milwaukee. 14 inches plus of the heavy stuff. My neighbors weaker 2 stage puked out and wouldn't start. I was out there 4.5 hours taking care of my neighbors driveways. The machine does pull up a bit in deep stuff requiring a re pass but all and all I'm happy with it and feel ready for mother natures wrath .
Just checked on this model here in Canada. Home Depot sells the Ariens Deluxe 28 inch, 2 stage with 254cc AX engion....$1600. Dang that's pricey but like you said it works great. I bet it's probably around $1000 or less there right?
First year with a Honda 13HP-32". Had a 10HP- 28" Ariens for years. I have a long uphill driveway. The Honda is an absolute beast and a pleasure to use. I'd compare it to anything out there.
Bought the brand new Ariens deluxe 30 with the new EFI engine and the damn thing wouldnt start, electric start or pull start! Took it back and was told they had 2 ther come back with the same issue, got the deluxe 30 with the carb model and that one works and launches the snow bout 35 feet (heavy snow) but works like a champ! 1 pull start
We have the Ariens at my job and last winter when i showed up to work and was given a brand new 3 stage Cub Cadet , i own a toro 2 stage . When i was done working that day clearing a school and parking lots with this beast i went home and bought one and sold the Toro . IT'S UNSTOPPABLE .... WATER , SLUSH , SNOW , CURTAINS ...... just sayin' 28' .... 26' that wasn't the problem it was the 3rd stage bulling through the snow .
Your absolutely right about your comparison not being fair due to the different size of the engines. The 19.5 that you had mentioned with regards to the Ariens is not the cc. It’s the torque which roughly equates to a 260 cc engine. I have an Ariens Pro 28 with a 420 cc engine and I haven’t seen any blower yet that can compete. I purchased the Ariens Deluxe with a 342 cc engine and it didn’t have the power that I needed for the types of winters we have ( 8 months of snow), so if I were to do a comparison video with the 342 and the 420 cc engines, it’s a given that the 420 cc is far superior. If you were to compare both machines with the same engine, I think the Ariens would supersede as my friend has a 420 cc Cub Cadet, 3 stage and we put both machines side by side when both were new and the Ariens came out on top. Not by much tho but with that being said, my Ariens Pro was almost twice the price of his Cub Cadet, so cost wise, Ariens are much more expensive. Also, the Ariens has a much stronger build as some of the components are cast iron. I have owned 6 snowblowers in the past, a White, a Canadiana, 2 Sears Craftsmen and 2 Ariens and the Ariens is far superior in performance, longevity and structure. Try the Ariens Pro 28, 32 or 36. They both have the 420 cc engine and I think you will be amazed that the power the 420 cc has. I went with the 28 inch model simply for the volume of snow to power ratio. Wet snow, slush, ice, nothing has stopped it yet and I have had the 420 Professional for 6 years now and not once did my chute clog. This is where you truly realize and appreciate the power that the 420 cc has. Their previous models had Briggs and Stratton carburetor engines but the new engines are made by Ariens and are fuel injected. I have never owned a blower with a fuel injected engine so I cannot comment on its performance. Thanks for posting. Cheers.
I didn’t know the Aryan nation made snow blowers. Lol I have to find a cub cadet dealer!!! I’ve had a two stage for about 25 years I’m done fighting that thing!!! The three stage is definitely the way to go my biggest problem area is where the snow stacks up from the snow plow at the end of the driveway!!! Thanks video
Way back in the day, my Pops had a 12HP single stage! Hi speed monster auger! He put a hardened bolt in place of the “cheap” shear bolt because it broke too often😄. Thing would throw rocks through windshields and eat Sunday newspapers with ease!
Got myself a Snapper with a 250cc Briggs and Stratton and it does just fine on the end of the driveway with the heavy snow the plow throws. We get maybe 3 feet a year, but it makes life way easier. Second choice was the Airens, but it was more expensive with similar features.. So the Briggs got my business and it's amazing.
I have a Toro 924 (2002-03 vintage) it has a 9HP Tecumseh, since new it has never thrown a flake of snow. While I've never used it, the machine is able to swing the tires back about 12" so that there is more weight on the front to dig down into snow banks. Why have I never used it? My old home had a 60ft asphalt driveway, I could shovel it faster and it's rare that we get more than 6-8" of snow at a time. My new home has a 1200ft+ gravel driveway, so I run my Kubota B7500 up and down it with a 72" Woods rear blade and the front end loader. I pulled the Toro out last week, like I do every year, with intentions of selling it but likely never will. lol! I'm a hoarder, I just may use it someday!
If you watch real close during EOD use with the Cub. It’s wheels were spinning when attempting to take a bite, so it was taking in less snow and not bogging down like the Ariens. I have used both, and the Ariens is built to last a very long time!
I have an Arien's 8/24 used on a 100 feet drive on the north east used for 22yrs still clearing lots of snow including the hard ice pack at the end of the drive way
We just had 93 cm ( 3 feet ) with 130kmh ( 80mph ) winds here in St John's Newfoundland. The old 2 stage 2009 Toro 8-28 OE did a respectable job but nothing like the Honda HSS 9-28 that both of my neighbours have.
the cub has that curved deflector, that really cuts the throw down, and the 3rd auger is meant more for packed , blown snow, like what the plows gives you at the end of your driveway. Both beat the heck out of a shovel, but I'll keep my John Deere
I have a 30 " Ariens platinum with a 391 engine and I installed a $30.00 impeller kit. It will out throw any snowblower I've seen in any conditions, including Honda or yamaha which cost much more.
I just purchased a new 2018 Deluxe 28" and would like to add the kit you mentioned, could you tell me the brand and or where I can get it. Many thanks....
Despite your complaints about the Ariens, based on the visual evidence in your video, it looked like the Ariens was actually doing a superior job getting rid of the snow away from your driveway and directing the snow where you wanted it to go.
With snowblowers it's about the foot pounds of torque you get. That Ariens has 12.5 foot pounds of torque and sent the snow much farther from the drive way vs the Cub Cadet. The Cub also has the chute at the highest angle and can't send the snow nearly as far. The Ariens is not at the highest setting and sends snow farther. I have a 2016 Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO model with the same engine you get on the Deluxe 30 with 15 foot pounds of torque and let me tell you, heavy wet snow goes into my neighbors yard about 65 feet away! In my opinion, Ariens makes a better product but it is a good review.
After watching this video I am now convinced...I am going to purchase a gas-powered, self-propelled snowblower with a front end bucket, auger and directional snow chute. Thanks youtube.
Looked to me that the three stage with a larger engine struggled and barely threw the snow. Ariens went through like butter and it was stopped when it did t need to be. FYI they sell a weight bar for the front of that Ariens and it eliminates it from rising.
A 3 stage can do good things with hard packed snow, but the downfall can also be that there is residual snow splattered back out of the auger and left on a driveway. A powerful 2 stage can cut through hardpack and completely clean it up. There are pros and cons.
Looked like the2 stage was throwing the snow further to me?? Ya gotta love the little kids running around in the snow, pure happiness, arms flapping like they are trying to take off LOL. .
Thanks for the video. Great Job. Ariens has a larger scoop with a much smaller motor and it shows. The Cub has a smaller scoop with a fairly big engine. I actually had the 33" version with same engine and it did great. So it's hard to compare the two fairly.
Ariens has moved the axle in new models for more weight up front. I have the 2015 model platinum with 369 cc engine and I have the 414 cc engine. They require a weight kit sold by Ariens for about 75 bucks to keep the front down and then your good to go
I'm sorry, I don't understand this, " I have the 2015 model platinum with 369 cc engine and I have the 414 cc engine."?? Which engine is it, 369 or 414?
If you bring up your kids to respect you and teach them that there are consequences for not listening to you, running machinery is not problem. My best guess is that your kid(s) are undisciplined spoiled brat(s). At least that is my opinion.
@@tomrum42 Everybody has an opinion and that is the way it should be ! All my children are into their forties and they all knew how to respect any and all machines, they all know trucks and tractors and boats etc. and yet no child should ever be left unattended with any operating machine nearby....Never ! Now that's my opinion
Arien throws the snow further and when use correctly will clean down to the road surface. I noticed you were pushing down on the handle to make it go faster and it lifted the front end causing it to leave snow.
TBH, I wished I knew about the 3rd stage as I just purchased a new 2 stage 306cc engine. I replaced an older 180cc(?)(5hp). The difference between the two is huge. The snow we had yesterday, about 12 inches and wet, would have killed the smaller blower. The new, 306cc had no problem throwing the snow some 40-50 feet. Where the 3rd stage would have been handy is with the snow drift at the driveway entrance. The snow plow trucks just dump a ton of snow and ice as they plow the road. The drift was about 30 inches. The 306 still kind of struggled with this packed drift. I am confident that the 3rd stage, designed just for this, would have handled it with no problem. I am older and this is probably my last snow blower. However, if I am still blowing snow 10-15 years from now, it's a 3 stage for me. Thanks for your video. It was much appreciated.
Great video thanks for posting. Wish I had known more about blowers before I bought my 30" 3 stage MTD . Your vid clearly shows IMO that the 2 stage Ariens is a better machine. The problem I find with the the 3 stage is the center auger just spins against the snow when the snow is heavy and deep to the height of the inlet instead of breaking through it. Im thinking of a mod for the outer center auger to hopefully make a difference. I was surprised though as just how short a distance the Cub Cadet through the snow. I did a couple vids ya can check out as well with some mods I already did. Mine has worked pretty good this winter and we had some deep snow. MTD has a patent on that center auger design so thats why you wont see it on Ariens or Husqvarna. MTD makes the Cub Cadet, Columbia, Troy bilt, Yardworks, Yardman etc. Keep posting videos!! :)
the rising up of the Ariens may have something to do with the height of your skid pads on either side of the front housing.I just replaced my old Ariens with a new deluxe 28 yesterday like night an day comparison to my 12 year old one and it has a smaller motor on the new one.
I live in Northern Lower Michigan with average snowfall of about 140 to 150" of snow a year. I have a Troy Built 5.5HP 2 stage with "SnowKing" Tecumsh engine. It has a plastic chute, and "dash board". I have had the snowblower for 11 years and it is still going strong. I have chucked a fair amount of ice and gravel thru the plastic chute and no issues with chute failure. The only complaints is I wished I had gotten at least 8HP, and the deflector bolt that keeps the deflector in position has worn over time. Its the part that would allow the snow fly higher or lower. I have had to add some washers to the bolt to add the needed pressure to keep the deflector from moving($.07). But its 11 years old you do have to expect some wear. I would be concerned about HP, Impeller size, weight (IMO heavier better). In my experience the plastic dash or chute matters little or at least not as much.
I swear by Ariens. I have a 30" deluxe Ariens and it blows any depth of snow, wet or fluffy and starts first pull. I do my annual maintenance and use fuel stabilizer. I would not buy any other brand. They are kings in my mind. 👊
I find realistically most snow blowers run out of belt before they run out of power/engine and that you will have much better service out of a 24-26 then a 28+. Last winter I replaced my old Murray 29" with an 11hp Tecumseh for a 212cc (6hp) 24" snowblower and I find it goes through snow almost the same but runs out of auger belt quicker and starts to slip in wet snow. In normal snow it throws and goes through snow. better because I am able to take a full bucket of snow on the 24" vs only 1/2-3/4 of a bucket with the 29" without ot spilling out the side or getting behind the snow. Good comparison I always thought the 3x was just a marketing ploy still not convinced but good to see in action.
I have a 10 year old Ariens that's still like new. My dad's Ariens is twenty years old and still like new. The Ariens snowblowers are simply built better than everything else out there!!
Give me the Ariens any day. The Cub Cadet seemed sluggish in comparison to the Ariens. Like how the Ariens throws the snow further as well. Owned my Ariens for years and never had a lick of trouble and the neighbors scratch their heads at how far it throws the snow..........
I Just made this comment: "I have an old 28'' Ariens from the 70's that I retrofitted a 16hp Kohler on it and it will SMOKE both of these at the same time. 2000 bucks for a 28'' snow blower, like the saying goes "A fool and his money are soon parted" I understand that's what they charge but holy shit, you can buy a used Honda Accord for that !"
I own a Cub Cadet riding mower and I like it, but as for snowblowers go, I own an Ariens. The Cub Cadet will be in the bone yard long before the Ariens is. Ariens has a great reputation.
Nice review. You were clearly feeding the Ariens faster than the Cub though at the end of the driveway (8:30 - 9:00). That's why the Ariens was bogging down and that is why the Ariens "tends to rise up". I'm not a fanboy of Ariens OR " Club Cadet" so I don't have a dog in the fight. I'm just pointing out the obvious. For a fair and accurate comparison, you'd have to know the ground speed for each gear on each machine and choose the proper gear on each machine to achieve an identical (or at least similar) ground speed. The ground speed of the Arien is noticeably so much higher as to make this comparison ridiculous. That said, both machines performed admirably and will easily suit the needs of any homeowner. As someone else said, I prefer my snow thrower and/or blower (single stage and/or multi stage respectively) to be mounted to the front of my garden tractor thankyouverymuch. Stay frosty my friends!
The reason the Ariens rises up is because of the auger housing is rounded on the bottom. It allows it to skid and deflect upwards when your going through wet or compacted snow. Of course if you were 10,000 lbs, then the auger housing would knife its way through anything. It doesn't matter how much power you have, that rounded bottom will always cause that. The Cub Cadet looks to have a square auger housing on the bottom. This allows it to knife its way through, and even without the 3rd stage it would still be better.
One needs to ask, why doesn't Honda, Ariens and Toro make a 3-stage snow blower? Simple answer, they don't need too. There 2 stage HD models still get the job done without all the extra moving parts. My Toro HD 1232 blows powdery snow 57' and heavy wet snow 40' and has never even hinted of clogging in heavy wet snow. Here in southeastern MI we just got hit with 8-9 inches of extremely heavy wet snow. Like I said, the machine was throwing that heavy wet stuff 40' without any problem. The Toro patented no clog system really works well. I used my old and trusty 1980 Toro 524 with an impeller kit and it got through the heavy wet snow without clogging as well, but the best it could throw the snow was about 15', which for an older machine was pretty impressive. My view on 3 stage snow blowers is, if Honda, Ariens and Toro don't make one, then that tells me they don't think there is enough of an advantage to engineer one.
Way too much plastic on some of these snowblowers now. In 10 years if you break the plastic, what are you going to do? With steel, it might bend but you can bend it back into place. My Dad has two Ariens snow blowers, a 6 hp and a 8 hp and they are both 30+ years old and still run fine. He can still buy parts for them!
Solution... Put the chain on the Ariens wheel. It will push itself better.... I don't think Club is worth it because snow is not shooting out far enough.
Everything is great in your video... We have to go into debt this year for a "Bigger & Better" snowblower for this long mountain road. The one thing I do find lacking concerns me though...That little tike should be armed with his plastic snow shovel...fun to see him run being a good little helper...2 blowers/ 2 operators ...lol
Agreed with the plastic on the Cub cadet. Actually returned my cadet because of the plastic shifter detents. They were wearing out after the first use. They really went cheap on that which is a shame because the rest of the unit seemed well made
Funny that you compare those two snowblowers,because I happen to own(5 years now) an Ariens and a close neighbor of mine got that same CubCadet 3 phase snowblower,and he hates it,he wants to sell it to buy a smaller one like mine. And I have to agree with him the Ariens one is much better,it throws the snow further and the overall quality of the buit is better. The only thing that I would of like better on my model for that tear would of been that they would of come ,with bigger wheels,but other than that the Ariens Deluxe HIS Deluxe.
Dude, we live in Idaho where snow is wetter. The 3 stage sucks in heavy snow. I have the cub 3x. It breaks a pin almost everytime I use it. It performs so badly up here. I would never buy one again.
You've just stated what I've heard from every CC 3 stage owner. They all either got rid of there's, or wished they had. They're a "sales gimmick" and junk.
