Ariens Deluxe (24") 252cc Two-Stage Snow Blower

I bought this back in January 2025 to replace a machine that had lasted me 23 years, so I was a little concerned as to what todays machines had to offer. I was totally surprised by this machine. Had to get used to the controls being opposite of the old one (left vs right side), but that didn't take long. Has been totally worth the investment. Would recommend this to anyone interested in a gas powered machine.

I have this model for over ten years. All you have to do is maintain it, or have somebody service it. Always comes through in every storm. My previous Ariens lasted 19 years.

I am very happy with this machine. I replaced a larger model from a different company because it was too large… I needed a more maneuverable model, a 24 inch. My only complaint is that I wish it came with heated grips.

We moved from Vegas to St John Indiana Feb 2021. A wonderful 2nd day here in Indiana as 2 huge snow storms hit back to back. This machine is a beast, clearing my 40 x 40 driveway was actually fun. After I cleared my driveway my neighbors asked for help in their driveways. The first 6 hours on this brand new machine cleared 5 driveways of over 12 inches of snow with not one hiccup. I used to dread snow storms now i cant wait for another. Proud to own an American made product that does everything it was built to do. Waiting for my new Ariens zero turn XD42 lawn mower.

I bought it 5 years ago and still running like a new one. Regular maintenance, no problems, enough power. I'm very satisfied.

Bought this new to replace my 20yr. old MTD 26" that still worked great, except no power or auto steering....First impressions were well made, heavy frame, all metal, auto steering, nice paint job.....Now I always use full syn. oil in my small engines, so I installed full syn. oil in from the start...To my surprise at first use in a 6 in. snow, the engine seamed under powered. Again for the next several storms, same thing, and climbing at end of driveway...What I learned is these engines need some time to break in to run at full power, so I should have started off with reg. oil for the first 2 season or so...Now It does run stronger after several seasons on full syn..The climbing problem was solved by adding a 10lbs weight inside the auger.... Now what I hate and can never figure out is why the drive lever and auger lever are backwards. The auger should be on the left side and drive on the right, so when your locked in for both auger and drive, your left hand in free to control the chute in the direction you want...The way is, you have to use your right hand to cross over to reach the chute control if you can, without banging into the speed controller...Totally stupid..All other snow thrower manufactures have the auger on left side, drive on right, so you have your left hand free to move the chute, since the chute control is on the left side. Ariens, can you explain your reasoning behind this?? Because of this design, I will not purchase an Ariens in the future...

It's OK, but there are some things that are pretty irritating. First, this thing is loud. Even louder in deep or heavy snow. Get yourself some earmuffs. Second, no throttle lever, so if someone is trying to talk to you, you gotta shut it off. It can be difficult to restart right after. Also, gas tank is very small, so a throttle lever to bring the idle speed down would be nice. The auto steer is ok, but only helps on very smooth surfaces. If it catches on something, it thinks you want to turn that way so it's a fight to keep it straight, primarily on the sidewalk due to the edges of the lawn on either side. My biggest disappointment is the discharge chute. I wish it swiveled more like 270 degrees because a lot of areas it would be nice to throw the snow a little behind you. Also, the crank to swivel it and the lever to tilt it are on the far left side. They should be on the right where it's closer to your free hand. The left lever is the one that keeps the right lever engaged so your right hand is free to make adjustments while moving. I'm 6'4" and the handle bars are a good height for me. I like that it can throw snow very far, doesn't matter if it's light, heavy, deep, or just a dusting. They got that part right.

I bought this unit 2 years ago. Overall, the unit performs very well and does what it is supposed to do. I give it 5 stars on performance and 1 star on maintenance. I am not a DIY mechanic. The only easy part of the annual maintenance is the oil change and various spring lubrications. It's apparent to me that the designers of this machine did not consider the ease of maintenance. For example, when changing the spark plug, you have to remove the metal housing above it in order to remove the plug. It very difficult to check the level of the gear oil as they don't provide a suitable measurement tool. The manual says to use a flat screwdriver, however it's almost impossible to put a screwdriver in the hole because of the auger blades. As for greasing, you need to remove a wheel in order to access one of the lube nipples. I found that I had to resort to YouTube videos for help. Had I investigated the mantenance requirements before I bought this unit, I would have seriously considered other manufacturers.

I bought a 24" two stage deluxe for my daughter and it broke down within two months. We called and was told it would be three weeks before they could get to it. That was six weeks ago and all we keep getting are excuses why it's taking so long to get to it. Meanwhile we are getting hit with storms and have to shovel.

Disappointed to say the least. Inconsistent starts or doesn't start. So aggravating. My Craftsman didn't have the bells and whistles but it was a lot less money and started without issue.