It's not that efi is crappy, it's that these efi's are crappy... They have the same problems that snowmobiles had with efi in the early 90's. They should have taken some lessons but they didn't learn a fucking thing about batteries and efi.
@@shadetree6981 I don't think it's that they didn't learn anything, it's that snowblower engines are necessarily made to a much different price point than snowmobile engines.
I have the same model as you, 921049. Now I am on my second fuel pump, but surprisingly no one has a replacement, not the factory or any other suppliers. So basically, I have a lawn ornament. I liked the snow blower when I got it but after this trouble, I’m ready to see about converting it to carb. I’ll never buy a EFI system again.
I had one of those for years. When I sold it , it was still running. I just didn't want something that would go off on its own if I let go of the handlebars. 7HP Techumsah.
Once ariens stopped using the Tecumseh engine in 08 they pretty much became junk. I had a deluxe 28 I bought new and the dam thing never worked or ran right. I bought an older st924 and that things runs like a banshee.
There were some tough years when the old L-heads were killed by the EPA, but the current LCT engines seem to have most of the bugs worked out at this point. A lot of people are happy with them as they are smoother, quieter, and more efficient than the old ones. LCT is what's left of Tecumseh. My '02 8HP Tecumseh has always been awfully rough but reliable.
My friend bought an EFI snowblower a few years ago. At the time I didn't really know anything about small engines. When was brand new when he showed it to me I didn't even notice EFI written on it. Now he's having issues with it.
Robert, I’ve had my Ariens for 20 years now and still have only broken a shear pin or 2. No other problems at all. Not even a v belt replacement. This is where “ don’t fix it if it ain’t broke” comes in!
I just got this snow blower yesterday and it has the carb. I will trust the carb model over the EFI because I bet you will have problems with it. I have never heard one complaint on the carbed version. EfI is to new and unproven. Keep your snow shovel handy.
I still have my carb and sold the EFI. I love EFI , but, as I outlined, it is very expensive if you have a problem and a carb can usually be fixed on the spot
Yeah, I bought the same Ariens EFI unit a few years back (fortunately it was only 1600 or 1700 back then), and had it in the shop twice while it was still under warranty. It still runs, but will only make about half power before it starts to run poorly. I wish there was a way to convert it to use a carburetor. Fortunately I now have a tractor mounted snowblower that I mostly use, and I'd sell the Ariens, but I'd feel bad about saddling someone with this piece of...
The one variable that affects Carberators is corn-fuel (ethanol) . When you need to add a gas stabelizer to help gas function and lower carb parts corroding, that's a constant pain and does not eliminate destruction of your carborator. Like the cars of today there are no carborators anymore for a reason. Performance. I had a Ariens PRO1024 that ran great until the ethanol ate thru 2 carbs. Now I have a Ariens Platinum EFI/SHO and I'm not looking back. Until the electric snowblower evolves (and it will), this is my power snow blower. (40-50 ft distance). At 68 YO Need a tool that works for me not against me.
I understand the whole ethanol thing. My 9 HP Tecumseh carb on my new in 2004 Ariens has never been apart once. I run a stabilizer in the machine during the season if storms are few and far between. At the end of the season I run the machine dry of fuel. The problem is NOT the ethanol, it’s the moisture the ethanol attracts in a vented fuel system. That’s why there is not the same problems with fuel injection systems. I like fuel injection very much, I’m just not going to let China get rich off me with overpriced parts.
I've been using Seafoam in E10 gas for over 20 years in my small engines. The only time I had a problem was when I was too lazy to drain the bowl for storage. Snowblowers are not cars, they are built to a much lower standard because they are at a much lower price point. Cars no longer use throttle body injection so even with EFI these are a long ways from automotive systems.
I must say after having many blowers with carbs and still using one at home, then having EFI Rapidtrak PRO at my cabin my choice are EFI all the way. Because I cannot fix anything on my own. Those carbs have cost me a lot of service-money during the years. IF you have the ability to charge your EFI battery 2 or 3 times a year you will be a happy camper with EFI.
@@cladkeeper8376 Do you want me to write you when I have my next carburettor bill? I had one recently before last season. And I remember well the one before that a couple of years ago.
@@dagjohnsen It sounds to me like you are not aware of the effects of ethanol in todays fuel. Ethanol absorbs moisture in a vented system. Moisture destroys vented systems. Funny thing about corn fuel. It costs more than producing fuel from pumps in Texas and other great fuel producing states. I’m sure your not sure where this is going. I am here to buy your 300.00 gas whatever for 25.00 when your done with it because of a carburetor.
@@cladkeeper8376 2 years ago I switched to non ethanol gas. In Norway where I live it is still available at the gas station. High octane no ethanol. It is called 98 octane in Europe. For sure better!
Firm believer of K.I.S.S. All this modern innovation is considered progress. By what metric. Look at how those EV's function in the dead of winter, how long they take to recharge (or not recharge because battery went dead waiting for a stall to open and now the battery is too cold to charge.)
Yeah EFI does work better when it works but it's mostly there for marketing and ridiculous to fix. I've had my Ariens for 23 winters and the only time I ever had to mess with the carb was when I didn't drain it for the summer. I don't see any point in getting EFI. Same with electric chute controls. Manual controls are not hard at all so why introduce electronics? It's so silly but that's what you get when people are obsessed with feature lists. Ariens has to offer these things or lose sales.
You’re right on target. Do we need electric chute control. How friggin lazy can we get. This is the reason a new car cost 50k. Now I’m all for progress …but… it may go too far. I had an Ariens from the 70’s that ran fine when I gave it away in 2004. The reason, it would stay in gear and drive down the road if you let go of the controls. It was a safety issue. On the same note , I was going to put fuel injection in my 1964 Corvette because if it’s dependability. Several times the fuel gelled up in the carb because of winter sitting. Knowing that I could junk yard a system for short bucks was the main reason. Right now you will buy every part from China to get your Ariens EFI fixed
It will not. I had to charge for a while before it will start. If you let it sit for a month or so you would probably have to remember to charge it before a storm.
I buy a new one every 3 years . Ariens keep the best resale. Buy them for $1500 +- Take the tax deduction Do minimal maintenance Sell it for $1000 Get 3 years out of it for $500
Get an ultrasonic cleaner. Take the carb apart, you sometimes don't even need gaskets. Just clean everything. Takes about 5 minutes... and if you're pulling the carb off anyway, save the $30-50 and waiting for shipping and Chinese knockoffs that might not have the right tolerances and then just have a well cleaned original carb.
I am not a mechanic. My Honda generator has a battery start and a pull start. It also has EFI, but I can pull start it with a dead battery or with the battery disconnected; I have not tried the dead battery pull start yet as I have not had a dead battery, but I have tried the disconnected battery pull start and it works like a charm. I have no idea how Honda does this, EFI with no battery, but their system has worked flawlessly for years now. I also run non-oxygenated gas and start it once a month to let it run gas through the system and to charge the battery, which is what my dealer told me to do, in addition to putting a trickle charger on the battery a couple of times a year. If they could put an EFI system on a snow blower, like my Honda genny has, maybe that would solve a lot of the issues Arien's is having with their EFI systems on their snow blowers?
Ok. You bought a 4000.00 Honda generator. You have to buy special gas for it. You have to start it every month You have to charge the battery a couple times a year I take my machine out of storage , add fuel to my “ mt” tank and it starts right up and runs fine 😊 I did not say Ariens is having problems with their EFI , I just point out advantages and disadvantages of owning one or the other.
@@cladkeeper8376 You entirely.missed the point, so let me try again. Why is it that the honda with EFI will run without the battery attached, started via pull cord, but the Ariens needs the battery? I am not a mechanic and at the end of your video, you did say that you had an ariends efi for sale and by reading the comments you left, it sounds like you are not.a fan of them.
Sorry for missing your “point”. The Ariens has a magneto to generate the electricity to charge the battery, run the headlight, run the fuel pump and power the module. When running. To start the EFI motor you need the battery connected and charged even if you run the 120v electric starter. I tried it. Your Honda motor , not sure which one, probably has a magneto also. Maybe the magneto puts out enough power to fire it without the battery. I’ll figure that out when I buy yours for 300.00 because it wouldn’t start 😊
@@cladkeeper8376 Now that last line....is funny. Seriously, thank you for the laugh. The dealer that I buy my stuff from sells hundreds of the Honda genny, EU 7000 IS, I have to a billion dollar corp and their guys have been beating them hard for years. He said that I would not believe the condition they return them to him in, in order to repair them. He said that this one would last me, Joe Homeowner, a lifetime and I hope that he is right.....not you, no offense. But, I have no idea how it works, I just know that I wanted to see for myself when I got it home and disconnected the battery and pull started it. The compression when pull starting, is a bear to get over, but it started and ran just fine with no battery. If they could put something like that on snow blowers or other small engines with EFI, maybe they would work better? I don't know. Enjoy your videos though. Thank you not only for the good laugh, but for the response.
@@PatrickFaricy And yet Honda doesn't use EFI on their snowblowers. Why? Almost certainly because a decent system costs too much to be worthwhile on them. Comparing the engine on a $6000 generator to one on a $2400 snowblower is disingenuous, to say the least.
My opinion, Ariens quality has really gone down in recent years. Simple things, like not having the pulleys lined up, having the hot engine melting snow right above the belts causing bits to slip or not having wire harness plugs securely plugged in.
Sadly the younger generation isn’t picking up on mechanics. Not all but some. This country needs to get back on track and start producing more here. I see older cast iron tools being given away because the “ kids” don’t know how to use them.
The automobile EFI has a lot of moving parts and I like the fact that it does keep the moisture out of the system. I wonder if these EFI systems on a snowblower keep out the moisture out or if it’s a gimmick.
Great compare, i agree with you, Have an Ariens 30 pro, with carb, easy to fix, keep it AS simple AS possible
All that fuel injection sounds cool......you make a hell of a point.....old schoo all the way....the simpler the better.......nice video
It's not that efi is crappy, it's that these efi's are crappy... They have the same problems that snowmobiles had with efi in the early 90's. They should have taken some lessons but they didn't learn a fucking thing about batteries and efi.
@@shadetree6981 I don't think it's that they didn't learn anything, it's that snowblower engines are necessarily made to a much different price point than snowmobile engines.
I have the same model as you, 921049. Now I am on my second fuel pump, but surprisingly no one has a replacement, not the factory or any other suppliers. So basically, I have a lawn ornament.
I liked the snow blower when I got it but after this trouble, I’m ready to see about converting it to carb.
I’ll never buy a EFI system again.
I’m sorry to hear this.
I won’t be in the market for an EV any time soon either
My Ariens snow throw still has its original every thing including carb from 1974
I had one of those for years. When I sold it , it was still running. I just didn't want something that would go off on its own if I let go of the handlebars. 7HP Techumsah.
I Will never get a new Ariens, but keep my old one in good shape
I'm a fellow brother local 353 Toronto. Thanks for sharing.
Once ariens stopped using the Tecumseh engine in 08 they pretty much became junk. I had a deluxe 28 I bought new and the dam thing never worked or ran right. I bought an older st924 and that things runs like a banshee.
There were some tough years when the old L-heads were killed by the EPA, but the current LCT engines seem to have most of the bugs worked out at this point. A lot of people are happy with them as they are smoother, quieter, and more efficient than the old ones. LCT is what's left of Tecumseh. My '02 8HP Tecumseh has always been awfully rough but reliable.
My friend bought an EFI snowblower a few years ago. At the time I didn't really know anything about small engines. When was brand new when he showed it to me I didn't even notice EFI written on it. Now he's having issues with it.
Robert, I’ve had my Ariens for 20 years now and still have only broken a shear pin or 2. No other problems at all. Not even a v belt replacement. This is where “ don’t fix it if it ain’t broke” comes in!
I just got this snow blower yesterday and it has the carb. I will trust the carb model over the EFI because I bet you will have problems with it. I have never heard one complaint on the carbed version. EfI is to new and unproven. Keep your snow shovel handy.
I still have my carb and sold the EFI. I love EFI , but, as I outlined, it is very expensive if you have a problem and a carb can usually be fixed on the spot
Excellent analysis and conclusion as the why an electronic fuel injection is just not practical
On snow blowers.
TY
Yeah, I bought the same Ariens EFI unit a few years back (fortunately it was only 1600 or 1700 back then), and had it in the shop twice while it was still under warranty. It still runs, but will only make about half power before it starts to run poorly. I wish there was a way to convert it to use a carburetor. Fortunately I now have a tractor mounted snowblower that I mostly use, and I'd sell the Ariens, but I'd feel bad about saddling someone with this piece of...
Thanks for the reply. My hope was to have people read this before buying a new EFI model. This helps others
The one variable that affects Carberators is corn-fuel (ethanol) . When you need to add a gas stabelizer to help gas function and lower carb parts corroding, that's a constant pain and does not eliminate destruction of your carborator. Like the cars of today there are no carborators anymore for a reason. Performance. I had a Ariens PRO1024 that ran great until the ethanol ate thru 2 carbs. Now I have a Ariens Platinum EFI/SHO and I'm not looking back. Until the electric snowblower evolves (and it will), this is my power snow blower. (40-50 ft distance). At 68 YO Need a tool that works for me not against me.
I understand the whole ethanol thing.
My 9 HP Tecumseh carb on my new in 2004 Ariens has never been apart once.
I run a stabilizer in the machine during the season if storms are few and far between.
At the end of the season I run the machine dry of fuel. The problem is NOT the ethanol, it’s the moisture the ethanol attracts in a vented fuel system. That’s why there is not the same problems with fuel injection systems.
I like fuel injection very much, I’m just not going to let China get rich off me with overpriced parts.
@@cladkeeper8376 If you try the EFI/SHO in a good snow amount you'll jump for one. It's a pleasure to use.
I've been using Seafoam in E10 gas for over 20 years in my small engines. The only time I had a problem was when I was too lazy to drain the bowl for storage. Snowblowers are not cars, they are built to a much lower standard because they are at a much lower price point. Cars no longer use throttle body injection so even with EFI these are a long ways from automotive systems.
I must say after having many blowers with carbs and still using one at home, then having EFI Rapidtrak PRO at my cabin my choice are EFI all the way. Because I cannot fix anything on my own. Those carbs have cost me a lot of service-money during the years. IF you have the ability to charge your EFI battery 2 or 3 times a year you will be a happy camper with EFI.
Please write me when you get your first EFI repair bill.
@@cladkeeper8376 Do you want me to write you when I have my next carburettor bill? I had one recently before last season. And I remember well the one before that a couple of years ago.
@@dagjohnsen It sounds to me like you are not aware of the effects of ethanol in todays fuel. Ethanol absorbs moisture in a vented system. Moisture destroys vented systems. Funny thing about corn fuel. It costs more than producing fuel from pumps in Texas and other great fuel producing states. I’m sure your not sure where this is going. I am here to buy your 300.00 gas whatever for 25.00 when your done with it because of a carburetor.
@@cladkeeper8376 2 years ago I switched to non ethanol gas. In Norway where I live it is still available at the gas station. High octane no ethanol. It is called 98 octane in Europe. For sure better!
Oh, you'll learn.
Firm believer of K.I.S.S. All this modern innovation is considered progress. By what metric. Look at how those EV's function in the dead of winter, how long they take to recharge (or not recharge because battery went dead waiting for a stall to open and now the battery is too cold to charge.)
Yeah EFI does work better when it works but it's mostly there for marketing and ridiculous to fix. I've had my Ariens for 23 winters and the only time I ever had to mess with the carb was when I didn't drain it for the summer. I don't see any point in getting EFI. Same with electric chute controls. Manual controls are not hard at all so why introduce electronics? It's so silly but that's what you get when people are obsessed with feature lists. Ariens has to offer these things or lose sales.
You’re right on target. Do we need electric chute control. How friggin lazy can we get. This is the reason a new car cost 50k. Now I’m all for progress …but… it may go too far. I had an Ariens from the 70’s that ran fine when I gave it away in 2004. The reason, it would stay in gear and drive down the road if you let go of the controls. It was a safety issue. On the same note , I was going to put fuel injection in my 1964 Corvette because if it’s dependability. Several times the fuel gelled up in the carb because of winter sitting. Knowing that I could junk yard a system for short bucks was the main reason. Right now you will buy every part from China to get your Ariens EFI fixed
If the battery is not charged will it still start up?
It will not. I had to charge for a while before it will start. If you let it sit for a month or so you would probably have to remember to charge it before a storm.
Do you still need the extension chord plugged in to start up as well as the battery charged?
With battery charged you will still need ext cord with 120 volt starter, not for pull start
I buy a new one every 3 years .
Ariens keep the best resale.
Buy them for $1500 +-
Take the tax deduction
Do minimal maintenance
Sell it for $1000
Get 3 years out of it for $500
Get an ultrasonic cleaner. Take the carb apart, you sometimes don't even need gaskets. Just clean everything. Takes about 5 minutes... and if you're pulling the carb off anyway, save the $30-50 and waiting for shipping and Chinese knockoffs that might not have the right tolerances and then just have a well cleaned original carb.
I am not a mechanic.
My Honda generator has a battery start and a pull start. It also has EFI, but I can pull start it with a dead battery or with the battery disconnected; I have not tried the dead battery pull start yet as I have not had a dead battery, but I have tried the disconnected battery pull start and it works like a charm.
I have no idea how Honda does this, EFI with no battery, but their system has worked flawlessly for years now. I also run non-oxygenated gas and start it once a month to let it run gas through the system and to charge the battery, which is what my dealer told me to do, in addition to putting a trickle charger on the battery a couple of times a year.
If they could put an EFI system on a snow blower, like my Honda genny has, maybe that would solve a lot of the issues Arien's is having with their EFI systems on their snow blowers?
Ok. You bought a 4000.00 Honda generator.
You have to buy special gas for it.
You have to start it every month
You have to charge the battery a couple times a year
I take my machine out of storage , add fuel to my “ mt” tank and it starts right up and runs fine 😊
I did not say Ariens is having problems with their EFI , I just point out advantages and disadvantages of owning one or the other.
@@cladkeeper8376
You entirely.missed the point, so let me try again.
Why is it that the honda with EFI will run without the battery attached, started via pull cord, but the Ariens needs the battery?
I am not a mechanic and at the end of your video, you did say that you had an ariends efi for sale and by reading the comments you left, it sounds like you are not.a fan of them.
Sorry for missing your “point”. The Ariens has a magneto to generate the electricity to charge the battery, run the headlight, run the fuel pump and power the module. When running. To start the EFI motor you need the battery connected and charged even if you run the 120v electric starter. I tried it. Your Honda motor , not sure which one, probably has a magneto also. Maybe the magneto puts out enough power to fire it without the battery. I’ll figure that out when I buy yours for 300.00 because it wouldn’t start 😊
@@cladkeeper8376 Now that last line....is funny.
Seriously, thank you for the laugh.
The dealer that I buy my stuff from sells hundreds of the Honda genny, EU 7000 IS, I have to a billion dollar corp and their guys have been beating them hard for years. He said that I would not believe the condition they return them to him in, in order to repair them. He said that this one would last me, Joe Homeowner, a lifetime and I hope that he is right.....not you, no offense.
But, I have no idea how it works, I just know that I wanted to see for myself when I got it home and disconnected the battery and pull started it. The compression when pull starting, is a bear to get over, but it started and ran just fine with no battery. If they could put something like that on snow blowers or other small engines with EFI, maybe they would work better? I don't know. Enjoy your videos though.
Thank you not only for the good laugh, but for the response.
@@PatrickFaricy And yet Honda doesn't use EFI on their snowblowers. Why? Almost certainly because a decent system costs too much to be worthwhile on them. Comparing the engine on a $6000 generator to one on a $2400 snowblower is disingenuous, to say the least.
My opinion, Ariens quality has really gone down in recent years. Simple things, like not having the pulleys lined up, having the hot engine melting snow right above the belts causing bits to slip or not having wire harness plugs securely plugged in.
Sadly the younger generation isn’t picking up on mechanics. Not all but some. This country needs to get back on track and start producing more here. I see older cast iron tools being given away because the “ kids” don’t know how to use them.
If you factor in inflation (devaluation of the dollar) that $1,400 machine in 2003 would equate to $2,321.12 In today money.
I’m sick of this. My back hurts just thinking about fixing snow blowers. Where are all the kids that used to clean driveways for a few bucks.
All those “ kids” are 64 now.
They had the covid break and got used to having it easy.
🧐
There aren't any pro's with efi over carb. None whatsoever. Pure junk!!
The automobile EFI has a lot of moving parts and I like the fact that it does keep the moisture out of the system. I wonder if these EFI systems on a snowblower keep out the moisture out or if it’s a gimmick.