Ariens 921047 Deluxe 30 306CC 30 In Two-Stage Electric Start Gas Snow Blower with Heated Handles and Headli - Quantity 1

Big nasty!This is what I affectionately call this Ariens 921047 two stage snowblower. Truly amazing. Gave reviewing it a long while as I wanted to make certain it could handle the job.Pro:PowerfulSleekSteady performerGood tractionHand warmers.... Ahhhh!Cons:Auto turn is temperamentalDamn heavy... I mean when turning without finger control switchesNoisy drive train and auger [lots of feed back] kinda goes with territory though.We had 6.5" of cement mixer snow 032523 [great lakes region] and this snow blower threw this stuff amazingly. Truly an accomplishment.Will update later

Purchased in November 2018. When I stop on a slope and let go of the drive lever it will free wheel, i.e. wheels will not lock in place and it will roll away. Being that’s it’s a heavy machine It can be dangerous, especially stopping going uphill that it doesn’t run you over or get away from you going downhill.Works best on flat surfaces. I called Product Support and they agreed that it will not lock in place when stopped and recommended replacing the wheels with tracks but that’s kind of expensive and no guarantee that it will fix the issue.The automatic wheel lock out on a turn is not the best design as well as noted in other reviews.The front has a tendency to jump up when you engage to go forward. Product Support recommends the optional weight plate for the front but again, it’s a little pricey.On the plus side: It has enough power to throw wet snow and very fuel efficient. I bought the plastic skid shoes which help protect the driveway.Debating on trying to go through the hassle of returning it or living with the shortcomings. It’s a lot of money though to not have a better designed machine.

Lotta nice features here, but one fatal flaw: it freewheels when the operator lets go of the safety interlock .Blowing snow going uphill on your driveway? Slip and fall? This thing is rolling back on to you - and that's gonna hurt!Ditto going downhill except that it's running away - possibly into the neighbor's kid or into traffic.A lawyer's feeding frenzy waiting to happen.