Do you have a large lot, which gets snowed easily, and which you want to clear often? Have you tried electric snow throwers several times, but you think they are not as efficient enough? Then you can turn to a gasoline snowblower. They have high horsepower engines which let you be able to throw wet and heavy snow, without too much difficulty, even over a large area.
The Ariens ST24LE Deluxe offers a lot of functions and good functionalities that make it one of the best gasoline snowblowers on the market. So, in this Ariens ST24LE Deluxe review, we’ll put the machine through the test.
The snow season is coming. Don’t be caught unprepared by some early snowfall. Here, for demanding users and professionals in the sector, the Deluxe line of Ariens snow blowers are the solution for medium to large driveways with large snow covers.
The ST24LE DELUXE snow blower is one of the smallest of this extraordinary line of snow blowers. It is equipped with an Ariens AX 12.5 ft to lb torque engine.
The snowblower is equipped with a manual pull start and an electric starting feature.
It has a fan with three blades to reduce the risk of snow depositing and freezing and then blocking the machine. There is a double belt for greater power and less maintenance.
Another element that ensures its great performance is its quality of construction. It has metal gears and the choice of steel for the important parts is reassuring.
But perhaps you are primarily interested in the real efficiency of the snowblower. Note first that it is equipped with a 120 V starter with a button. Then it also has an Ariens AX 254 cc engine. The engine is well complemented by the adjustable cutters.
Snow is expelled extremely quickly through the chute. If the angle of the ejection duct is only adjustable over 200 degrees, it is above all the throwing distance that is surprising: up to 15.2 m, or 50 ft!
What we really liked about the Ariens snow blower is the ease with which it is controlled despite its heavy weight. It is equipped with a dedicated technology called Auto-Turn steering technology which makes it possible to change the orientation of the machine with precision and without much effort.
This Ariens ST24LE Deluxe comes with a 254cc 4-cycle engine which consumers gasoline. It’s a workhorse that produces up to 7.5 horsepower. The drive is self-propelled.
The engine can be started in two ways: manually and electronically. With the manual starting method, there is a recoil feature equipped with a pull cord. All you need is to pull it to start. The electronic start is the simplest but it works by connecting it to an electric socket. You need to attach an outdoor socket to the back of the snowblower and connect it to a power source. Then, push the start button for the snowblower to start. This starting principle, therefore, doesn’t require a battery.
The engine of the two-stage snowblower has a plowing capacity of 62 tons per hour. The secret behind this is the 14 inches serrated auger that can chop compacted snow, ice, and car ruts. Its impeller, therefore, provided extra oomph, giving it 2,060 pounds per minute plowing capacity.
The snowblower uses gasoline for power, which ensures more horsepower. The advantage here is that gasoline is commonly found although it’s three times more expensive than electricity. The snowblower however has a fuel tank of 0.369 gallons capacity, which may be too small for some large jobs. The engine also requires engine oil, the most recommended of which is SAE 5W30. Meanwhile, note that the engine oil doesn’t have to be mixed with the gasoline as it is a four-cycle engine.
The Ariens ST24LE is a two-stage snow thrower. This is ideal if you want a very powerful snowblower that can clear snow from medium to large driveways.
Compared to a one-stage snow thrower, this is particularly effective in removing heavy snow and ice.
Apart from a more efficient engine, the 2-stage snowblower is distinguished by a wide wheelbase. However, you have to pay a larger amount to get this type of device. In comparison, the one-stage snow thrower is a model that works by gathering and throwing snow in one motion. More compact and easier to handle, it is suitable for all possible types of snow coverings. The single-stage model is primarily intended for removing heavy snow from driveways and small or medium-sized entrances.
The Ariens ST24LE Deluxe snow blowing machine is made of high-strength materials such as aluminum, steel, and heavy-duty plastics for long-lasting use. The blades are made of steel, the chute is also constructed from steel, and the gear case is also made from cast iron.
The Ariens ST24LE is not a lightweight machine. It weighs 245 pounds, which is really heavy. However, this is expected from gasoline snowblowers as electric models are much lighter.
Also, the snowblower has a dimension of 59 x 26 x 45 inches which is an ideal size for a gasoline snowblower.
The machine has a set of self-propelled Disc-O-Matic wheels with 6 forwards and 2 reverse options.
You have a very wide working width of 71.1 cm or 28 inches and an intake height of 53ck or 21 inches. You can try the machine with dry, wet, patchy, or packed snow.
The machine has a gross torque of 12.5 ft-lb which is much better than models within its range. For example, the Husqvarna ST224 has a 9.5 ft-lb gross torque, the same as the Husqvarna ST151. However, the difference here is that the ST24LE Deluxe from Ariens is a more premium option.
Walking or working in snow can be unsafe. And that’s why Ariens ensured the machine has a grippy type of wheelset called the Disc-O-Matic. These wheels prevent the snowblower from slipping. Note that there is no headlight on this machine. So, this is not a type to use in the dark or dawn for safety reasons.
Even if the price is a bit higher, this snowblower, like most gasoline snowblowers, requires more regular maintenance. You have to take care of fueling, oiling, and thawing the snow underneath the machine after each operation. Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about recharging a battery for starting the engine as there is none. For internal maintenance or repair of the machine, make use of the provided warranty or contact the manufacturer for advice or technical help.
The snowblower has a warranty of 3 years for residential use, and 3 months if you make the purchase for professional use, i.e. for your gardening business. However, you may not need to activate the warranty as the engine is well-built and the frames and outside components, sturdy. There are no negative surprises to expect.
The Ariens ST24LE Deluxe can be classified in the upper midrange class of snowblowers as it’s sold for more than $1,500, but still well under $2,000.
It is a machine that offers a very good power-price ratio. If you want to avoid the hassle, and don’t have the budget for a very high-end gasoline blower, this is currently one of the best options you’ll be able to find on the market.
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Do you have large areas carpeted with snow during wintertime? Are you faced with wet and packed snow? The Ariens ST24LE Deluxe was designed with this in mind. Do you need a snowblower for residential or professional use? Then the Ariens ST24LE Deluxe snowblower is made for you. We hope with our Ariens ST24LE Deluxe review, you can now see the advantages and downsides of the machine so you can know if it’s for you.
For its price, we expected this to come with a headlight for morning snow clearing. However, this is not a deal-breaker. On the web, you can often find it at a medium high-range price. But you’re going to get your money’s worth.
