Ariens Deluxe 24 Snowblower Fail

[Astro_Guy]

It's getting to be that time of year so I decided to start the snowblower. After a number of attemps with not the slightest hint of the engine firing I started to tear into it. To make a long story short the problem revealed itself upon removal of the spark plug. A chunk of the cyclinder head with the mating surface for the spark plug was missing so there was no compression. Have any of you seen anything like that before?

I believe the going price in these is $1499 so it's probably worth fixing.

 

[Fordiesel69]

Yes. Chinese castings. Is it a newer engine made in China? Or an old tecky?

 

[Astro_Guy]

It's the [Chinese] LCT 254cc.

 

[volk06]

Put a predator on it and call it good.

 

[Fattylocks]

If it's a China CCP engine maybe it could be repowered with a harbor freight engine.

 

[Trav]

Just replace the head, it comes with new valves, pushrods and rocker arms for under $100, add whatever gaskets. check if this is for your model. This is a quick and easy.

https://www.jackssmallengines.com/j...750178eabgioquvx5e1m-925470219/parts-assembly

 

[matrass]

Wow sorry to hear about you probelm with the Airens .

Hope the parts provided help you out .

 

[JohnnyG]

Just replace the head, it comes with new valves, pushrods and rocker arms for under $100, add whatever gaskets. check if this is for your model. This is a quick and easy.

https://www.jackssmallengines.com/j...750178eabgioquvx5e1m-925470219/parts-assembly

I'd say that is part #1 for a reason!

 

[nascarnation]

In the old days you would get this heliarc welded and remachined but these days it would probably cost more than the replacement part.

 

[JTK]

It's getting to be that time of year so I decided to start the snowblower. After a number of attemps with not the slightest hint of the engine firing I started to tear into it. To make a long story short the problem revealed itself upon removal of the spark plug. A chunk of the cyclinder head with the mating surface for the spark plug was missing so there was no compression. Have any of you seen anything like that before?

I believe the going price in these is $1499 so it's probably worth fixing.

This is an odd failure for these LCT engines or any Chonda for that matter. It's usually the plastic, rubber and soft bits that break first on them. How old is this Ariens? My main snowblower has been my 2015 model year Ariens Snow-Tek 28" with a 208cc LCT engine (cheaper version of your Ariens). I have replaced the plastic fuel cap, the plastic/metal fuel shut-off valve, fuel lines, one idler shaft bearing and the friction disk. It might have 200hrs on it at this point. I estimate it gets used 20hrs per year.

You're right on the pricing of these things today. I think I paid in the $500 range for this machine from Home Depot 10yrs ago, plus $45 or whatever it was to use their rental truck to get it home.

 

[Astro_Guy]

How old is this Ariens?

I believe it to be 10-11 years old and doesn't have twenty hours on it.

 

[JTK]

I believe it to be 10-11 years old and doesn't have twenty hours on it.

Have you had to replace the fuel shut-off or any of the hoses yet? That shut off is a problem for the 208 and 254cc engines. They'll break right off and spill the contents of the tank. After I replaced mine years back, I never touch it. I leave it on. You'll know the primer bulb hose is shot when she's a real bear to cold start. Might be luck, but mine cold starts on the first or second pull, every time. I've only used the E-start a few times to test it.

 

[Randol]

I have one from 2014 or so with the Liquid Combustion Technology engines, 254CC. It's been solid. It's worth replacing the head.

 

[TomYoung]

Just replace the head, it comes with new valves, pushrods and rocker arms for under $100, add whatever gaskets. check if this is for your model. This is a quick and easy.

https://www.jackssmallengines.com/j...750178eabgioquvx5e1m-925470219/parts-assembly

I would absolutely eliminate the possibility of a spanking new Predator engine before pulling this failed engine apart. Probably not that much more, and you would get a very good Chinese engine.

 

[PWMDMD]

My almost 20 year old MTD Chonda snowblower starts first pull year after year and the only maintenance I do is change the oil every 5 years. It seems even China doesn't make them like they used to...

 

[nascarnation]

My almost 20 year old MTD Chonda snowblower starts first pull year after year and the only maintenance I do is change the oil every 5 years. It seems even China doesn't make them like they used to...

There appears to be a wide disparity in the level of quality that they turn out.
Some stuff like the Buick Envision SUV and the Harbor Freight engines have excellent reputations.
Others not so much.

 

[Astro_Guy]

Just to add insult to injury I woke up to nearly five inches of wet heavy snow this morning.

 

[iahawk]

just saw a DonyBoy73 youtube vid (he's a small engine mechanic in Canada) on the 208cc version of this engine in an Ariens. DonyBoy said they were basically junk and he sees them in his shop all the time. The motor he had was in for a busted con rod. Said regular oil changes are critical on these. I own a 2012 version of this blower with a 250cc motor.. mine also has less than 20 hours on it...bummed to see others with issues on these

 

[CleanSump]

Like @Trav says; Jack's Small Engines is in Jarrettsville, MD near the PA border. Fast shipping! They're a good company and if you're close enough they have same day pick-up. https://www.jackssmallengines.biz/
I have used them numerous times.

 

[Astro_Guy]

Just replace the head, it comes with new valves, pushrods and rocker arms for under $100, add whatever gaskets. check if this is for your model. This is a quick and easy.

https://www.jackssmallengines.com/j...750178eabgioquvx5e1m-925470219/parts-assembly

Thanks for the suggestion. Had this happened at the end of the season I probably would have run with that. It's unusually cold here and I have no heated space to work in so I've turned it over to a local shop. The last time I tackled a project like this there was a backup machine in place. Speed and convenience are driving the bus this time.