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As you know Ariens is letting me borrow the new RapidTrak this season and I finally have a little snow to test it with. Not much snow but just enough so you can see how the RapidTrak handles and how far it throws.
I’ll also be adding another video soon that compares it to a typical residential snow blower.
Enjoy the video and if you would like me to make more like it please subscribe to my YouTube channel. Paul Sikkema – TheToolboxhero
Feel free to check out the Ariens website for more details and specs on this snow blower: Ariens RapidTrak at Ariens.com
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Jeff Burling
Hi Paul, Jeff here and after watching a few of your videos I ended up purchasing a new 28in Rapidtrak Pro from my local dealer. The machine is actually a 2017 model and here is my question. After getting it home and looking it over I saw quite a bit of rust on the engine sheave where the drive belt and auger belts are driven from (part number 04510800 from Ariens website) . I don’t think I can post a pic here, but was wondering if this part will eventually develop rust spots anyway and should be nothing for me to worry about? I was just surprised to find this part already rusty on a new machine from a dealer.
Thanks for any info,
Jeff
Paul
Hi Jeff, That snowblower was delivered to the dealer between August and November 2016 so it been sitting in an unheated warehouse (or even outside) since then. So a little surface rust is expected on that pulley. No, it won’t pit. It will actually develop a nice Patina that protects the steel from corrosion. (just like that old steel bridge that hasn’t been painted in 75 years)
Jeff Burling
Ok that’s good news. Thank you for the info. After giving Ariens my model number and serial number it was manufactured in Oct 2017 and was one of the last to have the B&S 420cc engine on it.
Thank you,
Jeff
Jeff B.
Paul, another quick question. On my old Ariens 1028 (year 2000) the impeller spins freely by hand and on my new rapidtrak the impeller does not spin freely by hand. Both machines blow snow just fine.
Is this just a difference in how the auger and impellers were designed?
Thanks,
Jeff
Paul
Hi Jeff, Your old Ariens may not have a safety brake on it or the brake is worn out. The safety brake is a band that wraps around the impeller pulley. When you release the auger/impeller it supposed to stop the impeller within a couple of seconds and hold it when the engine is running and you don’t have the impeller lever engaged.
That’s supposed to help protect you from losing a finger or four if you are inexperienced enough to stick your hand down the chute with the engine running…
Jeff B.
Hi Paul another question as I am getting to use my Rapid Track. Do you ever find your tracks spinning in the snow and not getting enough traction in either of the track modes? I find if I am going into a rather deep snow area or up the incline of my gravel driveway the tracks will slip unless I put my weight onto the handle bars. Doesn’t matter how slow I am going.
Everything seems in order as far as the drive cable being tight when activated. I have the the poly skid shoes adjusted to their lowest level giving me plenty of ground clearance between my scraper bar and gravel driveway.
Thank for any advice,
Jeff
Paul
Hi Jeff, You can always take a 1/2 pass going up and a full-pass down if your drive is that steep. Yes, The hydro is so strong that I can get it to slip when pushing into old snowplow drifts and working on areas that have ice underneath. The only really steep-sloped driveway I clear I keep the snow and ice off it all the time. I salt and will go out during a storm to keep it clear.
Paul
Thank you Paul for your comprehensive coverage of the Ariens RapidTrack Pro 28. This time next year I’ll need to purchase a serious snow blower. I live in central Idaho in the Nez-Perce Clearwater National Forest and your videos and reviews along with other research have convinced me to pull the trigger on one of these RapidTrack systems before next winter.
I have one question though. Can you advise as to whether Ariens plans to include an EFI option on their RapidTrack units anytime soon? Since I’m going for pro reliability and ease of use I’d like to include the EFI feature. From what I can see on the Ariens Web site they only offer the EFI on wheeled snow blowers.
Thanks!
Paul
Hi Paul, I don’t know when they will add EFI to the RapidTrak, but they know there is a lot of interest. We typically know in July what new models will be out that fall.
Chad
Good morning from Reno/Tahoe mountainside. Based on your advice, I decided to buy an Arien’s RapidTrak PRO 28”. I have a long, steep, paver driveway… so steep, I’ve been pushing my Honda trac-drive up it for too many years. I thought purchasing the Arien’s would be a simple task… until. I began by using Arien’s Website to identify dealers. I started with the local shops… supporting the little/local shops is important to me. The first/closest dealer on the list has a website stating they had one in stock…great. I clicked the button to get an online quote…$3,099. MSRP… as expected. So I called to confirm that I would drive down to pick it up. To my surprise, they indignantly told me the price would be $3,500?!? I asked why it was so high; was something included that raised the price? The man was rude and blunt, telling me that I was wrong about the MSRP and if I wanted that price, I could shop elsewhere for a promotion that was misleading about their actual price. He went on to “threaten” that those snowblowers need special, “professional assembly” and if I bought a Home Depot unit, I’d come to him to fix it because it wouldn’t be set up correctly and he would charge me hundreds of dollars and it would take weeks for him to get to it. What?!? Clearly, I won’t be buying it from him; but he has raised the question; “Does that snowblower require professional assembly?” Would I make a mistake to purchase it from Home Depot?
Since talking to the jerk at that dealer, the three other dealers within 90 miles all want more than MSRP, although the other 2 dealers weren’t so rude. If I shop Home Depot, I can get it for $3,099… minus $100 if I apply for their credit card; wherein I will also get a 12-month return policy and free shipping. I hate to go to the BIG BOX store, but the little guys seem to be asking too much. $500 difference??
Is there a compelling reason I should pay more at a small dealer? Do you recommend professional assembly?
Thanks again!
Chad
Paul
Hi Chad, Most dealers are smart enough when you talk to them on the phone to say, “The snow blower is $3099 and there is an X amount for setup and delivery.” Typical charges I hear of are one hour labor to take the snow blower out of the crate, then go through the machine to make sure all the adjustments are correct and then start it up and test it. Labor nowadays is around $100. Then they will also charge a delivery fee. $69, 79 and up to $125 depending on where you live and (if also they sell John Deere) So, anything up to $200 is reasonable. But the attitude isn’t…
By the way, if you have a problem that needs a dealer go back to the Home Depot store where you buy the snow blower and ask the manager who their local servicing dealer is. I’ll bet it’s not that guy.
Can you put it together? You need a 3/8-9/16 socket set and combination wrenches, a needle nose pliers and a scissors. Follow these assembly instructions: Ariens RapidTrack. Then,
Check and adjust the auger and clutch cables here: Ariens Operators Manual.
If you need more help here is the Ariens Service manual: Service Guide
You can watch my walkaround video and of course, ask questions here on the website.
Buy from the Home Depot here: Ariens 28 Pro RapidTrak