Hi,

Set up a new Ariens Compact model, two stage snowblower for my kid.
It's the kind that has those pin-lock(s) for the wheels.
Guess they only have the true wheel differential in the more expensive
models.

Anyway, the idea is that one wheel is pinned to the drive shaft, and the
other one is not pinned to the shaft, but allowed to rotate freely on it.
(you can pin both to the shaft if you want, but becomes quite hard to
maneuver it if you do)

This allows easy turning, but, of course, the power is being applied to only
one wheel.

I think I may have set it up incorrectly.

Does it matter which wheel is pinned to the shaft and becomes the driven ?

They say to use the right one in the manual, but my feeling is that they
arbitrarily said
to use this one to make the instructions easier. I can't see how it matters
at all, but... ?

I set it up with the driven wheel being the left one.
Kid lives a fair distance away, and not thrilled about going down to change
it if I don't have to.

Think it matters ?

Thanks,
Bob

From the sound of things...
"Robert11" wrote in message
...
: Hi,
:
:...
: Anyway, the idea is that one wheel is pinned to the drive
shaft, and the
: other one is not pinned to the shaft, but allowed to rotate
freely on it.
: (you can pin both to the shaft if you want, but becomes quite
hard to
: maneuver it if you do)
Wrong: It'll only be hard to manuver on a dry, clear surface.
It'll work quite well on snow/ice covered driveway, etc., and not
get stuck so easy. Kick 'em both in if you have to blow more
than say three inches of snow at a time & more often than only a
few times a year.
:
: This allows easy turning, but, of course, the power is being
applied to only
: one wheel.
:
: I think I may have set it up incorrectly.
IMO, you did.
:
: Does it matter which wheel is pinned to the shaft and becomes
the driven ?
Doubt it. Unless you can easily let it scrub thru the snow to
get some bite, it's always going to be spinning just one wheel.
:
: They say to use the right one in the manual, but my feeling is
that they
: arbitrarily said
: to use this one to make the instructions easier. I can't see
how it matters
: at all, but... ?
Uhh, dunno why they did that, but why would you doubt their
"experienced" word over your "feeling"? Maybe that's the heavy
side of the snowblower or some other reason that tire gets better
traction. Don't try to second-guess til you've tried the
recommendation first and have something to compare to, IMO.
:
: I set it up with the driven wheel being the left one.
You need both.
: Kid lives a fair distance away, and not thrilled about going
down to change
: it if I don't have to.
Get more than two, three inches of snow at a time to blow? Have
to do it more than two, three times a year? I think you have to
go down.
:
: Think it matters ?
Obviously, I do; set both wheels to drive. He'll appreciate it
when it starts to snow. It's not THAT hard to steer on a solid
surface, anyway.
:
: Thanks,
: Bob
:
:

If you want to have the blower turn 'right' the easiest, pin the left
wheel.
For easier 'left' turns, pin the right.

Dave