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One of these is up for sale here locally and they say it takes a while for the blades to spin up and they bog in higher grass. I assume it needs a PTO clutch or maybe something simple like a belt. It runs and drives but has the blade issue.

My question: Are these good mowers or do they have a bad track record?

It's priced at $400 and it seems reasonable to me even if I have to buy a PTO clutch. Thanks in advance for the reply.

BustedKnuckles said:

One of these is up for sale here locally and they say it takes a while for the blades to spin up and they bog in higher grass. I assume it needs a PTO clutch or maybe something simple like a belt. It runs and drives but has the blade issue.

My question: Are these good mowers or do they have a bad track record?

It's priced at $400 and it seems reasonable to me even if I have to buy a PTO clutch. Thanks in advance for the reply.

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I don't have enough troubleshooting/repair knowledge to advise you on what may be the problem, but I can tell you that I have a next door neighbor that has an Arien like this and it still cuts his grass like a golf course after 15 years. And that engine(the 16hp B & S Vanguard) is one of the best engines Briggs & Stratton ever made. I had a 1992 model Lawn Chief lawn tractor that had the exact same engine and my son just retired it after 20 years(the support system for the deck completely gave out) and the B & S engine still ran like brand new. If this Ariens you are looking at has had regular maintenance(particularly the engine oil changes and spindle lubes) and you can determine and fix what's causing the problem without a huge cost I would consider that Ariens to be a great deal @ $400. If it costs more than a couple hundred bucks to fix the problem I don't know.

Good mower, and probably needs a new belt and a little TLC. Doubt that it is the clutch. Check the deck belt tension (should be tight) and if you can the spindles. To check the spindles is to remove the belt and spin the pulleys by hand, they should spin freely.

Well, as many of these stories go, it was gone by the time I could have gone to go pick it up. If it looks and smells like a deal, it's probably a deal and you need to act fast.

Thanks for the replies.

BustedKnuckles said:

Well, as many of these stories go, it was gone by the time I could have gone to go pick it up. If it looks and smells like a deal, it's probably a deal and you need to act fast.

Thanks for the replies.

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That stinks. It looked like a good mower. Well, there are lots of 'em out there!