If you want something that will do the job all the time, not just some of the time, I'd step up to an 8HP machine. Even my Ariens 824 has some trouble with compacted snowplow piles. You are correct in your thinking, but I don't know if that compact 2-stage is really any better than a good single stage (like a Toro Snow Commander) for plow piles. It's pretty small. To get through compacted piles of snow you good size tires and a fair amount of weight to make use of them. Although the bigger machines seem a lot larger, the actual space taken up is not that big of a difference. Get the tape measure out before you make a decision. I don't know your exact snow conditions so that's about all I can say. A local shop (not Home Depot) may be able to give you better insight. But if the snow piles are often higher than 2', I'd get something bigger. If not, you will probably be OK.

Thank you..I've done the coat hanger thing..that didn't do it, I'm somewhat nervous about having the tank upside down trying to get the thing out of there as though I drained the tank, there still seems to be little drops of gas coming out of the tank, which I'd prefer not to get in the ol' eyes. I suggested to my lovely financial advisor yesterday that looooooooong needle nose pliers were the way to go but she advised against it due to the cost..but...I'll go that route and see what happens..with them I can grip the edge of that darned gasket and hopefully pull it out of the tank. I think spending a day and a half on this is enough, thank you. Jim

Awesom-O. Fixed. Thank you. Our blower is a fourteen-year-old Craftsman 9 HP 29 inch dual stage model 536.887990. The two roll/spring pins are only 1/4". I initially grabbed 5/16" and they were too large for this machine. The process: I tilted the unit back onto a box and used a 24" long 1/4" steel rod turned down ten thousandths at one end. I had a clean shot through the discharge chute. I just needed to remove the spark plug wire, slip thin allen keys through the broken pins trapped inside the shaft, clamp the auger clutch down, and gently pull the starter rope until the holes with the broken pins inside lined up through the chute. I removed one allen key, placed the steel rod through the chute and into the opening on the impeller and shaft, sprayed lots of WD-40 and hammered away until the first rusty, broken pin popped out. The hard part is knocking out this first pin. Don't be shy, just make sure you're lined-up and bang away. Then I tapped a new roll pin into alignment, fed a wider steel rod through the shoot and duct taped it to the end of the new pin. I lubed up the pin and hammered it into place with about ten good shots. Then I did the next hole the same way. The second one took less time and effort because it was in perfect alignment. Worked like a charm. Thanks. Tip: Face the sad truth, if you've read through this thread the remnants of two hollow spring pins are stuck inside your impeller shaft. I think it's odd that this older 29" machine uses smaller roll/spring pins and wanted to let everyone know. Thank you all for helping me.

dynamike59 Just for the fun of it, I called Ariens Tech Support to ask why the handles were changed from being below the grip to above the grip. The person I spoke with said that was done back in the 70's before his time, and never thought about it. I then told him what Ariens said to me about what would happen if you lifted up the machine from the front with the engine running and the handles were below the grips. Before I could continue, he came right back and said it would probably activate both the auger and the forward motion, resulting in a real safety problem. I then described my experience where when I was going up a steep driveway and made the mistake of letting the left (Drive) handle snap up, not realizing the drive would go into freewheeling, pushing me backwards down the driveway to the street. His suggestion was that I should have turned the machine at a right angle to the hill before releasing the drive handle (which I learned real quick). Based on our conversation, there was no doubt in his mind that having the handles facing up is much safer than down, in the event someone picks up the auger by the front with the engine running. I know my engine runs fine tipped up on the grips. I did not do this with the intension of sticking my hand in the auger area. I was looking at something else at the time. I also tipped the auger up from the grip end, and was not standing in front of the machine. When Ariens told me about the safety issue with the handles facing down, I could just picture what it would be like if someone were standing in front of the machine, and lifted it up by the auger frame with the engine running. It would be like being attacked by a wild animal. This is why I remember so vividly about what Ariens told me. Take care, and let the readers beware. Charles Ranheim