Just took delivery today of the Ariens 926DLE. After inspecting it, this is the e-mail I sent to their customer support : Just purchased an Ariens 926DLE sno thro. To my dismay, the chute does not lock into position when I rotate it. I can get it to rotate but it won't lock in at certain positiions. Was kind of worried I might run into this problem when shop ping for snowblowers a few weeks back. I first looked at the Ariens for sale In Gerlachs garden and power equipment ,only one Ariens in the store had a chute mechanism that worked properly. Then I went down to Miller Brothers and looked at more Ariens sno thros , not one Ariens model in the entire store had a chute rotation mechanism that worked properly. Went back to Gerlachs and was assured the chute mechanism would work properly when adjusted before delivery. Today they delivered it and well... you guessed it. I just want to alert you to what appears to be a very poor design.The whole mechanism seems loose and simply does not work . I expected a much better engineered product from a company as well know as Ariens. I tried a last years model that has a little different chute rotation mechanism and it worked fine . Well , guess my next move is to call Gerlachs tomorrow and see what they say .

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TecumsehPower Company Sells Assets from Engine Business to Certified Parts Corporation Transaction Provides Customers Long-Term Parts, Service and Warranty Support Grafton, WI (February 10, 2009) Â TecumsehPower Company, provider of powertrain solutions to the global outdoor power equipment industry, announced today it has sold certain assets of its Engine Business to Certified Parts Corporation (CPC). Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The transaction announced today includes the sale of existing and unfinished engine parts inventory, tools to make finished product and certain intellectual property assets. CPC will also assume the warranty obligations of the Engine Business. "We have again sought and found a solution that preserves the commitment we made to our customers," said TecumsehPower Company President and CEO Rudolf Strobl. "We are proud to have found a way forward that ensures all warranty obligations are met and provides long-term parts and service support into the future." TecumsehPower will continue to own certain real estate and other assets, and will provide some services to CPC under a transition services agreement for a limited period of time. http://www.certifiedpartscorp.com/

D's This One's for Hosta Geek Phil.

There are so many kind people on this forum. Everyone of you are special, I mean that sincerely! I believe being encouraging, while also being candid is what I needed, thanks! Alana, I need to learn more about the gallicas, damasks and albas. I do love my Bourbons and hybrid perpetuals. I believe Hybrid Musk is a class of roses that is recommended for this area. I don’t currently have any, but have ordered Lavender Lassie and Felicia, anxious to see what they do. Diane, you’ve made me realize something that could be part of the problem. I have thought that burying the graft isn’t necessary here, but I believe it is something I need to do. I might do well to try some of the varieties you’ve mentioned, I definitely admire yours. I do realize our conditions are different though. Seil, interesting that you commented “I always envy your beautiful roses and photos and wish mine looked so lovely!” Just a couple of days ago, I was thinking the same of yours! And I think it was you who has commented before that we show our best on here, which is probably true for the most part. I do always enjoy your beautiful pictures and look forward to them. I do enjoy my roses tremendously. Oklahoma does present many challenges, I don’t want to make those challenges any more difficult by being lax in some areas, which sometimes I think I have a tendency to be.