Stens Improves its Online Fits Model Search

With Stens' new and improved fits model search, you will have access to a database of parts fitting over 320,000 equipment applications, 30,000 models and 190 brands! You can find replacement parts for particular equipment applications by simply entering a model number into our database. With each search, you will find the parts Stens carries for each equipment model. It's that easy!

To access our fits model search, visit http://www.stens.com/ and log-in using your DealerNet username and password. Once you are logged in, click on the "Search by Model" tab. You can then search using the equipment type, brand name and model number categories. For more information, you can call your Stens representative at (800) 457-7444.

Ariens Snow Thrower Used to Put Out Fire

On the evening of February 7, Steve Liubakka enlisted the help of his son-in-law's Ariens snow thrower to help put out a fire in his neighbor's house. His quick, and uniquely unconventional, thinking has garnered the attention of the media as well as members of the outdoor power equipment industry. To reward Liubakka for his help and creativity, Dan Ariens, President & CEO of Ariens Company, presented him with a brand new Ariens Pro 32 Sno-Thro on February 15. The new Pro 32 Sno-Thro replaces Liubakka's current 36 year old Ariens snow thrower. However, he intends to use the older model as long as it will run before making the switch to the new machine.

"The story really seemed to resonate with customers. They were impressed with Mr. Liubakka's quick response and wanted to be sure we were aware of it," says Dan Ariens. He continues, "we felt he deserved some sort of recognition for his resourcefulness. Replacing his old snow thrower with a new Ariens Sno-Thro just seemed fitting."

To read more on the story, click here.

Countax Runningblade Mower Temporarily Holds Title for World's Fastest Lawn Mower

In May of 2010, Don Wales' Countax Runningblade mower held the record for World's Fastest Lawn Mower at 86.069 mph. The title has since been won back by Bobby Cleveland that following September, however, check out the Project Runningblade video here. Countax is an Ariens affiliate located in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom.

EPA Ruling Excludes Small Engines for E15 Blend

On Wednesday, October 13, the Environmental Protection Agency approved the use of E15 blended fuels in 2007 and newer automotive models. The agency has not yet included older models or small engines in the ruling. The current ethanol/gas blend allowed in outdoor power equipment and other small engines is 10%. Many members of our industry are concerned that the E15 fuel will find its way into small engines over time.

What are your thoughts on how the OPE industry will be affected by this? Do you think the industry may someday be included in a future EPA approval of E15 fuel blends?

Stens Employee Appreciation Lunch

On Thursday, July 22, Stens' employees joined together to celebrate the closing of our 2009-10 fiscal year. They enjoyed an afternoon of grilling, volleyball, cornhole and card games. We want to thank our employees for their hard work and our customers for their loyalty in making this year a true success. To see our photo album, click here.

What You Need to Know About Ethanol Fuel

Be cautious of the problems that can be caused by using ethanol fuel in your gas-powered outdoor power equipment. As ethanol fuel becomes increasingly more prominent in our industry, it is important that the risks it creates be addressed and understood. Take a look at the attached Ethanol 101 informational piece to read about some of the most common issues.

Reduce Your Carbon Footprint with a Healthy Lawn

OPEI has made notable efforts in studying the effects of a healthy lawn on the environment and its ability to lower your overall carbon footprint. Grass possesses the ability to capture water run-off, dust and carbon. In fact, a properly maintained lawn can sequester a large amount of carbon, up to four times the amount produced by today’s lawn equipment. This has tremendous ability to reduce your carbon footprint and increase your positive effect on the environment as a whole. Equally important to properly cutting your lawn and leaving the clippings behind to increase carbon absorption, you must optimize your watering system by using the right plants for your location. Various turf grasses and ornamentals are better suited for different climate zones, so choose accordingly. This will allow you the most efficient water usage. To further increase turf’s ability to absorb carbon and battle other harmful elements, the following tips can be a good starting point.

• Mow your lawn at higher cutting heights.
• Keep your lawn mowers in good shape - perform routine tune-ups and maintenance.
• Use sharp lawn mower blades, otherwise there is risk of turf disease and damage.
• Water your lawn in the morning. This reduces the sun’s ability to absorb the moisture intended for the roots.

For more information, OPEI’s study is available here.