Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

I have a 1970's John Deere 732 that I bought it used as my first snowblower and it really doesn't throw snow very well.  Thanks to this forum I have purchased the impeller kit from Clarence small engine and waiting to receive it and put it on.    However, in the mean time, I saw this Honda HS828S for sale for $350.    According to the ad, it is in VERY GOOD condition but has not been started in 3 years and the gas will need to be drained  and replace before starting.    Couple of questions for you experts:

1.  What year do you think this is?

2.  Is this a good unit and a good deal?

3.  Would you recommend bringing gas with me and try to start it before I buy it?

DNK1,

Here it is for the impeller kit:                             http:/smllengns.tripod.com/

I can not get the link system to work!!

                                                                     Fred

                                                        

DNK1 wrote:

Well we finally got a little snow yesterday, about 3 inches.  I took the old JD 732 out with the new impeller kit and WOW!!  It was a very wet, heavy 3 inches and that tired old 732 through that heavy snow over 25 feet!   No problem at the end of the driveyway either, just ran right through it.  Yeah baby!!!  Now I can run right down the middle of my driveway and shoot the snow over the bank on the other side.  Prior to that, it show snow about 4 feet and then I had to shoot it again.    Also, it never clogged once.  Before it would clog and die all the time.    I am very pleased!!!!!

Okay, another question.  My shoot is totally rusted on the inside.   If I spray it with silicone spray will that help the performance even more?  Or should I try and paint it with a high gloss paint first and then spray with silicone?  I am guessing the paint would just peel right off. 

Thanks again to this forum for saving me some big $$$$.   Instead of dropping $1k on a brand new snowblower, I spent $30 on the impeller kit and have a new machine!

Catfish,

Glad to hear that the "Impeller Kit"  helped!!

This summer, take the chute off, sand to bare metal.

Then prime and paint with a 2 part Epoxy marine paint.

At least 2 finish coats!!

West Marine sells the primer and finish paint.

bwcafishing wrote:
On these two (1970 and 1995) I stripped and cleaned them, used rust neutralizer (Duro Extend) then spray can primer and Duplicolor engine enamal, which is $3.75 per can and happens to match Ariens orange. I did it in the suummer so I could do plenty of prep and have warm temps to apply since I don't have a booth or anything. They've only been used an hour or so this season but seem to be holding up OK. Both the blower housings and chutes were repainted.

Don't use silicone spray if you're going to repaint. It's very difficult to remove to get good adhestion.

I use silicone spray in hard-to-reach areas but find that auto wax, ski wax or a candle lasts longer in that area. Depending on the chute and what you are picking up (like road sand) they're all going to get beat up over time.
There are some guys that line the inside of their chutes with HDPE (High Density Polyethylene, the type of material used in cutting boards and some flexible sleds) and find that holds up better and helps a bit wit hthrowing distance. I tried it last season and didn't note any difference.