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

I was at a local Honda dealer yesterday and I was stunned by the prices on their snowblowers. In Canadian dollars, they were: 928 wheels: $3000 928 track: $3400 724 track: $3400 1132 track: $3500 I know they have tracks, hydro tranny, honda engines, etc. but they're at least $1000-1500 more than equivalent toro and ariens models. Is it gold, they re making?

Here is a picture from our driveway....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/parquin/4252110386/

We have over a kilometre of driveway with hille that are a challenge to a 4wd but it is no problem to this toy m

mikemilton wrote:

Is that the Honda HSM1590i? It sure looks like it. I didn't think they made those any more. No doubt with skid steer on the treads it would be a breeze to turn. That's also a hybrid engine as well right?

I bet it weighs a ton, but probably moves snow with authority!

&lt;BR&gt;<BR> Steve_Cebu wrote: &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

It is actually the 1336i (which is current). It will turn about its own center (with the tracks moving in opposite directions).
The motor is gas only but the drive is 2 24V motors (one for each track) which the the 'hybrid' part. and it is about 500lbs.
One can move it out of the garage on electric only and start it outdoors (no fumes)
It throws snow at least 50' and is rated to move 90 tons per hour.
The drive adjusts to the snow load automatically The auger height is powered (and adjustable on the fly).

All very nice but *not* cheap

here is a link to the dealer page:

http://www.honda.ca/HPower/Models/ModelOverview?L=E&amp;Type=SnowBlowers&amp;Series=HSM1336&amp;Model=HSM1336iC

Wow! Up to 62 foot throwing distance. http://tinyurl.com/ydtb7rm

mikemilton wrote:

I see it's a Canadian only model. But $8,300CDN is far away from being cheap. Love the fact that it has tracks that allow it to turn, too bad Honda only uses that system on their highest model.

Very impressive machine you have there!

Mikemilton, with a kilometer of driveway to walk, you may want to adopt this fellow's idea;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaMZxymdaHI

Maybe some old skis attached to the bottom of a tall bar stool!!!

Cheers

priceless... add a chair and a drink holder and you are done

Thanks, m

The 2010 price difference between HS724WA and HS928WA is only $200.  Essentially you are paying $200 more for additional 2HP and 4" width.  The 6.5 HP is okay for most scenarios but can be taxing when the snow is deep (i.e., EOD), which was the primary reason for switching to HS928WAS.  If the dealer had HS928WA in stock, I would have bought that in the first place instead of HS724WA but it only had 928WAS in stock and was $400 more compared to 724WA.   So for $400, you are getting additional 2hp, 4" width, electric start and a gas gauge.  One thing I miss about HS724 is its super quietness as the HS928 is a bit louder (it is a relative comparison).  However, HS928 has not given me any impression it is ever taxed or lacked power so it was an appropriate upgrade.  Turning with my 928WAS is getting easier and quicker so hopefully it will be much easier in Jan 2011.  I am also doing weights to compliment my 125LB body.  I do like the way Honda is built and made when I compare its construction against similar Toro and Ariens models. Paying $2400 for a new HS928WAS is not an easy feeling but then again operating a snowblower you always wanted is priceless.

Why Not?

Lets just look at the engine. American companies are only interested in manufacturing cheap junk. 

Briggs engines blocks are made of pot metal cheese and Techumseh is no longer in existance. Briggs does have a line of cast engine blocks, mostly for their performance product line and costs 3 times more that a Honda engine. ( Don't expect to see them on a consumer product any time soon)

Buy for resale products hold about 98% of the market and these companies are only interested in manufacturing their products as cheap as they possibly can. The few exceptions are companies like Honda who manufacture precision engineered machines and manufacturing costs are simply alot higher.

There is a big difference between pot metal castings and T6061 machined aluminum housings both in price and in quality.

Starwarrior

[starwarrior]  -   "Lets just look at the engine. American companies are only interested in manufacturing cheap junk. "

WOW !