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

I'm looking to order a Honda HS928TA (recoil only) snowblower in mid April so I'm guaranteed to get one in late summer/early fall, but have no dealers on Long Island that have anything in stock, so I could see the physical size of this machine.

So forum members, any additional thoughts on this machine?  I have searched various threads and there are many people suggesting the HS928 over the HS724, basically because of the limited hp on the HS724.

I currently have a Ariens 624 for the last 5 years, good machine, served it's purpose, but looking to take it to the next level.  My biggest issue with the Ariens is the EOD issue, not easy but it does it job, now looking for something that won't have an issue. 

I would like to see the machine before placing a down payment, but these snowblower are very rare on Long Island (track version) and all dealers claim this is a special order unit, they don't stock them.

So I guess its my imagination that the tecumseh engine after 7 yrs has needed no work hmmmm.

mikiewest wrote:
Pot calling the kettle black?

No manufacturers is going to recall a car because the transmission is bullet proof .    DUH   It just makes sense. 

Get your story straight before you put your mouth in gear.

mikiewest wrote:
I like to see how this is possible.  Or are you just talking trailer park hillbilly nonsense?

mikiewest wrote:
Well, based on what recently has transpired, I say you are right again.  :)

mikiewest wrote:
Yes the Toro clogged twice in wet heavy slushy snow more slush than snow really. This in my book doesn't make the Honda bad, it was a great machine. True I prefer the Toro for various reasons like the fact that my wife can use the Toro and the joystick for the chute is really sweet to use. I don't think it's inferior to the Honda. The Honda has a great transmission and a really great engine. The tracks are amazing as well. I think the way the chute works is lackluster but no doubt it's bulletproof. Honda typically is lower tech than their competitors. They tend to focus on reliability. If my 928TAS had dual skid steer on the tracks I would have kept it. I own 2 Honda cars right now, but I've owned many other makes over the years. I think the Honda is a great machine, yes I think it's priced too high for what you get. But in my mind the top of the line Toro, Simplicty, Ariens and Hondas are all pretty damn good and while I personally picked Toro that doesn't mean the other brands are crap. Clogging twice isn't a big deal in my book especially on a new machine. I'm not taking sides. I just want to be clear about my opinion. Lots of opinons out there. Porsche, Ferrari, Lambo all get compared, at the end of the day you buy what you ultimately prefer for your own use.    Peace

foot in mouth??u do need hooked on phonics.Thats my point.Honda products r not the best.I'd rather have a tranny that didnt need recalling.Yea u can give Honda kudos for the recall but Im not happy that my tranny was slipping at 3o,ooo miles.But here come the loonies if u say honda snowblowers or cars arent the best.LOL....Any comment on that great company Toyota??Plenty of Honda rust buckets for sale on e bay.....oh yea thats right honda snow blowers dont rust....they just fade away hehehe...

mikiewest wrote:

I didn't say only Honda's are well built.  I said they were better built.  For an extra grand it may not be worth it to some folks and I can understand that, but its really like comparing a 1/2 ton to a 1 ton, or a gasoline to a diesel engine.  Sure, they both may get you there but its not the same animal. I like the older, pre-cheap Simplicity machines.  I liked them before they pulled the same crap Ariens did: Making two brands and cannabalizing more and more of itself.    I also had a Toro single stage that was great in just about everything.  I beat the tar out of it and it still came back for more, but that was 20 years ago and they've gotten cheaper just like everything else.  Ariens snowblowers (even the pro) are 3 year throw away machines.  You can get 20 years out of a snow shovel if its just you and your driveway, but if you plan on making money with one you'd better by two, because one is going to get fixed while the other one is running.  At least that way you'll always have the spare parts your going to need when that ugly orange beast shakes itself apart Given the opportunity in a robot war I have no doubt my Honda trac would be able to crush 10 zillion other snowblowers of all makes and models into shivering puddles of liquid piss.   Yeah, that's right.

My experience with snowblowers is from my own personal use, but also as a tech for a service company I talk with dozens of property managers all over New England.  Hospitals, colleges, entire school districts, I've probably got 30 maint. manager's phone #s on my cell phone.  Over the course of a Winter the topic of snow removal comes up.  Nobody is buying Ariens anymore.  In 10 years I've seen it go from 100% Ariens to 80% Torro/Simplicity.   The word is out my friend.  Ariens is junk.   I was waking through the boiler room of one hospital in Vt and saw 2 shiny new Hondas and remarked about it.  The answer I got was they can do more work with 2 Hondas than 3 of the other, so you only have to pay 2 people instead of 3!  This place gets a lot of snow. 

I'd bet money the Honda won't clog next to anything else, but if your going to compare two snowblowers you're going to have to own two snowblowers at the same time, because every storm is a different  condition.  I have done this more than once, because I replace mine before I sell the old one.  Honda's are in their own class.

Mikie refuses to understand reason.  He insists that Honda snowblowers are overrated and overpriced because he owns a Honda Accord.  Having not the opportunity of using a Honda snowblower, he insists that his Simp Pro with steel "nice and thick" as his head is far superior.

Well, I've put on my rain coat and will now cautiously wade into this pi$$ fight. 

Honda is probably the best snow thrower out there.  Yamaha may be better.  We'll have to see how they prove themselves when they get to these shores.   Both are not worth the extra money if getting the job done is the sole requirement.  People spend money on what they can afford (usually moderately priced or inexpensive) or what they want (often over priced).  It's the individual's choice.  If a person is buying a Honda comparable to an equivalent leading domestic brand just to get his driveway done much quicker, well, he may be in for a disappointment.  A well maintained leading domestic brand will get the job done just as efficiently as the Honda. 

I know that some might not think that this is a fair comparison but my 928 Simplicity will out work the neighbour's 724 Honda without breaking a sweat.  Not the same machines for sure but let's not forget that I paid $1500.00 all in.  He paid $3200.00 plus 13% taxes.   So, if one has the wherewithal to afford a Honda, have at it.  I could have a garage full of anything I want.  However, that's not the way I'm put together.   I'm much like what I buy.  Not flashy or glamorous.  I get the job done just as well as the next guy usually at considerably less cost.   I take a great deal of pride in that.

As for the Toyota baiting,  I'll say this, risking the ire of some participants.  If Toyota did not build cars in North America, they would not be seeing the problems they are today.   I say this because it appears that Toyota have begun to slide down the slippery slope that got the domestic brands into trouble.   That is, taking the short cut to the profits.  The components involved in the accelerator recall were manufactured where?  Toronto.  My wife's 2007 Camry's accelerator assembly was built by Denso in Japan.  No recall on that.    My 1996 Toyota T100 was built in Japan.   I have not spent one dime on repairs in over fourteen years.  I've spent money on maintenance of usual wear items but not a cent on repairs.   When I buy a Toyota, I open the door to read where it's built.  If it isn't built in Japan, I'm not buying it.  Period.  So, I'll be taking real good care of my T100.  That's for sure.  Otherwise, I'll pay a premium to have a Japanese built vehicle shipped to me. 

I'm confident that Toyota are going through some serious self-ass-kicking right now.  If they have any sense of history and pride, which they do, they will not only recover from these serious errors in judgment, they will pull up their socks and raise the auto manufacturing bar to new levels of quality.   If they don't, I'll be sorely disappointed.      

$3200 for a 724 Honda?   Yowsers.  I'd bet that's a $1700 machine tops.