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

http://www.yamaha-motor.ca/products/comparison.php?model=3538&model2=3537&model3=3535&

Looks like the most expensive 12hp lists for  5349.oo CA. There are cheaper models in the lineup.

Or the base YU-240 model. :-)

http://www.yamaha-motor.jp/snowthrower/lineup/yu240/index.html

Manual  - http://www.yamaha-motor.jp/snowthrower/manual/pdf/7xk-f8199-j0.pdf

Translated page:

http://babelfish.yahoo.com/translate_url?doit=done&tt=url&intl=1&fr=bf-home&trurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.yamaha-motor.jp%2Fsnowthrower%2Flineup%2Fys1390%2Findex.html&lp=ja_en&btnTrUrl=Translate

The base YU-240 looks pretty interesting.  It has the black plates under the wheels that allow it to glide and float on deep snow without sinking and getting stuck (act like snow shoes or skis).  All this happens while the auger chews way at the snow.  Typical snowblowers would submarine under the snow and get stuck.

I'm not too fond of the color and the graphics on the side.   May appeal to the female demographics.  I'd probably paint it black and red.  :)

I hope these models make their way to the US. 

Here's a video showing how they steer.

http://www.yamaha-motor.jp/snowthrower/detail/popup/0011.html

WOW -  That's one Mutha of a snowblower!!! $ 10G's is alot of $$$ even if comparing it to a Honda HS1132TA. There are folks that would pay that kind of money but not to many (at least that I know of). I can clear my property in about 3 hours if we get an 8"  - 12" storm with my HS624WA. I think that Yamaha YT1232ED would be a bit awkward for  most property owners - looks hard to maneuver plus it's very heavy (540 lbs.). Probably be good for a large, wide open area that does not require a lot of manuevering around walk ways, stairs, etc...

I debated whether to get a larger snowblower (when I moved to my current, much larger property) but when a friend got transferred to North Carolina and offered me his slightly used (5 hours) HS928TA at a very reasonable price, I could not refuse. Looking forward to another good (translation = a lot of snow) New England winter with my new to me Honda HS928TA.