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

Many times before i can get out to snow blow, many cars pack it down trying to go by. My Ariens does a good job with the wet snow. The hard packed snow / ice it just rides over. This year I put a 25 lb weight on my bucket and will give it a try.  My blower is a 924108.
   I here  that Honda snow blowers don't have a problem with packed snow or ice. IS THIS TRUE???  My ARIENS does nothing but ride over it.  I have to chop a the ice and throw it myself. I'm trying to void buying a tractor. I sometimes get 2-3 " of ice . It will be freaking outstanding if I can get A snow blower to grind ice and throw it. I have to remove the snow from my own street . The city my take a week to get to me. It is about  1000 feet to main road. My Ariens 924108 Has treated me well. I am looking for a better solution to my ice problem.

Honda tracked snowblower can point the bucket down and put the serrated auger right on the ice surface to grind away the ice or packed snow. This is the scraping mode. It can be done but I rarely use it that way, too abusive to the snowblower. It can ride up on the mound of ice or packed snow if it going faster than it can chip away the ice/snow.

I have an HS928 that is in top condition. When I use the kick pedal to raise and push all the weight of the machine onto the front scraper blade, the blower will nose down through hard backed snow at the end of the driveway. If the snow is not frozen solid to the pavement it will chisel its way down under and pop the hard pack loose. But I only need to do this at the very end of my driveway.  I would never expect the blower to endure this abuse for 1000 feet. 

Consider yourself fortunate.

 I have been wanting a plow for years but I cannot justify it.  Good used tractors hold their value almost forever. A nice 3 cyclinder 4wd diesel Yanmar or old rusted out plow truck should do the job. I am envious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YUoZPptB0Y

I'd like to add that the Honda auger have very sharp teeth with kerfs similar to a wood saw that maybe unique compared to other snowblowers out there. 

You have to use rear skid plates instead of the side skid plates for this ice chipping / scraping mode to work properly.  It is very abusive to the snowblower to use it in this fashion and potential damage to driveway and/or your snowblower is greatly increased.  Be alert and mindful to stop the auger before it  cut past the ice and start chipping away at your concrete or asphalt driveway.  A little light pressure contact between the auger and concrete is harmless will only sharpen the blades, heavy pressure and prolonged contact will grind away your driveway and wear away the auger.  Been there done that.  :)

This ice chipping/scraping mode is unique to Honda track snowblower.  Set the forward ground speed to a crawl at about 10 inch per minute and will burrow a through hard pack like a gopher.  Wheeled snowblower will climb over hard pack in the same situation no matter how much weight you put in front.  The side skid plates will ride on the ice/snow that is not cleared by the auger.