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

FrankMA wrote:
Yeah, I'm starting to think the same way. I'm really impressed with these track machines, and the throughput. One thing I've noticed on the Youtube videos, is the pace at which the operators advance through the snow. It's not only about "throw distance". Very impressive.

I just called a Yamaha dealer, and he has the re-born Yamaha snow-throwers in stock. I may go see one today if time permits. Mind you, he's an hours' drive away. His 928 version sells for $4k, and Yamaha has no financing deals available. Apparently, the Yamahas are very quiet.

If Honda/Yamaha offered financing deals, I'd probably jump in with both feet. As it stands, I'm having a helluva hard time justifying spending $4600 (tax incl), on a HS928T snow thrower, when I could hire someone to do it for me at $400-$500 / season. I guess it just pisses me off that Honda USA is offering deals, and Honda Canada is not. That's the pill I have to swallow, and it's a BIG one. I searched the local "used" market, and nothing came up.

I realize these are "long term" trouble-free machines, but I'm not convinced I'll stay at my present location beyond the next 3-4 years, and that's another major consideration in my selection process.

Ay chance you could go over the border and buy one in the US? I know that I've seen a lot of people from Montreal and Quecbec City and that general area coming down here to buy stuff including cars and campers/RV's/motorcycles.

Hi Steve,

I'm not that far from the border,,, say 1 1/2 hrs to Plattsburgh NY. Problem is, you buy a machine in the US, and my local dealers won't service it, at least for warranty repairs.

Any idea Steve, on what current pricing is like in the US for a HS928TCD? That's the bare-bones version of the 928, with no light' no electric-start, and no electric chute control. I thought I read somewhere, that Honda USA offers financing at very low, or 0% financing. The price here in Quebec is $3399. plus 15.5% tax. That's over $3900. and our dollar is currently fluctuating around par with the greenback.

A 928 with electric start, is $3999 plus tax,,,, $4630.........Insanity.

Mebbe I'm just a tightwad.

drifter wrote:

They do sell the Honda 928TAS I can find out what those cost tommorrow if you like. The dealership is closed now. If you drive down  as far as New Hampshire there is no sales tax. So that would net you a discount of $465 which would buy you a lot of gas. New York has taxes too. For reference it takes me about 5 hours to drive to Montreal if I am not questioned too long at the border. Vermont is closer but has taxes as well. The price direct from Honda is $2,709USD that is for a TA model with no electric Start. The 928TAS with the tracks and electric start is $2,909USD. I had the electric start and found it was useless since it pulls over so easily. Now remember that's retail from Honda. The dealers will probably discount it a bit to make a fast sale. I can give you the name & numbers of dealers around my area but there might be some closer to Vermont. I recall I didn't want the electric start and that's all they had so they discounted $100 off the unit, so I got the electric start for $50.

I guess you have to figure out how many repairs under warranty you will have versus saving about $1,000USD seems like that would cover a lot of repairs tho.

Steve,

I went to see another Honda dealer today, and told him of my plight, and lo and behold, the guy offers me $100. off,,,, and free delivery. It ain't much mind you, but it's a starting point. He'll also throw in the light for free.......... I smell blood.

Another development too;  He has a client who's returning an HS1132 TCD which he bought last winter, because it's too big for him. We had the lightest snowfall on record last year, and the guy barely used it. I'll have more details on that one by Monday, and possibly as early as tomorrow. That machine has a throughput rating of 65 metric-tons per hour. It's a beast. The salesman says it looks brand new, and that I can probably get that machine for roughly $3500, delivered, with full balance of warranty for 1 year. Hmmmmm. The plot thickens.

From there, I went to visit the new Yamaha machines, and they're quite a sight to behold. Their 928 sorta resembles a mini-Zamboni. There's a housing that surrounds the motor and gas-tank. This housing reduces engine noise substantially. VERY quiet machine.

Yamaha has put some really nice small touches on this series. For example, the top of the gas-tank sticks up slightly above the top of the housing, and surrounding the edge of the gas-tank(seam), there is a built-in drip-pan, for catching any fuel that accidentally drips on the machine. The fuel is then diverted to an opening on one side to channel fuel away from the motor, and/or  allow for possible recovery.

Yamaha has also lined the interior of the chute, as well as the impeller housing, with what appears to be Teflon. The pieces are user-replaceable. Simple idea, and a great idea too. The sheets look to be roughly 1/8" thick.

There is also a "pin" on  the left front track drive-wheel shaft, and that pin can be pulled, making the tracks independent. of one another, which allows you to turn the machine easily on a concrete floor. Mind you, the guy had a tough time reinserting that pin.

I also learned some very neat tricks today, for turning the Honda track machines on a concrete floor, with almost no effort. One finger, and voila.  Another cool thing was that the machine easily climbs stairs, in the event that you want to clear a walkway, or a deck. Kewel.

Edit; Oh yeah,  I forgot to mention that the Yamaha dealer claimed that their 928 throws up to 75'.

Well I'd say you are all set as long as the guy returning the 1132 didn't drive it into a big rock. It's a big machine tho and it will handle differently in snow than in a showroom.

It sounds like you have some good options up there and if not you can always buy in the US if you need to. The Yamaha is overkill but looks great. Honda makes a mega machine for Canada that has tracks and can steer them indepentantly, shame it costs like $8,000USD!

Be sure to post whatever unit you end up with. i'm sure you'll love the Honda as long as you don't have a small wife like mine. :)

Will do Steve. I'm still hunting though. I'll use these proposals to try and wangle a bit more of a deal from my local dealer here in town. These guys by the way, claim that they only make $50. profit on a machine, and that if it was up to them, they wouldn't sell them at all.     I was waiting for the guy to try and sell me a bridge in Manhattan.

drifter wrote:

You can be sure they make more than that if Honda does anything resembling typical retail. Also they get service and warranty work so they make money on the back end as well. But like a car dealer you never really know how much is really made on each unit. I never worry about the dealer, if there wasn't money in it they as a dealer wouldn't sell them and as a sales person they'd find another job and clearly neither is doing that.

drifter wrote:

Please elaborate further....

FrankMA wrote:
He walked into the Honda dealer, pointed to the corner in the opposite side of the showroom and said "I would like to see what it looks like over there."