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

Preface: I've have has a HS520. Due to space contraints, etc - I'm not looking at 2 stage. Single stage for the most part is a perfect fit just short of....living on the right side and the plows only plow to the right so I cam constantly getting plowed in... Throw is fine already on the HS520. I was only curios does the 421/221 or even any current models on the market may have a bit more bite on the EOD/overnight plowed snow...

You do have a single stage, also known as a shovel. :) I got 4 of them. 2 for me, 2 for the kids. :)

Regarding the original topic, I'd have to say this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5UynKisAuQ  16HP, 900 RPM 48" auger

The HS621 is indeed a little pitbull. It's been awhiles since I've used a 520 so it's not a benchmark, but it does seems to make a snouty grunt when it needs the torque.
Throw does not appear to be as far as the 520. Methinks after she get's a little dry, I'll pull the cover off, remove the tensioner pulley and pull the seal , solvent and repack the bearings. I want minimum drivetrain loss off the drive pulley

Chefwong,

I hope that effort can get you another foot of throwing distance.  :)  If that much.  You can try to cross drill the driven pulley to save some weight.  There's some engine mods that the karting people do to get more power if you want to go that route. 

Seriously, the newer HS520 will naturally throw snow further than the old HS621.  The whole power delivery assembly has been lightened and has less rotational mass.  Honda switched to the flat belt, lightened up the auger assembly quite significantly. 

The GX160 engine on the HS621 is a gem.  That engine loves to be loaded up and keeps on pulling.  I have the larger GX340 engine on the two stage snowblower and it is the same way.

I shouldn't have flipped that 2 stager but it was more like a poney rather than a horse.

I've yet to tackle the driveway yet as plows have not even plowed our street, so it's a futile effort as the EOD will merrily come and wall me in.

The biggest difference I did notice was while throw is less, it NEVER stalled out on me, whereas with the 520, with the stuff I have done today, it would have easily stalled numerous times...
Go figure. I recall reading the torque specs between the 2 engines and the #'s were not that far off between each other. Nevertheless, I was quite surprised this little red pony did not stall once when tackling 2 foot high snow today. It just got annoying constantly clearing the jammed chute but I bid my own poison without the 2 stager. No regrets though cause I do feel the power was lacking ...for a big heavy metal impeller/auger...

Are you keeping the 621 or flipping it? 

Not, until something more enticing comes along....
Saw a blurb on a Sno Tek 200CC - http://www.ariens.com/products_snow/sno_tek/single-stage/Pages/default.aspx

For flat pavement, I have always like the singles.
it's a much better dance partner .

That Yammy sure is enticing...
School is back in session tomorrow, and I need to freshen up on my customs import duty knowledge.

chefwong wrote:
What model?

'ole blue 928. I learned my lessons a couple times on impulse overseas buying....
I was on a Hazet and Stahwille frenzy once and ordered a boatload of wrenches. Unbeknowingst to me, I got hit with quite a but of customs ontop..

What if you take the old one in and trade it  so one snowblower goes into Canada and out with a Yamaha into USA?  I am not an international tax lawyer (I only represent injured people who were harmed by high power and expansive snowblowers) so this idea probably has many holes and incorrect assumptions.