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

Greetings:

I'd like some help in ironing out specifics on snowblowers and the components that make them up (and make up their engines). I have collected some data from various places, but it seems that the manufacturers are VERY against disclosing any of the nitty-gritty details about the make-up of the snowblowers (which seems silly). I'd like to limit the thread to high quality construct (meaning at or near comercial grade) 24" or 28" 2010 snowblowers to try to keep things moving forward if possible. I'll start by listed information I've gathered on the two models I am looking at most currently. If you have any confirmed factual information, please post it; but I'd like to try to stay away from unconfirmed opinions or personal experience arguments if possible.

Ariens Platinum 24 (921017)
[Engine: Briggs & Stratton 1150]
- Moderate Fuel Efficiency *F
- Torque: 11.5 ft-lbs (SAE J1940) *WARNING: Class action lawsuit against B&S (and others including Honda) for creating a false standard J1940 to conceal horsepower fraud, so this number has no real-world value. Can anyone get a real number for this please, perhaps in SAE 1349 standard? Honda has corrected their HP/Torque ratings on their website, but B&S hasn't yet.  *D, *E
- Type: OHV *D
- Crankshaft: Ball Bearing  *Snowmann, *slinger

[Gearbox: SX Aluminum]
- Steel Worm Gear *G
- Bronze sleeve bearing *G (for sleeve), *Snowmann (for material)

[Movement: Drive Disc]
- Automatic Traction Control / Quick Turn *C
- Bronze Sleeve Bearing *G

[Auger]
- Serated *C
- Nylon Sleeve Bearing *G
- 14" *C

[Impeller]
- 14" *C

[Accessories]
- Light *C
- 120V Start *C
- Hand Warmer *C

[MSR]
- $1599 *C

Honda (HS724WA)
[Engine: GX200]
- Superior Fuel Efficiency *F
- Torque: 9.1 ft-lbs @ 2,500 rpm (SAE J1349 International Standard) *B
- Type: OHV *B
- Counter-Vibration *B
- Noise Reduction *B
- Crankshaft: Ball Bearing *A

[Gearbox]
- Steel Helical Gears *A
- Steel Ball Bearing *A

[Movement: Hydrostatic]
- Infinitely Variable *A
- Fixed 2wd *A

[Auger]
- Serated *A
- 14" *trouts2

[Impeller]
- 12" *trouts2

[MSR]
- $2299 *A

Notes
- SAE J1349 assumes 15% loss of power to internal friction; in reality, this is just an average and varies per engine (so less internal friction would mean the actual HP is higher) *this can be validated at any site that defines the SAE 1349 standard

Sources
- A : Honda Snowblower Specifications (http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/products/snowblowers/content.aspx?asset=sb_whychoose) (http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/products/modeldetail.aspx?page=modeldetail&section=P2SB&modelname=HS724WA&modelid=HS724WA)
- B: Honda Engine Specifications (http://engines.honda.com/models/model-detail/gx200)
- C: Ariens Specifications (http://www.ariens.com/products_snow/s_deluxe_platinum_group/s_deluxe_platinum_24/Pages/default.aspx)
- D: Briggs & Stratton Specifications (http://www.briggsandstratton.com/engines/other-engines/detail.aspx?series=1150+Series&id=%7BB8CACFAE-E522-4511-88F6-9DA80E1C1ADC%7D)
- E: Class-Action Engine HP Fraud Lawsuit (http://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/Lawnmower_Horsepower_Fraud) *there are many other references, just google
- F: Personally inferred from many (>20) personal forum posts by different owners
- G: Ariens Parts Catalog (http://partsradar.arinet.com/scripts/EmpartISAPI.dll?MF&app=ariens&lang=EN&TF=Empartweb&loginID=ariensc&loginpwd=consumer)

*I can't seem to find the link to the online Honda parts catalog again (it was hard to find and I didn't bookmark it). If anyone finds it, please post the URL

Those seem like very FAIR prices.
Maybe Honda gurus can advise how much play MSRP.% during the offseason.

3 of 3 dealers I called wanted retail. One was $100 off MSRP. YMMV.

Electrocutor wrote:
$1800 is a GOOD deal, never heard of $1600 for a new HS724WA.  What area are you in?  I'd close on the deal before he figures out the mistake. 

These would normally be $2000 around here, and if you haven't spoken for them already, they're sold out by mid November.  Track model sells really fast.  Get it now or put in your order for next year.  When the snow hits the ground, you'd be lucky to find any new ones at MSRP in stock.  Make no mistake, Honda do not over produce to let excess inventory sit around.  My nearest dealer already sold every allocation for 2010 year in the Spring.

Electrocutor wrote:

If you work at $20/hr for 150 hours you could pay someone to clear the snow for you for the next 5 years. You'd be way ahead. Or buy a big box cheapo and put 50 hours into maintenance - you'll be 100 hours and hundreds of dollars ahead.

Bill_H wrote:
I was thinking of exactly the same thing.  You are definitely pragmatic.

Taking that one step further, $20/hr x 150hrs = $3000.  After taxes, take home maybe around $2500?  Give or take a few hundred dollars.

Geez, for $2500, I'd park that Ariens Platinum 24" snowblower in the garage in addition to that Honda 724WA that I was going to buy anyways.  Couldn't make a wrong decisions buying both machines that I was looking at.

only 150 hrs of research?David that is not enough to make an informed decision.Get back to us after you do some more research.Like another 150 hrs lol.

mikiewest wrote:
Doesn't really matter.  It is what it is.

I have no idea what most of you are even talking about. To be frank, the majority of you have been extremely rude to me for no reason and I don't particular appreciate it. I wanted to make an informed decision on what snowblower to buy for a long-term purchase and I have seen many other posts on here where many people (particularly snowmann) have been extremely helpful and given out great deals of information that is helpful to such a decision. Instead of receiving help from most you, I got grief for asking some simple questions.

This was the first and last time I shall ever post here (minus my question about fuel). Good day.