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

This is a Honda HS621 single stage snowblower.  It is at least 10 years old, I think more like 12 years old.  It had been in good service all these years.  However, most of these years it did not receive the TLC it should have gotten considering the caliber of this machine.  I thought it would only do justice it I to take on the task of making it look beautiful and fully functional again.

Things that were done in the last two years:

1. Auger housing completely stripped down to bare metal.  Primed and painted in black gloss.
   
2. Metal auger repainted also in black gloss
   
3. New set of OEM rubber paddles and augers
4. New OEM drive belt
5. New scraper bar
   
6. Replaced missing or rusted screws and various hardware
7. Repainted red plastic top cover and side belt cover with Krylon Fusion red paint
   

Things to be competed shortly, parts on order:

1. Replace wheels, washer, and cotter pin
2. Replace springs on the chute ratchet
3. Replace chute collar
4. Affix new Honda and warning/caution labels

That should pretty much covers it to bring it to full showroom condition and operational specs.  Total costs of parts ~ $200, $30 in paint supplies, and several nights of work. 

And now here are a few pictures. 

Back again and I really don't mean to be hijacking this thread so if I should start a separate one please let me know.

I spent some more time with the HS621 that I bought for my folks today. Damn thing wouldn't start, go figure. We had set it up against the garage wall when I dropped it off over there so it was sitting on the scoop(?) and I forgot the fuel on! I don't know if this matters or not, but I remembered and phoned my folks a few days later and asked them to make sure the fuel is off so they turned it off. Anyhow, it ran ok when I bought it off the guy with the exception that the choke sticks in the on position. I think the mechanism that returns it is just shot so you have to go under and manually push the lever on the bottom of the carb. So, long story short, I got it to run but it won't stay running without the choke. When I try to dial down the choke it surges. I'm thinking about rebuilding the carb following this video:

Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_eTqL0C3gQ

Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLMeYIHuoIQ&feature=related

Anything I should worry about when attempting this? I'll be ordering the carb kit either from Honda locally or somewhere online.
I bothered to change the oil today and it was black as night, so this thing doesn't look like anyone really took care of it. It runs though so I figure it will run well once it's tuned up. I have little to no experience though so any input from you folks is much appreciated.

Thanks
Steve