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

After shovelling 8-10 hrs. a day last year I swore to get a good snowblower.

Decided on the Honda HS928 without seeing one first hand.  My first impression

is that it's a bit short for most Americans who are tend to be taller than people

from other parts of the world.  I also thought some simple design aspects were

overlooked.  Mainly no tie down plates so you can transport the blower to other

places.  Considering this model is a commercial grade you'd think they'd have

thought of it.

The machine is difficult to maneuver without the engine running.  I'm thinking a

set of "training wheels" might do wonders for a tracked machine.  A kick plate

that would flip some wheels down to turn it around would have been one way

to solve the problem.  I also thought there should be a way to steer by braking or

even reversing either track like a tank.  Even a way to shift either track into neutral

would make steering pretty nice.  (I used to drive VW Beetles that I had equipped

with a JC Whitney dual lever parking brake adapter that would allow the driver to

pull on either handle to brake rear drive wheel. The other wheel would push

the car in the direction of the wheel that was being held with the handle.  It used

the braked wheel as a pivot enabling you to steer with the front wheels and the

one rear wheel.)  

I still think my choice was good.  I had purchased a used Honda Weed Trimmer

(UMK 431) last summer and was very impressed with the quality (other than the

stupid design of the line spool which I substitued with an aftermarket design that

uses short peices of line (about 9") stuck into three tabs (I spray a bit of wd-40 into

the holes to make feeding the line peices easier).  I also purchased an older Honda

Van (2001) and was also impressed with the design and reliability.  Have ridden a Honda

Scooter for past 5 years with no complaints there either (it's the PS-250 Big Ruckus).

I was a bit disappointed with the dealer's instructions (failed to mention the fuel shutoff

which I think is VERY important) and I didn't see any grease on parts such as the chute

directional control, etc. 

If you have electric start use an extention cord, depress the drive lever, hit the start button and the machine will move.

I used this when my blower quit running some distance from my garage. I let the starter cool down a bit after about 10 feet

to be on the safe side. Also handy when in storage with no gas in it, but has to have oil as the engine turns over.

Hope this helps, I remembered starting an old 55 Ford standard trans. in gear( drove Automatic earlier)

 and it jumped ahead, same principle for the

blower.