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joed


Joined: Sep 1, 2008
Points: 84

Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive?
Original Message   Dec 24, 2009 9:23 am
I was at a local Honda dealer yesterday and I was stunned by the prices on their snowblowers. In Canadian dollars, they were: 928 wheels: $3000 928 track: $3400 724 track: $3400 1132 track: $3500 I know they have tracks, hydro tranny, honda engines, etc. but they're at least $1000-1500 more than equivalent toro and ariens models. Is it gold, they re making?
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borat


Joined: Nov 10, 2007
Points: 2692

Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive?
Reply #119   Dec 20, 2010 9:40 am
New_Yorker wrote:
You Make a choice, and spend your money.  I could afford the higher quality of the Honda, some people can't.  I thank God for his generosity. I consider the Honda a gift from him.

That's some funny stuff. 

I can afford to own a garage full of Honda snow throwers or anything else for that matter.   Money is not an issue. 

I believe in value.  There's nothing that a Honda will do that my Simplicity can't do other than cost more.  Plain and simple. 

Didn't know that God was in the OPE business?  

My gift from God was the good sense to know when I'm being had. 
New_Yorker


Preach the Gospel always, use words when necessary

Location: Long Island, NY
Joined: Nov 26, 2010
Points: 219

Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive?
Reply #120   Dec 20, 2010 11:24 am
Bill_H wrote:
There's nothing wrong with the friction wheel drive system. Just because you had a problem caused by you abusing your machine and purposely scoring up your drive plate doesn't cancel the fact that hundreds of thousands of other snowblowers and lawnmowers use the same system with no problems.

Ever seen the estimates for a repair on a hydrostatic transmission or tried to get parts for one? It's absurd.


The friction wheel drive is capable enough.  My MTD -Sears Craftsman was admittedly not the best quality.  The friction wheel drive's "Flaw" is the same flaw the tires on your car have when you encouter black ice at 60 MPH.  If the snowblower was used, as it was in my case, to almost always move heavy wet snow, the rubber 'Tire' in the friction wheel became bald, cracked, or had a flat spot because when the machine can't move against the obstackle it encounters, the tires might slip, but with a Track Drive snowblower the tracks never slip, so the rubber Friction Wheel Tires does.  If you knew anything about these machines you'd have realized that is the problem and not that someone who kept the machine for 14 years was abusing it.  If that were true this chaep MTD machine would have died a lot sooner.

As to scuffing the drive plate that the friction wheel must grip, the 1 1/2 inch thik MTD repair shop manual I bought explains when and how to do that.  See we who do not abuse the machinery tend to purchase such expensive manuals so we don't make the mistakes you amateurs do, like ASSuming the drive plate is damaged by a maintenance procedure recommended by the machines manufacturer in their shop manual.

The Honda Hydrostatic Transmission will, based upon the many, many reviews if the HS 928TAS Honda Snowblower that I read Before Purchasing it, Never need repair or replacement in my lifetime.  Had I foolishly bought yet another friction wheel machine the thing would need constant attention and replacement.  Been There, Done That !   On to the better alternative, Honda.

trouts2




Location: Marlboro MA
Joined: Dec 8, 2007
Points: 1328

Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive?
Reply #121   Dec 20, 2010 12:58 pm
  The design flaw in the MTD track was no dash mounted Idiot Light that flashed when over taxing the friction disk with those fine gripping tracks.

  Most people would know to let up on the drive clutch but some would not causing a flat spot on the friction disk.  That would then cause more problems and more rapid wear leading to a spiral of operator discontent. 

 In blizzard conditions one might not notice the blower stopped moving forward so a 6 inch flasher would have been useful.  Worse, in bad conditions the operator might even continue walking right into the dash and rupture his stomach or impale himself on the handlebar ends.  MTD is a cheap machine but you'd think OSHA would have caught this one.  They should have designed a more robust system in place of that stupid friction disk design.  Something like a 2 inch steel chain transfer system that would never slip like a poorly conceived friction disk.  The machine would always go forward no matter the obsticle and crush the bucket which would have been much better at getting the danger away from the operator.    

  To make matters worse MTD has a fuzzy service manual.  It leads many to believe the machine is at fault when being overtaxed and exceeding the design limits.  It mistakingly leads some to believe service is needed when none is needed.  More clarity is needed in the manual to square this point away and inform the servicer that slip is normal when exceeding the design limit. Many have applied the unneeded service and some often therby overly roughing the drive plate surface to the extent that, as hard to believe as it is, wear their friction disk out every year or two.  MTD has shot themselves in the foot on this one and should take care of it.

aa335


Joined: Nov 29, 2008
Points: 2434

Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive?
Reply #122   Dec 20, 2010 4:58 pm
borat wrote:
I believe in value.  There's nothing that a Honda will do that my Simplicity can't do other than cost more.  Plain and simple. 
snowmachine


Location: Washington State
Joined: Nov 12, 2008
Points: 268

Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive?
Reply #123   Dec 21, 2010 8:09 pm
I would only buy one of these in good conscience if I won the lottery but these always get my heart a pattering.


This message was modified Dec 21, 2010 by snowmachine


HTTPs://ouppes.com
aa335


Joined: Nov 29, 2008
Points: 2434

Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive?
Reply #124   Dec 21, 2010 11:56 pm
snowmachine wrote:
I would only buy one of these in good conscience if I won the lottery but these always get my heart a pattering.



Forget the conscience.  :)  That's a nice machine.  For those prices, I was hoping there was a place to sit or stand while operating that thing.  Something like a Toro Dingo.

Again, for those prices, I'd like a yard tractor with front end blower, back end blade, and an enclosed cab with some tunes.  :)
starwarrior


Joined: Oct 27, 2010
Points: 91

Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive?
Reply #125   Dec 22, 2010 1:57 am
aa335 wrote:
Forget the conscience.  :)  That's a nice machine.  For those prices, I was hoping there was a place to sit or stand while operating that thing.  Something like a Toro Dingo.

Again, for those prices, I'd like a yard tractor with front end blower, back end blade, and an enclosed cab with some tunes.  :)



Considering the cost of this machine would'nt  you rather hire 1/2 a dozen laborers to shovel you out for about for about the next 15 years?

Starwarrior

FrankMA


Location: Merrimack Valley/Northeastern Mass
Joined: Jul 1, 2010
Points: 587

Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive?
Reply #126   Dec 22, 2010 6:51 am
aa335 wrote:
Forget the conscience.  :)  That's a nice machine.  For those prices, I was hoping there was a place to sit or stand while operating that thing.  Something like a Toro Dingo.

Again, for those prices, I'd like a yard tractor with front end blower, back end blade, and an enclosed cab with some tunes.  :)

I wish my property was configured in a way that would make it more conducive to a tractor mounted snowblower/blade type set-up. I could make it work for the most part but would still need a walkbehind for certain areas and can't justify the expense (at least at this time). Perhaps one of these days.....

Toro Wheel Horse 522xi GT, Honda HS928TA, Honda HS621AS, Honda HS520A, Toro CCR3000 (work in progress), Honda HS624WA (sold 08/23/2010), Stihl BR550 Backpack Blower, Stihl MS250, McCulloch MS1635, Honda EM6500SX Generator
aa335


Joined: Nov 29, 2008
Points: 2434

Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive?
Reply #127   Dec 22, 2010 8:01 am
starwarrior wrote:
Considering the cost of this machine would'nt  you rather hire 1/2 a dozen laborers to shovel you out for about for about the next 15 years?

Starwarrior



That's a tough one. I do enjoy clearing snow so I'm not sure if I'd pay someone else to do it. Although the thought of having perfectly manicured long winding driveway using only hand shovels by a large labor group is quite appealing. Nice perfectly shaped windrows on the sides.
aa335


Joined: Nov 29, 2008
Points: 2434

Re: Why are Honda snowblowers so expensive?
Reply #128   Dec 22, 2010 8:13 am
FrankMA wrote:
I wish my property was configured in a way that would make it more conducive to a tractor mounted snowblower/blade type set-up. I could make it work for the most part but would still need a walkbehind for certain areas and can't justify the expense (at least at this time). Perhaps one of these days.....


There isn't one tool perfect for all jobs. Unless all you have on the property is a large parking lot. I would not give up any walkbehind equipment for home use. But having a tractor set up is fun, some times you want to blow snow, some times you want to plow.
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