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

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?

I have not had much luck finding 3 year old snowblowers for sale.

Most from the days of old and some quite worn out but newer units are generally handed down or sold to neighbors rather than sold online. A rare and lucky find if you act fast.

I do disagree also, If price were not an issue, snow removal efforts would be contracted to a dedicated service rather than a cold weather exercise routine for the cousin Eddie's of the world.

I am as motivated and enthusiastic as anyone just to get out there and enjoy the briskness of a snowfall but after the first storm or so, unless there is an absence of brain activity the fun part of a snow storm is dedicated to snowball fights, ski enthusiasts, sleighs, igloos, and snow angels, not shoveling snow.

In respect to worn out engines Trouts2,  a 10 year old unit amounts to nothing in terms of operating hours for the average homeowner regardless of where they live.

These engines can handle thousands of operating hours, if they are maintained properly.

Starwarrior

p.s.      Ask our midwestern friends how much fun they are having this year.

starwarrior wrote:

My experience is the engines are the most reliable parts of the snowblower.

What I had to replace:

1) Cables

2) Springs

3) The bolts that held the handle to the body (sheared off after 13 years of muscling the thing around. Great fun getting them out mid-snowstorm

4) Plastic drive wheels

5) Friction wheels overheating after 5-6 hours of continuous use (we could argue if I exceeded the design characteristics of the the drivetrain and I'll accept your judgement either way).

What I did not have a problem with was belts. The MTD had dual auger belts and although I replaced them ever few years, they were still good. The mechanism inside was built to last longer than me. The core of the MTD was rock solid, but the little doo-dads that attached and made the thing functional were a problem.

trouts2 wrote:

Hey Trouts2,

I am surely looking forward to making a comparison. Not only the difference in how much better (or worse) the new one will eat and spit out the the snow but also how it handles.

I really was extremely satisfied with the MTD Track manuverability and quite honestly after 14 years of service, the machine doesn't owe me a dime.

A unit that was built 14 years ago offshore would genrally not stand up to the domestic heavyweights but let me tell you, this MTD really did hold it's own.

I will surely keep you all posted. All we need now is snow here in New Jersey so I can report a real assesment.

Starwarrior

P.S.

Merry Christmas  ~~~ >)))'> ~~~  >)))'> ~~~  >)))'> 

starwarrior wrote:

I think Hondas are made overseas ;)

That said, after I get some snow here in MD, I will post a full report comparing and contrasting.

My only reference point is my son who looked it over and said "Whoa, dad, this thing is built like a tank compared to the last one".

tkrotchko wrote:

Yea and they burn rice. Honda was no doubt the exception to the rule.

They wrote the book on precision machines way back and raised the bar on the entire yard equipment industry.

Yamaha has some pretty impressive machines on the market also.

Ok so you have a manual automatic model too. That one is better than all the snowblowers in existance.  LOL

We do need a reference, They have forcasted the possibility Sunday night into Monday. So far in Central Jersey we have had a total of 1" which wasn't worthy of even firing it up.

It will happen and when it does we are without a doubt both locked and loaded.

Have a nice Holiday

Starwarrior

 

starwarrior wrote:

To you too. Its nice chatting with you guys.

joed wrote:

Honda Snowblowers are just the best quality, and when has " The BEST " ever been cheap ?  Buy 1 machine that will last you a lifetime, the HONDA HS snowblower !

New_Yorker wrote:
Is this your first Honda?  Have you even used it yet?

By the way, from looking at what Yamaha has to offer, I'd say they are likely superior to Honda. 

That would be my choice if I were in the mood to spend money needlessly.

borat wrote:

Yes my first Honda Snowblower, BUT . . . my next door neighbor works for the town, and uses the Honda Machines the Town bought, mainly because the John Deere and Ariens brand snowblowers broke down too often.  I have seen the reliability, power, and longevity first hand, hence my decision to pay the higher price for the best machine.

Yamaha Snow blowers would have been a consideraton if they could be purchased anywhere near New York City, Long Island Metro area.  My Yamaha dealer sells motorcycles and snowmobiles but no snowblowers.

The hydrostatic Transmission on the Honda that replaces the maintenance needy and very unreliable friction wheel system alone is worth the higher cost.  I would never buy another frriction disc snowblower no matter how cheap they are.

You have to look at the full product line of snowblowers available outside of North America and compare. Honda looks shabby because HoA chose to decaffeinate products sold in US.