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

Hello everyone! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.

I'm ready for our first BLIZZARD of the year!

My honda and snapper are ready to rock and roll!!!

Sunday, December 26th, the overnight saw no snow on Long Island, and the morning has seen only a light drizzle, and occasional flurry, but it just now began to snow in earnest on the east end of Long Island, it's 9:30 AM. The snow is steady but fine, not particularly heavy as yet.   The 'ahem, pardon the term, "Forecast" last night, 12 hours ago called for snow overnight for these Zip codes, snow accumulation, Bupkis !   If one views the radar the storm track has 1/3 of the storms mass past us and already out to sea, so we'll get about 2/3 of what was predicted would be My Weather Guess.   NY City will probably be spared about half the storm which is soon going to be centered off the Coast of New Jersey.

According to accuweather.com, NYC and the surrounding area is still on tap to be socked by this Nor'eastern.  I don't even think its a question at this point, when the NWS issues a winter storm/blizzard warning...snow is coming.

Up here in NH currently the land of "No Show Snow" we are predicted to get about 10 - 16 inches. from Sunday Night through Monday afternoon. I better go wax my snowblower just in case.

I live in the northeast corner of Mass on the NH border and we're slated for 12" - 24" of the white gold over the next 12 - 18 hours. I've had to settle for a couple of crummy 2" - 4 " snowfalls for the past week but looks like we're going to get the real McCoy this time! I have 2 neighbors that are away for the week so I'll be able to clear their driveways as well - got to be neighborly ya know. I'm off from work all of next week so this could not work out better.

New_Yorker wrote:

Not sure what channel your watching but they said all along no snow till late morning and sure enough it was a bit after 10 when it started to come down. As far as accumulations go there still saying 10-16" and or 12-18" depending on which tv station you have on. Who know only time will tell.

Starting to get windy out there its already blowing in a couple of directions.  What do you think, one run tonight and another in the morning?

I'm starting to lose faith in weather.com and any weather prediction.  With millions of dollars in doppler radar equipment and state of the art computation, they should be at least 80% accurate. 

Where's my snow???

jyanno wrote:

I'm thinking the same thing!

I'm itcin to start that puppy up!!

njal wrote:
Same here.  There's only so many cold starts you can do inside a garage until the neighbors catches on.  :)

Gentlemen.......... start your engines.

It's looking like the best conditions in a long time.  Very cold, dry and 10-18 expected in centeral eastern Mass.  

The marketing guys spec machine distance at the low side for cover.  3 to 45 feet.  Three being safe from their point of vew.  But the high side usually a fanticy.  Maybe not.  They have to spec fairly honestly so how to they get those big numbers?  The must test in the very best of conditions.  But what are those:

The best texture of snow.  The best texture of snow would would not happen often over years in most places. 

The best quantity of snow texture so density and height would be a target with texture.

Once you have the target texture and quantitiy from density and height you have to get it in and out in the best way.   The drive speed becomes critical so the speed selector set at the optimal travel speed regardless of bucket spill over the top or too the side.  That's not a factor in a distance test.  So specific speed a key contributor to the mix.

Engine RPM is set to the best advantage which is the high side of the rating.  Most are 3600 +-200 so the marketing guys have the techs set testing machines at 3800 on the noze. 

The result of the above produces the greatest tossing distance and the high figure for marketing claims.  

Is that what everyone will get with their machine?  Many think so.  The high side is a marketing reality based fanticy.  BUT, this storm could give us all a chance to come close to marketing conditions.   Good light snow, cold, not even the salt in the road will have its usual effect.  Going through EOD this storm will be cake compared to lesser wet snow that always happens here.  The machines here are tweaked to MAX REV+ and ready.   

Since getting an HS80 with a bogus bucket it's been frustraing not being able to get it ready.   To aleviate withdrawals a few machines were picked up and sweet they are.   Two tracks 11 and 6hp.  The 624 is nice as it a version that is a junior of the 1132.  It has the same components only in a junior size.  Other 6's were a completely different design.  This one is pure Honda and shares blood line with other true Hondas.  All the important components "where used" return all its big brothers. 

The 6 is backed up by an HS724 L-head G300 which is the earlier version of the GX so has the same features.  It sounds great and just like the newer OHV's.  It's a wheeled and unlike the other two which are hydro drive it uses a friction disk.  It's about the best disk setup in the business and only cowtow's to Yamaha.   Some wide wheels were around so got mounted and a nice addition.  It's so nice it's already made me drop my lust for tracks.  Next in line is an HS928 which I think is the biggest motor you can get in a wheeled version. 

Gassed and pointed at snow the sled dog in the Honda is ready to go.  This storm will probalby net the high water mark for a few machines kicking around this year.  For comparison there are 3 1028s here and a 1030.  The snow should be excellent for at least three days before temps get above 30 so lots of test time. Throw in to the neighbors drive then toss it back in yours.  Keep it going for days.