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

Well, this December 26th 2010 eastcoast blizzard wasn't all that much of a storm, so I'll have to wait to really put my New HONDA HS 928 TAS Snowblower to the test.  There were some drifts, and the end of driveway pile was a good indicator of the machines excellent design and power.  The heavy wet slush and salt mixture had been heaped up by a daisy chain of 7 Suffolk County plows scouring the highway in front of my home.  The Honda easily threw it anywhere I wanted it to go.  The steering proved Not to Be the difficulty that others suggested it could be, because once there was some snow under the tracks the machine swung around easily enough and it went into a high speed reverse that was faster than anything my previous 'friction wheel' machines could ever accomplish.   If the person operating the Honda were small or frail it might be too difficult a task, but it should be of no concern for any Lady in good health. The operation is, of coursee, nothing when compared to the many times in the past I had to push the old Friction Wheel machine that should have been self-propelled.  All in all ithe HONDA 928 is an excellent machine, a marvel of design, and well worth the additional money to own.    I highly recommend it to everyone who values low frequency of repair, durability, and low maintenance in a very well designed snowblower .

I'm glad you had a chance to try out the new track drive honda. After hearing a long string of complaints about "hard to turn" track drive Honda's I was contemplating getting rid of my 928TA. My back does get sore from a 1/2 day of running the machine. But then I pulled out my old trusty 828 wheeled honda and blew the driveway with wheels instead. The wheeled version really is easier to move around.  But today, the  snow I was clearing had been driven over 5 or six times. With work cancelled I was in no rush to rush out into the blizzard conditions and few cars had driven over the driveway before I could get out to blow.  While not all of it was packed down enough of it was and the 828 wheeled machine rode across the tracks and blew the loose snow leaving an inch of packed snow behind.  Knowing that this packed snow would turn to ice before spring arrived I pulled out the 928 and tilted the bucket to the "fully forward tilt " position. That added pressure on the front scraper was enough to chisel under and pop the packed snow tracks left by the 828 wheeled blower. The packed snow came up in chunks and slammed and rattled the snowblower as it was spit across the lawn. It would have taken me most of the day with a ice scraper to clear that driveway. I think I'm hanging onto the 928 for now. 

I have no ice to chisel up, as you say, my drive is long and both gravel and paved.  The new Honda is just so much better than what it replaced, it would be impossible at this point for me to find any real criticism of the design.   The steering is easier if you have some snow under the tracks, and for me that works fine.  I had considered the wheeled version, but I decided that the power to drive the machine would be transferred to te forward progress of the heavy machine if I went with the tracks.  I have no doubt you are correct in that the wheels turn easier.  I also just received in the mail the shop manual for the machine.  I hope to have a chance this weekend to read through it. 

I also ran a HS80 (8hp 24") track machine. I would consider that size ideal. I ran it without the side skid and just let the scraper hit the pavement. Set up like this, that track machine was very easy to move around.  (not that it would work on gravel).  I don't want to start a rant on some other brand but I too am sooo impressed with the difference over the "other" blower I was using before.