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

My serial number is too high so my Honda blower is not affected but has anyone taken their Honda blower for the recall repair?  On a side note, My 2005 Honda Odyssey had a brake failure recall and took me two tries to get it right this week.  I hope you guys have much better recall repair experience.  Are there any other recalls on Honda blower?

AA335,

You are correct.  My 2010 model came with the side skids mounted from the factory.  Just curious why New_Yorker's 2010 did not have them on from the factory?  Is it the difference between TA/TAS vs. WA/WAS?

MN_Runner wrote:
Mine did not come with the side skids.  I had to purchase that separately.  Not sure why some would come with them and some don't.

AA335,

I think that is one of the differences between Track vs. Wheel models.  When I look at the manual, the side skids are not intended for the track models  rather are intended for the wheel drive blowers.  Having them might be a bad idea as it may interfere as you move the machine up and down.  I cannot move my snowblower with a foot pedal (I don't have this feature) like the way you can with your track models.  If Honda thought it was better to have the side skids for the track models, I am convinced that they would have mounted them from the factory.   For your track model you have the foot pedal to control how much you want to dig into the ground and having the side skids reduces your control of the height and makes the foot control less effective.

MN_Runner wrote:

The Hondas that I have been looking at this week, all track models, had both skids, side, and behind the scrapper blade.

I was curious why both?

The Yamaha only had the curved skids behind the scrapper. The dealer mentioned that even though you can set the hieght with the Auger Tilt, you still need a stopping point, so you don't push your scrapper into the concrete!

The tilt does allow you to put a lot of weight downward, and I can see the need for skids.

Here is the Honda, showing side skids, can not see the back ones, but they are there,

http://english.honda.ca/HPower/Models/ModelOverview?L=E&Type=SnowBlowers&Series=HS928&Model=HS928TCD

Here is the Yamaha, you can see the rear skids,

http://www.yamaha-motor.ca/display.php?idx=16019&model=3537&group=G&

rubinew wrote:
I never realized just how anemic the US version of the HS928TCD was until I checked out the Canadian Honda brochure link you posted. I'd love to have the electric joy stick chute control that's available to our brothers up north. The US population is roughly 10X that of Canada - you'd think that corpoate Honda would wake up and realize that the US market would likely outsell the Canadian market if these were offered in the states. Sorry for the rant but it's very frustrating to see such nice upgrades that unfortunately are not available to the US market.

FrankMA wrote:
Just order one from Canada and have it sent to a pick-up point on the Canadian side.  Get the machine and clear U.S. customs. 

Be prepared to bleed money.   With our currencies close to par, you'll feel the pain that we live with, day in, day out.

borat wrote:
I hear you.  As much as I want those Canadian models, those prices are hard to justify. 

Not sure why Honda in US have not realized that there's a potential market for those models here in the states.  Now that the Simplicity and Deere models comes with electric chute controls, I'm sure Honda is losing sales.  Only tracks and hydrostatic transmission are the reasons one would chose Honda over the Simplicity and Deere.

Personally, I think Honda are resting on their laurels.  They will sell under-appointed machines in the U.S. no matter what.  Don't forget, not everyone who buys a snow thrower is a keener.   I'd bet that 99% of Honda's U.S. customers don't even know that there's a difference between Canadian and U.S. models. 

Never mind Honda.  Think blue.  The new champ on the block!!
 

borat wrote:
Yeah.  I hope big blue is available to buy in the stateside too.  Honda could really use some competition and give us products worthy of it's former name and price.  Not that they really have to do anything much, but start with making the HS928TCD available in the US.  Next, work on the next generation of HS621.  Then revamp the HS1132TAS with dual electric motors to drive the tracks.  Just use trickled down technology from the high end hybrid model.

aa335 wrote:

Ditto - Ditto - Ditto! Who or what is in charge at the Honda USA sales department??? If you're listening or reading - bring the good stuff to the folks south of the Canadian border. Your bottom line will appreciate it as will your stock holders!

Yamaha - your friends in the good old US of A are awaiting your entry into a very profitable and eager marketplace. As Bob Barker would say -COME ON DOWN!!!