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

I moved to a new house, top of a hill, with farm land across from my driveway.

This is our second winter, and my MTD is not up to the task of clearing the packed snow that blows into my yard, sometimes daily.

I have been looking for a couple weeks, and had made up my mind to get the Honda. I had been to the Yamaha dealer previously, but they were not willing to deal.

Well today a new twist, I went back to Yamaha, and was offered the YS928J for the same price as the HS928TC.

Specs are very similar, with some different features. The Honda has full Joystick control on the chute, and is 100 lbs lighter.

The Yamaha has plastic coated chute, manual up/down. Has no shear pins, which may be a bonus, if the 'Shock Protection' works correctly. Also the Yamaha is quiter.

I have been reviewing this site, however, there is limited information on the Yamahas, likely because they just came back to Canada in 2009 (15 year Hiatus) and I am not sure if they are available in the U.S.

Has anyone out there used these models? Can you offer an Opinion?

They are not available in the USA. But I know for a fact that some of your fellow Canadians have taken a look at the Yamaha so hopefully one of them will be able to help you out. We'd like to see them sold here in the States but we only get a dumbed down version of the Honda.

The Yamaha has lots of cool features but the additional weight will probably let me pass on it.  The Honda 928TCD is already impressive as it is.  Too bad I can't get this model in the states. 

Yamaha YS928J is a really good looking machine but not sure why it weighs 373LB (169kg) vs. 240LB (109kg) Honda HS928TCD.  100LB+ additional weight may not be all positive (especially if you have a sloped driveway) since the transmsission has to work harder to push all  that weight plus the duty of blowing the snow.  I would be afraid to take that Yamaha on my backyard pond early in the winter when the ice is not too thick.

aa335 wrote:

You have to wonder about the thought  process at corporate Honda HQ. Why would you limit the availability of an awesome product offering to certain geographic areas and not others??? It would be just as easy to sell them in the northern tier states as it is in Canada.

Before you buy either, you should take them out for a test run.  Track machines can be a bit onerous to use.   Particularly if you're used to a wheeled machine. 

Personally, I wouldn't spend that kind of money for either of those machines.  You can get excellent snow blowers from Ariens, Simplicity/Snapper/John Deer and Toro for a fraction of the cost.  You'll also probably find them much easier to use and live with when not in use.

borat wrote:

Agreed I'll stack my Toro 1028 up against a Honda 928 or any other consumer 28" snowblower. I'm sure Ariens and Simplicity will throw the snow just as far as my Toro and the Honda. But Honda doesn't have a quick chute, a plastic chute and twin trigger steering and an auger that recycles the snow. Honda doesn't even give you a light, until you buy an 1132.

" Honda doesn't even give you a light, until you buy an 1132."

If that gas leak sparks up, you'll have plenty of light.

borat wrote:
I can see that the opportunists will have some fun with this for a while. 

I guess I wont need the electric start or even pulling my engine to start.  Just park it outside, throw down a match, and let the snow melt.  :)

Oh wait, my 1132 isnt affected by the recall. 

Easy now aa335....

Just making "light" of the situation. 

Don't forget that B&S had a major engine recall back around '06-'07 for a fire hazard with their engines.   The dealer had to fix the engine on my Simplicity prior to me picking it up.

borat wrote:
Hey, I know what you mean.  No offense taken here.  I'm sure I won't be quiet if my machine will be out of commission for 3 weeks because of a recall.

It's just there are those who resort to "kick them while they're down" attitude.