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?

borat wrote:

Hey Borat, happy new year!

I agree, the weight may be an advantage. The 624 at 250 lbs sure chewed up some ice and packed snow, I am sure the 928 will do better.

You are right about the back injury!! I tried to move the 624 in the show room, turned off, not possible. Those tracks sure grip :-) Same with the 928 Honda.

The Honda has a lever, to disengage the transmission, to help move when off, still a bit of a struggle, as the shaft and part of the drive still turned, could feel the resistance.

The Yamaha just has the pins that you can pull, to unlock the tracks from the drive shaft, this made it very easy to roll around. Only prob, it was a bit of a task to line up the holes and get the pins seated back in place.

Of course one would only do this at the end/beginning of season, then they would stay put.

Hey Rubinew,

Sounds like a snow fence positioned back in the field a bit could eliminate some of those 4 foot, hard packed drifts. Is that an option? Might make life easier in general.

Jake08 wrote:

The town runs a snow fence, but they stop short, which is strange because the road continues to the water plant.

Me and a neighbour are going to extend it next year, if we have to do it ourselves!

But when the snow blows for 5 days straight at 40 - 70 kms, the fence only stops so much :-)

Just an update:

It appears the YS928J is a liitle hard to get right now!!!  Guess it makes sense, we had record snow fall in November.

Anyways, the Dealer has been told by Yamaha that they have nothing for him till early February. He is calling other Dealers in Alberta, Manitoba, etc, to check for inventory.

I had to pick a model that seems to be very popular in Saskatchewan this year

I hope to have better news early next week...

rubinew wrote:

Wow, I sure hope you can get one this year! Still it's better to get exactly what you want rather than have buyers remorse getting what you don't really want.

If these links work here's videos of the Yamaha's in action.  From their Japanese site they also claim that each model is designed to be operated continuously for two hours on a tank of gas.  The site also notes that the warranty also provides for a free replacement machine is yours in stolen within the first year of purchase.  I'm serious.  Now that's a warranty!

http://www.yamaha-motor.jp/snowthrower/detail/popup/0006.html

http://www.yamaha-motor.jp/snowthrower/detail/popup/0002.html

http://www.yamaha-motor.jp/snowthrower/detail/popup/0010.html

http://www.yamaha-motor.jp/snowthrower/detail/popup/0009.html

http://www.yamaha-motor.jp/snowthrower/detail/popup/0011.html

http://www.yamaha-motor.jp/snowthrower/detail/popup/0014.html

Ok,

So it turns out the Yamaha Dealer in Regina won't see any till mid February, and even then, no promises.

I did find one YS928J in Saskatoon, last one in the Province.

As Luck would have it, I have a Service Call in Saskatoon today!! 

So I am heading up there now!  I will update tonight!!

rubinew wrote:

I know it's tempting to score a baby blue but isn't it late in the season? Inventory is scarce and you are at the mercy of the dealer, plus chasing down remains. Wouldn't it be better to put in an order or deposit for next production delivery. Just throwing it out there for thoughts.

If he gets the BLUE now, he may have some chance to use it. The winter is not over until May.  He got three solid months to use it.

Rubinew, let nothing stand between you and your destiny. We wannabees are rooting for you.  You may be the first the first American to do this. You wouldn't let us down? Deprive us of this simple joy (al be it vicariously)?  Its a long winter here.  What else do we have to do? Look at the smile on this guy's face, does he look like he has any regrets: