Abby's Guide to Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more)
Username Password
Discussions Reviews More Guides
Abby’s Guide > Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) > Discussions > Torn between Honda HS928TCD and Yamaha YS928J

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

Search For:
rubinew


Joined: Dec 30, 2010
Points: 147

Torn between Honda HS928TCD and Yamaha YS928J
Original Message   Dec 30, 2010 12:21 am
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?

This message was modified Dec 30, 2010 by rubinew
Replies: 1 - 10 of 104NextNext page of topicsAllView as Outline
Steve_Cebu


Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 888

Re: Torn between Honda HS928TCD and Yamaha YS928J
Reply #1   Dec 30, 2010 5:25 am
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.

"If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you live in New England."  "If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in New England."
aa335


Joined: Nov 29, 2008
Points: 2434

Re: Torn between Honda HS928TCD and Yamaha YS928J
Reply #2   Dec 30, 2010 9:53 am
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. 
MN_Runner


Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Joined: Dec 5, 2010
Points: 622

Re: Torn between Honda HS928TCD and Yamaha YS928J
Reply #3   Dec 30, 2010 10:26 am
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.
FrankMA


Location: Merrimack Valley/Northeastern Mass
Joined: Jul 1, 2010
Points: 587

Re: Torn between Honda HS928TCD and Yamaha YS928J
Reply #4   Dec 30, 2010 10:28 am
aa335 wrote:
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. 


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.

Toro Wheel Horse 522xi GT, Honda HS928TA, Honda HS621AS, Honda HS520A, Toro CCR3000 (work in progress), Honda HS624WA (sold 08/23/2010), Stihl BR550 Backpack Blower, Stihl MS250, McCulloch MS1635, Honda EM6500SX Generator
borat


Joined: Nov 10, 2007
Points: 2692

Re: Torn between Honda HS928TCD and Yamaha YS928J
Reply #5   Dec 30, 2010 11:04 am
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.
Steve_Cebu


Joined: Dec 17, 2009
Points: 888

Re: Torn between Honda HS928TCD and Yamaha YS928J
Reply #6   Dec 30, 2010 11:29 am
borat wrote:
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.


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.

"If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you live in New England."  "If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in New England."
borat


Joined: Nov 10, 2007
Points: 2692

Re: Torn between Honda HS928TCD and Yamaha YS928J
Reply #7   Dec 30, 2010 11:44 am
" 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.
aa335


Joined: Nov 29, 2008
Points: 2434

Re: Torn between Honda HS928TCD and Yamaha YS928J
Reply #8   Dec 30, 2010 11:50 am
borat wrote:
" 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.

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. 
borat


Joined: Nov 10, 2007
Points: 2692

Re: Torn between Honda HS928TCD and Yamaha YS928J
Reply #9   Dec 30, 2010 11:53 am
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.
aa335


Joined: Nov 29, 2008
Points: 2434

Re: Torn between Honda HS928TCD and Yamaha YS928J
Reply #10   Dec 30, 2010 11:59 am
borat wrote:
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.

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. 
Replies: 1 - 10 of 104NextNext page of topicsAllView as Outline
Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Guide   •   Discussions  Reviews  
AbbysGuide.com   About Us   Terms of Use   Privacy Policy   Contact Us
Copyright 1998-2024 AbbysGuide.com. All rights reserved.