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

Checked with my local Yamaha dealer, sorry NO SNOWBLOWER's For Sale in US, No Bulletins to them suggesting they ever will be.

So the only Brand that could be as good as the HONDA isn't an option.  So those suggesting they have a better choice than Honda would be WRONG for people in the USA, EVER IF the Yamaha was able to prove it even is better.

Just thought everyone should know.

I have been checking out both Honda and Yamaha, up here in Canada.

I hope to take the Yamaha YS928J for a test drive next week. But from what I have researched, and looking at the 624, I would expect Yamaha to be as able and reliable as the Honda.

There are a few extra features on the Yamaha as well;

Plastic lined chute and impeller housing,

Magnetic Clutch for Augers

Higher models don't use shear pins

Quiter

It is strange to me, that Yamaha stays out of such a huge market place?

Even Honda, although available, seems to scale down the models and features, compared with what they sell up here.

Maybe the market is too saturated, still, higher end Japanese models will always appeal to certain ppl, just like with cars.

One could purchase one in Canada and bring it back down to the states.  It's only a 90 minute drive for me.  If reliability is on par or better than a Honda then dealer service work would not be needed.  If I did have a catastrophic issue I could drive it back up to BC.  I do my own maintenance and try to fix things myself if I can.  I purchase FSM's for all my toys and vehicles as well.

snowmachine wrote:

It'd only take me about 12-13 hours to drive one way to Canada, then another 12 - 13 hours back, and then whenever it needs work, I'd get to do it all over again.  Soooo Convenient,  I can't imagine why I didn't just Leap at the prospect ?  So I'll just have to 'settle' for the Best Snowblower, my Honda that never needs its auger greased, ever.

I didn't say it would work for everyone but for those in borders states where drive is only a few hours it may be an option.  

New_Yorker wrote:

Hmmm, wonder if the Yamaha can go without grease as well?

The 928 and higher 624 models have no shear pins, the rakes are bolted to the shaft, solid. It is likely that lubrication would not be needed, since it never needs to break free and turn independent?

I do not have access to a service manual to confirm this.

Yes, 24 hours driving would be a huge stopper for me, and the Honda is an exellent well built machine.

rubinew wrote:
With the superior shock system on the Yamaha.  There is no need to worry about the augers rusting and seizing. 

rubinew wrote:
Occurs to me that the manufacturers are colluding to keep a decent market share for both companies.  It would hurt Honda if Yami was allowed to compete here.  Japanese companies (or their "offices of export") are smart to protect each other. 

This is why all products are varied and not necessarily "the best."  They offer what the consumer will buy.

rubinew wrote:

There are a few on these forums who will tell you to, " Grease Baby, Grease " even when the manufacturers Shop Manual doesn't mention it, and if you point out their mistake they'll tell you what a fool you must be, so whatever you do don't stress the facts from the shop manual or you'll be stepping into their Crosshairs. I think the trick is not be too sensible or logical, and always agree with them, otherwise you'll run afoul of them, like me.