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

Just to make a point that the pseudo-experts on these forums often have little knowledge of what they discuss, the Honda Power Equipment web site shows all 2 stage snowblowers without side (Commercial ) skid shoes.  That is because Honda sells those heavy side mount skid shoes as an OPTION intended for the Commercial Use of any and all of the Honda 2 stage snowblower models.  Nowhere in the Honda owners manual, shop manual, or Honda Website is it ever suggested that the commercial side mounted skid shoes NOT be installed on any or all of the Honda 2 stage snowblowers.

The pseudo-expert idea that the snowblowers adjustable auger housing fails to remain adjustable once the side mount skid shoes are installed, is an equally bogus idea.  I know that from my own experience, but again the HONDA accessory says nothing about this, nor does the owners manual, or any other Honda resource.  If purchasing and installing any original equipment accessory like the Commercial Skid Shoes did Limit the operation of the machine in anyway, you would expect the manufacturer (in this case HONDA) to make that limitation clear and ceratin.  Obviously they don't even mention the possibility of this bogus advice.   It would be interesting to learn from what 'source' such myths arise, but myth's they are, nothing more. Always check out such advice with the manufacturer before giving any credibility to it, never accept it at face value.  The internet is filled with such bogus advice-chatter and we should always be aware of that.

So the accurate facts of the skid shoes are these . . . Use either the side or the rear mount shoes on your Honda 2 stage snowthrower, both work just fine according to HONDA who manufactures them.

I have both side and rear skids.  When a tracked snowblower is equipped with side skids, the scraper mode is reduced significantly because it will lose the ability to let the auger make contact with the pavement.  My rear skids are actually off the ground in most cases, except when I go allow the bucket to go past the curb, this is when the rear skids come in to play, not allowing the bucket sides to to drop on the curb.

Steering is easier with the rear skids only, since the pivot point of the tracks and the rear skids are only a foot apart.  Side skids makes it harder to steer, however, it offers more stability and protection to the bucket from hitting things.  The reason I went with side skids because the bucket sides tends to grab on the the grass.  The side skids have more surface area and floats over the grass/snow without digging in.  I can do minor tracking correction easier with the side skids, but it is easier to steer 180 with rear skids.

Use either one or both depends on how you like the snowblower to handle.  There's really not right and wrong and Honda does not have anything on the matter.  It's up to you.

The only thing they say is don't mount the commercial skids on existing weld nuts. 

aa335 wrote:

Thanks for this information aa335 . I must have my track drive blower adjusted incorrectly. I run the rear skids. I set a pair of paint stirring sticks under the front scraper blade with the bucket lifted into the first forward position. Then I loosen the bolt and adjust the skids. 

From the description  above is wound sound to me that your augers are coming in contact with the pavement as they rotate. Did I misunderstand. Did you mean to say the scraper blade?  Pardon any confusion on my part.

Underdog wrote:
You can adjust the skid shoes so that the auger can make contact with the pavement.  It will take on concrete while sharpening itself.  However, that is not the correct setting.  I was playing around with the setting and had the auger sharpening on concrete by accident.   The manual has recommended clearance for the auger, as well as the scraper blade in the neutral position, #2.  If you set this correctly, when in scraper mode, the auger barely touches the pavement when you tilt it forward.

Now it's a little tricky to set the auger clearance to the pavement.  You may have support the auger shaft at 2 ends with a 1x2" and measure the clearance.  Or get a piece of flat material of same thickness and put it under the auger.  Make sure your floor or surface is flat and level as possible.  Once you got the auger clearance at the appropriate gap, drop the scraper blade to the recommended gap.  Make sure you support the scraper blade at both ends so that it's level to the floor.  Tighten the bolts.  Then drop your rear skid shoes and tighten last. 

I'm going by memory something I did once 2 years ago so I may miss something.  Once you have that auger clearance dialed in, you adjust the scraper blade clearance the same as any other snowblower.  Shim it with 2 paint sticks, one on each side, drop the skid shoes, and tighten. 

These procedure will probably NOT make any sense on other brands of snowblowers except Honda.  You have to read the Honda manual and have a Honda tracked snowblower on hand to see why it is what it is.  I don't have any knowledge with Yamaha snowblower set up but it maybe the same, or not.

New_Yorker wrote:

http://english.honda.ca/HPower/Models/ModelOverview?L=E&Type=SnowBlowers&Series=HS928&Model=HS928TC

The 928 and 724 track models in the Canada Honda website are shown with side skid shoes, one of the exceptions is the wheeled version of the 928. Then the 1132 and 624 do not have side skid shoes. When I was in the showroom, the HS928TCD had both, installed from factory. The was a unit for sale for Non Comercial use, I could have taken it home that day  Almost did, damn that Yamaha

It does appear that you can use either skids,  or both, on a Hondas! Probably depends on your preferences, use, steering concerns, etc.

None on mine..... great machine!

kderobertis wrote:
That is such a great photo of an HS928TA!

rubinew wrote:

New_Yorker believes that the manual is the Bible. I went on the basis of what the Honda techs at the dealership told me. This New_Yorker guy needs to argue with the dealers and see how far that gets him. I had the 928 and it didn't have skid shoes on the side. It did chew up ice on the driveway in it's lowest mode and as far as I could tell didn't chew up the pavement. Canada has so many different options as well. If you are at the Honda dealer again up there maybe you could ask him what the deal is with the side skid shoes. My dealer was specific about it.

Steve_Cebu wrote:
I am curious as well, If I get a chance, I will ask

rubinew wrote:

Thanks, it will be interesting to see what your dealer has to say about it. It's probably not a common question.

aa335 wrote:
Thanks for this. I must have missed it. Yes, I am running a HS928TA this season. Having lots of fun.

aa335 wrote:

aa335

I may have to pick your brain later,after reading your post,I'm not sure I have mine adj. correctly

aa335

I just looked at it ,seem's correct.In the most forward (down  scrap position) when
I spin the auger I have clearance between the pavement and auger.
So I'm thinking it's set correctly?

njal wrote:
Yes, that sounds about right.  Going by memory, there should be 1/16" to 1/8" gap between auger and pavement for typical ice scraping/chipping.   I have to find that user manual to confirm the spec.

Thanks again for that post my OCD  kicked in

after i looked at your post and had to go check!

njal wrote:

You're welcome. Honda owners are typically a discerning crowd anyways so some OCD is expected.