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

I was getting tired of all the conflicting info on the Honda 928TAS so I called up Honda directly

American Honda Power Equipment Division

Customer Relations
Tel: 770-497-6400
Fax: 678-339-2519
Mon. - Fri. 8:30 - 7:00 EST

I spoke with Denise at the above number. She told me that side skid shoes were for commercial use and that some 928TAS models were designated as such and that you could tell this by looking at the side of the bucket and seeing if there were indents where the side skid shoes would go. If there are then you can add standard skid shoes if no indents then you have to use commercial ones, either way you have to drill holes in the side of the bucket to add them. The side skid shoes according to her and she double checked are for commercial use and are an option you pay extra for. They make the 928TAS easier to turn and protect any bedding or concrete and they prevent the auger from scraping the ground.

I explained that my dealer had told me differently and she explained that perhaps the dealer has heard from a customer that the snowblower was easier to turn without them but Honda maintains that it's easier to turn with side skid shoes and that it does not in any way affect the operation on the snowblower even in it's fully lowered position except that the auger will not scrape the ground.

Since I had her on the phone I asked when the first oil change should be and she said at 20 hours not before or after. She said all this is available in the owners manual. She did mention that you should check your oil level each time before using the machine.

So that's the offical story from Honda America easily verified by calling up Honda and speaking with Denise or someone else in customer service.

I had to laugh when I read. "Since I had her on the phone I asked when the first oil change should be and she said at 20 hours not before or after".  Like it would really matter if you changed it
a half an hour before or after the 20 hours.  I laughed because I'm sure someone out there, somewhere, shut there blower down in the middle of their driveway to have the oil changed. Really who keeps that close a tract on run hours.  Unless you have a hour meter on your blower (which I would like to have myself).  But she said not before of after.  I wonder if New Yorker knows that.
Bad thing to say I know.  Lets not start things up again.

I though the skid shoe information was interesting. Seeing that they actually have different side panels on different blower housings.  Or maybe it's different on different model years. Not models within a model year.

Knee_Biter wrote:
NO NO NO! This is a HIGH PERFORMANCE snowblower. You have to inflate the tracks with nitrogen, not regular air! 

I would personally fill the track with Argon gas since it is one of the noble gases and you will have a royal snowblower.

jrtrebor wrote:

Well that is her exact words so I just typed them as she was speaking. She was very clear at 20 hours. I did ask her if 2 hours or 10 hours would be ok and she said Honda reccomends 20 hours not before or after. She said the bucket side panels differentiated between commercial and consumer models. I didn't pursue the questioning as to why they would be sold differently yet as the same model. She did not mention different years just said to look on the bucket sides for the indents. I said to her but commercial or consumer you'd still have to drill the holes and she said yes, but the indents help line it up for you.

That's all I've got.

MN_Runner wrote:

I honestly would like to see how anyone would inflate a rubber track, it's not hollow like the wheels!

Steve_Cebu wrote:
Did you forget to ask Denise at Honda customer relations how to inflate the tracks. 

Steve,

I am begining to think that you missed your Honda snowblower. I was hoping we talk more about Yamaha or something else other than Honda but that red beast seems to dominate.

MN_Runner wrote:

Well I would love to talk about it but they don't sell them in the US although if they did I certainly could find that out. I am a senior purchasing agent. I spend money all day.

But the corporation I work for has professional snow removal.

I have found in the 25 years of buying things that you really can buy almost anything, that's part of the fun of the job.

I'm sure Yamaha could be purchased through commercial ventures, very little is impossible. That said it's more than I want to spend for a private snowblower.

They don't sell Yamaha in MN do they? I'd be willing to bet they don't sell in the USA for very good reasons. I can think of a few off the top of my head. I should get the numbers for Honda snowblower sales for 2010 if available. That would probably tell the story of Yamaha. I think if Yamaha came back to the US they'd do ok, but in a bad economy it's not the best time to try and reclaim the high end snowblower market.

No Yamaha in MN. I can drive to Canada but it is not practical and the price is a bit too much.  For that much money  (and Honda too), I can do something really nice for our upcoming 20th anniversary.  I was pretty much set on buying a Honda snowblower and nothing else just like my lawnmower purchase.  Due to more than normal snow fall, all the Honda blowers were sold out in the Twin Cities. My original intent was buying a HS724 but I felt (a personal feeling and not necessary a fact) it was a bit underpowered so I upgraded to HS928.  724 was a good and super quiet machine so as long as you go at a reasonable speed it was fine. I talked about Honda may not be best, but not sure if I would buy any other brand.  It is just a personal preference.

MN_Runner wrote:

I think Honda makes a great machine. I just think they charge too much for it. They are positioning themselves as a Premium snowblower company for the well off and discriminating buyer. The BMW/Mercedes/Cadillac or snowblowers. I had one and I think my Toro 1028 is every bit as good as the Honda at half the cost. Yamaha looks great but it is even more expensive. I think if I lived in Canada where they get a LOT of snow I'd probably buy the Yamaha and be done with it.