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

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royster wrote:
You got a new single stage and you're not going out yet?  Hmm...something is wrong with this picture. 

aa335 wrote: Not as forcasted , it  stopped snowing, with about 20 cm (8 inches) of wet snow  I normally wait for the plow to go by before I clear the driveway, but I was anxious to try the new single stage, It seemed so small  and quiet  so I wondered , but all went quite well,  it only threw the snow about 6 feet but the snow was very wet .  Then the plow went by filling up the end of the driveway with packed wet snow , by allowing the auger to clean itself out several times  I was able to get through.   My opinion on the single stage is that they are quite a useful machine if the snow is not too deep and you are not in a hurry  to get it done. My driveway is 12 x 90 feet.

I have been eyeing a SS as well.  I really want to buy a new HS621 but it is not available in US.  So next best SS would be a new Toro 421QR.  I have made a few bids on eBay but was not able to get a 421Q for $500.  Hopefully you are happy with your new Craftsman SS.  I firmly believe Toro 421Q and 221Q are the best SS on the market.  I am glad I did not buy Honda HS520 last year.

MN_Runner wrote:
The HS520 is long in the tooth.  Hopefully, someone is working on it's replacement to stay competitive.  The latest crop of B&S powered single stage snowblowers with remote chute rotation comes at a lower price and better performance.

The HS621 platform with GX200 engine, redesigned auger, remote chute rotation and deflector, around 85 lbs would be a good product.  They just have to position it as a premium single stage, instead of competing with the bottom feeders.

aa335 wrote:
You got to wonder who is in charge of product development at Honda. I picked up a used HS520A last fall and got to use it this past winter. It's OK but that's about it. It will get the job done but it really could use a serious make over and some upgrades to compete in todays market. The same holds true for the 2 stage line up that is available in the USA. The potential sales dollars alone should be enough to convince them to offer the Canadian versions down here in the land of milk and honey. Even if only 5% of the US snowblower marketplace were to buy a Honda, that would still have to be some serious $$$. I love my HS928TA but I would love to have the upgrades that are available to our Canadian brothers offered to the US market as well.

One can only hope with the appearance of Yamaha back in the high end snowblower arena, the Honda sleeping giant will wake up and refesh their product line.  Or at least offer some cool products they have available in Japan.  Some of the larger Honda hybrid are pretty awesome.  Instead of hydro drive, they have individual electric motors for each track.  I've seem a 36" tracked blower turn with just a light touch on the handles.  I hope they bring those technologies down to the smaller models.  Even if they put on the 928, I'd be happy with that.  That model is the meat and potatoes for most home owners.  A modernized HS621 would be cool too.

 Now  snow is all gone here , except in the woods.

I had changed the oil at 5 hours, Mobil 5-30..   Changed it again at about 12 hours,   Have a new paved driveway  18x120  with a parking space 25-30  at the rear. 

No Snow yet.

aa335 wrote:
As a prius driver since 2007, I am driving a 2010 these days, I assure you we don't 'drag race' anyone, what you are seeing is the normal way we drive, and you imagine we're racing with you.  We're not ! Oh, and the Prius steers quite perfectly and I drove a 2nd as well as the current 3rd generation models, if anything'sa bit  vague while you're steering the car, its your 'Little Gray Cells' that are doing that, not the Prius.  The Prius is so terrible to drive that only 85% of Prius Owners swear they'll buy another one. The Prius takes one comfortably  50-60 miles on a gallon of $ 4.00 a gallon Gas, it makes them all quite Lovable !  We never race, no need because  We Prius Owners Love PASSING Gas Stations way more than the other cars on the road.

New_Yorker wrote:
Well, if a Prius was pushing triple digits speeds, that's pretty much racing, unless I misunderstood "hypermiling"  :)

I drove the first generation Prius a while back.  I tried my best to like it.  After 30 minutes, the best compliment I got going for it was that the car should be named "Kenmore, Maytag, Kitchenaid".  I can't remember the last time I opened a refrigerator door and got excited.