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

This is my first post here.

I recently got a used old Honda HS35 snowblower for $80.

It starts and runs with choke 'closed'. The choke knob is loose, moves around with the vibration.And when I put the choke on 'open' position it most of the time surges (up and down). I added some seafoam and noticed that it helped it stabilize on that day. I started it again today and it still surges when the choke is 'open' during the first few minutes, then stabilizes. Is this normal?  To start the machine the choke needs to be 'closed' or it won't start.

 This is my first snowblower, I have not worked on a snowblower before.

Auger's rubber parts are not new, the previous owner said he replaced them 3 years ago.It looks like rubber parts are worn by about half an inch maybe.Because I can see where the tip of the rubber was at one point by looking at the very thin end of the rubber.

Scraper bar is not rubber, it looks like it is made from harder plastic and the edges have 3-5 indents froms scraping. Do I have to replace these this year or will they work for now?

Is the price I paid fair for the machine I described above? Is it too much?

Thanks.

MN_Runner,

The plastic facing forward is the new design for HS35s starting with frame serial number 1048.... Mine is 1042...At some point the owner must have adopted the new design since the older design is obsolete, parts are discontinued.

Scraper part number is

11-75201-730-010 : BLADE, SCRAPER		SHIPPED		1	1	0	18.95	18.95
(Replacement part for 11-75201-730-000)

It is a part which was made in Japan.

Did you take the auger off to sand? Our garage is not heated, if I paint it probably won't dry and cure as it should.Maybe next year.

If your HS35's frame serial number is smaller than 1048... its ignition should be through 'breaker points' too.That is another design change according to the manual.

I do not know how to gauge RPM. How did you do it?

This HS35 has a backward facing scraper design:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oce4k1ysl4Y&feature=related

I notice that it is in very good condition but I do not see the purpose of that wooden stick there.

The hardest part will be masking the area that you don't want painted. My blower has a serial number of 1037823 so it is much older than what you have, but

the scraper housing looks same as yours and the rubber should fit just fine.  The previous owner must have changed it at some point.

I don't think he has serviced it in past 5-8 years. I have a tachometer installed on the blower so I can get direct RPM.  Not sure if it is worth the money ($20 shipped). 

I doubt HS35 will blow snow that good but I could be wrong.  I am not going to sink anymore on this blower after buying couple of $5 paint cans until I know this thing

can blow snow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Of_siqIYsk&hd=1

There was a small gas leak so it was fixed by tightening a couple of bolts that secure the carburator.

Unfortunately my parts are not here yet and are due on Monday.  The belt needs to replaced as it looks old and hard so I will do that on Monday.

At least, the belt job does not look too tough.

This is a complicated machine and it is amazing there really has not been that much major changes between 1980 and 2011.  If this thing blows

snow then I will be impressed as I have very low expectations.

Thanks MN_Runner, I have rust issues too.Next year if I have the opportunity hopefully I will 'recondition' it.

I saw moisture on fuel area too.Just above muffler.I might have the same problem.

I will add a picture of that area.

I got Gates brand equivalent Powerated V belts.I hear a squek-like sound when I first push the lever.I wonder...

Let's wait and see how they will perform.Hopefully exceed your expectations.

I wonder the same thing too.I thought when I let the lever off it should have stop turning.It does not.

Maybe the belt is too tight, I have not opened belt cover yet.We will see...

There are two 10mm bolts just above the exhaust.  I tightened these two bolts and now the leak is gone.  When I engage auger clutch, it does make squeak sound (this is with the old belt and will try it with new belt).  But cannot see anything really wrong.  My HS928 also makes squeak noise when I engage the auger too.  I just bought Krylon black spray paint and will give a try.  I am planning to cover the rubbers parts with the saren wrap (or clear plastic) then spray the paint over the area of interest.

Did your blower take almost an 1 qt oil to fill it up to the recommended level?  The sparkplugs are not easy to find either.