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

I bought a new Honda HS520A for my wife but she did not find it particularly useful because of the following: 1) the blower was a loud bugger; 2) it took a little more effort to pull start; 3) she rather shovel and keep the $600 for whatever shopping; 4) my son is 15 1/2 so she can retire and give him the shovel; 6) still more than one knob.  I thought my son would be interested in using HS520A but he said that he has too much homework and operating OPE does not interest him.  So he likes to wait for me to come home since I enjoy snowblowing so much and he does not want to take that enjoyment away  (my kids call me snowblower freak).  No I took the HS520A back next day to the dealer and they sold it to next guy in line for more that what I paid for the day before.  So the best snow moving equipment is either you or the shovel.  My wife did not give me any grief when I bought HS35 for $15 + another $85 for parts since she came out $500 ahead. 

aa335 wrote:
That's a good way to teach children work ethic and responsibility. 

I watched my neighbour raise his kids.  He didn't let them do anything in the yard.  No cutting grass, no snow shoveling or operating any type of OPE.  The son was well into his twenties and never lifted a finger around the yard.  I mean nothing.  We have fairly steep driveways and if there's even a lick of snow on them, you're not getting up unless you have four wheel drive.  I recall numerous times, the son would come home after a snowfall, leave his car on the street then walk up the driveway to wait for the old man to come home to clear the driveway.  Once he cleared the driveway, he'd drive the son's car up and park it in the garage.  Every time.   The father is a good 65+ years old.  They have since moved from the neighbourhood.  The father said it was too much work taking care of the yard etc.  Well, had he put the son to work,  (he was still living at home at 27 years of age) he wouldn't be working as hard. 

The son is pretty much useless and the father is the reason that he is.   Teach them when they're young.  They'll actually enjoy the companionship and the activity of accomplishing something. 

MN_Runner wrote:

You have the 2 stage machine so HS520A was additional. I do not think you would miss it.Hopefully HS35 will provide equal or better service than HS520A.

I will be traveling to visit my family overseas in December. If the wife can not use the single stage simple machine, shoveling is the way to go.I know she is not going to shovel when there is a snow blower.I hope she operates it according to the manual.I will explain what I know to her and hope for the best.

The deal breaker for my wife was the starting part.  When she pulled, she said why is this thing so hard to pull.  AA335 is right about having an electrical start for the MRS.  But an electric start has an issue of its own too, my wife probably would say why is this thing so complicated.  I would say the shovel is the simplist and most elegant snowblower out there.

MN_Runner wrote:
There's always something.  It's too noisy, smelly, too hard, too complicated.  You can only do so much to make it easier. 

borat wrote:

I have a neighbor like that.  Some fancy hot shot executive.  6 foot 2 that moves a little single stage snowblower or a shovel like he was about to slip a disc on his spine.  I don't think he has a medical condition, I see him throwing the foot ball around in the summer.

Last year, we had a blizzard early February.  Wife was outside snowblowing against the wind at 10 PM.  I don't know why, the wind just puts back what she went over. 

Next day, there was 20" of snow on the driveway, 25" at the EOD.  Wife was outside shoveling, the snow was too much for the little snowblower.  Where was Dad and the 15 year old son?  Inside.  They didn't come outside until my neighbor and I was 3/4 done clearing their driveway and sidewalk. 

aa335 wrote:
Embarrassing

MN_Runner wrote:

Ok my wife is only 84 lbs. and she's 4'10" tall and here is a video of her starting our snowblower for the first use of the season. My wife is awful with technical things and yet she was able to start the Toro.

It's not complicated at all you slide the throttle lever all the way over, turn the choke switch all te way left, press the fuel button 3 times, and Pull start it. Then after 20 seconds turn the choke switch and you are good to go.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6u9Y7ELfI3M

mvedepo wrote:
Yes, he drives a manly 4X4 with chrome wheels.  It's been offroad, climbing the curb while on the way to Starbucks.. 

Steve_Cebu wrote:

Your wife looks like a good sport.Certainly not the norm when it comes to snow blowers, lawnmowers.

blumonster wrote:

Yeah, she really is a gem. But she likes doing a lot of stuff so that's good. She'd like to have more time to do it but not with her current work schedule. I showed her how to use teh leafblower and she really wants to use it some more but it's mostly done now so she'll have to wait until next fall.