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

What is a 2006 model worth? I now a Honda dealer selling one, machine was just tuned up.

tracks aside - have you looked at the 27" Husky with tracks...
I've looked at not as it seems like a good compromise in space, Power + Hydro tranny.
I've yet to see the machine so can't speak for other tidbits like chute operation, etc.

@stresst

Make him an offer of $500 cash and your machine and if he turns you down, tell him to call you if he changes his mind.

You aren't buying the Mona Lisa.

Also remember I had a 928 with tracks and it is not all that fun to manuever and you will get a good workout using it.

Your Toro is so much easier to turn and steer. Just make sure that if you do buy that Honda that you won't have buyers remorse or want something else. Just be happy with your purchase. The guy selling the Honda obviously wasn't happy with his purchase.

I have a 1132TAS also.  Tracks are something you have to adapt to like it.  It won't win you over right away.  There's the bucket pedal to work with, shifting weights to the front of the tracks to make the turning easier, manual chute crank that works in reverse.  Plus, as Steve_Cebu said, it will be a workout.  Besides these idiosyncracies, it is a terrific snow tosser, eats EOD without riding up, and it has the best sounding engine. 

The 1132TAS has a lot more oomph than your current 826.  But keep in mind that the 1132 is a  heavy brute and is not as friendly to operate a 826.  It will either humble you or frustrate you.  Its 260 lbs of pure muscle, lower center of gravity, 10x traction.  Make sure you get a good single stage snowblower to use when light snowfall is too much to bring out the big 1132.

Another thing to mention is while the Honda is tough and well built snowblower, if abused and not taken care of, it will be costly to own.

  Does the engine spew blue smoke when it starts up from worn piston rings, valves or possibly not be stored properly with oil in the cylinder, as required.  6 years old, was it owned by a homeowner or the municipal government, or an institution with miles of walkways and parking areas ?  How much was it actually used ?  Is it rusted ?  Does it look good, or kinda beat ?  Used equipment means the price is for what potential remains in the machine, YOU have to determine that, and then decide what is a sound offer. When new that was the best of snowblowers, after it is new, is another list of possibilities.

MN_Runner wrote:

Is it that obvious?

Steve_Cebu wrote:

I told him no thanks, I am too worried I will indeed have buyers remorse. Then I have a third owner (minimum) 5-6 year old machine. I find it fishy.........

Nothing fishy about ownership...SB's come and go, IMO

The only questionable issue is used vs. new.
New - You know the maint. history.

Used - It's the very risk you take buying used, and it's up to you to buy whatever condition you are paying for.

I tested a 928tracks and it did not seem that bad handeling wise.
Then again, there was not any snow for me to see how it is in the *real world*. Hydro tranny is a ++++

I love my honda with the tracks.

I just fired her up this afternoon for the first

time since last winter. One pull!!

mobiledynamics wrote:

Track drive works best with some snow on the ground - the snow acts as a lubricant which makes maneuverability much easier than on dry pavement. Lots of folks like to slam the track drive (I admit that I was skeptical as well) but once you learn the ins & outs of how to operate the track drive it really is quite easy and if you have a sloped driveway (like I do) quite nice from a traction standpoint. It definitely is not for everyone but it works quite well under the right circumstances.

There is nothing wrong with Honda's track drive, it works exactly like it's supposed to but it is not easier to turn or steer. My wife cannot turn it.

You do have to muscle it around which for most guys isn't that big an issue unless you have a lot of turns.

Toro has the skid steer which honestly for what Honda charges should come with it. That said if we redo our backyard and put in a

generator I'd have to snowblow across or rather up/down a fairly steep hill and that would mean a Honda with tracks as it can be set to 3

different positions. The Toro like most wheelies scrapes nice and low which I love but it can't adjust for stuff like the grass on the fly.

Snowblowing 100 feet in our backyard would not be fun with wheels, one slip and down she goes!