Izzynormal

My dealer's price on the bolts were cheaper than the nuts.  WTF?  Next time I'm buying a bag of Stainless flange nuts (6mm) and getting for much less from another source.  Make sure the shear bolts you use are good for the job or the auger will self destruct.  I know a machinist and will ask what he thinks.  My dealer charges almost $4 the flange nuts and $1.50 for the bolts.  I didn't mind the bolt prices but the flange nuts were a total ripoff.

BTW I'd like to sell off my WAS 928 as we didn't get enough snow this year to warrant the purchase in Dec. was hoping to get work out of it.  Played with it in only 4" snow to see how it handles and it is great.  Just don't want to store it until next season while all the people around us got pounded.  Like to recoupe my investment.  Have the factory shop manual and owner's manual.  Not sure how to post contact info or if it's allowed.  I'm in Pittsburgh and will post on Craigslist soon.

I wanted to save a few bucks on a work light.  One seller on feeBay said the GE H7614 halogen is the replacement for the work light. It is a 12V 50W flood lamp.  I asked if it's the same as the one from Honda because I'm not sure of the volts and amperage of the lighting coil on the HS928. 

Anyone know the details of the replacement lamp?  Maybe open the work light and check the numbers on the back of the light?  Harbor Frieght has a rubber work light that is only 35 watts but is about $16 compared to Honda price of about $70.  I'd have to make a bracket but that should be easy.  I don't know the wattage or voltage of the lighting coil.  I read it could be as low as 18 watts and is 12V.A.C. not 12V.D.C. and 50watts.

Use neolube on stainless bolts and nuts to prevent galling of threads. Find neolube through google search.  Suggest flange nuts when available.  They had them at the site you recommended but I didn't see the ss fender washers.  My new HS928 has the commercial skids but not sure if bolts are stainless steel so I'm going to change them.

I waxed the metal parts of the snowblower to prep it for use.  Was told to wash it with hot water after each use and to spray it with WD-40 to prevent rust.  Oh, and store it in a garage; not outdoors.  A buddy uses NU Car finish on his snowblower.  Likes the hardness of the finish says it resists the effects of snow hitting the surfaces in the chute and auger housing.  Never used it so I can't comment.

So far (Dec. 22, 2010) and no snow in Pittsburgh. 

Just purchased the HS928 Honda.  Read that the hydrostatic transmission stops opposite  track when you turn the unit one way or the other.

I tried it on dry concrete and it steered easily as long as it's in motion.  No snow in Pittsburgh yet so I don't know how it handles in snow.  I don't care for the low height of the handlebars and the mystery of the amperage and voltage of the lighting circuit.   I had one seller on feeBay tell me the replacement bulb number they stock is the GE H7614 12V 50.  I replied asking if it's the original Honda replacement because I've read that the output of the lighting circuit is 12VA.C. 18w on other forums. Still doing research on it.

After shovelling 8-10 hrs. a day last year I swore to get a good snowblower.

Decided on the Honda HS928 without seeing one first hand.  My first impression

is that it's a bit short for most Americans who are tend to be taller than people

from other parts of the world.  I also thought some simple design aspects were

overlooked.  Mainly no tie down plates so you can transport the blower to other

places.  Considering this model is a commercial grade you'd think they'd have

thought of it.

The machine is difficult to maneuver without the engine running.  I'm thinking a

set of "training wheels" might do wonders for a tracked machine.  A kick plate

that would flip some wheels down to turn it around would have been one way

to solve the problem.  I also thought there should be a way to steer by braking or

even reversing either track like a tank.  Even a way to shift either track into neutral

would make steering pretty nice.  (I used to drive VW Beetles that I had equipped

with a JC Whitney dual lever parking brake adapter that would allow the driver to

pull on either handle to brake rear drive wheel. The other wheel would push

the car in the direction of the wheel that was being held with the handle.  It used

the braked wheel as a pivot enabling you to steer with the front wheels and the

one rear wheel.)  

I still think my choice was good.  I had purchased a used Honda Weed Trimmer

(UMK 431) last summer and was very impressed with the quality (other than the

stupid design of the line spool which I substitued with an aftermarket design that

uses short peices of line (about 9") stuck into three tabs (I spray a bit of wd-40 into

the holes to make feeding the line peices easier).  I also purchased an older Honda

Van (2001) and was also impressed with the design and reliability.  Have ridden a Honda

Scooter for past 5 years with no complaints there either (it's the PS-250 Big Ruckus).

I was a bit disappointed with the dealer's instructions (failed to mention the fuel shutoff

which I think is VERY important) and I didn't see any grease on parts such as the chute

directional control, etc.