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Now that's a snowblower. Was only available in Japan and Canada for a while.

I just bought a new Ariens last week. Parked right next to the one that I bought was that exact model, with a price tag of $7400.00! Crazy. However, it's a Honda. Everything about it was unreal. For example, one of the things that I was told separates Honda snow blowers and everyone else is the gap between the impeller and the housing. Most manufacturers create a gap of about a 1/2". I'm not sure why, but I was told that manufacturers don't machine the various pieces to fit very precisely b/c of wear and tear and other factors that might impede the impeller. However, the gap in the Honda machine was almost nonexistent, I couldn't even get my little finger behind the impeller. However, with the Ariens that I bought, which is a very good snow blower, I easily fit my finger.

Smolenski7 wrote:I just bought a new Ariens last week. Parked right next to the one that I bought was that exact model, with a price tag of $7400.00! Crazy. However, it's a Honda. Everything about it was unreal. For example, one of the things that I was told separates Honda snow blowers and everyone else is the gap between the impeller and the housing. Most manufacturers create a gap of about a 1/2". I'm not sure why, but I was told that manufacturers don't machine the various pieces to fit very precisely b/c of wear and tear and other factors that might impede the impeller. However, the gap in the Honda machine was almost nonexistent, I couldn't even get my little finger behind the impeller. However, with the Ariens that I bought, which is a very good snow blower, I easily fit my finger.

I'm amazed a dealer would keep that model in stock. I have the Honda 928 - tracked model (10 years old now, this year I have to replace the "feet" and "scraper"). I'm going to check the impeller tomorrow morning. The guy who services all my equipment wishes Honda would let him sell their stuff, but they are protecting a motor cycle outfit that barely keeps any inventory. He's told me that my Honda is better than any of the stuff he sells and that it will run for 20 years at a minimum. What's crazy is that he's licensed to service all the Honda stuff and can sell their engines.

The only knock on the Honda tracked models (other than that new one) is turning because you can't engage the tracks independently. The hydrostatic transmission is awesome and the ability to change the height is great for the crappy/icey Nor'easter stuff we get (and when we drive up and down the driveway during a storm and I don't get to clear it until the end of the day and everything is compressed)

I just checked my Honda, the impeller has about 1/8" of clearance at most. Never thought of that being important, but I get it helps prevent build-up in there.

The only other downside of the Honda blowers is that their shear pins are like butter. I know they protect the machine, but they are extremely sensitive. My neighbors have Craftsman blowers (and I think a Toro) and none of them have ever changed a pin.

I go through 4-5 a season (and its always a different one). Thank g_d for Jack's Small Engines, I have a great inventory now. Local Honda dealer sold me a regular bolt instead of a Honda spec'd shear pin and the bigger pin for the impeller broker instead of the easy to replace auger pins.

Here's a snow blower for ya.. I have put many many hours behind the wheel of this one...

SW315 wrote:Here's a snow blower for ya.. I have put many many hours behind the wheel of this one...

Very cool. Looks like the stuff the use in Buffalo.

jglongisland wrote:

SW315 wrote:Here's a snow blower for ya.. I have put many many hours behind the wheel of this one...

Very cool. Looks like the stuff the use in Buffalo.

Yep, it's pretty standard issue for airports

I had the Ariens 32 inch snowblower with the Techumseh "Sno-King" engine and it has no problem with my 280 ft long driveway and car parking area. I had the weather enclosure on it. Not sure what Ariens I had but it came from an Ariens dealer and was the commercial one. Had heated grips, differential (turning was super easy), big light, electric start but the motor would start on the 1st pull every time. I run Amsoil in my machines and they last forever.

Just traded it in on a new John Deere X300 with 44" snowblower. I'm on travel assignment so had to buy a machine to make it easy on the wife this winter as the walk-behind would be bulky for her to handle.

Get's delivered on 11/21 so I'll post images when my new snow eater arives

lawnandgarden wrote:I had the Ariens 32 inch snowblower with the Techumseh "Sno-King" engine and it has no problem with my 280 ft long driveway and car parking area. I had the weather enclosure on it. Not sure what Ariens I had but it came from an Ariens dealer and was the commercial one. Had heated grips, differential (turning was super easy), big light, electric start but the motor would start on the 1st pull every time. I run Amsoil in my machines and they last forever.

Just traded it in on a new John Deere X300 with 44" snowblower. I'm on travel assignment so had to buy a machine to make it easy on the wife this winter as the walk-behind would be bulky for her to handle.

Get's delivered on 11/21 so I'll post images when my new snow eater arives

By investing in that setup you just increased the likelihood you won't get more than 12" of snow this winter . Looks great, can you adjust the height on that so you can set it to "scrape" the packed down snow.

jg, it has shoes on the front so you can set how close to the ground it scrapes. I was convinced after seeing a coworker using exact same set-up that this was better way to go than walk-behind. The Ariens worked great but this will just get it done quick. I expect it to reduce the time by half using the JD set-up.

I'd be fine with only 12 inches of snow as it would help my wife out. I'm already on the hook for a couple trips for her over here and if she's snowblowing week after week I'll never here the end of it

L.A.G. that's a sweet set-up. If I had a place to store my Regent in the garage (and fit the two cars) I would do something similar. In fact, I probably wouldn't have a Regent, maybe a beefier Broadmoor. What engine does that 300 come with?

smolenski, it has the 18 Hp Kawasaki iTorque engine. Also has electric PTO. JD has $500 off for the 300 series tractors so that took a little pain off. Local dealer gave me good price for package (also bought cart and weather enclosure).

I traded in my LA115 and the Arien snowblower as package deal.

What did the dealer say about the tranny pushing all of that snow? My Regent has the same TT K46, just curious.

I reseached this to death about the K46. The JD comes with a 4 year/300 hr warranty so that says something.

When I talked to the dealer about it, he was emphatic that the K46 issue is overblown (FWIW). They've had one failure and the guy was pulling a heavy firewood trailer up and down a huge hill. Reputable dealer and I've bought other equipment from him and he hasn't steered me wrong yet.

For my driveway, he says this is ideal set-up and did not try to upsize me. This machine is built for it. Heavy duty frame, twin-cylinder, etc. Like I said, I saw my coworkers machine in action and I was sold. It was snowblowing through a foot plus of heavy snow like nothing. Four wheel drive would be nice but would be expensive overkill as the chains and weights give plenty of traction.

Sounds awesome.

I almost bought the x304 a few years ago, but opted for the Simplicity Regent. It was a few hundred less and IMO gives a better cut. Plus, you can't beat those stripes. I don't use it to plow snow though.

This is my arsenal for dealing with mother nature. Small, Medium and Large

Do you have helpers so you can run all 3 at once.

Never mind the "arsenal," take a look at the big screen and "lounging equipment" in the background. Sweet!

This is a sore spot for a tool junkie like me. Been using my FIL's Honda 928 track model. Was about to pull the trigger on a 1332AS for $3,000 last fall. Then the wife convinced me just to hire out the snow removal. To neighbor boys charge $15 each and it takes them about 2 hours. When we really get a Utah storm of 12-24" the professional crew charges me $50 including walks.

I spent a total of $300 last winter on snow removal and I didn't lift a finger. The wife was grinning when she pointed out that it would take that Honda blower 10 years to pay for itself.