spike99
North America
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Joined: 01/15/2004
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I have a Honda Lawn mower (yes, much different then a snow blower). But my Honda has been great since day one - which was 3 years ago. Next model will be have self propelled. If you can, do ensure your snow blower is self propelled. Especially if your area is often ice covered (like my driveway). Standing on ice while pushing a snow blower with arms (because it lacks self propel drive system) is very dangerious. Slip - slide and away. LOL!!!
Hope this helps - some how...
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Poltax
UT
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Joined: 01/30/2003
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Go with the Honda. I have a Honda mower the 6.5 HP unit. Its been great. I also have the Honda CR500MX bike. Grab a handful and hang on........
We dont race on Elvis's Birthday.
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golf_bears
Rapid City, SD
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Joined: 02/01/2007
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I don't think there is any doubt, you want the Honda. That said, you also need a two stage. In wet snow or heavy deep snow a single stage will clog the discharge chute. You'll find yourself spending a lot of time trying to unclog the chute.
Go get a good Honda two stage, and enjoy the winter.
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traxtermax
UPSTATE NEW YORK
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Joined: 05/26/2004
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Honda's track drive is great and will take you through most situations but it can be a bear to handle (not bad on snow, clear 'ground' is a different story). Get an electric start because you are going to get older faster than you think.
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Vulcaneer
Northern New England
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Joined: 10/17/2007
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I would not recommend any Craftsman power equipment. Used to be that, even though the chassis may be made by a private label company (ie: MTD), you can only get the parts from Sears. If the engine is Tecumseh, or Briggs, Kohler, etc., Sears is the only source for parts. Got burned in the past. Never again. I don't know if it same way today. But your snow could get pretty deep, before you get the right part from Sears.
2006 F350 V10 4X4 SC SB SRW 4.30 22,500 GCWR
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Super Duty, Super Cab, SuperGlide
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traxtermax
UPSTATE NEW YORK
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Joined: 05/26/2004
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Vulcaneer wrote:...But your snow could get pretty deep, before you get the right part from Sears.
You bet! Once it took me nine months to get a Sears pump part I ordered in July; however, I was lucky to have a neighbor that had an "extra" pump with the same part!
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catkins
Washington
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Joined: 10/27/2003
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Have a cabin in the mountain and have owned a Craftsman and now a Honda. HONDA hands down winner. The track drive, motor that never hiccups and ease of start all were amazingly better. Neighbor who has several blowers(a mechanic tinkerer) always uses OURS when the snow is heaviest because of the track drive and better throat opening on the chute.
Last several Craftsman items (snowblower and lawn mower)have been real dogs. Never again will I buy CRaftsman. Is the sentiment in the area where cabin is. Everyone these days buys the Honda.
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lesmore49
canada
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Joined: 11/25/2004
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My MTD snow blower as mentioned previously has been worked hard in real winter country, 13 years, no parts, except spark plugs...cheaper than a Honda, I'd be impressed if a Honda met that record, up here. But it could. If you want a Honda get one.
Lawnmower...have what I consider the best, most reliable lawn mower engine ever...the tough two stroke Lawn Boy. Don't make them anymore....the environmentalists took care of that...2 stroke engines.
Had it, so far, for 19.5 years. It's old enough to vote in many provinces and states. Couple of spark plugs, one gas tank...which I replaced for $ 8.00 Cdn., back then about $ 4.00 US. Not bad for almost 20 years.
Lately it's been doing 3 lawns, not just one.
I might replace it with a Honda, if it ever goes, but only because the options are pitiful....I would never get a Briggs + Stratton engine again, after all the trouble and expense , I had with one decades ago. It's a case of fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.
Most lawn mowers use B + S, a few use Tecumseh (OK in my book), a few use Honda. I think that now the Lawn Boy 2 stroke is no longer produced, the Honda is perhaps the best of what remains.
lesmore49
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Mike R.
waterford michigan
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Joined: 02/08/2002
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Thanks for all the input, I have decided on the honda below since I am not in a snowbelt area, and it is small enough for my wife and 17 year old son to handle if need be. Plus it is small enough to put in the back of my truck to go clear my mothers driveway.
Honda snowblower
1996 GMC Suburban 2500 2WD 1999 Saturn
1992 GMC Sierra CC 2WD 2003 Honda Shadow Ace
2001 829s Prowler Lynx
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lesmore49
canada
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Joined: 11/25/2004
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Mike R. wrote:Thanks for all the input, I have decided on the honda below since I am not in a snowbelt area, and it is small enough for my wife and 17 year old son to handle if need be. Plus it is small enough to put in the back of my truck to go clear my mothers driveway.
Honda snowblower
Try it out first. At some of our snow blower dealers they have some land by there shop where you can try it out, first. I say this because I see the wheels are not driven. We have an electric Toro that with the exception of the fact that it had an electric motor rather than gas...the rest of it looked similar. The Toro is strictly push, the augers don't pull it along. The Honda augers 'pull' it along??? Don't know how well that would work. Maybe it will, but I would try it out first.
It might mean you have to push that thing into snow, if you get a little more than average snow storm, or if it's a snow bank caused by wind. Pushing a machine or assisting the meager traction by a machine is extremely tiring, at least it was for me.
Our undriven Toro sits unused in the garage next to our heavily used MTD, because it was next to useless.
I recall when using it, I was 3/4's as tired as I was shovelling the snow, wit that little electric Toro.
I got the MTD and stopped using the Toro electric because I was concerned about having a heart attack. I'm relatively healthy never had heart problems, but I was concerned as every winter you hear of guys, in less than great shape getting an attack by overdoing it , cleaning up after a snowstorm.
You might want to check with the Honda dealer, see what they say about the amount of force needed with the one you are looking at vs, the lightest power wheel driven Honda machine.
* This post was
edited 11/30/08 03:52pm by lesmore49 *
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