The Honda HS520 is a compact and practical snowblower that is best suited for clearning smaller spaces.
Sometimes all we need is a snowblower that is not only durable, but also up to the task at and. While most snowblower manufacturers can meet these standards, how often do you find one that is affordable, powerful enough to clear a big amount of snow and easy to use? The Honda HS520 is one such option.
The Honda HS520 is a practical single-stage snowblower that is semi-propelled by a rubber auger and clears snow over a 20-inch width.
There are two variants to this model; the HS520A and the HS520AS. The only difference between the two is that the HS520AS has both a manual and electric start. Everything else on both machines is the same. This snowblower is ideal for anyone who needs practicality, high performance, readily accessible parts and is keen on safety. If your driveway is larger and you see a lot of snowfall every winter, then I would suggest looking at the heavy duty Honda snow blowers such as the HS920 or 724 series.
Honda HS520 Pros
- Quick engine start up
- Easy to use and manoeuvre around small spaces
- Meet all the required EPA and California emission regulations
- Rubber auger rubber material preserves the surface that it cleans
Honda HS520 Cons
- No headlights
- Only suitable for smaller snow clearing jobs
- Three-month warranty is fairly short
Features, Specs and Benefits
The first thing you would notice about the Honda HS520 is its compact size. It is small and compact, easy to store and can be used to move around tight spaces and along walls and hedges. Its size parameters are 49.5 by 20.7 by 40.4 inches and weighs between 75 and 87 pounds depending on the A or AS model.
The size of it is also not a reflection of its performance. The Honda HS520 is fitted with a 5HP OHC Premium Residential engine that gives it enough power to dig through up to 12 inches of snow on a 20-inch wide space. Throwing distance for this machine is up to 26 feet.
The snowblower also has a 4-stroke engine, which means that all you need to do is pour in your gas and start it up – you don’t have to worry about mixing gas and oil like in a 2-stroke engine.
And since there is no burning oil smell, you could still go out after blowing the snow and not worry about smelling like a garage. Lower emissions are also an advantage to your health and the environment as a whole.
A 4-stroke engine is also more fuel-efficient, and would help you save more, over a longer period, compared to any 2-stroke engine equipment. Another benefit with this is that it is much quieter, so you don’t have to worry about nagging your neighbors or breaking any noise regulations for your county, if you have any.
Honda is known to manufacture equipment that is durable. But just like any other snowblower of its kind, the Honda HS520 is prone to wear and tear.
However, the parts are readily available and easy to assemble. And your local dealer will be more than happy to do the maintenance work for you.
The handle is nicely curved and much longer compared to its competitors like the Toro brands of its class. Although the chute control is manual, it is easy to navigate and control.
It is also semi-self-propelled, which allows you to use minimum effort especially when clearing snow up and down a hilly landscape. The chute lever is also easy to turn either left or right – even when the snowblower is in motion.
This equipment is very straight forward when it comes to shoveling snow. All you need to do is pull the auger, and give it a gentle nudge and there you go blowing away your snow.
Despite being a single stage snow blower, the Honda HS520 can clear up to 55 tons of snow per hour. This makes it very practical for both residential and commercial use.
Honda also makes it very easy for any user without technical knowledge to learn how to safely use and maintain this snowblower. The fuel valve is openly located on the center of the control panel with on and off indicators.
Right next to it is an engine switch. And just to make sure you do not accidentally start it, the machine cannot start under any circumstances if you have not attached the starter grip to the handle.
When it comes to maintenance and replacement of parts, Honda has specifically designed OEM parts that are easily available. You can easily order for them here.
There are both illustrated diagrams and easy to follow step-by-step guides on how to assemble, change or disassemble any part of your Honda HS520.
Customer Reviews
The general customer satisfaction rating of the Honda HS520 is high. It seems to deliver a great amount of resistance to wear and tear while still getting the job done.
I found a large number of peer-to-peer forums where people discussed their opinions, problems and solutions to everyday problems with the snow blower.
Also, many personal blogs of home equipment fans and specialists, openly discuss their guides and reviews to either specific parts or the entire machine. For example, this site has a detailed piece on how to do an oil change for the HS520.
Conclusion
Since we know that Honda as a manufacturer is reliable, it is easy to trust that its HS520 is up to scale in terms of quality like all their other products.
It might be the ideal snowblower for you if you want something that is small, easy to store and easy to use. In case you overwork it, you have an endless supply of resources on where to get parts to either fix it yourself or have support in its maintenance.
It also fits a very traditional yet practical mode of safety that allows you to actually see and feel if the machine is on or off. On top of that, who would not love a self-propelling snowblower this winter?
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