The Honda HS928 series of snowblowers is on the expensive side, but it is big and powerful enough to easily clear large areas of heavy snow.
Are you tired of the exhausting, time consuming, and backbreaking job of clearing your driveway with a simple shovel? Ever wondered if it is possible to turn this daunting task into something you could perhaps even enjoy? If so, the Honda HS928 series is a great place to look.
The Honda HS928 series is a heavy-duty line of snowblowers that is specifically designed to clear large swaths of deep, heavy snow. The recent HS928TAS, HS928TA, HS928WA, and HS928WAS have several improvements compared to its predecessors.
Honda claims that the series offers not only just power, but reliability and durability with efficient fuel consumption. You have the option of either electrical or manual starting.
The Honda HS928 would be a good fit for you if you need a powerful snowblower that is slightly less noisy than its predecessors and other counterparts.
You can find a few guidelines on which Honda snowblower is the best fit for you here, but the HS928 series is ideal for larger driveways or uneven terrain in areas with lots of annual snowfall.
It is typical for companies to claim new improvements on a product only for us to find that the differences are not just very small, but also not worth the price tag. I looked at several models in the HS928 series and picked out some pros and cons that make sense for all of them.
Honda HS928 Pros
- Power and fuel efficient
- Lower emissions
- Long snow blowing trajectory of up to 49 feet
- Less noise with improved muffler
- Easy assembly of parts
Honda HS928 Cons
- Relatively expensive compared to other snowblowers
- Needs physical strength to operate for traction
- Uphill speed decreases significantly with age
The Honda HS928 is also quite the looker.
Features
The HS928 is powered by the Honda GX engine, which is created for fuel-efficient power for heavy-duty snowblowers. The four-stroke engine produces less noise and vibrations, lower emissions and increased clearing and throwing distances.
Honda guarantees a 6% increased power output compared to other models. Its combustion chamber is installed with a specific design called Digital Discharge Function (CDI). It’s responsible for this additional power through variable ignition timings and an increased compression ratio.
Honda has a reputation of making efficient machines. Its new GX technology is claimed to increase this efficiency by 1%. This can also be a great thing if you are a conscious consumer because it meets all the Phase III EPA exhaust emission regulations without any additional chemical components.
Impeller
The Honda HS980 has an impeller that is specifically designed to throw snow over long distances. The shape and speed of it in the newer models also enhances durability and reduces noise.
Two-Stage Shooter
A two-stage shooter can allow you to be more precise with the direction of throwing your cleared snow. An electric two-stage shooter gives you better control, which can increase the overall precision. And if you are wondering if it is really different from a single stage blower, it takes up more snow as well.
Shear Bolt Guard
Honda brags of using top-notch material in all its constructions. The HS980’s bolts are not an exception to this standard. On top of this the machine is fitted with a sensor to detect any problems with the bolts like things getting caught in between them. It is also possible for you to know when the auger is locked or unlocked.
Long-Life Skid
Since the main purpose of this machine is to perform on hard terrain, the skids are fitted to protect it from damage over rocks, cracks and hard or uneven surfaces. The newer models have their skid shapes redesigned in a way that they are more resistant to wear and tear by either changing their position or turning them upside down.
Honda says the skid shoe will never rust. This means that you would not have to constantly worry about making sure you dry it before storing it. It can be used on multiple surface material without damaging it. It also snugs right onto the frame of the snowblower, avoiding any inconvenient contact when you operate it.
2-Ply Tires
I can only imagine the amount of strain and strength it would take to operate such a powerful machine without sufficient balance. The Honda HS980 also boasts 2-ply rated tired that give it better balance and stability to maximize on its performance. This might be very helpful with either a track or wheel model. They are rigid and make a big contribution to the stability of the machine.
Icing Guard
The company also considered the possibility of extreme temperatures in its design. The Honda HS928 series has icing guards that protect the carburetor from freezing during the cold winters by directing warm air from the engine. Gone are the days where you would have to run back into your garage to get some anti-freeze gas before starting up your snowblower.
Egg-Shaped Disc
This snowblower is supposed to be easy to assemble and disassemble. Honda has installed an egg-shaped disc that makes it easy to remove, align and replace the bolts to meet this expectation.
It is very straightforward and does not need any serious levels of technical knowledge or tool-handling skills. This video illustrates how easy it is. I thought it would go ahead and find out what other users of the Honda HS980 are saying just to give you a bigger picture.
The biggest complaint I found online is the issue on the pricing. However, quality parts don’t come cheap and Honda built the HS928 to last.
A few people also commented on the handlebars, but they were also specific on the relation to their height. The ability of it to clean wide lengths and throw out huge amounts of snow very far is something that both the manufacturers and users are very happy about.
Although this might sound minimal, the Honda HS928 is fitted with a headlight that is just the right size. It can illuminate a good amount of darkness and distance, which can really make all the difference when you’re clearing snow on a dark day.
Conclusion
Honda meets all the strict requirements and regulations that are set up for making snowblowers and other machines. On top of that, it does not compromise on the quality of the materials used in the manufacturing process. The extra amount of money you would pay for the Honda HS980 might be worth it if you look at its usage on a long term basis. Honda also has an amazing dealer support system where you can find easily find a dealer near you.
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