Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

Lots of packed snow drifts, 8 to 36 inches high. -20C

I go into unheated garage, push the throttle forward, turn key, va va va , second attempt, va vroooomm, starts, we are off and running!

I just spent 2.5 hours with this beast, cleared 3 driveways, and the curve to the main road, so about 500ft, by 25ft wide.

Used almost a whole tank of gas. The pictures are from my phone! so excuse the quality!!

First off, at 373lbs, this thing is a tank, and it drives through snowdrifts like butter. No riding up, and very little slip. The biggest problem was I could feed it too fast, and actually slow the engine down. a quick adjustment oh the Hydro Drive, and I found a nice pace.

Having used a wheel drive for the last 14 years, I can say that the track drive is a bit of a challenge, and will take some getting used too. I was able to turn it 180 to make next cut, but definately not as easy as a wheel drive, not terrible, but definately more of a challenge. I found that leaning the auger back to take the weight of the front made it a lot easier to turn.

Were the tracks did work well, was pushing through the drifts, no riding up, once I set a nice pace, just held on with one hand, and let it eat and throw through, much easier than my previous snow blower. I really like the Hydro Drive, makes it real easy to find the speed that you want, anywhere from a crawl, to a brisk walk.

Throwing snow for this Yamaha works very well, I could easily throw to the other side of the road, I would estimate I was getting around 40 feet at times.

The electric direction change for the chute works very well, moves it quickly, without struggle, even after 3 hours, and buildup of snow and ice. The deflection on the Yamaha is manual, cable, 2 stage, and built into the same control for direction.

Unfortunately, when I did my neighbors driveway, he had an area were the rocks were loose, and I did catch a few of them

So there are a couple of dings in the impeller, and a few scratches in the plastic guard, so it looks like there is no returns now

I am very happy with the performance of this Snow Blower. It made short work of the packed snow, easy to start, easy controls. My only concern from using it for 3 hours, was the turning, which got better with time.

Overall though, I am way less worn/tired as I have been in the past with my previous unit. With out a doubt, I know I would still be out there, lifting up on handle bars, backing up, pushing in, etc.

I would love to drive up to where you are and do a side by side comparison so I know what challenging environment you are dealing with - who really knows may be my Honda will crap out before yours. Too bad as you are more than 4 hrs from where I am.

Sounds like a good breakin.  Give yourself some time to get used to turning with the tracks. There are  nuances.  My HS928 definitely bogs down when making a full cut of 14 inches of snow. No question. I just slow the hydro's progress down to a crawl until I hear the engine running without stress.   Its slow going sometimes, but I keep myself entertained by shooting the geyser of snow over cars, treetops and my neighbor's roof.  

You should be punished in some way for hitting that rock. Shame.

When are we going to get video (HD)?

MN_Runner wrote:

I took a honda 928TCD for a couple test blows, just in stuff pushed around in parking lot. I think your Honda will do just fine. I found them very similar, in fact, I almost took the Honda home.

It was the lack of Shear Pins, the Plastic Liner, and the closed in Body(very Quite) that pushed me towards the Yamaha. Both are excellent units, and could be bought for the same price.

The environment out here is that most of the snow, blows in from a farm field, so it is granular and well packed. You can walk on it, and only leave foot prints a couple inches deep. My 8hp 24 inch MTD would bog right down in this stuff with a full cut, actually stop throwing snow. I would have to back it up, and let it clear itself.

Underdog wrote:

Wow, is that a steering controlled Track on that Yamaha???

HD video, when it warm up enough to get someone to film me
Thanks for the update on the engine slowing down in full cut, I kinda thought a 28 inch cut at 14 inch high would slow down most units!!

And yes, I love the way it throws snow!! Could never do that with my MTD!! Shooting it clear over to the other side of the road

Underdog wrote:

I am punishing myself  I keep looking at the scratched paint and dings in the edges of the impeller, and realize, can't take it back now

It was not  'a' rock, it was a hand full of 1/2 inch rock, I was going along, then...rattle rattle, chunck chunck, tink tink, arrrggggg. Last week Phil had a bobcat in there, must have stirred up some of the gravel. It was in the snow, couldn't see it.

rubinew,

at least you did it and no one else touched the snowblower.  I got some dings and scratches on my Honda too and I am the culprit.

rubinew wrote:

Be thankful it wasn't 2" rocks or a 3" piece of granite! I hate the rocks but they seem to come from nowhere. It's all ledge under this house and around here. They had to dynamite to put in the basement and even that was so difficulty that they only did half the area as it took too long. Now that you have your first dent you can stop worrying. That auger is a lot tougher than you think.  The paint.... not so much.

rubinew,

Please take some pictures as you change the oil if not too much trouble.  Thanks for your great post and honest feedback (good and bad on your YS928)!

MN_Runner wrote:

Will do.

Just an interesting note, there is no mention of belts in the Maintenance section of the Yamaha, and this model has a 'clutch drive' auger.

Yet when I took of the cover to check the oil, behold, there are two belts. One driving the hydrostatic system, which I suspected would be there. Then a second, wide belt, driving the Auger. The magnetic clutch is used to engage the belt drive, similar to the clutch on a Air Condensor for AC. When you move the lever, you here the click, and the belt starts turning. Which explain why I can't turn the impeller with the engine off

rubinew wrote:

I think you are mistaken. If in fact it has a magnetic clutch then only when it’s energized will it hold the belt from turning so, when the clutch isn’t it should turn by hand aside from the fact it has a safety brake like all snow blowers or a mechanical one therefore you can’t rotate the impeller even when not energized.