How to Get Better Performance from Your Snow Blower

HSS928Do you feel like you’re not getting the best performance from your Honda single or dual stage snow blower? Are you looking for ways to make snow clearing easier on yourself? These tips will help you clear snow faster and avoid common problems with starting and clogging.

Prepare the Area You’re Clearing Ahead of Time

Removing hazards, including rocks, chains, garden hoses and extension cords from the area before it snows will keep you from running over them. Placing markers around the edges of driveways and sidewalks will let you see the area you need to clear once the landscape is covered in snow. This doesn’t just save time by limiting what you clear, it protects your lawn, which can be damaged by your blower’s auger.

Do you get the newspaper? Make sure it’s out of the driveway before you start clearing. The paper and the plastic bag it comes in will have no problem jamming up your auger and breaking the shear pins.

Keep Your Fuel Fresh

There are few places where snow storms are constant, so it pays to be prepared for the next storm whether it’s tomorrow or in a couple months. Straight gasoline starts going stale after a month, but by adding a stabilizer shortly after purchase, the fuel will stay fresh for up to three months, making your machine easier to start. Between storms, keeping the tank topped up will reduce the amount of contact it has with oxygen, keeping it fresher longer.

Move Snow While It’s Still Snowing

This seems counter-intuitive: by clearing snow while it’s falling, you’ll have to go back and remove any remaining snow once the storm stops. However, the less snow your machine has to move at one time, the faster it can work. Clearing snow as it falls also keeps the weight of fresh snow from packing down lower layers, making it easier to remove. That means breaking up the job into two clearings can decrease the total time you have to spend out in the cold.

Throw Snow Where You Want It the First Time

When your snow blower picks up snow, it should be forced through the chute far enough to land outside the area you’re clearing. If it isn’t, changing your methods can keep you from having to make a second pass to move snow you already tried to clear:

– Overlap more with each pass, letting the auger pick up less snow at a time.
– Go slower and increase engine speed.
– Increase the chute angle.
– Aim the chute to work with the wind.

Keep the Chute from Clogging

Wet snow may not be dense, but it likes to stick to the auger housing and chute. If you’re having trouble with chute clogs, go slower, even if the snow isn’t that deep or dense.

Applying polymer car wax to the inside of plastic chutes can keep snow from sticking, while silicone spray lubricant can be used on the surface of the impeller and inside metal chutes to help snow slide through the machine.

Wait Before Refueling

You may be tempted to refill your blower’s fuel tank as soon as possible so you can get back to work, but it only takes a few spilled drops of fuel on a hot engine to start a fire. When your Honda runs low on fuel, take a break to let the engine cool down and your body warm up. Once you’ve refueled, move your snow blower at least 10 feet away before restarting to prevent the ignition of fuel vapors.

Consider a Snow Cab

Wind chill can make cold temperatures dangerous while blowing snow is unpleasant regardless of temperature. A snow cab may not look like much, but it can shield you from these two hazards, making it easier and safer to clear large areas. Honda makes cabs that fit all of their two-stage models.

Plan Ahead for Parts Replacement

Shear pins and belts can break at any time, so it pays to have some extras on hand to keep your snow blower running. Hondalawnparts.com has these parts as well as everything else you need to keep your Honda snow blower working. When you select your model and serial number in our search engine, you’ll see factory parts diagrams and descriptions, making it easy to find the right item for your equipment. Want to add a snow cab or a set of drift cutters? We sell those, too. We ship across the U.S. and Canada.

Servicing the HS1336iAS Snow Blower

HS1336iAS Snow BlowerIt may be a hybrid, but the HS1336iAS snow blower is as easy to service as any other piece of Honda outdoor equipment. Here’s everything you need to know about keeping this two-stage blower running from adjusting the tracks to changing the oil.

Tool Box

This snow blower has a toolbox built into the back panel with everything you need for maintenance. Here’s what you should find inside.

Tools:
10 and 12 mm box wrench
10 and 14 mm open end wrench
Two 12 and 17 mm open end wrenches
Spark plug wrench and handle
Pliers

Spare parts:
5 blower shear bolts
10 auger shear bolts
15 8 mm lock nuts
2 cotter pins
2 battery terminal covers
5 and 15 amp fuses
Fuse cover

Maintenance Schedule

Each Use: Check engine oil, skid shoes, scraper, shear bolts, and battery electrolyte level.
Each year before use: Change the engine oil. Check the gear reduction oil, spark plug, and tracks.
Every year before storing: Drain the fuel tank and carburetor. Clean the sediment cup. Apply oil to unpainted parts to prevent corrosion.
First month or 20 hours of operation: Change the engine oil and check the tracks.
Every 100 hours: Change the engine oil.
Every four years or 300 hours: Replace the spark plug.

Honda recommends having this snow blower serviced professionally before storage, after the first month or 20 hours of operation and every 300 hours. These services include repairs that are too complex for most owners.

Auger wear will vary depending on the surfaces you operate on. The blades at the end of the auger have wear marks. If the blades are worn down to these marks, the auger should be replaced by a mechanic.

Engine Oil

The dipstick is located on the right side of the snow blower next to the tracks. When checking the oil level, do not screw the dipstick into the hole.

To change the oil, place a drain pan on the right track. Remove the dipstick and unscrew the 10 mm drain bolt directly below the filler neck. Once the crankcase is empty, reinstall the drain bolt, using a new washer.

Honda recommends 5W30 motor oil that meets API service category SJ or later. The oil level should come up to the edge of the filler neck. The iGX390 holds 1.16 quarts.

Spark Plug

The plug is behind the muffler. The plug gap should be between 0.028 and 0.031 inches or 0.7-0.8 mm.

Track Adjustment

The tracks must be clean and dry to get accurate measurements. To check the tension, push down on the top middle section of the track with 22 lb-ft. of force. The track should deflect 0.62-0.79 inches (16-20 mm.)

To adjust the track tension, loosen the lock nut on the tension bolt, located just behind the front wheel. Turn the adjusting nut until the track tension is correct, then tighten the lock nut.

Shear Bolt Replacement

1. Turn the auger clutch switch to “Off.”
2. Release the drive clutch lever.
3. Set the auger to its lowest position.
4. Turn the engine off and remove the key. Let the snowblower come to a complete stop.
5. Look over the snow blower for signs of debris or damage that may have caused the bolt to break.
6. Remove the broken bolts and replace them with new shear bolts and lock nuts.

Batteries and Fuses

To access the batteries, loosen the two knobs on the sides of the rear cover. Rotate the rear cover down and slide it off of the snow blower. The fuses are inside a box directly above the batteries.

The electrolyte level should be between the “Lower Level” and “Upper Level” marks on the side of the battery case. If the level is low, remove the caps from the top of the battery and add distilled water. Clean any corrosion on the battery terminals with baking soda and water.

To remove the batteries, disconnect the negative cable from the left battery, followed by the positive terminal on the right battery. Loosen the nuts holding the battery clamp, then disconnect the joint cable from the left battery’s positive terminal, then the right battery’s negative terminal. Remove the batteries from the snow blower. When reinstalling the batteries, connect them in the reverse order you disconnected them.

Charge the batteries individually. The output of each battery should be within 10% of 35 Ah. Charge the battery at 3.5 amps for 5-10 hours.

Need Parts?

If you need some shear pins, an oil plug washer or even a new toolkit, you can get it from www.hondalawnparts.com. We’re a certified dealer for Honda Power Equipment and Honda Engines, which means we carry OEM replacements for everything on your snow blower. Our site has built-in factory information including diagrams and descriptions, making it easy to find compatible parts for your model.

HSS724 Two Stage Snow Blowers

hss724-housing

Sometimes, a single stage blower isn’t big enough to get the job done, while most two-stage blowers are overkill. Honda’s HSS724 two-stage snowblowers are designed to fill the niche between these extremes, offering enough power for residential and minor commercial work while including features normally found only in the largest snow moving equipment.

Engine

These snow blowers are powered by a 198cc Honda GX200. This engine is a staple of the commercial outdoor equipment market, known for unparalleled reliability and easy starting, even in extreme cold. In this application, only the front of the engine is covered, shielding it from ice and snow while retaining easy access to service points. The gas tank is fitted with a top-mounted fuel gauge and an extra large gas cap designed to be easy to remove when wearing gloves.

Both the HSS724AWD and ATD have an electric starter that is powered by an onboard battery, eliminating the need for an extension cord. All models include an LED headlight.

Performance

These snowblowers can sweep up a strip of snow that’s up to 23.8 inches wide and 21.7 inches tall at a rate of 1,500 lbs. per minute. This power is paired with a serrated main auger busts through ice and heavy snow, helping the HSS724 tackle ground cover that will stop most other blowers. This auger rides on greaseable bearings for long-term durability and has offset shear pins to prevent damage if there’s a jam. Reversible skid shoes protect the bottom edge of the auger housing, while a chute clearing tool clips into the side of the snowblower cover for quick, safe unclogging.

The second auger pushes snow through the chute hard enough to throw it up to 49 feet away. The chute uses an electric joystick control for angle and pitch and has 198 degrees of rotation.

Drive System

The HSS724AW and AWD ride on 14-inch pneumatic tires that have a new tread pattern designed for better grip on snow and slick pavement, making them a great choice for most users.

The HSS724AT and ATD use a track drive system that is ideal for use on difficult surface terrain and commercial flat roofs. The rubber tracks provide added grip on hills and inclines, uneven surfaces, icy conditions and heavily packed snow. These models also allow the height of the auger to be adjusted, digging into hard pack snow instead of driving over it.

All versions of the HSS724 come with a hydrostatic drive system that has infinitely variable speed control, letting you get the right rate of snow removal to get the job done quickly without bogging down. Drive to each wheel can be engaged independently using a set of grips on the handles, helping to steer the snowblower by shutting off power to the inner wheel. Once the snowblower is in position, the grips can be locked together, allowing one hand to control drive engagement while the other is free to operate other controls. When you need to transport the snowblower, closing both grips puts the drive system in neutral so it’s easy to roll.

Both the hydrostatic drive and throttle are adjustable from the handle-mounted controls, letting you ease off the engine for lower fuel consumption when moving light snow.

Warranty

Aside from wear items like shear pins and belts, Honda covers the snowblower and engine for three years of both residential and commercial use.

Getting Parts for HSS724 Snow Blowers

Whether you need some spare shear pins or it’s time to do major repairs to your Honda snowblower, you can get everything you need from www.hondalawnparts.com. We’re a certified Honda Power Equipment dealer, which lets us offer the full line of OEM parts for Honda equipment and the engines that power them. Our site can show you factory descriptions and diagrams for the parts of your model, making it easy to find exactly what you need. We ship to both the U.S. and Canada.

Honda Snow Blower Parts Guide

Most homeowners already know that snow blowers are an invaluable tool against the yearly onslaught of winter. There are a number of manufacturers to choose from, but one brand seems to rise above the rest. Honda Snow Blowers are versatile and extremely useful in clearing snow from walkways, driveways and other paved areas.

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