Storing Your Honda Snowblower

Posted on January 31, 2018 by Admin

It’s been a rough winter, but it won’t be long before winter is replaced by spring and it will be time to put away your Honda snowblower. Proper preparation will protect your equipment when it’s in storage and make it easier to get running again once winter weather returns.

Washing

The auger housing, chute, and wheels or tracks can be rinsed off with a garden hose. Everything else should be wiped down with a moist rag to prevent water from seeping into the engine and gearbox where it can dilute the oil.

Once dry, apply some touch-up paint to damaged areas and a light oil or silicone spray to exposed metal components.

Lubrication

Refer to your manual to see the grease points on your model. Usually, this will include the chute guide, chute rolling gear, control lever links, chute tension bolts, auger height pivot point and, if you have a track model, the frame pivot point on the frame just inside of the tracks. There are no grease fittings on these points: simply smear some grease on the joints and move them back and forth to ensure even coverage. Some wheeled models have greaseable wheel axles, and the HS1336iAS also needs to have grease applied to the rolling cylinder pivot that tilts the auger.

A light, non-detergent oil should be applied to the auger and blower impellers at any point where they meet with the transmission or axles.

Fuel

Treated or not, fuel should not be left in your snowblower’s engine for over three months. To drain the fuel, use a siphon or hand pump to drain the tank, then switch the fuel valve on and unscrew the drain knob or screw from the base of the carburetor, letting the remaining gas pour into a suitable container.

If you have a Honda GX-series engine, the drain knob or screw threads into a sediment cup. Once the fuel has been drained, remove this cup and clean it thoroughly. Always use a new O-ring when reinstalling the cup.

Oil

The oil should be changed before storage regardless of the hours put on the machine since the last service. A small amount of oil should also be added to the inside of the cylinder. To do this, remove the spark plug and pour one to two teaspoons (5-10 ml) of oil through the hole. Rotate the engine a couple times to distribute the oil, then reinstall the plug.

Battery

If your snowblower has an electric starter, disconnect the negative battery terminal. Honda recommends recharging the batteries at least every 6 months while they’re in storage. The batteries on the HS1336iAS should be disconnected from each other and charged separately.

Storing

Parking your snowblower on a sheet of cardboard will protect the tires and tracks from direct contact with the cement, which can damage the rubber in extreme cold. It also makes it easy to find fuel and oil leaks when you pull it out of storage next winter.

Keep the snowblower away from any source of flame or spark. This includes furnaces, power tools and metalworking. While the fuel system may be empty, there can be enough residual gas to create the fumes needed to cause a fire. Make sure the fuel valve is set to “OFF” to minimize leakage of any residual fuel.

Keep your snowblower covered with a purpose-built cover, not a tarp. Tarps can’t breathe, allowing moisture to collect on metal components and promote rust. Always let the engine and exhaust cool completely before putting the cover on to keep it from melting.

Getting Parts for Your Honda Snowblower

From covers to major components, you can get everything you need for your Honda snowblower at www.hondalawnparts.com. Our site has built-in factory diagrams and descriptions to help you find the parts you need, and since we’re a certified Honda Power Equipment and Honda Engines dealer, you know you’ll always get quality OEM replacements. We can ship your order to any address in the U.S. or Canada.

HS1336iAS Snowblower Maintenance

Posted on January 24, 2018 by Admin

Working on a hybrid may sound complicated, but maintaining the Honda HS1336iAS snowblower is relatively straightforward. Here’s what you need to know to keep this advanced piece of equipment ready to clear winter snowfall.

Tool Kit

A toolkit is included with this model for most common repairs. This kit can be stored in the toolbox at the back of the snowblower. Here’s what you should find inside:

10 and 12 mm box end wrench
10 and 14 mm open end wrench
Two 12 and 17 mm open end wrenches
Spark plug wrench and handle
Spare fuse cover and 5 and 15 amp fuses
Pliers
5 blower shear bolts
10 auger shear bolts
15 8 mm self-locking nuts
Two cotter pins
Two battery terminal covers

If you’re missing any of these tools or spare parts, it’s a good idea to pick up some replacements before you need them.

Maintenance Schedule

First month or 20 hours of use: Change engine oil, check track tension
Before each use: Check engine oil, battery electrolyte level, skid shoes, scraper, and all nuts and fasteners.
Each year before first use: Check battery electrolyte gravity, spark plug, and tracks. Change the engine oil.
Each year before storing: Check sediment cup, drain fuel tank and carburetor and apply oil on unpainted surfaces to stop corrosion.
Every 100 hours: Change engine oil
Every four years or 300 hours: Change spark plug

Honda recommends having these services done by a dealer:

First month or 20 hours: Check chute cable, auger belt, and ACG belt
Each year before first use: Check chute cable, auger belt, ACG belt, gear oil, idle speed and valve clearance.
Every 300 hours: Check idle speed and valve clearance
Every 1,000 hours: Clean combustion chamber
Every two years: Check fuel tube
Every four years: Clean fuel tank and filter, replace fuel tube

Oil

Check the oil by removing the filler cap/dipstick and reinserting it into the engine without screwing it in. If the level is low, add more oil and check the level with the dipstick. Unlike other Honda engines, the oil should not come up to the top of the filler neck. Honda recommends 5W30 automotive oil.

To change the oil, remove the filler cap and place a drain pan under the drain plug, below and left of the filler neck. To open the drain, use a 15 mm wrench to hold the extension in place and unscrew the drain bolt with a 10 mm wrench. Put a new sealing washer on the drain bolt when reinstalling. Pour oil into the engine through the filler neck. This model holds 1.16 quarts.

Spark Plug

The spark plug gap should be between 0.7-0.8 mm (0.028-0.031 inches.) Replace the spark plug if the electrode or insulator is damaged.

When reinstalling the plug, turn it ¼ turn after it seats to get a good seal, or ½ turn if you’re using a new plug.

Track Adjustment

The tracks should be clean and dry to get an accurate measurement. Press down on the middle top of the track. A force of 22 lb-ft. should move the belt 0.63-0.79 inches. To change the tension, loosen the lock nuts on the tension bolt, located behind the front wheel. Turn the tension bolt until the deflection is correct, then retighten the lock nuts.

Shear Bolt Replacement

Get the snowblower onto a stable, level surface and make sure the auger clutch switch is set to OFF. Release the drive clutch lever and use the auger control to put the auger into its lowest position.

Turn the engine off and remove the ignition key. Make sure all the rotating parts on the snowblower have come to a complete stop.

After removing any jammed material and cleaning out the impeller housing, replace any broken sheer bolts. There are two on each side of the auger drive shaft next to the auger transmission and two more at the back of the shaft behind the transmission.

Battery

The batteries are behind the rear cover. To access them, loosen the two knobs on the sides of the snowblower next to the cover, then tilt the cover downward.

The batteries are connected in series with a joint cable running between the negative terminal on the right side battery and the positive terminal on the left side battery. When removing the batteries, first disconnect the terminal on the left side negative terminal followed by the right side positive terminals and finally the joint cable. Place the tubes included in the toolkit on the terminals to protect them while working on the batteries.

Getting Parts for Your Snowblower

When you need something for your HS1336iAS, visit www.hondalawnparts.com. We’re a certified Honda Power Equipment and Honda Engines dealer so we can ship you OEM replacements for anything on your machine to any address in the U.S. or Canada.

HS1336iAS Snowblower Operation

Posted on January 17, 2018 by Admin

Even if you have plenty of experience using a snowblower, the Honda HS1336iAS is nothing like any machine you’ve used before. Its hybrid drivetrain is unique in the industry, while features like automatic speed control and a tiltable auger are rare in this market. Here’s what you need to know to get up to speed with Honda’s most advanced snowblower to date.

Starting

1. Turn the fuel valve to “ON”
2. Move the shift lever into neutral (N.)
3. Turn the engine switch to “START.” Release once the engine starts. If it hasn’t started after 5 seconds of cranking, release the starter and wait 10 seconds before starting again to keep the starter motor from overheating.

If the engine doesn’t start after 5 attempts, push and release the manual start lever, next to the fuel valve, then try the electric starter again. If it still doesn’t start, push in the start lever and try starting.

Once the engine is running, move the throttle to “SLOW” and gradually increase the engine speed as the motor warms up.

Setting the Skid and Scraper

1. Lower the auger to the ground using the auger control switch.
2. Shut off the engine and remove the key from the ignition switch.
3. Loosen the bolts on the skid and set the height according to the surface being cleared:

For operating over gravel, raise the auger by ½ inch and lower the skids until they are 0.3 inches from the ground. Keep in mind that this isn’t foolproof and it’s still possible that the auger will pick up and throw rocks.

For hardened snow, raise the auger as high as possible and lower the skids until they touch the ground.

For clearing pavement with regular snow, raise the auger 0.4 inches off the ground and lower the skids until they touch the ground.

Auger Housing Position

The height adjuster has three settings:
High — when clearing snow in multiple passes or when backing up the snowblower.
Middle — Normal clearing
Low — Hardened snow

Auger angle can be set using the tilt control. Holding the control once the auger has reached the end of its movement can overheat the adjustment motor, keeping it from moving until the motor cools down. The auger can be returned to its original position by pushing “RESET.”

Work Modes

Set the work mode with the transmission in neutral (N.) Choosing the right mode depends on how you need to use the snowblower:

Auto — The snowblower adjusts speed and power automatically. This is the quietest mode and requires less input from the operator.
Power — Allows the operator to adjust the speed while in motion to match the current workload, while the snowblower manages the throttle. Offers the maximum throwing distance and clearing speed.
Manual — Gives the operator full control of the throttle and drive speed.

Auger and Speed Control

Pushing the auger clutch switch allows the augers to engage once the drive clutch is engaged. Holding the auger clutch switch for four seconds turns on the protection function, stopping the auger and blower.

In Power and Manual modes, the shift lever controls the snowblower speed. Low range is recommended for most snow, while fast range can be used for light snowfall.

In Manual mode, the throttle lever should be set to the third mark from the bottom when first engaging the drive clutch. Once the transmission is in gear, the throttle can be adjusted to change speed.

Turning

The motors are controlled by the steering levers, one on each grip. To turn in one direction, squeeze the lever on that side. The more the lever is moved, the sharper the turn will be; a fully closed handle causing the wheel to stop, letting the snowblower turn in place.

Transporting with the Engine Off

The electric drive motors can be used with the engine shut off for transport. To enable this mode, release the drive clutch, shift into neutral, and turn the engine switch to “ON.” Hold down both steering levers for three seconds. The red and orange drive control warning indicators on the control panel will blink. Engage the drive clutch, and the snowblower can be controlled normally. Keep in mind that using this mode for more than three minutes can drain the battery to a point that it can’t start the engine. After the drive clutch lever has been open for 5 seconds, this mode will shut off.

Get What You Need to Keep Your Snowblower Workings

www.hondalawnparts.com is your one-stop shop for everything Honda from spark plugs to skid shoes. Our site can show you factory parts diagrams and descriptions for parts used on your model so you can find exactly what you need, and we can ship your order to any location in the U.S. or Canada.

Fixing and Replacing the Tires on Your Snowblower

Posted on January 10, 2018 by Admin

Have a flat on your Honda snowblower? Just got it out of storage to find a tire has come off a rim? Here’s what you need to do to fix it and keep it from happening again.

Tube or Tubeless?

All Honda snowblowers built in the past two decades that use pneumatic tires are tubeless. That means if you have a leak, it’s in the tire itself. It also means that if the tire separates from the rim, the bead needs to be reseated to reinflate the tire.

Tire Pressure

Tire pressure should be checked before each use, even if you got your snowblower out the day before. If the temperature drops 10°F, tire pressure can drop up to one PSI. Tires can also lose one PSI each month they’re in storage. Honda’s snowblower tires are designed to operate at 8.5 PSI, so it doesn’t take much for the pressure to drop significantly between uses.

Removing and Replacing a Wheel

Removing the wheel will make it much easier to work on the tire. Honda offers some tires and wheels as a complete set, letting you replace a bent rim and tire in one step.

1. Disconnect the spark plug wire to prevent an accidental start.
2. Lift up the rear of the snowblower so that the tires are off the ground.
3. Depending on the model, there will be either a bolt or a Clevis pin on the axle. Remove this part, and slide the wheel off of the axle.
4. Slide the new wheel onto the axle and tighten down the bolt or reinstall the pin.
5. Air up the tire before lowing the snowblower to keep the bead from separating it from the rim.

Reseating a Tire

If the tire pressure is too low, rolling the snowblower can cause the tire bead to roll off of the rim. If that happens, it can be reseated by using air pressure to push out the sidewalls of the tire:

1. Remove the wheel.
2. Hold the tire and wheel in a way that lines the bead up with the rim.
3. Connect the air valve to a compressor or a pressurized air tank. You may need to go over the recommended operating pressure to push the bead onto the rim, but try not to go above the maximum pressure on the sidewall. The goal isn’t to put a lot of air in the tire, it’s to put the air in quickly to get the bead to meet with the rim.

Most of the time, the tire will expand and seat on the rim with just air pressure. If the bead still doesn’t want to seat, there are a few things you can try:

— Apply grease on the inside lip of the wheel. This helps the tire slide up to the rim, and can reduce the amount of air escaping as you air up the tire.
— Remove the valve stem. This reduces resistance when airing up the wheel. Be gentle handling the wheel and tire when reinstalling the stem as the lack of air pressure can let the bead slide off of the rim again.

— Tie a ratchet strap or a rope around the tire tread. This pressure will help push out the sidewall so the bead doesn’t have as far to go to meet with the rim. To tighten a rope, slide a piece of pipe between it and the tire and twist, wrapping the rope around the bar.

It is possible to spray the rim with starter fluid and light it to pull the tire onto the rim, but it should be obvious that this is extremely dangerous. If the tire is that difficult to fit, it’s worth getting a complete wheel and tire instead of setting your snowblower and yourself on fire.

Replacing a Tire

If there are cracks in the rubber or damage to the tire, it should be replaced.

1. Remove the wheel from the snowblower.
2. Push in the tire valve to release any remaining air inside the tire.
3. Use a set of tire levers or spoons to pull the bead over the rim. Once one bead is off the wheel, lift up the tire and pull the other bead over.
4. Fit the new tire onto the wheel using the spoons or levers.
5. Use the process above for reseating the bead. Air up the tire to the correct pressure, then install the wheel on the snowblower.

Getting New Tires and Wheels for Your Snowblowers

www.hondalawnparts.com is a certified Honda Power Equipment dealer, so we’re able to ship any OEM part currently available to any address in the U.S. or Canada. Check out our wheels section to find a replacement for your snowblower, or use our search system to find the right part for your model.

HS1336iAS Hybrid Snowblower

Posted on January 3, 2018 by Admin

Honda is known for being the first to market with new technology, and their power equipment division is no exception: their top-of-the-line HS1336iAS is the only hybrid snowblower on the market. While the word “hybrid” may bring to mind fuel-sipping cars, adding electric power does more than conserve fuel. Adding electric propulsion gives this walk-behind the power to replace a tractor-operated PTO snowblower and makes it easier to use than just about anything on the market today.

State-of-the-Art Gasoline Power

This snowblower is powered by an iGX390, an electronically-controlled version of Honda’s popular GX series of commercial engines. It has an Electronic Control Unit like a modern car engine with a self-tuning regulator that adjusts throttle and RPM automatically to match load and speed demands.
It also allows drive-by-wire remote control and automatic choke, eliminating the need for two control cables. Coil-on-plug ignition provides more power and lowers fuel consumption, while the GX’s standard features including low friction components and low noise muffler carry over.

Starting is as simple as turning on the ignition and pushing the start button. There’s no choke or throttle to adjust, and the on-board 24-volt electrical system has no problem turning the engine over.

Hybrid Motivation

This isn’t a hybrid system like you’d find in a car. Instead, the engine directly powers the augers and generates power for a pair of electric drive motors. These motors provide maximum torque as soon as they start turning to push into thick accumulation, and they have sensors that can automatically adjust speed to get maximum snow clearing performance without bogging down. By connecting these sensors to the electronic control system on the engine, Honda has been able to create an easier way to control the snowblower’s speed.

Using a lever next to the handles, the operator can choose from manual, semi-auto or automatic speed control to best fit operating conditions. In automatic, the snowblower controls the forward speed and throttle automatically for the best performance, picking up the maximum amount of snow without bogging down. In manual mode, throttle and speed are controlled by the operator like a regular snowblower. Semi-auto hands throttle speed control off to the snowblower with the operator dictating the speed to make it easier to operate in tricky areas like slopes and iced-over pavement.

The advantages continue with the engine off. The motors can operate solely off of the batteries, making this snowblower easy to transport.

Auger

The main auger is 36 inches wide and can handle snow up to 22.8 inches deep at a rate of up to 3,000 lbs. per minute. Teeth on this auger help it bite into hardpacked snow.

The second auger pushes snow through a double-hinged chute provides a smooth curve for more precise control of where the snow lands. The position of the auger is electronically controlled using a joystick on the control panel. Maximum throwing distance for the chute is 62 feet.

The HS1336iAS has a unique power lift and tilt system for the auger housing for increased stability on hills, letting it go places that would normally require a tractor-based snowblower.

Parts and Accessories

As expected in this market, Honda makes a storage cover and a drift cutter for this model. There’s also a cold weather cab to protect the operator from snow and wind.

Getting parts and accessories for the HS1336iAS is easy: just visit www.hondalawnparts.com. We’re a certified Honda Engines and Honda Power Equipment dealer, which means we can ship the full range of Honda OEM parts to your doorstep, no matter where you live in the U.S. or Canada. Not quite sure what you need? Our search engine makes finding parts simple by including factory diagrams and descriptions.