Honda single stage snowblower | Honda Lawn Parts Blog

Do you want to make sure your Honda single stage snow blower will be reliable and deliver maximum performance? Here’s everything you need to do to keep your HS720AM, HS720AS or HS720AA performing at its best.

Maintenance Schedule

Before use: Check the oil and scraper blade.
Every year before use: Change the oil. Inspect the spark plug, auger clutch, auger paddles and chute guide lever (if equipped.)
Every year before storage: Check the spark plug and drain the fuel tank and carburetor. Grease the chute tension bolts if you have an AM blower.
After the first 5 hours of use and every 50 hours of operation: Change the oil.
Every 100 hours: Check the spark plug.
Every 150 hours: Replace the spark plug.

Honda recommends having the snow blower professionally serviced every 100 hours to check engine speed and valve clearance, and every two years to inspect the fuel system.

Oil

Oil should be checked with the dipstick inserted in the filler neck but not screwed in. Honda recommends 5W30 oil when temperatures are above 10°F and 5W20 when operating in weather below 10°F.

1. Place the snow blower on a level surface.
2. Place a drain pan between the wheels.
3. Remove the dipstick.
4. Remove the drain bolt and washer from the back of the engine, next to the filler neck.
5. Install the drain plug, using a new washer.
6. Add oil through the filler neck. Stop when the oil is at the edge of the neck.
7. Install the dipstick.

Spark Plug

Let the engine cool off before removing the spark plug.

1. Open the plug access panel next to the fuel filler cap. Disconnect the spark plug cap, then unscrew the plug using a spark plug wrench.
2. Replace the plug if it’s heavily worn or has cracks or other damage. Set the gap to 0.028-0.031 inches.
3. Screw the plug in by hand, then tighten it down with the wrench. If the plug is new, rotate the plug a half turn after it seats to crush the sealing washer. Honda recommends torquing the plug to 14 ft-lbs. if you have a torque wrench on hand.
4. Snap the access panel back into place.

Clutch Lever and Belt Tension

To check the tension, squeeze the bail until you feel some resistance. Measure the distance between the bail and the handle: it should be between 7 ½ and 8 inches.

There are several adjustment holes for both the clutch spring and the cable near the base of the handle. Slide the cover up to expose the spring and access these holes. Moving the spring down one hole adjusts the lever distance by ¼ inch, and adjusting the cable position moves it by 3/8 inch.

To check the belt tension, slide the spring cover up on the drive cable. Engage the auger clutch bail. The spring should be 2.93-3.15 inches long. To adjust the tension, move the cable end from the lower hole to the upper hole on the bail.

Auger Paddle

To inspect the paddles, place the snow blower on a level surface. Disconnect the spark plug and turn the fuel valve off to prevent an accidental start. Measure the distance between the edge of the paddle and the metal part of the auger. If the distance is less than 5/8 inch, have the paddles replaced by a dealer.

Scraper Blade

To check the blade alignment, place the snow blower on a level surface. Disconnect the spark plug and turn the fuel valve off to prevent an accidental start.

The blade should be level and come in contact with the ground. The distance between the lower rubber paddle and the ground should be 1/16-1/8 of an inch. If the blade is uneven or the paddle is too high, adjust the blade. If the blade is less than 1/16” thick, replace it.

To adjust the blade, tilt the snow blower forward. Loosen the three flange nuts and move the blade. Tighten the nuts and recheck the clearance.

If the blade needs to be replaced, simply remove the nuts, washers and carriage bolts, then remove the old blade. Install the new blade, reusing the fasteners. Check the blade adjustment.

Chute Guide Cable (A and AS models)

Pull the chute control lever rearward. The chute should point up with the top of the deflector lining up with the back of the chute. Push the lever down. The deflector should be pointed up just slightly.

If the deflector isn’t moving through its full range of motion, loosen the lock nut on the end of the cable next to the deflector. Turn the adjusting nut below it to change the cable tension, then tighten the lock nut, torquing it to 48-83 in-lbs.

Get the Parts You Need for Your Honda

Need to make some repairs to your snow blower? Hondalawnparts.com isn’t just for mowers: we carry OEM parts for everything from Honda Engines and Honda Power Equipment. Our site can show you parts specific to your mode using factory diagrams and descriptions, so it’s easy to find what you need. We ship across the USA and Canada.

Serious Snow Clearing Power

These models have a maximum 20-inch clearing width and can handle snow up to 12 inches deep. More importantly, these models can move up to 1,800 lbs. of snow per minute, which is up to four times the rate of similarly sized equipment in this segment. This lets the snowblower use more of its capacity with each pass, even when picking up dense snow, saving significant time on jobs.

Drive systems are heavy and expensive, so to keep costs and weight down, Honda came up with a novel solution to provide self-propulsion. The auger blades have rubber paddles mounted on them that sweep up the snow, then grip the ground as the roll pass, pulling the snowblower forward. While it doesn’t completely eliminate pushing, it decreases the force to move the snowblower significantly. Turning is easy, too, thanks to a weight of just 89 lbs. for the AA and 93 lbs. for the AS. That’s about the same as a basic push mower.

The auger is surrounded by a metal housing, while a plastic housing protects the engine and other components from snow and ice.

Easy Starting

Both models are powered by Honda’s own GC190, a popular engine for everything from pressure washers to agricultural equipment. It comes with an automatic decompression system to make the engine easier to turn over for quick starts. Go for the AS and you’ll get a 120-volt electric starter. Just plug the box on the handle into a three-prong extension cable and push the button, and an electric motor will start the engine for you. If there’s no power access handy, the engine can still be pull started.

Easy Operation and Servicing

The single auger can push snow through the chute to drop it at a distance of up to 33 feet. This chute uses Honda’s Snow Director, allowing pitch and angle to be operated using two handle-mounted levers while in operation so you can keep the snow going exactly where you need it without having to stop to make adjustments.

Controls and service points are easy to access. The ignition switch, choke, starter grip, dipstick and oil drain plug are all located on the rear of the unit, while the spark plug and fuel tank can be accessed from the top. All controls are oversized to be easy to operate while wearing gloves.

Getting Parts for Honda Snow Blowers

Whether you need to keep some shear pins and belts on hand or make a few repairs to your Honda snowblower, you can find everything you need at www.hondalawnparts.com. We offer the full line of OEM Honda Power Equipment parts, and we can ship these parts to any address in the U.S. and Canada. Not quite sure what you need? Our site can find parts based on your model and serial number and will show you factory descriptions and parts diagrams so you know exactly what you’re ordering.

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Servicing Honda Single Stage Snow Blowers