Honda single stage any good?

[raylesk]

Anyone tried a honda single stage thrower--how does it compare to the toros? The local dealer has them on sale for $550.

[Alan]

Excellent machine! Only things I didn't like was the long handle on the chute, ges in the way if you're working tight to a building with the chute turned 90°, and there's a stupid little offset in the axle that makes it hard to move it up and down stairs. Both problems are easily fixed though. The machine has no equal in sidewalk blowers.

[AmerilawnOfWisconsin]

Used to do a church downtown that had a bunch of sidewalks. I bought a Honda single stage 4 stroke (hs520 if i remember right) just to do that one job. It was a great performing machine and did a wonderful job. By it's third season though it was starting to spit and sputter and not run right. I am sure it was probably just some water or dirt in the carb though and wouldn't hesitate to by one again. I actually ended up selling it with 3 years use on ebay for $30.00 less than I originally paid!

[wyldman]

I've used them,and they are a very nice machine.The problems Alan described were a big deal to me,and should have been thought out by Honda.

One other problem we see,is flooded machines brought in from riding around in the back of a truck.The four strokes are a PITA to get going once flooded.A 2 stroke will not flood as easily,and is much easier to get going if it gets flooded by bouncing around in a truck.

I prefer the 2 stroke Toro's.Parts are easier to get,and cheaper too.The only thing I do not like is they are loud.

[raylesk]

Thanks for all the feedback. I need 2 blowers so I think I'll try one of each--the honda hs520 and the toro 3650.

[wyldman]

Good choice.Let us know which one you like better.

[Chuck Smith]

Ray, my brother spent a day last week welding a bunch of them at East Hanover Honda. The augers were tearing off the drums. Honda took care of it under warranty for the customers though. Not sure which model they were.

~Chuck

[cutntrim]

I've got two of the Hondas. Both are excellent, reliable machines. The design flaws Alan and Chris mention haven't been an issue for us, but we do VERY little snowblowing. One machine is kept onsite at an apartment with long sidewalks and the superintendant uses it. The other rides around in one of the pickups and is used at only one property for around 20 min. per storm.

They have a fuel shut-off switch that you can use driving between sites.

[raylesk]

I bought a Honda but never got the Toro--we have not had much snow in the Northeast this year so I held off on a second one. The Honda is really nice--it even handled the 20" snow we had a few weeks ago!! I cut off the axle that hangs out behind the rear wheels and I bent the last 6" of the chute control up at a 90 degree angle so both problems with the Honda were solved. If we get one more storm this year I'll buy the Toro too.

[Alan]

I bent the last 6" of the chute control up at a 90 degree angle

Why didn't I think of that! I cut the handle down and rewelded it on mine. Did such a nice job that somebody wanted it bad enough to steal it. I'm keeping my eyes open for a Honda blower with a short handle. If I find it me and the baseball bat will reposess it.

[urethane dino]

Parts are alot more money for the hondas, even the paddle replacements are almost 100.00 where as the toro paddles are less than 40.00. I really liked my hondas, but traded two of them for a new 2650 this season. I now have 5 toros, 1-3650 and 4 2650's. They all work equally, and wont go back to the honda.
But when we used them they were fine. The hondas were about 20lbs heavier tho.
Dino