Congrats on the new machine! Though I think the picture didn't post. Hopefully we'll all get some snow this weekend, here in the northeast.

 

My mistake, here's the picture

 

C'mon tell the truth....you just wanted that shiny new Honda didn'cha. :wink2:

 

Congrats on the new machine. Waiting for a review.

 

2003 is old? Not even broken in yet to me.

 

The auger assembly looks much more robust on the Simplicity.

 

looking forward to an update when you get to use your new Honda.

what and how do you plane on handling the gravel? does the Honda have side skids? or can you adjust bucket height so as not to hit the gravel?

 

The bucket height is adjustable by way of a pneumatic piston and a lever that you press down on and then release at the height you want.

I do have side skid shoes installed as well. Since this is my first season with the machine I have the bucket and skids adjusted af 1.5" of clearance. Once I get some snow on the gravel and get used to using it I'll drop that down.

One thing I noticed is that with the wider 32" width and irregular surface I may need to keep the bucket clearance higher versus my 24" machine regardless.

As for the "robustness" of the Honda vs the Simplicity there is a noticeable difference in bucket thickness or "solidity". Don't have a micrometer but dont need one. Just knocking on the side of one versus the other is all that's required. But I knew all this going in. I put a lot of thought into this over a few years and I think that after weighing all the pluses and minuses of both machines that the Honda will be better in my application.

I did like the Ariens RapidTrak but the lack of a factory provided height for gravel was a deal breaker for me.

Time will tell about the Honda... And I'm keeping the Simplicity for the time being-just in case I'm wrong.

 

Thanks to everyone for the advice.

Just came in from first use and all I can say is WOW. We had 4-5" of powder/sleet mix. Threw snow measured 40 feet with a relatively low arc due to wind. Where I could I raised the chute discharge and the height of the throw is unbelievable.

Have to say that a remote adjustable chute is nice. Never used a machine with that feature before.

Didn't miss the heated grips due to new GoreTex ski gloves. Temp was 27 F. No problems with the few pieces of gravel I picked up where it's loose and not hard packed. But the adjustable bucket height was nice to raise it more where needed. Handles are low when the bucket is raised high.


I always liked the Simplicity, but have to say that this machine is impressive and outperforms the Simp significantly.