[jrom]

For Sale 1969 Snow-Flake - $650
condition: like new
make / manufacturer: Snow-Flake-Snow Pony
model name / number: Snow-Flake

For sale is a very nice 1969 Snow-Flake mini snowmobile. Has very good track and wheels. Chassis has been painted as well as the skis. Hood is original paint. Has a 6.5 hp Honda 4-stroke. Starts easy and runs excellent. Has a new comet clutch and new belt. New windshield. New seat. Nice for kids.

 

[Tomatillo]

Cool! I've been looking for the opportunity to use this: :icon-deadhorse:


Thanks!


(BTW, what's a snowflake issue?)

Couldn't agree with you more. There are some people in this forum that can't stop beating the horse even though it died months ago. Every time I log on here the same people are crying about their snowflake issues. I came here to learn what others are doing with their Honda blowers and find that every thread gets taken over by the same people crying about their same snowflake problems.
Get over it.

 

[jrom]

...BTW, what's a snowflake issue?

Well, it gets a little...political. A number of things the left does that the right finds they are being...too sensitive about...and whiney...to put it nicely. :icon_whistling:

I've got 'em both in my family. I try to be neutral. Not always easy.

 

[buffettck]

(BTW, what's a snowflake issue?)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_Snowflake

 

[jrom]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_Snowflake

Wikipedia is not telling the full story here...:smile: In my experience, almost 99+% of snowflakes come from left leaning or very left leaning households.

A large number of my friends with grown kids fall into this category. Not saying one way or the other :icon_whistling: ...but...

 

[buffettck]

Oh, there's plenty of conservative/right leaning helicopter parents who produce special snowflake children, believe me. If anything, it's coming from the more affluent households, be they left or right leaning.

 

[packetloss]

I've always been impressed with Honda. Their quality is superb (I have a GX Honda engine on my power washer, and a Honda mower - both outstanding machines).

But, when it comes to snowblowers, I value raw power as much a durability and engineering refinements (which Honda blowers have oodles of).

I've seen some Honda blowers retailing for $2500 with just a 190 cc power plant. If you're willing to spend a bit more (between $2,500 and $3,000), you can step-up to a 270 cc engine.

For a big engine, say 390 cc, the price tag zooms to $3,600.

Admittedly, these are GX engines, with iron bore, and commercial longevity. The quality is unsurpassed - top-tier.

But, longevity and build-quality are only part of the equation. Where I live, in western MA, snow is abundant, wet, and heavy. The EOD crud can feel like cement. Sometimes, above all else, you just need horsepower.

I'd love to own a Honda. But, for me, there's not enough ponies under the hood.

Just out of curiosity I took a look at the Honda 24 inch models and was only able to find a 196cc model. There simply is no bigger engine unless you move up to a 28 (which warrants a bigger engine than a 24 regardless). I looked at the torque specs and it's 9.1 lb-ft (12.4 Nm) @ 2,500 rpm. That is an underpowered engine for a 24. You can get by with it, but not if you have to deal with heavy wet EOD snow and still want some decent throwing distance.


I'm sure the GX200 is worthy of it's reputation and will last 30+ years, but if I were spending that much on a snow blower I'd expect it to have a 300cc engine on it (which would be super powered), and at the very least a 250 which would appropriately powered.


The 32 looks properly powered with a 389cc engine, but if I don't want a 32 (regardless of price), I'm SOL. So basically with Honda you either get the 32 or you have an underpowered engine.

 

[str8shuutr45]

You know the deal with a snowflake - the are beautiful and no two are alike. For this reason they are all special. Individually they are very weak because it takes almost no heat to melt them.
What the snowflakes don't understand is that together they can be be a snowball, an avalanche, or a blizzard. They just want to be snowflakes.
It's no different than the whiners on this forum. They have snowflake issues and want snowflake responses by the manufactures.

 

[jrom]

Oh, there's plenty of conservative/right leaning helicopter parents who produce special snowflake children, believe me. If anything, it's coming from the more affluent households, be they left or right leaning.

Believe you're right. I just haven't personally seen it. I shouldn't generalize the way I did.

 

[jrom]

You know the deal with a snowflake - the are beautiful and no two are alike. For this reason they are all special. Individually they are very weak because it takes almost no heat to melt them.
What the snowflakes don't understand is that together they can be be a snowball, an avalanche, or a blizzard. They just want to be snowflakes.
It's no different than the whiners on this forum. They have snowflake issues and want snowflake responses by the manufactures.

I could have added to the Snowflake craigslist post: "Can be outfitted with safe space homing device for $500 more - two week wait. $1,000 for 2 day turn around."

Seriously, I was looking up Honda snowblower listings when that one popped up.

 

[jrom]

...The 32 looks properly powered with a 389cc engine, but if I don't want a 32 (regardless of price), I'm SOL. So basically with Honda you either get the 32 or you have an underpowered engine.

I was not interested in a 32" machine. I only got the 1332 for the power. 24 years with an 8hp/28" was pushing it for me.

 

[Tomatillo]

Thanks everyone. I'm with you fellers ... Can't stand those whining whelps of a *****! Whoops. A little too strong. This is a family show.


"Snowflakes" eh? Ole Tom's been fallin' behind on his slurs.


To quote my disturbed pal, Leroy: "I've been way behind the times heretofore!"

https://youtu.be/MgpZ5-yDzhk?t=46

Thanks for enlightening!

Well, it gets a little...political. A number of things the left does that the right finds they are being...too sensitive about...and whiney...to put it nicely. :icon_whistling:

I've got 'em both in my family. I try to be neutral. Not always easy.

 

[mrinouk]

Honda Snowblower are well made but they're overpriced. Honda could drop their prices by 30%-40% and they would still make money. They build same snowblower since 20 years with small improvements, their R&D is paid long ago. Making snowblower isn't complicated.

I could by 2 MTD-alike more powerful snowblowers for a price of one Honda and still get best bang for the buck in the long term.

I worked with a Honda HS928 but right now, I own a Craftsman trackdrive 8/28, year 1992, and I'm happy with it.

It removes snow, it does it job for 40% the price of a Honda.

I have a small issue with drive pulley (it spins by itself) but this is a 1992 snowblower (over 24 years old!) and it's easy to fix it.

To say that Honda is able to remove snow that other brands couldn't, I think this is an exaggeration.

If you have many Honda's in your area, often, the main reason is the proximity of the dealer for parts/services. If you have a choice between two stores: home depot that is 50 miles or dealer that is 2 miles from your home, which one you would usually go buy a new snowblower if parts/services is your main concern ?

 

[Loco-diablo]

Honda Snowblower are well made but they're overpriced. Honda could drop their prices by 30%-40% and they would still make money. They build same snowblower since 20 years with small improvements, their R&D is paid long ago. Making snowblower isn't complicated.

I could by 2 MTD-alike more powerful snowblowers for a price of one Honda and still get best bang for the buck in the long term.

I worked with a Honda HS928 but right now, I own a Craftsman trackdrive 8/28, year 1992, and I'm happy with it.

It removes snow, it does it job for 40% the price of a Honda.

I have a small issue with drive pulley (it spins by itself) but this is a 1992 snowblower (over 24 years old!) and it's easy to fix it.

To say that Honda is able to remove snow that other brands couldn't, I think this is an exaggeration.

If you have many Honda's in your area, often, the main reason is the proximity of the dealer for parts/services. If you have a choice between two stores: home depot that is 50 miles or dealer that is 2 miles from your home, which one you would usually go buy a new snowblower if parts/services is your main concern ?

I agree with the 'overpriced' part. They price their lawnmowers competitively with other premium mowers, I own one and love it, but I think the blowers are way overpriced. Don't get me wrong, they make a great machine, but you could buy 2 Ariens for the price of 1 Honda. I could run a new Ariens for 20+ years, then buy another new one and it would still be less than the price of a Honda. They don't remove snow any better than any other premium blower.

 

[Marlow]

I agree with the 'overpriced' part. They price their lawnmowers competitively with other premium mowers, I own one and love it, but I think the blowers are way overpriced. Don't get me wrong, they make a great machine, but you could buy 2 Ariens for the price of 1 Honda. I could run a new Ariens for 20+ years, then buy another new one and it would still be less than the price of a Honda. They don't remove snow any better than any other premium blower.

Comparing apples to apples, a top of the line 32" Ariens is $3400
https://www.snowblowersdirect.com/Ariens-926069-Snow-Thrower/p77409.html

Honda's top 32" version is $3200
https://www.snowblowersdirect.com/Honda-HSS1332ATD-Snow-Thrower/p50345.html

Just because Honda is not in the market of low-mid tier snowblowers doesn't mean they're overpriced. Honda only makes top tier snowblowers, a top tier ariens is actually more expensive! And the re-sale value on that Honda will be far greater than the ariens as well! So at the end of the day, Honda is much cheaper than Ariens when leveling the playing field.

Yamaha(another company who is only into top tier snowblowers) is generally more expensive than Honda too, if you live in a market that offers both. It's complete ignorance for people to think like you.

So I have to ask, what company makes a top tier snowblower that is both cheaper and better than honda? Because I can guarantee you, it's not Yamaha or Ariens. But I'd love to know the who.. as that'll be my next machine. And don't even try to say toro, been there done that and my Honda is in a whole nother league!

 

[Loco-diablo]

Comparing apples to apples, a top of the line 32" Ariens is $3400
https://www.snowblowersdirect.com/Ariens-926069-Snow-Thrower/p77409.html

Honda's top 32" version is $3200
https://www.snowblowersdirect.com/Honda-HSS1332ATD-Snow-Thrower/p50345.html

Just because Honda is not in the market of low-mid tier snowblowers doesn't mean they're overpriced. Honda only makes top tier snowblowers, a top tier ariens is actually more expensive! And the re-sale value on that Honda will be far greater than the ariens as well! So at the end of the day, Honda is much cheaper than Ariens when leveling the playing field.

Yamaha(another company who is only into top tier snowblowers) is generally more expensive than Honda too, if you live in a market that offers both. It's complete ignorance for people to think like you.

So I have to ask, what company makes a top tier snowblower that is both cheaper and better than honda? Because I can guarantee you, it's not Yamaha or Ariens. But I'd love to know the who.. as that'll be my next machine. And don't even try to say toro, been there done that and my Honda is in a whole nother league!

As I said they’re great machines, but overpriced imo. So are the ‘top tier’ Ariens. These have one simple purpose. Blow snow from point a to point b. These are not rocket ships. They’re simple 4 stroke machines.
I stand by my argument that two $1500 Ariens blowers will outlast 1 $3400 Ariens or 1 $3200 Honda.

I don’t know why your post had to be edited, but take it easy pal. Don’t get so angry. It’s not good for you!



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Marlow]

I don’t know why your post had to be edited, but take it easy pal. Don’t get so angry. It’s not good for you!

I edit a lot of my posts because I am somewhat of a perfectionist. It could probably be something as simple as a misplaced comma or period. And even after an edit, I am far from perfect. I know this.

What's lost in text is tone. I am not angry at all! If you've read what I said to be in an angry tone, that's not how it was intended.

All I am saying is when comparing prices from ariens to honda, you have to compare apples to apples. Then you'll plainly see the honda is priced ACCORDingly. Accord.. lol

If for your needs you prefer a mid tier machine, that's totally fine! Just like for my needs I prefer a civic over an audi s4. But that doesn't mean an audi s4 is overpriced. That's all I am saying. Different strokes for different folks.

In Canada, I can pay $5k for a new 13hp honda and sell it for $2500 in 10 years. Meanwhile, an equivalent ariens which would cost brand new $4k would have essentially zero value at 10 years. So... what's TRULY cheaper?

 

[sscotsman]

In Canada, I can pay $5k for a new 13hp honda and sell it for $2500 in 10 years. Meanwhile, an equivalent ariens which would cost brand new $4k would have essentially zero value at 10 years. So... what's TRULY cheaper?

Wow! Let me know where I can find those 10 year old Ariens Pro models for free!
I'll take ten..

But seriously, thats a major flaw in your math!
Ariens certainly do not have zero value after 10 years..I would say most are also worth half at 10 years old.
(And the Honda would likely be worth more than half)
45 year old Ariens, in decent working condition, that sold for $400 in 1971 are worth $250 today..

Scot

 

[Marlow]

Wow! Let me know where I can find those 10 year old Ariens Pro models for free!
I'll take ten..

But seriously, thats a major flaw in your math!
Ariens certainly do not have zero value after 10 years..I would say most are also worth half at 10 years old.


Scot

I am speaking of where I live. Honda is king here and nobody gives a crap about ariens. You can disagree with the viewpoint of my local folk. But, you'll never change it.

 

[drumsonly2002]

I had an old 28" 10hp Track Craftsman that outlasted my expensive Honda 928. I am going to rebuild the Honda as it is an awesome machine to use. It's downfall is the thin metal getting hosed from the city plow incessantly backfilling my driveway with gravel filled tight packed snow (makes me so mad I want to spit every time I think about it.. girrrr ). The gravel ruined the inner impeller housing. The Craftsman held up very well in that department, but the engine seized one day, so I gave it away. After using the Honda, cannot go back to another make. So now I pay a plow until the unit is rebuilt. To say I like the Honda is an understatement. A Honda is made for snow not small rocks, but I would guess the Yamaha is a lot better unit for gravel vs Honda. Nonetheless, I am going to replace the inner housing with thicker material and have a fantastic Honda, better than before. Love those Yamaha's but fixing the awesome Honda and it will be a thing of beauty. Do I regret spending the money on getting a Honda? No way, worth every cent, even though the impeller housing should have been made thicker. The new impeller housing will be stainless with the addition of an impeller kit.

I wrote this Jan 5th 2017. Update: Snowblower still broke. Purchased a used older Yamaha 8-28 last week to get by this winter. Going to order a 13hp GX 390 Honda power plant. Thus my Honda will be supersized. This is a passion project. I think Honda is expensive but a feature-rich machine, and a luxury machine. I think bang for the buck Ariens are impressive and better built. But for features and style Honda and Yamaha rules the roost. It is the Harley of Snowblowers. Costly but fun to own. Something about owning a Honda that puts a grin on my face even though it`s broke heh. The grin will be bigger once the 13HP GC 390 is blasting snow across the road without mercy. Gravel and Honda does not mix. For a non-gravel scenario, Honda rules. The new Yamaha`s seem amazing. I am a Honda, Yamaha and big Ariens fan. I say, for a lifetime purchase Honda is worth it. Maybe I am a collector, have Honda, Yamaha, and a 1969 20 inch MTD (going to mod). Always wanted a track Ariens. Why Honda, why Harley. Fun to own I guess.