My Honda HSS928 review comes down to the ground you clear: buy this premium 28-inch track-drive two-stage for a paved or hard-packed drive, a slope or ice, and skip it for gravel, where Honda’s manual forbids it. I keep a concrete work pad, a crushed-stone yard and a packed farm road clear around my orchard, so I judge a snow blower by the surfaces it may run on. The machine I mean is the one the listing sells as the HSS928AATD, with electric start and rubber tracks. Below are the specs, the drive, the surfaces, the clog routine and the fuel rules.
Honda HSS928 Review: My Verdict on the 28-Inch Track-Drive Two-Stage
I recommend the HSS928 for a long paved or hard-packed drive, a sloped lane or an icy one, where the tracks hold the machine on its line and one hydrostatic lever sets the ground speed. According to Honda it clears a 28 inch swath and moves up to 1,900 pounds of snow a minute. Skip it for a gravel drive, a small flat drive or a modest budget, because it costs a premium and weighs 276 lb dry. For a slope like that, I list tracked and wheeled models in my picks of snow blowers for steep driveways.
- Who it is for: owners of a long paved or hard-packed drive, a slope or an icy lane who want a Honda dealer behind the machine.
- What it does best: it holds its line on tracks, changes speed with one lever and throws up to 52 feet, according to Honda.
- The main trade-off: the manual says never to use it on a gravel road or driveway, and it protects the auger with shear bolts only.
The listing sells the HSS928AATD, a track-drive machine with a Honda GX270 engine, a key-start electric starter and a recoil starter as backup.
What Comes With the HSS928 and How It Is Built
The Honda HSS928 snowblower is a two-stage machine, so a serrated auger breaks up the snow and pushes it to an impeller that throws it out of the chute. The 28 inch width sets how many passes your drive needs, and the 276 lb dry weight sets how you store and load it. I compare gas and battery machines of this class in my guide to the best two-stage snow blowers.
| Spec | Figure |
|---|---|
| Clearing width | 28.0 in |
| Intake height, maker’s figure | 21.7 in |
| Engine | Honda GX270, 270 cc |
| Fuel tank | 1.3 US gal |
| Start | Electric key start plus recoil |
| Drive | Hydrostatic, infinitely variable speed |
| Throw distance, maker’s maximum | 52 ft |
| Capacity, maker’s figure | 1,900 lb a minute |
| Dry weight | 276 lb |
| Residential warranty | 3 years |
The 21.7 inch intake height is the height of the opening, not a depth the machine clears well. If you are comparing the older HS928 with the HSS928 on a used-machine ad, check the model letters before you trust a number, because older pages describe the earlier machine.
Tracks, Hydrostatic Drive and Steering in Real Work
The drive is the reason to pay for this machine, and it has limits the sales copy skips. Rubber tracks with cleats carry the weight, and a hydrostatic drive gives infinitely variable speed forward and reverse with one lever and no gear changes.
Tracks on Slopes and Packed Snow
Against a wheeled gas machine I used before, the tracks held their line on the packed-earth track to the gate and on the slope toward the ditch. Honda sets the limit at a slope of 20 degrees. On asphalt or concrete the manual warns that steering movement is subtle and may need extra force.
Hydrostatic Drive and Steering Clutches
Ground speed does not change the auger speed, so I slow the machine with the lever and leave the throttle on fast, as the manual says. The steering clutches are not brakes. Honda writes that squeezing a steering lever only stops power to that track and does not apply a brake, and a lever must be fully on or fully off, never half pulled.
After the last pass I pulled both steering levers and rolled the 276 lb machine beside the machinery shed by hand with the engine off.
Starting, Warming Up and the Controls
Starting follows a routine that Honda’s manual lists: shift lever in neutral, fuel valve on, carburetor drain knob tight, choke closed in cold weather and throttle on fast. Run the electric starter no more than 5 seconds at a time.
Let the engine warm for several minutes, then squeeze the drive clutch lever for about 30 seconds in neutral to warm the transmission. The electric starter runs from the machine’s own battery, so there is no cord. Charge that battery when it drops under 12.9 volts, and never leave the switch on with the engine stopped.
A joystick turns the chute through 198 degrees and sets the deflector up, down, left and right, and an LED work light helps on a dark morning. A thumb lever sets the auger height with three marked zones: low for hard snow or a fine finish, middle for normal use and high for deep snow or transport. When I lifted the handlebar while holding that lever down, the auger dropped toward the pavement, so I went back to the middle position for normal passes. Honda warns that the teeth can be damaged this way.
How It Handles Deep, Hard and Wet Snow
The HSS928 copes with heavy snow by technique, not by brute force. Honda’s manual says to reduce ground speed, use the shift lever for a back and forth motion, clear a narrower swath and overlap passes. Take snow deeper than the auger in steps, with a first, second and third pass. Independent testing puts gas two-stage machines at about 16 inches of snow, and I treat that as the ceiling for a class, not a promise for wet snow. For deep, packed drifts, my list of snow blowers for heavy snow shows which machines manage them.
Depth alone tells you little. In mountain measurements, freshly fallen snow ranged from 10 to 257 kilograms per cubic meter in density (1), so the same depth can weigh several times more. Snow near freezing sits at the heavy end, and that is the snow my orchard gets.
Dense snow also clogs. In one record snowfall near 33 F in Massachusetts, the machines clogged and 37 people were treated for hand injuries (2). When wet snow packed in the chute, I stopped and cleared it by the routine in the safety section below, then went on at a slower pace with a narrower swath. Machines that resist this kind of clogging are in my picks of snow blowers for wet snow.
Gravel, Skid Shoes and Surfaces
Honda’s manual says never to use the snow blower to clear snow from a gravel road or driveway. The machine can throw rocks and other objects with enough force to cause serious injury, and Honda tells you to remove stones, sticks, newspapers, nails and wire before you start.
That rules out my crushed-stone yard, so I kept the machine off it and used it on the concrete work pad and the packed farm road. The Honda HSS928 skid shoes sit at the rear of the auger housing on the track model, and the manual says to turn them over when they wear down to 0.5 mm. The machines I recommend for a stone yard are in my list of snow blowers for gravel driveways.
Weight matters on soft ground as well. Extension guidance says traffic on wet or partly frozen soil increases compaction (3), so in a thaw I keep the 276 lb machine and my boots on the pad and the farm road and leave the grass alone.
Shear Bolts, Clogs and Safety
The HSS928 protects its auger with shear bolts only, and it has no torque sensor. The Honda HSS928 shear bolts are meant to fail first on a hard obstruction, and Honda sells spare bolts as a kit, so I keep spares before the first storm. The wider HSS1332 adds a sensor, which I cover below and put in context in HSS928 and HSS1332 compared.
Clearing a clog is where people get hurt. In US emergency department data from 2009 to 2017, 22 percent of hand injuries from clearing a clogged snow blower were amputations (4), and across 2003 to 2018 a hand in the chute was 44.5 percent of the injury mechanisms (5). In the Massachusetts storm, 95 percent of the injured had reached into a running machine and 30 percent believed it was disengaged (2).
Honda’s order is the one I follow, and I take the key out too:
- Release the controls and stop the engine.
- Remove the key and wait until every rotating part has stopped.
- Remove the spark plug cap.
- Clear the chute with the snow clearing bar stored on the machine, never with a hand.
Honda warns that an obstructed auger can suddenly move when the obstruction is cleared. When a frozen lump from the plow ridge at the gate jammed the auger, I followed those four steps, and it cleared with the bar.
Run It Outdoors Only
Never start or run the engine in a garage or any closed or partly closed space, because of carbon monoxide. Refuel outdoors on a cool engine, and wear eye protection and non-slip boots.
Fuel, Oil and Storage
The engine takes unleaded fuel of pump octane 86 or higher with no more than 10 percent ethanol. Honda says fuel can deteriorate in as little as 30 days, and damage from stale fuel or more than 10 percent ethanol is not covered by the warranty. That makes storage a warranty matter.
For the Honda HSS928 oil change, the manual calls for 5W-30 automotive detergent oil, 1.2 quarts, with the first change at one month or 20 hours and then every 100 hours. For one to three months of storage, add stabilizer and drain the carburetor, and over three months drain the tank and the carburetor as well. After adding stabilizer, run the engine outdoors for 10 minutes.
Before the first forecast storm I topped the tank with fresh stabilized fuel and did not leave fuel in the machine over summer. After use I rinse the auger housing and tracks with a garden hose, as Honda describes. Valve clearance, belts, track adjustment and hydrostatic fluid are dealer jobs, and the tracks need a tension check.
Drawbacks to Know Before You Buy
The price is the first drawback. The HSS928 sits in the premium tier, well above a wheeled 28 inch gas machine, and the extras you pay for are the tracks, the hydrostatic drive and the dealer network; my best gas snow blower picks offer a broader comparison.
At 276 lb dry it needs a dry shed floor and a loading plan, and Honda’s manual has a loading section for that. The tank holds only 1.3 gallons and Honda publishes no runtime per tank, so I do not plan a job around a figure.
Honda publishes no noise figure for it, so I wear hearing protection for any long job on a gas engine.
Who Should Buy the HSS928 and Who Should Skip It
The HSS928 fits a buyer with a long paved or hard-packed drive, a slope or ice, and a budget for a premium machine.
- An owner of a long paved or hard-packed drive: the 28 inch swath suits a lane several cars long.
- A buyer with a sloped or icy lane: the tracks and the hydrostatic drive are the point, within Honda’s 20 degree limit.
- Someone who wants no cord to start: the electric starter runs from the machine’s own battery.
- A buyer who values a dealer network: valve clearance, belts and track adjustment are dealer jobs.
Skip it in these cases:
- A gravel drive: the manual says never to clear one.
- A small flat drive: a lighter machine does the same work for less.
- A tight budget: this is a premium purchase.
- A buyer who cannot lift or load 276 lb: the machine needs a ramp and a plan.
How the HSS928 Compares With the HSS1332 and the Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO
The closest alternatives are one wider Honda and one wheeled Ariens, and the table below sets all three side by side.
Honda HSS1332 AATD
The Honda HSS1332 AATD 32-Inch Track-Drive Two-Stage Snow Blower is the wider sibling with a 31.9 inch swath, a Honda GX390 engine, a 56 ft maximum throw and a torque sensor that shuts off the auger and the engine on an overload, in addition to the shear bolts. It weighs 298 lb dry. Pick it for a wide drive of several cars, and accept the extra weight and cost. I compare five options for long, wide drives in my picks of snow blowers for large driveways.
Its control panel follows the same layout as the HSS928, with a joystick, a light and the same levers.
Honda’s manual covers both machines under one gravel rule, so neither belongs on a stone drive.
Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO
The Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO (921048) Two-Stage Gas Snow Blower is a wheeled 28 inch gas two-stage with an Ariens AX 306 cc engine and a dry weight of 267.5 lb. It starts electrically from a 120 volt outdoor cord, and its manual gives a skid shoe setting for gravel, which Honda’s does not. Pick it for a flat drive with some gravel, at a lower price tier. I weigh the two head to head in my Honda and Ariens snow blowers comparison.
| Spec | Honda HSS928 | Honda HSS1332 | Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clearing width | 28 in | 31.9 in | 28 in |
| Engine | GX270 | GX390 | AX 306 cc |
| Drive | Hydrostatic tracks | Hydrostatic tracks | Wheels |
| Dry weight | 276 lb | 298 lb | 267.5 lb |
| Auger protection | Shear bolts | Sensor and shear bolts | Shear bolts |
The Honda HSS928 vs HSS1332 choice is about width and auger protection. For other machines in this class, see our snow removal equipment pages.
My Final Verdict on the Honda HSS928
The HSS928 earns its premium on the right ground, where tracks hold the line and one lever sets the speed. Keep spare shear bolts, follow the clog routine every time and store the fuel as the manual says. Any Honda HSS928 review comes back to the surface: I pick this machine for paved or hard-packed ground and a different one for gravel. For every other drive, my guide to the best snow blowers covers gas, battery and corded machines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Honda snowblowers worth the extra money?
Honda snowblowers are worth the extra money when you need what the HSS928 adds: rubber tracks, a hydrostatic drive with no gear changes and a 3-year residential warranty on a Honda GX270 engine. They are not worth it on a small, flat or gravel drive, where a cheaper wheeled machine does the same work.
How much does a Honda HS928 weigh?
The older HS928 is an earlier model, and the current HSS928AATD with electric start and tracks weighs 276 lb dry, according to Honda. The recoil-only HSS928 track version weighs 265 lb, so match the weight to the version a seller lists, and plan your shed floor and ramp around it.
Which Honda snowblower is the best?
The best Honda snowblower depends on the width of your drive: the 28 inch HSS928 suits a long, sloped or icy paved drive, and the 32 inch HSS1332 suits a wider drive of several cars. Both are premium track machines, the HSS1332 adds a GX390 engine and an auger torque sensor, and Honda’s manual keeps both off gravel.
What is the price of a Honda HSS928A snowblower?
The Honda HSS928A snowblower sits in the premium price tier of snow blowers, at the top of the 28 inch gas two-stage class. The electric-start version costs more than the recoil-only version on Honda’s own list, so check which version a seller offers before you compare any two listings of the HSS928.
What is the most reliable snowblower on the market?
The most reliable snowblower on the market cannot be named, because reliability depends on upkeep and on the service behind the machine. For the HSS928, Honda offers dealer service and a 3-year residential warranty on a GX270 engine, and the warranty does not cover damage from stale fuel or more than 10 percent ethanol.
References
- Judson A, Doesken N. Density of Freshly Fallen Snow in the Central Rocky Mountains. Bull Am Meteorol Soc. 2000;81(7):1577-1587.
- Tetz DJ, Aghababian R. Hand Injuries From Snow Blowers: A Report of an Epidemic. Prehosp Disaster Med. 1995;10(4):265-267.
- Gaussoin R. Winter traffic and play on turfgrass. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Turfgrass Science (extension article). December 6, 2022.
- Hammig B, Jones C. Hand injuries associated with reaching into a snow blower to clear clogged snow. Am J Emerg Med. 2020;38(4):785-788.
- Loder RT, Solanki D. Events Due to Snowblower Use Seen in US Emergency Departments From 2003 Through 2018. Cureus. 2020;12(12):e11836.
Safety Note: Snow blowers throw snow, ice and hidden objects with force. Never reach into a clogged chute or auger. Shut the machine off first: stop the engine on a gas model, unplug a corded model, or remove the safety key and every battery pack from a battery model. Wait at least as long as your manual says, often 10 seconds, and until every moving part has stopped, then remove the key and disconnect the spark plug wire where your manual says so, and clear the clog with the clearing tool. Keep people and pets out of the discharge path, run gas models outdoors only, and read the manufacturer’s manual.