What the Honda HSS928AATD Track-Drive Snow Blower Does Well and Where It Falls Short

Who this snow blower is for

Most 28-inch two-stage snow blowers are wheeled machines for flat suburban driveways. The Honda HSS928AATD is built for the other kind: the long gravel drive, the slope that turns to ice, the lake-effect belt where two feet falls wet and often. Tracks, hydrostatic drive and a commercial GX engine are what separate it from the field, and they are also why it costs what it does. It is bought by people who have fought a wheeled machine on a hill and decided not to again.

This review is based on the maker’s published specifications and on recurring owner feedback. We have not run this product ourselves.

What you get

Honda lists a GX270 OHV engine, a 28-inch clearing width, a 21.7-inch clearing height, dual rubber tracks with cleats, a hydrostatic transmission, a thumb-lever auger height control, an automotive-style DC key electric start, a maximum throw of 52 feet and a clearing rate of up to 1900 pounds per minute, with a three-year residential warranty. The listing does not state the weight, the chute control type or fuel capacity; Honda publishes those in its own literature and the chute arrangement in particular is worth checking on the product page.

Clearing power and throw distance

The GX270 is the same engine family Honda sells into pressure washers and construction equipment, and its reputation for starting in cold and running for decades is the heart of this machine’s value. Honda’s 1900 pound per minute figure reads modestly against some competitors’ claims, but Honda tends to publish conservative numbers and owners describe the HSS928 as a machine that does not slow in wet snow. The 52-foot maximum throw is a best case in cold powder; in heavy March slush expect less, still comfortably past the edge of a wide driveway. The 21.7-inch clearing height takes a plow ridge head on, and the auger height lever lets you climb onto it rather than ram it.

Drive, tracks and traction

This is the section that justifies the premium. Hydrostatic drive means one lever for speed and direction with no shifting, and because ground speed is decoupled from auger speed, you can creep through a drift with the auger at full power. The rubber tracks are made of a low-temperature compound with cleats, and they hold on inclines, gravel and ice where 16-inch tires spin. The cost is maneuverability: tracked machines turn more slowly than wheeled ones with trigger steering, and owners consistently note that moving the machine with the engine off is a two-person job.

Build, controls and ergonomics

Honda’s snow blowers are built like the rest of Honda’s power equipment, with heavy steel housings, cast components where plastic would be cheaper, and controls that work in gloves. The key start is a genuine convenience over a plug-in starter because there is no cord to run. The auger height control is a thumb lever at the handlebar, so switching from a gravel section to pavement is done without stopping. Weight is not stated in the listing; it is substantial, as the tracks and hydrostatic unit add to a 28-inch steel machine.

Living with it

The routine is the normal gas two-stage one with two additions: keep the starter battery charged over summer, and inspect the tracks for cuts and tension each season. Fresh fuel with stabilizer, oil changes on Honda’s schedule and a spare set of shear pins cover the rest. Three years residential is a strong warranty for a machine this complex, and Honda’s dealer network is one of the deepest in outdoor power.

Alternatives to Consider

The Honda HSS928AAWD is the same machine on wheels, lighter, cheaper and easier to turn, the better pick for a flat paved driveway. The Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO is the wheeled dealer-brand rival with a bigger engine and a lower price. For a cordless alternative on flat ground, the EGO Power+ SNT2800 clears the same 28 inches with no fuel or oil but needs two large batteries.

Verdict

Buy the Honda HSS928AATD if your driveway is long, sloped, gravel or all three, your snow is heavy and frequent, and you want a machine that will start every time for a very long time. Skip it if the driveway is flat and paved, where the wheeled version or an Ariens does the job for a lot less money and turns on a dime by comparison.