When comparing Honda HS720AA vs Husqvarna ST227P, the Slant community recommends Husqvarna ST227P for most people. In the question“What are the best snow blowers under $1000?” Husqvarna ST227P is ranked 1st while Honda HS720AA is ranked 2nd. The most important reason people chose Husqvarna ST227P is:
The 27" wide auger makes this machine very efficient when it comes to sidewalk cleaning as it requires only two passes to clean a regular two-person sidewalk, which usually is 42" to 60" wide. Keep in mind that the regular auger sizes are 20", 24”, 27" and 30". While the smaller, 24 inch units, would not be able to clean a perfect 48 inch walk on just two passes (due to the overlap between the passes), the 30” units are simply too expensive. On average, the price difference between a 27” and a 30” snowblower (of the same model line) is 20%.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Excellent value for money
At its price point, this reliable single stage snow blower can do almost anything a bigger two stage unit could do as it can easily remove up to 12" of snow on a single pass.
Pro The engine is very reliable
The 187cc Honda GC190 engine of this machine is very reliable. The GC line engines are used to power Honda’s snow blowers since 2005, when the legendary HS520A snowblower (now discontinued) was introduced . These machines dominated the market for more than 5 years, in fact, there are still a lot of HS520A units in working condition.
Pro You don't have to mix gasoline with oil
This snow blower is powered by Honda’s 4 stroke 187cc engine. Compared to the regular 2 stroke engines, used by the competitors, the Honda GC190 is by far more advanced. The maintenance of such an engine is very simple, as there is no need to add any oil to the fuel.
Pro Easy to maneuver
Compared to large and bulky 2 stage snow blowers, this machine is much easier to control. This is caused ,mainly, by to the low weight of the given unit (only 89 pounds). This snowblower is perfect for maneuvering between cars in a small (2 to 4 car) driveway.
Pro Perfect for cleaning sidewalks
The 27" wide auger makes this machine very efficient when it comes to sidewalk cleaning as it requires only two passes to clean a regular two-person sidewalk, which usually is 42" to 60" wide.
Keep in mind that the regular auger sizes are 20", 24”, 27" and 30". While the smaller, 24 inch units, would not be able to clean a perfect 48 inch walk on just two passes (due to the overlap between the passes), the 30” units are simply too expensive. On average, the price difference between a 27” and a 30” snowblower (of the same model line) is 20%.
Pro Easy to steer
Even though this machine weighs a lot (212 pounds), the steering is piece of cake. The amount brute force you need to apply to control the machine is the bare minimum, thanks to the power steering feature of this snow blower. This feature allows you to turn the machine with a pull of a lever. There are two power steering levers located on the handle of this snow blower if you pull the left lever the machine will steer left, however, if the right lever is engaged, the machine will turn right.
Pro It’s not overly loud
It is very unlikely that you will disturb your neighbors while running this machine. It produces a mere 88.4 dB of sound pressure (near the machine). This is about the amount of sound pressure you would experience near a busy residential road.
Pro It keeps your hands warm
The heated handgrips of this snow blower will keep your hands warm while you are operating the machine.
Pro Easier engine maintenance
A four-stroke gasoline engine is a stand-out feature of this snow blower. While being more efficient than its two-stroke competitors, it's also less demanding when it comes to maintenance. With this engine, you will not need to deal with the hassle of mixing gasoline and oil.
Cons
Con Not good for working in the dark
This machine lacks headlights.
Con The auger blades tend to wear off
As the auger blades of this machine are made entirely from rubber, you will need to occasionally replace them. The authentic auger kits are priced around $59.
Con You have to push it around
Unlike the 2 stage and 3 stage machines, this one stage machine do not have any wheel drive mechanism, thus the operator has to push it manually. Therefore, this snow blower is suitable only for cleaning flat surfaces.
Con You need to be careful not to break the drive axle assembly
Drive axle assembly failure is one of the most common breakages of the Husqvarna’s ST snowblower class. This is most commonly caused by an improper axle reassembly after maintenance.