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Model HS928 K1TA (Purchased 2013 / likely prior year model)
The Honda blower does not have a powered chute. Just a (less than easy to use) hand crank at operator lever for the directional control. (vertical control is a different mechanism.) A long shaft extends from that handle down to the chute region. And the worm gear is connected in-line at the base of shaft. So turning the handle turns the worm gear. As suggested, ISTM the place to start would be to look for some way to shim so that the worm engages the teeth at base of chute better.
The mechanism (gear / chute assembly) is an area that typically gets frozen in place after the machine has been sitting overnight due to snow and ice. Attempting to turn the hand crank when frozen up would perhaps cause some wear. I usually wash out the ice with alcohol or w/s washer fluid. A hand held hair dryer sometimes necessary. Yesterday I'd lubed the area with WD 40 before running it. That may have helped the issue surface earlier, but don't think it caused it.
Some travel approaching. May not get to this for a while. It is comforting to have some starting ideas. I'll definitely save those links to discussion boards and believe they may be very helpful.
@hank There should be a small amount of adjustment of the bracket that holds the manual worm gear that is positioned against the gear teeth at the bottom of the chute assembly. And lubrication allowing for free movement of all parts is very important.
You noted: Currently living in older home & ducts have no insulation. Is it worth the cost to cover them?
Are you asking about ducts in the basement? Uninsulated ducts in the basement may have a benefit in our climate, IF the basement is not leaking air to the outside, or having a lot of cold air penetration. Let us know, for possible answers.....
@catch In the summer I'm thinking would be the only time for a benefit of uninsulated duct work in the basement. Is this your thinking all so? One could insulate duct work & then remove access door to filter, to allow cool basement air to be sent to the upstairs. Probably better to have an access cut into return duct so filter would still be doing it's job. Just my $.02, Derf
@Derf For winter time..........with only my presumptions about your house.....IF there is not cold air entering into the basement from whatever areas; WITH uninsulated ducts from the furnace, the sub-floors of the house are warmed from the warm duct work. This provides for warmth to the floors you walk upon. This is NOT a bad form of helping to heat the house from the sub-floors. The mass of all the wood product in the basement absorbs and stores some heat that is slowly dissipated. This would also include the cinder block basement walls, if this is the type of basement being discussed.
@hank There should be a small amount of adjustment of the bracket that holds the manual worm gear that is positioned against the gear teeth at the bottom of the chute assembly. And lubrication allowing for free movement of all parts is very important.
Sounds reasonable. Thanks @ Catch. Won't do anything until I have a free day to warm up the garage with couple propane heaters & take a good look at it. An adjustment would be "golden."
Yep, that video is likely to be the winner. Same as the diagram and instructions in the second link that I posted, but much better at getting the point across. Looks like a 1-minute fix.
For lube, I would consider white lithium, as it stays in place very well and can be found in spray can dispensers.
You noted: Currently living in older home & ducts have no insulation. Is it worth the cost to cover them?
Are you asking about ducts in the basement? Uninsulated ducts in the basement may have a benefit in our climate, IF the basement is not leaking air to the outside, or having a lot of cold air penetration. Let us know, for possible answers.....
I tend to agree on uninsulated ductwork possibly being beneficial. Unless in an unheated area.
Yes, exactly. In fact I actually vent some heat into our SF basement because we have clotheslines in that area, and I frequently work at the workbench down there too. That heat also warms the floors over that area, as you folks have noted.
Clothesline? Growing up we had a couple in the backyard. ISTM ours were strung between house and garage. But many homeowners cemented the end poles into the ground. That was before either (1) electric dryers became available or (2) mom and pop could afford one. One limiting factor was that they required 240 V boxes which many homes lacked. I actually gifted my folks a dryer in the 70s and wired in a 240 volt box for them.
Winter? Duh - I can't remember what they did. But would guess they picked the best days to do the wash. Ummm ... maybe used the basement.
I should clarify that we do have a large clothes dryer for larger items, but my wife prefers to use the clotheslines for the smaller stuff. Also, since PG&E has some of the highest electric rates in the US, the clothesline is a small economy. I cut a small vent into the furnace plenum which directs heat flow over the four clotheslines, which are right next to the furnace, and everything is dry overnight. As mentioned, that heat also warms the floor of the rooms above the basement area.
The dryer vents the surplus heat to the outside, which is a total waste.
I have to say that there is nothing that smells so fresh as items dried on an outdoor clothesline on a breezy, sunshine filled day. There isn't a softener scent or product that comes even close. Indispensable when it came to laundering my kids diapers.
We have a zero scent policy around here. I often describe these so-called "fresh odors" as "25 cent a barrel perfume". No fabric softeners, scentless detergent, no scented candles, bare minimum air fresheners, only as needed. True clean doesn't require cover-up stank! Save it for the Exxon restrooms.
While on the topic, using too much concentrated detergent in a washing machine, particularly a high efficiency one, leads to a buildup in the outer tub that results in a mildew odor. The detergent causes the lint to stick to the plastic outer tub, and then harbor nastyness.
I may not have this, but I have allergies and stay away from strong smells, nothing good can come of that. Gives me headaches and makes me irritable. I just sent the latest batch of unused gifted scented candles to the Goodwill store.
Oh how I would hate that condition. There's nothing like the smell of a fresh brewed espresso, or a lily/peony/black snakeroot flower from the garden. My kid tells me to go away and threatens me with harm when he conjurs up a pot of bolognese. Cut me some slack, I already lost most of my hearing okay.
I'm appreciating all the input from others. Some smells are OK, particularly when not over-done. A bus driver here one day, informed me as pleasantly as possible that the smell on the bus I identified as "dead, rotting feet" was kimchee. A fellow passenger had not sealed his lunch tight enough.
In Asia, durian are prohibited on trains, planes, busses and in cabs because of their stink. We could take a lesson from them.
We made one trip to Eagle Harbor/Ontonagon and the in between communities in January. We were already very familiar with these areas during the summer months, but mid winter is a unique adventure there. At the time about 40 residents remained all year at Eagle Harbor, a few of whom; we had become acquainted, over the years. We had a day (24 hour rental) of snowmobiling the groomed trails in a nearby area with the bargain price of $100 each for a new season sled and helmet included, with a full tank of gas. A most wonderful adventure.
The Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan gets massive snowfall, with its record being 390.4 inches (over 32 feet) in 1978-79, while recent years (2020s) have seen totals often over 200-300 inches, though some El Niño years like 2015-16 were much lower (around 18.5 feet). Specific yearly totals vary greatly, but typically range from under 200 inches to over 300 inches, with spots like Calumet/Tamarack often exceeding 300 inches in heavy winters
Comments
Model HS928 K1TA (Purchased 2013 / likely prior year model)
The Honda blower does not have a powered chute. Just a (less than easy to use) hand crank at operator lever for the directional control. (vertical control is a different mechanism.) A long shaft extends from that handle down to the chute region. And the worm gear is connected in-line at the base of shaft. So turning the handle turns the worm gear. As suggested, ISTM the place to start would be to look for some way to shim so that the worm engages the teeth at base of chute better.
The mechanism (gear / chute assembly) is an area that typically gets frozen in place after the machine has been sitting overnight due to snow and ice. Attempting to turn the hand crank when frozen up would perhaps cause some wear. I usually wash out the ice with alcohol or w/s washer fluid. A hand held hair dryer sometimes necessary. Yesterday I'd lubed the area with WD 40 before running it. That may have helped the issue surface earlier, but don't think it caused it.
Some travel approaching. May not get to this for a while. It is comforting to have some starting ideas. I'll definitely save those links to discussion boards and believe they may be very helpful.
Let us know, for possible answers.....
One could insulate duct work & then remove access door to filter, to allow cool basement air to be sent to the upstairs. Probably better to have an access cut into return duct so filter would still be doing it's job.
Just my $.02, Derf
For lube, I would consider white lithium, as it stays in place very well and can be found in spray can dispensers.
Winter? Duh - I can't remember what they did. But would guess they picked the best days to do the wash. Ummm ... maybe used the basement.
The dryer vents the surplus heat to the outside, which is a total waste.
And then, there's the 15-20% of the population who has to SUFFER through each day with such aromas, everywhere:
(Hint: I are one.) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensory_processing_sensitivity
In Asia, durian are prohibited on trains, planes, busses and in cabs because of their stink. We could take a lesson from them.
"perfume at .25 cents per barrel." Giggle. Ya.
https://www.accuweather.com/en/winter-weather/80-inches-of-snow-in-juneau-alaska-smashes-record-sinks-boats/1849220
My blower would die.
We had a day (24 hour rental) of snowmobiling the groomed trails in a nearby area with the bargain price of $100 each for a new season sled and helmet included, with a full tank of gas. A most wonderful adventure.
The Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan gets massive snowfall, with its record being 390.4 inches (over 32 feet) in 1978-79, while recent years (2020s) have seen totals often over 200-300 inches, though some El Niño years like 2015-16 were much lower (around 18.5 feet). Specific yearly totals vary greatly, but typically range from under 200 inches to over 300 inches, with spots like Calumet/Tamarack often exceeding 300 inches in heavy winters
"My blower would die"
Yeah, mine too and probably me as well. I can't imagine dealing with that. Just wow!
Sounds like a day in the park in Buffalo, NY however.