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®
Owner's Manual
Snowthrower
HS520A • HS520AS
See page 39 for instructions on
HS520A
setting up your Snowthrower.
EM3
HS520K1AS
POM53091-C
IPC 5500.2005.07
31V10610
Printed on
00X31-V10-6100 Recycled Paper PRINTED IN U.S.A.
© 1999–2005 American Honda Motor Co., Inc.—All Rights Reserved
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WARNING: The engine exhaust from this product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. Keep this owner's manual handy, so you can refer to it any time. This owner's manual is considered a permanent part of the snowthrower and should remain with the snowthrower if resold. The information and specifications included in this publication were in effect at the time of approval for printing. American Honda Motor Co.
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INTRODUCTION Congratulations on your selection of a Honda snowthrower. We are certain you will be pleased with your purchase of one of the finest snowthrowers on the market. We want to help you get the best results from your new snowthrower and to operate it safely. This manual contains the information on how to do that; please read it carefully. As you read this manual, you will find information preceded by a NOTICE symbol. That information is intended to help you avoid damage to your sn
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INTRODUCTION A FEW WORDS ABOUT SAFETY Your safety and the safety of others is very important, and using this snowthrower safely is an important responsibility. To help you make informed decisions about safety, we have provided operating procedures and other information on labels and in this manual. This information alerts you to potential hazards that could hurt you or others. Of course, it is not practical or possible to warn you about all the hazards associated with operating or maintain
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CONTENTS SNOWTHROWER SAFETY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 SAFETY LABEL LOCATIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 CONTROLS & FEATURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 COMPONENT & CONTROL LOCATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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SNOWTHROWER SAFETY IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION Honda snowthrowers are designed to clear snow from driveways and walkways. Other uses can result in injury to the operator or damage to the snowthrower and other property. Most accidents with snowthrowers can be prevented if you follow all instructions in this manual and on the snowthrower. The most common hazards, according to accident statistics, are discussed below, along with the best way to protect yourself and others. Avoid Rotating Auge
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SNOWTHROWER SAFETY Keep Shields in Place Guards and shields are designed to protect you from being hit by thrown objects and to keep you from touching hot engine parts and moving components. For your safety and the safety of others, keep all shields in place when the engine is running. Adjust the snow discharge chute to avoid hitting the operator, bystanders, windows, and other objects with ejected snow. Stay clear of the snow discharge chute while the engine is running. Children and pets m
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SNOWTHROWER SAFETY Operating Near Roads Always watch for vehicle traffic when operating the snowthrower near roads and driveways. Never operate the snowthrower on public roads. Operator Responsibility Know how to stop the snowthrower quickly in case of emergency. Understand the use of all snowthrower controls. Never permit anyone to operate the snowthrower without proper instruction. Do not let children operate the snowthrower. If people or pets suddenly appear in front of the snowthrower wh
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SNOWTHROWER SAFETY SAFETY LABEL LOCATIONS These labels warn you of potential hazards that can cause serious injury. Read them carefully. If a label comes off or becomes hard to read, contact your Honda snowthrower dealer for a replacement. DANGER DANGER KEEP HANDS OUT OF DISCHARGE KEEP HANDS AND CHUTE WHILE FEET AWAY FROM ENGINE IS RUNNING CAUTION AUGER WHILE ENGINE IS RUNNING. HOTMUFFLERCANBURNYOU. Stayawayifenginehasbeen running. WARNING STOPENGINE. READ WAITFORALL DONOTDIRECT OWNER'S
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CONTROLS & FEATURES COMPONENT & CONTROL LOCATIONS Use the two illustrations on this page to locate and identify the most frequently used controls. CHUTE GUIDE HANDLE AUGER CLUTCH HANDLEBAR LEVER SPARK PLUG COVER FUEL CAP CHOKE KNOB FUEL VALVE STARTER GRIP OIL FILLER CAP ENGINE OIL DRAIN PLUG HS520AS ENGINE SWITCH STARTER BUTTON (P. 15) 8
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CONTROLS & FEATURES CONTROLS Fuel Valve OFF The fuel valve opens and closes the fuel line leading from the fuel tank to the carburetor. Make sure ON that the fuel valve is positioned exactly at either the ON or OFF position. When the snowthrower is not in use, always leave the fuel valve in the OFF position to reduce the possibility of fuel leakage. Engine Switch OFF ON OFF The engine switch controls the OFF ON ignition system. The HS520A has an OFF-ON-OFF switch, while the HS520AS ha
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CONTROLS & FEATURES Choke Knob OPEN The choke knob is used to open or CLOSED close the choke. CLOSED is used when the engine is cold. The OPEN position provides the correct fuel mixture for operation after the engine has warmed up, and for starting a warm engine. Chute Guide Handle Use this control to guide the snow discharge angle and direction. LOW AND NEAR LEFT HIGH AND FAR RIGHT Auger Clutch Lever ENGAGE When this lever is engaged, the snowthrower auger paddles begin to spin and the
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BEFORE OPERATION ARE YOU READY TO GET STARTED? Your safety is your responsibility. A little time spent in preparation will significantly reduce your risk of injury. Knowledge Read and understand this manual. Know what the controls do and how to operate them. Familiarize yourself with the snowthrower and its operation before you begin using it. Know how to shut off the snowthrower quickly in case of an emergency. IS YOUR SNOWTHROWER READY TO GO? For your safety, and to maximize the service li
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BEFORE OPERATION Check the General Condition of the Snowthrower • Look around and underneath the snowthrower for signs of oil or gasoline leaks. • Check the auger housing and the discharge chute for accumulation of packed snow or ice. Clean the auger housing and discharge chute before starting the snowthrower. • Look for signs of damage. • Check each control for proper operation. • Check auger paddles for wear. Replace if necessary (page 28). • Check the scraper blade for wear. Replace if nec
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OPERATION SNOWTHROWING PRECAUTIONS Before operating the snowthrower for the first time, please review both the SNOWTHROWER SAFETY chapter (page 4) and the BEFORE OPERATION chapter (page 11). Even if you have operated other snowthrowers, take time to become familiar with how this snowthrower works, and practice in a safe area until you build up your skills. Never tamper with or alter any of the controls or safety devices on the snowthrower. For your safety, avoid starting or operating the en
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OPERATION 2. If the engine is cold, pull CLOSED the choke knob out to the CLOSED position. 3. Start the engine. Electric Start (AS model only): a. Connect an extension cord (commercially available) to the starter box first, then to a 120 volt ac outlet. 120 VAC OUTLET EXTENSION CORD (COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE) STARTER BOX PLUG Use an outdoor power cord with a power rating of no less than 15 amps. Do not connect and disconnect the power cord with wet hands. Do not use in the rain. Be sure to h
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OPERATION c. Push the starter button until the engine starts. After the engine starts, disconnect the power cord from the electrical outlet, and then from the starter box. NOTICE To prevent damage to the starter, do not operate the starter for more than 15 seconds. If the engine fails to start, release the button and allow the starter to cool for 10 minutes before operating it again. Manual (Pull) Starting a. Turn the engine switch to the ON position. ON HS520AS HS520A ON b. Pull the star
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OPERATION 4. Let the engine warm up for several minutes. If the choke knob has been pulled to the CLOSED position to start the engine, gradually push it to the OPEN position as the engine warms up. STOPPING THE ENGINE To stop the engine in an emergency, turn the engine switch to the OFF position. Under normal conditions, use the following procedure. 1. Release the auger clutch lever. The auger will stop operation. RELEASE 2. Turn the engine switch to the OFF position. OFF OFF HS520A HS520AS
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OPERATION CLEARING SNOW 1. Press down on the handlebar to raise the front of the snowthrower slightly. Roll the snowthrower over to the snow area. 2. Use the chute guide handle (page 10) to ENGAGE AUGER adjust the direction for the discharged snow to travel. 3. Engage the auger clutch lever. The auger will begin to spin. 4. Tilt the snowthrower forward TILT FORWARD SLIGHTLY slightly with the handlebar to engage the auger into the snow. The auger will then pull the snowthrower forward an
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OPERATION SNOW-CLEARING TIPS For best efficiency, clear snow before it melts, refreezes and hardens. Operating tips for clearing hard or deep snow: • Clear snow with a back and forth motion. Release the auger clutch lever, then press down on the handlebar to raise the auger housing when pulling the snowblower backwards. • Clear a narrower swath. Make several passes with the auger overlapping the cleared areas. REMOVING OBSTRUCTIONS If the discharge chute or snowthrowing mechanism becomes res
