HONDA HS520A - Manual (Page 9)

9
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
restricted:
1. Stop the engine.
2. Make sure that all rotating parts have come to a complete stop.
3. Remove the spark plug cap from the spark plug (page 10).
4. Use a wooden stick to clear the obstruction.
SERVICING YOUR
SNOWTHROWER
Proper maintenance is essential for safe, economical, and
trouble-free operation. It will also help reduce air pollution.
To help you properly care for your snowthrower, the following pages
include a maintenance schedule, routine inspection procedures, and
simple maintenance procedures using basic hand tools. Other service
tasks that are more difficult, or require special tools, are best handled
by professionals and are normally performed by a Honda technician
or other qualified mechanic.
The maintenance schedule applies to normal operating conditions. If
you operate your snowthrower under severe conditions, such as
sustained high-load or high-temperature operation, or use in
unusually wet or dusty conditions, consult your servicing dealer for
recommendations applicable to your individual needs and use.
To ensure the best quality and reliability, use only new, genuine
Honda parts or their equivalents for repair and replacement.
Maintenance, replacement, or repair of the emission control
devices and systems may be performed by any engine repair
establishment or individual, using parts that are “certified” to
EPA standards.
MAINTENANCE SAFETY
Some of the most important safety precautions follow. However, we
cannot warn you of every conceivable hazard that can arise in
performing maintenance. Only you can decide whether or not you
should perform a given task.
Safety Precautions
• Make sure the engine is off before you begin any maintenance or
repairs. This will eliminate several potential hazards:
— Carbon monoxide poisoning from engine exhaust.
Operate outdoors away from open windows or doors.
— Burns from hot parts.
Let the engine and exhaust system cool before touching.
— Injury from moving parts.
Do not run the engine unless instructed to do so.
• Read the instructions before you begin, and make sure you have
the tools and skills required.
• To reduce the possibility of fire or explosion, be careful when
working around gasoline. Use only a nonflammable solvent, not
gasoline, to clean parts. Keep cigarettes, sparks, and flames away
from all fuel-related parts.
Remember that an authorized Honda servicing dealer knows your
snowthrower best and is fully equipped to maintain and repair it.
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE
1. For professional commercial use, log hours of operation to determine
proper maintenance intervals.
2. These items should be serviced by an authorized Honda servicing dealer,
unless you have the proper tools and are mechanically proficient.
Failure to follow this maintenance schedule could result in non-warrantable
failures.

WARNING
Improper maintenance, or failure to correct a problem
before operation, can cause a malfunction in which you
can be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the inspection and maintenance
recommendations and schedules in this owner’s manual.

WARNING
Failure to properly follow maintenance instructions and
precautions can cause you to be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the procedures and precautions in this
owner’s manual.
Interval 1 Item
Before each use
Check the engine oil level (page 10)
Check scraper blade (page 11)
First month or
25 hours Change the engine oil (page 10)
Every year -
Before operation Refer to BEFORE OPERATION (page 7)
Every year -
Before storage Refer to STORAGE (page 13)
Every 150 hours Replace the spark plug (page 10)
Adjust the valve clearance
2
Adjust the engine speed 2
Clean the fuel tank and filter 2
Every 2 years Check the fuel line and replace if necessary 2
After every 250
hours Clean combustion chamber 2