That Honda HP500 is different to mine in that it has hyrdo transmission , so its speed is adjusted by throttle position rather than a high and low gear like my old one other than that its more or less the same .
If i ever see another one for sale of course i will snap it up as the brand new wheeled version i bought as a spare is not a patch on the Honda .
Dave
5 Likes
That’s a hard call SteveU. We are currently waiting to see if our Ecoflow power station purchase is actually going to get here. After order through Amazon but shipped from Ecoflow, we found out that they were waiting for shipment on that particular model and after a bunch of conflicting back and forth through E-mails we finally decided to wait the promised two weeks when they were supposed to get their shipment rather than risk trying to cancel the order and having the cyber digits months floating around in cyber space trying to find their way back home. Been there done that. My wife is a master at purchasing, digging out hidden codes and whatnot. About 2 grand weedled down to 1400 ain’t really a deal if your left flopping in the wind. We do most of our purchasing on-line and this kind of crap is becoming common. At least purchased through and shipped by Amazon is still reliable in our experience.
6 Likes
Dave on the hydramatic riding lawn mower TuffTorq transmissions the forward to backwards rocking pedals actually does control fluid volume flow and speed in addition to changing the engine speed.
In this video at 0:55 → 1:01 minutes; and then at 1:25 → 1:52 it shows the demonstrator moving the forwards and reversing lever all of the way past center marked Neutral to the end slot stops.
What if you do not go all of the way to the end stop? Partial flow, not full speed then?
Other videos it seems the actual working operators are partial speeding adjusting with the flow lever. ???
S.U.
5 Likes
Hi Steve i did look at that as closely as i could , but i could not see any position steps from full open to middle stop position , but that’ s not to say that as you described it would not act as a sort of gate flow valve from low to fully open , its just i know 100% regardless of my throttle position when i go forward it goes at 1 speed with only a very very slight difference if the throttle is fully open or on very low revs , i noticed that the HP500 took off a high rate of knots maybe just a little too fast for me with a full load of wood , I still wouldn’t say no to one though that’s for sure , and i know you will love it when you do get your hands on whatever one you end up with and being able to drive right up to your door is a bonus as its so narrow is a bonus for me .
Dave
5 Likes
Before buying I like to find a hundreds of hours in-service video. Here. Long but worth it to me for the details shown of the machines design and construction:
Has an auxiliary hydraulic pump installed for the power dumper feature.
At ~21 minutes show that the two power-clutching hold down paddles are linked to allow one hand free for the throttle and forward-reversing valving. Would give a freed up hand for finer control of each side brake-steering grip. Or a free hand to swat late summer bees. Brow sweat wipe.
Hey Dave. How’s his accent. Old home week? Or wrong side to the mother Isle?
Regards
Steve Unruh
3 Likes
I have been kicking the idea of building a tracked machine for a long time. I think the easiest way is an old zero turn mower, as long as final drives are good, you could power it with what ever you wanted. Take the front crazy wheels off, and put idler wheels on.
11 Likes
I have hundreds of feet of conveyor belt laying around prime for making homemade tracks, and the bug is itchy always has been. Something about tracked vehicles makes them so damn versatile and fun to operate
10 Likes
Hi Steve , yeah he is from the old home country for sure he never swore once , a Aussie trying to replace those steering clutch cables would have been cussin like you never heard before ask me how i know , well i replace mine regular i got it down to a T , i left the plastic cover off and use bike cables that have just 1 nipple on the end that i thread up through the old outter cable and clamp onto a split bolt on the handle bars .
BTW the only reason mine break is down to the clutch being so worn it is not a smooth pull anymore still its been like that now for 8 years and i bet it out lasts me .
As for having one hand free it never is you will always hold onto the drive paddles with one or other of the hands but you will also have both hands under the levers ready to steer left or right , i also find it near impossible to let go of the drive handles when you think its going to lean over too far , your brain wont allow you to stop the machine as it thinks you are far smarter that you look , but once its leaning around 35 degs you tend to ignore your brain and let go though .
I bet he bought that for next to nothing over in the UK lucky bugger .
Dave
6 Likes
This video just popped up on my recommended watch-this feed. Very good audio. Shows the better the superior load centered over tracks of the Honda machine. Show the great rear ground clearance and exit angle clearance designed in this machine:
For just my firewood/fuel wood trundling up the hill I think Dave a movable bed would not be necessary. I use body movements daily to stay capable of daily doing whole body movements.
Old age, old injuries pains are just my grounding tha I am still in the Here-and-Now, still kicking’ it.
The actual hardest for me is repetitively reaching down to the on ground level. Self fusing spine fro too many injuries. So anything got up even a little bit is an assitnece to me. Like the load bed height.
Or maybe it is just a reluctance to face into the the inevitably of the deep down in the ground final resting place, eh.
S.U.
6 Likes
When my brother worked in the sawmill sorting boards he was daily using a hookaroon. Over the last few years he started using one at home for shuffling firewood up onto the splitter or from the ground pile up onto the stack to save his back. Took me very little practice to start using one and it is no doubt a back SAVER! Might be worth looking into one Steve
5 Likes
When my Honda four wheeler worked I made a 3 wide by 6 ft trailer for it. Used the drop axle from a Honda civic and the bed rode just about six inches off the ground. It was great for just rolling up rounds bigger that I could pick up. Doesn’t work hooked to the truck. Would if I welded up a drop down receiver. The bed of the truck keeps getting higher every year.
8 Likes
Wouldn’t a pickaroon be better for this or is it just a matter of preference? I never had a hookaroon so I can’t compare.
2 Likes
interchangable terms, i have heard it called both i think its advertising
5 Likes
Ok, then I agree. 
They are nice when you’re handling firewood, as Marcus says they are a backsaver for sure.
3 Likes
They say they are different, but the bill is at a slightly steeper angle for a hookaroon is the only difference I can physically see they work just about the same. I have seen a few guys lately start using modified hay hooks to do the same thing so you can snag 2 pieces at once
5 Likes
It seems like you would have less control with a modified hay hook but it depends what you want to do with the piece of wood though, you can’t use your wrist as you could with a hookaroon since it will slide in your hand but if you don’t need to then it would be a cheaper option.
4 Likes
I agree JohanM. you want that handle to be able to choke up short, or long reach out; depending.
Choked up short I find the handle alongside the forearm spanning the wrist gives wrist stabilization.
My slim hands and wrists have never matched my shoulders. Popeye I am not! But were/are still good for snake-hands mechanic’ing in tight engine compartments.
Many videos out there. Some better with fellows really showing capabilities. I went for short, quick to watch.
S.U.
8 Likes
Here you go JoepK.
A honda dumper machine showing lift:
Regards
Steve Unruh
7 Likes
I thought it was more common that they were able to lift, but it seems special. Now that I see this vid… haha, maybe it is better he doesnt lift. Nice catapult.
5 Likes
Before these posts I never knew these machines existed. I’d line that hopper with visqueen if I were moving that sticky clay.
6 Likes