. No part of this publication This manual is a permanent if resold. Honda HR215 mowers rotary mowers. Honda HR215 mowers areas, it is illegal to operate an engine without Check local laws and regulations is available from authorized READ THIS OWNER’S. l.SAFETY Safety Label Locations Safety Information Important Message 2. COMPONENT IDENTIFICATION 3. CONTROLS Fuel Valve.

1. Honda Hydrostatic Lawn Mower Owners Manual
2. Honda Hydrostatic Lawn Mower Vs Toro Personal Pace
3. Honda Hydrostatic Lawn Mower Review

Throttle Lever Engine Switch (HR215SMA) ROTO-STOPLever.13 Drive Clutch Lever (HR215HXA, Shift Lever (HR215HXA, Handlebar Locking Cutting Height Adjustment 4.ATTACHMENTS.18 Grass Bag (standard) Hard-Shell Grass Catcher Side-Discharge 5. MOWING RECOMMENDATIONS. TRANSPORTING MAINTENANCE Maintenance Schedule Engine Oil Change Air Cleaner Service Spark Plug Service Spark Arrester ROTO-STOP Cable Adjustment Drive Clutch Cable Adjustment Drive Clutch Cable Adjustment Throttle Cable Adjustment Shift Cable Adjustment Carburetor Adjustment Grass Bag Cleaning Blade Removal and Installation Battery Charging STORAGE. SAFETY Read all safety instructions UNDER NORMAL USAGE, THIS BAG MATERIAL ISSUBJECT TO DETERlORATlON AND WEAR AND SHOULD BE CHECKED FREGUENTLV FOR BAG REPLACEMENT. THIS BAG CONFORMS TO ANY REPLACEMENT MUST STANDARD. GASOLINE IS FLAMMABLE.

STOP ENGINE, AVOID HEAT, SPARKS, AND OPEN FLAME 11 KEEP HANDS and FEETAWAY 11 /. SAFETY INFORMATION For your safety and the safety precautions: Operator Responsibility Know how to stop the engine quickly in case of emergency. Use of all controls.

Be sure that anyone instruction. Allowing without proper instruction Wear long pants and protective footwear.

I want to say I bought the Honda (specifically the HXA). Pull as all my Honda products do and Hydrostatic. Honda Commercial Self-Propelled lawn mower.

Operating the mower while barefoot or wearing sandals Keep all persons and pets away from the mowing. Dry grass and leaves are flammable Always empty the grass bag when you’ve full. Stored lawn clippings Honda HR215 mowers illegal in some areas to operate an engine without arrester. Check local laws and regulations. MATURITY AND RESPONSIBILITY person think through problems and come to logical solutions? Who takes unnecessary lawn mower. If you decide that your son or daughter can handle the mower safely, CAREFULLY READ THE OWNER’S understand all instructions sturdy shoes and other protective mower.

COMPONENT ROTO-STOP LOCKING KNOBS CUTTING HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT LEVER ENGINE SERIAL NUMBER (on back of engine) Record the frame and engine serial numbers serial numbers when ordering inquiries (see page 67). Frame serial number: Engine serial number: IDENTIFICATOON ROTO-STOP BUTTON ENGINE SWITCH &. CUTTING HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT LEVER SPARK PLUG HR215PXA: Manual HR215HXA: Manual HR215SXA: Manual Manual & electric starting, self-propelled; HR215SMA: 2.

COMPONENT (HR215HXA, HR215SXA. HR215SMAI F)jGy FUEL VALVE CARBURETOR starting, manually propelled; starting, self-propelled; starting, self-propelled; IDENTIFICATION ROTO-STOP ROTO-STOP LEVER BUTTON TJ&? THROTTLE CUTTING HEIGHT. CONTROLS FUEL VALVE The fuel valve opens and closes the connection carburetor. The fuel valve must be in the ON position When the mower is not in use, turn the fuel valve to the OFF position to prevent the possibility of carburetor flooding, Gasoline explode. THRUITLE LEVER CHOKE position: For starting FAST position 1: For mowing SLOW position STOP position: Stops the engine NOTE: HR215SMA only - turning the engine switch to the stops the engine (see page 12). THROTTLE LEVER (HR215HXA) 1: For idling OFF position THROTTLE LEVER (HR215SXA).

3. CONTROLS ENGINE SWITCH (HR215SMAI START position: Operates ON position: Running NOTE: The engine switch OFF Position: Stops the engine the electric starter position must be in the ON position to use the recoil starter. ENGINE SWITCH. ROTO-STOP LEVER The ROTO-STOP lever operates the blade brake/clutch to start and stop the blade To put the blade into operation, then push the lever forward Releasing the ROTO-STOP lever will stop the blade Operate the ROTO-STOP lever with a quick and complete drive is always either fully engaged or stopped.

HR215HXA: You can move the drive clutch lever to control mower speed, but keep the ROTO-STOP lever all the way forward while before you mowing. RDTD-STDP LEVER DRIVE CLUTCH LEVER (HR215 lSXA & HR215SMAI & HR215SMA: RUID-STDP LEVER DRIVE CLUTCH LEVER (HR215HXA). SHIFT LEVER (HR215SXA The shift lever selects the drive speed for the mower.

Move the shift lever to select the pace at which mow. NOTE: The mower will lurch if you shift gears while drive engaged. Release the drive clutch lever before moving To avoid incomplete ment. CONTROLS HANDLEBAR LOCKING The handlebar locking knobs must be tightened to secure the handlebar the mowing position. These knobs can be loosened the handlebar for storage or transport convenience Remove the grass bag, and place it on top of the engine, with the bag opening at the front of the mower. CUTTING HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT serious injury. Stop the engine before adjusting cutting height.

There are six cutting 3/4 in (2.0 cm), l-1/4 l-3/4 in (4.5 cm), 2-l/4 2-5/8 in (6.7 cm), and 3 in (7.7 cm). These are approximate actual height of cut grass will vary with lawn and soil conditions.

ATTACHMENTS Honda HR215 mowers You can operate the mower catcher) installed to collect the grass clippings, (or optional side-discharge on the lawn. When attachments closes to protect the operator NOTE: When mowing without more grass under the cutter mowing grass that is thick or tall. A hard-shell grass catcher, authorized Honda lawn mower dealers. They attach to the cutter deck in place of the standard grass bag. HARD-SHELL GRASS CATCHER (optional) GRASS CATCHER SIDE-DISCHARGE CHUTE (optional) SIDE DISCHARGE CHUTE 4. ATTACHMENTS and a side-discharge chute. A worn or damaged inspect the blade before using the mower.

When the blade needs sharpening authorized Honda lawn mower dealer. Or, if you have a torque wrench, remove and install the blade yourself Blade sharpening: poor cutting, the blade should be sharpened mower dealer. GRASS BAG Check that the grass bag is in good condition and not clogged. A clogged grass bag will not collect grass efficiently. When the bag needs cleaning, wash it with a garden hose, and allow it to dry thoroughly use. PRE-OPERATION ENGINE OIL Check the engine oil level with the engine stopped surface 1. Remove the oil filler cap, and wipe the dipstick 2.

Insert the dipstick 3. Check the oil level shown upper level with the recommended r-ii%q Running damage. FUEL Fuel tank capacity: 0.26 US gal (1.0 PI Remove the filler cap and check the fuel level. Refill the tank if the fuel level is low. Refuel carefully fuel in the filler neck. Gasoline explode, causing serious gasoline.

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. Refuel in a well-ventilated flames or sparks in the area where the engine is stored.

Occasionally you may hear light “spark noise) while operating If spark knock or pinging change brands of gasoline Honda lawn mower dealer. F-xEq Running can cause engine damage. NOTE: Running the engine with persistent misuse, and the Distributor’s. Check that the air filter is clean and in good condition. Air flow to the carburetor, will allow dirt to enter the engine, causing 1.

Remove the cover screws, 2. Inspect the paper and foam elements either of the filter elements filter elements are dirty.

PRE-OPERATION HANDLEBAR HEIGHT Check that handlebar comfortable operating necessary, readjust handlebar Loosen both left and right height adjuster locking bolts with a 12 mm wrench. Slightly loosen the lower handlebar locking knobs. This will allow the height adjusters easily. Adjust the handlebar table height. BTAIVING THE ENGINE If you run the engine in an area that is confined, or even partially the air can become contaminated a dangerous amount poisonous carbon colorless and odorless exhaust can cause loss of conscious- ness and may lead to death.

To keep exhaust gas from building adequate. Operate the starter. NOTE: Always release the ROTO-STOP lever before starting the engine. If the blade drive is engaged, extra effort will be required to operate the starter. Self-propelled models: Always release the drive clutch lever before starting the engine. When the engine warms up, move the throttle position.

Set the lever in FAST (. 1 position for idling. THROTTLE LEVER (HR215PXAI NOTE: If restarting a warm engine in the CHOKE position, lever away from CHOKE as soon as the engine starts.

CLEARING A FLOODED ENGINE If the engine won’t start, after you have operated the starter several times, the. OPERATION MOWER OPERAUION To mow, set the throttle FAST ( 61) position, press the button on top of the ROTO-STOP lever, then move the ROTO-STOP and hold it against the handlebar.

Blade will turn while the ROTO-STOP lever is held forward. NOTE: For best grass. MOWER OPERATION To propel the mower (self-propelled (see page 14). Release the drive clutch To select a different drive speed, move the shift lever (see page 15).

Hold the ROTO-STOP lever forward mowing in open areas. DRIVE CLUTCH LEVER (HR215SXA 81 HR215SMAI HR215SXA &. OPERATION If the mower that will increase the risk of injury from blade contact and debris.

For your safety, keep all four wheels on the ground, not to lose your footing Keep a firm grip on the handlebar, very careful when mowing up and down. STOPPING THE ENGINE 1.

Release the drive clutch lever (self- propelled models) and ROTO-STOP lever (all models). Move the throttle lever to the STOP position. HR215SMA: Turn switch to the OFF position. When the mower is not in use, turn the fuel valve to the.

High altitude performance fuel jet in the carburetor the mower at altitudes higher than 6,006 feet above sea level, have an authorized Honda lawn mower dealer perform Even with carburetor modification. A cutting height of l-l /4 in (3.3 cm) to 2-l /4 in (5.6 cm) is appropriate most lawns during cool weather.

Lawn during hot summer months. Consult a local nursery or lawn & garden center for advice about specific types of grasses and growing Most grasses should be mowed when they have grown half an inch to an inch above the recommended to the stems, the grass may not recover well, and the lawn will have brown. For best results, start at the outer edges of the lawn, and work center in a clockwise If you use the standard the optional hard-shell a clockwise mowing pattern, at the outer edges of the lawn, will give the best bagging performance, the least amount of clippings lawn. If the grass is not very thick or tall, you can mow a wide swath, can move the shift lever (self-propelled Keep the wheels close to the swath If the grass is very thick or tall, cutting a wide swath may slow or stall the engine clog the cutter deck, and cause poor bagging performance cut a narrower swath, and/or push the mower more slowly. TRANSPORTING The engine and exhaust and remain hot for a while after stopping. Can cause bums and can ignite some materials.

Avoid touching the engine or exhaust engine has stopped. Allow the engine to cool before transporting Before Loading Turn the fuel valve. Refer to the Honda use, log hours of operation 9. MAINTENANCE according to the MAINTENANCE for maintenance and repair.

Parts Honda lawn mower dealer, unless you have the shop manual. To determine proper maintenance before intervals. ENGINE OIL CHANGE Engine oil capacity: 0.63 US qt (0.6 PI Drain the oil while the engine is warm to assure rapid and complete 1. Place a suitable container NOTE: Check to be sure the drain hole in the cutter deck is not clogged. If necessary, remove grass and debris from the cutter deck. Install the oil drain bolt and tighten it securely. Fill with the recommended page 22) to the upper level on the dipstick.

Honda Hydrostatic Lawn Mower Owners Manual

Do not overfill. Install the filler cap/dipstick. Wipe the cutter deck drain channel clean to reduce dirt build-up the mower is used. MAINTENANCE AIR CLEANER SERVICE A dirty air filter will performance If you operate the mower in very dusty areas, clean the air filter more often than specified r7iEEq Operating will cause rapid engine wear.

Remove the two cover screws, then remove the air cleaner cover. Remove the air filter, and separate the filter elements. scmvs COVER AIR CLEANER COVER 9. MAINTENANCE AIR FILTER PAPER ELEMENT AIR FILTER FOAM ELEMENT AIR CLEANER SING // ‘. MAINTENANCE SPARK PLUG SERVICE Recommended spark plugs: NGK BPR5ES r-ziEg Spark plugs of the wrong heat range can cause engine damage. For good performance, deposits.

Disconnect the spark plug cap, and remove any dirt from around the spark plug area. SPARK ARRESTER MAINTENANCE The spark arrester must be serviced every 100 hours to keep it functioning designed. Touching bums. Let the engine cool before servicing. Remove the two nuts from the muffler 2. Remove the muffler 3.

Remove the spark arrester from the muffler. HR215PXA in (20-25 mm). Check that the ROTO-STOP lever operates Honda lawn mower dealer for repair. HR215SXA 81 HRilBSMA the button properly. And lever free play is correctly HR215HX.A. Start the engine and operate the drive clutch drive clutch engages and releases properly. If the drive clutch does not operate properly, and lever free play is correctly authorized Honda lawn mower dealer for repair.

DRIVE CLUTCH CABLE ADJUSTMENT mm). 3116-318 in (5-10 mm1 DRIVE CLUTCH 9. MAINTENANCE HR215HXA DRIVE CLUTCH CABLE ADJUSTMENT Remove bolt transmission cover, using an 8 mm socket wrench. Transmission cover. Move the gear shift lever all the way back to the slowest Push the diive clutch way forward, and hold it against the handlebar. While holding the drive clutch lever all the forward, position of the transmission The notch on the transmission should align with the index mark on the transmission case. If adjustment is necessary, the drive clutch cable lock nuts with a 10 mm wrench, adjuster up or down Tighten.

MAINTENANCE THROrrLE CABLE ADJUSTMENT When the throttle lever is moved to the CHOKE position, the carburetor choke arm should move all the way counterclockwise, go. Push the choke arm with your finger to check that it has moved as far as it will go. If adjustment is necessary, the throttle. 19 mm wrench, does not shift properly, take the mower to an authorized lever before moving 9. MAINTENANCE its free play, and the lever is Honda lawn mower the shift lever.

MAINTENANCE CARBUREl0R ADJUSTMENT Start the engine temperature Exhaust and odorless gas. Breathing may lead to death. To keep exhaust ventilation.

Set the throttle lever in the SLOW ( -1 Turn the pilot screw in or out to the setting rpm. GRASS BAG CLEANING When the bag needs cleaning, with a garden hose, and allow it to dry completely before use; a wet grass bag will clog quickly.

Replace a frayed, torn, or deteriorated bag with a Honda replacement its equivalent. SAG REMOVAL 1. BLADE REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION When the blade needs sharpening authorized Honda lawn mower dealer. Or, if you have a torque wrench, remove and install the blade yourself.

Wear heavy gloves to protect your hands. Blade sharpening: To reduce the possibility. (rear edges turn upward; If the blade is installed upside down, designed any other bolts. When tightening the bolts. If you do not have a torque Honda lawn mower dealer tighten the blade bolts. 36.2-43.4 ft-lb (5.0-6.0 TORQUE TORQUE WRENCH WRENCH 9. MAINTENANCE BATTERY CHARGING The engine will automatically battery when operated.

A plug-in charger is provided for supplemental charging mower is not operated enough to keep the battery Use the plug-in charger to recharge the battery once a month during seasons when you do not mow the lawn. Preparation for Storage When the mower will not be used for one month preparation will help to prevent start the engine when the mower 1. Clean all surfaces deck. Wear heavy gloves to protect NOTE: Before cleaning rest the mower on its right side, so the carburetor and fuel leakage may result if the mower is placed with the carburetor down. For prolonged storage, perform For storage of 1 or 2 months: For storage of 1 or 2 months, air in the tank will promote fuel oxidation fuel that may cause hard starting.

Passages, requiring NOTE: The Distributor’s or engine performance Fill the fuel tank with such as HONDA FUEL STABILIZER. For storage of more than 2 months d. Disconnect the fuel line from the fuel valve, and drain the fuel tank into an approved gasoline Gasoline explode, causing serious injury or de&h. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

Remove the carburetor drain bolt, using a 10 mm wrench. Drain the carburetor into an approved gasoline container.

STORAGE handlebar compact storage. Remove the grass bag, and place it on top of the engine, with the bag opening at the front of the mower. Loosen the handlebar locking knobs, spread lower handlebar, and fold the handlebar as shown. ENGINE WILL NOT START 1. HR215SMA electric Batten/ starting: Check Fuse burnt battery and fuse. Check control Fuel valve positions.

Throttle position. HR215SMA switch 3. Bad fuel; mower treating refueled Spark 4.

Remove and inspect spark plug. TROUBLESHOOTING ENGINE LOSS OF POWER 1. Check under cutter deck.

Check air filter. Check vent inside fuel tank cap.

Take mower dealer for service repair. VIBRATION EXCESSIVE VIBRATION 1. Take mower dealer for repair. GRASS CUTTING POOR CUT QUALITY OR POOR CUlTlNG PERFORMANCE 1. Check that throttle lever is in FAST 1 position.

Reduce forward speed. Check cutting height adjustment levers. Check grass bag. Check cutter deck and blade. GRASS BAGGING POOR GRASS BAGGING 1. SPECIFICATIONS MOWER MODELS Manual starting, manually propelled; no transmission HR215PXA: Manual starting, self-propelled; hydrostatic transmission HR215HXA: Manual starting, self-propelled; mechanical transmission HR215SXA: Manual & electric stat-tino, self-propelled; mechanical transmission HR215SMA: Maximum Length (handlebar extended) Minimum Length (handlebar folded) Width at cutter deck Maximum Height (handlebar extended and cutting height adiusted to 3 in: 7.7 cm). Owner Satisfaction Your satisfaction and goodwill warranty details are explained any problems concerning department.

If you have a warranty satisfaction, we suggest Discuss your problem with a member of the dealership management. Often complaints can be quickly been reviewed with the Service Manager, contact the owner of the dealership or the General Manager.

Hi there, I'm a 23 year old who has been doing landscaping/lawn maintenance semi-professionally going on 8 years now. At my peak, I cut 40 lawns per week. To put this into perspective, I live in the Washington DC area, so most of my customers have lawns less than 1/4 acre. Actually, it's even smaller than that usually! Typical lawn size is 6,000-9,000 sq.ft.

That's roughly 1/7-1/5 acre size. I do have some slightly larger lawns that I do, but I will decline any lawn above 12,000 sq.ft due to the efficiency of a 21' mower vs. What someone with a 'commercial walk-behind' (36', 48', etc etc) could charge. First, I want to say I bought the Honda (specifically the HXA) because I used 'consumer grade' mowers for years. Older Toro mowers from Home Depot usually. Sometimes, I would 'consume' those mowers in a month or two.

The FWD gearbox would shread, or the B&S motors would throw a rod. I couldn't afford the reliability of a ticking-time bomb mower, so I decided to step up to a Honda commercial. My dad has the older,.legendary. Honda HR214 that I have used several times.

Those mowers are absolutely insane. Using that mower, I became familiar with a BBC, a shaft drive transmission, and the 'Honda way' (referring to certain design patterns and such. Much of the HR214 can been seen in the HRC2163). I saw a used MY:2013 HRC2163HXA for sale on craigslist for $550 back in 2015. It was a bargain, so I decided to try it.

Very quiet while blade is engaged. Leaves a great cut, BUT the mower is only ideal for VERY regular cuttings. If the lawn is even SLIGHTLY overgrown, you're in for a bad time. I used that HRC a lot and it was 100% reliable - zero issues until I hit a stump and the motor got an instant rod knock. Unfortunate since it was such a low hour motor and only 2.5 years old.

It surprised me quite a lot since I had become very careless with my equipment with little consequences. I used to run over everything. I used to regularly use my mower to grind up hedge clippings, piles of vines, smaller sticks, and I would occasionally be 'alerted' of a brick, rock, chunk of cinderblock, tree root/stump, etc in the yard by the sound of my mower blade. Years, no issues! I pulled my Honda back, and the object it hit was something I would bash into with a Home Depot Toro with no issue!

Well, that mower was totaled and I went back to the Toro's for a bit since I didn't feel I could justify $1250 for another Honda. A year later, I got fed up with being unreliable again, so I bit the bullet and bought my 2nd HRC2163HXA - new. On sale for $1150 I believe. Remembering how much of a headache overgrown (literally 4' sometimes) grass was, I even tried to negotiate the dealer to throw in the side discharge kit with the deal. Again, the twin blade 'micro cut' is a blessing and a curse.

Leaves a great cut, but if the lawn is even slightly overgrown, it's NoFunTown. I use the bagger maaaaybe 2-3 times per season. It just adds SO much time (will make mowing take 3-4x the time) to the job, but looks fantastic.

I was having so much trouble with this Honda and overgrown lawns that I spent the $50 on the side discharge kit. Kinda flimsy plastic, and clogs A LOT. LIKE.AAAAA LLLLLOOOOOOOTTTTTTTTTT. It's obscene how easily it clogs. There's actually a little crevice in the mower deck that catches just a few blades of grass, and the clot builds from there.

I've thought about someway to cover that crevice up, or weld it somehow, but not sure it's that simple. Sometimes the chute will clog twice within 10 feet of mowing. No exaggeration. But I've always made it work and learned to operate and charge accordingly. So far, I've used the mower (the 2nd one I got new) to cut probably 600 lawns in 2.5 seasons so far. Zero reliability issues. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS starts on the first pull.

I've ridden it hard and put away wet. It is not garage kept (even in winter). It lives in the back of my truck, rain or shine, and under a tarp in the winter. Always starts, no nonsense with a gummed up carb. Real commercial construction, but designed with 'mowing golf course twice a week' in mind, NOT the 'fast growing grass, stingy customer, every 2 weeks' in mind.

Comparatively, the older Toro's I used, AND an Exmark 30' I just got, handle jungle-like lawns with ease. Sometimes when using my $1250 Honda Commercial mower on an overgrown lawn, I wish I had my $35 'curb-alert' Toro mower to chop it down and then use the Honda to make it look good. When buying this one, I didn't have many choices for a commercial quality 21' mower. I guess there isn't much market for those?

Pretty much, my only choices were the 2 Hondas (HRC2163PDA and HRC2163HXA), and a couple.commercial. Toro mowers (the Toro's I used previously were low-quality, consumer grade Home Depot stuff - $350 new). I can't figure out why Honda even makes the PDA (maybe again with the 'Golf course only' mantra?). I don't know why anyone would want to spend $800 on a mower that ISN'T self-propelled.???? Especially for me, since this mower was going to be my only mower.

So, with the Honda, the choice was obviously the HXA. The Toro - the Honda, on paper at least, just won in every catagory. Better price, better motor, seemed to have been designed in this century, not a carry over from 1992. I think the other huge factor was that I had a week of overdue mowing, and the Toro dealers (since they use a silly traditional dealer system) couldn't get me one for 2-3 weeks, but the local Hardware store had 5 HXAs in boxes, in the basement to be picked up with 30mins notice. Pros: Legit Commercial quality across the board. Motor, transmission, blade clutch, wheels & bearings, deck, etc. Always starts first pull Transmission is nice.

Very intuitive, no weird habits Leaves a great cut if lawn is mowed every 7 days or less Very maneuverable Even though it's 127lbs, it's still very manageable, and I can even lift it into my truck by myself. Tolerates a lot of abuse Great resale value Very quiet compared to others A fuel miser!

Cons: A bit slow. Specs say up to 4mph, but the 30' Exmark I just got also says 4mph, and that one almost ripped my arms off the first time I used it. Maybe the Honda just needs a cable adjustment.

Overgrown grass is a nightmare, even with the side discharge kit. No real fuel filter or oil filter.

I would say this is the last hurdle between commercial and 'legendary commercial' Twin blades are a blessing and a curse. Parts prices seem to be quite expensive compared to other commercial brands - Echo, Toro, etc. I'm a bit worried about the longevity of the transmission, as the lack of maintenance mention in the manual seems to imply a 'lifetime fluid' vibe, which is usually a ruse. Overall, the price kinda sucks for a guy like me, but I would certainly recommend it, especially if someone was starting out like I did or I had to start over from the beginning. If I had this mower when I was 15, I would imagine I'd still be using it, and I would have been a lot more successful to do additional reliability and time saved. No, this is not a review of the HRC216HXA. How can I review a product I just bought?

Rather, it is a review of my old HR214 (Aluminum Deck) Honda Lawnmower which lasted 32 years! Moderate to heavy use.

Amazing lawnmower! Very little trouble over the years. Almost perfect reliability. Always started with two or less pulls. How can a more last so long? When the inevitable finally happened there was no doubt which mower to buy.

I looked over the mowers carefully and from what I can tell the HRC216K3HXA most closely resembles or perhaps exceeds the build and quality of my old mower. So please stand by and I will submit the evaluation of my new HRC2163HXA in 30 years (2048 AD). After calling a few local dealers and having them trying to talk me out of this model, (mainly because they didn't stock it) and telling me the commercial model is for those that mow all the time?? Well, I found a local dealer that not only had it in stock but were so pleasent to work with and agreed this was the go to mower.plug for Boones Power Equipment in Brookville Ohio, great store and great staff.

The mower was delivered this afternoon and couldn't wait to give it a try.WOW.after years with a Husqvarna Auto walk, this was like getting in the ring with Mike Tyson (back in his hay day) as I felt overwhelmed once I started mowing my backyard. This baby takes control and you can feel it every step of the way. The cut is noticeably nicer than that of the Husqvarna's cut on its best day. Hard to describe but the lawn looks like it was papmered at the beauty shop. The build of the mower is so solid and you can tell easily from the minute you see it, it is the end all to all mowers out there. Clean up was easy, leaning the mower on its r side to the right and cleaning the bottom of the deck, it quickly returned to looking like it was never used when I was done.

(maybe 10 minutes) and I do plan on keeping this baby clean as possible for the years I have left here on earth, meaning.I highly doublt I will ever purchase another mower, but if I do, it will be another Honda HCR216HXA If you want the best of the best, this is it people. I am more than happy with my decision and so glad I found Boones Power Equipment to help me realize this to be the best mower on the planet.I'm not kidding. I am no pro mower, I am just a fickler for the best of the best and this is all of that! Checked several different lawnmowers prior to purchase of the HRC216HXA and found none of them built as solid as this machine.Mower starts on first pull as all my Honda products do and Hydrostatic transmission runs very smooth. The Micro Cut blade provides a clean cut of grass and the bag is very simple to remove and empty (not using for recycling of grass) also like the feature when you empty the bag you do not have to shut off the engine.

Controls are very basic and simple to operate and unit construction is all metal with very little plastic (like lawnmowers use to be)Cannot say enough about this product very quality and well worth the price because it is built to last.Highly recommend this unit. Great job Honda! I've owned it for less than a year.

Bought it from Murdoch's Ranch Supply. When it works, it's the nicest of three different Honda mowers I've used over the past ten years. Trouble is, it's been in Murdoch's repair shop too many times for repairs to give it a higher rating. I wrote Honda about one chronic problem previously; never heard back. This time, it's been at the shop for ten days. And you know what grass and weeds do during ten days of warm spring weather? I should have purchased two Hondas: one to use, the other for backup.

Problem: I can't afford two mowers. I hose it off – top, bottom and underneath – and clean the air filter after each use, change the oil regularly, and use high-grade fuel. I take it to the shop every Fall for tune up and maintenance. And this is what I get: a mower that does a nice job – when it works. And I guess it works whenever it feels like it. Honda whould consider offering a buy-back or replacement option. We originally purchased the highest residential model, but were unsatisfied by how light weight it was and how bouncy it was on our yard.

When we returned to Jennings, within the 30 days, we were pleasantly surprised that we had a 30 day satisfaction guarantee with Honda, so we upgraded. The weight is perfect, the bagger fit is much better also. If we had to choose again, we would not have listened to the three customers that suggested us purchase the Residential line, but went with our gut and purchased the Commercial line instead. We are very pleased on all accounts of the purchase and exchange at both Jennings and Honda's customer satisfaction guarantee! Will be purchasing Honda products in the future!! I purchased one of these mowers back in early 2006 for around 1200.00.

Machine is built pretty well overall. My only complaint is the fuel tank, i had to replace it once due to a 1 inch crank in the rear lower portion directly underneath the bottom rear section of the tank, i dont know why or how it cracked because it was never dropped, abused or lifted improperly, here but it did and it had to be replaced, i found it odd that the tank should split here for some unknown reason. The newer versions have a completely redesigned fuel tank leading me to believe there was a possible design flaw issue but that is my personal speculation. This is my 2nd HRC model I've purchased and I'd never go back to anything else for a walk behind mower. My original HRC model is 16 years old and it has been trouble free and first pull start reliable since day 1. I saw this new 2016 model sitting on the Honda showroom floor and just had to have it. I passed down my 2000 model to my son who is now high school age and mows about a dozen lawns in town.

Perfect way to get him set up to earn some money for college. Plus, I get a new toy. Everything about these models screams heavy duty. The mower deck is solid, the handlebars are big and beefy, and it is again 1 pull to start reliable. We have some hilly terrain and there is nothing this HRC can't handle. Uphill in tall damp grass doesn't slow it down a bit and the HRC powers right through.

I can't express enough how seamless the hydrostatic transmission coupled with the shaft drive is to operate. You can always find the right speed and the shift speed is immediate. This combination is nearly maintenance free and dead solid reliable. I maintain the recommended maintenance intervals and this has been a trouble free mower.

While a bit on the pricey side these HRC models have proven to be worth the extra initial investment. I have had my Honda Commercial Mower for about five years. I do not use it commercially. It is used only on my private residence. It has run well every season and repeatedly does a great job on my lawn.

I can see that it is built well and is sturdy enough for daily commercial use. I purchased it for my own use because I wanted one that can be relied upon for long-term use without problems. I have had it tuned-up by the dealer one time in the past five years. It starts easily on one pull and runs smooth and quiet. I use the grass catcher, but it does fine with mulching also. You just have to install the included mulching plug. I highly recommend this machine.

The only down-side is the overall weight of this mower. It is heavy and do not recommend that someone lift it by themselves. If you are using a landscaping trailer, I recommend that you use ramps to load it onboard.

Two people can lift this machine, but a person lifting alone stands a good chance of a back injury. I have a very difficult yard that has lots of steep inclines.

I was throwing $150 a season just to keep my other mower running (drive belts, wheels and drive gears). Considered an all wheel drive model, but they have belts too. Have had the mower for a year now and never looked back. As the only shaft drive on the market, it is the right tool for my yard. Plus it starts right up even after being in cold storage all winter. All I do is drain the fuel and fog the cylinder, and put it away clean every time I use it.

I would like it to last as long as my 25 year old HS 55 Snow Blower. I'm liking this mower the mow, I use it:) Very clean cut, a transmission that will pull no problemo, and rugged all around. Rpms were initially too low but aside from that, it bags well, it pulls well, and it maneuvers well. Yea, that's a lot of wells, but it does its job and it loves riding in a trailer no matter if it's strapped in good or when forgetting to strap it down at all bouncing all around. Recently had an incident (a no brainer) and had the mower pointed down hill. Yep, it rolled about a 150ft reaching jogging speed and rammed into a railroad tie. First thing I thought was great, there went the axle, it hit dead on at a sharp angle.

Pulled the front end apart prepared to do parts replacements, and the front end left to right was within hairs. With all that weight that came down on the front end and with the amount of trailering this mower sees, not to much mention some of the ridiculously difficult properties where you either carry it down a flight of unevenly spaced rock stairs or tick tack it like a motorcrosser hitting the whoopdees this mower does not fold. For residential use, probably last forever.

For commercial, I'm not sure I'd trust this in the hands of untested employees, but for veterans and solo ops, this mower suits up, shows up, and doesn't complain about a thing. I purchased my Honda mower in 2009. It has had just one issue since I purchased it. First I must say the engine and transmission on this mower are top notch.

You would really have to work hard to damage these components. The only problem my mower has is it leaves what I feel is an unacceptable amount of random single blades of uncut grass. Most are bent over and appear to have been blown down or bent over.

I have worked with the dealer and twice with Honda on this problem which no one can answer. Honda voluntarily sent me a spacer to use in place of the upper blade which didn't help.

My dealer allowed me to use a blade set from a different model mower which also didn't improve cutting performance either. Other things such as engine rpm has been checked, cut height changed, and bagging instead of mulching. I also have a 1997 Honda Masters mower that my inlaws use now, and it has always given a great cut, which is what surprises me about this mower. I gave it 3 stars for quality because of the cut. Quality of the mower's construction and components I would rate at 5 stars.

I have not seen or read of any others with this issue, but because of the problem mine has I can't say that I'd recommend it. I have owned two of these mowers. The first one was of outstanding quality, superior ability to operate and lasted 20 years before I replaced it. The second mower was not of the same quality and I have had trouble with it rusting, the yellow blade button does not return to its fully upright position regardless of what I do. Do NOT use ethanol based gasoline in this engine or you will find that the engine will sputter, stall and fail to perform as expected. Use only ethanol free gasoline and you will have vastly superior results. Be sure that your mower is serviced annually, drain old gasoline and replace the plug, clean the air filter and sharpen blades.

Get a good dealer to buy the product from who can answer simple questions and provide replacement parts. I have had my HRC2163HXA for 5 years now. I clean it after every mow.almost. Change the oil for every mowing season ($4.00), replace the air filter ($6.00), pop in a new plug ($3.00) and buy a set of replacement blades ($18.00). $31.00 per year and it always runs like new. My wife used to say it feels a little heavier than the old mower and I'd tell her 'Maybe just a little'.

It's a lot heavier but no complaints. This mower cuts grass like a champ but I think my main reason for liking this mower is it starts every time and never has a fault.

No excuses for owning a Honda, only reasons. I bought this mower for my dad as a father's day gift. He is in his late 70s but enjoys the exercise and certainly loves the hydro drive on this mower. This may be a commercial mower but its also a great residential choice for a number of reasons. First you get the supreme reliability of honda commercial engines and these always start on quick pull, don't break down and last. Second is build quality-this is a sturdy, comfortable mower that cuts effortlessly and evenly in all types of grass and conditions. The first thing that usually goes out on typical residential mowers are the wheels-but the ball bearing high quality wheels on this mower will endure.

I convinced my dad to run honda commercial engines on all our equipment now including leaf blowers and power washers. They're worth the money in my opinion. Don't go for the knock offs. The gx series commercial engines are the only way to go if you like your equipment. The only criticism i have is that I believe the bag could be bigger. Remember to use your fuel shutoff when not in use! This is my second commercial grade Honda.

I was very happy with my first one and would give it five stars. This new one has a couple annoying 'improvements' I have to mention and thus only gave it 3 stars: I see no reason for the starter cord handle being mounted half way up the operating bar. I know some like the handle being at the top of the bar where they can get to it easiest. I prefer mine right on the engine so there's no cord out in the open to catch on things. This one has it half way up, right in the middle so it doesn't offer the advantage for those that like it either right up top, or on top of the engine.

Yet it still has the disadvantage of over 2 feet of starter cord that can snag on things. I'll likely end up cutting off a couple feet of starter cord and just having it rest on top of the engine as it was on my last mower. That plastic guard on the lower back of the deck is supposed to protect the operator from debris flying out the back while mowing. Fine, and this does that. However, they seem to have made it longer and thicker than the guard on my first Honda. This causes a problem I've never experienced before and it's really annoying: When I back the mower up enough for the guard to reverse itself and lay facing towards the front of the mower, it doesn't bend when I go forward again. As the mower moves forward and it moves back to its normal position, it catches on the ground and stands on its end which actually lifts the wheels slightly off the ground since the plastic is so hard.

This stalls movement and I have to push the mower fairly hard to get it to move forward from its slightly raised position. Very annoying.

I'm seriously considering cutting the guard to half its width so it won't hang up movement of the mower. Other than that, great mower. I have had my HRC216HXA for over a year. I use it for residential purposes. A bit of overkill? This is the best mower I have ever used. It starts with one pull.

The uphill power is amazing. The torque will make you trip if you are not paying attention.

The debri suction is impressive. All loose grass is collected into the bag by the powerful blades. The cut quality is magnificent!! No blades of grass go unclipped. The price tag of $1250 seems a little steep, however after your first use you will want to cut your lawn twice as much!!

Thanks Honda for a great product! First the hrc is very heavy and i weigh 200lbs. But it is by far the best mower i've ever owned! I wanted to keep cutting the lawn even though i was finished! The shaft drive is a winner, it cuts down mowen time almost in half. The gears shift on the fly and my grass looks like a golf course.

I bagged with no problems but i also mulched and it bogged down only once because it rained yesterday and the grass was wet, so i lifted the deck height and no more bogging down. The engine is very quiet for such a powerful mower. Im going to buy the rear discharge chute just to have. This was my first time using it on my 1/2 acre yard and i give it a 9 out of ten score only because i wish it was a 25inch deck instead of a 21inch deck.

Finally i would like to say i paid 1149 dollars for it and its worth every penny. I had a 22' staggered wheel push mower for 30 years with a Briggs motor and still do. I bought the Honda to get self propelled, bagger capability and a new oil pump motor.

You have to learn to steer this mower due to the high weight factor. The blade requires more frequent sharpening than the old mower. I do like the ability to vary walk speed with cutting speed of the blade-nice. With the weight, this unit takes about 2.5 times the gas as the old mower. This unit will NOT cut wet grass due to the exhaust chute of the regular path or even with the option side plastic chute that plugs almost immediately in the wet grass. When cutting really tall dry grass the exhaust chute plugs and you will be stopping every five feet to clear out the plugged path-When it plugs your mower will slow down.

You must remove the back flip door and just let it throw the grass straight back at you and walk to the side for protection from debris-this is the only way to cut really tall grass once the motor is broken in. The twin blade system does chop the grass into smaller particles, but, I wonder about the design.

With approx 3/4 more HP this mower will do better to get thru tall grass, but, right now it is limited. My old mower would cut wet and tall OK with a smaller motor due to the grass exhaust path. The path is better on the Honda Commercial and the other lower priced regular Honda mowers.

In conclusion, expect to not mow when the grass is moist; you will be sharpening that blade more often than other mowers; it is very heavy for fast paced close quarters mowing; when the blade starts getting dull you will lose your smooth cutting; if they could design a better exhaust system then they would not need the twin blade with its greater resistance to the air in the deck and consequently fuel consumption would be reduced. This is a very specialized mower design for almost perfect conditions and if you need to keep mowing you will find certain barriers that keep you waiting. With the pressure oil pump in the nice Honda motor you will be using this mower for many years. The wheels will last a long time. Oh, the cable on the left side sticks out and catches on things and this can wreck the throttle.

Once you go down the path of design and one element needs more attention due to the design you end up with compromise. I think I could design and test a better mower that would meet safety standards.? Bought this lawnmower in the spring of 2013. Previously had a Honda residential lawnmower and it lasted for 15 years, Residentials no longer have the OHV engine so I went with the commercial. Pricey, but given the experience with my previous Honda I was will to go for the extra cost. Used all of last season and I had no major issues.

Honda Hydrostatic Lawn Mower Vs Toro Personal Pace

The engine starts on the first pull 80% and on 2nd pull 20%. This is a heavy unit so be prepared for the weight as you manuver the lawnmower around the yard. The cut is exceptional. Because of the weight of the lawnmower Honda should consider putting a stronger engine on this unit. Tall grass (Mid spring when grass grows fast with morning dew, cutting once a week) will slow it down. The one confusing option this lawnmower has is the side discarge attachment for grass clippings.

Honda Hydrostatic Lawn Mower Review

It is a two part attachment with a metal clip that fits on the lawnmower and then you can attach the side discharge. On my older lawnmower it was just one piece and it attached to the lawnmower without this clip which I can easily see getting lost. California Prop 65 Information Generators, Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Tillers, Trimmers, Water Pumps: WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including soots, tars, and mineral oils, which are known to the State of California to cause cancer, and carbon monoxide, which is known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to Miimo Robotic Mower WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including lead and lead compounds, which are known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to Versattach System Attachments WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Harm.