How To Repair The Drive Ratchets On A Honda HRC216 HXA Commercial Mower

[@theaustralianconundrum]

Initially we could merely think the operator who drives machines into the ground are mechanically inept or somehow ignorant of what constitutes abuse versus care. However I prefer to think of them as "mechanically unsympathetic" and to me this is a gentler way of explaining why you end up with what we see in this video here.... Maybe I was brought up by a Father who took his time to explain how machines in general "functioned" and also these machines of every type actually required both care and restraint not only in operation but also how they all need ongoing maintenance. Yes. I'm going with that one! Happy early 91st birthday Dad for May 27th 2024. Good video mate.

[@austinado16]

The owner's of the machines here are here are rarely the operators. The operators not only use the equipment with impunity, they are rewarded with a new machine when they damage or destroy their current machine.

[@theaustralianconundrum]

@@austinado16 Ohh. Government contractors?

[@austinado16]

@@theaustralianconundrum No.

[@theaustralianconundrum]

@@austinado16 OK?

[@austinado16]

@@theaustralianconundrum Mow-and-blow companies that hire cheap labor that comes across our southern border.

[@carlloftin2850]

Love my HRC216 - if you get time, and another HRC216 in for repair, can you go over any preventative maintenance items you would like to see done to extend life of the mower -

[@austinado16]

On a home owner machine, other than blade sharpen, blow out the air filter once in a while, and change the oil, there's almost nothing to do. Maybe every few years drain and refill the transmission. The most important thing for a home owner machine is to always use fuel treated with SeaFoam, in order to prevent corrosion in the carburetor that leads to loss of idle, and surging unless the blade is engaged (which uses different circuits in the carburetor). If the machine is used on a wet lawn, especially a fertilized lawn, the underside should be washed after use, and the machine left in the sun, laying on it's side, muffler side facing down, to dry. Leaving wet grass, especially fertilized grass will badly rust out the deck, blade clutch mechanism, bearings in the blade clutch, and the bearings and ratchets in the rear wheels. Even on a commercial machine, it's the same sequence, but it's just done more frequently. I generally only see commercially used machines, no matter what type of machine they are. They are damaged far more frequently than they ever even need service, so they get serviced as part of the damage repair.

[@carlloftin2850]

@@austinado16 thank you for the fast reply - yes - I am a home owner not a commercial operation - I do wash out the lower deck after mowing on slightly damp grass. i am worried about rust so I will add the tip over recommendation.

[@austinado16]

@@carlloftin2850 Sounds like you take care of it really well. It's safe to lay on it's side, as long as you place it muffler facing down.

[@twocyclesmoke]

Echo was good when it was under Kioritz & Made In Japan…

[@austinado16]

I could be wrong, but I think it's still under Kioritz, and they have a huge manufacturing plant in the Chicago area, building both Echo/Shindaiwa and original Shindaiwa equipment, like the B450 and the backpack version of the B450, which are NLA in the US, but sold in the rest of the world. The push now, of course, is development and sales of battery powered equipment, for here in CA. It's probably great stuff for home owners, but in my opinion, poorly suited to real commercial us.

[@twocyclesmoke]

@@austinado16 I saw a Echo Srm225 & Shindaiwa M242 on the side it said Yamabiko corp “Assembled In USA” on both…

[@austinado16]

@@twocyclesmoke I always forget about Yamabiko. As I said, I could be wrong! Wouldn't be the first time, won't be the last.

[@twocyclesmoke]

@@austinado16 The old Tanaka’s say “Tanaka Kogyo Co., Ltd Made In Japan & The old Shindaiwa’s say “Shindaiwa Kogyo Co., Ltd MAde In Japan… Good old quality days