Shocking reveal: My Final Honda HRN Mower Review

Initially, I faced problems with a Toro Recycler Max, so we switched to our reliable Honda mower. Here's a genuine Honda HRN Mower review based on actual use.Watch how easy this mower is to use compared to others.
Link to The Gas Pump In the video
amzn.to/3V0Ai0U
Hurry this is your last chance to get one of the best mowers for the cost.
21 in. 3-in-1 Variable Speed Gas Walk Behind Self-Propelled Lawn Mower with Auto Choke
www.homedepot.com/p/Honda-21-...

[@johnoberle9750]

Reminds me of the time when Yamaha left the snowblower market in the United States . Those were great machines.

[@TheLawnMechanic]

True , its not good when good products leave the market !!

[@jerjan8586]

enjoy it, I am on my 5th season with mine and still one pull, its a great mower

[@TheLawnMechanic]

I love it thanks !

[@angelicaconiguliaro3179]

It's in the manual on how too change the height of the toro handle. There was a rubber bumper that the handle sits on. You pull those out and lower them into the other position. Takes about 3 minutes

[@TheLawnMechanic]

We did that and it dropped it about a half inch wasn’t enough for my wife to be comfortable

[@andrew4403]

That is one nice looking mower looks very solid.

[@TheLawnMechanic]

I love it thank you Andrew

[@gls3894]

Notably, Honda isn't shutting down production worldwide. As reported by Service Dealer, a spokesperson for Honda UK stated that the company had no plans to curtail production for the European market.

[@TheLawnMechanic]

It's good to hear that Honda isn't shutting down production worldwide. Thanks for sharing this update!

[@Tintoycar]

I have a 536 HRD from 1996. Starts first pull with low maintenance. They still make that same model. Greetings from Belgium.

[@TheLawnMechanic]

Thanks for posting honda is a really good mower

[@isidorogarcia4803]

I bought mine in the summer of 2023. I used it 1 month and the pull cord locked up on me. Home Depot wouldn't take it back. I took it to a local lawn mower repair shop. They kept it 3 months due to no parts available. And oh there were 10 other Honda mowers waiting there for same parts. But i finally got mine back. It works really great.

[@TheLawnMechanic]

Thanks for sharing

[@michaelaos]

HRX HRN Recall What is the problem? Due to a manufacturing defect, the camshaft decompressor mechanism in the engine can malfunction, resulting in excessive force required to pull the recoil starter rope during engine starting.

[@bryanmorgan8940]

I bought a used Honda HRN216 VYAA for $75 love it

[@TheLawnMechanic]

It will probably last a long time

[@Rubster760]

Great purchase 👍.

[@TheLawnMechanic]

I appreciate your support and feedback!

[@user-vg7hb9mz2n]

I had the Honda HRX 217 HMA for 16 years! The battery for the key start lasted many yrs. This mower was well taken care of. Recently traded it in on a battery mower, Stihl. Honda was still in nice condition. I saw a new HRX (that had been repaired - the Honda problem). Was afraid to chance it. Many people are disappointed about Honda discontinuing their mowers. HOWEVER, I have a small yard and this battery mower is great! About 30 pounds lighter. Today's world. You just do what you have to do.

[@lahellight4337]

yeh.. the battery mowers are nice..for like 5 yrs and then you have to replace the battery. and the battery will cost u more than the mower. NO TY. you're just setting yourself up for more headaches and relying on a system that's unsustainable. i'll keep my honda mower for the next decade or so till they figure it out. it has lasted me close to a decade without any issues (with proper maintenance) and i can fix these 99% of the issues a gas mowers may encounter and save thousands down the road. you can't fix a dead battery.

[@_CarlosA]

which stihl model did you go with? I've been looking into their battery line

[@user-vg7hb9mz2n]

@@lahellight4337 It's great you can fix mowers yourself. And you did make a good choice. What's good for one person might not be for another. For years LawnBoy was a great mower, especially if a person had some banks to mow. Nothing is forever in this world.

[@user-vg7hb9mz2n]

@@_CarlosA I purchased the Stihl RMA 510 V, only available from a dealer. The dealer I went to only sells certain tractors, chain saws etc. I truly loved my Honda, but it just was getting to be a struggle loading it to take for service. Everyone needs to do what is best for them. There are many videos online showing these. What's good for me might not be for someone else. Reason they make many different kinds. I don't regret my decision.

[@lahellight4337]

@@user-vg7hb9mz2n not true. if you maintain your honda mower properly, it'll last you forever - or will out live you. there are honda mowers that's been running for FIVE DECADES and still running strong. your battery mowers will last you 5 years if you're lucky.

[@geraldalfano5581]

See the Garage Gear guy about the compression release being corrected at the factory. If it was, there is a green dot on the box and/or a punch mark on the engine near the serial number. Otherwise it is subject to a recall for a dealer to correct.

[@TheLawnMechanic]

I appreciate the heads-up on the factory correction process!

[@ajv802]

@@TheLawnMechanic I'm in Australia, this is a government link to the recall and an xls. dump of all the serial numbers that have not been fixed by the factory. In Australia the Honda dealer will have to carry out the repair free of charge if it has not been done by the factory. www.productsafety.gov.au/recalls/honda-australia-motorcycle-and-power-equipment-pty-ltd-%E2%80%94-hrn216-and-hrx217-lawn-mowers-all-models

[@Lg8T3]

Yep, I just picked me up and it has the green dot. Hope this one holds up for many years to come. I’m upgrading a hand me down 15 yr old Troy built that still works but is too heavy.

[@michaeldavis6550]

I bought this same mower & had to return 3 of them due to leakkng oil out where dipstick attached to the engine & also 3 of them had weird spider web cracking on the side of the engine block nex to oil fill dipstick. Finally got the 4 the one but this time i got the VYA model with the blade stop & Throddle control. What a nice mower. The 170 is nice but it would just top it off more if it was the 200 even tho its probably not really needed. Just be cool is all.

[@TheLawnMechanic]

@@michaeldavis6550 wow sorry you had issues now i want to go out and look at mine. Thanks for posting

[@michaeldavis6550]

@TheLawnMechanic please let me know if you see any on yours as well. I'm curious if this is a bigger issue then just a few.

[@michaeldavis6550]

My last one I received yesterday HRN 216 VYA is ok don't see cracking anywhere, Thank Goodness

[@andrew4403]

Yes some of them Honda mowers are built tough. But the Toro recyclers I really like them.

[@TheLawnMechanic]

I like toro the Max is a recycler wannabe with ape hangers

[@FlowTieGuy]

Honda > Toro Toros quality has gone way down in recent years, Hondas has not

[@user-vg7hb9mz2n]

HONDA HAS A BATTERY MOWER overseas HRG 416. 3 yrs ago in Australia. LOOK IT UP. It is very similar to the Stihl battery mower. I gave up my Honda HRX 217 HMA. Key start. Was great. But getting older and time for a change. Loved the Honda, but very satisfied with the Stihl. And if someone complains about batteries, you need to change car batteries also over the years. We need to get used to the changes. Also know that some Hondas were hard to pull in reverse. They weren't perfect. I kept mine very nice. But got to the point it was too hard to load, even with a ramp, to take for service.

[@TheLawnMechanic]

Thanks for the comment i love my honda i realize its not the only game in town

[@user-vg7hb9mz2n]

@@TheLawnMechanic Honda always was the very best! I got great service from mine.! Even 13 yrs on the battery for the key start! My Honda was 16 yrs old and kept it very nice. I wanted to get a new one in 2020 and that's when they had big problems. I was able to trade it in. Before the Honda I had Lawnboy. So you can see how many years have gone by. Nothing made now will last as long as those mowers. AND - don't turn you back and walk away. People will steal these if they get a chance.

[@8ashman]

my Honda has been my best lawn mower I've ever owned and used

[@christopherblack4520]

My 2018 Honda lasted 3 years before the engine blew up just after warranty. I bought the Honda because my handle on my 20 year old John with Kawasaki engine broke $200 to replace. The Honda broke in September so I had to rig the old John Deere to finish the year, after 3 years sitting new gas started right away.

[@TheLawnMechanic]

Both are great

[@appleztooranges]

Bought a $1k Honda hrx217hya in 2022. Starting this machine sucks unless it’s above 70 degrees F. Changed the thermowax, gas, spark. Brand new and never starter first pull! Dealer said normal. In manual it says temperature matter. Guess epa changed this

[@TheLawnMechanic]

Wow that sucks , wonder if its made different in your state maybe to meet requirements

[@appleztooranges]

@@TheLawnMechanic I bet so!

[@akui88]

are u using ethanol free gas? i had a similar issue with my Briggs and Stratton craftmans mower. had to take it into repair shop many times, they never told me to use ethanol free gas. the carb is probably gunked up and will need to be replaced, tuens out the repair shop was just cleaning the carb and charging me 80$ each time and handed me a receipt for "maintenance" guess they thought i wouldn't look into it after bringing it in almost every moving season for the past 5 years...

[@TheLawnMechanic]

I have to tell you the truth I used to work for a lawnmower repair and we did the same thing. We would do a check 9000 things and if we pull the start and it started 8999 things were OK.

[@TecumsehRulesbcserk]

Pray to god that your compression release on the camshaft doesn’t fail because it is a massive recall on these things. When that happens and you aren’t expecting it, the pull handle will break your fingers.

[@RJB]

That issue was identified and rectified. Any mower currently on sale will be just fine in that regard.

[@TheLawnMechanic]

I appreciate your feedback and I'm glad to hear that the issue has been resolved.

[@davva360]

I hava a 14 year old Honda, still starts first pull even after the short winter break here in Florida. The only problem is the deck is rotting really bad, so bad I had to cover it with cardboard and duct tape to stop things flying at me. I am just trying to make it last one more summer because I am hoping to move to a larger property and will need a ride on. I can't use a ride on here, too many tight corners, and I don't want to spend $550 on a push mower that I probably won't want to use next year. When I saw them back in stock though I was really tempted to get one while I can but im trying to resist that urge.

[@TheLawnMechanic]

It's amazing how durable those old Hondas are! Sounds like you have a real survivor on your hands.

[@FlowTieGuy]

just buy a cheap, used Honda mower for now!

[@davva360]

@@FlowTieGuy yeah I’ve looked for them but people were wanting $400 for them last time I looked.

[@FlowTieGuy]

@@davva360 yikes. Where are you located? That's insane! If it's a commercial one or one of those masters series ones I could maybe see that, but any lesser model you shouldnt be more than 100-250 ish max

[@davva360]

@@FlowTieGuy Im in North Florida. The only ones I see for $200 have major problems like rusted decks or the self propel doesn't work or a wheel is broken. I don't want to really buy used anyway because I could get one of the ones with the issue that caused them to stop selling them. I will probably limp mine through the summer and see what happens.

[@cliffclaveman2729]

TIP: When unpacking a new mower. Instead of straining your back by lifting it out. Simply cut one of the sides and roll it out.

[@TheLawnMechanic]

Thank you for the heads up. I’ve done that before on the Toro and I was scared. I might have to bring it back so I did it the hard way but you’re 100% correct. It’s much easier to roll it out.

[@st7650]

I couldn’t agree more love Honda everything g I own is Honda not mower my snow blower my vehicles. Said they are shutting down in America going to make them in France but not any longer in America if they wanted to make more money they could have done larger commercial mowers either way as a home owner I still have my mower from 2009 still runs like a champ. Now days just about anything you buy home owner grade is junk. This was one thing that has always been great and they decide to do away with it. Why. There still making money just not enough greed killing a good thing

[@TheLawnMechanic]

It's disappointing when a reliable brand makes changes that affect loyal customers. I'm hoping for a return some day. Thanks for posting!

[@richardsoane6192]

Great review thanks, I just bought one but I do not see the protective film you are supposed to remove, am I missing something ? Regards

[@TheLawnMechanic]

I couldn’t even get mine off. It was so tight so possibly it’s there I’m not sure.

[@richardsoane6192]

@@TheLawnMechanic Thank you

[@johnpatterson7522]

I just got rid of my Honda and bought the Toro Personal Pace Smartstow 22". The bar height doesn't bother me. I find it easier to use than the Honda. The Toro stays on while emptying the bag unlike the Honda. I have a Toro snowblower as well.

[@bobb8738]

Many Honda models do have a blade clutch that stops the blade without shutting down the power. Kind of a moot point now I guess with Honda out of the mower business, at least in the U.S.

[@TheLawnMechanic]

The insight on Honda's blade clutch feature is intriguing-thank you for sharing. I also have a hunch that Honda will make a comeback.

[@andrew4403]

Everybody's going to sing have to start looking into battery operated mowers blowers weed eaters snow blowers blowers etc. I have a Ryobi mower battery operated for 5/6 seasons and it's still going strong nothing has went wrong with it as of yet. Ryobi has really good equipment.

[@TheLawnMechanic]

I also appreciate using Ryobi products, although I have a preference for gas lawn mowers. Thanks for posting!

[@MrCaribe65]

Did yours have the "green sticker" on the box? Apparently, there's a recall on them for a cam gear. The green sticker indicates it doesn't need the recall done. I still have my Toro Recycler Max in the box because of the handle issue. I was thinking about getting that Honda instead. How tall is your wife? Mine is 5'5".

[@TheLawnMechanic]

Shes around the same hight , i love the honda . Toro on the new mowers…. i seen today the handlebars looked different. I was at ace hardware if you want to look.

[@brianmccarthy1322]

My HONDA engine piston rings gave up this spring. Tge Trans mission is noisy and tge clutch is kind of grabby. Last summer I had to fix a deck crack with JB WELD. She gave me 28 years of trouble free service. In that time I had to replace tge drive and throttle cables ONCE! New oil at the start of the season and a second oil change half way through the year. Last spring I cleaned and polished my darling because I was newly retired. She looked like new. With replacement parts being an issue in the future and Honda getting out of the business I decided to do the right thing and have her put down. It broke my heart! She was the best performing, most reliable, prettiest mower in my neighborhood from the day I moved in. Landscapers would give me a thumbs up when they drove by. Getting old is a bitch because the longer you last the more of these close to you will proceed you to that big garden in the sky.

[@timpmuldoon736]

Enjoy you may never see them again..? Also discontinued Honda HS 720 single stage Snow Blower Stock up on spare parts .. I did for my Honda GVC160 on Husqvarna lawnmower & my Honda HS720 Snow Blower.. Thanks to 🇺🇸 EPA..

[@TheLawnMechanic]

Thanks for sharing

[@wayneessar7489]

I think the industrial or horizontal shaft engines will be carried on.

[@WJCTechyman]

Honda will continue making other outdoor power equipment, just not lawn mowers. I find it interesting that Honda was the target for some of these emissions things and other companies like Toro or Briggs and Scratton aren't. I think there's still some systemic prejudice against the better Japanese companies than there is for the domestic companies. GM killed a baker's dozen of people for having a faulty ignition switch and Tesla has yet to be taken to court regarding some of the crap in their cars or only getting a "slap on the wrist" while Toyota was fined over a billion dollars for a throttle control that occasionally stuck in some of its vehicles. Not to mention that GM and Chrysler got bailed out during the 2008 financial crisis when they should have just faded into oblivion.

[@TheLawnMechanic]

I truly think honda will be back in the homeowner market again

[@shangrilaladeda]

They are still making them today

[@mattb9664]

There are 1000 HRX's left at Home Depot- and they are not selling like hot cakes. If you want one you can still get one. Just make sure there is a real dealer nearby to help warranty any of the defects (like low hydrostatic fluid).

[@TheLawnMechanic]

​@@mattb9664 I got mine .... I think they are good and I will run for long enough to make it a good deal for me.

[@cobra-he9xj]

Not sure where you are getting your information. Commiefornia sued Honda because their mowers and generators didn't meet emissions regulations. Plain and simple. CARB also sued Briggs & Stratton. Nobody escapes air quality standards in Commiefornia. There are no favorites here. It's just that Commiefornia and the current administration are making everything gas powered impossible to meet standards. You will see other manufacturers follow suit soon enough. 'Cause we all just love battery powered bs. 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@JM-so2ew]

Could you add the link for the tool that makes adding gasoline to the mower easy with its automatic shutoff?

[@JM-so2ew]

Never mind. I commented too soon by 30 seconds. I saw the link.

[@TheLawnMechanic]

@@JM-so2ew Its really good thanks for posting

[@TheLawnMechanic]

amzn.to/3V0Ai0U

[@DESMONDLanham]

This man here…. The handle is too high…. You mean for the wife to mow the grass!😂😂😂😂

[@TheLawnMechanic]

Thanks for pointing that out, I appreciate your observation! LOL, I do the front with a reel mower. you caught me

[@harrydowdall2974]

What's the "shocking" part?

[@TheLawnMechanic]

That one of the best lawn mower producer is out of the market. I was shocked !!!

[@timivers8823]

I bought an HRX 217 just because they're not making anymore. Already have one for the past 13 years.

[@TheLawnMechanic]

I did the same move . I also think Honda can’t stay out of it long enough. I think we’ll see them come back with some sort of fantastic lawnmower for the homeowner.

[@MichaelKenny-hl6qf]

After trying to buy some used without success , people Grabbed them Up at high prices. I looked on Home Depot’s web Site and they have 1200 in stock in home Depot warehouses, that’s the hrx217 with blade clutch and heavy duty hydro trans $999 That’s good to know , I don’t have to buy a $500 , 15 year old hrx217 on Craig’s list

[@johndenver8574]

Blame California for honda exiting the market.

[@TheLawnMechanic]

It's unfortunate to see Honda leave the market.

[@johndenver8574]

​@@TheLawnMechanicagreed

[@WisconsinEric]

If memory serves me correct it was about Honda's vented gas caps that all walk behind mower use. California claimed it allowed too much gasoline fumes to escape while not in use. If I was Honda I would have simply included a non-vented gas cap for storage in addition to the vented cap used for mowing. $10 part to give woke California the middle finger

[@TheLawnMechanic]

@@WisconsinEric or make diesel engines lol

[@WisconsinEric]

@@TheLawnMechanic Definitely would not want the simple cost effective solution, would you?

[@andrew4403]

It's really really sad that we're not going to have no gas push mowers gas riding mowers gas weed eaters. I've been working on this stuff since I was 10 years old. How depressing for me anyway. This sucks. Hopefully they stay away from Pennsylvania for a good long time😊

[@TheLawnMechanic]

I feel the same way

[@chuckm8472]

Honda was the worst mower I ever owned. Always breaking down and spent 3 months in the shop the first year I owned it.

[@TheLawnMechanic]

Sorry that happened

[@bobb8738]

Most say it's the best mower they ever owned, including me.

[@Rubster760]

30 years mowing and have tried the main brands. Nothing beats a Honda. You must’ve got a bad mower or a bad mechanic. 🤷‍♂️

[@TheLawnMechanic]

@@Rubster760same here i love them !!!!