The Most Annoying Problems With Honda Mowers

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Thanks for watching. Honda mowers are great, but they are not perfect, far from it .

[@ChaseISABOY]

My grandpa has one dislike that I haven’t got to fixing it yet

[@philipdumas4435]

Picked up a new Honda HRN, had it for four seasons so far. I’m not rough on it usually, but have had a couple of times I’ve had to use it for tougher parts of my lawn. Once had the self-propel belt come undone and had to stop and fix that. Aside from cleaning, replacing the air filter and the oil, and keeping sharp blades in it (The standard for any machine really) it’s been an amazing machine, and I have almost zero complaints. Only things I can think of is this: 1 - Weight a little less, when pushing it or pulling it, not using the self propel can really fatigue you after a couple of hours. Obviously his is countered by almost always having it pull for you but this is just on longer cuts. 2 - Having more options to not just mulch or bag clippings, but to have a way to eject them out the side as well if you wished. Bagging very thick cuts won’t work, and mulching them is basically impossible. Before you say cut more often, in the south we have weeks where we might cut almost twice in a week, and mulching is just really hard on that thick of grass. 3 - I have noticed it does have a tendency to leak oil from the front of the machine, I know this can be sorta common with mowers, but it’s a little irritating since this is a newer machine that has maintenance done on it consistently. Anyways, love your videos!

[@lewiemcneely9143]

Uncle had one I worked on and others. Made me appreciate Snappers a LOT more WITH 2 and 4 cycle Briggs flatheads. Mine replacxe a bearing or a blade but they just ran day in and out. Variable speed rear drives were BIG plusses. Happy weekend.

[@mateo85tx]

You can prevent the oily caked on dirt by resealing valve cover and replacing the camshaft o-ring as well. 👍🏻 Good video

[@jetfixer3207]

I bought my Honda mower new in the box in '23. The engine was later recalled for a bad compression release. To fix it, the engine must be almost completely disassembled. I took it to a "Honda Premiere Service" location and they did the rebuild SO badly the engine basically "ate" itself inside of 2 months of use. I took it to an actual Honda dealership who said the engine was SO badly torn up internally, they couldn't even determine what failed. Luckily it comes with a 5 year residential warranty, so Honda sent out a complete new engine (in parts, which needed to be assembled) and now after 4+ months of use it's doing great!

[@johnleerichardson6220]

I worked on a Toro that had that exact same drive system are awfully close to it and it was a pain I remember it well take care and have a good day

[@briantii]

For pulling backwards on the HRR models a big issue is also dust getting into the bushing and fouling the grease and then they stick. If you add another dust seal on the deck side like the HRX models come with from the factory. The HRN is redesigned and has most of these issues designed out of them.

[@Alfred-i8k]

Another great job.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I appreciate that

[@jerrysoutherland662]

Don't the wooduff key the round part of the key go on top of the little spring on the axle.Nice video

[@HomeGaragechannel]

you are correct the round part goes into the axle, whoever worked on this one put It on upside down

[@0852657luis]

Everyone wants self propelling but very few understand how much maintenance goes into one. And when it breaks if your not mechanically inclined it'll be a expensive repair.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

you got that right, that's what happened to this one. It needed work but only after quite a bit of time had passed and then they did it wrong.

[@rumrunner4783]

Love my Honda mowers! Wish they were still in business here in US. It’s been a long time since I’ve switched to Honda and maintaining them is simple and easy once you get familiar with it. Not much info how to service hydros on them though… it would make a great video!

[@MUUKOW3]

They haven't made a good mower since the Aluminum HR215's went away.

[@rumrunner4783]

@ I’ve never owned an HR215 myself but I do own an hr214, hrx217 and hrc216. All of them are exceptional machines designed with focus on quality, performance and durability. Never had to fix any of them, just annual service using good quality parts and lubes. I wish the hrc had aluminum deck. Still looking for hr215 masters series to retire the hr214. Oh and they’re all with hydros that I’ve never serviced since new!

[@MUUKOW3]

@rumrunner4783 The HRX plastic fantastic I would not add to the list ,that was the beginning of the downward slide. We were a Honda dealer when they first brought the old 214 on . They were going to get out of the mower market when they stopped aluminum deck production but the box stores wanted that" Honda "Name and out came the stamp steel price point mowers to sell instead of the innovation and quality that Honda stood for . Now California's constant suing over emissions made them throw in the towel . The quality mower market is pretty much gone these days for homeowners.

[@jaimepadilla9548]

That metal bushing you were messing with at 6 minutes into the video. Cause that be the cause as to why the transmission or wheels won't work/spin?

[@HomeGaragechannel]

more than likely this. On this one, that bushing had come free from the adjuster so it "fixed" itself but I needed to push it back into place.

[@MUUKOW3]

It's not metal,they are plastic. The shaft is mad out of low grade metal and rust,the bushings stick then fall out. They should have had ball bearings but they cheaped out !

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I know what you mean, but if taken care of, they seem to work well enough. But yes I wish It was a metal bearing

[@Rslibertyturbo]

Gday mate from australia! 🇦🇺 My neighbour gave me the same Honda mower, front wheel fallen off, self propelled not working. Changing the belt was a mission and cleaning out the carby with all the linkages.not a huge fan of these mowers. But my mum has had the same Honda mower for 15 years, I gave it a service and new blades. I much rather prefer to work Briggs and Stratton sprint series mowers, very reliable and very simple design

[@HomeGaragechannel]

Hello Australia! Yes as much as I like these, their complexity sometimes makes me not like them either. Still good machines though, when they don't see servicing

[@briantii]

I always blow off the mower after use and never have any issues with recoils. I might try dry Teflon lube over a wet lube.

[@sidewinder860]

Can you please share the link to what you use as a hose attachment when you wash the mowers? Its not a pressure washer but it doesnt look like a garden hose either. Thanks!

[@DarrionNelson]

What is that foaming lubricant you use for the wheels

[@MUUKOW3]

That drive padle is a pain when it strips and to change the belt and cable.

[@ccornett6664]

My Honda is over 12 years old has been perfect and starts on the first pull.

[@word1901]

Using Honda mowers commercially about 10 years ago in dry dusty Australia the ratchet springs clogged up all the time used to really annoy me when they wouldn’t pull back until I worked out it was a 10 min job to do myself

[@tiredagain6722]

I don't like the dual blade model. The shaft drive, single blade is better. My best mower is a kubota walk behind, self propelled.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

thank you for sharing

[@MUUKOW3]

They are pretty similar to the Honda and share some parts. I just picked up a mint Electric start SP Kubota barn find like new almost. They are definitely a buy once for lifetime mower like the old Honda.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

that's a very nice mower!

[@RandomCNUnit]

Honestly, I'd get a yards machine toro small mower. Light to push, not that hard to use, etc

[@stuartbaumgardner597]

Honda push mowers are hands down the best mower if you are mechanically inclined and have a lot of time and patience.

[@MUUKOW3]

The aluminum deck models yes ,the H Home Depot steel decks are no better than a MTD or Poulan.

[@crisprtalk6963]

Man business is slow. Whatcha gonan do? I dunno, maybe make a video with a voice over joined with an older video that has nothing to do with the voice over. Brilliant.

[@LoganHester-1489]

1st

[@HomeGaragechannel]

thank you

[@johnleerichardson6220]

I worked on a Toro that had that exact same drive system are awfully close to it and it was a pain I remember it well take care and have a good day