ARE HONDA LAWN MOWERS STILL WORTH BUYING IN 2023?
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- Опубликовано: 27 сен 2024
- #garagegear #honda #lawnmower
ARE HONDA LAWN MOWERS STILL WORTH BUYING IN 2023? Honda has always made an EXCELLENT MOWER! Unfortunately, their LAWNMOWERS are being discontinued as of September 2023. Should you still consider BUYING one before they're gone? Watch and see what I think as I UNBOX this HONDA HRX217VKA lawn mower. LIKE & SUBSCRIBE!!!
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Honda HRX Lawn Mower - Higher End Model amzn.to/3tf20Xy
Honda HRN216 Lawn Mower Blade Set amzn.to/3rAOPAe
Honda HRN216 Tune-Up Kit amzn.to/38NCoZs
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Here is a LINK to the HONDA LAWN MOWER used in this video! Thank you for supporting the channel! amzn.to/3FTmFZL
Dang inflation is nuts right now.
@@kartboarder22g17 sure is!
@@kartboarder22g17 id paid $1,182.00 for my 12.3hp hrx2176 but its for sell upgrading to 16.5hp dr
@@kartboarder22g17😊😊😊😊😊😊😊”@
@@GarageGearwq
Pro tip, keep the original oil bottle for the next oil change. You fill the bottle with the exact amount of oil then pour in the mower it will not over fill.
Thanks for tip! Thanks for watching!
That is such a good tip. So intuitive yet I threw that little one that came with the mower away. Thanks
It is in the ballpark, but not necessarily a good idea. For instance, the oil supplied in the video is 12 fl oz, but the Honda stated engine oil capacity on the HRX 217 engine is 18.6 fl oz 10W-30. It seems to me that about 4 fl oz may have been left in the engine from the factory testing and even the manual warns about varying oil levels left in the engine and to confirm on fill and engine break in. Not to mention various methods of draining the oil on maintenance can vary wildly in their success rate at removing all used oil. In my experience with Honda motors and oil changes, I will let drain, and fill with 10 fl oz, then run for a few minutes and check the level and top off. After my first couple of mows I will double check the level and run for that season with periodic checks that something hasnt failed. Will filling with 12 fl oz like the initial top off container work, probably enough to not fail, but for my results and for my Honda to last as long as possible, I go with fill mostly, run, and top off to get best level to be sure.
Yes I do this when I change my trucks oil. Also helps to give an indication about how much oil you burn
@@Amouselives Agreed, the oil drain amount always varies.
I do miss the drain plug on the bottom. It did drain more of the oil in the engine, it was a pain but I always found it more effective than the tip over the side.
I'm a toro personal pace guy but always wanted a Honda HRX217. I bought one last year. I found some issues with it. It was much heavier than toro personal pace. It's not as nibble as toro. Grass clippings would get jammed into the clippings selector. I had to power wash it to get all of the clippings out of the selector. The air filter had to be super clean in order to run well. I had to remove the air filter to get it to go up hill. I decided to stick with my toro. My lawn is about 2500sqf. Plus the personal pace feature is so much easier to use and just intuitive.
agreed with you 100% I also purchased an HRX217 a few years ago, gave it away a couple years later and purchased a toro personal pace super recycler, a lot of people dont know they are not as easy to maneuver as say a toro, love the engine, quality and cut, but if you have lots of trees etc then you are better off with a more manoeuvrable mower, my opinion.
Thanks for sharing malisha
Thanks for sharing zman
the nice thing about Honda is even if they stop making engine parts there’s chinese Honda cones out there you can buy from HF . therefore even though it’s not honda parts the honda cone parts should work , keeping your honda mower going . I unfortunately had to replace my old 2008 Briggs & stratton brute 6.5hp because the rear grass bag needed to be replaced and it was going to cost me $150-200 plus shipping and the wheels were also shot so it didn’t make financial sense. I wanted a honda Hrn216pkc but there $749 canadian and after reviews honda seems to have cut corners on theirs decks as well as using more plastic parts so i went with a toro 21445
Took you advice and bought my last mower (3 others still working)! Used it one time and when I went to use it the next time, it didn’t work. Dealer stated it was the “cam”. Three people months later it was returned. Dealer stated that had a hard time getting a “good” cam….finally they got one that worked. I was tempted to return but knowing it was the last one, I kept it. I looked at other brands but there are no others like a Honda!
Glad you got one that worked Brenda! Thanks for sharing
A tip: when you go to a dealer, and they look up the Quadra cut blade/belt adapter, it is listed in two parts of the parts catalogs one section has the part listed as 12 dollars, the other section has it listed for 75 dollars, if you are at the dealer, and they quote you 75 dollars, have them look it up towards the front of the parts catalog, they will find it much cheaper, different part number, but same exact part.
Thanks for sharing this knighthawk!
@@GarageGear Hi knighthawk
KnightHawk you are a lawn legend 🎉🎉
Man, I bought the same HRX217VKA Feb ‘22. And I’ve been super happy with it. This Spring it turned on the engine from the 1st pull after being “winterized” . I followed all the videos you did for it, specially your 30 mins oil break in when I bought it and yes sir, it was interesting to see all those specs in the old oil. I want to sit down and make a spare part list and buy them so I don’t have to have a hard time getting them. Keep up the great job filming videos.
Great plan Eugene! Appreciate the positive feedback bud! Thanks for being a cool fan!
Honda parts will be available for 10 years at least
@@royhobbs785 thanks for sharing Roy!
Would you suggest using full synthetic oil immediately after the 30 minute break in? Thanks
Mid 80’s HR 214 with key start. I used it as a kid growing up and still use it at my house! Key start and self propelled still works perfect!
Awesome my friend! Thanks for sharing!
My Dad and Grandmother bought a JX85 brand new from John Deere in 1999. They shared it and then when I got to be about 13 I started cutting yards locally with it. Bought my first car that way. I was lucky to have access to a tank of a machine like that. My parents still run it on their yard today. I am gonna scoop one of these Honda's up for my yard but that JX85 will be in the family for a long time to come. Great video!
Hey Gibson I had one of those JX85 models before! Great mower! Thanks for sharing
In addition to an HRX 217 that I picked up about 5 yrs ago at an end-of-season sale, I also have a (silver deck) John Deere 14SB that I purchased in 1994. That mower is 29 yrs old and it's mowed tons of yards...my two kids used it for many years for their lawn jobs, as many as 10 per week, and now my grandson is using it! I've used the Honda quite a bit as well...I really like the nexlite deck, power of the engine, and the way it cuts! Starts first pull every time!
@@edwardanderson2632 awesome Edward those John Deere’s are great!
I bought a Honda Harmony in 1993 with a plastic deck like this one - it was expensive back then but I wanted a mower to last forever - it cost $500 if I remember right. The mower is perfect and the deck is better than any metal deck. I use it to this day.
Awesome my friend! Thanks for sharing!
Makes me feel good about the used HRX 217 HMA I bought. Has been amazing so far!
Have a honda lawn mower since 2010 now is 2023 still easy to start and cut the grass nicely
Having owned one for now starting my eighth year, the 217 is absolutely the best investment I've ever made in a power tool, bar none. The deck is the best, lifetime warranty.
Pro tip: See that shiny aluminum looking bar the bag door rides on across the top of the back of the mower? Eventually it will come loose. Do yourself a favor and drill that rod at the end so you can put cotter pin in there. You might also want to put something up under that same lid to hold it open about an inch or two. Why? When you cut some deep grass, you'll want it to rear eject the mower cleanly. Propping the lid open a bit lets it blow through with no restrictions.
Great information here monkeybar! Thanks for sharing this! 👍
It is to bad they quit making Honda lawn mowers
It is a shamed, but you can get them while they last.
The biggest problem that I've had with my HRX217 (2016) was an oil leak from the front of the engine, you would think it's from the valve cover but actually it's from a small o-ring that rides on the bottom of the shaft that go through the cam wheel. Worst part is you have to do a valve cover job in order to replace the $6.00 o-ring which gets hard and brittle and no longer seals after about 6 years. Thanks to RUclips video for the heads-up.
Thanks for sharing jas!
Valve cover job are so annoying on Hondas, pretty sure hrx or hrn just use RTV instead of a simple gasket... It's not hard but you need to take your time getting it perfectly clean and careful with how much you put on
I purchased my HRX in 2003 when they first hit the market.
Always a great mower. Starts easy and runs smooth.
My previous home had a steep yard front and rear. The transmission failed in 2017 so I replaced it = no other issues.
All original except for trans and spark plug.
Mower just keeps on going great. I sharpen my own blades and do all maintenance.
This mower may outlast me as I'm 73 now.
You got another 20-30 to with it at least! 😉 thanks for watching Joe!
Having just come home with the new Honda HRN 216 KUA and mowed my lawn. I am pleased with the results. That is one good mower. Perhaps I should have got the self propelled but shrug, I thought that is one less thing to go wrong.
My reason for buying a new mower today was that the old one, a Ryobi which lasted seven years of fairly heavy use, finally would not rewind the pull start; cord replaced, spring had sprung, blades needed renew and while looking for parts I saw That Big Red HONDA. Love at first sight. Give me give meeee. Now to get rid of the older mower. If I leave it on the sidewalk it may just disappear, I hope.
Thanks for sharing Steven!
I was one of the few and lucky people to be able to buy a HRX217HYA in 2020 during the peak of epidemic with very limited supply at MSRP of $750. Today the same mower costs $999. I love this mower. I tried battery electric and it doesn't perform as well. All these battery electric mowers claim to cut great, but they don't hold a candle to Honda. If you put a 4 year old EGO, Ryobi, Greenworks, Kobolt, or any battery electric up against a 4 year old Honda, honda will perform just as good like on day 1 since those 4 year old batteries will have degraded.
Battery is not the way to go that’s for sure.
💯 agree Chris! Thanks for sharing!
I agree. Yet so many people are buying batteries today. Not sure why. The last thing I want to worry about with a mower is having enough battery. My extended family likes Ego products (to each their own). I can't stand the ergonomics of the trimmer, and almost like clockwork the batteries are completely shot at the 3 year mark right outside the warranty period. They actually start to have issues at 18 months, not getting a long run time but Ego won't warranty them. And the batteries are $250- $450 depending on the size!
@@lazylearner967 crazy I know! You can buy a battery powered trimmer for $200-$250. Get 3-5 years out of it before it’s completely dead. Or you can buy an echo gas trimmer for $250 and have it for 20 years. You would have to spend nearly $1000 to equal that with battery stuff! They’re just taking your money lol!
It depends on the quality and type of cells. If lfp cells are used then they can last over 10 years without degradation.
After opening the included 12-oz. bottle of oil, look inside to see the oil level, then mark that level on the outside of the bottle. Keep the marked bottle as a handy way to measure new oil for oil changes.
Good way to do it. Thanks for watching tt!
i never change oil for my lawn mower, look like it still working just fine
The thing about changing the oil is you're supposed to warm it up, shut the gas off, tip it on its side 90° and the oil will drain which it did but then I set it back up lowered it again and more oil kept coming out and this happened several times. so obviously oil is getting hung up somewhere on the way out when tipping over. annoying. so just don't assume that the oil is completely out after tipping it once. also the self-propelled feature isn't that great. The wheel will stop spinning with any kind of downward pressure or just the weight of the mower. You really have to help it along to get it moving and if you're going uphill you're still doing most of the work on your own. and finally the mulch bag lever isn't as precise as you would think if you're too close to the mulch side it's going to just clog itself up and close all the way, so you really need to have it open at least 1/2 way for combo. and finally, if you are bagging you will be emptying that bag every couple of minutes it is a very small bag and gets heavy. videos like this always show it as the shiny new toy that has all the features but then the reality of using it it's a lot more work than is depicted. but none of these are negatives they're just the reality of using it I love it and it's very solid and reliable and cuts nicely.
Thanks for sharing this Mike!
I bought one and love it. I got tired of paying lawn guys $80 a month for sometimes showing up.
Smart move!
@HemiRod23
12 days ago
I work at a Honda Power Equipment dealer, and have already repaired several of these under warranty. I thought the same as you... I'm a fairly big guy, and could probably pull the rope anyway. Nope. The starter rope wants to rip your arm out of it's socket. It's a fairly lengthy process to replace the cam, because the crank shaft has to be removed to get to it. The new engines are overhead valve, but not overhead cam any longer. You have to remove all the parts under the deck, and all the parts on top until you get a nearly bare crank case. Even the cylinder needs to be un-bolted and removed because the cam is under the cylinder. The fastest I've done it so far is 2 1/2 hours, and warranty pays for 1 1/2 hours. I would like to watch a factory tech and see how they came up with that time. I'm hoping there may be a faster method or a trick to save steps. Time will tell, I guess.
Thanks for sharing this!
I bought the Honda HRX217HYA and gave my parents my Honda hrr216vka that was 10 years old. As you know, I’m a huge Honda fan. I called multiple dealers and even Honda themselves. Yes it’s true, in USA they are discontinuing all mowers and single stage snowblowers. Super sad 😢. Huge fan of your Channel. You didn’t grease his wheels haha
Crazy world we’re in now my friend! Changing times! Sad to see Honda getting out. Your an awesome fan my friend! Fan of yours as well! My neighbor watches my videos he can hit em! 👍 have a good rest of the weekend bud!
Just like VW quit importing the diesels after they were fined for fudging emissions numbers. People were regularly getting 50mpg in high reliability vehicles. Makes you wonder….is it worth the trade off?
I have the exact same mower (bought at pre-Covid price) and push mowed 30 residential yards with it for three years until recently purchasing scag vride 2 48. Best mulching mower via twin blades (keep them butter knife sharp) and is a beast cutting tall wet grass. Cut quality superb and naturally stripes without kit. Wld recommend buying adjuster kit set to have on hand as you said - my knob and pin went flying one day. That is the only problem I’ve ever had! It has taken a beating and keeps on ticking!!
Awesome thanks for sharing this hawk!
I completely agree with you about Honda mowers. I have an HRX 217 HXA that I have had for over ten years. I maintain it myself and it runs like a charm. Before I had the Honda, I went through a series of Craftsman mowers. Never again!
I recommend Honda mowers to anyone who asks me about my mower. Half of my neighbors now have Honda mowers, with which they are very happy. As you do, I trust Honda to have mower parts available for decades. If my old Troy-Bilt 3090 snow blower were not such a dependable beast, I'd have a Honda snow blower, too. Honda engines RULE!
Regards! 👍👍
ROCK ON JERRY! Can’t go wrong with a Honda! Thanks for watching!
Great Video with a lot of knowledge on these Honda Mowers. Thank You.
As owner of North Valley Repair, most know me as Mark Nye thefixitguy, these Hondas are good , but not great. They made them very difficult to work on, especially these GCV engines.
Over time, with this Ethanol Fuel today, these carburetors will either need to be replaced or rebuilt.
The Ethanol just destroys these engines.
Getting the carburetor off is the easy part. Getting it back on is a nightmare at times.
All Honda needed to do was install bolt studs in on the block with nuts holding on the filter housing. This way you can install the gasket, carb , more gaskets and the filter housing without everything falling.
I am working on changing this design out on all the Honda engines I work on.
I have do agree that the Honda engines are good and will last, if you use a fuel stabilizer or fuel conditioner like Seafoam.
One more thing on the HRR and HRX mowers and GCV engines.
Why did honda go to the plastic fan and plastic recoil ?
It's just one more thing I've repaired on most of these mowers.
Thanks again for the great video
Hey tng! My guess is cost on those parts! Thanks for sharing your experiences here! It helps our community! Thanks for watching! 👍
Which mower do you recommend?
Loved the comment “nothing beats the smell of a brand new Honda”! Smells like victory! Love my 5 year old Honda mower and always use non ethanol gas and do the tuneups myself.
ROCK ON JOHN! 👍
I have one from a few years ago. Got it crazy cheap! Was a return at Lowes. My biggest complaint is fixing the carb. I had a previous troy built that was honda powered. That mower sucked... best thing about it was the honda mower. 13 years with it. The two bolts that hold the carb on suck to put it all back together if you have to clean the carb. I run premium ethanol free in mine and treat. The new one seems to run lean and surge sometimes if I have cheaper gas. Just keep the fuel fresh and put it up correctly for the winter.
Thanks for sharing danman!
I love my Honda HR214! It was my aunt's and I got it in '92 after she passed. It still starts on the first pull every time! All I've done is replace the carb and tune ups. 👍👍
Thanks for sharing! Honda makes a great machine!
My HRX217HYA is 12 years old, runs like new, first pull start. Love it.
Can’t beat it!
Honda has had a good reputation for supporting their products long after their end of life. I'm sure the mowers will be no different. Especially considering how many of these are out in the wild.
Hey Smallblock I believe there will be some part out there for a while! Have a great weekend bud!
@@jeremynguyen2346 hey Jeremy
I bought an old Honda lawn mower about 5 years ago, it cost me £50, and has never let me down. When I go to a new customer, and they see my mower, they always ask me if it works.
I am looking for a wider mower than the 17" cut, but that is the only second hand Honda, that I have seen, in this area. The wider mowers are not in my price range, and all have another make of engine on it.
Honda are the best, and it is most likely to be spark plugs which will need to be replaced.
Thanks for sharing peter
"Market forces" such as "government regulations". At least they told people why they can no longer get these mowers. Thank your politicians.
Always sucks when they get in the way!
Buy all you can afford there is gold silver and then Honda lawn mowers I have four an hr217 2 hr214 and a harmony I use all 4 the harmony takes all the abuse 1 hr214 has side shut 1 hr214 for bagging the Hr 217 does mulching and leave duty and enough parts for the next 100 years when ever I see one set out for the garbage I pick it up for spare parts all I can say is if you don’t own at least one Honda lawn mower your missing out on the most enjoyable part of life something that still lasts forever
ROCK ON JOE! Awesome that you have so many! Thanks for sharing!
Word of advice, don't turn the mower around on pavement. Mow a decent strip around the perimeter and make your turns on grass, those wheels will wear out quick. I'm on my third set. I don't have this model, I bought mine 10 years ago with a metal deck. About that, not a fan of the plastic deck, that's the only ding I'll give this mower. Metal decks will last forever if you take care of them, plastic however will deteriorate over time.
Thanks for sharing
Yeah as someone who has used gas powered mowers for most of my entire life have seen that even cheap mowers that used to be $150-160 bucks now are over $300 bucks now. It's because Gasoline powered mowers are not in high demand anymore so they are not making as many as they used to. Just this year we just bought a GreenWorks Pro 60V Battery powered mower. The time have changed drastically yet again like they have back from when I was a kid in the Late 1980s into my teenage years in the late 1990s into my adult hood in the early 2000s. I said this for years now that they don't make mowers like they used to.
Thanks for sharing
I seriously considered a Honda mower last year, but the rear discharge was the deal-breaker. I bought a Toro Super Recycler.
Same here....no side discharge option really rubs me the wrong way
I’ll see if I can get a test mow in with it to see how she does!
Can't companies just not sell to CA
Hahaha right? Let them fend for themselves! Thanks for watching!
I was at my local Home Depot today and they had several Honda HRN216 mowers in stock. I was kinda surprised to see em.
Clearing some out perhaps?
Just bought the same mower last week. It’s a beast in long St Augustine grass.
ROCK ON LANCE!
They are the king of lawnmowers in Australia. All the mowing guys used HRU196 and HRU216. Heavy, but built to last 20+ years.
Thanks for sharing big Chief!
In Europe the HRU is called HRD (many names!) with the bulletproof GXV160 engine, mine is stil working after 27 years 🙂
@@Tintoycar Yes the GXV160 is outstanding. I have a HRU196 here also over 20 years old, still starts first time.
Disappointing that the rear roller models only seem to be available in the UK. I’m in the market for my first mower since moving to NZ, Honda obviously top of my list but I’m also considering a reel mower for the roller and a new experience
Honda makes the best engines for everything. They don't make the most powerful ones, they make the most reliable ones.
💯 agree! Thank you for watching Mike!
Excellent play on leaving the box on his front porch!! He actually sounded pissed!! 😂😂 GOT EM!!
Hahaha we go after each other all the time! We went to high school together! Now I’m stuck with him as a neighbor lol! 😂🤷♂️😉
@@GarageGear its fun to gag with neighbors like that! Sounds like a good friend 🤙
@@fromex2lsturbo sure is! He’s a good neighbor to have! 👍
RE: Parts and Honda, they've always been pretty good about parts availability. I was a dealer for them for 20 years. I sold 1000's of their mowers. I've been out of the business for about 3 years, and yeah, hearing they are getting out is sad, but not surprising. We saw this happen with Kawasaki and their 2 cycle line. We were selling at least 1500 units per year when they decided to get out of the business. I once had a rare 1980's era Honda that had a flathead 4hp motor on it. the HR214 When I got it it was over 20 years retired and they still stocked the wheels (they were pricey though $70 ea Dealer cost)
Thanks for sharing justin
Honda uk say they are not stopping making petrol lawn mowers they just won't be selling any in California.
@@bobp6742 thanks for sharing
Knowing where Brian lives, i am surprised you didn’t carry it over there. But you got to protect those tires.
Haha got it all there in one trip! He didn’t want to be out in the cold for too long! Lol 😉😂
That sucks about the mowers being discontinued, but......... My rant: $1000 for a mower is insane, I'm done with buying expensive new mowers. Too much $$$, and your rather OCD, trying to keep your mower clean and looking new is too much hassle. Sometimes you just wanna mow and dump it back in the shed. Also I don't wanna (always) treat my mower with kid gloves. I wanna be able to trash on it a bit to get the job done. I have some areas of my yard that DO NOT look like a golf coarse, and the mower gets a bit of a beating. And dust.......oh man dust, during the hot summer my yard can be bone dry, and the mower looks like I left it out in a dust storm.
Thanks for sharing dwoodog!
I bought an HRX217 last year and love it. No problems. Easy to start, runs great, cuts amazingly well.
Can’t beat em!
Hi JB, I just found your channel. I like your videos and have subscribed to your channel,
I need some advise. For the last 35 years I have used Honda lawnmowers. I always buy the HRX 217 model. Unfortunately, my current Honda is quiet old and I planned on replacing it in the spring of next year. I just recently learned that this is not possible. I live in Troy, NY at the other end of the state from you. I take very good care of my lawn equipment, and keep it for a long time. Currently I’m trying to nurse my old Honda through Oct. I’m having clutch problems and the costs of repair ( the hourly wage here for small engine repair is $100 an hour and up) will be at least $300 to $400 will be too much. I do not have your skill level in repairing small engines. I’ve called all the dealers around here and there is no more new Honda stock.
So my next choice would be Toro. Your videos on the new Toro lawn mowers are excellent and taught my a lot about these mowers. I think your review of the 21564 is right, that baby carriage handle is is wrong. I also like your review of the Personal Pace drive system. I don’t want anything to do with that drive system. My review of the current Toro models shows that all the upper level models have the Personal Pace drive system. So the only model that I see might work for me is the Smart Stow Recyler 21445.
I would like a reliable mower, with 3 mowing speeds, good mowing height up 4”, gas powered, rear wheel drive. I am 75 years old but still very active. My lawn is midsized and completely flat. But there are sections where there is a lot of backward and forward.
I know nothing about the other companies that make lawn mowers.
Do you know of any online places where I could still buy another Honda?
Are there other companies that I should look at?
Thank you for all the hard work you put into your videos. They are very helpful and I plan on being a regular visitor.
Hey Mike! Appreciate your positive feedback. Choices are kinda limited nowadays for a decent lawnmower. The quality just isn’t there. The toro 21445 is a decent mower but not perfect. It’s definitely a better option but rustproof that deck regularly. I’ve seen them rust out fast. I like the drive system on that one a lot better too. You could also keep an eye out for a decent lightly used Honda. Thanks for watching!
I've had my honda lawnmower for over 20 years. Built like a rock
Sure are! Thanks for watching
Honda push and self-propelled mowers are simply the best mowers ever made, period. I've owned two and bought my family one and we've been using them for over 20 years. There simply isn't a better mower.
Honda makes a great machine Bert! Thanks for sharing
I agree. I bought my first one in 1983. HR-214 SMA which had a Key Start. Key start was a waste of money. I've had many since I buy them broken and restore them. Although the Honda's are excellent, I just bought a year 2000 Toro Commercial Mower. It has the Suzuki 5.5 HP 2-cycle engine. The self propelled system is harder to use than I like but the Mower's quality is like nothing I've seen before. Plus I use it to piss off the neighbors that turned in their gasoline Mowers for Battery Mowers and now think anyone that operated gas equipment is a Terrorist. Figured the 2-cycle would add to their frustration as they told me my quiet Honda Mower was ruining the Planet. Now they can see the smoke. They were good with gas yard equipment until the Green Bug bit them.
@@scotta9114 Wonderful! I attempted to buy Stihl battery lawn tools and the 300S batteries have depleted a great deal since I bought them. This EV scam is total BS. Everything battery powered that I've ever owned failed very quickly from All-Clad hand mixers, to Apple laptops, to iPhones to Stihl lawn equipment, including their self propelled lawn mower which I returned the same day I bought it. It was trash.
Well done video with some great tips. Especially change the oil after 30 minutes of run time. The one thing missing was seeing how well the rear wheel drive performed, especially if the lawn had an incline. I understand the bad weather, but maybe plan around it. I bought a Toro RWD and had to push it almost as much as it drove itself. Since the places I can buy the Honda mower won't let me return it, I have a hard time spending $$$ and not be satisfied. Glad I found Garage Gear.
Thanks for sharing and welcome to the tribe sb!
@@GarageGear Well I have the honda hrx 217hya but now it is $999 isn't crazy
>Especially change the oil after 30 minutes of run time.
You mean change the oil after the first 30 minutes of break-in, right? or did he say literally every 30 minutes and i missed it. (cuz thats kinda insane)
Still have my HR215HXA from the 90’s. Mowed with it twice last week, since my Electric riding mower was having a “lack of sufficient charge” problem. Filled the tank with gas, turned in the fuel, and start on second pull. I hadn’t used the Honda mower for 5 years. Still works like a champ. 😎
Honda for the win! Thanks for watching dig!
i have this exact same mower 2018 version but looks the exact same. and i love it!
Awesome Justin! Thanks for sharing!
As a small business owner in the lawnare business . Ive added one of these to my arsenal for the small city lots . Love that mower . Does a great cut as always.
These machines ROCK! Thanks for watching moodee
I have 7 of them. I cut about twice a week
@@temujinkhan6326 you must have alot of small yards.
@@temujinkhan6326 thanks for sharing!
The Honda push mower is the Glock of the landscape industry. My heart is broken 😭
Honda makes a great mower! Saddens us all to see them go!
I love Honda mowers, especially the dual blade setup, but honestly the tire tread are really poor. Especially on the drive tires. I’m lucky to get 2 seasons out of the drive wheels before the tread wears off and they come apart. There’s a reason the big box stores have plenty of Honda replacement tires for sale. Which are not cheap.
I have the commercial version and the traction sucks
Ditto! 12 year old HRR. On my 4th set of wheels and the front ones bow outwards / \ no matter which hardware I replace. Having said that, the engine runs and the mower mows like the day I bought it. Just those darned wheels!
How many lawns do you do with the machine a week?
Thanks for sharing!
I mow 3 quarter acre house lots with my Honda mower. From mid April to mid November. If you subtract the houses, driveways, sidewalks, landscaping and patios, we’re not talking a lot of grass that gets mowed. When your putting out $500+ for a mower, you should expect the wheels to last more than 2 years. Honda should stand by their product, but then again they are getting out of the lawn mower business, aren’t they?
That mower has a verse a mow catch the clipping you can mulch at the same time
Thanks for sharing
Congratulations on 50,000 subscribers JB.
Appreciate you as always WHITIE! What’s the plan for the weekend?
@@GarageGear getting my hair done and watching the snow melt. How about you guys?
@@WhitieInVermont there ya go! Editing the next one! Watching the grass go from brown to green. Slowly… few more weeks and we’re mowing! 👍
my third Honda mower 15 yr old HRX217HYA has hydrostatic transmission (no belts). Axle clips are slipping, wheels lock up, possibly need entire new transmission and, given the age of this, I no longer want to spend on more parts so off to the store for new mower. I can get the exact same model on sale but commercial version has reputation for durability beyond residential versions - so probably spend up for one given it will give me less problems given the issue of parts. My current gives me a fantastic cut on Bermuda grass and some forums say the commercial version (steel deck) does not cut as smoothly even though both have the twin blades. Any opinion on residential versus commercial version and even if I should not buy another Honda at all so Toro?
Hey half! A lot of subscribers mention that they love the Honda commercial mowers! No complaints about them. The toro commercial mowers are great too. I personally want the one with the Honda engine! Either will give you a great cut too!
Hey brother, great video! I know I hate to see Honda make the decision, some of my commercial gear like aerators and dethatchers have Honda GX motors as does my PermaGreen ride on sprayer/spreader. I have 1 Honda mower in my collection for use at home along with my Toro TimeMaster. I still love my Honda.
It’s a bummer my friend! Fingers crossed they make them again in the future or another brand steps up their game. Thanks for watching as always! 👍
I have a honda mower I got in 21019.. not sure which model exactky.. but it has the GCV-190 engine and electric start.. that mower cuts like a machete.. its hands down the best mower ive ever owned.. it looks a little different .. I have adifferent handle. . i can control my engine speed and my self propel speed. . it also has a blade brake so I can let it idle if I need to stop and clean up debris in the yard ahead.. its one beautiful machine..
Gotta love them! Thanks for sharing eldorado!
I had a John Deere 14SB, Honda, and the old Toro Commercial with the Suzuki engine and I wish I kept them all, the John Deere 14SB with the Kawasaki engine was my favorite of them all it was perfect IMO. Had the easiest to empty catcher and the fastest walk behind self propel. The Toro with Suzuki was damn good too.
Awesome thanks for sharing jas!
I bought a 216vya honda and the plastic door where it attaches to the bag allows for blowby clippings to hit you in the face, and the downward flap speed control is frustrating at best. The engagement of the bag on the 217 and the upward facing speed control flaps appears to be a big improvement. Home depot will take the 216 back on return and I'm trying to decide between the toro and the honda 217 series. Talk me through it. I'm leaning Honda as I ran my HRX215 for 23 years before I finally put it to pasture. Thanks in advance
Hey Randy, I’ll be doing a comparison of these two mowers in a few weeks. Stay tuned!
One of my Honda 'primer free' mowers has a thermowax actuator, the other does not. Not sure why
@@mwgcubs not exactly sure. How old are they?
Im just gunna say this as someone whose worked with many small engine machines, hondas are always worth buying, its just always about price and whether you want to spend that. Ive used a masport 470 as a commercial lawnmower for about 7 years now and i cant fault it, maintenance is easier than a honda, they are lighter than a honda and once you tinker with the throttle control theres no issue with power, works first pull to this day and doesnt need to be primed despite having a primer lol
This mower outlived 2 hondas i used commercially with another business and they had more maintenance done and also by qualified mechanics.
At the end of the day its all about research, expenditure and appearances.
Research is so important, you can buy great cheaper mowers if you know what to look for.
Honda bodies are ultimate, the chassis are so solid that theybwill out live multiple engines.
Thanks for sharing this Blakey!
HATE working on Honda carburetors. Hard to take off, take apart, reinstall.
Thanks for sharing Phil!
Awesome Video!! I have this exact lawnmower and I love it!! It's sad to think Honda won't be making them anymore!! All because of the currupt EPA!! I would love to see you do a full service on this mower! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Hey cl! Sad I know! Perhaps down the road I can! Thanks for watching
Don't worry. After 5 years of making battery mowers that fail, or need a fleet of batteries to keep going, the gas engines will be back.
@@jayjaynella4539 hey Jay! I still don’t see any commercial guys carrying battery stuff. Dozens drive past my house and work in my neighbor’s lawns. No batteries in sight. Thanks for watching
Pretty sure I bought the only Honda HRX217 mower that is a lemon. I have had so many issues with this mower! Bought it new in January 2016 and it’s made multiple trips back to the dealer for warranty work, now of course I’m footing the bill. Everything from a cracked rocker arm to all four height adjusters needing replaced, to transmission fluid leaking. Oh, and let’s not forget the frequent valve adjustments that are necessary, as well as the notorious mower won’t pull backwards due to rust build up on the axle. The latest issue is an oil leak on the bottom of the mower. It never ends with this thing, and I only have a small subdivision lot to mow. I’m thinking of painting it yellow because it is definitely a lemon.
Sorry to hear, Ron. Maybe consider selling it and replacing with something else. It sounds like you’re putting a lot of time and money into it and sometimes you gotta draw the line.
@@GarageGear Yep, that's where I'm at. Looking at Toro and also battery powered mowers, though I'm not completely sold on them yet.
I still use my Honda lawn mower that I bought brand new in 1996 when I was mowing lawns commercially. Still, starts 1st-time pull. Used it 5 days a week 6-7 lawns a day for 8 years. Now that is reliable.
Definitely reliable! Thanks for sharing!
I replaced a cheap non-Honda brand mower after fifteen years, last summer. Its engine was a Honda and started on a dime every spring but the deck wore out.
I then bought the XML08 Makita mower, which is nothing but a toy (gutless power, terrible battery life). Two weeks later returned it and bought another Honda mower, which I’ll replace with a battery mower sometime well into the 2030’s when they are actually worth buying.
thanks for sharing!
I hate big brother pushing electric mowers on everyone.
Me too! 👍
My HRX217 is 12 yrs old and still going strong. Hate the fact that there will be no good replacement for it. When the time comes.
I think many will be going commercial! Thanks for watching!
I bought an older self-propelled Honda mower back in 2016, still going strong today in 2024.
Great mower! 👍
So the original oil needs to be thrown out after the initial break in? What happens if you don’t do that?
@@luiscastaneda2272 yep that’s the way to do it. If you haven’t changed it change it soon.
Hope there's room for your cars in that garage. The intended purpose. Keep up the vids!
Only in the winter time lol! Too much lawn equipment right now. If I really wanted to I could fit the Jeep in there. Thanks for watching bud!
Sad day for the homeowner who can afford them mine still runs like a champ.
Definitely a sad day! Thanks for watching!
Too bad. I was hoping they would be coming up with a vertical storage design. Their mowers were great.
Guess we won’t see that with Honda! Thanks for watching
Picked up my HRX217HZA today,to replace my poor running toro super recycler vortex with the 163 briggs that i bought new in April.4 times back to the dealer and it still doesnt run right…done with it.excited to try my first Honda!!!
Awesome whiskey! Thanks for sharing
The choke sux on these HRX mowers, wax block fails too easily
Easy to fix though! Thanks for watching!
...NO...learned my lesson. Two "belt slips" on my Honda mower have already cost me over 150 bucks in repair (lots of disassembly to slip belt back on). I will now only buy super-cheepy, self-propelled mowers from a big box store...so I can go back to quick, easy repairs with non-proprietary replacement parts. BTW, I read that Honda is getting out of the non-commercial, consumer-centric lawn gear biz....
Thanks for sharing
I bought a Honda HRS216PKA in May 2021. It was a base model. The engine will probably last 20 or 30 years. Although the mower plugs up with grass all the time. If you need to mow tall grass you are SOL. My old Craftsman that I bought in the year 2000 can mow grass much better. Sadly I wish that I never bought the Honda mower. I'm really disappointed with it. I will probably sell this spring.
Hey flilguy! Those decks aren’t the best for tall grass mowing! Best you can probably do is open them up for side discharge. Thanks for watching!
@@GarageGear I've never tried to use it without the side outlet being open. After I bought mine I found out most Honda owners buy one with the bag option and leave the bag door partly opened. I didn't want a bag because I don't bag my grass. I'll never buy another Honda because of this. If the grass is tall it will plug up in less than 50 feet of mowing. My 20 year old Craftsman will blast right through it. All I can guess are there different blades for that model of Honda? I've basically used the old mower more because the Honda mows so bad.
@@flilguy I would give the side discharge a shot. It will create more suction under the deck and air flow. Thanks again for sharing
I use push mowers; don't need self-propelled. My Honda-powered Troy-Bilt is lighter than my HRN216PKA, so it's easier to maneuver, the GCV160 engine is easier to pull-start than the GCV170, however nothing sucks up leaves better than a dual-blade Honda. My yard is heavily treed, and fall leaf collection is an issue; that's where my Honda shines. I hope Honda's battery mowers still have this ability, otherwise I'll stick with the gas Honda.
Thanks for sharing
Man when I used to mow for years and for a push mowers the Honda commercial was also a beast even in the rain
They really are beasts! Thanks for watching
Handlebar low? Not for my 8 year old who cuts the lawn every week. It fits her just fine.
That’s the way to do it! Thanks for watching!
you can 100% thank California for this. 1 state should not be able to dictate the rest of the country and its policies in regards to emissions
💯agree! Thanks for watching!
7:22 with the belt being exposed like that does it ever get nicked or cut?
Not that I’ve seen on a Honda!
Battery powered lawn mowers are limited and there's no strength in cutting thick grass with battery powered lawn mowers. Moving to battery it's absolutely garbage.
I agree! No longevity either! Thanks for watching!
JB! Really love your channel! This was an awesome unboxing and review / demo of that awesome mower! Thanks for putting this together for us! I don’t have a Honda mower or snowblower but if I have a chance, I’ll likely pick one up! I wouldn’t mind either picking up an older one say that would need some minor tune ups / restoration.. just to put my flare into lol! Anyways take care JB! Love your content! Cheers! Andrew from NB, Canada :)
ROCK ON ANDREW! If you can knab one along the way go for it! Appreciate your positive feedback as always my friend!
I’m looking to replace my Troy Bilt TB360 190cc. All I’m finding at the stores are around 150-160cc for $500. THF
Sounds about right nowadays
The old HR 214, and 215 mowers were the best Honda mowers ever made. Back when honda used GXV engines on residential equipment. As they get older, some do have a tendency to smoke a little, though.
They’re old enough to smoke though … lol😂
Appreciated your enthusiasm, but not a word about the current widespread problem people are experiencing with the new 216 and 217 Models and the Pull Start Camshaft Issue. I bought a new Honda back in April 2023 and immediately had to take it to a Warranty Center. Been waiting for Parts ever since. It's now Mid July. The Recoil Starer Handle RIPS VIOLENTLY out of your hand when trying to start. Very Bad.
This video came out right before those issues started to surface. Thanks for watching
Hello JB: About the story about the Magneto. You should of checked the clearance between the Magneto and the Flywheel. The clearance needs to be .016 +/- .008 inch. Or use a normal paper business card. What the repair dude did was flip the Magneto and applied proper gap, that's it. The torque on the two Magneto bolt is only 7 lb-ft, so probably those bolts came somewhat loose and the Gap became to wide to produce proper voltage to the spark plug, that's why the engine would not start.
Thanks for sharing Chris!
Huh?
@@chrisparman2080 sorry Chris got spammed!
@@GarageGear: I get ya, I didn't believe you wanted my opinion on anything, hahahahaha
so if I can count: my Iseki with a Briggs 575 on it cost me 620 euros. Fine and light alu chassis, new generation engine and good barings. . Suppose that machine will last for 10 years. Then take my Honda HRX which cost me 1850 euros that should last for 30 years. I don't say Honda is bad, not at all but it is costly. Also their maintenance scheme is costly. I don't see that happening. I once let me convince that Honda was the top of the bill but there are many machines that are also good and that cost a third of the price. The thing also is as a professional maybe you are going to choose for Honda or Toro. But these machines also are in your books. You will sell them after a couple of years and renew them. So you are operating at a higher cost. That is my logic.
Thanks for sharing Dec!
Awesome mower. Look forward every season to use it. I love my HRX
It’s a great machine! glad you love it and like you, I’m looking forward to another season to mow!
i just bought a used one and i got one for my neighbor one a couple of yrs ago the well made....
Thanks for sharing thomas
I bought the HRX yesterday because of this video. Can't wait to use it. The tool store (altas tools) thankfully built and primed the mower for already.
Awesome SMA! Enjoy the mow my friend!
I bought hrx216 SPelled for about 950 at Northern Tool in March. I used it once and a safety device broke & would not let mower start. NT had the mower for 2 months and said Honda will NOT send us parts for repair. According to store mgr, honda was getting out of small mower business and they were unable to get parts for repair. Store was helpful, I returned mower and refunded my $. My question: is Honda no longer making and servicing mowers?
My bad, it was a 217, not 216.
Hey bill Honda is on a stop sale right now and are done making mowers in September.
Hoping to get ahold of one when the stop sale ends, should last until the electrics get any good.
I would day it should last you a while!
I'm happy people can be so excited about their lawnmower
Doesn’t take much on this channel! Thanks for watching!
My next mower has to be a wide area walk behind. Have a 21” Honda now and is taking too long to mow 9400 square feet of lawn plus trimming. Feet can’t take it anymore as I get older either. Will never convert to battery either. With a split level house and uninsulated garage I have no place to put more batteries to make them last more than a couple of seasons.
Hey work! Have you looked into any riders? That would definitely save you time and foot traffic.
@@GarageGear had one and was too big for my yard. Took as long with a 42” rider as the 21” walk behind with all the turning around.
@@workinprogress4870 got it. Stuck between a rock and a hard place here.
I hope Honda shares their hydrostatic transmission with other companies such as Toro if they're stopping production.
Time will tell! Thanks for watching
Ta for the video mate ..yeah in the UK we don't have a problem with getting them
Good to know mowerman! Thank you for sharing!
I’ve managed to overseed a N. Atlanta,GA tall turf lawn with Jonathan Greene seed. It’s all come up really well with minimum weeds. I put down Scott’s weed & seed at start of the season as a pre-emergent. Post will be spot spray. My question is, with the hot dry Georgia summers, I tend to loose 1/3 of my lawn even with an irrigation system. I fertilize three times in the spring and three in fall. Over the summer all I do is water and still loose a lot of grass. Do I need to add a slow release fert like morganite or a liquid based fert over the summer? So, in short, how should I maintain a tall turf lawn in a hot dry climate in the summer?
Hey cp! I would try bumping up your watering program and perhaps try a liquid product with higher potassium to help increase plant strength. Theirs lots of liquid fert with it! Let me know what you decide!