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@WisconsinEric - I am impressed, you are correct. It is a model HRA215SXA with the GXV140 engine. Seemed expensive at the time, but it looks like it will outlast me.
When I was an engineering apprentice back in the 1960's the company I worked for had a quality control and testing department, it seems that quality control has now been outsourced to the customer. Short sighted to say the least company reputation goes down the drain in an instant and the cost of recall must outstrip the cost of proper quality control by millions for a company like Honda.
There is a very innovative gun company called KetTec they always put out their guns without a few thousand rounds of torture testing, thus we public are the beta testers
Yeah it seems letting customers test them has been a huge failure but at least there being up front with the problem and recalling them for repairs in company shops
I worked with Dow Chemical for 20 years starting in 1988. I know the true cost of no qc, and it is far bigger than the cost of implementing a qc program and keeping the qc going. It is the difference between a profit and a huge company breaking loss.
I work at Home Depot and our in stock Honda mowers were on buy back in July. Late last month the DeWalt and Ryobi power washers with the affected Honda engines were all removed from the shelves and returned to the vendors. Just FYI. Keep up the great work !! You are always interesting and informative.
I would think that if you purchased it more than 30 days ago, you would contact Ryobi. Did you register it for warranty? That would have been to Ryobi.
I would definitely give the store where you purchased the pressure washer a call. I'm not exactly sure how these issues are handled, but someone there should have answers for you. @@SteamboatLawnSalon
I called a local dealer and he had a model similar to one I returned, it was fixed by them since they are a Honda dealer, told him what I was looking for and went by and picked it up. Came home and mowed the lawn, with my new Honda mower. I can tell you this for a fact, the pull start is much easier than before the fix, it felt like a decompression button was needed before fix. If customers can talk to local dealers and find out if repairs are done, you can still get a Honda mower and a great product.
I am still using a 43 year old Murray mower that has a shaft coming out the side of the B&S engine that turns the shaft by a chain over the front wheels driven by cogs. This is the way it came from the factory. I use it all summer long for trimming where I cannot get with my 50 year old Sears SS16 riding mower all original I bought new. I love old equipment.
You can fix a lot of the old stuff (if you can find or make parts); a lot of new stuff is made so low-quality the new parts are bad out of the box, and forget about getting that kind of longevity out of most new stuff as well.
In 1989, I bought a John Deere 14SB walk behind, using Kawasaki engine w/spin on oil filter, 5 speed transmission. After 33 years, it started giving me trouble(!), The pull starter rope started 'frazzling' so bad I had to replace it! Then the rear drive wheels were so smooth, I replaced them. A year later, the blade clutch bearing let go. After pricing all the repacement parts + labor... I replaced it with a blade adapter... It still runs so sweetly! It has always run 20w-50, or 15w-40 synthetic oil. BUT, after 35 years the ORIGINAL belt is so worn it is slipping. I went to the dealer awhile back & got new belt, and will be installing it soon. Back when Quality was King! :)
I just came from my Toro dealer and I was impressed that I could get everything I needed to fix my 20 year old personal pace mower. Their commercial mower with a Kawasaki engine looks rock solid. Those Kawasaki engines are tough and they have proper pressure oil lubrication with a spin on oil filter. It may be double the price but it'll last for decades.
Many new designs incorporate certain features to comply with environmental regulations, which can sometimes be seen as unnecessary by those who prioritize performance over emissions concerns. That's a definite reliability killer.
I still have the old 1980s Toro with the 2 cycle engine, and a couple of old mowers with Briggs. I use the Toro in the Fall to chop up leaves. I got a European style sycthe to cut the grass with, and it is all I have used the past 3 years. That is the kind of mower I would recommend. I used to think it took a lot of muscle to use a scythe. Then I saw Peter Vido's video of his 10 year old daughter mowing a field with one while barefoot and wearing a white skirt. You can mow while listening to the birds singing, and they start every time.
Not only has the world gone crazy, it has gone profit crazy. That's why companies send all their tech to China and have it built into a pile of crap. On the other hand if it were possible for a Canadian or American factory worker to live on a modest wage, the jobs would have stayed here. Then again, when you pay some bozo $50 - $60 per hour with full benefits, to push a broom all day, don't whine and complain when his employer sends stuff to China for assembly. There's got to be some middle ground that works for everyone.
Love the videos, though I had to check the age on this video, as I've known about the Honda recall for ages. Maybe this is because I work in the service department of a outdoor equipment dealership that sells Honda, but I thought this recall was common knowledge by now. We have about 25 units or so that we can't even sell.
Perhaps I got the last dependable year of Honda walk behind mowers that were made? I got my HRX217VKAA in early 2021. I hope no problems arise from it. It works great and starts with only one pull so far (except for the first Spring start, which took 3 pulls. Yes, it had Staybil in the gas.
My dad bought a toro mower back in the late 50s it mowed for about 50 years. They don't build them like that any more. The recall for the pull cord made me remember back in the day pull starting an outboard and having it start in reverse rotation. That was back when you wrapped a rope around the open flywheel, before pull starters. BTW the last clip was priceless. I admit to that myself. Although the actual problem is the cheap handles that stretch so much a knot twice the size of the hole will pull through. I put a small washer in front of the knot.
I don't remember when I bought my HONDA mower. Way before then. LOVE IT. 20 oak trees that I mulch all their leaves in the fall and spring. You mentioned something once about HONDA mowers having a plastic part that made it easy to start. So far so good. Hopefully it will last me a few more years. The best mower I ever owned.
I agree with you about today's electric yard equipment and how well they don't perform, not to mention how they really aren't all that "green". But what gets me is when a company uses their customers to test their equipment for them. I'm fine with going electric as long as it is done smartly. Of course, that would be a 180 from how things are going now. Please continue to keep us informed to items like these and an earlier video on the perils of canned gas.
Big pharma recently used the public as its testing ground for its new depopulation agent. Trials were wildly successful from the BP viewpoint but not so with the public. So now every company is rushing to use the public as testing subjects. See what happens when an unrelated industry gets by with murder factually speaking.
I personally love my Makita battery yard equipment......works great for my purposes. That said, you are absolute right about (my opinion) unfinished or not fully tested products being released on the market. I had hoped that would have stayed with computer software which has done that crap for years.......but its clearly happening in more industries.
Been using electric professionally for a while now. Not had any problems, hence why I bought more and more. I agree about unfinished products being released though these days. There seems to be a lot more problems as times go on.
Everyone is in a hurry to be the "first"... that QC goes right out the window! I bought a clearances Echo battery weed eater for $100!!! Original cost was $250. I'm kinda screwed when I need a replacement battery... but I'll probably just buy a gas version when it does.
I’m on my third electric car…I still don’t want an electric mower. The last one I bought was TRASH and I don’t want to have to spend $1000 on an ego which will need a new $300-400 battery in five years, when a $550 gas mower will run a decade+ with just oil changes.
Way back in about 1994 I purchased a Honda push mower from a garden center and it continues to give me great service. Funny story though, I discovered last year that it was actually a commercial mower that I had inadvertently purchased, which is probably why it has lasted so long.
Thank you for the alert! Just checked: this recall applies to my Honda push mower - and no notice from Honda yet. Perhaps if I get the mower back to the dealer ASAP, I'll get a jump on the rush and backlog. Thanks again, for all your great information! 🙂
Too bad that Honda saw fit to put a crappy camshaft in an otherwise great engine that had a stellar reputation. Hope it was worth the pennies they thought they were saving. Dumb azzes
Anyone who buys a battery powered chainsaw for 800 deserves to get cut in the face. These companies are pissing themselves trying to jump on the battery/electric trend and its biting them in the azz. Good! Thats what they deserve trying to jam this stuff down our throats. This urgent premature fad is going to bankrupt some companies. Let the consumer decide instead of forcing it like they are.
Buy Harbor Freight equipment with the warranty. They are as good as any at this point and their warranty is top notch. Pains me to say that but the name brand stuff is no longer better- or even as good. PS- I moonlight at a small engine repair shop and we typically don't work on HF stuff so we'd lose money if everyone went to their products but it is what it is. Cheers guys!
Thanks for what you do. Even though I worked on lawnmowers back in the 70’s, I forgot what little I knew. You trigger my mind to remember somethings. Your videos help me a lot.
Well, I’m glad Honda is addressing the problem. Times are changing. Thanks for the heads up. I have learned a ton watching your vids. Keep up the good work.
------------------------------ after 400.000 units .... the quality control crew finally realize defective internals .....something more than flywheel key broken....thanks4sharing
You are awesome! I own a Honda Commercial mower worth every dollar. My neighbors bought ECO Green mowers. Everything you about them and more. I will never buy battery anything. They don’t hold up. At any rate keep up the good work.
You asked for comments. Just by way of a thanks. While I watch some other mech channels, yours when you dive into the actual work of fixing something, is generally clearer and more helpful than others. In particular last year had to replace the fuel tubes in my (ancient) chainsaw. Tried many times never getting it right (woulld either not start at all, run very hot or miss a few pops then die, or run for a few seconds (or while holding the throttle open) and then die. Other vids went over the mechanics some but never in the full detail or close enough to see what they were were actually doing at various critical points to see what I needed to know (first I had the hoses in backwards, then I had the wrong size for each connection). Your do a great job of covering the fiddly parts that are what we actually need to know., Wish I lived down there so I could give you what little small engine work I have. As it is, you helped make it possible for me to figure out and do some of it myself.(actually small engine j is usually "when it stops working, trash it ... but you give the know-how to actually do repairs as well as workable tips on maintenance.)
Love your channel| You remind me of so much of what |I knew as a kid (now 70 years young) I admire your courage at speaking out the truth. God bless you in all that you do|
I'm so glad I have my old hrb216 from 1995 never had any issues with it other than put a new pull starter plugs maintenance and oil changes and Blades it's still to this day starts on the first pull I love it
Hi Bre. I've really learned a lot from your channel! I bought a Honda 217 about 3 days before they pulled them from the shelves and was really glad I did because I didn't know Honda was going to stop making them at that point, and I'd been looking forward to getting one for years (my old John Deere just wouldn't die... :-) I'd like to ask that you keep an eye on the Honda issue as more details come out. I've been underwhelmed with the quality of repair shops (lawnmowers, cars, etc. - not yours! I wish you were closer and I'd have you do this in a heartbeat...) these days so I'd really like your take on if this repair really is required. What got me looking into the issue was the 3rd time I used my new Honda, the pull cord wouldn't budge. I did some Internet research and found a post that said all I needed to do was to manually turn the blade about a quarter turn and try again - and it worked fine. So if/when you have the details on the actual issue I'd really appreciate you doing a quick video on your opinion of the best way to proceed. And it looks like there are about 400,000 of us out here who would benefit from your expertise! Thanks!
I have been running redmax, exmark and hustler equipment for years, not one complaint, also redmax ope such a simple design with three moving parts, no valves to adjust and no headaches for the average homeowner and professional.
I've got an older Husqvarna push mower that has a Kohler engine. It's been working great for years; but when it comes time to replace; not sure what will be available. I will definitely look at used mowers though.
This is what I have been doing for years It works if you have the time to play with the stuff when it breaks . It is like a racing or production line thing for me I go to mow the lawn or cut fire wood get half way somthing breaks from being over ten years old then I pull it in the shop and get it back out a fast as I can . Using parts from somthing else . Keeps me out of mischief.
I own an HRX217, purchased in late 2022. I've never had it snap back on me, but there have been a few times where I go to pull the rope and it doesnt budge. It surprised me the first few times, for sure. It's almost like there is way too much compression on the power stroke. I found that if I put constant medium pull tension on the rope for a few seconds, it will ease past that lock-up. Then I can pull start it normally.
@@Look_What_You_Did The reason grown men cannot pull them over compression is that the starter is geared to rotate them at the 800 - 1000 rpm needed for the ignition to start working, to prevent it from kicking back. Even Stihl's tiny 36cc fourstroke is hard to pull over compression without a working compression release because of the gearing of the starter.
@@Look_What_You_Did First: The gearing is decided by the diameter of the pulley. Second: I am generating about 1500 rpm on a pull start on a chainsaw - measured! Third: It certainly is a requirement to prevent the engine to kick back, not by the magneto but by the electronic in it. (In the old system with points and capacitor, before about 1980, they started sparking around 300 rpm, and would kick back if you didn't pull hard enough). Fourth: When you are wrong on the first three, why shouldn't you be wrong on the fourth too. ;-) Fifth: I have about 40 years of experience repairing those small engines, so I should know something about them. The 800 rpm used to be the norm for chainsaws, but around 2002 Husqvarna increased it to around 1000 rpm to completely prevent kick back, which meant that many older costumers couldn't start their new saws. Husqvarna then had to put on decompression systems, and the same thing happened to lawn mowers.
@Look_What_You_Did Nope! You're wrong, Cupcake. The second time it happened, I removed the sparkplug. No change. It still wouldn't budge. Not sure why it hangs up, but pulling the plug would have eliminated any compression in the cylinder. It hasn't happened in a while, but if it does it again, I'll start by looking at the pull rope rewind for binding. I mean... if my wittle body can handle removing a few screws on the rewind housing. 🙄
Well I don’t have to worry about my Honda mowers they are older than that and still run like new. I have a old Sears mower with a Honda engine on it that someone was throwing away I figured if I couldn’t get it running it would be good for parts. With the help of starting fluid I got it started but it was running really rough and when I smelled the exhaust I stopped it poured the diesel fuel out of it gassed it up and it’s been running since. I did have to put a new blade on it because it looked like they mowing gravel with it. I love watching your channel you have helped me out with my yard equipment a lot. Thanks for everything you do for us. Have a great weekend. Someone told me that Briggs & Stratton engines are made in China.
I guess I am keeping my Poulan mower for a while longer ... we have a Hurricane approaching in the next few hours and all my "gas" power equipment is checked out and ready to go thanks to your videos.
My 51 Chevrolet half ton still starts on the first push of the starter button. Six volt battery and all original engine and drive train etc. 73 years old and still on the job. Really proud when she pulls new equipment home. One time I needed brake shoes for the back axle. Parts guy went in the back room and blew some dust off an old box. Brought on part number nine. They are still in service many years later.😊
I was hoping that this would extend to my two Honda lawn mowers, one from the 1980’s to 1990’s. All I’ve done is Chang oil, add gas and sharpen blades. No cables - nothing. Alas, looks like these two mowers will last until they are banned. Thanks for the video!
I had a GX-390 with a defective compression release. That thing damn near took my arm off. The original camshaft was defective from the get go. I did small engine repair before retiring, and really enjoy your videos. Brings back memories.
@@kevinheath4629 lol...I was just being arrogant. I know from my younger years that jerking on a mower starting rope, (and being light in the ass), that the "phantom-compression-ghost" will damn near take your arm off with a bonus dislocated shoulder to grab your attention! Thanks for comment and fixin' peoples' combustible engine problems before you retired.
Thank you for all your videos, it really helps us to be more confident working on our own equipment having seen you do it first. I was wondering if you have any recommendations on zero turn mowers.
I always appreciate your guts and tinasity to shine a light on what the manufactures are pumping out to the consumer. Keep up the good Investigative work.
Thanks as always. There are folks like myself that need a reliable self propelled push mower. You stated (paraphrasing here) that you don't even know what you'd recommend at this point. However, I trust you and feel that if you don't have recommendations, where do I turn to figure it out? I live in East Central Florida. I have 1/5 acre of grass (split front/back). To keep up, I mow about every 5 days. Right now I have a 21" Greenworks non self propelled mower. I'm about to turn 70, and I need something easier to push. And yes many times the grass isn't completely dry. It's just not possible to mow otherwise. In the am, it's wet from dew. Around 2 pm, at its driest, you have about 1 hour to mow before the afternoon thunderstorms (almost daily). And of course at that time the heat index is often near 100 degrees. I'd appreciate your feedback.
I'm not Chicanic, but I feel your pain. I work on mowers in my spare time and I understand why she can't recommend a decent push mower right now. They simply aren't all that good, the engines nor the decks. Over a few decades, EPA regs choked out small i/c engines until they wouldn't run reliably on the water-attracting, varnish-creating E10 fuel they forced consumers to buy. Greedy equipment manufacturers adapted, but piled on the problem with costly, ludicrous designs that I swear have planned obsolescence in mind. The result is that battery (really, electric) mowers seem appealing by comparison. Battery, forget it--spendy, not nearly enough runtime or blade rpms to mulch properly and not "green" in any way. So what to do? If I were a consumer and had to buy a new mower today and couldn't wait for Honda to fix the recall issue on the GCV 170 I would be forlorn, to say the least. Then, I'd clothespin my nose, load my wallet and go buy a self-propelled, front wheel drive mower with the 163cc Briggs and Stratton engine from one of the big box stores. Buy whichever one feels lightest to you and is easiest for you to use the controls. Look at several brands before purchasing. I'd probably stay away from Toro personal pace, though. Too complicated IMO. I'd likely lean towards a Troy-Bilt. Keep it indoors, clean the deck periodically of spinach, run fresh gas with Sta-bil and run it dry before storing it for the season. As an admirer of older engines that were engineered to work correctly and actually did for years, it absolutely pains me to recommend a new overhead valve Briggs, but there you go. IMHO the carburetors on most new Briggs are the weak link and can be non-serviceable down the road, but I've had good luck with most of the 163cc Briggs I've serviced. I don't know, but it seems the carburetors might be made with a bit more care on these generally more-expensive mowers and some of the internals can be slightly better, too. They are not hot-rods, but they have enough torque for normal lawns and mulching and collecting leaves. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but sadly, the costly option is the cream of the crap. In second place would be a s/p mower with a Kohler OHV if you could find one (that's why it's second for me), the bigger cc the better--it's a good Honda clone, whereas most of the Chinese knockoffs in 2023 are not. Third, you could try a 140cc Briggs s/p mower, but with the small 140cc having to turn both the blade and the self-propel and in your wet climate it probably wouldn't have enough guts for a southern St. Augustine grass-style lawn unless you adjusted the deck as high as it would go or mowed frequently. In fourth place, the basic 20" push mower is the cheapest and lightest mower you will find and is not s/p, but is beloved by retirees for its feather-lightness. These days, however it comes mainly with a 125cc Briggs that is severely underpowered. Every now and then, though you can find them new fitted out with a 140cc Briggs and in that scenario the small 140cc engine (without the burden of having to drive the self-propel) might cut through your tough lawn on the cheap if you had the wheels on the highest setting. Hope this helps. Good luck.
Thanks so much for the info. I really appreciate it. I'm wondering if I bought a used Honda if I could still get the recall taken care of. Do you have any info about that? Would you need to be the original owner, with receipt, and return it to place of purchase where they send it in for repair? @@dmonetized
Thanks for your update on this issue! I got an HRX217 mower from a big box store back in March and when I started it the second time it almost took my arm off from the stuck compression release. Learning about how and why it could do that I've found a few annoying but generally arm-sparing tricks to get it started. So far I've managed to use it for the summer mowing season without my arm going out of joint. But I can't wait to get it into a dealer for them to fix it - hey, free storage over winter because I'm guessing it will take that long to get parts and the service done! ;-)
@@erickphd I had an old 198x John Deere 14SB self propelled, side chute, rear bagger in JD Green with a 4.5HP Kawasaki engine and once in a while the original pull starter or the engine would yank the black rubber and plastic handle right out of my strong little hand. The entire mower (aluminum deck) would be partially pulled off the ground. When I pulled that rope - I meant it. Had the dumb carb that clogged through the vent holes and would surge 2 weeks after dropping the bowl, every time. Rear wheels had negative camber. I should have tried buying the newer replacement wheels to see if they would work. My dad put it at the curb or to the township recycling center and as soon as someone saw it they asked if they could take it. That is how I felt. It was a nice unit.
Absolutely. I have been saying the same things to my customers about battery powered yard equipment for some time also. Seems like they are going to regulate 2 cycle gas and small 4 cycle gas yard equipment right out of existence. That likely is the plan.
I enjoy your channel. However, two years ago I sold nearly all my gas powered homeowner machines and replaced them with 40V Ryobi machines. I received a good price for my gas machines, some of which were 15 years old. For only $400 out of pocket (difference) I got new lawn mower, chain saw, string trimmer, edger, blower. I since have added pole saw and hedge trimmer, which use the same power unit and batteries. Best move I ever made. The mower is the best I have owned. I love the quiet machines and easy vertical storage, no more chasing non-ethanol gas, no stale gas issues, no tune ups or carburetor rebuilds or air cleaners or spark plugs. Electric is perfect for my suburban lot.
If people knew how to correctly start an engine with a recoil starter they would not risk injury. There’s many other brands that can “kick back”. I’m sure Honda’s attorneys had some input in that recall. Lastly, I’ll take any Honda engine over a B&S Intek any day. I enjoy all your videos Bri. ❤️
My HRX217 (Canada) was built a year or so before the recall range but I remember it kicked back on me once or twice pretty viciously... didn't break anything but REALLY hurt (pulls fingers open then the handle pulls your fingernails as well). Not sure if the problem reported for the recall is that it happens worse, or happens more frequently, or whether that's just the range where they decided to do the recall. I read somewhere that if you do a gentle pull of the rope before a regular pull it starts "first pull" after that... and that has been my experience as well. No kick back, and the "first pull" start adds to joy of ownership so what the heck... It's unfortunate that Honda is getting stuck with this recall right before ending production so they don't get to spread the cost around... maybe once they get the camshaft supplier under control they'll keep making mowers for another year or two. That would be nice... I might even get a second Honda gas mower rather than giving in to the seemingly inevitable battery mower. On the other hand if someone made a battery mower that fit tall users (6-5") I might be a bit more open to the change since most of my mower usage is on significant side-hills.
@@johnbridgman4310 I can appreciate what you are saying, and I agree it’s a shame Honda has to deal with the large recall. The later small Tecumseh flathead horizontal engines can be prone to that. I have one myself that must be started carefully. If you don’t start pulling right at compression, you risk getting the starter handle ripped from your fingers.
FYI I bought my Toro 0 turn 50 " mower 10 years ago from Home Depot. It has a 23 hp Kawaski motor on it. I have only had to put one deck belt and one idler pulley plus 4or 5 sets of blades on it. I would buy another one like it but this one is still doing great.
Thanks for keeping us all updated once again. I find it interesting that so many equipment manufactures are discontinuing products and lines as well as changing too quickly to battery. Last I knew the new housing market was still strong ,so new lawns to mow unless everyone is using a landscaper. I have a John Deere 2025R and a 3 year old Honda push mower that do all the yard work with so I think these should last a good long time
We’re bad boys for using gas powered equipment, but the rich can spew out hundreds of tons of CO2 in a “tourist rocket” just to feel weightlessness for a couple of minutes!!!
My first mower, still have it, is a Toro I purchased in 2003. The Tecumseh engine still starts first pull. She burn some oil here in there but is still a strong running mower. I’ve replace some cables and rebuilt the front end. in 2020 my wife purchased a Honda HRV while I was deployed because the Toro was giving her problems. When I came back, I replaced the carburetor and it runs great still. So I have two mowers that I alternate between.
this engine recall also affects Australia, so this may be a worldwide recall. the issue date for this was the 16 august. just have to wonder why it took them longer to do the recall in America compared to Australia.
How about the engines out there now, that have their ignition magnet, glued on the flywheel and are coming off and in some cases, destroying the engine! This happened on a Coleman mini bike, breaking the ignition coil and it's mounting free from the engine! It was a good thing that the starter cover was on the engine when this happened!
I have Murray mower from Ernst Hardware in 1982. It started with one pull until last year when the primer bulb collapse. Love your channel. It is a Briggs and Stranton engine.
Bout 3 years ago bought a Toro powered by Honda in big box store. First pull nothing, kept at it for a sweaty 15 min. Double checked oil et al. Nothing DOA. Returned it that day, got Toro powered by Kohler. Love it, runs amazing, American made. Dodged a bullet.
Like I tell Teryl fixes all, I'll never buy battery powered lawn equipment. My old but running like new equipment is still going to last probably until I can no longer use my hands anymore to fix them. Great video!!
The trend in the last decade or so to engineer consumer power equipment to a price point model, at the sake of quality and performance has hit the breaking point, literally and figuratively. I think Honda just realized that there is not enough market out there to sell $1000 push mowers to the consumer through the box stores. And I think that’s what happened with those GCV engines. They just got under built to get them sold to consumers at the box stores before Honda just decided to get out of that space all together. I think Honda’s next step will be to discontinue the GCV (that goes on other manufacturers stuff) and just do the GX series for the commercial and high end residential market. We are down to Honda GX and Kawasaki for quality engines. Everything else is junk. And now with manufacturers “branding” China made Honda clones as “their” engines, the consumer power equipment buyers are in for a world of hurt.
I disagree. On the consumer market you have garbage but Kohlr and Vanguard make amazing engines. I just had a 42" Walker with a 18 HP Kolhr die after 4200 hours of service over a 14 year span. I got two 30" Toro Turfmaster HDX with the Kohlr Commander motors. Amazing cut and a lot of power.
@@williamframpton3863 William, you are right. 14 years ago engines were better. I’m talking about the stuff they are manufacturing now. The worst engine I have worked on was a Kohler. The single cylinder “Courage.” I don’t have experience with the Briggs Vanguard, but think that’s more of a commercial duty and not found on the consumer stuff sold through the box stores. I could be wrong.
@@frankvucolo6249I’m glad I bought a commercial Honda last summer. I had no idea about the stop sale coming at that time. I didn’t like the home gamer lawnmowers from Honda.
I just bought a pressure washer with a Honda engine, that is being delivered this morning. When I woke this morning to see this recall. Imagine my glee. I am pretty certain it is not part of the recall based on early model comparison. Can't wait to find out, he said with enormous sarcasm. Part II, mine, is not part of this, Thank God.
Important and amazing facts. Thanks for informing us. I don't know anyone who ever wanted a battery powered ANYTHING over a gas powered model, yet these things keep getting shoved down our throats by God knows who. It seems as if the people's will and the old motto of " the customer is always right" no longer apply. Perhaps we need to let this junk sit on the store shelves and collect dust. Maybe then, the manufacturers will get the message.
@@Chickanic just called my dealer and they said wait until the off-season. Parts are not widely available yet. At first there was some miscommunication, because they've been dealing with some genuine camshaft failures, and he thought I was trying to get a replacement camshaft in a running mower. No sir, it's kicking back since day one. I thought I was just being a wimp. I've been starting mine by pulling through one compression stroke, and then ripping on it. Not sure if I'm defeating the decompression, or making it actually work. For some reason I just accepted this as normal. Instead of remembering I've never done this for any other small engine I've owned.
Thanks for the information. Yep, we bought one of the affected HRX217HYA mowers last March😞 Good thing we still have our 1997 John Deere JX75 as a backup 🙂
Great mower the old John Deere we have the pro version of the same age which still starts and runs with no issues. It even beats the reliability of some of the other brands we see of the same age here in the UK.
The recall of Honda engines is definitely going to put the hurt to the company. What bothers me is other companies ceasing production, which leads to consolidation of product to 1 or 2 manufacturers. No more competition in quality, or pricing so the consumer loses out. I repair, restore old tractors as a sideline, and realize how dangerous they can be to the operator as opposed to more modern farm equipment, but there seems to be no lack of a market for what I do. I think that the end users must bear some responsibility for the safe operation of their power equipment, or stop using tools altogether.
Also, I don't know where your shop is located, but I sure wish it was near me. Not only because you are a great mechanic, but it really seems like you are honest and trustworthy. Really nice to see in this world.
Whew! I recently bought a Simpson pressure washer with a Honda engine. Fortunately it has a GC-190. That engine doesn't seem to be part of the recall. Thanks for the heads-up!
I have an old Toro walk behind mower with a honda engine, best mower I've ever had. And i knew mine didn't fall in this category. For me where I live EV equipment just wouldn't work, and I wouldn't have an EV vehicle. Love your channel.
Thanks for Watching! Find a link to all of my "Must Have", Favorite Tools HERE!! www.amazon.com/shop/chickanic?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsfshop_aipsfchickanic_9ERPFPBNGQ924P8NS63B
Damn, my Honda mower that I bought in 1992 still starts on the first pull. Glad I keep my antiques running.
1992 likely has a commercial-grade GXV140 engine. Is it the HR-215 with cast aluminum deck?
Same here except mine aren’t quite that old they are early 2000 with the last one 2011. I still have them all and they start on the first pull.
@WisconsinEric - I am impressed, you are correct. It is a model HRA215SXA with the GXV140 engine. Seemed expensive at the time, but it looks like it will outlast me.
even the one I got in 2018 with a GCV190 seems to be built well.. I plan on it lasting a long time
So is my 1995 hrb 216!
When I was an engineering apprentice back in the 1960's the company I worked for had a quality control and testing department, it seems that quality control has now been outsourced to the customer. Short sighted to say the least company reputation goes down the drain in an instant and the cost of recall must outstrip the cost of proper quality control by millions for a company like Honda.
Pretty much in all fields these days. It’s usually ‘management’ that get in the way
The bean counters also contribute their fair share.
There is a very innovative gun company called KetTec they always put out their guns without a few thousand rounds of torture testing, thus we public are the beta testers
Yeah it seems letting customers test them has been a huge failure but at least there being up front with the problem and recalling them for repairs in company shops
I worked with Dow Chemical for 20 years starting in 1988. I know the true cost of no qc, and it is far bigger than the cost of implementing a qc program and keeping the qc going. It is the difference between a profit and a huge company breaking loss.
I work at Home Depot and our in stock Honda mowers were on buy back in July. Late last month the DeWalt and Ryobi power washers with the affected Honda engines were all removed from the shelves and returned to the vendors. Just FYI. Keep up the great work !! You are always interesting and informative.
I have a Ryobi pressure washer that I just bought with that Honda engine from Home Depot. Am I supposed to reach out to Home Depot to recall the unit?
I would think that if you purchased it more than 30 days ago, you would contact Ryobi. Did you register it for warranty? That would have been to Ryobi.
I would definitely give the store where you purchased the pressure washer a call. I'm not exactly sure how these issues are handled, but someone there should have answers for you. @@SteamboatLawnSalon
That's funny you say that I went there in early August and try to get another one and they didn't have any
I called a local dealer and he had a model similar to one I returned, it was fixed by them since they are a Honda dealer, told him what I was looking for and went by and picked it up. Came home and mowed the lawn, with my new Honda mower. I can tell you this for a fact, the pull start is much easier than before the fix, it felt like a decompression button was needed before fix. If customers can talk to local dealers and find out if repairs are done, you can still get a Honda mower and a great product.
Love your channel, No BS, and straight to the point!
I am still using a 43 year old Murray mower that has a shaft coming out the side of the B&S engine that turns the shaft by a chain over the front wheels driven by cogs. This is the way it came from the factory. I use it all summer long for trimming where I cannot get with my 50 year old Sears SS16 riding mower all original I bought new. I love old equipment.
You can fix a lot of the old stuff (if you can find or make parts); a lot of new stuff is made so low-quality the new parts are bad out of the box, and forget about getting that kind of longevity out of most new stuff as well.
Awesome! Stuff used to be good. Then wokism and Chinkism broke everything.
In 1989, I bought a John Deere 14SB walk behind, using Kawasaki engine w/spin on oil filter, 5 speed transmission. After 33 years, it started giving me trouble(!), The pull starter rope started 'frazzling' so bad I had to replace it! Then the rear drive wheels were so smooth, I replaced them. A year later, the blade clutch bearing let go. After pricing all the repacement parts + labor... I replaced it with a blade adapter... It still runs so sweetly! It has always run 20w-50, or 15w-40 synthetic oil. BUT, after 35 years the ORIGINAL belt is so worn it is slipping. I went to the dealer awhile back & got new belt, and will be installing it soon. Back when Quality was King! :)
I just came from my Toro dealer and I was impressed that I could get everything I needed to fix my 20 year old personal pace mower. Their commercial mower with a Kawasaki engine looks rock solid. Those Kawasaki engines are tough and they have proper pressure oil lubrication with a spin on oil filter. It may be double the price but it'll last for decades.
Many new designs incorporate certain features to comply with environmental regulations, which can sometimes be seen as unnecessary by those who prioritize performance over emissions concerns. That's a definite reliability killer.
My John Deere JX75 had a Kawasaki motor and it lasted well over 20 years. I only got rid of it because I cracked the deck.
Got mine in 2017…my Honda walk behind mower….you won’t get mine back….ever!🥰 A keeper forever….love mine…she is a work horse….
I still have the old 1980s Toro with the 2 cycle engine, and a couple of old mowers with Briggs. I use the Toro in the Fall to chop up leaves. I got a European style sycthe to cut the grass with, and it is all I have used the past 3 years. That is the kind of mower I would recommend. I used to think it took a lot of muscle to use a scythe. Then I saw Peter Vido's video of his 10 year old daughter mowing a field with one while barefoot and wearing a white skirt. You can mow while listening to the birds singing, and they start every time.
Thanks!
Thanks for the update! Always enjoy your posts. My last Honda mower lasted over 30 years! I agree this world is going crazy! 😮😢
Not only has the world gone crazy, it has gone profit crazy. That's why companies send all their tech to China and have it built into a pile of crap. On the other hand if it were possible for a Canadian or American factory worker to live on a modest wage, the jobs would have stayed here. Then again, when you pay some bozo $50 - $60 per hour with full benefits, to push a broom all day, don't whine and complain when his employer sends stuff to China for assembly. There's got to be some middle ground that works for everyone.
Love the videos, though I had to check the age on this video, as I've known about the Honda recall for ages. Maybe this is because I work in the service department of a outdoor equipment dealership that sells Honda, but I thought this recall was common knowledge by now. We have about 25 units or so that we can't even sell.
Perhaps I got the last dependable year of Honda walk behind mowers that were made? I got my HRX217VKAA in early 2021. I hope no problems arise from it. It works great and starts with only one pull so far (except for the first Spring start, which took 3 pulls. Yes, it had Staybil in the gas.
My dad bought a toro mower back in the late 50s it mowed for about 50 years. They don't build them like that any more. The recall for the pull cord made me remember back in the day pull starting an outboard and having it start in reverse rotation. That was back when you wrapped a rope around the open flywheel, before pull starters. BTW the last clip was priceless. I admit to that myself. Although the actual problem is the cheap handles that stretch so much a knot twice the size of the hole will pull through. I put a small washer in front of the knot.
I don't remember when I bought my HONDA mower. Way before then. LOVE IT. 20 oak trees that I mulch all their leaves in the fall and spring. You mentioned something once about HONDA mowers having a plastic part that made it easy to start. So far so good. Hopefully it will last me a few more years. The best mower I ever owned.
I agree with you about today's electric yard equipment and how well they don't perform, not to mention how they really aren't all that "green". But what gets me is when a company uses their customers to test their equipment for them. I'm fine with going electric as long as it is done smartly. Of course, that would be a 180 from how things are going now. Please continue to keep us informed to items like these and an earlier video on the perils of canned gas.
Big pharma recently used the public as its testing ground for its new depopulation agent. Trials were wildly successful from the BP viewpoint but not so with the public. So now every company is rushing to use the public as testing subjects. See what happens when an unrelated industry gets by with murder factually speaking.
I personally love my Makita battery yard equipment......works great for my purposes. That said, you are absolute right about (my opinion) unfinished or not fully tested products being released on the market. I had hoped that would have stayed with computer software which has done that crap for years.......but its clearly happening in more industries.
Been using electric professionally for a while now. Not had any problems, hence why I bought more and more.
I agree about unfinished products being released though these days. There seems to be a lot more problems as times go on.
Everyone is in a hurry to be the "first"... that QC goes right out the window! I bought a clearances Echo battery weed eater for $100!!! Original cost was $250. I'm kinda screwed when I need a replacement battery... but I'll probably just buy a gas version when it does.
I’m on my third electric car…I still don’t want an electric mower. The last one I bought was TRASH and I don’t want to have to spend $1000 on an ego which will need a new $300-400 battery in five years, when a $550 gas mower will run a decade+ with just oil changes.
Love this channel. A beautiful lady who looks like a model who knows her stuff. Can't get any better. I learn so much from your videos.
Way back in about 1994 I purchased a Honda push mower from a garden center and it continues to give me great service. Funny story though, I discovered last year that it was actually a commercial mower that I had inadvertently purchased, which is probably why it has lasted so long.
YES, BECAUSE THE COMMERCIAL ONES HAVE GOLD CYLINDERS
Thank you for the alert!
Just checked: this recall applies to my Honda push mower - and no notice from Honda yet.
Perhaps if I get the mower back to the dealer ASAP, I'll get a jump on the rush and backlog.
Thanks again, for all your great information! 🙂
I always enjoy your podcast. Have learned a lot from them. Thank you for showing how to start Stihl backpack blowers. Lot less pulling on the chord.
Too bad that Honda saw fit to put a crappy camshaft in an otherwise great engine that had a stellar reputation. Hope it was worth the pennies they thought they were saving. Dumb azzes
Anyone who buys a battery powered chainsaw for 800 deserves to get cut in the face. These companies are pissing themselves trying to jump on the battery/electric trend and its biting them in the azz. Good! Thats what they deserve trying to jam this stuff down our throats. This urgent premature fad is going to bankrupt some companies. Let the consumer decide instead of forcing it like they are.
Buy Harbor Freight equipment with the warranty. They are as good as any at this point and their warranty is top notch. Pains me to say that but the name brand stuff is no longer better- or even as good. PS- I moonlight at a small engine repair shop and we typically don't work on HF stuff so we'd lose money if everyone went to their products but it is what it is. Cheers guys!
Thanks for the update Bre really appreciate your tips and trick on keeping lawn equipment up and running.
Thanks for what you do. Even though I worked on lawnmowers back in the 70’s, I forgot what little I knew. You trigger my mind to remember somethings. Your videos help me a lot.
Im still using my 1993 Honda Harmony 215.love that Machine.
Well, I’m glad Honda is addressing the problem. Times are changing. Thanks for the heads up. I have learned a ton watching your vids. Keep up the good work.
------------------------------ after 400.000 units .... the quality control crew finally realize defective internals .....something more than flywheel key broken....thanks4sharing
You are awesome!
I own a Honda Commercial mower worth every dollar. My neighbors bought ECO Green mowers. Everything you about them and more. I will never buy battery anything. They don’t hold up.
At any rate keep up the good work.
You asked for comments. Just by way of a thanks. While I watch some other mech channels, yours when you dive into the actual work of fixing something, is generally clearer and more helpful than others. In particular last year had to replace the fuel tubes in my (ancient) chainsaw. Tried many times never getting it right (woulld either not start at all, run very hot or miss a few pops then die, or run for a few seconds (or while holding the throttle open) and then die. Other vids went over the mechanics some but never in the full detail or close enough to see what they were were actually doing at various critical points to see what I needed to know (first I had the hoses in backwards, then I had the wrong size for each connection). Your do a great job of covering the fiddly parts that are what we actually need to know., Wish I lived down there so I could give you what little small engine work I have. As it is, you helped make it possible for me to figure out and do some of it myself.(actually small engine j is usually "when it stops working, trash it ... but you give the know-how to actually do repairs as well as workable tips on maintenance.)
The recalled Mowers have the following serial numbers: HRX217 (K6) MAMA-1484182 ~ 1734418. The HRN 216 are: HRN216 MANA-2084904 ~ 2548569
Love your channel| You remind me of so much of what |I knew as a kid (now 70 years young) I admire your courage at speaking out the truth. God bless you in all that you do|
As always . Thank you for all you do !!!! ❤
I'm so glad I have my old hrb216 from 1995 never had any issues with it other than put a new pull starter plugs maintenance and oil changes and Blades it's still to this day starts on the first pull I love it
Hi Bre. I've really learned a lot from your channel! I bought a Honda 217 about 3 days before they pulled them from the shelves and was really glad I did because I didn't know Honda was going to stop making them at that point, and I'd been looking forward to getting one for years (my old John Deere just wouldn't die... :-) I'd like to ask that you keep an eye on the Honda issue as more details come out. I've been underwhelmed with the quality of repair shops (lawnmowers, cars, etc. - not yours! I wish you were closer and I'd have you do this in a heartbeat...) these days so I'd really like your take on if this repair really is required. What got me looking into the issue was the 3rd time I used my new Honda, the pull cord wouldn't budge. I did some Internet research and found a post that said all I needed to do was to manually turn the blade about a quarter turn and try again - and it worked fine. So if/when you have the details on the actual issue I'd really appreciate you doing a quick video on your opinion of the best way to proceed. And it looks like there are about 400,000 of us out here who would benefit from your expertise! Thanks!
Still using the 2 cycle Lawnboy that used to cut my grandmother's lawn 45 years ago, replaced the coil once and a set of wheels.
Those Suzuki GTS 120 powered Toros are the best gas powered walk behind mowers ever made. They are almost as easy to use as a cordless electric mower.
Chickcangetit! Best small engine equipment person on the internet! Keep up the good work!
I have been running redmax, exmark and hustler equipment for years, not one complaint, also redmax ope such a simple design with three moving parts, no valves to adjust and no headaches for the average homeowner and professional.
I've got an older Husqvarna push mower that has a Kohler engine. It's been working great for years; but when it comes time to replace; not sure what will be available. I will definitely look at used mowers though.
buy you some goats
Buy your next mower now before it's too late. Truck too.
This is what I have been doing for years It works if you have the time to play with the stuff when it breaks . It is like a racing or production line thing for me I go to mow the lawn or cut fire wood get half way somthing breaks from being over ten years old then I pull it in the shop and get it back out a fast as I can . Using parts from somthing else . Keeps me out of mischief.
I own an HRX217, purchased in late 2022. I've never had it snap back on me, but there have been a few times where I go to pull the rope and it doesnt budge. It surprised me the first few times, for sure. It's almost like there is way too much compression on the power stroke. I found that if I put constant medium pull tension on the rope for a few seconds, it will ease past that lock-up. Then I can pull start it normally.
That is most likely a defective compression release - I'd call my dealer if it was mine, and ask what to do.
@@Look_What_You_Did The reason grown men cannot pull them over compression is that the starter is geared to rotate them at the 800 - 1000 rpm needed for the ignition to start working, to prevent it from kicking back. Even Stihl's tiny 36cc fourstroke is hard to pull over compression without a working compression release because of the gearing of the starter.
@@Look_What_You_Did
First: The gearing is decided by the diameter of the pulley.
Second: I am generating about 1500 rpm on a pull start on a chainsaw - measured!
Third: It certainly is a requirement to prevent the engine to kick back, not by the magneto but by the electronic in it. (In the old system with points and capacitor, before about 1980, they started sparking around 300 rpm, and would kick back if you didn't pull hard enough).
Fourth: When you are wrong on the first three, why shouldn't you be wrong on the fourth too. ;-)
Fifth: I have about 40 years of experience repairing those small engines, so I should know something about them.
The 800 rpm used to be the norm for chainsaws, but around 2002 Husqvarna increased it to around 1000 rpm to completely prevent kick back, which meant that many older costumers couldn't start their new saws. Husqvarna then had to put on decompression systems, and the same thing happened to lawn mowers.
@Look_What_You_Did
Nope! You're wrong, Cupcake. The second time it happened, I removed the sparkplug. No change. It still wouldn't budge. Not sure why it hangs up, but pulling the plug would have eliminated any compression in the cylinder. It hasn't happened in a while, but if it does it again, I'll start by looking at the pull rope rewind for binding. I mean... if my wittle body can handle removing a few screws on the rewind housing. 🙄
Well I don’t have to worry about my Honda mowers they are older than that and still run like new. I have a old Sears mower with a Honda engine on it that someone was throwing away I figured if I couldn’t get it running it would be good for parts. With the help of starting fluid I got it started but it was running really rough and when I smelled the exhaust I stopped it poured the diesel fuel out of it gassed it up and it’s been running since. I did have to put a new blade on it because it looked like they mowing gravel with it. I love watching your channel you have helped me out with my yard equipment a lot. Thanks for everything you do for us. Have a great weekend. Someone told me that Briggs & Stratton engines are made in China.
I guess I am keeping my Poulan mower for a while longer ... we have a Hurricane approaching in the next few hours and all my "gas" power equipment is checked out and ready to go thanks to your videos.
My 51 Chevrolet half ton still starts on the first push of the starter button.
Six volt battery and all original engine and drive train etc.
73 years old and still on the job.
Really proud when she pulls new equipment home.
One time I needed brake shoes for the back axle.
Parts guy went in the back room and blew some dust off an old box.
Brought on part number nine.
They are still in service many years later.😊
I was hoping that this would extend to my two Honda lawn mowers, one from the 1980’s to 1990’s. All I’ve done is Chang oil, add gas and sharpen blades. No cables - nothing. Alas, looks like these two mowers will last until they are banned.
Thanks for the video!
so glad i got my 22 inch honda powered husqvarna awd years ago. best residential mower i've owned and it still starts on 1st pull every time.
I had a GX-390 with a defective compression release. That thing damn near took my arm off. The original camshaft was defective from the get go. I did small engine repair before retiring, and really enjoy your videos. Brings back memories.
Whole arm?
Perhaps a slight exaggeration. It did get my attention though. 😉
@@kevinheath4629 lol...I was just being arrogant. I know from my younger years that jerking on a mower starting rope, (and being light in the ass), that the "phantom-compression-ghost" will damn near take your arm off with a bonus dislocated shoulder to grab your attention! Thanks for comment and fixin' peoples' combustible engine problems before you retired.
@RottenPolitician 👍
I have had several and it is hell on my 72 year arm, AllWAYS the 390 but not the 160 etc GX
I think it is the manufacturer cutting back on material
Wow.. What great info...We just bought the Honda walk behind you mentioned..I took it back to day cause of surge surge surge
I have said this before in the comments on your videos, and I will confirm once again, I stand with you Bre on the battery powered crap.
Thank you for letting us know about this! Yep, my mower is in the recall.
Great stuff! Never been never will be a fan of battery powered junk.
Thanks for this update, Chickanic. Guess my Honda mower is okay. I bought in 2012.
Thank you for all your videos, it really helps us to be more confident working on our own equipment having seen you do it first.
I was wondering if you have any recommendations on zero turn mowers.
I always appreciate your guts and tinasity to shine a light on what the manufactures are pumping out to the consumer. Keep up the good Investigative work.
Thanks as always. There are folks like myself that need a reliable self propelled push mower. You stated (paraphrasing here) that you don't even know what you'd recommend at this point. However, I trust you and feel that if you don't have recommendations, where do I turn to figure it out? I live in East Central Florida. I have 1/5 acre of grass (split front/back). To keep up, I mow about every 5 days. Right now I have a 21" Greenworks non self propelled mower. I'm about to turn 70, and I need something easier to push. And yes many times the grass isn't completely dry. It's just not possible to mow otherwise. In the am, it's wet from dew. Around 2 pm, at its driest, you have about 1 hour to mow before the afternoon thunderstorms (almost daily). And of course at that time the heat index is often near 100 degrees. I'd appreciate your feedback.
I'm not Chicanic, but I feel your pain. I work on mowers in my spare time and I understand why she can't recommend a decent push mower right now. They simply aren't all that good, the engines nor the decks. Over a few decades, EPA regs choked out small i/c engines until they wouldn't run reliably on the water-attracting, varnish-creating E10 fuel they forced consumers to buy. Greedy equipment manufacturers adapted, but piled on the problem with costly, ludicrous designs that I swear have planned obsolescence in mind. The result is that battery (really, electric) mowers seem appealing by comparison. Battery, forget it--spendy, not nearly enough runtime or blade rpms to mulch properly and not "green" in any way.
So what to do? If I were a consumer and had to buy a new mower today and couldn't wait for Honda to fix the recall issue on the GCV 170 I would be forlorn, to say the least. Then, I'd clothespin my nose, load my wallet and go buy a self-propelled, front wheel drive mower with the 163cc Briggs and Stratton engine from one of the big box stores. Buy whichever one feels lightest to you and is easiest for you to use the controls. Look at several brands before purchasing. I'd probably stay away from Toro personal pace, though. Too complicated IMO. I'd likely lean towards a Troy-Bilt. Keep it indoors, clean the deck periodically of spinach, run fresh gas with Sta-bil and run it dry before storing it for the season.
As an admirer of older engines that were engineered to work correctly and actually did for years, it absolutely pains me to recommend a new overhead valve Briggs, but there you go. IMHO the carburetors on most new Briggs are the weak link and can be non-serviceable down the road, but I've had good luck with most of the 163cc Briggs I've serviced. I don't know, but it seems the carburetors might be made with a bit more care on these generally more-expensive mowers and some of the internals can be slightly better, too. They are not hot-rods, but they have enough torque for normal lawns and mulching and collecting leaves. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but sadly, the costly option is the cream of the crap.
In second place would be a s/p mower with a Kohler OHV if you could find one (that's why it's second for me), the bigger cc the better--it's a good Honda clone, whereas most of the Chinese knockoffs in 2023 are not. Third, you could try a 140cc Briggs s/p mower, but with the small 140cc having to turn both the blade and the self-propel and in your wet climate it probably wouldn't have enough guts for a southern St. Augustine grass-style lawn unless you adjusted the deck as high as it would go or mowed frequently. In fourth place, the basic 20" push mower is the cheapest and lightest mower you will find and is not s/p, but is beloved by retirees for its feather-lightness. These days, however it comes mainly with a 125cc Briggs that is severely underpowered. Every now and then, though you can find them new fitted out with a 140cc Briggs and in that scenario the small 140cc engine (without the burden of having to drive the self-propel) might cut through your tough lawn on the cheap if you had the wheels on the highest setting. Hope this helps. Good luck.
Thanks so much for the info. I really appreciate it. I'm wondering if I bought a used Honda if I could still get the recall taken care of. Do you have any info about that? Would you need to be the original owner, with receipt, and return it to place of purchase where they send it in for repair? @@dmonetized
Common sense and logic are some of the reasons why your channel is a joy to watch, thanx for the info.😃
Thanks for your update on this issue! I got an HRX217 mower from a big box store back in March and when I started it the second time it almost took my arm off from the stuck compression release. Learning about how and why it could do that I've found a few annoying but generally arm-sparing tricks to get it started. So far I've managed to use it for the summer mowing season without my arm going out of joint. But I can't wait to get it into a dealer for them to fix it - hey, free storage over winter because I'm guessing it will take that long to get parts and the service done! ;-)
I guess you need to clock it between compression and power like a 2 stroke kick start bike! (i don't know how)
@@pgmurray76 You got it! My old moped was part of the inspiration!
@@erickphd I had an old 198x John Deere 14SB self propelled, side chute, rear bagger in JD Green with a 4.5HP Kawasaki engine and once in a while the original pull starter or the engine would yank the black rubber and plastic handle right out of my strong little hand. The entire mower (aluminum deck) would be partially pulled off the ground. When I pulled that rope - I meant it. Had the dumb carb that clogged through the vent holes and would surge 2 weeks after dropping the bowl, every time. Rear wheels had negative camber. I should have tried buying the newer replacement wheels to see if they would work. My dad put it at the curb or to the township recycling center and as soon as someone saw it they asked if they could take it. That is how I felt. It was a nice unit.
I really appreciate your skill, knowledge and communication skills!
Absolutely. I have been saying the same things to my customers about battery powered yard equipment for some time also. Seems like they are going to regulate 2 cycle gas and small 4 cycle gas yard equipment right out of existence. That likely is the plan.
And then you will eat ze bugs.
I enjoy your channel. However, two years ago I sold nearly all my gas powered homeowner machines and replaced them with 40V Ryobi machines. I received a good price for my gas machines, some of which were 15 years old. For only $400 out of pocket (difference) I got new lawn mower, chain saw, string trimmer, edger, blower. I since have added pole saw and hedge trimmer, which use the same power unit and batteries. Best move I ever made. The mower is the best I have owned. I love the quiet machines and easy vertical storage, no more chasing non-ethanol gas, no stale gas issues, no tune ups or carburetor rebuilds or air cleaners or spark plugs. Electric is perfect for my suburban lot.
Bre, looks like the small power equipment industry is falling apart right in front of our eyes.
Good to know. Never know any more. Thanks Joe. Credit where credit is due. He deserves soooo much credit.
If people knew how to correctly start an engine with a recoil starter they would not risk injury. There’s many other brands that can “kick back”. I’m sure Honda’s attorneys had some input in that recall. Lastly, I’ll take any Honda engine over a B&S Intek any day. I enjoy all your videos Bri. ❤️
My HRX217 (Canada) was built a year or so before the recall range but I remember it kicked back on me once or twice pretty viciously... didn't break anything but REALLY hurt (pulls fingers open then the handle pulls your fingernails as well).
Not sure if the problem reported for the recall is that it happens worse, or happens more frequently, or whether that's just the range where they decided to do the recall.
I read somewhere that if you do a gentle pull of the rope before a regular pull it starts "first pull" after that... and that has been my experience as well. No kick back, and the "first pull" start adds to joy of ownership so what the heck...
It's unfortunate that Honda is getting stuck with this recall right before ending production so they don't get to spread the cost around... maybe once they get the camshaft supplier under control they'll keep making mowers for another year or two. That would be nice... I might even get a second Honda gas mower rather than giving in to the seemingly inevitable battery mower. On the other hand if someone made a battery mower that fit tall users (6-5") I might be a bit more open to the change since most of my mower usage is on significant side-hills.
@@johnbridgman4310 I can appreciate what you are saying, and I agree it’s a shame Honda has to deal with the large recall. The later small Tecumseh flathead horizontal engines can be prone to that. I have one myself that must be started carefully. If you don’t start pulling right at compression, you risk getting the starter handle ripped from your fingers.
You’ve inspired me to go into small engines repair school. Awesome page
Just another move to total control.
It’s not anything so nefarious….it’s called capitalism.
FYI I bought my Toro 0 turn 50 " mower 10 years ago from Home Depot. It has a 23 hp Kawaski motor on it. I have only had to put one deck belt and one idler pulley plus 4or 5 sets of blades on it. I would buy another one like it but this one is still doing great.
I guess I will just continue to keep my 30 year old snapper with a briggs engine going as long as possible.
That's right the Briggs will last
Thanks for keeping us all updated once again. I find it interesting that so many equipment manufactures are discontinuing products and lines as well as changing too quickly to battery. Last I knew the new housing market was still strong ,so new lawns to mow unless everyone is using a landscaper. I have a John Deere 2025R and a 3 year old Honda push mower that do all the yard work with so I think these should last a good long time
It's the emission regulations that are killing these machines. More R and D for that and not for reliability.
You can blame the government and all these exhaust regulations for the decline.
We’re bad boys for using gas powered equipment, but the rich can spew out hundreds of tons of CO2 in a “tourist rocket” just to feel weightlessness for a couple of minutes!!!
My first mower, still have it, is a Toro I purchased in 2003. The Tecumseh engine still starts first pull. She burn some oil here in there but is still a strong running mower. I’ve replace some cables and rebuilt the front end. in 2020 my wife purchased a Honda HRV while I was deployed because the Toro was giving her problems. When I came back, I replaced the carburetor and it runs great still. So I have two mowers that I alternate between.
this engine recall also affects Australia, so this may be a worldwide recall. the issue date for this was the 16 august. just have to wonder why it took them longer to do the recall in America compared to Australia.
Australia has better consumer protection laws. Same with EU.
I have a 20 year old Toro that I’ll keep forever. If that one goes, I have another older one that runs like a champ. 🙌🏻
How about the engines out there now, that have their ignition magnet, glued on the flywheel and are coming off and in some cases, destroying the engine! This happened on a Coleman mini bike, breaking the ignition coil and it's mounting free from the engine! It was a good thing that the starter cover was on the engine when this happened!
I got my HRN216 in June 2021. I’ll keep up with checking. Thanks for sharing
I’d say props to Honda for the recall. I’d wager there are plenty of other manufacturers that would never take this step.
I have Murray mower from Ernst Hardware in 1982. It started with one pull until last year when the primer bulb collapse. Love your channel. It is a Briggs and Stranton engine.
If you repair equipment under warranty, are the companies good about paying you or do they try to make it a hassle for you?
Bout 3 years ago bought a Toro powered by Honda in big box store. First pull nothing, kept at it for a sweaty 15 min. Double checked oil et al. Nothing DOA. Returned it that day, got Toro powered by Kohler. Love it, runs amazing, American made. Dodged a bullet.
Most equipment manufacturers make trash right now.
Yes Sir!
The Ryobi s430 trimmer comes to mind…
thanks for explaining this clearly i didn’t understand the details of the recall until i saw this 🧐
We are screwed when comes to lawnmowers.
Buy a herd of goats.
Thanks for all yourtips and "heads-ups".
Like I tell Teryl fixes all, I'll never buy battery powered lawn equipment. My old but running like new equipment is still going to last probably until I can no longer use my hands anymore to fix them. Great video!!
Electric yard tools are so nice though, I stick to Milwaukee as that’s the battery system I was already invested in.
Thank YOU for the great tip at the end!!
The trend in the last decade or so to engineer consumer power equipment to a price point model, at the sake of quality and performance has hit the breaking point, literally and figuratively. I think Honda just realized that there is not enough market out there to sell $1000 push mowers to the consumer through the box stores. And I think that’s what happened with those GCV engines. They just got under built to get them sold to consumers at the box stores before Honda just decided to get out of that space all together. I think Honda’s next step will be to discontinue the GCV (that goes on other manufacturers stuff) and just do the GX series for the commercial and high end residential market. We are down to Honda GX and Kawasaki for quality engines. Everything else is junk. And now with manufacturers “branding” China made Honda clones as “their” engines, the consumer power equipment buyers are in for a world of hurt.
I disagree. On the consumer market you have garbage but Kohlr and Vanguard make amazing engines. I just had a 42" Walker with a 18 HP Kolhr die after 4200 hours of service over a 14 year span. I got two 30" Toro Turfmaster HDX with the Kohlr Commander motors. Amazing cut and a lot of power.
@@williamframpton3863 William, you are right. 14 years ago engines were better. I’m talking about the stuff they are manufacturing now. The worst engine I have worked on was a Kohler. The single cylinder “Courage.” I don’t have experience with the Briggs Vanguard, but think that’s more of a commercial duty and not found on the consumer stuff sold through the box stores. I could be wrong.
@@frankvucolo6249I’m glad I bought a commercial Honda last summer. I had no idea about the stop sale coming at that time. I didn’t like the home gamer lawnmowers from Honda.
I just bought a pressure washer with a Honda engine, that is being delivered this morning. When I woke this morning to see this recall. Imagine my glee. I am pretty certain it is not part of the recall based on early model comparison. Can't wait to find out, he said with enormous sarcasm. Part II, mine, is not part of this, Thank God.
Important and amazing facts. Thanks for informing us. I don't know anyone who ever wanted a battery powered ANYTHING over a gas powered model, yet these things keep getting shoved down our throats by God knows who. It seems as if the people's will and the old motto of " the customer is always right" no longer apply. Perhaps we need to let this junk sit on the store shelves and collect dust. Maybe then, the manufacturers will get the message.
You gave an excellent update.
My HRX217 has done this to me repeatedly and it hurts like hell.
At least you know you can get it fixed. I would send it in during the winter in case it takes months to get back.
@@Chickanic just called my dealer and they said wait until the off-season. Parts are not widely available yet.
At first there was some miscommunication, because they've been dealing with some genuine camshaft failures, and he thought I was trying to get a replacement camshaft in a running mower. No sir, it's kicking back since day one. I thought I was just being a wimp.
I've been starting mine by pulling through one compression stroke, and then ripping on it. Not sure if I'm defeating the decompression, or making it actually work. For some reason I just accepted this as normal. Instead of remembering I've never done this for any other small engine I've owned.
Best channel anywhere! Thanks for the info
seven injured... wonder when Pfizer is going to do a recall
Thanks for the information. Yep, we bought one of the affected HRX217HYA mowers last March😞 Good thing we still have our 1997 John Deere JX75 as a backup 🙂
Great mower the old John Deere we have the pro version of the same age which still starts and runs with no issues. It even beats the reliability of some of the other brands we see of the same age here in the UK.
ELECTRIC IS WORSE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT THAN GAS BY VERY FAR!
Gotta love this gals content. Highly informative.
The recall of Honda engines is definitely going to put the hurt to the company. What bothers me is other companies ceasing production, which leads to consolidation of product to 1 or 2 manufacturers. No more competition in quality, or pricing so the consumer loses out. I repair, restore old tractors as a sideline, and realize how dangerous they can be to the operator as opposed to more modern farm equipment, but there seems to be no lack of a market for what I do. I think that the end users must bear some responsibility for the safe operation of their power equipment, or stop using tools altogether.
I. Am. Holding on to my 20 year old snapper walk behind mower. Love that thing.
Also, I don't know where your shop is located, but I sure wish it was near me. Not only because you are a great mechanic, but it really seems like you are honest and trustworthy. Really nice to see in this world.
In the description is says central Arkansas
thanks. my bad@@P_RO_
Thanks for keeping us users informed 👍
Thanks for the heads up Bree!! wow!!
I own a SABO mower from the 90s (B&S engine). Never let me down. Greetings from Germany.
I got my old 20 year old toro recycler that still runs fine! The Briggs and Stratton 190cc flathead run forever!
Thank you Bre for the update.
Whew! I recently bought a Simpson pressure washer with a Honda engine. Fortunately it has a GC-190. That engine doesn't seem to be part of the recall. Thanks for the heads-up!
I have an old Toro walk behind mower with a honda engine, best mower I've ever had. And i knew mine didn't fall in this category.
For me where I live EV equipment just wouldn't work, and I wouldn't have an EV vehicle.
Love your channel.
I am a huge fan and watch, learn, utilize material from your website
I learn something everytime I watch a new video, keep the videos coming.