Longevity tip.... Turn off the gas valve and let the mower run dry when you are not going to use it for a while. It saves the carb from getting gummed up from evaporated gas. I usually do it when leaving the mower unused for several days.
This is one of tge more common problems with gasoline lawnmowers. But if this happens, you can remove the carb easily and just clean it with some carb cleaner. A can costs a few dollars. I use brake cleaner for this (this is not recommended, some brake cleaners can damage plastics-the float in the carb is often plastic). The brake cleaner brand i mostly use is plastic safe.
Learning how much fuel it consumes and leaving just enough gas in it to be able to burn it off in its entirety is even better. Fuel left in the tank can spoil, and then gunk up the carb, anyway.
If you were excited about a new mower I might stop watching. Can't fathom those guys. I have never bought a new mower in my life & you are a youngster compared to me. I enjoyed seeing the front yard even though you tricked me into watching a man cut his grass !! Oh also wanted to say I'm a Honda fan too. Have owned 2 Acuras for total of 24 years & on a Honda suv for 3.
You’re supposed to leave the pull string handle in that little holder so you can pull easily while standing and holding the safety lever. Love you’re videos!!
I’ve owned Honda’s all my life since the 70’s, never been disappointed. Matter of fact, this year I purchased the most fun, exciting, and economical means of transportation I’ve ever owned, the Honda CRF300l Rally. It’s a dual sport motorcycle. Basically a street legal dirt bike that gets 70 miles to the gallon! I’m loving it. It’s a tried and true engine that’s been around for a while, and I expect to see many many happy miles out of it. I still own a pick up truck, but now I don’t have to drive that gas guzzler everywhere I go! Strangely enough, I have made even more cool friends from Australia through TH-cam because of this bike, since it is so very popular there as well... Take care of your mower Pete, run the gas out of the carburetor when you plan to set it up for several weeks on end, and change the oil every once and a while. The first oil change is the most important! It will serve you well, good choice.
Congrats on your new bike! I've been wanting a 300cc fuel-injected Honda of some kind for years. Just need to wait 'til my young kid gets to latchkey age until I can rationalize having a bike again. Keep the rubber side down!
I have a lawn care business and have been using These Honda mowers for 10 years. I buy one every 2 years and give the old ones to friends or family. They are the best. The Honda motors they use on these are so reliable. The deck will rust out before the motor stops running.
Congrats on the new mower. People made fun of me when I paid $900 for my HR215HXA back in '94. Still runs like new. How many 3 or $400 mowers have they bought since? A rebuildable GXV engine with a driveshaft for the propulsion and an al-you-men-ee-um deck. Can't buy anything like it today.
I bought a cheap lawnmower from Walmart for $129 in 2004. I didn’t oil the air filter because I didn’t read directions. I am still using that lawnmower and did no repairs but changed the oil and air a couple times. It is a Murray brand with Briggs and Stratton engine. My father in law has a Honda with B&S engine. I bought a new lawnmower a few years ago but mine won’t stop running so I keep using it. Hope yours gives you a lot of years of service. It is very pretty.
I'm now 30 and I always wondered when exactly did I become an adult. It wasn't until I bought a power washer and was actually excited to use it, only then I realized
Safety lever just connects to ignition coil to stop the thing, I have same mower, I use electric drill to start, easier than replacing broken pull start! I need a new ride on - mines worn out after 10 years - what joy I will get from that purchase!
I made a loop of paracord to slide up the handle and keep the engine running. You can also use a piece of Velcro and wrap it around the handle. Saves you some headaches of starting it over and over while mowing😊
Oh man love a good mowing time lapse 😆. That safety bar that you let go and the mower stops running is so that when you go off roaring and roll the mower you don’t lose limbs 😂. But if you want to no deal with it a zip/cable tie loosely attached so you can slid it down the handle to the pivot/hinge point so you can shut it off when you’re done mowing
Just bought one yesterday. I have a Troy-bilt push mower with a Honda engine, however I'm interested to see how this one will mulch/bag leaves each fall. My yards are not large, but they are heavily-treed. The news that Honda will be ceasing production of gas lawn mowers in September 2023 (in North America) also played into my decision to finally buy one; thank you, California. Incidentally, I bought a quality battery lawn mower last spring and tried it out. It cut the grass fine, but rolled right over most yard debris like leaves, small twigs, and other droppings from the trees without disturbing them; in other words, the suction or vacuuming ability was almost non-existent compared to a gas mower. Sold it soon afterwards.
In 2007 I bought my previous house and my father gave me a self propelled Honda lawnmower. It still starts on the first pull except after it’s been sitting up for the winter. Every few months I run it with some Berryman’s Chemtool in the fuel. Awesome piece of equipment.
It's not that they're confident in their start; it's that they aren't confident you won't try to pull something out from under it with it running. It's a safety feature
@@CedricAda I have had several garden things with the same Honda engine. They are incredibly stingy with the length of starter cord. I have no idea why. It is bewildering. For the cost of 6” of cord, they could have a much better user experience. I have a vision of a carved granite board member of Honda that has vetoed any change. “This long, no more”.
@@zoiders first of all did you just say mansplaining? Second Aren't you assuming their gender without asking for pronouns therefore breaking section 42069 which is an act of grevious hate speach??
The lever you think is responsible for throttle is a “deadman switch”. It’s a safety feature - if something happens and you let go of the mower, the engine “dies” and the blades stop spinning- preventing a potential disaster. I wonder, could you have bought a used one, locally? Usually ppl throw them out when all they need is a carb cleaned, a spark-plug or a flywheel key. I’ve gotten a couple of mowers like that for real cheap (finding them for free or dirt cheap, and repairing them). Also, a “self propelled” mower is always more pleasurable to use. You don’t need to push so hard, especially if you live on hilly terrain.
Can the TS Prof put a mirror edge on those blades? What steel did they use in the blades? How many times will a 17 degree mirror polished edge cut twisted sisil rope until it will not longer cut a held sheet of paper? Will this Honda come out with a sprint run with Magnacut blades? This is 2022.
I went to my local Walmart 4 yrs ago bought the cheapest lawnmower available $129 USD..use it to cut 1/4 acre about 50 times a year so far zero problems and zero maintenance..haven't even changed the oil or sharpened the blade..starts 1 to 2 pulls..the key to gas powered machines are to use them often..if they sit too long the gasoline goes bad and the carburetor gets clogged up with varnish..start them even in the off season, don't let them sit unused for months at a time..
@@jameshealy4594 yes I agree that proper maintenance should be used..but I'm not too worried about a basically disposable lawnmower..call it a science experiment..lol it's cut about 50 acres total so about 20 hectares of grass with zero maintenance already for $129 USD plus sales tax 8% and fuel cost..its has a trusty Briggs and Stratton engine etc..I wanted a Honda lawnmower but for $1k plus I could buy about 8 of these cheap lawnmowers..if 1 mower last 5 yrs x 8 mowers that's 40 yrs VS 1 Honda mower that I have doubts about lasting 20 yrs plus.. but yes a $3 oil change may happen soon..the grass isn't torn yet but you can tell the blade isn't as sharp as it should be so maybe a quick pass with a hand grinder is also a good idea..
ive had the plastic deck honda for about 5 years. tougher than i expected. happy with it and use the bagger all the time. mostly for leaves or to vacuum the grass
There is plastic and then there is plastic. Glass fibre reinforced thermoplastic is a tougher material than the majority of cast aluminium alloys (i.e. not forged or heat treated). Like when was the last time you saw a cordless drill (or any drill) with a cast alloy body?
Hi Pete, I found your channel recently and I'm a big fan, you seem really down to earth and your sense of humor is great! I think all lawnmowers in America have the bar that has to be pressed down to keep the engine running, or at least all the lawnmowers I have used. 🤷♂ Also, I picked up the worksharp field sharpener based on your recommendation and I could not be happier with it! Anyway, Keep up the great videos!
I’m on my 2nd Honda lawnmower. First one was 12yrs old, sold it to buddy. Current one is 7yrs old. Starts on 1st pull. Some tips: I run full synthetic 10w30 and Ethanol Free gas. I also agree at end of the season, run it, turn fuel off, and let it run until it shuts off.
My Frankenstein mower finally died last summer, so I shopped around for the lightest mower with the fairest price. Settled on a Briggs and Stratton on a Murray deck from Lowes. Ordered online, they delivered to my porch. I've already had to replace the blade, and it was a rare proprietary chuck. No blades that fit were in stock anywhere!!! So I was able to take the chuck from the Frankenstien mower in order to fit the replacement blade I bought, as it too is a Briggs and Stratton. So it's nice to have a parts mower at hand.
My Honda engine (in a Sears mower) nearly two decades old. They run forever, and as long as you know how to maintain a mower - the mower will serve you nearly a lifetime. Learn how to maintain small engines - they’re super easy and can even be fun. Saves you money on upkeep, too.
My Honda push mower has been punished and roughed up for about 7 years now. It's a champ! Only needed one tune up in 7 years, mostly because I neglected the air filter for two seasons. My 1.5 acre lawn is full of trees that drop branches every week. I mow most of those sticks along with the grass, with no problems. If my Honda died tomorrow, I would buy another Honda without hesitation.
I've got an older version of that mower, it will serve you well, just change the filter, plug, and oil at the beginning of each cutting season and it'll go forever
you know that little bit sticking up from the arm of the handle, that holds the "T" handle of the pull start so you don't have to bend down as far when it does cut off.
Just used mine yesterday after it sat unused for 4 months; fired up first pull. Of course I ran the gas out of the carb previously, but still...impressive.
Our mowers have always had the on/off lever. We tie a bit of cord around it while depressed that’s loose enough to slide down one side or the other to let the lever up when not in use but leaving it on the horizontal while running let’s you pick up the random rock or whatever you come across without killing the engine every time. Also add fuel stabilizer to your gas can. Really important during the off season. Main reason it won’t start right up is gas sits in the carburetor and gums up when out of use for extended periods. Fuel stabilizer has pretty much eliminated this issue for me and I don’t have to worry about running it dry before storing in the off season.
Also surprised, I don't think battery mowers even got a mention unless I missed it. I'm in a very similar situation myself, I have the Honda HRU216 - 13 hard years and she's starting to get tired (looked after, these will last 30+ years)... So for me it's Honda v Battery (EGO) and it's time to go battery here.
I just saw the news and Honda announced they are leaving the mower market. Not sure if that is world wide, but it is a sure thing here in the US. Now, about grass and mowers: 1) always unplug the sparkplug before any maintenance, especially on the blades. 2) sharpen those blades, no, they don't come sharp. And if you care about the grass, you should keep them sharp. 3) avoid mowing wet grass and blow the deck so it doesn't rust so fast. 4) mow often and avoid cutting more than 1/3 of the leaf blade. 5) train your dogs to piss and poop on one defined spot. Good for the grass and even better for you. Less work and you can enjoy your lawn. 6) you can change the blade from mulching blades to lift blades for better vacuum power if you want.
I was going to buy a Honda push mower earlier this year. Honda stuff is almost always bulletproof, but I still couldn't stomach the prices - esp as this was a backup mower for when I went too long between cuts for my primary / electric mower to handle it. I got incredibly lucky and found a used one on Craigslist for a sixth the price, and clearly well maintained by the PO. Like every other used thing I've had from Honda that hadn't already been sitting in a barn for 5 decades, it's been bulletproof. Congrats on your purchase and at least you probably won't still be thinking about how much you paid when it's still running 10+ years from now.
I have an older version of that lawn mower. I purchased it in the mid-90s and ran it for my landscape company for a couple of years. After that I ran it around the house ever since then. I did develop a lot of carburetor problems and just put on a cheap Chinese carburetor. It works great and is nearly as good as the day I bought it.
I got a Milwaukee 21”. Is a beast, we don’t use it gently. It has held up for 6 months of commercial use so far and no issues. The batteries and fast charger it comes with can be used with many other tools. Was expensive but totally with it imo. But I have gone through probably 4 Hondas and they too are a great choice for longevity
One good thing about Handel‘s is they usually start on the first pull . Two of my neighbors use a Ryobi battery mower before the tractor . So far no issues for two years but I know of them batteries are left in the cold they will die. You should always bring batteries in the house in the winter. For those of us that have the changing climates extremes it’s
When a small engine won’t start always change the spark plugs and check the filter. Usually works for me. These engines do run better on 89 octane as well. Even stiHl reccomemds 89 octane for their oil mix ( which is superior imo to all others ) . I ll do my best to get you through any problems Cedric . I mess with these small engines all the time and they can be a pain but this is new and shouldn’t have any problems for a decade hopefully . Good luck brother . The weather sucks here in Ohio. I hate this cold weather
Honda are great mowers, and hold up well, I went to an electric 60v 21-inch mower and have a Lawn Boy for a spare. Mowing grass is the curse of owning a house. Lawn Boy two stroke mowers easily last 20 years. Take care of your mower and it will take care of you. 🤣😅😂
I have an older but similar Honda mower. I use a velcro strap to keep the mower running until I am done using it. Why did you detach the starter rope from the handle frame? It's much easier to start if you would've left it where it was? My mower has been great. Starts 1st or 2nd pull everytime and cuts great.
Servicing small engines isn't too bad, they sit a lot so I always treat the fuel that goes in them with a long term fuel stabilizer like Sta-bil, try to run as much of the gas out of them and change the oil at the end of the season they're used for. Then come spring throw in a shot or two of methyl alcohol based fuel line de-icer like HEET, give it a few shakes to mix with any old gas/water and let set for a couple minutes, then top off with fresh fuel and start for the season. Has been working for me for my decade old Snow Blowers, generators, lawn mowers, etc. If you have one that's not running well, check/clean the air filter, clean/replace the spark plug and try again. Lots of fuel contains various amounts of ethanol now, which can attract/allow water to separate from the gas, the methyl alcohols mix with the water and gets it to mix and burn too which can help a mower get started that hasn't run in a long time.
Every mower i can remember had the safety bar that when you let go, it kills the engine, except one in the 70s. Probably it’s a nanny state USA thing to keep people from suing after they jam their hand into the moving blade. My favorite part was pulling on the box flap with the knife point towards your leg. Riveting video.
All of the push mowers I've had will turn off when you release the bar. I also second the turning off the gas valve so you don't have to use carb cleaner if you wanna start it. Also, there's an entire game about mowing lawns that millions of people have watched/played. People find this stuff extremely satisfying.
If your yard is small enough EGO Power makes some really great electric yard equipment. I have a trimmer, leaf blower and mower from them for my small yard and they are as good or better than any gas equipment I've ever used. If i had a bigger lawn I would have gone with a Honda mower however.
I was helping my dad put rafters up on his new house on Friday, and one of them slipped off the boom hook and fell on me. Watching you carry that box into your shed made me wince just at the thought of attempting to do that right now 😂
I've had a Honda mower for years and it has done everything I've asked of it which is more than what should be expected of it. It still starts on the first pull every time. The finest one I've ever had. The bad news is that Honda is discontinuing producing them in the US next year.
Any pictures or videos of the broken Ryobi mower? Does one still possessed the broken Ryobi mower? What model was it? Did it throw the connecting rod, and punch a hole through the crank case? Did one neglect to maintain the proper oil level? Did one neglect to change the oil? I have repaired many small engines, including those on Ryobi mowers. The primary cause of catastrophic failure is low or unchanged (old) oil.
It will last you a long time if you take care of it. You made a good choice. Make sure to run all the fuel out of the carburetor when storing it for longer than a month or 2 max. Ethanol wreaks havoc on carburetors.
My dad has a honda lawnmower thats older than I am (35). Some people like battery ones, the ones I've tried don't seem to manage the heavy stuff as well.
Thanks for the review. I am about to hit the "cry" button on a 200CC Honda lawnmower in the coming year and I can see a bit of what to expect. One tip, find out the specs on the motor, purchase a tachometer from Amazon and then set the governor at a place closer to the max RPM. (I have seen Honda motors set as low as 2200 RPMs from the factory which will not lift grass for a good cut). My current 190 CC Honda motor set at 3000 RPMs and it produces a very nice cut and will atomize the dog and cat turds in the yard. The ham bones hidden by the neighbors hound are a different story and they usually result in damage to the mower as it disintegrates the bone. FWIW, the 190cc Briggs that I have set at 3200 RPMs does even better at vaporizing dog turds and mulching tree debris, but it is a lot more thirsty than the Honda. Happy Mowing.
Pete, you glorious bastard. You have created a mindless must watch whatever Pete puts out zombie. By the way, you could set up quite the side hustle selling USiens those safety free gascans.
I have one of these plus two older alloy deck ones from the Australian plant. Nice mower but the steel deck plus no wheel bearings make it a pig to push over the Australian ones.
They have other options with a blade clutch and throttle adjustment but it looks like you went with a minimal option model. I’d still prefer that over other brands tho. For $1000 in the US, you can get the HRX217HYA, which is one model down from the fully loaded model (with electric start)
A bunch of the no brand engines, such as those on Ryobis are clones of that same Honda engine. The cheaper engines are not as well made, but the replacement air filters also fit the Honda fine. Use a genuine filter if it makes you feel better, but if you need a filter in a hurry, compatible filters are everywhere.
Have a friend of mine that swears by Honda. He’s had their cars, generators, outboard motors. He’s even got the Honda Jet. I’ve also had Honda generators and they are top notch. If Honda makes it, 99% of the time it’s going to be a dependable product.
I was just sitting here trying to decide if I watch a video of someone mowing the lawn, or someone picking up dogshit. And then, mirabile dictu, this video appeared! 👍👍👍
The choke free starting is legit. However if it doesn’t start by the second pull, you know it’s something that’s not easily fixed quickly. But they will start first pull 95% of the time id say
Thank you for sharing your life with the interwebs. It is strangely satisfying. Strange as in satisfying even if the content isn't about knifing. Maybe, hmm no not maybe, you are absolutely part of the charm of this channel. Oh gad that just sounds wrong but hey, thanks anyway :)
I did the “buy once, cry once” Honda mower and pressure washer some 25 year’s ago. Think the mower was almost double the price of the counterparts @$250ish. Looking at the new mowers I find there still the same engines with lots of cheap plastic parts. Not build like they use to be. Ended up purchasing a new mower just to get pissed at how cheap it was build and did and old school engine rebuild on my old mower and pressure washer. The old ones are worth rebuilding...the new ones I would just replace. I’m sure there now designed to be throw away’s...
Pro "tip" for discharging fluids from a 20L jerry can: tip the can on it's side with the opening on the high side to pour. You will no longer need to look like an infomercial actor selling jerry can spouts for four easy payments of $49.95, but act now because stocks are limited, and if you are one of the first 100 callers we'll include a second spout absolutely free.
Anytime I have to work when I’m not at work…. I’ll buy once and cry once….Last thing I want to do is work on something just to get it to working so I can do further work at the expense of my sanity….
Longevity tip.... Turn off the gas valve and let the mower run dry when you are not going to use it for a while. It saves the carb from getting gummed up from evaporated gas. I usually do it when leaving the mower unused for several days.
Pin this info Pete.
I used to do that until the on/off valve started leaking from wear. Dealer told me to stop.
This is one of tge more common problems with gasoline lawnmowers. But if this happens, you can remove the carb easily and just clean it with some carb cleaner. A can costs a few dollars. I use brake cleaner for this (this is not recommended, some brake cleaners can damage plastics-the float in the carb is often plastic). The brake cleaner brand i mostly use is plastic safe.
you can also get fuel stabilizer, dunno exactly how well it works though.
Learning how much fuel it consumes and leaving just enough gas in it to be able to burn it off in its entirety is even better.
Fuel left in the tank can spoil, and then gunk up the carb, anyway.
I am in the "buy every available option, test them, keep the most middling one and sell everything else at a loss, then cry extremily heavily" camp xD
G'day mate, why on earth would you do that ? or am I taking you too literally ? Cheers Duke.
If you were excited about a new mower I might stop watching. Can't fathom those guys. I have never bought a new mower in my life & you are a youngster compared to me. I enjoyed seeing the front yard even though you tricked me into watching a man cut his grass !! Oh also wanted to say I'm a Honda fan too. Have owned 2 Acuras for total of 24 years & on a Honda suv for 3.
You’re supposed to leave the pull string handle in that little holder so you can pull easily while standing and holding the safety lever. Love you’re videos!!
Will that leave the engine at an idle when the lever is released?
@@edgeGabe Afraid not, just puts the motor pull in an easier place to get to while pushing the mower.
and it keeps your feet away from where the lawnmower blades are.
I’ve owned Honda’s all my life since the 70’s, never been disappointed. Matter of fact, this year I purchased the most fun, exciting, and economical means of transportation I’ve ever owned, the Honda CRF300l Rally. It’s a dual sport motorcycle. Basically a street legal dirt bike that gets 70 miles to the gallon! I’m loving it. It’s a tried and true engine that’s been around for a while, and I expect to see many many happy miles out of it. I still own a pick up truck, but now I don’t have to drive that gas guzzler everywhere I go! Strangely enough, I have made even more cool friends from Australia through TH-cam because of this bike, since it is so very popular there as well... Take care of your mower Pete, run the gas out of the carburetor when you plan to set it up for several weeks on end, and change the oil every once and a while. The first oil change is the most important! It will serve you well, good choice.
Congrats on your new bike! I've been wanting a 300cc fuel-injected Honda of some kind for years. Just need to wait 'til my young kid gets to latchkey age until I can rationalize having a bike again. Keep the rubber side down!
@@lossfound 👍🤙
I have a lawn care business and have been using These Honda mowers for 10 years. I buy one every 2 years and give the old ones to friends or family. They are the best. The Honda motors they use on these are so reliable. The deck will rust out before the motor stops running.
I enjoy seeing parts of ur life down under. Keep these vids up. Life isn’t all about knifes.
Excuse me? This is the first I've heard that life consists of things beyond knives.... well knives and axes
You're right. This is about blades, not knives.
Congrats on the new mower. People made fun of me when I paid $900 for my HR215HXA back in '94. Still runs like new. How many 3 or $400 mowers have they bought since? A rebuildable GXV engine with a driveshaft for the propulsion and an al-you-men-ee-um deck. Can't buy anything like it today.
I bought a cheap lawnmower from Walmart for $129 in 2004. I didn’t oil the air filter because I didn’t read directions. I am still using that lawnmower and did no repairs but changed the oil and air a couple times. It is a Murray brand with Briggs and Stratton engine. My father in law has a Honda with B&S engine. I bought a new lawnmower a few years ago but mine won’t stop running so I keep using it. Hope yours gives you a lot of years of service. It is very pretty.
Bought a Honda self propelled mower when I bought a house. It's still going strong 13 years later and starts on the first pull.
I'm now 30 and I always wondered when exactly did I become an adult. It wasn't until I bought a power washer and was actually excited to use it, only then I realized
When are those bad boi blades gonna get sharpened on KME? Traditional 17° mirror polish maybe?
Safety lever just connects to ignition coil to stop the thing, I have same mower, I use electric drill to start, easier than replacing broken pull start! I need a new ride on - mines worn out after 10 years - what joy I will get from that purchase!
I made a loop of paracord to slide up the handle and keep the engine running. You can also use a piece of Velcro and wrap it around the handle. Saves you some headaches of starting it over and over while mowing😊
Oh man love a good mowing time lapse 😆. That safety bar that you let go and the mower stops running is so that when you go off roaring and roll the mower you don’t lose limbs 😂. But if you want to no deal with it a zip/cable tie loosely attached so you can slid it down the handle to the pivot/hinge point so you can shut it off when you’re done mowing
+1 to the loose zip tie method. been using it for years and I still have most of my limbs! 😂
A silky smooth Honda engine is always a joy to play with.
Dogs do be Dooing all over yards. The poo cleaning montage was pretty funny
I thought maybe you'd buy a goat instead of a replacement mower. 😂 Think of all the goat-related content your channel could be featuring! 🐐
Just bought one yesterday. I have a Troy-bilt push mower with a Honda engine, however I'm interested to see how this one will mulch/bag leaves each fall. My yards are not large, but they are heavily-treed. The news that Honda will be ceasing production of gas lawn mowers in September 2023 (in North America) also played into my decision to finally buy one; thank you, California. Incidentally, I bought a quality battery lawn mower last spring and tried it out. It cut the grass fine, but rolled right over most yard debris like leaves, small twigs, and other droppings from the trees without disturbing them; in other words, the suction or vacuuming ability was almost non-existent compared to a gas mower. Sold it soon afterwards.
In 2007 I bought my previous house and my father gave me a self propelled Honda lawnmower. It still starts on the first pull except after it’s been sitting up for the winter. Every few months I run it with some Berryman’s Chemtool in the fuel. Awesome piece of equipment.
It's not that they're confident in their start; it's that they aren't confident you won't try to pull something out from under it with it running. It's a safety feature
Possibly also eco requirement
No knife in pocket opening a box? Also, the pull start is supposed to stay in the hook on the bar, and you pull it directly from there.
I open boxes with a mini-pry bar rather than killing my knife edge with tape glue. Thanks for mansplaining how a pull cord works though.
It wouldnt pull any further from there. literally would go another inch or so and that was is
@@CedricAda I have had several garden things with the same Honda engine. They are incredibly stingy with the length of starter cord. I have no idea why. It is bewildering. For the cost of 6” of cord, they could have a much better user experience.
I have a vision of a carved granite board member of Honda that has vetoed any change. “This long, no more”.
@@zoiders first of all did you just say mansplaining? Second Aren't you assuming their gender without asking for pronouns therefore breaking section 42069 which is an act of grevious hate speach??
@@CedricAda CRY ABOUT PRICE? THE THREAD ABOUT YOU ON FOURMS SAY (THEY THINK) YOU MAKE 1-2 MIL A YEAR FROM TH-cam
THATS VANAX MONEY !
The lever you think is responsible for throttle is a “deadman switch”.
It’s a safety feature - if something happens and you let go of the mower, the engine “dies” and the blades stop spinning- preventing a potential disaster.
I wonder, could you have bought a used one, locally?
Usually ppl throw them out when all they need is a carb cleaned, a spark-plug or a flywheel key.
I’ve gotten a couple of mowers like that for real cheap (finding them for free or dirt cheap, and repairing them).
Also, a “self propelled” mower is always more pleasurable to use.
You don’t need to push so hard, especially if you live on hilly terrain.
Can the TS Prof put a mirror edge on those blades? What steel did they use in the blades? How many times will a 17 degree mirror polished edge cut twisted sisil rope until it will not longer cut a held sheet of paper? Will this Honda come out with a sprint run with Magnacut blades? This is 2022.
I went to my local Walmart 4 yrs ago bought the cheapest lawnmower available $129 USD..use it to cut 1/4 acre about 50 times a year so far zero problems and zero maintenance..haven't even changed the oil or sharpened the blade..starts 1 to 2 pulls..the key to gas powered machines are to use them often..if they sit too long the gasoline goes bad and the carburetor gets clogged up with varnish..start them even in the off season, don't let them sit unused for months at a time..
Sharpen your blades. Your lawn will
thank you.
I generally agree though you definitely should change the oil and sharpen the blade lol.
@@jameshealy4594 yes I agree that proper maintenance should be used..but I'm not too worried about a basically disposable lawnmower..call it a science experiment..lol it's cut about 50 acres total so about 20 hectares of grass with zero maintenance already for $129 USD plus sales tax 8% and fuel cost..its has a trusty Briggs and Stratton engine etc..I wanted a Honda lawnmower but for $1k plus I could buy about 8 of these cheap lawnmowers..if 1 mower last 5 yrs x 8 mowers that's 40 yrs VS 1 Honda mower that I have doubts about lasting 20 yrs plus.. but yes a $3 oil change may happen soon..the grass isn't torn yet but you can tell the blade isn't as sharp as it should be so maybe a quick pass with a hand grinder is also a good idea..
ive had the plastic deck honda for about 5 years. tougher than i expected. happy with it and use the bagger all the time. mostly for leaves or to vacuum the grass
There is plastic and then there is plastic. Glass fibre reinforced thermoplastic is a tougher material than the majority of cast aluminium alloys (i.e. not forged or heat treated).
Like when was the last time you saw a cordless drill (or any drill) with a cast alloy body?
Holy smokes! That new engine started so easily, your smallest child could probably start it! Well done, Honda!
I’m just glad you’re still making videos Pete!
Hi Pete, I found your channel recently and I'm a big fan, you seem really down to earth and your sense of humor is great!
I think all lawnmowers in America have the bar that has to be pressed down to keep the engine running, or at least all the lawnmowers I have used. 🤷♂ Also, I picked up the worksharp field sharpener based on your recommendation and I could not be happier with it! Anyway, Keep up the great videos!
Have you tried Spyderco Sharp maker. It’s a voodoo not just a sharpener.
OMG it's the first time in my life I've ever watched a video of someone getting a lawnmower and cutting the lawn 🤣🤣🤣 but it's Pete so 😎👍
14:35 Legend has it, that's how Benny Hill cut his grass.
This video reminds me exactly of how I cut my own grass, by watching someone else do it 🤣
I’m on my 2nd Honda lawnmower. First one was 12yrs old, sold it to buddy. Current one is 7yrs old. Starts on 1st pull. Some tips: I run full synthetic 10w30 and Ethanol Free gas. I also agree at end of the season, run it, turn fuel off, and let it run until it shuts off.
My Frankenstein mower finally died last summer, so I shopped around for the lightest mower with the fairest price. Settled on a Briggs and Stratton on a Murray deck from Lowes. Ordered online, they delivered to my porch. I've already had to replace the blade, and it was a rare proprietary chuck. No blades that fit were in stock anywhere!!! So I was able to take the chuck from the Frankenstien mower in order to fit the replacement blade I bought, as it too is a Briggs and Stratton. So it's nice to have a parts mower at hand.
My Honda engine (in a Sears mower) nearly two decades old.
They run forever, and as long as you know how to maintain a mower - the mower will serve you nearly a lifetime.
Learn how to maintain small engines - they’re super easy and can even be fun.
Saves you money on upkeep, too.
My Honda push mower has been punished and roughed up for about 7 years now. It's a champ! Only needed one tune up in 7 years, mostly because I neglected the air filter for two seasons. My 1.5 acre lawn is full of trees that drop branches every week. I mow most of those sticks along with the grass, with no problems.
If my Honda died tomorrow, I would buy another Honda without hesitation.
Respect
I've got an older version of that mower, it will serve you well, just change the filter, plug, and oil at the beginning of each cutting season and it'll go forever
you know that little bit sticking up from the arm of the handle, that holds the "T" handle of the pull start so you don't have to bend down as far when it does cut off.
8:47 when you tip a lawn mower always do so towards the exhaust. If you tip it this way with gas in it it can flood the air intake.
Just used mine yesterday after it sat unused for 4 months; fired up first pull. Of course I ran the gas out of the carb previously, but still...impressive.
Our mowers have always had the on/off lever. We tie a bit of cord around it while depressed that’s loose enough to slide down one side or the other to let the lever up when not in use but leaving it on the horizontal while running let’s you pick up the random rock or whatever you come across without killing the engine every time. Also add fuel stabilizer to your gas can. Really important during the off season. Main reason it won’t start right up is gas sits in the carburetor and gums up when out of use for extended periods. Fuel stabilizer has pretty much eliminated this issue for me and I don’t have to worry about running it dry before storing in the off season.
I am honestly surprised you have not bought a battery mower given where you live. The tech has really caught up.
That's what I was going to say. I went electric about 5 yrs. ago and never looked back. Tired of cleaning carburetors.
Also surprised, I don't think battery mowers even got a mention unless I missed it. I'm in a very similar situation myself, I have the Honda HRU216 - 13 hard years and she's starting to get tired (looked after, these will last 30+ years)... So for me it's Honda v Battery (EGO) and it's time to go battery here.
thanks for the vid Pete. FYI music is a bit loud relative to the talking.
I just saw the news and Honda announced they are leaving the mower market. Not sure if that is world wide, but it is a sure thing here in the US.
Now, about grass and mowers:
1) always unplug the sparkplug before any maintenance, especially on the blades.
2) sharpen those blades, no, they don't come sharp. And if you care about the grass, you should keep them sharp.
3) avoid mowing wet grass and blow the deck so it doesn't rust so fast.
4) mow often and avoid cutting more than 1/3 of the leaf blade.
5) train your dogs to piss and poop on one defined spot. Good for the grass and even better for you. Less work and you can enjoy your lawn.
6) you can change the blade from mulching blades to lift blades for better vacuum power if you want.
Good choice on the Honda! I’ve been running one for nearly a decade without issue. Hope you have a similar experience.
I was going to buy a Honda push mower earlier this year. Honda stuff is almost always bulletproof, but I still couldn't stomach the prices - esp as this was a backup mower for when I went too long between cuts for my primary / electric mower to handle it. I got incredibly lucky and found a used one on Craigslist for a sixth the price, and clearly well maintained by the PO. Like every other used thing I've had from Honda that hadn't already been sitting in a barn for 5 decades, it's been bulletproof. Congrats on your purchase and at least you probably won't still be thinking about how much you paid when it's still running 10+ years from now.
I have an older version of that lawn mower. I purchased it in the mid-90s and ran it for my landscape company for a couple of years. After that I ran it around the house ever since then. I did develop a lot of carburetor problems and just put on a cheap Chinese carburetor. It works great and is nearly as good as the day I bought it.
I got a Milwaukee 21”. Is a beast, we don’t use it gently. It has held up for 6 months of commercial use so far and no issues. The batteries and fast charger it comes with can be used with many other tools. Was expensive but totally with it imo. But I have gone through probably 4 Hondas and they too are a great choice for longevity
“Honda work your magic, thrill me please” would make a amazing tik tok sound for ricers
Because of the choice music I literally just spent my time watching a man pick up dog poo. Hahahaha well played Pete! Keep it up
One good thing about Handel‘s is they usually start on the first pull . Two of my neighbors use a Ryobi battery mower before the tractor . So far no issues for two years but I know of them batteries are left in the cold they will die. You should always bring batteries in the house in the winter. For those of us that have the changing climates extremes it’s
When a small engine won’t start always change the spark plugs and check the filter. Usually works for me. These engines do run better on 89 octane as well. Even stiHl reccomemds 89 octane for their oil mix ( which is superior imo to all others ) . I ll do my best to get you through any problems Cedric . I mess with these small engines all the time and they can be a pain but this is new and shouldn’t have any problems for a decade hopefully . Good luck brother . The weather sucks here in Ohio. I hate this cold weather
You Made the right choice.
I had a B&S, and that was a desaster.
A Honda engine is fantastic, you’ll see.
Prime dad content 10/10 will watch agian , Hank Hill certified gold I tell you what .
Honda are great mowers, and hold up well, I went to an electric 60v 21-inch mower and have a Lawn Boy for a spare. Mowing grass is the curse of owning a house. Lawn Boy two stroke mowers easily last 20 years. Take care of your mower and it will take care of you. 🤣😅😂
I have an older but similar Honda mower. I use a velcro strap to keep the mower running until I am done using it. Why did you detach the starter rope from the handle frame? It's much easier to start if you would've left it where it was? My mower has been great. Starts 1st or 2nd pull everytime and cuts great.
Servicing small engines isn't too bad, they sit a lot so I always treat the fuel that goes in them with a long term fuel stabilizer like Sta-bil, try to run as much of the gas out of them and change the oil at the end of the season they're used for. Then come spring throw in a shot or two of methyl alcohol based fuel line de-icer like HEET, give it a few shakes to mix with any old gas/water and let set for a couple minutes, then top off with fresh fuel and start for the season. Has been working for me for my decade old Snow Blowers, generators, lawn mowers, etc.
If you have one that's not running well, check/clean the air filter, clean/replace the spark plug and try again. Lots of fuel contains various amounts of ethanol now, which can attract/allow water to separate from the gas, the methyl alcohols mix with the water and gets it to mix and burn too which can help a mower get started that hasn't run in a long time.
Every mower i can remember had the safety bar that when you let go, it kills the engine, except one in the 70s. Probably it’s a nanny state USA thing to keep people from suing after they jam their hand into the moving blade.
My favorite part was pulling on the box flap with the knife point towards your leg. Riveting video.
All of the push mowers I've had will turn off when you release the bar. I also second the turning off the gas valve so you don't have to use carb cleaner if you wanna start it.
Also, there's an entire game about mowing lawns that millions of people have watched/played. People find this stuff extremely satisfying.
If your yard is small enough EGO Power makes some really great electric yard equipment. I have a trimmer, leaf blower and mower from them for my small yard and they are as good or better than any gas equipment I've ever used. If i had a bigger lawn I would have gone with a Honda mower however.
I was helping my dad put rafters up on his new house on Friday, and one of them slipped off the boom hook and fell on me. Watching you carry that box into your shed made me wince just at the thought of attempting to do that right now 😂
Please put a TSPROF mirror edge on that mower blade for the memes
Tie a strong loosely around the handle you can move it up to hold the kill switch in places so it will stay running
I've had a Honda mower for years and it has done everything I've asked of it which is more than what should be expected of it. It still starts on the first pull every time. The finest one I've ever had.
The bad news is that Honda is discontinuing producing them in the US next year.
Any pictures or videos of the broken Ryobi mower? Does one still possessed the broken Ryobi mower? What model was it? Did it throw the connecting rod, and punch a hole through the crank case? Did one neglect to maintain the proper oil level? Did one neglect to change the oil? I have repaired many small engines, including those on Ryobi mowers. The primary cause of catastrophic failure is low or unchanged (old) oil.
It will last you a long time if you take care of it. You made a good choice. Make sure to run all the fuel out of the carburetor when storing it for longer than a month or 2 max. Ethanol wreaks havoc on carburetors.
That start up truly makes it the sebenza of lawnmowers
Had the same experience with our new mower, a Troy Bilt, no primer bulb... I thought that's deflating. Fired on first pull. Still does three years on.
A video on a different sort of cutting tool. She is a beast. Pimp that whip. It needs flames, chrome the rims, etc. Take care brother.
My dad has a honda lawnmower thats older than I am (35). Some people like battery ones, the ones I've tried don't seem to manage the heavy stuff as well.
Change the oil in the CRV regularly and it will last. Ours is 9 years old, just regular maintenance. Third Honda, no issue ever.
that a nice lawn mower i got one the same is a little beast of a lawn mower good purchase.
We'll excuse you Mike for making this little excursion away from knife topics,
But don't let it happen to often ok 😏.
Nice lawnmower by the way 👍
Thanks for the review. I am about to hit the "cry" button on a 200CC Honda lawnmower in the coming year and I can see a bit of what to expect. One tip, find out the specs on the motor, purchase a tachometer from Amazon and then set the governor at a place closer to the max RPM. (I have seen Honda motors set as low as 2200 RPMs from the factory which will not lift grass for a good cut). My current 190 CC Honda motor set at 3000 RPMs and it produces a very nice cut and will atomize the dog and cat turds in the yard. The ham bones hidden by the neighbors hound are a different story and they usually result in damage to the mower as it disintegrates the bone. FWIW, the 190cc Briggs that I have set at 3200 RPMs does even better at vaporizing dog turds and mulching tree debris, but it is a lot more thirsty than the Honda. Happy Mowing.
Pete, you glorious bastard. You have created a mindless must watch whatever Pete puts out zombie. By the way, you could set up quite the side hustle selling USiens those safety free gascans.
I've got an old B&S 4.5HP mower that still goes like a train. Five pumps on the nipple and it starts.
I have one of these plus two older alloy deck ones from the Australian plant. Nice mower but the steel deck plus no wheel bearings make it a pig to push over the Australian ones.
I appreciate the cameo from the Terrible Shed featured in its own video.
They have other options with a blade clutch and throttle adjustment but it looks like you went with a minimal option model. I’d still prefer that over other brands tho. For $1000 in the US, you can get the HRX217HYA, which is one model down from the fully loaded model (with electric start)
A bunch of the no brand engines, such as those on Ryobis are clones of that same Honda engine. The cheaper engines are not as well made, but the replacement air filters also fit the Honda fine. Use a genuine filter if it makes you feel better, but if you need a filter in a hurry, compatible filters are everywhere.
SLPT zip tie the cutoff bar to the handle to keep the mower running, to turn it off, turn the fuel line knob off and let it run out of gas on its own.
May you new mower become like one of your Delicas: not too flashy, always effective, and never loaned to a neighbor! ;)
if you must have the idle - just rig up some sort of clip to hold the bar down so you dont have to do it by hand
Have a friend of mine that swears by Honda. He’s had their cars, generators, outboard motors. He’s even got the Honda Jet. I’ve also had Honda generators and they are top notch. If Honda makes it, 99% of the time it’s going to be a dependable product.
You are getting a lot of sound advice from other commentors !👍👍
Anxiously await Pete's mower blade sharpening video :)
The work shed looks like it's really coming together.
I have aHonda HRD536, 27 years old, starts always first pull.
I recently replaced my Honda with a kobalt electric mower and its pretty amazing.
I was just sitting here trying to decide if I watch a video of someone mowing the lawn, or someone picking up dogshit. And then, mirabile dictu, this video appeared! 👍👍👍
The choke free starting is legit. However if it doesn’t start by the second pull, you know it’s something that’s not easily fixed quickly. But they will start first pull 95% of the time id say
I have mine for 15 years. No trouble.
Thank you for sharing your life with the interwebs. It is strangely satisfying. Strange as in satisfying even if the content isn't about knifing. Maybe, hmm no not maybe, you are absolutely part of the charm of this channel. Oh gad that just sounds wrong but hey, thanks anyway :)
I did the “buy once, cry once” Honda mower and pressure washer some 25 year’s ago. Think the mower was almost double the price of the counterparts @$250ish. Looking at the new mowers I find there still the same engines with lots of cheap plastic parts. Not build like they use to be. Ended up purchasing a new mower just to get pissed at how cheap it was build and did and old school engine rebuild on my old mower and pressure washer. The old ones are worth rebuilding...the new ones I would just replace. I’m sure there now designed to be throw away’s...
Random kydex sheeth on the floor...
😄
Any plans to review Carothers 3V?
Pro "tip" for discharging fluids from a 20L jerry can: tip the can on it's side with the opening on the high side to pour. You will no longer need to look like an infomercial actor selling jerry can spouts for four easy payments of $49.95, but act now because stocks are limited, and if you are one of the first 100 callers we'll include a second spout absolutely free.
Theres technically sharp blades involved so I still count this as a knife video!
Lawnmower unboxing; It's dad-ness level is over 9,000!
Anytime I have to work when I’m not at work…. I’ll buy once and cry once….Last thing I want to do is work on something just to get it to working so I can do further work at the expense of my sanity….