Man I hate that you had a problem with the new Honda! Based on what you told me about Honda discontinuing this line, I went out an bought a brand new HRX 217, at Home Depot for $1100. I still have my 3 year old HVA and it runs great with no service problems. But I’m 71 years old now and I bought this one for my yard only. I service 22 yards in our neighborhood but this one would be for my yard only. I will sell all of my other gear once I get out of the business, then keep the new Honda. I hope I don’t have any issues!
I probably would’ve kept it. Had my other mower not been having some issues. I think they’re great mowers and I’m definitely going to keep my one that I’ve had for five years probably forever but right now I’ve got to have a mower that I can depend on because I’ve got a couple customers that I have to use them in their yard.
Same thing about my Husqvarna all wheel drive mower. Husqvarna doesn’t make mowers any more at least for the US market, so I have found an old one that just needs a new engine so I will have a spare when mine needs service or wears out. The Husqvarna AWD walk behind mower is the best mower I have ever had, so good that I sold my riding mower because the larger tires of the rider would slip on some of the small hills in my yard. The AWD mower pulls me up those hills and I have better control. I am 78 and this mower really helps me keep my large city lawn looking good. So guys if you can find a Husqvarna AWD walk behind mower give it a try. You just might be surprised. No matter what or where I am cutting there is always a set of wheels on the ground making the mower go.
I just got a response from Arlington Power equipment and they said they had a coupleof these mowers with serial numbers on this paticular mower and they were not affected by the cam shaft issues. That is why they were not pulled from sale. A big relief anyway and thanks again for responding back. That is why I decided to reach out to them and find out for sure!!!
My grandparent’s had an old 2 stroke Lawnboy. It was still running when they passed away. Over 30 years old! I bought a Lawnboy 4 stroke from Home Depot because of how good their Lawnboy was but the Home Depot version was a piece of junk. I sold it after 3 years.
@@beri232 Yep, the new Lawn Boy mowers don't compare at all to the old ones. Couple of years ago I bought a new Lawn Boy at Home Depot, the quality is so poor....
Just got rid of my lawn boy. Well over 30 yrs old. Coil went instead of repairing it bought an EGO. It was for the trim have a Deere for the acre or so. The LB was a good one but I won’t miss the 2 cycle or the vibration.
@@davidtimbro3677 I have replaced several coils in my Lawn Boys. LOl. If I went to a 4 stroke, I would miss the cutting power of the 2 cycle. I can never bog it down even with tall thick grass
I almost bought another HRX217 VKA without blade stop. My 2021 luckily has never caused me problems, has 104 hours so far. I am very curious to see how that 21" Bad Boy cuts and handles because I might buy what you got instead of another HRX. Do you like the 25" Bad Boy? Any negatives about the 25" ? I noticed the 25" model Bad Boy has the same 179cc engine. I don't like Toro Super Recyclers because the kickers underneath the deck for mulching clog-up the deck after every mow. The HRX deck rarely needs to be cleaned. I wonder how clogged the Bad Boy decks get after mowing?
I didn’t really consider the 25 inch because for my set up I don’t have but 1 inch of room to spare on the truck with the 21 loaded up. And also the engine as you pointed out is the same so I would rather have that power on a 21.
I got a HZA 2 months ago. The cam broke and the fuse blew on the starter, on the 3rd use. I took it to the dealer and it was repaired for free and in 5 days. Certain run of serial numbers got a defective cam from what I was told by my dealer. The mower runs like a top now. Register all equipment and Honda did an excellent job on honoring their warranty. I owned the YBRAVO 25 for several years. It was light and built like a tank. I ran it hard commercially never had any major issues. The cut quality is fair at best. Hopefully the 21 will have a better cut . When I downsized my business I could keep my Timemaster or the Bravo. I opted to sell the Bravo.
I just purchased a new self propelled 21" cut Masport mower. Cut my lawn with for the first time yesterday evening, Bermuda grass, took a while to get right setting it had 8 hight adjustments started with higest first and lowered 1 notch ,it has the one handle setting that raises the hight on all 4 wheels. Looks like a golf course now, also great feature comes with a aluminum deck makes it lighter, rear wheel transmission and rear side discharge chute and a plug so you can mulch the grass..they are manufactured in Austria come with a 5 year warranty, very impressive mower, local shop 2 miles away,first oil change is free, 6 month free tune up..can't beat that..check them out..
I absolutely want to know how that Badboy cuts. How far away from you is your dealer? I have to drive about 40 to 45 minutes depending on traffic. Next time I buy a mower I’m gonna see what I can get that is closer to me. I bought a Bradley 48 stand on and I really like it. It is a tank. The dealer is pretty good but I hate having to drive in Charlotte traffic to get there if I need anything. The reason I bought it is that first off Bradley does make a good mower but also as a new business I didn’t want to break the bank. A Wright mower would cost me almost twice what my Bradley. Great video! Looking forward to more
@@GwinnettLawns what was your reason for going with a walk behind versus a stand on or sit on? I do eventually want to get a walk behind but that’s down the road
i'm having an issue that the blade engagement button keep tripping and stopping the blades. Not sure if the little spring is weak, or maybe cable is stretched? Seems tight when i have the button pushed for the mower engagement and the lever is pushed ahead forward into the handle. i've tried to adjust the cable but nothing seems to help stop the issue. Love the mower, except for this issue. Ever experience this?
I just bought in May Honda HRN 216 GCV 170 so far no problems. I saw on another channel that Honda issued a stop sell order for all Honda's HRNs due to faulty pressure release spring/cam.
You mentioned Honda's Harmony being reliable. They had Commercial-grade GXV engines. Honda HRX's/HRR's/HRN's use consumer grade GCV engines rated for only 125 hours. Your Echo trimmers are rated for over twice the lifespan. Honda's GXV engines are the best in the game, far better than that Kawasaki. Honda's GCV are disposable. Consumer equipment is designed from the ground up to separate you from your money. Commercial grade equipment is designed for you to separate your clients from their money.
@@MichaelJohnson-mh7mp Your HRC216 is the best mower on the market for the money. The Toro 22296 with the same Honda GXV160 as your HRC costs well over $2,000.
@@WisconsinEric Says who other than you? People love making sanctimonious and dogmatic statements while conveniently neglecting to provide any proof whatsoever. Disgusting.
I haven't read all the comments, so maybe this has already been mentioned. The problem with very hard starting of the Honda HRX217 (and some other Honda mowers) is indeed a known issue. It is due to a failure of the compression release mechanism (which is tied in with the camshaft). Repairing of the faulty component is rated as a 1.5 hour job by Honda. The problem with getting the repairs done is due to a lack replacement parts. There has been speculation that the problem will require a recall as there have been documented injuries resulting from the issue (wrist, rotator cuff, etc.) If you have one of these mowers (I do) MAKE SURE YOU REGISTER YOUR MOWER WITH HONDA so that if there is a recall to repaire the units, you will be notified. One of the commenters stated their dealer knew which serial number units have the problem. I did not know this was the case, and no where does Honda supply information about the serial numbers (at least no where I could find). It seems as if Honda knew the serial numbers, they would not have issued a "stop sell" notice recently for all these mowers. Not sure what's up there. 🤷♂️
I can relate on alot you said , I use the HRR216 , I have 2 of em for my small stuff an no issues, beside wearing the tread off the wheels to be honest! I was told they was halting production September 2023 , so I'm sure I'll have to find something I like , can't beat the cut quality in these Hondas, an mine both have the 160's ! Might have to check out the bad boy , I'm in Northern Ohio ! I'm a Scag guy, but they are a bit proud of the small mowers!! Thanks for the video! Take care
I have the new 216 series with electric start. There are times that the rope will not pull at all yet the electric start works. I just saw a video today saying that Honda has pulled the 216 and 217 from the shelves. An issue with the cam. I’ve had a couple 160cc Hondas that are bulletproof but the 170 doesn’t seem that way. It was extremely difficult to get it to start in the Spring. Hopefully there is a recall. My neighbor and I both have a 216 and his idles much lower than mine. Disappointed in Honda. Also disappointed in hearing all the plastic vibrations while mowing.
I had my Honda hrx217hya (less than a year old) have 3 issues on mine. Overhead valve leak, speed issues, and starting issues. Never had a single issue with my 10 year old Honda hrr216 mower. I buy everything Honda. I even bought a $4,000 Honda 1332 snowblower. Hopefully won’t have issues like I had with that machine like I had on my mower. We shall see. I have 2 hrs on that
I have a 2 stroke Lawn Boy mower that I bought some 20 years ago. Still starts on the first pull after winter is over. Can’t buy 2 stroke mowers anymore but best lawnmower I’ve ever had.
I agree. I had one of these with the cast aluminum deck and personal pace self propel. They had a quirk with the governor vane getting dirty and sticking but was an easy fix once you learned how to fix it. Had mine around 16 years. Sold it when I moved out of state. Wish I had brought it with me now. 😉
This was the recall Honda did on the 170 and 200 engines (HRN and HRX series). So bad it was, Honda put out a cease and desist order on further sales until the entire current stock had been modified with new cams. The source of the problem was incorrect machining of the camshaft. You can look it up online; it is fairly recent.
@@ikigai47 I found out the skinny on the recall from both online sources and the Honda power equipment dealer I bought my Honda mower from. The dealer also told me the reason Honda is getting out of the consumer lawn mower market has to do with all the (idiotic) emissions requirements ...the People's Republic of California no doubt leading the charge in this. Honda will continue making commercial grade mowers because the emissions standards are more lax. There is also a big trend in going battery-powered with respect to lawn mowers. I say good luck with that. It's great until the manufacturer no longer makes the mower, doesn't make the batteries for you mower ...or both ...and you can't buy replacement part for it.
@@Mikado463 Oh wow, is that why I had such a weird time finding Honda mowers? Is the HRN 216 considered commercial grade? I mean literally I searched lowes and home depot and Honda mowers weren't showing up. I had to manually search through google to find it at Home Depot. Maybe I'll buy Honda commercial grade in the future (though I'm on a mission to make this mower last forever. Will be maintaining it like crazy, even have an hour meter on it). I hate Cali politicians so much. No one says shit to the real offenders (India, China). They can pollute all they want. I love the state which makes me hate the leaders even more. Imagine having 72F weather all year long, very low humidity. That was my life in Anaheim. Now in Texas it's too hot and humid to even golf in the summer. Trump 2024 or it's OVER
@@ikigai47 If it weren't for the politicians ...problem is, the folks keep electing these idiots.The HRN 216 is not commercial grade. Since my posting, I've returned the Honda to the dealership I purchased it from for a full refund. Why? The mower couldn't make a consistently level cut. Why? Because of the poor design of the two-position cutting height adjustment mechanism (one lever adjusts both wheels on the front and the same with the rear). The issue is the right rear wheel is not supported sufficiently and flexes ...bends easily ....with very little weight applied to it. As this wheel flexes, it racks the mower deck such that the left front wheel comes off the ground (you see this very obviously when the mower is on the pavement). Simply applying the downward pressure on the handlebar to push the mower will cause the wheel to flex. I have to wonder the torque reaction of the wheel when the drive is engaged. All I know is the machine was incapable of a consistently level cut; the grass looked bad. I took it back to the dealer; one of the techs and the sales manager came to look at it. They saw the issue, dug out another one they had in stock to compare, and it did the same thing. The tech confirmed there was nothing missing as far as support parts or bushings. The sales manager offered a full refund and I took it. The next model up, the HRX series which has individual wheel adjustments, runs over a grand. I am *not* paying over a thousand dollars for a walk behind mower. I reassessed my needs and ended up buying a 21" Toro "Recycler" mulching mower from Lowes for about 2/3 the price. Like the Honda, this Toro has the two point cutting height adjustment system. Unlike the Honda, the Toro cutting height adjuster is sturdy.
@@Mikado463 - Well that sucks. And yeah I agree on the politicians. It all starts in communist run California. I will keep an eye on this and if I notice a flexing down as you say (as if it's on shocks or something) then I'll see if I can make a DIY fix, even if I have to weld something on there to keep it stable. Yup shouldn't have to do that but I like the Honda engine (not that it's perfect but better than the competition) so I'd be willing to create a fix rather than settle for a lesser engine. I will say that I've seen no issues with the quality of cut so far.
All of this is news to me. I've had my HRX217 for 5 or 6 years and have never changed the oil or the air filter until this year and it has always ran perfectly. Still starts on the first pull and runs strong. I love it!
I have a lawn care business in Nova Scotia, Canada and I would love to have the options for mowers that some of you have. We are VERY limited here. That being said, NOT having the option to side discharge is a non starter for me. I do have a Honda commercial. I like the mower but rear discharge sucks and our always wet, cool season grasses gum it up something fierce. You really would not believe it. After just a few passes I have to clean out the deck and it the wettest, slimiest gunk you have seen. And that is when I am bagging. Maybe all mowers would do this. Anyway, thanks for posting.
I have the same 2018 HRX217 with a GCV-190 (looks like yours but has electric start)... so far its been a fantastic zero issue mower.. it starts and runs every time all the time... now granted I live in ohio so i dont put the number of hours on that you do down south... I typically mow from mis march heavy until august / september.. then after that its usually like once every 10 days through november.. and then its put up for the winter.. its my first honda mower ever and so far its excellent.. it cuts better than any other mower ive ever owned.. the CLIP feature is incredible esp in the spring where we get so much thatch that mulching will always leave lay-atop but full baggung means stoppiung every 5 minutes so i run 1/2 and 1.2 and its absolutely perfect.. I really like the variable speed as i can slow it down in really heavy areas to keep an even cut and not leave thatch esp if mulching... id really miss that if i didnt have it.. plus id miss the electric start.. I have a bad back so pulling over and over sometimes is a pain.. the high handle makes iot comfortable for me.. so far nio complaints.. though ive heard of issues with the newer GCV-200 engines
There is an issue with the cams.... I had issues with mine on the second start-up. Way too much pressure built up to try to pull the starter. I'm taking mine back tomorrow.
There is a service bulletin now on this Honda hrx217 and hrn216 mowers this year. The camshaft being defective. Honda did a stop sale this month. Crazy! They can’t keep up with all these defective units either. I just made a video on it
@@appleztooranges Yea based on the fact that they are getting out of the mower business and having such quality issues, I would have to tell people to NOT buy them. Get an older one is what I would tell them.
@@GwinnettLawns I get that now. Jeez. 10 year old Honda hrr216 and never had single problem. I may sell this one for as much as I can and get a hrx217 with a 190 engine instead of the 200 💩
@@appleztooranges be careful with the 190 engine they’re prone to having the exhaust valve guide walk out of the block lock the valve up and snap the rocker arm. Mine has done that twice but I apply to fix and have a video on it. That should keep it from ever happening again.
Can you tell me if there is a problem with the Honda HRX217 VKA GCV200? I just ordered one this past Sunday and it gets delivered to me this coming thursday? Is this the one model you had problems with? PLEASE REPLY>>>THANK YOU
I don’t know exactly which specific versions of the 217 are affected, but had I not needed the mower immediately because I didn’t have a another spare. I would’ve kept the mower and just fixed it.
@@GwinnettLawns I greatly appreciate your quick response! I just purchased this mower this past Sunday from Arlington Power Equipment in Illinois. They pride themselves on being customer oriented and service. I was thinking maybe I need to refuse the order because of this problem but guess I'll just keep it. It's the first Honda I ever purchased and hope it will be my last. After seeing reviews, I thought just my luck.
I'LL take on both of your mowers with My Snapper Hi Vac for cut quality , o ya, mine has a Honda Engine on a snapper deck, and its16 years old as well. Use Red Line oil 10-60wt all year long.
That's a shame that Honda seems to have dropped the ball quality wise. in 2010 I bought a brand new Honda HRX2172VKA for $600. I use it a lot!! The only part I have ever had to replace (that was not maintenance.. like blades, air filter, oil & spark plug) is the pull start started making a ticking noise. I replaced it with a brand new HONDA pull start for around $25 and it's as good as new. I am hoping to keep it going for 15-20 more years!
I wonder if the Bad Boy has twin blades? I compost my bagged grass and you'll notice all of the grass blades are like a half an inch long which makes the bagged grass very airy and compostable. My neighbor turns his car around in our cul-de-sac and he loves working in the yard too. As he was making his turn he motioned with his hands how smooth the cut was that he could see from his point of view while I was cutting my front yard. I also have a 1988 Honda H3011 30" 11hp riding mower with a single blade that seems to get the same smooth cut results as my 2002 HRT216TSA. I also owned a Toro 20" mower several moons ago and I loved that thing and it also had a very good cut. I guess I like mowers that have good cuts that pop. Sorry about your problem with your new Honda hope the Bad Boy works out for you.
I have a 20 year old Honda that is showing its age. I was looking forward to getting a new model after i heard they won't be making them to hopefully last me another 20+ years. Could easily be my last mower purchase. Sadly i wont be making that purchase after what I'm seeing. So I'm currently looking at all options now. If i do hear the problems are taken care of i may get another Honda, but i have to be 100%.
They are stopping sales to figure out which serial numbers are to be re-called. I can't buy one anywhere. I think buying a Honda is over since September is coming up fast.
I have the 200 cc HRX 217 with hydro. I’ll keep an eye on this problem. Also. I owned the Bad Boy 25” version. I would leave a grass or debris clump trail on the left side. I’m guessing cause the deck is shallow on that side. There’s not much room for the grass to swirl. It bagged like a vacuum cleaner. But mulching was not as good as the Honda. I’m eye balling the Ferris 32” walk behind.
I have buddy that has used nothing Honda products since he started his Landscaping snow removal business in 1988 and swears by them and almost never had any issues since then and has looked at new Honda products and is not happy with what he sees, he wants to retire in the next 5/6 years and thought of buying all new machines in 2023 and is having 2nd thoughts now and is thinking of just running/repairing what he has until he retires if possible good video 👍
Alcon ... Nothing runs like a Deere. My JS20 lawn mower is still going on its 14th year, and all I've had to due is change the oil, filter, and spark plug every year. Live and learn.
Sorry i have a YBravo and you will find out that that mower deck design allows for grass to stop the blade if you are cutting tall grass, lets say the grass is at 4" and you are trying to bring it to 2" it will get clogged and make you do it on 2 passes as opposed to in a single pass, the engine is strong and it does not care but you will smoke the belt for the blade engagement. Get you a Scagg 21" with the Kohler ( Cobbler ) engine do it like yesterday as you will hate that ybravo replica
After five months, mine won't start! Pull cord won't budge. No obstructions. Now I get to weed wack 1/2 an acre at 65 years old cause... I SPENT ALL MY MONEY ON THIS PIECE OF JUNK!
I bought the hrx217hya on April 27, 2023. Had the same problem you described on day 1 and took it to the dealer. They told me it's the cam and they finally got the part on May 29th. Really disappointing
Three years ago I replaced my 25 year old Troy Bilt. I looked around at the big box stores and nothing really caught my eye except the Hondas. I wanted something that would last like my old mower so I did more research on the Honda line and ended up buying the hrc216 commercial. So far it’s been great only complaint is that it is somewhat heavy but that I guess is the trade off of something reliable. The thing that just recently was upsetting was hearing that Honda was getting out off the lawnmower business.
Gwinnett Lawns buy Toro commercial 21 inch or 30 inch Toro Turfmaster mower. I have 30 inch Toro Turfmaster I love mine it has Kawasaki engine on it I have no issue with it I have good luck with it.
I have the same problem with my HRX217HYAA. I was always able to circumvent the problem by engaging the blade while starting. I just dropped off at dealer where purchased. They best not tell me it will take months to get new cam! Because I’ll just take back and use as-is.
Got rid of my Honda and found a mint Lawn Boy M series 2 stroke mower and never looked back. Cuts, handles, and is made better thah anything today. You can tell it was made to last and not made to throw away.
wow, I need a smaller mower now since downsizing house/lawn and looking for a honda mower..guess I will check for used ones, alot of people compare toro with honda so I may look them over....I cant bring myself to buy cheap junky equipment
Unfortunately I had the exact same experience with my brand new HRX217 HYA. Ran fine the first 20 min. Stopped to check the clippings bag. Tried to start it up again and nearly ripped my arm out of my socket. Took to the dealer and they said Honda was giving massive pushback to get these repairs done under warranty. 3+month wait time. I know you stated repairs are pretty easy. I’m not too knowledgeable when it comes to small engines or any engines for that matter. Do you happen to know of a good video on TH-cam that can demonstrate how to make these repairs? I returned the defective unit to HD but I really had my heart set on this mower. I tried looking into Ego or Milwaukee but I can’t seem to pull the trigger on a battery mower just yet. TIA
Since I did not open up the valve cover I cant say exactly what part failed. They just said "Camshaft assembly" which might just be the cam gear. They were very vague about it.
@@GwinnettLawns Yeah I just made a mistake talking to! This is the gcv with the little cam gear held by the pin that just slides out accessed by valve cover? Yes easy and quick. For some reason I was thinking about the ones inside the case on gxv160's, still not hard but a little more involved. I shouldn't comment when it's 3am! Enjoyed your speedfeed 500 vs 450 comparison the other day.
You're done with Honda mower? Honda announced last fall they're getting out of the lawn mower business, so you see, they beat you to the punch, Honda is done with you.😆😅🤣😂
Yup… they had a cam problem with 2023 200cc engines… I have a 2013 Hrx217vka that hasn’t missed a beat! 11 years old, still runs and operates like a top!! I also have a 1994, yes, 30 year old John Deere 14PZ with aluminum deck and B&S engine… still running great!!
I’m sticking with my Hondas. I just bought 2 brand new HRX217HYA mowers being 60 they should outlast me. I have a Wright stand on mower with a big Kawasaki FX And a big Kubota air conditioned cad to drag my bush hog 👍
I’m using MTD. 22 inch cut. I totally stripped and repainted it, redid the engine. No problem with valve guides or camshafts. B&S engine, I built my own muffler and mounted a air cleaner box on the handle bars. Those over priced Honda’s are not worth it.
I had the same problem after 2 lawn mowing. Luckily I purchased the mower through Home Depot and they took it back without asking any questions. I purchased a Toro Timemaster 30” and it’s one of the best mowers that I have owned and I’ve had a lot. I previously had a MTD with a Honda engine that’s 30 years old and stills runs.
Well, this should make your day. That Husky commercial mower has issues wirth the rear wheel rubver separating from the wheel. So, like Honda, you will have problems with it as well. Worse yet, Husky is backordered on the part. Too bad, maybe try a Toro? At twice the price....😢
I think they were sabotaged by the production line employees. In March 2022 from Home Depot, I bought a brand new, boxed HRX217HYA with hydrostatic transmission...it's head line feature... only to get a mower with a barely acceptable self propel rate. I dealt with it and didn't want some dealer messing it up or scratching the mower up. This weekend in April 2024, I finally just did the transmission service myself and found out that it had barely had any fluid in it (and it wasn't leaking), despite the transmission have a "Passed" sticker and QR code. Now I have to run behind the machine to keep up with it. There must have been rumors of discontinuing their mowers as early as last 2021 to early 2022...because why would I and so many other people have random problem with a brand new Honda mower? Also, don't any type of yard-renovations with the Hondas- when you create dust cloud, it will reach the wax-cartridge that controls the auto-choke and will prevent the choke-rod from going all the way back into the cartridge...giving you hard-to-start conditions.
Don't you have the HRD or HRH series of Honda, My 536 HRD HX is 27 years old and starts first pull. Got it for free from a professional gardener 10 years ago and still runs like new. Greetings from Belgium.
And this is why after 6 years I dumped my HRX217 mower and went to a Milwaukee battery powered. After a cracked rocker arm, 3 times having to adjust the valves, 4 trips to the dealer for various issues, I said enough. So glad I didn't buy the new HRX with the 200 engine. Totally done with Honda mowers. If and when my Honda string trimmer dies I'll replace it with Milwaukee as well.
I did the fix on my 217 and it hasn’t been a problem since. The camshaft on the 200 engine takes like 10 minutes to fix the reason I didn’t keep it and fix it myself is because if anything else went like the transmission then they may deny the warranty.
HRX217 runs like a champ. Apparently you got a lemon 🍋 Mines a 2021 with the 200. First pull every time. My only complaint with the 217 is the self-propelled trans is pretty weak. On flat ground is okay,but up hill with the bagger full. Its more or less you helping it climb. My HRR216 had a really good self-propelled system.
@1EVILZ06 - It's not a one-off lemon issue, it's a known issue with the Hondas released this year. They actually did a stop sale on them because of the compression/camshaft problem. I know this because I went to a dealer to try to look at a Honda mower and they didn't have a single one on the floor because of the stop sale. Also, Honda is getting out of the gas mower business.
Very sad to hear. I bought an HRX 217 IN 2011. Still going strong needing only oil changes, filter changes , spark plug changes, new blades and one set of new tires. I used to swear by those engines. Now I’m of the non-expert opinion that Kawasaki small engines are more durable and reliable.
Honda's transmissions are trash too, and their mowers are ridiculously over-priced for no better than they are overall. They are not built with near the quality they used to be, and yet still way over-priced.
I wish I had. Bought one and within a month the drive belt slipped....cost me 12 bucks for the belt but 90 bucks in labor to have it repaired. The entire bottom along with the grass chute had to be dissembled. NEVER AGAIN. I will buy a cheapie big box Troybilt, Bolens etc with simple Front wheel drive, cheap off the shelf parts and easy repair....and NEVER an Electric. Those things are Toys.
I have the hrc216, different unit I'm aware. Overall build seems ok, but sometimes the self-propel doesn't engage, and the mower leaves uncut blades of grass. I like honda products overall, but the quality of cut on this mower is the worst of any mower I've had over the last 35 yrs. -- Edit: HRN216, residential mower
I bought in 2019 the Honda hrx.217hzc lawnmower bought late in season was great in 2020 after 5hrs. Total Use did first oil change following my Honda book i got with it,used all of 2021 was great brought out in 2022 3rd time out with maybe 30hrs. Total, not in long grass it literally blew up big puff of smoke and hole on left side of block brought to patio all the oil coming out hole apparently just over warranty,dealer tech said wow never seen that they inspected it and said they don't know what could of caused that i said obviously it was defective tech went to bat for me but Honda said no good will he recommended i call i did and eventually was told no good will because dealership told Honda was from lack of lubrication i asked to speak to someone higher was told supervisor would contact me never heard nothing sent email nothing,sent another email got responce saying going to review it will here in 5 days I live in Canada i paid 1550$ total i told them i want them to explain to me what lack of lubrication or maintenance i did not perform,next oil change was 50hrs.never got close every seoson new gas in can i hoping they will stand behind there product and admit it was a lemon
My 30 year old John Deere walk behind with the Kawasaki engine still runs pretty good, but two years ago I bought an EGO electric and I am done with gas in any lawn tool. Especially when it comes to trimmers and blowers, I am so glad to be rid of that two stroke crap.
The new HRX217's have an issue with the Camshafts and the spring that allows it to blead down compression to 60 psi so you can pull start it. Honda out sourced this part and the manufacture that makes the part before the cam gear is fully hardened which causes this issue to occur.
Very nice web site set up. On the exhaust valve guides working out . Permatex makes a green in color sleeve sealing sealant . I have applied this on after cleaning the area good . Punch the guild stem after applying . Clean off any excess. Let product dry required time . Bad Boy makes a great zero turn we use here in south Florida. Good products.
So unfortunately all mower manufacturers, at one time or another, will create a model with a clear defective part. This is what happened to you. So you sold it back to the dealer and now all is well financially. That said, statistically Honda mowers still have one of the highest reliability ratings of any mower manufacturer in the USA..and have for decades...and it sounds like Honda is willing to fix the issue , within the warranty period thankfully.
I also just picked up one of the last HRX 217s and I've seen the pull start issues first hand. The first time my wife went to use the mower the pull start rope snapped out of her hand which I've never seen happen to her in years of using all kinds of gas power equipment. I hate to think how long a potential repair will take. I'm saving a tuned up Toro Super Recycler as my back up plan.
Man I hate that you had a problem with the new Honda! Based on what you told me about Honda discontinuing this line, I went out an bought a brand new HRX 217, at Home Depot for $1100. I still have my 3 year old HVA and it runs great with no service problems. But I’m 71 years old now and I bought this one for my yard only. I service 22 yards in our neighborhood but this one would be for my yard only. I will sell all of my other gear once I get out of the business, then keep the new Honda. I hope I don’t have any issues!
I probably would’ve kept it. Had my other mower not been having some issues. I think they’re great mowers and I’m definitely going to keep my one that I’ve had for five years probably forever but right now I’ve got to have a mower that I can depend on because I’ve got a couple customers that I have to use them in their yard.
71 and still working hard. I commend you, I can only hope I'm that strong at 71.
I bought the same mower with the cam fix at Home Depot for $528.00 out the door.
Same thing about my Husqvarna all wheel drive mower. Husqvarna doesn’t make mowers any more at least for the US market, so I have found an old one that just needs a new engine so I will have a spare when mine needs service or wears out. The Husqvarna AWD walk behind mower is the best mower I have ever had, so good that I sold my riding mower because the larger tires of the rider would slip on some of the small hills in my yard. The AWD mower pulls me up those hills and I have better control. I am 78 and this mower really helps me keep my large city lawn looking good. So guys if you can find a Husqvarna AWD walk behind mower give it a try. You just might be surprised. No matter what or where I am cutting there is always a set of wheels on the ground making the mower go.
I just got a response from Arlington Power equipment and they said they had a coupleof these mowers with serial numbers on this paticular mower and they were not affected by the cam shaft issues. That is why they were not pulled from sale. A big relief anyway and thanks again for responding back. That is why I decided to reach out to them and find out for sure!!!
I've got two Lawn Boy Dura Force 2 cycle mower that are over 25 years old. I'm still using them on weekly basis.
My grandparent’s had an old 2 stroke Lawnboy. It was still running when they passed away. Over 30 years old! I bought a Lawnboy 4 stroke from Home Depot because of how good their Lawnboy was but the Home Depot version was a piece of junk. I sold it after 3 years.
@@beri232 Yep, the new Lawn Boy mowers don't compare at all to the old ones. Couple of years ago I bought a new Lawn Boy at Home Depot, the quality is so poor....
Just got rid of my lawn boy. Well over 30 yrs old. Coil went instead of repairing it bought an EGO. It was for the trim have a Deere for the acre or so. The LB was a good one but I won’t miss the 2 cycle or the vibration.
@@davidtimbro3677 I have replaced several coils in my Lawn Boys. LOl. If I went to a 4 stroke, I would miss the cutting power of the 2 cycle. I can never bog it down even with tall thick grass
Hell yeah! I'm using my lawn boy from 1963 regularly
I almost bought another HRX217 VKA without blade stop. My 2021 luckily has never caused me problems, has 104 hours so far. I am very curious to see how that 21" Bad Boy cuts and handles because I might buy what you got instead of another HRX. Do you like the 25" Bad Boy? Any negatives about the 25" ? I noticed the 25" model Bad Boy has the same 179cc engine. I don't like Toro Super Recyclers because the kickers underneath the deck for mulching clog-up the deck after every mow. The HRX deck rarely needs to be cleaned. I wonder how clogged the Bad Boy decks get after mowing?
I didn’t really consider the 25 inch because for my set up I don’t have but 1 inch of room to spare on the truck with the 21 loaded up. And also the engine as you pointed out is the same so I would rather have that power on a 21.
I don’t see the specific model number in your profile . How has the mower worked this past season . Currently looking for fleet replacement model.
Where did you get your shirts?
drifitfishingshirts.com/custom-ts
I got a HZA 2 months ago. The cam broke and the fuse blew on the starter, on the 3rd use. I took it to the dealer and it was repaired for free and in 5 days. Certain run of serial numbers got a defective cam from what I was told by my dealer. The mower runs like a top now. Register all equipment and Honda did an excellent job on honoring their warranty.
I owned the YBRAVO 25 for several years. It was light and built like a tank. I ran it hard commercially never had any major issues. The cut quality is fair at best. Hopefully the 21 will have a better cut . When I downsized my business I could keep my Timemaster or the Bravo. I opted to sell the Bravo.
I just purchased a new self propelled 21" cut Masport mower. Cut my lawn with for the first time yesterday evening, Bermuda grass, took a while to get right setting it had 8 hight adjustments started with higest first and lowered 1 notch ,it has the one handle setting that raises the hight on all 4 wheels. Looks like a golf course now, also great feature comes with a aluminum deck makes it lighter, rear wheel transmission and rear side discharge chute and a plug so you can mulch the grass..they are manufactured in Austria come with a 5 year warranty, very impressive mower, local shop 2 miles away,first oil change is free, 6 month free tune up..can't beat that..check them out..
I absolutely want to know how that Badboy cuts. How far away from you is your dealer? I have to drive about 40 to 45 minutes depending on traffic. Next time I buy a mower I’m gonna see what I can get that is closer to me. I bought a Bradley 48 stand on and I really like it. It is a tank. The dealer is pretty good but I hate having to drive in Charlotte traffic to get there if I need anything. The reason I bought it is that first off Bradley does make a good mower but also as a new business I didn’t want to break the bank. A Wright mower would cost me almost twice what my Bradley. Great video! Looking forward to more
My dealers about 8 miles from me. But my hustler dealer is about 35 miles away from me.
@@GwinnettLawns what was your reason for going with a walk behind versus a stand on or sit on? I do eventually want to get a walk behind but that’s down the road
@@glennanderson5335 I have a few customers that I need the 21” for the back yard, and that is all I can fit on the truck.
Apparently Honda is stopping production in September 2023. Not sure if theres much other choices
just stopping production in the US
@@Deke1 I heard it was because of California's regulations were too much
@@HomeOrchard it's getting worse th-cam.com/video/E_E8p4CQSBY/w-d-xo.html
It's now June 12th and I just bought a hrx217 . My dealer just got a shipment of them.
i'm having an issue that the blade engagement button keep tripping and stopping the blades. Not sure if the little spring is weak, or maybe cable is stretched? Seems tight when i have the button pushed for the mower engagement and the lever is pushed ahead forward into the handle. i've tried to adjust the cable but nothing seems to help stop the issue. Love the mower, except for this issue. Ever experience this?
Yes, every so often I have to tighten the cable slightly on mine. That’s the most common issue.
Same here... I just try to keep my hand over the tab.
I just bought in May Honda HRN 216 GCV 170 so far no problems. I saw on another channel that Honda issued a stop sell order for all Honda's HRNs due to faulty pressure release spring/cam.
HRN and HRX.
You mentioned Honda's Harmony being reliable. They had Commercial-grade GXV engines. Honda HRX's/HRR's/HRN's use consumer grade GCV engines rated for only 125 hours. Your Echo trimmers are rated for over twice the lifespan. Honda's GXV engines are the best in the game, far better than that Kawasaki. Honda's GCV are disposable.
Consumer equipment is designed from the ground up to separate you from your money. Commercial grade equipment is designed for you to separate your clients from their money.
I'm happy with my HRC216, I hope I stay that way.
@@MichaelJohnson-mh7mp Your HRC216 is the best mower on the market for the money. The Toro 22296 with the same Honda GXV160 as your HRC costs well over $2,000.
“…far better than that Kawasaki.” Debatable not gospel as you obviously assert.
@@WisconsinEric Says who other than you? People love making sanctimonious and dogmatic statements while conveniently neglecting to provide any proof whatsoever. Disgusting.
Have the same HRX with blade stop and hydro trans. Where did you find the crate engine for it? Do you have the part number?
I haven't read all the comments, so maybe this has already been mentioned. The problem with very hard starting of the Honda HRX217 (and some other Honda mowers) is indeed a known issue. It is due to a failure of the compression release mechanism (which is tied in with the camshaft). Repairing of the faulty component is rated as a 1.5 hour job by Honda. The problem with getting the repairs done is due to a lack replacement parts. There has been speculation that the problem will require a recall as there have been documented injuries resulting from the issue (wrist, rotator cuff, etc.) If you have one of these mowers (I do) MAKE SURE YOU REGISTER YOUR MOWER WITH HONDA so that if there is a recall to repaire the units, you will be notified. One of the commenters stated their dealer knew which serial number units have the problem. I did not know this was the case, and no where does Honda supply information about the serial numbers (at least no where I could find). It seems as if Honda knew the serial numbers, they would not have issued a "stop sell" notice recently for all these mowers. Not sure what's up there. 🤷♂️
I heard on another video that the bad boy doesn't have as good cut quality due to them having a lip around the deck underneath.. is that true ?
No I don’t think so.
I would love to see how you do that hour meter and also where I can get an hour meter for my mowers thank you
Link to the meter in the description, and I have a video showing how to install it. Just search my channel.
I can relate on alot you said , I use the HRR216 , I have 2 of em for my small stuff an no issues, beside wearing the tread off the wheels to be honest! I was told they was halting production September 2023 , so I'm sure I'll have to find something I like , can't beat the cut quality in these Hondas, an mine both have the 160's ! Might have to check out the bad boy , I'm in Northern Ohio ! I'm a Scag guy, but they are a bit proud of the small mowers!! Thanks for the video! Take care
All HRN/HRX series are on stop sale right now. I think only commercial ones are available.
I have the new 216 series with electric start. There are times that the rope will not pull at all yet the electric start works. I just saw a video today saying that Honda has pulled the 216 and 217 from the shelves. An issue with the cam. I’ve had a couple 160cc Hondas that are bulletproof but the 170 doesn’t seem that way. It was extremely difficult to get it to start in the Spring. Hopefully there is a recall. My neighbor and I both have a 216 and his idles much lower than mine. Disappointed in Honda. Also disappointed in hearing all the plastic vibrations while mowing.
I had my Honda hrx217hya (less than a year old) have 3 issues on mine. Overhead valve leak, speed issues, and starting issues. Never had a single issue with my 10 year old Honda hrr216 mower. I buy everything Honda. I even bought a $4,000 Honda 1332 snowblower. Hopefully won’t have issues like I had with that machine like I had on my mower. We shall see. I have 2 hrs on that
I have a 2 stroke Lawn Boy mower that I bought some 20 years ago. Still starts on the first pull after winter is over. Can’t buy 2 stroke mowers anymore but best lawnmower I’ve ever had.
I agree. I had one of these with the cast aluminum deck and personal pace self propel. They had a quirk with the governor vane getting dirty and sticking but was an easy fix once you learned how to fix it. Had mine around 16 years. Sold it when I moved out of state. Wish I had brought it with me now. 😉
My wife uses her 70s 80s brick top 21"
This was the recall Honda did on the 170 and 200 engines (HRN and HRX series). So bad it was, Honda put out a cease and desist order on further sales until the entire current stock had been modified with new cams. The source of the problem was incorrect machining of the camshaft. You can look it up online; it is fairly recent.
whew. Just bought an HRN 216 and this vid made me nervous. Sounds like mine may be from the "good batch"
@@ikigai47 I found out the skinny on the recall from both online sources and the Honda power equipment dealer I bought my Honda mower from. The dealer also told me the reason Honda is getting out of the consumer lawn mower market has to do with all the (idiotic) emissions requirements ...the People's Republic of California no doubt leading the charge in this. Honda will continue making commercial grade mowers because the emissions standards are more lax. There is also a big trend in going battery-powered with respect to lawn mowers. I say good luck with that. It's great until the manufacturer no longer makes the mower, doesn't make the batteries for you mower ...or both ...and you can't buy replacement part for it.
@@Mikado463 Oh wow, is that why I had such a weird time finding Honda mowers? Is the HRN 216 considered commercial grade? I mean literally I searched lowes and home depot and Honda mowers weren't showing up. I had to manually search through google to find it at Home Depot. Maybe I'll buy Honda commercial grade in the future (though I'm on a mission to make this mower last forever. Will be maintaining it like crazy, even have an hour meter on it). I hate Cali politicians so much. No one says shit to the real offenders (India, China). They can pollute all they want. I love the state which makes me hate the leaders even more. Imagine having 72F weather all year long, very low humidity. That was my life in Anaheim. Now in Texas it's too hot and humid to even golf in the summer. Trump 2024 or it's OVER
@@ikigai47 If it weren't for the politicians ...problem is, the folks keep electing these idiots.The HRN 216 is not commercial grade. Since my posting, I've returned the Honda to the dealership I purchased it from for a full refund. Why? The mower couldn't make a consistently level cut. Why? Because of the poor design of the two-position cutting height adjustment mechanism (one lever adjusts both wheels on the front and the same with the rear). The issue is the right rear wheel is not supported sufficiently and flexes ...bends easily ....with very little weight applied to it. As this wheel flexes, it racks the mower deck such that the left front wheel comes off the ground (you see this very obviously when the mower is on the pavement). Simply applying the downward pressure on the handlebar to push the mower will cause the wheel to flex. I have to wonder the torque reaction of the wheel when the drive is engaged. All I know is the machine was incapable of a consistently level cut; the grass looked bad. I took it back to the dealer; one of the techs and the sales manager came to look at it. They saw the issue, dug out another one they had in stock to compare, and it did the same thing. The tech confirmed there was nothing missing as far as support parts or bushings. The sales manager offered a full refund and I took it. The next model up, the HRX series which has individual wheel adjustments, runs over a grand. I am *not* paying over a thousand dollars for a walk behind mower. I reassessed my needs and ended up buying a 21" Toro "Recycler" mulching mower from Lowes for about 2/3 the price. Like the Honda, this Toro has the two point cutting height adjustment system. Unlike the Honda, the Toro cutting height adjuster is sturdy.
@@Mikado463 - Well that sucks. And yeah I agree on the politicians. It all starts in communist run California. I will keep an eye on this and if I notice a flexing down as you say (as if it's on shocks or something) then I'll see if I can make a DIY fix, even if I have to weld something on there to keep it stable. Yup shouldn't have to do that but I like the Honda engine (not that it's perfect but better than the competition) so I'd be willing to create a fix rather than settle for a lesser engine. I will say that I've seen no issues with the quality of cut so far.
I have an old John Deere and Never needed a repair and I am still using it.
All of this is news to me. I've had my HRX217 for 5 or 6 years and have never changed the oil or the air filter until this year and it has always ran perfectly. Still starts on the first pull and runs strong. I love it!
Is the Honda HRU216 available in the states? I cant fault it
I have a lawn care business in Nova Scotia, Canada and I would love to have the options for mowers that some of you have. We are VERY limited here.
That being said, NOT having the option to side discharge is a non starter for me. I do have a Honda commercial. I like the mower but rear discharge sucks and our always wet, cool season grasses gum it up something fierce. You really would not believe it. After just a few passes I have to clean out the deck and it the wettest, slimiest gunk you have seen. And that is when I am bagging. Maybe all mowers would do this. Anyway, thanks for posting.
How much did that cost compared to the Honda?
$150 more.
I have the same 2018 HRX217 with a GCV-190 (looks like yours but has electric start)... so far its been a fantastic zero issue mower.. it starts and runs every time all the time... now granted I live in ohio so i dont put the number of hours on that you do down south... I typically mow from mis march heavy until august / september.. then after that its usually like once every 10 days through november.. and then its put up for the winter.. its my first honda mower ever and so far its excellent.. it cuts better than any other mower ive ever owned.. the CLIP feature is incredible esp in the spring where we get so much thatch that mulching will always leave lay-atop but full baggung means stoppiung every 5 minutes so i run 1/2 and 1.2 and its absolutely perfect.. I really like the variable speed as i can slow it down in really heavy areas to keep an even cut and not leave thatch esp if mulching... id really miss that if i didnt have it.. plus id miss the electric start.. I have a bad back so pulling over and over sometimes is a pain.. the high handle makes iot comfortable for me.. so far nio complaints.. though ive heard of issues with the newer GCV-200 engines
There is an issue with the cams.... I had issues with mine on the second start-up. Way too much pressure built up to try to pull the starter. I'm taking mine back tomorrow.
That’s the camshaft issue / recall. They fixed all of these on the newer ones
There is a service bulletin now on this Honda hrx217 and hrn216 mowers this year. The camshaft being defective. Honda did a stop sale this month. Crazy! They can’t keep up with all these defective units either. I just made a video on it
When I was at my dealer and was talking with the service manager he said they had just gotten the parts to repair it after sitting for almost a month.
@@GwinnettLawns wow. I’m kinda nervous on my 2022 Honda hrx217hya.
@@appleztooranges Yea based on the fact that they are getting out of the mower business and having such quality issues, I would have to tell people to NOT buy them. Get an older one is what I would tell them.
@@GwinnettLawns I get that now. Jeez. 10 year old Honda hrr216 and never had single problem. I may sell this one for as much as I can and get a hrx217 with a 190 engine instead of the 200 💩
@@appleztooranges be careful with the 190 engine they’re prone to having the exhaust valve guide walk out of the block lock the valve up and snap the rocker arm. Mine has done that twice but I apply to fix and have a video on it. That should keep it from ever happening again.
I love Honda got 3 of them most have 100 hours and never had problems with them
Can you tell me if there is a problem with the Honda HRX217 VKA GCV200? I just ordered one this past Sunday and it gets delivered to me this coming thursday? Is this the one model you had problems with? PLEASE REPLY>>>THANK YOU
I don’t know exactly which specific versions of the 217 are affected, but had I not needed the mower immediately because I didn’t have a another spare. I would’ve kept the mower and just fixed it.
@@GwinnettLawns I greatly appreciate your quick response! I just purchased this mower this past Sunday from Arlington Power Equipment in Illinois. They pride themselves on being customer oriented and service. I was thinking maybe I need to refuse the order because of this problem but guess I'll just keep it. It's the first Honda I ever purchased and hope it will be my last. After seeing reviews, I thought just my luck.
Thanks for the information 👍
I'LL take on both of your mowers with My Snapper Hi Vac for cut quality , o ya, mine has a Honda Engine on a snapper
deck, and its16 years old as well. Use Red Line oil 10-60wt all year long.
I had the same problem. Took it back to Home Depot
That's a shame that Honda seems to have dropped the ball quality wise. in 2010 I bought a brand new Honda HRX2172VKA for $600. I use it a lot!! The only part I have ever had to replace (that was not maintenance.. like blades, air filter, oil & spark plug) is the pull start started making a ticking noise. I replaced it with a brand new HONDA pull start for around $25 and it's as good as new. I am hoping to keep it going for 15-20 more years!
I wonder if the Bad Boy has twin blades? I compost my bagged grass and you'll notice all of the grass blades are like a half an inch long which makes the bagged grass very airy and compostable. My neighbor turns his car around in our cul-de-sac and he loves working in the yard too. As he was making his turn he motioned with his hands how smooth the cut was that he could see from his point of view while I was cutting my front yard. I also have a 1988 Honda H3011 30" 11hp riding mower with a single blade that seems to get the same smooth cut results as my 2002 HRT216TSA. I also owned a Toro 20" mower several moons ago and I loved that thing and it also had a very good cut. I guess I like mowers that have good cuts that pop. Sorry about your problem with your new Honda hope the Bad Boy works out for you.
The bad boy has just a single blade, but it puts really really good.
I have a 20 year old Honda that is showing its age. I was looking forward to getting a new model after i heard they won't be making them to hopefully last me another 20+ years. Could easily be my last mower purchase. Sadly i wont be making that purchase after what I'm seeing. So I'm currently looking at all options now.
If i do hear the problems are taken care of i may get another Honda, but i have to be 100%.
Honda just put a stop sell on these mowers.
They are stopping sales to figure out which serial numbers are to be re-called. I can't buy one anywhere. I think buying a Honda is over since September is coming up fast.
My 217 has had that hard to pull issue since maybe a year after i bought it in like 2005or so
I have the 200 cc HRX 217 with hydro.
I’ll keep an eye on this problem. Also. I owned the Bad Boy 25” version. I would leave a grass or debris clump trail on the left side. I’m guessing cause the deck is shallow on that side. There’s not much room for the grass to swirl. It bagged like a vacuum cleaner. But mulching was not as good as the Honda.
I’m eye balling the Ferris 32” walk behind.
I have buddy that has used nothing Honda products since he started his Landscaping snow removal business in 1988 and swears by them and almost never had any issues since then and has looked at new Honda products and is not happy with what he sees, he wants to retire in the next 5/6 years and thought of buying all new machines in 2023 and is having 2nd thoughts now and is thinking of just running/repairing what he has until he retires if possible good video 👍
Alcon ... Nothing runs like a Deere. My JS20 lawn mower is still going on its 14th year, and all I've had to due is change the oil, filter, and spark plug every year. Live and learn.
The problem is the compression relief ( holds the exhaust valve open until the motor is up to speed)
Wrong holds the intake vale open !!!
@@barryestell6324wrong, holds the exhaust valve open. Blowing the relief pressure back through the carburetor wouldn’t work out so well 💥
I wouldn't take anything for my Honda hrn216vkaa mower. Best mower I've ever owned
At the end of the video, you stated that the new mower probably wouldn’t cut as good as the old one. They why purchase it?
When I made the video I had already done the deal. Nothing cuts Bermuda low as good as the Honda, but the Bad Boy is very close I can say.
Sorry i have a YBravo and you will find out that that mower deck design allows for grass to stop the blade if you are cutting tall grass, lets say the grass is at 4" and you are trying to bring it to 2" it will get clogged and make you do it on 2 passes as opposed to in a single pass, the engine is strong and it does not care but you will smoke the belt for the blade engagement.
Get you a Scagg 21" with the Kohler ( Cobbler ) engine do it like yesterday as you will hate that ybravo replica
After five months, mine won't start! Pull cord won't budge. No obstructions. Now I get to weed wack 1/2 an acre at 65 years old cause... I SPENT ALL MY MONEY ON THIS PIECE OF JUNK!
Believe me I feel you. My handle broke. Why does it cost 350.00 for a handle?🤬
My HRU217 Buffalo Pro burnt its clutch out after less than 1 hour in moderately thick lawn. Got a refund the next day
I bought the hrx217hya on April 27, 2023. Had the same problem you described on day 1 and took it to the dealer. They told me it's the cam and they finally got the part on May 29th. Really disappointing
Three years ago I replaced my 25 year old Troy Bilt. I looked around at the big box stores and nothing really caught my eye except the Hondas. I wanted something that would last like my old mower so I did more research on the Honda line and ended up buying the hrc216 commercial. So far it’s been great only complaint is that it is somewhat heavy but that I guess is the trade off of something reliable. The thing that just recently was upsetting was hearing that Honda was getting out off the lawnmower business.
Gwinnett Lawns buy Toro commercial 21 inch or 30 inch Toro Turfmaster mower. I have 30 inch Toro Turfmaster I love mine it has Kawasaki engine on it I have no issue with it I have good luck with it.
I have the same problem with my HRX217HYAA. I was always able to circumvent the problem by engaging the blade while starting. I just dropped off at dealer where purchased. They best not tell me it will take months to get new cam! Because I’ll just take back and use as-is.
My cam issue was repaired in 5 days and covered in full by warranty. But all dealers are not the same.
Got rid of my Honda and found a mint Lawn Boy M series 2 stroke mower and never looked back. Cuts, handles, and is made better thah anything today. You can tell it was made to last and not made to throw away.
wow, I need a smaller mower now since downsizing house/lawn and looking for a honda mower..guess I will check for used ones, alot of people compare toro with honda so I may look them over....I cant bring myself to buy cheap junky equipment
I found the Honda to be hard to work on, hard to maneuver, and buggy. My favorite mower was a SRC721 Cub Cadet with the kawasaki engine.
Unfortunately I had the exact same experience with my brand new HRX217 HYA.
Ran fine the first 20 min. Stopped to check the clippings bag. Tried to start it up again and nearly ripped my arm out of my socket.
Took to the dealer and they said Honda was giving massive pushback to get these repairs done under warranty. 3+month wait time.
I know you stated repairs are pretty easy. I’m not too knowledgeable when it comes to small engines or any engines for that matter.
Do you happen to know of a good video on TH-cam that can demonstrate how to make these repairs?
I returned the defective unit to HD but I really had my heart set on this mower. I tried looking into Ego or Milwaukee but I can’t seem to pull the trigger on a battery mower just yet.
TIA
Since I did not open up the valve cover I cant say exactly what part failed. They just said "Camshaft assembly" which might just be the cam gear. They were very vague about it.
@@nothanks9050 yea I know sometimes I make mistakes talking, happens to the best of us. Taking out the camshaft is super easy.
@@GwinnettLawns Yeah I just made a mistake talking to! This is the gcv with the little cam gear held by the pin that just slides out accessed by valve cover? Yes easy and quick. For some reason I was thinking about the ones inside the case on gxv160's, still not hard but a little more involved. I shouldn't comment when it's 3am! Enjoyed your speedfeed 500 vs 450 comparison the other day.
@@nothanks9050 yep valve cover off, engine to top dead center, rocker arms off, slide camshaft pin out, then camshaft will come right out.
You're done with Honda mower? Honda announced last fall they're getting out of the lawn mower business, so you see, they beat you to the punch, Honda is done with you.😆😅🤣😂
I’m only done with new Hondas used ones if I can find them I’ll take them.
Recall for the cam. Not made correct. Mowers back ordered until Jan 2024. Its their last run gas powered so, you are done if you are or not.
Yup… they had a cam problem with 2023 200cc engines… I have a 2013 Hrx217vka that hasn’t missed a beat! 11 years old, still runs and operates like a top!!
I also have a 1994, yes, 30 year old John Deere 14PZ with aluminum deck and B&S engine… still running great!!
I’m sticking with my Hondas. I just bought 2 brand new HRX217HYA mowers being 60 they should outlast me. I have a Wright stand on mower with a big Kawasaki FX And a big Kubota air conditioned cad to drag my bush hog 👍
I’m using MTD. 22 inch cut.
I totally stripped and repainted it, redid the engine.
No problem with valve guides or camshafts.
B&S engine, I built my own muffler and mounted a air cleaner box on the handle bars.
Those over priced Honda’s are not worth it.
Honda have a stop sale on these movers due to a parts issue
I had the same problem after 2 lawn mowing. Luckily I purchased the mower through Home Depot and they took it back without asking any questions. I purchased a Toro Timemaster 30” and it’s one of the best mowers that I have owned and I’ve had a lot. I previously had a MTD with a Honda engine that’s 30 years old and stills runs.
Well, this should make your day. That Husky commercial mower has issues wirth the rear wheel rubver separating from the wheel. So, like Honda, you will have problems with it as well. Worse yet, Husky is backordered on the part. Too bad, maybe try a Toro? At twice the price....😢
Sorry, rubber...
I think they were sabotaged by the production line employees. In March 2022 from Home Depot, I bought a brand new, boxed HRX217HYA with hydrostatic transmission...it's head line feature... only to get a mower with a barely acceptable self propel rate. I dealt with it and didn't want some dealer messing it up or scratching the mower up. This weekend in April 2024, I finally just did the transmission service myself and found out that it had barely had any fluid in it (and it wasn't leaking), despite the transmission have a "Passed" sticker and QR code.
Now I have to run behind the machine to keep up with it.
There must have been rumors of discontinuing their mowers as early as last 2021 to early 2022...because why would I and so many other people have random problem with a brand new Honda mower?
Also, don't any type of yard-renovations with the Hondas- when you create dust cloud, it will reach the wax-cartridge that controls the auto-choke and will prevent the choke-rod from going all the way back into the cartridge...giving you hard-to-start conditions.
Great video as always!!
Don't you have the HRD or HRH series of Honda, My 536 HRD HX is 27 years old and starts first pull. Got it for free from a professional gardener 10 years ago and still runs like new. Greetings from Belgium.
And this is why after 6 years I dumped my HRX217 mower and went to a Milwaukee battery powered. After a cracked rocker arm, 3 times having to adjust the valves, 4 trips to the dealer for various issues, I said enough. So glad I didn't buy the new HRX with the 200 engine. Totally done with Honda mowers. If and when my Honda string trimmer dies I'll replace it with Milwaukee as well.
I did the fix on my 217 and it hasn’t been a problem since. The camshaft on the 200 engine takes like 10 minutes to fix the reason I didn’t keep it and fix it myself is because if anything else went like the transmission then they may deny the warranty.
I cant wait for that Bad Boy Demo!
The video is on my channel already did it for you.
I wonder if your equipment dealer knew about the cam shaft issue prior to selling it to you.
No, neither did the service manager.
HRX217 runs like a champ. Apparently you got a lemon 🍋 Mines a 2021 with the 200. First pull every time. My only complaint with the 217 is the self-propelled trans is pretty weak. On flat ground is okay,but up hill with the bagger full. Its more or less you helping it climb. My HRR216 had a really good self-propelled system.
I got my HRR216 at Lowe's back in 2013. They had a end of summer discount and I bought it for $110.00, and to this day, it still runs like a champ.
@1EVILZ06 - It's not a one-off lemon issue, it's a known issue with the Hondas released this year. They actually did a stop sale on them because of the compression/camshaft problem. I know this because I went to a dealer to try to look at a Honda mower and they didn't have a single one on the floor because of the stop sale. Also, Honda is getting out of the gas mower business.
TORO have for 25 years and still working
Very sad to hear. I bought an HRX 217 IN 2011. Still going strong needing only oil changes, filter changes , spark plug changes, new blades and one set of new tires. I used to swear by those engines. Now I’m of the non-expert opinion that Kawasaki small engines are more durable and reliable.
Is yours a 'gen 1' HRX217? I have a gen 1 and I do not believe it has the valve guide issue.
Honda's transmissions are trash too, and their mowers are ridiculously over-priced for no better than they are overall. They are not built with near the quality they used to be, and yet still way over-priced.
So far with over 300 hrs no tranny issues.
Honda sent out a stop sale notice because of this issue.
I wish I had. Bought one and within a month the drive belt slipped....cost me 12 bucks for the belt but 90 bucks in labor to have it repaired. The entire bottom along with the grass chute had to be dissembled. NEVER AGAIN. I will buy a cheapie big box Troybilt, Bolens etc with simple Front wheel drive, cheap off the shelf parts and easy repair....and NEVER an Electric. Those things are Toys.
Great video. I am hating my new Honda….
There is a Honda mower in your company logo.
I like Briggs & Stratton engines.
My Honda has been great for 15 years. It drinks fuel compared to my McClane with a Briggs and Stratton
I have been using lawn mover since 1980👍👍👍👍44 year I WORK ON GERMAN CARS😱😱😱HONDA LAWN MOVER ARE GOOD 😡😡😡
I have the hrc216, different unit I'm aware. Overall build seems ok, but sometimes the self-propel doesn't engage, and the mower leaves uncut blades of grass. I like honda products overall, but the quality of cut on this mower is the worst of any mower I've had over the last 35 yrs.
-- Edit: HRN216, residential mower
I bought in 2019 the Honda hrx.217hzc lawnmower bought late in season was great in 2020 after 5hrs. Total Use did first oil change following my Honda book i got with it,used all of 2021 was great brought out in 2022 3rd time out with maybe 30hrs. Total, not in long grass it literally blew up big puff of smoke and hole on left side of block brought to patio all the oil coming out hole apparently just over warranty,dealer tech said wow never seen that they inspected it and said they don't know what could of caused that i said obviously it was defective tech went to bat for me but Honda said no good will he recommended i call i did and eventually was told no good will because dealership told Honda was from lack of lubrication i asked to speak to someone higher was told supervisor would contact me never heard nothing sent email nothing,sent another email got responce saying going to review it will here in 5 days I live in Canada i paid 1550$ total i told them i want them to explain to me what lack of lubrication or maintenance i did not perform,next oil change was 50hrs.never got close every seoson new gas in can i hoping they will stand behind there product and admit it was a lemon
My 30 year old John Deere walk behind with the Kawasaki engine still runs pretty good, but two years ago I bought an EGO electric and I am done with gas in any lawn tool. Especially when it comes to trimmers and blowers, I am so glad to be rid of that two stroke crap.
The new HRX217's have an issue with the Camshafts and the spring that allows it to blead down compression to 60 psi so you can pull start it. Honda out sourced this part and the manufacture that makes the part before the cam gear is fully hardened which causes this issue to occur.
You are correct and the parts for repair are properly made...Thats what my dealer stated and so far seems to be true
Very nice web site set up. On the exhaust valve guides working out . Permatex makes a green in color sleeve sealing sealant . I have applied this on after cleaning the area good . Punch the guild stem after applying . Clean off any excess. Let product dry required time .
Bad Boy makes a great zero turn we use here in south Florida. Good products.
Hey Y-Bravo wasn’t a Chinese brand. Not sure what happened to that brand but Bad Boy I believe using its design. They Honda cheaping out .
The owner's manual that comes with it says Ybravo on the front cover. At least they could have put Bad Boy somewhere on the page lol.
Good luck when you need parts
Fj180 every good engine last for long time
Did you say Kawasaki is a Chinese engine?
Not the engine the mower.
Honda quit makeing junkie gas engines in 2023. Law suits.
So unfortunately all mower manufacturers, at one time or another, will create a model with a clear defective part. This is what happened to you. So you sold it back to the dealer and now all is well financially.
That said, statistically Honda mowers still have one of the highest reliability ratings of any mower manufacturer in the USA..and have for decades...and it sounds like Honda is willing to fix the issue , within the warranty period thankfully.
I also just picked up one of the last HRX 217s and I've seen the pull start issues first hand. The first time my wife went to use the mower the pull start rope snapped out of her hand which I've never seen happen to her in years of using all kinds of gas power equipment.
I hate to think how long a potential repair will take. I'm saving a tuned up Toro Super Recycler as my back up plan.
Hey 👋
Bought a lot of stuff from Sooesbee
I've had a Honda for 17 years but next mower will be battery powered.