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I’ve got two Honda mowers that my parents bought new in the 80’s. I still have them, both with original engines. I’m 64, I’ll see if I can make them last for the rest of my life. My parents passed in 2004 and 2006, they would be thrilled if they knew I was still using them. Thank you for the sad report!
My 21" self-propelled Snapper is 40 years old. First engine, 4HP B&S went for 20 years. I replaced with a Honda and it's still going strong. I've replaced the wheels (steel) three times and just a few months ago rebuilt (yes, rebuilt, not replaced) the transmission for the first time. I really miss good engineering and manufacturing.
Sorry to hear this news. I have a Hrx217 since 2009 and absolutely love it. Always, and I mean always starts on first pull, once in a while it might take two. I've recommended to several people. Parts are very reasonable. Just a dependable, durable, well engineered machine that performs on another level compared to most other mowers.
I've been extremely happy with my Honda mower & snow thrower for the last 6 years in a challenging environment. Some of the most trouble free and reliable equipment I have ever owned. Sorry to hear they are ending the walk behind mower line, but I absolutely understand how tough it is to do business in some parts of the US. Hope this turns out to be a good move for them. ** Just found your channel, you do a great job!
😮😮 Oh wow - I'm a homeowner but went top-of-the-line commercial Honda mower about 6-7 years ago and it's off the charts amazing. Love the ability to change engine speed and self-propelled speed individually via levers on handlebars. I really hope parts don't get hard to find. I want to keep this mower for a long, long time.
My brother-in-law had a lawn service in the 90s, and he used to have a self-propelled Honda walk behind that he would use for tight areas, and other miscellaneous situations. I always remember that thing, because it would always start first pull. It could be hot, cold, had not been started for an hour, a week, a month, or a couple of months. Thing started first pull, every time, no matter what. I found it so incredible, that I still remember that to this day.
I have a water pump. Same story. When I am in trouble it starts. My wife can start it. My briggs and stratton pump needs to be dismantled and the points cleaned before it will go and it still takes a bit of a trick to start it. When you are selling at a clearing sale the Honda stuff is snapped up. People don't even bid on Briggs powered equipment unless it is suitable to be re powered with a Honda.
That sucks so much. I'm the mechanic for a school district outside of Chicago. We have 15 schools and most have walk behind Honda mowers. Many of them are over 10 years old and are still going strong. They cut much more than most residential homeowners use theirs for. So I've always recommended Honda to anybody that asks me what mower they should get
@@swingbelly The HR 215 aluminum mowers were great bullet proof mowers with the GX engines and ball bearings on the drive axles But the newer ones with the GC motors and plastic bushings were average home owner grade and didn't even bag that well so the "landscapers" that bought would crank the governors up to 4600 rpm and they would be reached in a year.
Between Big Brother and the slip and fall attorneys, there won’t be anything decent left in this country. I own several older Honda walk behind mowers, looks like they will be gaining value as time goes on. 😂 Thank you for confirming what is taking place with Honda.
It wasn't lawyers. Honda's causation statement led with environmental regs (pollution), but the second mention was the killer--customer preference. Honda GAS mowers are losing to BATTERIES. You can beat your chest with the special cases where fuel engines can't be replaced, but, what, 95% of all residential customers will be better off with a rechargeable mower in the garage? And the lower neighborhood decibel level will lead to rejoicing. My workshop and yard equipment is 50% rechargeable now. Zero regrets. My mower will be swapped out soon. My best guess is in 10 years gas mowers will be banned in many cities. No one can blame Honda for abandoning a shrinking market.
Because your going to use what... nuclear, when the lithium is all used up and worn out? Haha, all the battery ppl be swapping out 10 AGM batteries just to mow their front yards 🤣. I guess Copper will be in high demand... "Copper batteries?" No silly... Extension Cords 😄 🤣 😂
I was sorry to see it when Honda stopped manufacturing their riding mowers. I bought one in 1986 because the salesman said if I took care of it I could pass it along to my kids. I thought that sounded pretty good since riding mowers don’t usually last very long. Well the mower has lasted with only changing blades and oil and a new battery every few years. I just sold it this year to a young couple that just purchased a new home. Still running as good as when I bought it. Honda can make some good products.
Still have ride on mowers in the UK from Honda but they aren't made by Honda but another company who make many ride on mowers under different brand names for the UK and European markets.
Those things are worth a fortune if you can find them. My aunt had a Honda Harmony riding mower. It was smooth as ever had to been at least 20 years old when I was using it a couple years back
Why I have one and it’s hands down THE BEST mower I’ve ever used. The twin blades create a fantastic cut, it’s quiet and I can cut my entire yard on one tank.
That’s the benefit to a well designed and maintained lawn mower. I doubt in 50 years someone will be making the same comment about their cordless electric mower. Regarding those, we have yet to know what the TOC will be over the lifetime of the electric mower vs gas. What is the lifespan of the batteries? Cost to replace? My mower is 14 years old and was not cheap ($600 IIRC). I’ve only had to service the carb once. Other than yearly oil changes and the occasional spark plug and air filter, it’s only cost me about $140 in actual repair costs. That was parts only because I could fix it myself. Will it take an EE degree to repair a cordless electric mower? Also, for those not mechanically inclined, a local repair shop can readily be found. The same can’t be said right now for electric mowers. A friend bought a Ryobi earlier this year and it stopped working mid season. He had to borrow a neighbors gas mower while it was sent to a Ryobi service center for repairs. I’m not sold on the cordless electric L&G equipment yet.
The best walk behind mowers ever have already been discontinued for years, Lawn Boys. The high RPM'S of their engine's along with keeping the blade sharp and those things would keep your yard looking like a golf green, and they'd last forever. But the same environmental nonsense that's forcing Honda to drop their mowers put Lawn Boy out of business years before.
@@jamestboehm6450 Yep, those were the best walk behind mowers ever made, but they weren't cheap that's for sure. Outboard Marine Corporation who made Lawn Boy's was mostly put out of business from 2 strokes being hit so hard by the EPA, they were actually the one's that Chevy farmed out the job of manufacturing that wild 4 cam 4V per cylinder engine that was in the Grand Sport "King of the Hill" Corvette back in the 90's, contrary to some people's claims they didn't actually design the engine but Chevy contracted them to at least cast the parts since it was all aluminum with some complex shapes because of their expertise at casting aluminum. That was a real shocker when they went under.
Oh I just picked my 1st one this past spring.. LOVE IT! Yes I had a couple clogging issues underneath. Thought I was cutting the grass when it was a little damp or letting the height of the grass grow too much before I cut. So I just started mowing more often and later in the afternoon so the grass would be dryer
Smart people that understand how things work, cut grass when it is as dry as possible always... there might be exceptions. Clumping, wet grass happens with any mower, the Honda design might have a less forgiving deck design for this method of operation, WHY ARE YOU CUTTING GRASS THAT WET ANYWAY? Rant? No... Common sense. SMH
Still running a LB stagger deck commercial push mower. The one with the large orange tank and extended breather set up. The F engine is getting tired tho and I don't know if I can keep it running much longer.
I must admit I did not know Honda mowers were that good but I've learned over the years if you take care of things they last For example my newest lawn tractor is a 13 year old, Craftsman my oldest is a 43 year old john deere ,my walk behinds are close to 25. I guess what I'm saying is while its a shame to loose any manufacturing, don't despair take care of your equipment and it will last. And while I have learned a lot over the years I still watch you tub vidios like yours because even at 70 you still learn.
I have used the Honda that you made the video about for two years now in my small Lawncare business never had a problem. Regular filters, oil,& plug changes. It has been amazingly durable! Just changed out the rear drive tires on it, they were bald! Absolutely love mine.
I love Honda stuff, so early on I got one of the mowers for trimming. The dead-man lever stopped the blade from turning, but kept the engine running. Great on paper, but the blade mechanism was under the deck and took up too much room, not leaving enough room for clippings. Plus, it was susceptible to corrosion - engine ran fine, but the blade was unreliable. What Honda and other manufacturers need to do is abandon markets like California and make products for the rest of us (and the world). When they can't get product anymore, maybe the voters will finally put some reins on CARB, who answer to nobody now.
@@williamjackson5942 your neighbor's gas mower isn't what you should be worrying about. Ask yourself why major corporations aren't held to the same equipment retarding emissions standards the average citizen is held to.
I'm actually shocked. I work on just as many Hondas as any other brand, and I have clients keeping their Harmonies from the 90s serviced and running. I have three sitting in my parts pile I may reboot and sell now that I know. Thanks for keeping me informed!
I have kept my dad's HR 215 running for 31 years and when a neighbor moved he gave me his HR 215. Changed the hydrostatic drive oil four times, to prevent any problems.
That's a shame, best mower I ever owned hands down. Never forget the day the UPS guy delivered it. It actually started on the first pull straight out of the box. Honda is without a doubt the best overall engine manufacturer in the world and have always trusted pretty much anything with their name on it.
@@Eddie.D346 Guessing you like massively over-engineered BMW stuff. Spent your $700 to replace the $4 gasket where the oil flows through your gen bracket yet? Honda engines have been way better than average in every machine they put them into.
My first Honda walk behind was HS21 120 cc with the all aluminum deck! I am still mowing with my early model HRM215 HXAwith the light grey plastic deck, pushrod overhead valves (not belt drive cam), hydrostatic transmission, and blade brake. It still runs like a champ!
Thanks for the update Bre ! Much like you, we are a small mom and pop commercial outdoor Power Equipment Dealership, We service just about anything that has a small engine on it, or in it ! So, that's very valuable information for us to know as we try to deal with the economy, supply-line challenges, interest rates, etc. etc. etc. ! Thanks again Bre ! 🇺🇲
The times, they are a changing. I purchased a walk-behind Honda mower for about $850 in 2013, which I thought was grossly over-priced, but I knew it would be a reliable product, so I bought it. It has worked flawlessly and I expect many more years of service out of it. Sorry to see Honda leave this segment of the market, but you can't "cheap out" on some parts of your design/build and not expect ramifications. I hope I won't be in the market for a new mower for many years to come. Thanks for your great channel and information-sharing :)
@@joeyl.rowland4153 How do you know which replacement parts you’ll need? Like Chichanic said, there’s a good chance replacement parts will be around for a good while and there’s also the possibility another company will start making parts, or one can always learn to fabricate from scratch, or make similar parts work.
I sold these back in the good ole days at Al Lamb's Dallas Honda 1988-1993 HR214, HRA214, HRX214 and these older models were basically indestructible. Sad to see this part of their line going away but it is what it is. Who I really feel for is the dealer network that will have to fill the void "If they can"
I had been told by my dealer that they had stopped production to produce ventilators for covid some time ago. Not enough money in it anymore to go back I guess. Thanks for the heads up. love your show.
I bought a year old Honda Harmony around 2004 or so at Home Depot for $225 and it has been the best mower I have ever owned. I didn't think I would like the plastic deck/frame but I love it after years of use.
Bre, that is a shock! I have a Honda HRX217HYA which is their hydrostatic drive with rotostop and absolutely love it. I have been recommending that model quite a bit to those wanting a great quality machine and wasn’t concerned with cost or to those who have cutting businesses. I have found those and the Toro Super Recyclers were what a lot of the lawn services are going for. It’s a shame Honda has decided to take this approach since their product far supersedes what you see in the big box stores. Glad I bought mine when I did.
I use an older Honda with the blade stop and it comes in handy when using the bagger. I have another one with the 3 speed gear lever. They are great mowers and I may look at buying a newer one next year.
Make SURE if you have one of these mowers & want to keep them going go ahead NOW and buy up existing parts you may need they will probably leave you out to dry like B&S did with Snapper RER parts, many have already been discontinued
Tough call. I had a 1982 HR push mower until 2018 when I stopped mowing and got a lawn service. Had a 1/4 acre to mow each week. Nothing went wrong, plug and oil change and occasional blade. Then I bought a HT 3813 Honda tractor that I also sold in 2019. 1 front clutch and 1 starter solenoid in 30 years. Mowed 2 acres in NJ, then brought to FL to do 1 acre. Loved it, I used to wash and wax it occasionally. Very quiet, due to water cooling.
i used to work at a honda dealer in the mid 2000's and the main thing i repaired were their walk behind mowers. they are well built and i'm surprised by this news. most of the ones that came in for a "no starting" complaint were eaisly fixed. before i even pulled the starter rope i would drain the gas from the tank and carb and put fresh gas in it, change the spark plug and air cleaner, and the thing would fire right up. the only thing i remember being a little tricky to figure out was when one would keep flooding even though i rebuilt the carb. it was also snatching the starter rope out of my hand. against my shop foreman's advice, i reset the valves out of not knowing what else to do and it ran like a brand new machine! didn't know the epa is getting even stricter on small engines. 2-cycles will eventually be forced to stop production.
I don't think it's the Federal EPA, but California's EPA; California administers the EPA stuff here in the state and can/does make it stricter, especially for air pollution control. They're requiring all mowers/blowers/trimmers to be 'non-gas-powered' by 2035(?), which basically means electric/battery powered. A lot of states follow California's lead so expect it to slowly spread to the nation's other more-populated regions in the next decade.
I've still got the HR-214 Mower my Mom bought new in 1982. She paid $600 for that baby back then. It has started on the first pull forever and is the best engineered mower ever IMHO. It was built similar to the Mercedes of the 1960s, near bulletproof. I'll be keeping this one forever. I expect they will start to become collectors items in the future.
Bre, thanks for letting us know. That is a bit of a bummer. I suspect the push for battery powered products had, at least some, influence on their decision.
@@gillespriod5509 Yea they could, you're going to wind up seeing trailers used by mowing services that have charging capability on them so the mowers/spare batteries can be charged on the way to the next job or even while stopped at that particular job, batteries not being used will be getting charged while others are doing the mowing. This isn't about what Honda WANTS to do it's about what they're being forced to do by being sued for millions of dollars by California and the EPA, this isn't to say I agree with it but it is the reality of things. Personally I can't wait to seeing how they're going to handle the environmental mess of having all the old batteries from mowers, cars and everything else piled up all over the place, and the "carbon footprint" from dealing with it, all the energy required to transport and process millions of used batteries isn't going to fall off of trees.
The politicians who are pushing for batteries in liu of engines don't really care about the environment, so they can't be shamed. They're only interested in power, and the mainstream media runs cover for them, so none of the environmental stain will affect them either.
Agree. Ive had 3 Honda mowers over the last 30 years (decks died before engines) but last year bought a battery mower system. All push behinds will be going in that direction I think.
@w a Don't give away your gas stuff yet. I went all cordless lawn equipment, and by the third year, the batteries were trash. I can give you some advice to make your batteries last longer, though. 1) Most have battery charge indicators, don't run them lower than 1/4 charge. 2) Don't leave the batteries in hot or cold conditions any longer than necessary, I keep my cordless tool batteries in my house, unless I'm charging them or using them. 3) Don't charge a battery directly after you've used it hard, let it cool down 30min. 4) Don't use a battery directly after you've charged it, let it cool down 30min. I worked at a factory, where we tracked battery life. I implemented these rules, and our instances of battery failures were reduced to about 40%.
Just the beginning of big brother forcing battery powered stuff down our throats. The EPA is out of control. I was amazed at all the the battery powered mowers at home depot.. I absolutely love my 9 year old HRX217.. I'm gonna get another to one to put aside while i still can.
At equiment expo, I asked one of the Honda reps why no one was around the Honda area, he told me Honda will no longer make mowers so everybody kind of lost interest in Honda lawn products. I just stood there in shock
Love your videos. I own an 11-year-old Husqvarna HU800 AWD with Honda motor. Great machine. I just replaced the wheels, dust covers. New blade adapter and belt are on the way. Working on the machine made me realize it's not going to last forever. The deck is pitted and a lot of the parts are showing wear. Thought about it a lot and bought a new Honda HRN on sale. It's a bit on the lightweight side but everything is new and it flies. I believe those two mower will take me to the finish line of my lawn mowing career.
I was never crazy about the Honda walk behind mowers. I bought a couple of HR214 mowers that I found cheap on Craigslist and turned them for a profit, but they seemed cumbersome to maneuver for some odd reason, and they are hard to work on. They did used to run smooth when they didn't smoke. I do have a 20 year old GCV-160 in my garage that I bought for a backup engine but my old Briggs Quantum and Tecumseh TVS-100 engines still run great and I prefer the simplicity of the flat head engines as well as a single blade system. Whoever said Tecumseh engines are hard to work on never worked on a Honda.
Totally agree. We are losing to the disposables. They are not cheap at $500+. I don't understand why people are buying into this crap. A Briggs is still ok if you can get that jet drilled a tiny bit. They are the light option and can crank easily once modified. I loved the flathead engines. All types. So dependable.
@@JBK647 replacing the cables, the spring blade clutch mechanism, the overabundance of hardware which is time consuming work to take apart.. also the seat inside the carburetor is not replaceable on Japanese-made models, so you can only "re-surface" it with a drill.. the whole ends up worth less than the sum of its parts (even though it is still a "good" engine).. the engine models are hard to distinguish with too many immemorable numbers in different locations on each engine (you can't always count on finding the right part if you search "GCV-160" for instance).. It is much easier to memorize all the other abundant makes of engines over Hondas and they are always much cheaper and easier to obtain.
@@campbellpaul Have replaced no cables on a 35 yr. old Honda; they're original. Spring blade clutch? Are you referring to roto-stop? The one I have has worked flawlessly, even when the bearings finally wore out enough to warrant replacement. No idea what abundance of hardware means. Never needed to resurface a carb needle seat. Now the model/ser. #s thing has some merit; it can get confusing. I've cannot fathom why anyone would want to memorize any make of engines, Honda or otherwise.
Multi-certified small engine mechanic here. My experiences with Honda engines during the last five years or so have not been great. Of course, you mentioned the now infamous clippings in the drive belt, but for me it's been thrown rods, fuel delivery, cracks in castings, scored cylinders, etc., etc., Mostly on GV & GVX. My personal machine is a Hustler with an old Honda twin, sporting 1,800 + hours with factory original head gaskets and oil seals still intact. It's the difference between the extremes and the rapidity of demise that I find most telling, i.e., I'm just not all that surprised.
The newer ones have poor rods. The push mower market should go pro to stay afloat. This cheapening is only leading to electrics taking over. Then, nothing is fixable!
I absolutely love honda. They are engineered amazingly and last forever. However parts availability is pretty good for most of their lineup. However finding parts for my old Honda lawn tractors is a different story since those were discontinued in 2000. Out of curiosity have you ever worked on the honda lawn tractors or compact tractors? If so what did you think of them? Also your comment about Murray parts makes me laugh because I thought of tecumseh since they are in the same boat lol
Good!! I’ve had a couple of these mowers and they have both had carb issues, in and out of the shop every year. Bought a new Toro, no issues at all. Great mower so far
Geez. I love my Honda HRX217 walk behind mower with the GCV190 engine. Six years old. Starts on one pull EVERY time. I clean it after every use. Sharpen the blades twice a season (I always keep a second set sharpened, ready to go). Buy OEM parts (air cleaner, plugs, etc.), change the oil each season. Dang. I did not want to hear this news. Thanks for giving us a heads up. I'll keep mine. BTW Bre, I shared your channel with my daughter who just bought her first house. You produce great, useful info. Thanks.
As a landscaper whose used both Honda and Toro/Exmark walk-behind mowers, I prefer the Toro/Exmark for ease of operation due to their simplified handle design (they're also easier to maneuver), but their disadvantage is that they tend to go through belts. Hondas are better at going through thick grass, especially the microcut mowers, because of their clutch design.
Have a new HRX 217 that I bought last year and I have a 1979 Lawn Boy 21 inch that I bought new then. Both are now going to be like the dinosaurs. But I still mow with them and love them.
LOL I have a used Craftsman mower with a sticker that says "Not for sale in (the Peoples Republik of ) Kalifornia". Its one of the reasons I bought and use it. The lame EPA can shove it.
I heard something similar and went with a yard force walk behind. It's actually a great alternative. I got the Briggs and Stratton 675EXi mainly to see the motor quality. It's actually an amazing motor for me with electric start as a bonus. If you review that motor I'd love to see your opinion.
The new Briggs 2015+ ohv like yours is the lightest engine on the market. They can be extremely easy to start with a few modifications. 1 pull starts are the reward. Even after sitting. I slightly drill the jet and make sure the auto choke isn't stuck open. Keep an air filter on them always! ⚠️😁
I just bought a mower a few weeks ago. The Hondas were still on the shelf. The problem with the newer mowers began when they started using the stamped steel decks IMO. 🤔
I guess I will have to go buy a couple. My Troy Bilt is going strong but showing it's age. My plan was to buy a Honda next. Screw the "green" crowd. Get out and vote!
I have a HR214 mower that I bought new in 1987. It still starts first pull most times. I have replaced the bag twice, half a dozen blades and very few other parts. I love this mower and can't accept that it may stop running one of these days.
😢 I have been a homeowner since 2007 and have only had a Honda walk-behind, also own a 1994 Civic for the last 20 years and still runs great! Stupid governments…they will be missed for sure in the market. 😢
When mowing wet grass, I raise the deck a full notch so as to get a lot less clumping up inside the deck, which can cause the mower to stall. I have two Honda-engine walk-behinds (one Husky brand, one Honda) and love 'em both. I mow early to avoid the summer midday heat, hence the wet grass. When done mowing, I always clean out the deck to prevent rusting.
That's most unfortunate. I have a Honda walk behind mower that's 20+ years old and still runs and starts excellent. I'd look at buying a new one before they are gone but this one still works perfectly and still looks pretty much new, so I guess I'll just continue taking good care of this one. Hopefully it'll last another 20 years and by then my lawn mowing days will be over.
Just perfect, now most people are going to have to rely on the cheaply made Briggs engines to get by. Be sure to hang onto your old mowers and take care of them, I mean it.
The Briggs mowers are really good. Just be sure to use non-ethanol gas in them. I would suggest trying the Briggs 7.25hp (190cc) engine. This is a very good engine and it's stronger than the Honda 6.5hp (160cc) engine. It cuts good in deep, tall grass. It doesn't even bog down in the tall grass like the Honda does and it starts super easy with half a pull of the cord.
@@CuriousKL Honestly, if you have a really small yard, an electric mower seems more viable. My neighbor has one and it's super quiet and he doesn't have to worry about gas, oil, exhaust fumes, and all the issues with storage. He runs a pawn shop and I gave him my gas mower to use when his other gas mower broke down. He sold the mower I gave him and he uses his electric one now.
My son bought an Ego mower a couple years ago. Now he needs a new battery. Costs almost the same price as a new mower, if he buys the OEM one. $ 400. He’s been using my 14 year old gas Toro, with the trusty Briggs engine, for the last 2 months.
@@Discretesignals an electric mower may make sense for individuals like your neighbors with postage stamp size yards that enjoy cramming into these overpopulated, tight ass fancy neighborhoods but some of us out here have 20 acres or more and electric is not going to be a suitable replacement for our outdoor power equipment requirements. I picked up the Milwaukee cordless trimmer almost 2 years ago cause I had seen and heard nothing but good reviews on it and since I have a ton of other Milwaukee cordless products ranging from drills and impacts and saws to their newer line of heated sweatshirts and coats and have been happy with it all except for this trimmer. It works great but my only complaint is the battery life is only a quarter of what they say it should be and when I have a small, 20+ acre farm, that just ain’t gonna work. So now I just use it for around the house and driveway and it’s great for that even tho it still takes two batteries to do that area which is less than 20 minutes of run time and they say the one battery it came with should be good for 45 minutes but I only get 10 -15 minutes max. If it would give me 45 minutes like they claimed, or bell, just gi ve me 30 minutes and I’d be crazy happy with it! It’s got more torque and cutting power than any gas trimmer I’ve ever had but I just can’t deal with swapping batteries every 10 fricken minutes!!
@@1982MCI Definitely, if you are trying to mow 20 acres with a battery operated push mower, its not going to work out for you. Our small neighborhood is around 40 years old and I wouldn't call it a fancy high class area. Mostly full of good working people with kids. I run a Husqvarna 21 inch with a GCV Honda powerplant, Husqvarna 125B blower, and ECHO SRM string trimmer. Its nothing compared to the machines you have, but they are practical. Lots of people around here use lawn services to maintain their yards, but I like doing my own yard work.
I worked in a lawnmower shop around '81 when Honda had only been selling mowers for a couple of years. These had the over head cam engine, side power takeoff for the rear wheel drive and the blade clutch. These were light years above anything else we sold at the time. Snapper was probably the second best but they had already switched to steel decks at that point. Back then it was always a struggle to start any lawnmower but these always started on the first pull. I bought a Honda mower when I bought my first house around '90 and that mower is still running fine. A couple of years ago I got a second one from my brother that was a couple of years older and had been sitting under his deck for several years because he had let it sit too long and it wouldn't start. I looked it over. The carb linkage was all bent up and the entire mower was rusty and corroded. I pulled the carb. Cleaned it, bead blasted the rust out of the bowl and cleaned the tank. Straightened the carb linkage and put it back together along with an oil change. Put some gas in, expecting to have to pull a few times. Started on the first pull and ran like a new mower. Now that's quality.
Keep up the good work. I'm 64 and push my walk behind Honda for the exercise. I've had mine for about 10 years and love it. With regular oil changes it should last a long time.
Hey if the thing is running good, doesn't knock or burn oil, or needs parts that are going to be more than another mower, why buy a back up that is going to sit around?
In Australia I haven't seen a Honda walk behind with a belt. The ones they sell here that aren't self propelled tend to be heavy to push. Their self propelled ones are great . I'm still using one that's over 30 years old
They partially became victims of their own quality, much like Lawn-Boy did years ago. Their mowers last a long time, but they're too expensive to compete with the big-box store Chinese throw-away crap. The average homeowner doesn't think about having to replace the cheap one six times before the good one finally gives up. As for the environmentalists, I suddenly want to go out and fire up my old 2-cycle Lawn-Boy just to irritate them. 😜
The Briggs and Stratton engine is very lightweight. I like the smart stow version. Electric is throwaway consumerist fodder. They gatekeep all the replacement parts only for certified repair centers locking out the end user just like TVs and other modern day consumer appliances. A Briggs engine will fit on a newer Honda deck BTW. Your blade brake clutch won't work though. Tecumseh was the first casualty and it's a shame.
I have a fairly old self propelled Honda mower which a friend gave up on. I paid a token amount and cleaned and repainted it. It is without doubt my best ever mower. So reliable and starts so well. I wish my Briggs and Stratton ride on would start is easy.
I've always liked Honda products so I clicked on this video a soon as I saw it. So I'm a first timer. My old ears couldn't keep up with your delivery but when I slowed the video speed to .75 all became clear. Thanks for the Honda heads up!
I bought a Honda, self-propelled walk behind 30+ years ago when I bought my home. My lawn is approximately one acre and over the years my Honda mower has never failed me. In fact, other than changing the oil and air filter, that mower has been outstanding.
I have a GCV 130 on a Husq push that I got for free from someone who moved, 10 years it still runs better than new, start on first, maybe second pull. I don't know how old it is. Just oil , air filters, and a new mulching blade and plug every few years.
I have a Honda self driving mower it's great. When the drive belt fell of cause a flax leaf dislodgeded it it reminded me how horrible it was to push a mower. I wasnt aware the falling off belt was a common issue. I just had to put it back on no tools needed. I mowed damp grass and it was a nightmare with clogging but u can't always wait for the grass to be perfectly dry. By the way i got the belt back on without removing anything. Push the back mechanism forward and fit the belt did it on in the lawn in 2 minutes
I love my Honda mower. I’ve had it for years and have recommended it to friends they buy one multiple times. I guess they made it so well that you don’t have to replace it 5 or 10 years. That is a problem with a lot of the newer consumer items, they build things like refrigerators, washers, etc. to only last a little past the warranty period.
California should be cut loose and just slide into the Pacific. Your country would be better off without it. (maybe just the southern part as those folks up north are not all that bad)
I'm still running parts from a Bolens we bought in the 60's. Rebuilt motor twice, finally replaced it about 15 years ago, deck once. Wheels, axles and handle all that's left of the original purchase; they are still solid. I believe in getting my money's worth!
Milwaukee has made a competitive mower. Been using it every work day for at least 6 months now. I don't miss my Honda mower the way I did when I was using another electric brand.
That's too bad and thanks for the heads up. Noticed H.D. didnt carry them any more and have lot of battery mowers $$$$, I may have to pick up another Honda for backup. I won't even need to take it out of the box because my 4 year old Honda runs like a dream. Gave my twice the price Ariens to my son and took the Toro back to H.D. after one swipe of the lawn.
I have an Australian build Honda HRU215, with a GXV140 5HP motor & 2 speed shaft driven gearbox. This machine has given 25+ years of faultless service. Always easy to start & has a durable cast aluminum deck. It is a shame to see this manufacturer drop this line of machines, but in a price conscious market most consumers don't what to pay the extra price for quality sadly. In New Zealand we have recently seen the exit of Subaru Robin from the market. I guess Chinese made throw away machines will be our only option soon.
I have to make a decision on whether to get one before they stop making them. I'm 73 so I don't know how many years I have left. Have one now that over 10 years old, it was used when I got it. Thanks for the news.
65 lb. compression, warm. Oil level increases measured at change. 217 less than 40 hours. 3 pull start w/ blue smoke for 3 seconds. On warranty. Ideas?
I picked up a Honda HS720CC single stage snowblower three weeks ago at my local Honda dealer up here in Ontario Canada. The dealer advised they are being discontinued this year, despite it being their best selling snow blower. The dealer indicated he thought it was being discontinued due to emissions. Sad news!
I have a ten + year old Black Max generator with a Honda GX390 5 hp engine. I can't find any video showing how to clean and/or rebuild and/or replace the carburetor. I rarely use it any more (emergencies only) and I TRY to start it every couple months, but I do fail to follow my own advice. Well, now I can't get it to start. I have non ethanol fuel in it, and I turned off the fuel to the carb and let it run dry. But, she don't want to boogie. Sure would appreciate a video on rebuilding it. Small words...short sentences....you know....rebuild for Dummies. I love your channel and I've learned a lot. Keep the good stuff coming.
PS. Your mention of $35 carb got me to thinking. I don't know how many times I have pulled the carb off my old snowblower trying to figure out why it bogs except when full choke. I have cleaned it every way I know how and no difference. So I went to the manufacturer see how much a new carb would cost. $90!!!!! So I looked on Amazon. $15 with new hose, new prime pump, spark plug and new gaskets. Now I need to buy an inline gas filter incase it wasn't just old ethanol gasoline clogging it up somewhere. What are they doing to gasoline these days? 60 days and it goes bad???
My Dad owned a riding lawn mower back in 1970s. Great mower for a large lot. Only one problem, the manufacturer stopped making parts for it. He had to build his own parts for this mower. As for Honda, discontinuing the manufacturing of walk behind mowers. I am not surprised, lots of people ditching grass in favor of plants in my area. Seems like each week a landscape crew is pulling up a lawn in my neighborhood.
I noticed that everybody else started using smaller displacement engines and Honda didn't. It's the reason I did not get another Toro after I had to replace my worn out one.
Speaking of Honda engines! What is your opinion on the Honda Clone engine (Predator) sold by Harbor Freight mostly? I have one on my wood splitter for the last three years. It replaced a Briggs 5 horse that needed a gas tank. $75.00 for gas tank, $80.00 for a new Predator engine with a coupon. Love the Predator over the Briggs. Anyway, love your videos and keep them coming. Central Maine Dan….
I love your channel. Your string trimmer head recommendation was a lifesaver. 2 years ago I got a new Honda HRX217 brand new for half price. Best walk behind mower I have ever owned and I have bought a lot of mowers. I guess stockpiling some parts would be smart before they stop supporting the U.S. market. What would your top 5 be if you wanted to keep your Honda going as long as possible? Thanks again for all the help you provide.
I have had a honda push mower for about 10 years. Getting some problems. I ended out purchasing a new one knowing I won't be able to replace it. The model I am retiring is a push one and the new one has the self propelled.
I had a Honda mower for 15 years, and it was finally running a little rough and the deck had rusted through. This year I bought a new one of basically the same model and hope to use it for a long time.
