How to Adjust Honda Mower Smart Drive Cable 

FYI for everyone, there is a service bulletin dated March 2017, service bulletin #107. The bushings on the wheels on some models were undersized & cause the rear wheels to move backwards. Here are the model numbers that are affected: HRR216K9VKA serial numbers MZCG-8670001-9933580 HRR216K9VLA serial numbers MZCG-8670001-9933580 HRR216K9VYA serial numbers MZCG-8670001-9933580 The fix is to replace the adjuster arms & if under warranty it is a free repair. Here is a link to the document on a lawn mower forum, it also tells how to do the repair yourself: www.lawnmowerforum.com/showthread.php/42592-Honda-HRR-Models-Rear-Wheels-Locking-Up-When-Pulling-Backwards

Excellent information! I was skeptical that it would work for my problem, but it was the perfect solution. No other video offered this clear and concise guidance. Thank you!

Your fix was so easy to follow and spot on! My problem was that the mower back wheels locked up in reverse. The self propelled didn’t work either. Watching your video, I was able to fix both issues without a problem. I thank you!

Spot on. Solved the problem with less than two minutes work. My kid is disappointed though. He thought he was going to talk me into buying a riding mower.

Great video, concise and professional. Plus the use of correct terminology confirms you know what you’re doing.

These are about the clearest and easiest-to-follow instructions that I've ever come across for any project on RU-vid. Thank you so much.

BEST HONDA PROPELL ADVICE I’VE FOUND. Thank you

After a whole day working on my lawn mower. I change the drive belt watching tens of videos. I finally came across your video after a comment on reddit had a link to it . 2 minutes later my problem was solved clear and straight to the point ....thank you.

I can't thank you enough!! I followed your link at the end of the video on my 3-year-old HRX217VKAA (hoping the VKA and VKAA were similar) and it worked GREAT! Before, I had to push it up a hill even on maximum drive, now it will go uphill like a tank!

Mowing the lawn just became so much easier again thanks to your video. Great job and thank you so much.

This video was of great assistance. My drive would not engage when I attempted to use my mower this year. Now it works fine. Two thumbs up for this video. Thank you!

What a fantastic, clear and precise how to DIY video! My mower got to a point it couldn't even climb the slightest uphill grade. Now I just barely push on the paddle and off it goes. I bought my mower new about seven years ago and forgot how fast it was! I expected the adjustment to be far more complex than that! Thanks buddy!!

You Rock!!! I purchased this mower new. I’m 6’5” and would have to almost jog if I pressed lever the all the way down. After having the mower serviced I noticed it wasn’t quite the same. This was driving me crazy. After applying test and doing your adjustments, it’s as good as new. Many thanks!!!

Thanks for this!! Thought I was going to have to take mine to the repair shop. So simple to repair/adjust.

OMG! It worked!!! Struggled with that lawn mower towards the end of last year and so far this year. Not sure why it worked, feel like it took 8 turns to lock the wheels and then 8 back for my model but it did! God Bless you!!

Extremely clear and simple! Bravo!

This is an awesome video. My mower is now running GREAT. Thanks!!

Thank you so much for the tutorial, I assumed something was broken on mine (HRR216VXA), and all it needed was an adjustment!

Wow this really helped me... replaced the belt thinking that was my problem! Thank you ☺️

Had this problem last year and put off repairing since I didn't have any major hills. Will remedy right away. Thanks for your great tutorial 👍

This is the best explanation on RU-vid. Straight and to the point.

Ma'am I just want to thank you very much for that video. That saved me looking in the owner's manual. Took me about 2 minutes to adjust my drive train. Back to normal and kicking ass. You're awesome sweetie!!! 💥💥💯

Awesome straightforward clear and useful directions. Thank you. My mower is working right.

Great demonstration and commentary

Thank you thank you!! My mower was acting up and I found this video. My mower now works great thanks to this video. Two thumbs up to you sir.

Excellent work on this video! I always prefer non-video repair guides because of all the extraneous junk but you're showing that a concise video is possible!

Very helpful video. Wish I had seen it before I spent $35 in parts and my morning replacing the belt and drive pulley on an 8 year old Honda I got from a relative. Turns out the cable was the main problem.

Great video! Thanks so much. Not sure how many turns I had to make (well over 15) to get the wheels to lock up but after backing off of that as you described (8 turns for mine), I need to pull out my track shoes to keep up! Beats the heck out of pushing that beast around. Mine was the Home Depot model (HRR2169VYA). Your help will make for a much more pleasant mowing season! Thanks again!

Thank you! Worked perfectly. My wheels would freeze when the lever was fully engaged, so I just went four full turns and it’s back to new.

Thanks! Took about 3 minutes and just eyeballed it. Thing is pulling like the day it came out of the box again. And I was thinking the belt was wore out lol! Not even close.

Out of all the "Pro" videos. No one explained it better then you. Keep it up!

Thanks so much. Got the mower back from the repair shop (in for a tuneup) and the rear drive didn't work any longer. This video & five minutes - done! Works like new.

Problem solved because of your helpful video. Followed your directions on how to adjust the self propelled linkage and after testing the results, problem solved. I am grateful for avoiding all the hassles related to transferring the mower to the shop not to mention my wife being under the false impression I am handy at this sort of thing! 😊

Great info on adjusting the travel cable on a Honda walk behind mower

Thank you! You’re instructions worked like a charm!!

Good job. Straight to the point.

Thanks so much! Easy to follow instructions. Saved me from getting it serviced professionally, and a lot of money !

Thanks buddy. Got my self propelled going again!!

Excellent, precise and quick explanation

Thanks so much for this, so glad to have my Smart Drive and self propel working again 😀

Your video's are so great thank you!

Thanks much. Very good video, still quite relevant. I like the lack of BS in the video. Nicely done.

My Honda HRX217K5VKAA worked exactly bass ackwards from this video. Honda must have changed the internal linkage. Mine was pulling weakly, even on the highest speed setting. But when I "tightened" the drive cable per the video, it would not even move forward at all. I had to turn the adjuster in the opposite direction until the mower would barely move on the "low" speed setting. Did not count any turns. Now works great. No longer have to keep it on high speed. Video was well done.

Thank you. I followed your instructions and it worked perfectly.

Let's go! I thought my mower was kaput. So glad I found this 😊

Thanks for the video now my mower is like a rocket know at full speed your practically running!

So glad I found this video! Honda should be paying you!

Perfect how-to video. Fixed based on your example. Thanks so much!

Great video Thanks!!! Solved my problem and was very explanatory and well done

Thanx a Million; Honda mowers did't exist when I went to the small engine mechanics trade school 45 years ago. U R a better teacher than our shop Instructor, who was always drunk when he got to work. I've learned more from U n a couple Hrs than I did n the school n a month.

Thanks very much for the video. This was more clear to me than the owner's manual.

Your instructions worked perfectly - thank you!!

Thank you! This video is just what I needed! You helped me make my mower auto-pilot again - making me a happy girl! Many thanks for the simple clean guidance!

great video, fixed ours in no time! we have power again! thanks!

THANKS! That worked as demonstrated!

Awesome video! Clear instructions and great camera work. Well done. Thank you!

This is fantastic! Thank you!

Thanks for this!. Fixed my HRX217 in 10 mins. It's zooming now

Good job on the video. Worked like a charm! 👍🏻

Very clear. Good job.

Great video! Very helpful. Thanks

Great teaching video! Thank you!

Thanks very much! I have the same mower and this fixed the Smart Drive.

Thank you… worked like a charm!

Thank You! I have self propelled again!!

Excellent video. Thank you

Thank you. Worked. Simple and correct.

Wow this is great. Going yo see what else is on the channel

Nice explanation. Thank you

just save me a bunch of money, lol! Thank you SO much sir. And God bless you for your kindness.

YOU ARE MY HERO!!! THANK YOU!

My HR214 is clattering a little, then a lot with propulsion engaged. I have changed the ratchets on the drive wheels. The drive wheels do lock if I pull it backwards. Is this clatter and stop and go relate to self propel or the belt?

Great info, thanks!

Yeah! Thank a lot. One of the first videos I came across and got my mower running like a champ again. Very helpful.

OMG, I did it! Thank you so much!

Awesome video thanks a lot for your professional help, God bless you.

Spot on. Thanks!

Great video thanks

I’m glad I found this video, but it didn’t work exactly as proposed. I tightened the adjuster turn after turn but the wheels never locked up. I eventually ran out of adjuster thread. I re threaded the adjuster, threaded it back to where it was and then just tightened it until the wheel started to drag when the handles where pushed down and before they got all the way down.

Very well done, thanks so much!

good job, thanks

Thanks I'll give it a try.

Awesome 😎

helped alot thanx

Thanks. I just replaced the transmission in mine. My issue is that the mower now is hard to push forward. Almost like if the transmission is engaged at all times. I loosened the cable to max loose and its still hard to push forward

having just done this repair, i dont understand why the manual says to tighten and then to loosen 8 turns before setting the jam nut. i had to undo those last 8 turns to get it to work correctly.

Wish you would make video for HR214 adjustment

Thank you for this. However, I have the HRX217K5VLAA and the propulsion has all but stopped working. Are you familiar with this model and whether it falls into these instructions - the turns on the adjuster and the position of the Smart Drive control (mine does not have a locking mechanism)? Thank you for any guidance.

Why do we have to loosen it 8 turns after tightening it?

That was easy. Thanks.

Just an FYI in case anyone reads this. Mine did lock up before the smart control was vertical like 150ish degrees. I still did this procedure and it fixed the issue. So if anyone does that test and thinks this isn't the issue. Try it anyway.

My mower feels brand new!

Sad to say I won't be keeping this HRX217VKA mower. Always wanted a Honda mower, so when my old Snapper self propelled was "in decline", I purchased the Honda from Lowes. It is unfortunate that Honda put such a terrible self propel system on such a nice machine. If you have a perfectly even lawn, and perfectly grass thickness to provide resistance, then the "Select Drive" is OK. However, if your yard has variable grass density, and goes up and down small inclines, then I would not recommend this mower. After hours spent trying to adjust the drive, I took it back thinking there was something wrong with it. It was very hard to control, regardless of where the "select dial" was set. In tall grass it slowed down, requiring different pressure on the paddle - in short grass, it would suddenly lurch forward REGARDLESS of where the dial was set - on concrete, at minimum dial setting, I had to run behind the machine. with the paddle fully depressed ....... at any setting, variable touch on the paddle would speed it up going down a slight incline, and if set to Min, with paddle fully depressed, it would stop, until dial was adjusted UP to pull it up the incline - then on the Decline at same setting it would run away with me. You have to CONSTANTLY make slightly more or slightly touch on the paddle to get constant speed - doing this while keeping the blade stop lever engaged was just annoying. So - if your lawn has variable grass density and slight inclines and declines (such as up and down a ditch bank), I wouldn't recommend this machine ........ and I drove myself crazy with this adjustment video trying to get a "constant" speed at one level of paddle depression ........ what a shame Honda messed up a great machine with a second rate propel system.

I have Model HRR216VLA. The rear wheels lock whether or not I engage the smart drive when pulling backwards. The smart drive only works intermittently when going forward. Any suggestions for an adjustment in this case?

Is there any way to set the smart drive mechanism so I can create a limiter for the fastest speed? It is too easy to push too far and do a wheelie.

I repair Honda's. Good info.. I thought it was something like that.. I always grease and clean them.. The drives.. A lot of work.. But Thanks !!

You're more knowledgeable than I am. I've noticed the belt is slipping, so this is how to fix that problem?

Link to more Know How Now videos for this mower: ru-vid.com/group/PLvce66kQTjJQMsmkVC0GWRiFes7ac4RhD

HI, I have a Honda HRR216VYA and I wonder if you have a video on orienting the pinion gears. It’s a little confusing. I have the shop manual and it’s not very clear. Is the orientation the same for the right and left side (as if you’re standing behind it)? The gears have a flat edge to the curved cutouts which I assume allows the gear to move in only one direction. Hence the clicking sound. Should the flat side face the back of the mower for both sides or only one. I hope I explained this clearly, lol. Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you for posting this! Your instructions were very clear and easy to follow. 👍🙂 Of course this is not at you (I just need to vent) but why the 🤬 would engineers design this to be such an involved process!? 🙄 Last lawnmower I had was a Murray (bought in 1999) and it had a belt drive design that never needed adjusting. It also had an auto-adjusting feature that compensated for belt wear. Why this lawnmower could not have been designed in a similar fashion is ridiculous! Honda could have designed this much better because doing it this way is like going back to the 1970s! SMH 😒