Honda hrr216 push mower. Honda HRR 216K9VKA Review

31st July 2023

The Honda HRR216K9VK is a gas lawn mower with impressive features and performance capability. You will find this lawn mower is designed well and it packs enough power to ensure a clean, smooth lawn.

Top Ten Reviews Verdict

With a user-friendly design and impressive performance, this lawn mower is a solid choice.

Cons

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The Honda HRR216K9VK is a gas lawn mower with impressive features and performance capability. You will find this lawn mower is designed well and it packs enough power to ensure a clean, smooth lawn.

When we tested this push gas lawn mower, we found it has one of the best bag capacities of any model in our lineup, which makes maintenance much easier since you do not have to empty it so often.

There are six cutting positions, which is about average for a self-propelled lawn mower, so you can adjust it to the length of your grass. We gave the mower an overall performance score of 90 percent, reflecting the ease with which it cut during our testing process.

The rear wheels are variable, giving this lawn mower strong self-propulsion. The wheel height has four-lever adjustment, giving you freedom to set the mower at a fitting level for your lawn. No quick-wash port is built in, so you have to flip the mower over to clean out stuck-on clippings.

The handle cushioning is one of the best features of this lawn mower, providing protection from jolts during use. The handles are also built to be easily maneuverable, making the experience less tiring for you. There is also an efficient mulching function.

This otherwise useful and versatile lawn mower does have a few flaws. Its noise level is 98.5 dB, which is high enough that it could be disruptive if you have noise-sensitive neighbors. If you need a softer sounding mower, consider the Craftsman 37744. In our tests, the Honda HRR was difficult to start and required several attempts before it revved up.

The weight of the Honda HRR is only 84 pounds, one of the lowest on our lineup. The handle height is also moderately low at 41 inches, which makes this lawn mower easy for you to move if you are not exceptionally tall or strong. The engine is only 160cc, which is smaller than some models but not at all weak.

Buying Guides

Honda hrr216 push mower

165.00

Features for the Honda HRR216K10VKA

The Honda HRR216VKA self-propelled lawn mower has variable speed Smart Drive, which lets you easily adjust your mowing speed from 0 to 4 mph. The 3-in-1 capability means mulch, bag, or discharge your grass clippings. The HRR216VKA also features a Honda GCV160 engine that is durable, reliable, and easy to start. This mower is also certified to meet CARB and EPA emission levels for all 50 US states.

Smart Drive Speed Control:Honda‘s Smart Drive speed control allows you to incrementally adjust your speed using your thumbs or just the palm of your hand. Designed for ergonomic comfort, the Smart Drive system can be controlled with either hand and has 5 different speed settings.
Twin Blade QuadraCut System:Honda’s QuadraCut twin blade cutting system produces an even cut to your lawn and very finely cut clippings that compact well into your grass collector and decompose quickly into your lawn as mulch.
Honda GCV160 Premium Residential Engine:The Honda GCV160 engine starts easily thanks to its Auto Choke System that produces a rich mixture of gas and air upon startup. This engine is reliable, powerful, and meets all 50 US state’s EPA and CARB emission standards.
3-in-1 Capable Mower:The HRR216VKA is 3-in-1 capable meaning you can mulch, bag, or discharge your grass clippings without having to use any tools to change between the 3 cutting methods.
EZ Fold Handle:The EZ Fold handle has 2 positions that allow you to easily adjust height and also prepare your mower for storage.

Technical Specs for the Honda HRR216K10VKA

Engine Brand : Honda GCV160 Displacement(cc) : 160cc Fuel Capacity : 0.3 gal

Drive System Drive Type : Rear Wheel Drive Self-Propelled : Yes

Cutting Deck Cutting Width : 21 inches Cutting Deck Material : 16 gauge steel Cutting Height (min-max) : 1.125. 4 inches Cutting Height Steps : 6

Drive System Transmission Type : Variable Speed Transmission Speed Forward (min, max) : 0. 4.0 mph

Engine Starting System : Recoil

Drive System Wheel Height (front/rear) : 8 inches / 8 inches

Cutting Deck Cutting Methods : Mulch / Bag / Discharge

Equipment Collector Type : Soft Bag Collector Volume : 3.0 cubic ft Handle Height Adjustment : Yes Ball Bearing Wheels : Rear Wheels

Warranty Residential Warranty : 3 years Commercial Warranty : 90 days

Engine Engine : 4-Cycle

Honda HRR216k9VKA Mower Review 2023

You may have heard about the excellence of Honda mowers from online forums or your lawn obsessed neighbor, but probably still have some questions. Not to worry, we are here to provide a comprehensive look at one of the best lawn mowers ever produced.

The mower’s reliability and overall solid cutting performance have earned it one of our highest value scores. Let’s see why.

Mower Specifications

Honda HRR Quick Review

Easy to Use: Some mowers are difficult to assemble, and seem to require an engineering degree to operate.

Thankfully, this Honda’s has many innovative features to make this mower operable by anyone. You can control how fast the mower is going by pressing on the handle; the harder you squeeze the handle the faster the machine goes. Similarly, the automatic regulation of the choke removes any need to open/close the choke or adjust it once you have started mowing.

Durability: The steel cutting deck, and the fact that the engine is made by Honda increase the mower’s life span.

Honda engines are some of the finest in the industry (there’s a reason why Honda cars last so long). The engine in the Honda HRR is constructed in a way that increases longevity. It is constructed with as few parts as possible (minimizes risk of breakdown), has a dual lubrication system, and an internal timing belt designed to last as long as the engine does. With many mowers using cheap engines, it is good to see Honda putting their all into the game.

Superior Cut: The mower cuts grass precisely thanks to its twin blade setup.

There are 2 cutting points on each blade to ensure that clippings are finely ground up. This means your lawn will look sharp and well maintained. The mower runs relatively quiet compared to other gas mowers, so you will not need to worry about waking up the neighbors with an early morning mow. Finally, the included rear bag is high capacity, so you won’t need to worry about stopping to empty it.

Higher Price: The mower is around 100 more than its competitors.

With an item as frequently used as a mower, price should be overlooked in favor of quality and durability. An expensive, long-lasting, reliable mower will cost the same in the long run as a cheap mowerthat needs frequent repairs.

Rear Wheel Drive: RWD makes it harder to pull the mower back.

(although to be fair this is the case with all RWD mowers).

The nice aspect of this mower is that the strength of the RWD is dependent on how hard you push the handle that controls the drive. If you are not depressing the handle the RWD will not be that hard to overcome when you pull the mower backwards. On the other hand, if the handle is fully depressed then you will be fighting to pull the mower back.

Honda HRR216VKA vs HRX

Both of Honda’s popular walk-behind lawn mowers have made a name for themselves in the self propelled lawn mower game.

They are seen as some of the most durable, long lasting, high performing lawn mowers available today and for good reasons. Although they may be more costly than some of their competitors, the mowers makeup for the price difference in quality and performance.

While both HRR and HRX models are under the same family of Honda mowers, there are many similarities and differences between them.

In this review we will discuss the exact differences in each model, but first let’s start with the similarities.

Similarities

The vast majority of functionality is essentially equivalent in both mowers, and the similarities far outweigh the differences. On paper it may seem like the HRX comes with a whole list of additional features, but in practice they both perform excellently.

We believe that their differences should be negligible for most average homeowners who do are not overly passionate about their lawns.

Blades: Both mowers use the same cutting blades

All of Honda’s HRR and HRX models utilize their patented “MicroCut Twin Blades”. These are “3-in-1” blades that can be used for bagging, discharging, or mulching clippings and they are of a very high quality. The blades work amazingly well in conjunction with the rest of the mower and leave clippings small and easy to dispose.

Grass Discharge: The same discharging system can be found in either mower

Both mowers allow the user to select the method of discharge using a very simple system called the “3 in 1 Clip Director”. As you can see in the video below, this feature is amazingly convenient and lets you change from bagging to mulching in one quick touch of a switch.

Warranty: Honda covers both mowers with their residential warranty

Honda offers a generous residential warranty for both mowers that cover the lawn mower in its entirety. Unfortunately, the HRR variant only comes with a 3 year warranty versus a 5 year warranty for the HRX line. All things considered, a 3 year warranty is still some of the best protection offered in the lawn mower industry.

Choke: Autochoke is a standard feature found in Honda’s entire series of push mowers

Most standard lawn mowers come with a manual choke system that can be frustrating to use. Luckily all of Honda’s HRR and HRX mowers come with an autochoke system that makes it very easy to start the mower’s engine.

Propulsion: Do yourself a favor, get the self propelled version for 40 more

While it’s important to note that not all HRR series mowers have self propulsion capabilities, the HRR216VKA version does. All HRX models have this feature. At just a marginal price difference, we highly recommend you to purchase the HRR model that has this ability because it will make mowing much easier and less work.

Honda’s HR series of mowers is divided into different price ranges in the low, middle, and high-end market.

The HRR series is considered to be the mid-range model while the HRX is seen as the premium model of the series. While this price difference may seem like a big deal, the additional features of the HRX are mostly negligible differences.

Transmission: Do you really need a hydrostatic system?

The HRR comes with an automatic variable speed control system called “Smart Drive”. This lets the user select preset speeds from 0 to 4 mph as they see fit. The 5 gears can be switched on the go at the touch of a button. The HRX, on the other hand, uses Honda’s “Select Drive” system that control the mower’s hydrostatic transmission. This is slightly advantageous because speed can be controlled precisely rather than using preset gears in the HRR. We feel that this should not be a dealbreaker for most people.

Start: The HRX comes with a fancy electric start versus the good old cord found in the HRR

The HRX mowers come with an electric start button that makes it easy to start the mower, whereas the HRR uses the standard cord-pull to start the engine. This is a premium feature that saves time, but we feel that a cord start should not be a big deal for anyone capable of pulling a cord.

Engine: Trust us, you probably don’t need the additional power.

HRX mowers come with Honda’s GCV190 engine and HRR mowers come with their GCV160 which is a very close cousin of the 190. The big differences in these engines lie in a 5 millimeter wider bore which leads to an additional 30cc and 1 horsepower. Outside of the small additional power, these engines are nearly identical and both versions represent the Honda name well. Afterall, Honda engines are known for their resilience and long lifespan.

Mowing Deck: Don’t worry, the standard steel deck will probably outlast the mower

One key difference lies in the material composition of the cutting deck. While both mowing decks are 21” in diameter, the HRR’s is made of solid steel and the HRX’s is made of “Nexite” composite. This Nexite material is supposed to be highly resilient with dent, rust, and corrosion resistance. It also comes with a lifetime warranty whereas the steel deck does not.

If you are just the average homeowner looking for a lawnmower that will cut well and last for a long time, then the HRR will save you money and perform equally to the HRX.

We believe that the only individuals who should buy an HRX over the HRR are people who plan to do extensive yard work with their mower. In that case, the HRX may be slightly beneficial by being more convenient thanks to some small additional features. To conclude, we believe the HRR is better suited for most people and a better value overall. It compromises little in terms of performance while still saving a lot of room in the budget.

QA

A: Simply take it to an authorized Honda service center near you. Here is a tool to locate the nearest service center http://powerequipment.Honda.com/dealer-locator. Simply select your product, location, and city and the tool will spit out a list of nearby service centers. Take your mower to one of these locations, and they will fix it promptly and professionally.

A: No, only rear discharge (clippings exit the back instead of side). This is not a major issue, because the mower supports both mulching and bagging. If you really want to discharge through the back be careful about getting your shoes covered in grass clippings.

A: Yes, it works well on even more difficult types of grass. The mower is in the midrange for power, but the engine manages torque effectively so all cutting tasks are within reach. If power is your main concern then consider the Snapper

Final Thoughts

Overall, we cannot recommend the Honda HRR216K9VKA enough. It has a suite of performance features like Smart drive and twin blades, but at the same time it is quiet and easy to use. It may be on the pricier side, but this is an excellent example of “you get what you pay for,” because this mower is definitely the best value for your money.

Honda Lawn Mower Self Propelled Slow.Solved!

There’s nothing more frustrating than a slow internet connection, but having to push a slow self-drive mower is a close second – it DRIVES ME CRAZY. So it ends today, we’re going to fix it, and it will pull as good as the day you bought it.

So what’s the problem with a Honda lawn mower that moves slowly? A slow-moving Honda mower is commonly caused by a slack drive cable. Adjusting the tension will fix it.

Other possible causes include:

Don’t concern yourself with these other possible causes just yet. They are less likely. We’ll get to the most likely cause, adjusting the drive cable tension.

Self Drive Types

The Honda self-propel system is good, but like all mechanical equipment, it needs maintenance. Diagnosing a drive system incorrectly is an expensive mistake. A new Honda transaxle will cost several hundred dollars, so we’ll avoid jumping the gun.

Tests are not difficult, but you’ll need to execute them correctly to avoid burning time or replacing parts needlessly.

Whichever type you have, the cable will be adjustable.

If you need video help, check out “Self drive common faults video.” It walks you through the diagnosing process step by step – Adjusting the drive system, replacing drive belts, wheels, drive pins, and axle drive gears.

Adjusting The Drive Cable

I love working on Honda mowers. The designers are a thoughtful bunch. It’s rare that an engineer ever thinks about the guy fixing them. Anyway, before adjusting the drive cable, we’ll first need to locate it. Honda uses a few different types of setups. The HRX uses a bail lever as stop/start control and a speed adjustment lever beside the throttle lever.

The Honda Smart Drive uses a single control on the handlebar; this type of self-drive is a little less difficult to adjust. I have included pictures of each type set up, together with the adjusting procedure.

Disable Mower – For safety, let’s remove the plug wire and turn off the gas. Turn the mower over with the carburetor side facing up; stops gas from leaking on the floor.

Adjusting The Honda Smart Drive

The problem is, as you know, likely to be a stretched cable. In other words, the cable is too long. The whole procedure is made simple by the nice people in Japan, and adjusting won’t take more than five minutes.

Drive cables are made up of an outer cable and an inner braided cable. The inner braided cable does all the work and stretches over time. The solution is simple, remove the access cable. Honda’s solution – fit an adjusting screw in the middle of the cable.

The adjuster works by splitting the cable into two, and by adjusting the screw anticlockwise, it pushes the two halves of the drive cable away from each other, taking up the slack on the inner braided cable.

Smart Drive – The Smart Drive self-propel system has an adjuster built into the cable, and it’s located halfway down the left-hand handlebar.

Adjusting – First, open the lock nut. You’ll need two open-ended 10mm or 3/8s or adjustable wrenches. Screw the long adjusting nut anticlockwise – this takes the slack out of the cable and gives you more drive power.

If you over-adjust it, you’ll find pulling the mower backward difficult. So just back it off until you find the sweet spot. Tighten up the lock nut when you’re done with the adjusting. This keeps it dialed in.

Adjusting The Hrx

The HRX has a self-drive cable adjusting screw mounted on the speed control panel. As you have turned off the gas and pulled the plug wire, it’s safe to turn your mower to the side.

Before adjusting, set the speed to high. The adjusting screw has a lock nut that must be loosened and backed off to allow for the cable slack take-up. When adjusting, pull the cable until the cable slack is gone, run in the lock nut, and tighten.

As with all self-drive mowers, if you over-adjust the cable, it will make reversing the mower difficult. The wheels bind. To fix this, back off the adjuster a touch until the mower is free to reverse.

Adjust – Set speed to high, loosen the lock nut, and pull the cable.

Loosen – You’ll need two 10mm or 3/8 wrenches or adjustable wrenches.

Tighten lock nut – pull out the slack and tighten. Test reverse and readjusts if necessary.

Drive Belt May Be Loose

Lawnmower drive belts have a difficult job, and they work in a hostile location. But they’re pretty tough. It’s not unusual for a drive belt to last years and years. But they do eventually wear, they stretch, and the walls get thinner, which makes them even longer.

A belt that’s too long will slip, and a slipping belt won’t transfer the engine power to the wheels. This is especially noticeable going up hills or in heavy grass. If you have a blade engage control on your Honda, you’ll really notice it as you apply the blade.

A worn belt will often be noisy and can cause vibration. To check the belt, we’ll need to turn the mower over, but before we do, let’s make it safe to work on.

Remove the plug wire and turn the gas off.

Now turn the mower on its side with the air filter cover facing the sky. If you turn it up the other way, gas will leak from the carburetor, and you’ll need to replace the air filter.

Loose – The belt should deflect by no more than 1/2 inch. will cause the belt to slip and result in a slow drive.

The belt may be difficult to see, a cover will likely need to be removed, and old dry grass will cover the transmission and belt, so we’ll need to clear it first. I use shop air to blast it, but a small clean paintbrush works too.

Now that you can see the belt check it for wear. You’ll need an inspection light. Since you have removed the plug wire, it’s safe to turn the blade.

This also turns the belt which allows you to inspect all the way around it. If your model has a blade engage lever, put it on and have a helper hold it or use a clamp. This allows you to turn the belt by turning the blade.

If the belt is in good shape, check the deflection. About 1/2 inch is good. But you don’t need to get caught up in measurements. Just use old-fashioned common sense. If it looks really loose when you squeeze both sides of the belt together without much effort, then it’s loose.

Drive Axle May Be Worn

The drive axle on a mower is simple, really. It should be referred to as a trans-axle, though. By trans-axle, we mean axle and transmission combined. I wrote a more detailed explanation of trans-axles here for those that are interested (internal link).

The axle is connected to and driven by the transmission. These are all one unit, and parts aren’t available, so when they fail, which is pretty rare, you just swap out the whole unit. Check out the Amazon link below for drive system parts delivered to your door.

Trans-axle – Honda transmission and axle combo are known as trans-axle.

Drive Pins – Wear out on older mowers and cause the drive to slip. Drive pins are crucial to the whole trans-axle assembly.

An axle drive pin, as its name suggests, is a pin that transfers power from the axle to the wheel. It’s spring-loaded and, combined with the drive gear, allows the mower wheels to move backways with little resistance when reversing the mower.

The axle pin is under extreme stress as it carries all the torque from the transmission to the wheels. These little guys wear out all the time.

The rear wheels are made from plastic and employ metal gears on the inside. The gear is driven by the axle drive metal gear. They wear out as the mower ages. Check out replacing wheels video here.

And if you need new wheels, check out the Amazon link below.

Transmission May Be Worn

Honda transmissions are tough; yes in my workshop, I have replaced a few, but to be fair to Honda, the mowers were old and driven like a hire car. When you’re fixing mowers for as long as I am, you can spot an unloved mower from across the valley.

The transmission, as you know, are solid-state units; no parts are available. If it fails, the whole unit gets changed out.

Replacing the tranny isn’t very complex, but it will require a selection of wrenches, some C clip pliers, and some patience.

Tranny – Honda transmissions are pretty good, and they need to be.