I have a well worn Snapper BBC (blade brake clutch=blade stop system or BSS on the Honda) from 1993 and a 5 hp B&S engine. Sadly, the BBC has finally worn out. I've JB welded part of it! Most important, the Snapper has a drive system whereby the mower "brakes" like a car going down a hill - it does NOT "run away" from me, "speed up", or "free-wheel". I'd buy another Snapper; Snappers sells the same gear system today but NOT with the BBC system. Darn.
I never thought to ask about the free-wheeling behavior, and purchased a Honda HRR216VYA from HomeDepot (HD). Here is the problem: I have a hill (a good slope) that is not amenable to cross-mowing, so I have to go up and down. While the Snapper handles this with grace (just slow the mower speed down a notch or two - not the engine speed), the Honda went running down the hill. I returned it the next day to HD.
HD also has the HRX217HYA, but my local stores (I tried 3 of them) have sales people who have no idea whether the HRX217HYA (hdrostatic drive) behaves like the HRR216VYA *down a hill*.
Does anyone have experience with the behavior in the HRX217HYA...or could they try their mower in such a situation?
I was able to try the Toro Personal Pace System with the BBC (20333), and it behaved the same as the HRR216VYA.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Just for information, the cost of the HRX217HYA seemed really steep to me (~$700!). But the Snapper cost me ~$500 in 1993, which means with inflation in today's dollars the Honda is actually less. Wow.
Thanks!
I never thought to ask about the free-wheeling behavior, and purchased a Honda HRR216VYA from HomeDepot (HD). Here is the problem: I have a hill (a good slope) that is not amenable to cross-mowing, so I have to go up and down. While the Snapper handles this with grace (just slow the mower speed down a notch or two - not the engine speed), the Honda went running down the hill. I returned it the next day to HD.
HD also has the HRX217HYA, but my local stores (I tried 3 of them) have sales people who have no idea whether the HRX217HYA (hdrostatic drive) behaves like the HRR216VYA *down a hill*.
Does anyone have experience with the behavior in the HRX217HYA...or could they try their mower in such a situation?
I was able to try the Toro Personal Pace System with the BBC (20333), and it behaved the same as the HRR216VYA.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Just for information, the cost of the HRX217HYA seemed really steep to me (~$700!). But the Snapper cost me ~$500 in 1993, which means with inflation in today's dollars the Honda is actually less. Wow.
Thanks!