My Honda HR214SMA (SXA) transmission slips out of high gear and does not engage in low gear. The mower was taken to a lawn equipment repair shop to be repaired. After they evaluated the machine, I was told it was obsolete due to the fact that parts (the whole transmission?) were not available. I tied the gear shift lever in the fast position and continued to use it. This spring, I noticed it was harder to make the turns when the drive clutch was not engaged. Then the roto-stop cable broke. Since it was now totally shut down, I decided to investigate the problems. After all, I now had nothing to lose.
While searching the internet, I found that Honda issued a service bulletin in August 1988 for the very problem I am experiencing on the transmission. There was a repair kit that had all of the parts to correct the problem; however, that 途epair kit was no longer available but the individual parts that were in the kit were available. I also found the Shop Repair Manual and downloaded it. After reviewing the shop manual, I torn down the drive portion and evaluated each part for serviceability and replacement. The gears in the transmission are in excellent condition. The oil in the gear case was still fluid and full (since 1983). When I pulled the gear case apart, the shift slider, low gear and thrust washer stayed with the left half while all of the other components remained in the right half.
Here is where I made my first mistake. I drained the old oil from the transmission but there was some residual oil in the bottom. My camera was right there beside me and I did not take the time to wash up and snap a couple of pictures of how the gears were aligned inside the gear case. I was attempting to remove the high speed gear to examine the teeth and it would not come out. I was working with the shift spring and shifter when the high gear was spit out at me with considerable force and surprise on my part. Now, I cannot get the high gear to stay in place like it was originally. Part of my confusion is with the shop manual with the shifter disassembly/reassembly section. It says to 途otate the shifter 90 degrees to remove or install. I am thinking they are talking about removing the countershaft. It clearly shows the shifter being turned to align with the slot in the countershaft; but, the shifter is what drives the high and low gears and is 90 degrees to the countershaft.
Does anyone have any experience with the transmission on this old Honda? My local Honda Dealer stopped selling and servicing lawn equipment long ago; but, I did talk to one of the guys there that did work on them. He did not recall tearing down a transmission and could not help. Hope to have better luck here.
While searching the internet, I found that Honda issued a service bulletin in August 1988 for the very problem I am experiencing on the transmission. There was a repair kit that had all of the parts to correct the problem; however, that 途epair kit was no longer available but the individual parts that were in the kit were available. I also found the Shop Repair Manual and downloaded it. After reviewing the shop manual, I torn down the drive portion and evaluated each part for serviceability and replacement. The gears in the transmission are in excellent condition. The oil in the gear case was still fluid and full (since 1983). When I pulled the gear case apart, the shift slider, low gear and thrust washer stayed with the left half while all of the other components remained in the right half.
Here is where I made my first mistake. I drained the old oil from the transmission but there was some residual oil in the bottom. My camera was right there beside me and I did not take the time to wash up and snap a couple of pictures of how the gears were aligned inside the gear case. I was attempting to remove the high speed gear to examine the teeth and it would not come out. I was working with the shift spring and shifter when the high gear was spit out at me with considerable force and surprise on my part. Now, I cannot get the high gear to stay in place like it was originally. Part of my confusion is with the shop manual with the shifter disassembly/reassembly section. It says to 途otate the shifter 90 degrees to remove or install. I am thinking they are talking about removing the countershaft. It clearly shows the shifter being turned to align with the slot in the countershaft; but, the shifter is what drives the high and low gears and is 90 degrees to the countershaft.
Does anyone have any experience with the transmission on this old Honda? My local Honda Dealer stopped selling and servicing lawn equipment long ago; but, I did talk to one of the guys there that did work on them. He did not recall tearing down a transmission and could not help. Hope to have better luck here.
