HONDA NEEDS TO SEAL THEIR MULCH PLUG BETTER!

[HotRod1]

The new Honda mowers have something called the CLIP DIRECTOR, where you can change the setting of the mower from mulching to bagging using a lever. I had mine on mulching, which closes this door so no grass is SUPPOSED to go past the plug, but as you can see, it does not work. Honda needs to improve the seal so this doesn't happen! The attached picture shows how much grass got past the "door" and was just sitting in the space in between the door and the other door (for lack of a better term) that you put up to fit the bag under if you want to bag.
View attachment 7602

Honda knows they have a problem with the "shutter" and issued an adjustment procedure to their dealers. When Honda started making the mower Honda had a shrinkage issue with the plastic used to make the shutter. While I tried to make the adjustment described by Honda it still did not work. I finally glued some vinyl tubing in front of the shutter when it was in the mulch position and that has helped. I first cleaned the underside of the mower extremely well with Simple Green and a stiff brush. I also used rubbing alcohol to make sure all the surface was ready for the hot melt. I have attached the Shutter Adjustment flyer I got from Honda in case any of you wanted to try it and hopefully you will have better luck than I. A word of caution, the bolt holding the shutter to the clip director lever is a soft material and it broke off when I was trying to get it to stay and not let the shutter shift. Good luck.

 

[ajb1952]

Honda knows they have a problem with the "shutter" and issued an adjustment procedure to their dealers. When Honda started making the mower Honda had a shrinkage issue with the plastic used to make the shutter. While I tried to make the adjustment described by Honda it still did not work. I finally glued some vinyl tubing in front of the shutter when it was in the mulch position and that has helped. I first cleaned the underside of the mower extremely well with Simple Green and a stiff brush. I also used rubbing alcohol to make sure all the surface was ready for the hot melt. I have attached the Shutter Adjustment flyer I got from Honda in case any of you wanted to try it and hopefully you will have better luck than I. A word of caution, the bolt holding the shutter to the clip director lever is a soft material and it broke off when I was trying to get it to stay and not let the shutter shift. Good luck.

Do you have a pic of your work-around?

 

[shacky]

Have to say mine does this too. I have 9 year old HRX217HXA. I don't worry about though. Just clean it out every now and then. The HRX is the best mulcher I've had - including my mid '90's Ninja. Love the convenience of switching modes with the Honda vs. changing blades and side plates with my Snapper.