Hello all,
Just thought I'd share my 2 cents worth.
I have been looking at new mowers the past few summers as I have been repairing my 1996 vintage Snapper 6hp lawn mower that I have used for the past 22 years. It has needed new parts here and there, burns oil, but has served me well. My 13 year older used it last week (second time mowing for me) and he broke the carburetor clean off! Yes I could repair it, more later.
I had been eyeing the fancy electric start $900 dollar Honda Mower at my local John Deere dealer for the past two summers and finally went to buy one. Ended up with the lower end model, HRR216VKA, without the electric start and the smaller motor. They don't list the horse power. D'ooh.
I have a Honda Generator that I bought in 1997, still runs great, starts with ONE PULL, I start it twice a year to make sure it's ready. It's my back up-back up since i put a whole house generator in three years ago. But it's a Honda and it runs great! My oldest has a Civic, and I had two prior Honda cars (1981 Accord and 1987 CRX). So I expect a great motor from the Honda Lawn mower.
The mower runs great. Starts with 1 pull. Cuts great. The height adjustment and the bag are easy to use. It's not that loud either! The handle height adjusts easily and the handle can be folded easily. The lever to switch from Mulch to Bag is great.
But. I HATE IT. The self-propel setup on this mower STINKS. It's a variable speed that does just that VARIES all the time. The start-up from a stand still STINKS. You push the lever, nothing happens, then a little more and BANG it's off and running at full speed. The take-up on the clutch mechanism is terrible. I worked with it for a few hours today doing trim. The thing does not free wheel either so if you want to move it without the self propel you have to fight the mechanism. The adjustable speed setup allows you to adjust the starting position of the control but the control still can be pushed further forward, there is not stop on the control. So if you try to control the speed where you want it and push the handle a little farther, it's off and running. And when you go up hill it slows down without changing your hand position and when you go down hill it speeds up.
I know this is a Honda Forum and I will get hate from you all but I am ready for it.
Please tell me the more expensive Honda Version is better? I am bringing this thing back next week. If I can't get a refund it's going to the dump, in pieces.
Next I am heading to the partstree.com website for parts for my Snapper.
That thing has six speeds in fixed ratios. So it stays at the speed you set. And it free wheels when you take out the clutch for the drive. Had I known the self propel in the Honda was that bad I would have shopped more carefully.
Mike
Just thought I'd share my 2 cents worth.
I have been looking at new mowers the past few summers as I have been repairing my 1996 vintage Snapper 6hp lawn mower that I have used for the past 22 years. It has needed new parts here and there, burns oil, but has served me well. My 13 year older used it last week (second time mowing for me) and he broke the carburetor clean off! Yes I could repair it, more later.
I had been eyeing the fancy electric start $900 dollar Honda Mower at my local John Deere dealer for the past two summers and finally went to buy one. Ended up with the lower end model, HRR216VKA, without the electric start and the smaller motor. They don't list the horse power. D'ooh.
I have a Honda Generator that I bought in 1997, still runs great, starts with ONE PULL, I start it twice a year to make sure it's ready. It's my back up-back up since i put a whole house generator in three years ago. But it's a Honda and it runs great! My oldest has a Civic, and I had two prior Honda cars (1981 Accord and 1987 CRX). So I expect a great motor from the Honda Lawn mower.
The mower runs great. Starts with 1 pull. Cuts great. The height adjustment and the bag are easy to use. It's not that loud either! The handle height adjusts easily and the handle can be folded easily. The lever to switch from Mulch to Bag is great.
But. I HATE IT. The self-propel setup on this mower STINKS. It's a variable speed that does just that VARIES all the time. The start-up from a stand still STINKS. You push the lever, nothing happens, then a little more and BANG it's off and running at full speed. The take-up on the clutch mechanism is terrible. I worked with it for a few hours today doing trim. The thing does not free wheel either so if you want to move it without the self propel you have to fight the mechanism. The adjustable speed setup allows you to adjust the starting position of the control but the control still can be pushed further forward, there is not stop on the control. So if you try to control the speed where you want it and push the handle a little farther, it's off and running. And when you go up hill it slows down without changing your hand position and when you go down hill it speeds up.
I know this is a Honda Forum and I will get hate from you all but I am ready for it.
Please tell me the more expensive Honda Version is better? I am bringing this thing back next week. If I can't get a refund it's going to the dump, in pieces.
Next I am heading to the partstree.com website for parts for my Snapper.
That thing has six speeds in fixed ratios. So it stays at the speed you set. And it free wheels when you take out the clutch for the drive. Had I known the self propel in the Honda was that bad I would have shopped more carefully.Mike
