Brand New HRN216VKAA hard to pull recoil starter rope

[Desmoface]

Hello everyone, I just purchased a brand new HRN216VKAA yesterday and it was fine when starting cold, but when it warmed up, when trying to restart it, when it hit the compression stroke it was like the engine hydrolocked/seized. I was able to get it to start by using my super-human strength but I was not expecting this from a brand new Honda.

So I'm thinking I have to return it to the dealer so I tipped it on its side to rinse off all the grass and when I went to restart it to run the gas out of the carb, it was fine. So I'm thinking WTH? So I finished cutting the lawn and it seems fine now.

So I searched the internet and found that there was a recall for this very issue: https://powerequipment.honda.com/support/recalls-and-updates/hrn-hrx-recall

My engine serial number is in the range listed, but it also says not all engines within that serial number range are impacted, so I entered mine to search and it says my engine wasn't impacted by the recall.



Do you think I should be concerned? It was exhibiting the exact same symptoms that were described in the recall.

Thanks in advance.

 

[hlmorrison]

Hello everyone, I just purchased a brand new HRN216VKAA yesterday and it was fine when starting cold, but when it warmed up, when trying to restart it, when it hit the compression stroke it was like the engine hydrolocked/seized. I was able to get it to start by using my super-human strength but I was not expecting this from a brand new Honda.

So I'm thinking, I have to return it to the dealer so I tipped it on its side to rinse off all the grass and when I went to restart it to run the gas out of the carb, it was fine. So I'm thinking WTH? So I finished cutting the lawn and it seems fine now.

So I searched the internet and found that there was a recall for this very issue: https://powerequipment.honda.com/support/recalls-and-updates/hrn-hrx-recall

My engine serial number is in the range listed, but there it also says not all engines within that serial number range are impacted, so I entered mine to search and it says my engine wasn't impacted by the recall.

View attachment 71532

Do you think I should be concerned? It was exhibiting the exact same symptoms that were described in the recall.

Thanks in advance.

If your serial number falls in the range I would try to get it replaced if they will replace it. You’ll get a brand new one and you did have the recall issue.

 

[Auto Doc's]

I would consult with the dealer service manager anyway and request they file a report (get it in writing). They have a manufacturer's warranty reporting database, so don't take anyone's word that they will "look into it". The salesman has nothing to do with a warranty except to confer with the shop service manager.

I filed a lot of such reports when I was a service manager for a local John Deere dealer. They carried a variety of small engine brands.

The factory could have missed some numbers that have not been reported yet. I have had this happen when I worked for a JD dealer years ago. Everyone assumes all is good if there are no complaints. Issue a complaint before the warranty expires and then you are stuck with it.

If the compression release got hung once, it is sure to do it again in the future.

 

[Oddjob]

Whether covered by the recall or not, this mower is not working as it was designed to do. It is brand new so presumably still under the warranty. Take it back and make them fix it.

 

[sgkent]

take it back now. Let them deal with it.

 

[Desmoface]

Hey everyone, thanks for the replies and advice. It’s definitely under warranty as I just bought it yesterday. I contacted the selling dealer’s service department and the gal I spoke with said she will speak to their service manager and call me back. When I was purchasing it the salesman said they bought a bunch of HRX’s when this issue first started and Honda issued a stop sell order. He wasn’t too happy as he had $20k + tied up in HRX’s that he couldn’t sell. He still has something like 17 of them in stock. He said they have done many of the cam gear repairs so although the entire engine has to get torn down to parade rest, I’m confident it will get fixed if that’s the turn this takes.

It’s not doing it now, and I’m sure it’ll be one of those intermittent issues, hopefully it doesn’t go the route where they say, “well it isn’t doing it now.” I doubt it will since it’s a known issue.

Thanks again, everyone, hope you all have a great weekend.