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Has Honda fixed the rear wheel bushing problem on push mowers?

#1

F

fullboogie

My mower is an HRR216VKA that was purchased about 4 years ago. I've used the guides on this forum to "fix" the locking up rear wheel problem many times and I'm just tired of it. Each season I pull everything down, clean/polish/grease, and put it back together. I even have the "recall" rear adjuster/bushings on there. And still, I make it a few months at most and the problem returns.

If Honda has moved on to another design that fixes this problem, which model(s) should I be looking at? Cost is not an issue. I've Googled and searched this forum, but I've only found the older threads that address the original problem. Unfortunately I've seen one or two HD reviews for the $700+ HRX models that mention the same problem as recently as 2021. I've not seen anything about a redesign from Honda that fixes it. Thanks guys.


#2

D

dfbrown

Hi. I hope I can help. Yes the hrr216 was a problem with the rear wheels locking up and dragging even new in the showroom floor

The new (since 2019) honda hrn216 models are set up different in the rear. Literally they will roll forward or backwards on a 1 degree hill either way. No b.s. go to a dealer and check one out. Much improved mower then the Honda hrr21.

honda hrx217 I have NOT had them lock up pushing backwards and are better then the hrr216 but has a little drag to it. Manual says take apart clean and grease every 150 hours. I personally do them yearly even though not needed that often like the hrr216. Right rear especially the height adjusters can get stiff to move after some time and dirt sand grime get in there after a while. No biggie though. I know was a fix (updated rear height adjusters. Defin move easier and can get more leverage on it to move height adjusters.

if money is no object. Honda hrc216hxa would be super smooth and roll either way on a 1 degree hill. Butter smooth. Does not need same main as hrr216 or hrx217. Again go to a Honda power equipment dealer and check them out on the floor. I have and have worked on and own a lot of Honda mowers. Know them pretty well. Hope this helps. Good luck ?


#3

F

fullboogie

dfbrown said:
Hi. I hope I can help. Yes the hrr216 was a problem with the rear wheels locking up and dragging even new in the showroom floor

The new (since 2019) honda hrn216 models are set up different in the rear. Literally they will roll forward or backwards on a 1 degree hill either way. No b.s. go to a dealer and check one out. Much improved mower then the Honda hrr21.

honda hrx217 I have NOT had them lock up pushing backwards and are better then the hrr216 but has a little drag to it. Manual says take apart clean and grease every 150 hours. I personally do them yearly even though not needed that often like the hrr216. Right rear especially the height adjusters can get stiff to move after some time and dirt sand grime get in there after a while. No biggie though. I know was a fix (updated rear height adjusters. Defin move easier and can get more leverage on it to move height adjusters.

if money is no object. Honda hrc216hxa would be super smooth and roll either way on a 1 degree hill. Butter smooth. Does not need same main as hrr216 or hrx217. Again go to a Honda power equipment dealer and check them out on the floor. I have and have worked on and own a lot of Honda mowers. Know them pretty well. Hope this helps. Good luck ?
Click to expand...
So what did Honda change on the HRN models?


#4

D

dfbrown

fullboogie said:
So what did Honda change on the HRN models?
Click to expand...
The set up is completely different. Look at parts breakdown on Honda power equipment website. Or look at pictures. You’ll see. Go to a dealer and see for yourself. Huge difference.


#5

F

fullboogie

Thank you for your responses, but that does not answer my question. How exactly has Honda fixed this mess?


#6

D

dfbrown

fullboogie said:
Thank you for your responses, but that does not answer my question. How exactly has Honda fixed this mess?
Click to expand...
If I recall looking at one. The 2 way ratchet system is just different and not set up the same as hrx or hrr. Again look at a parts breakdown. It’s hard for me to explain typing it without pictures.
Put it this way. You won’t find a complaint about it online or anywhere having any drag whatsoever. I haven’t see a complain about it once. Would roll down a 1 degree slope. Not kidding. The trans doesn’t run through the height adjusters like older models because of new height adjuster which does both rear at same time 1647310950976.png


#7

D

dfbrown

dfbrown said:
If I recall looking at one. The 2 way ratchet system is just different and not set up the same as hrx or hrr. Again look at a parts breakdown. It’s hard for me to explain typing it without pictures.
Put it this way. You won’t find a complaint about it online or anywhere having any drag whatsoever. I haven’t see a complain about it once. Would roll down a 1 degree slope. Not kidding. The trans doesn’t run through the height adjusters like older models because of new height adjuster which does both rear at same time View attachment 59776
Click to expand...
The new 2 way ratchet system on the drive. When you release the drive bar a key In the drive allows the rear wheels to freewheel in forward and reverse 1647311700410.png


#8

B

bertsmobile1

Interesting
I have ben reading all of these threads wondering what you Yanks are on about because we almost never have these problems with the Honda SP's down here.
However all of the Hondas have been single lever hight adjustment for decades.
They tried to enter the market with the 4 individual height adjusters but the pros would just not by them till they were redone with a single lever & snorkel


#9

D

dfbrown

bertsmobile1 said:
Interesting
I have ben reading all of these threads wondering what you Yanks are on about because we almost never have these problems with the Honda SP's down here.
However all of the Hondas have been single lever hight adjustment for decades.
They tried to enter the market with the 4 individual height adjusters but the pros would just not by them till they were redone with a single lever & snorkel
Click to expand...
I’m not sure where you are but I have seen some of the Hondas in uk and Australia. Definitely similar in some ways and very different in other ways. I don’t have a problem with how ours are set up. Single height would be pretty cool. Even a 2 way would be neat like the hrn216. I actually wish we had snorkel kits available here in USA but we don’t for the dust. Australia does because it’s very dry and dusty in areas.
regarding hrr216 those did lock up bad and only worked well if taken apart , cleaned, greased and back together. Hrx217 are not as bad but same idea how it’s set up. Those should be taken apart and cleaned and grease every 150 hours and the gear/ratchets are every 100 hours. I do both yearly before mower goes away for winter. If you don’t do them on the nexite decks over time grass and dust build up can make height adjusters super tight and thr motor torque/ trans can put force and crack thr deck in the rear of deck where height adjusters go through. If service not done Honda won’t cover it. A owner maintenance problem not a manufacturer defect. Just letting you all know.


#10

D

dfbrown

dfbrown said:
I’m not sure where you are but I have seen some of the Hondas in uk and Australia. Definitely similar in some ways and very different in other ways. I don’t have a problem with how ours are set up. Single height would be pretty cool. Even a 2 way would be neat like the hrn216. I actually wish we had snorkel kits available here in USA but we don’t for the dust. Australia does because it’s very dry and dusty in areas.
regarding hrr216 those did lock up bad and only worked well if taken apart , cleaned, greased and back together. Hrx217 are not as bad but same idea how it’s set up. Those should be taken apart and cleaned and grease every 150 hours and the gear/ratchets are every 100 hours. I do both yearly before mower goes away for winter. If you don’t do them on the nexite decks over time grass and dust build up can make height adjusters super tight and thr motor torque/ trans can put force and crack thr deck in the rear of deck where height adjusters go through. If service not done Honda won’t cover it. A owner maintenance problem not a manufacturer defect. Just letting you all know.
Click to expand...
8AB477DB-80D8-495F-95AE-AEB68309879D.jpeg


#11

O

olgeezershonda

I have a hydro drive 2021 HRX217HY and no problems with it. It's self propelled. I don't push it. Maybe that makes the difference.


#12

B

bertsmobile1

I am in OZ
Until B & S took over Victa & deleted the Power Torque engine nearly all Aust assembled walk behinds had snorkels because the power torque engine has to have a snorkel as the throttle control runs down inside the snorkel to connect internally to the cab so it can never get snagged , or rust solid .
Honda commercials came std with snorkels & for domestics there was an optional add on
I have probably exported 50 or so snorkels to the US & Canada as I can still get the kits for the square panel filter & the sprint foam filter.
Now only Super Swift come with snorkels as standard and I expect over time the aftermarket suppliers will cease production of the other kits.
All my walk behinds have snorkels and some of them would have thousands of hours on them .
Dads 1962 model is still in daily use & while it has had set of rings, is still on it's original 125cc bore which is annoying as I have all 3 oversizes in stock .


#13

H

HRN_youtube_Mechanic

I have a HRN216 that's less than a year old that has the drive wheel locking up issue. Going to dig into it today to see if it's a bushing or a shaft or something new. All I have so far is the drive system is locking up after working fine for several months. And it wouldn't allow the wheels to roll backwards.


#14

F

fullboogie

HRN_youtube_Mechanic said:
I have a HRN216 that's less than a year old that has the drive wheel locking up issue. Going to dig into it today to see if it's a bushing or a shaft or something new. All I have so far is the drive system is locking up after working fine for several months. And it wouldn't allow the wheels to roll backwards.
Click to expand...

That's not good news. As you can see from this thread, I never got an answer about what exactly changed on the HRN that "fixed" the problem. All I got was "it just changed" and that was never enough to get me to buy an HRN. Keep us posted on what you find.


#15

H

HRN_youtube_Mechanic

fullboogie said:
That's not good news. As you can see from this thread, I never got an answer about what exactly changed on the HRN that "fixed" the problem. All I got was "it just changed" and that was never enough to get me to buy an HRN. Keep us posted on what you find.
Click to expand...
Found out that the belt had slipped and wedged when my son was using it. It took me about 30 minutes to drop out the rear axle assembly (wheels and all) and get the belt back in.

From what I've seen online, it looks like they went to plastic bushings held in place using metal straps that bolt in. Transmission appears to be the same. It's working fine now.


#16

B

Briantii

I fought the bushings forever on my HRR216, stock it’d never go more than a few mows without locking up pulling backwards. I’m to report my HRX217 does NOT have this problem. I think the difference is the extra seal.


#17

S

smzimmer52

Would something like this work? Previous plastic bushing removed and replaced with a sealed bearing from VXB.com. It is F6202-2RS flanged sealed miniature Bearing 15x35x11x5. This was done on a HR 215. I saw it the other day; bearing is ~ $8.00 each. You have to press the bearing in.

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#18

G

garyoldfart

Hello from Ohio
New member...mechanic for many years
have an hrx217 HYA with the locking up trying to go backwards problem when transmission
is in any higher gear than low and even then sometimes.. Owner is unhappy.
Can someone point me to the article(s) on lubing the transaxle. Or talk me through it.
I take it it includes r&r disassembly and lube.
Any help appreciated before i tie into it.
thanks gary


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