My 15 yr-old HRB215SDA developed a dislike for being pulled backwards. Disassembling the rear (drive) wheel assembly, I finally determined the spring-loaded woodruff keys on the axle had peened over the years, which didn't allow them to fully retract into their slot. This disrupted the camming effect on the drive gear that allows the wheel to rotate backwards. Removing the peened area with a small hand file made everything work again as designed. Maybe I should not have had a few beers when I was working on this - No idea how many times I took this assembly apart and back together before I got it right. It's a real adventure, as most who have tried it will testify.
Very interesting. Wouldn't you know just 3 days ago I invested in a new Honda HRR216VYA, and now I am coming across multiple posts about Honda wheel drive problems.
Good job of discovering the problem.
