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Hello all!

I was just wondering if anyone knew from what years Honda made this unit. I just purchase this second hand and the guy said its around 10 years old, which makes it around year 2000 or so. However after scouring the internet and looking at manuals of the GXV160 engine I'm starting to doubt it now. The mower runs great though. I don't think it has any problems besides the couple of knocks and fading paint on the deck.

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Ken

I called Honda Customer Relations just the other day to ask them the year of manufacture of a second hand HRM215SDA that I recently picked up. They were able to answer my question by giving them the frame number. I've also had luck with a Honda rep being able to cross reference an engine serial number to find the correct frame number for the mower it was attached to. I got the number from the Honda Power Equipment site. Here it is;
Customer Relations
Tel: 770-497-6400
Mon. - Fri. 8:30 - 7:00 EST

I see you are in Australia, so don't know if that number in the U.S. will help you, but there's contact information listed on the Australian Honda site too;
Contact Us | Honda MPE

Hope that helps.

The HRA216 was made at the Honda Power Equipment Manufacturing plant in Swepsonville, North Carolina from about 1990-1996. The frame (mower deck) serial number label should be marked MACR-XXXXXXX.

I scanned the parts catalog and didn't see any parts that were discontinued. You should be able to get any needed parts or service items from any servicing Honda Power Equipment Dealer (in the USA). You can download a free owner's manual here:
http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/pdf/manuals/31VB5010.pdf

You can buy ($34.95 USD) a paper service manual (Honda Part Number 61VB301E2) direct from Honda's service publications supplier here:
Service Manuals, Owner Manuals, Wiring Diagrams, Service Bulletins - Helm Incorporated

Caveat: I work for Honda, but the preceding was my opinion alone.

Thanks guys for your help! The deck serial number is MACR-3032197. Would you be able to tell what year it is?

I know in general Honda are good machines. How does this one compare? Is it a popular machine?
Its all steel and very heavy.

I checked with Honda Australia and they said the same thing as you guys, that it was made in USA and sold in the USA. So they couldn't tell me anything about this unit. I checked the US site but could not find an email. Can someone provide me with it? Thanks

I couldn't find an email contact either. I called the number listed. If you want, I can call it and let you know what they say here.

king_qong said:

I checked with Honda Australia and they said the same thing as you guys, that it was made in USA and sold in the USA. So they couldn't tell me anything about this unit. I checked the US site but could not find an email. Can someone provide me with it? Thanks

Click to expand...

American Honda Power Equipment Customer Relations does not provide service via email. You can write or telephone them directly.

Customer Relations
Honda Power Equipment
4900 Marconi Drive
Alpharettta, GA 30005 USA

Telephone: (770) 497-6400 9:00 am - 5:30 pm EST

Now I do work for Honda, and might be able to help; what question(s) do you have about the unit? Do you need parts or what? Thanks!

Caveat: I work for Honda, but the preceding was my opinion alone.

Hi Rob, I just want to find out what year this HRA-216 I bought was made in thats all. If you can help with finding this information that would be awesome. The deck serial number is MACR-3032197. I tried to locate the serial number of the engine itself but couldn't find it so I hope the desk serial is enough.

Look forward to some information
Thanks in advance

The production information I can access lists individual serial numbers, but not that far back. I can tell you the HRA-216 was built at the Swepsonville, NC factory sometime between 1990~1995. Hope this helps.

Caveat: I work for Honda, but the preceding was my opinion alone.

king_qong said:

Hi Rob, I just want to find out what year this HRA-216 I bought was made in thats all. If you can help with finding this information that would be awesome.

Click to expand...

Hmmm...I called that custmer service phone number, and the fellow who answered said it wasn't a number he had information for. The MACR threw him off.

Yes, the mower is older than the active database on Honda's systems. I tried looking it up too, and it was a dead end. The MACR prefix is not an active (or less than 10 year old) model. Probably the only record of when that specific mower was actually assembled is in a logbook stashed away in a storeroom at the Swepsonville factory.

Caveat: I work for Honda, but the preceding was my opinion alone.

bwdbrn1 said:

Hmmm...I called that custmer service phone number, and the fellow who answered said it wasn't a number he had information for. The MACR threw him off.

Click to expand...

Thanks Rob and Bndbrn1 for your help. I guess I should stop chasing this up. The information you guys have provided is good enough. It just too old. I've attached a picture of the old beast. It still runs very well, there's just alot of rust. I would like to restore it one day.

Thanks.

Robert Coats said:

Yes, the mower is older than the active database on Honda's systems. I tried looking it up too, and it was a dead end. The MACR prefix is not an active (or less than 10 year old) model. Probably the only record of when that specific mower was actually assembled is in a logbook stashed away in a storeroom at the Swepsonville factory.

Caveat: I work for Honda, but the preceding was my opinion alone.

Click to expand...

Well shucks, guess I won't bother checking on my HR214s then, but I'd be up for a road trip out to Swepsonville to check the archives.

That looks like it would be great to restore king_qong.

Hey there,
I'm a newbie here so I apologize in advance if I tread on another's turf and will try to step lightly. Bad puns aside, it looks like you may have a Japanese made HRA216. Your post doesn't indicate if yours is an SXA so this info may be bunk. I doubt you'll find a build date on this one but if I may ask the significance?

Re the mower, unless it's completely beyond hope, sink some cash into it and you'll have this machine for life. Read on at your peril.

Back in the day I had a turf and landscape company and used this model exclusively because they're simply bada$$ machines. After going through other "commercial" grade mowers, I bought the first one in 1990 and had a "fleet" of 10 by the start of the 1993 season. I ran them until I sold the firm in 2005. They've since been "semi-retired." Best money I've ever spent.

The only equipment I refused to include in the sale of the company were these mowers. My lead guys each got one with the others going to family and a couple others who could appreciate what a great piece of machinery it is. 8 of them, soon to be 9 are still running strong. It's going to need a carb, some brazing on the lower handle and a good cleanup. I'll post pics of the refurb'd unit once it's done. The final one just couldn't stand up to getting run over by a pickup (mine).

Thanks for allowing me this trip down amnesia lane. Hopefully I've done it right and you can follow the links. One shows the MACR # break and if I read that correctly yours is a Japanese model. I'm not affiliated with this parts house whatsoever. I've simply found them to be the cheapest of any that I've sourced.

Take care and thanks again for humoring me.

Dave

Here's what I saw:
HRA216 SXA LAWN MOWER, JPN, VIN# MACR-3000001
HRA216 SXA LAWN MOWER, USA,VIN# MACR-5000001

OEM Parts
Click on "Select Model" and it should take you to the application page where I found the above.

Honda Parts

I wish I could say that the Honda is the Cadillac of mowers, I cannot...Cadillac is not the standard of the world. it may have been at one time...
They are not perfect....(Hondas)
I tried one about 6 years ago and had to return it and replace her with a LawnBoy 10685...one excellent mower.
Honda makes a machine to last a very long time, but after 10-15 years, they "cut-off" service.
This , IMO, is foolish...a shabby way to treat something generally so very well built.