I paid $1300.00 for a new Honda HRC commercial self propelled mower last year to replace my 30 year old Snapper heavy duty S/P mower which had finally worn out. After reading dozens of positive (and very few negative) reviews I decided on the Honda. I would have purchased another Snapper but they no longer make one with the BBC, which I find useful for bagging.
The Honda is very well built and rugged and starts easily, however I find that I have to bag the clippings (which works fine) or the mower clogs. It does not seem to have the suction power that the Snapper had but that could be because it is designed to be more of a mulching mower.
The mower is supposed to be excellent at mulching but if I try to mulch more than 1/4" of grass at a time the mower clogs and bogs down to the point where the engine almost dies. I even purchased a side discharge chute but that even clogs when more than an inch of grass is cut. The only way to get the mower to work when mulching is to cut only half the width of the mower and set the ground speed at it's slowest setting.
I have about 1/2 acre lawn which consists of very thick, well growing Fescue with no weeds that I only cut when dry. Is the mower supposed to work like this, or am I doing something wrong?
