I bought a brand New Honda HRX217HYA two months ago to replace my 11 year old Honda, same model. I loved my old Honda, I figured I deserved a brand new one, but the new one I got from Home Depot had a big issue right out of the box. After adding the oil (of course), I got one mow out of it and the next week, I couldn't even pull the cord to turn over the engine. It felt almost siezed. I finally gorilla'd it into moving and it about pulled my fingers off when the compression retracted the cord. I was furious!
So, took it back to Lowes for a refund and ordered another one. 4 days later, I assemble the second HRX217HYA walk behind, with blade stop and hydrostatic drive, and mowed the lawn twice without any incident. Then tried mowing for the third week and Wammo! Same friggen problem with excessive compression not allowing me to pull the cord! I rechecked the oil level - it was fine being only 3 weeks old. Checked under the deck, nothing but fragments of mowing my manicured lawn. I was finally able to slowly pull hard on the cord until if finally started to rotate, and that freed things up enough, so I was willing to risk loosing my fingers with a hard pull and was able to start it. What in the heck is going on here? I've had this same mower for over 11 years and never a problem with starting in one or two pulls - and now I have two new ones that I can't even get to turn over.
Should I return this second mower for another refund and take my chances on a third mower?
Is there some clearance or machining issue going on in the factory with these brand new GCV200 engines?? Help!