HRX217HYA clutch lever sticking -- new mower

[ctexhunter]

Been having mixed feelings about this mower. Yes, it's awesome, very powerful, mulches better than any mower I've ever used, etc etc -- when working. First weekend it spewed out gas from the air filter when I tried to start it the second time ever (let it sit, eventually started. Must have flooded it somehow and figured it was a fluke).

Now second weekend, the clutch lever is sticking. When I release it, the lever sticks in the engaged position and sometimes takes 3-6 seconds to slowly releases itself, sometimes not even at all. Really caught me off-guard the first time it happened and required me to pull the lever to release it for the rest of the yard. I have searched online and can't find other related posts, nor is there any mention of this being adjustable in the owners manual. I don't see any opportunity for adjustment on the mower itself, either. Looking at a Honda video on youtube, the clutch lever clearly springs back down in the disengaged position immediately after it's released.

Purchased the unit from Home Depot. I'd rather not have to mess with taking it back to exchange for another, but that may be my next step if there isn't another fix y'all can suggest.

 

[ctexhunter]

So I took the mower back to Home Depot -- took about five minutes to do the replacement swap. Replacement unit springs the clutch bar back down in place immediately, although interestingly enough, the muffler sounds significantly louder and it seems to chug a bit more when I engage the blade. Oy vey.

 

[apwillard1986]

That's a nice machine. Sorry you're having issues. The chug and the loudness may be normal. I was surprised at how loud my friends HRR was. It wasn't crazy loud just louder than my old HR or HRA. It was noticeable and I hadn't expected it.

I know it doesn't matter now since you have exchanged it and solved the issue but I had a similar problem on my hydrostatic HR215. The cable was binding and causing the lever to fail to release all of the way. But you solution was even easier

 

[ctexhunter]

Thanks for the reply. I'm sure it's a nice unit. Honda, for the most part, makes a good product and the countless positive reviews aren't by accident.

Hopefully the loudness was just a result of me looking for reasons to complain after messing with the swap. I was thinking about it later too, and I was standing near a vehicle that may have reflected some of the noise back to me.

For the handle, I did an inspection (several times, actually) looking for something that may have been binding it up or causing the issur, but found no evidence of such. Before I returned the mower I took a few videos. When the clutch handle was engaged, or all the way up, and I let go, nothing would happen. It no longer even slowly crept downwards a little until springing down all the way. It would spring down if I pushed it slightly though. I am just surprised, especially with the plethora of adjustment points elsewhere​, that the clutch return tension spring has zero room for adjustment.

The good news is Honda is running the extra-year-of-warranty promo right now so I won't have to worry about Jerry-rigging anything for at least six years.