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Hi everyone,

Proud new owner of an HRX217HYA. Looks good so far, excited for spring to try this machine out.

Question about auto-choke. When I cold start the mower, it seems as if it idles, almost dies, idles again, as so forth. Stops after about a minute. Is this what auto-choke is supposed to sound like?

Here is a video I took - is this normal?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S3UqxA4HRE

That is called, cold start surge. The true Honda guys would know if this is normal or not. I think A slight adjustment of the choke could help it but it IS brand new and I bet it was real cold out when you started it too. Maybe less than 45F?

Mowers are not typically asked to start under those conditions. You DID put in 10W-30 oil right?

lzn197 said:

That is called, cold start surge. The true Honda guys would know if this is normal or not. I think A slight adjustment of the choke could help it but it IS brand new and I bet it was real cold out when you started it too. Maybe less than 45F?

Mowers are not typically asked to start under those conditions. You DID put in 10W-30 oil right?

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Yes - it's starting in 32F weather right now...

I'm actually running Mobil-1 Synthetic 0w-40 in it. The Honda dealer suggested it would be fine.

I have started my mower in temps like that, and it idles smoothly. So I would say the oil is the cause, or because it's a new mower, or something else.

I have 5w-20in my Honda and have started it in below 45 degree temps and it idles perfectly every time, Id say its certainly not normal and its not auto choke

I spoke to my dealer today (showed him the video of the startup).

Dealer said that this is normal as long as it evens out after a minute (which is does... after about a minute of warming up it purrs normally). He says all the new Honda's do this because they "run lean due to new emissions standards".

Not sure if I should call BS or not... what do you guys think? The mower is brand new - hasn't cut a lawn yet.

BS/ Otherwise they would all do it..

tuffcalc said:

I spoke to my dealer today (showed him the video of the startup).

Dealer said that this is normal as long as it evens out after a minute (which is does... after about a minute of warming up it purrs normally). He says all the new Honda's do this because they "run lean due to new emissions standards".

Not sure if I should call BS or not... what do you guys think? The mower is brand new - hasn't cut a lawn yet.

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All lawnmowers run lean these days, due to emissions regs, both here in the US and Canada. That part is quite true.

Outside temp, oil weight, and other factors will possibly cause the motor to not run 100% butter smooth when first started. My HRX won't idle (stalls and quits) if I don't let it warm up for at least 1 minute, and I'm in Hotlanta.

Now if it continues to run rough after a good warm up, there's an issue, and you need to take it to the dealer for inspection/evaluation.

I have bought several machines with this auto choke system and made a LOT of money, fixing and selling them. You know why? Most people do not maintain them properly to keep them running at 100%.
1st mistake. Keep starting it and not letting it FULLY warm up. They flood out on a restart.
2. They are too cheap to put in multi grade oil when using the machines in the autumn months. You cannot expect a machine with 3 month old, 30 weight oil to start and run good on a 32F day here in Michigan. I am sure someone will step in here and say theirs starts fine.
3. As in item 2 above, they leave the machine in a sun heated shed in September then expect it to start in mid October. Guess what? All of the "light end" fumes you needed in the fuel to start it are LONG gone due to the high temperatures in the shed. Also around Michigan, summer fuel is different that Winter fuel.
4. People do not clean the machines. Pine needles, dirt and leaves can get trapped under the cooling shroud and bid up the auto choke.
5. Leave old gas in it over the winter and gum up the carburetor.

I hope that helps someone.

HONDA needs to engineer all these possibilities so that the mower will run smooth as long as fuel is fresh . " no " excuses !!! always blaming ethonol or epa . >>>> cars don't have this problem ! the auto choke is a half baked idea whos time is over !!! i m p r o v e !!!

HARRY MOWER said:

HONDA needs to engineer all these possibilities so that the mower will run smooth as long as fuel is fresh . " no " excuses !!! always blaming ethonol or epa . >>>> cars don't have this problem ! the auto choke is a half baked idea whos time is over !!! i m p r o v e !!!

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Cars DID have that problem. How soon we forget.

lzn197 said:

4. People do not clean the machines. Pine needles, dirt and leaves can get trapped under the cooling shroud and bid up the auto choke.

I hope that helps someone.

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To clean - just remove bolts and pop off top? I notice there is a bunch of cotton wood in my fins under shroud.