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First off some history. I live in MN so the grass is not anything like what is in the southern states. Yard is basically flat and it only takes me about 25 minutes to cut without bagging, 35 minutes if I bag. Previous unit was a Honda HRM215 which was about 20 yrs. old. Loved that mower as it was super reliable, mulched and bagged well. Lower seal finally went, clutch cable broke and a couple other small issues. Joined the forums to see user reviews, experiences, advice. It is pretty obvious, to me at least, that the Honda HRX & Toro SR4 stand out because of the deck material is just a cut above for residential units. Price was not a deciding factor either.
So looking at these two mowers and having a previous great experience with Honda I always was biased towards it. It came down to the HRX217VKA vs. 20382. The Personal Pace feature of the Toro looked like a better option over the Hondas but again experience won over that. Both handles came up high enough on both newer mowers to make it comfortable to grab the handles, (6'4" tall) not so much on the old HRM215. Both units had Honda engines but its 190cc vs. 160cc which with the northern grass and yard size it is not a big issue.

So anyways I bought the Honda HRX217VKA. (BTW, bought from local power equipment so fully assembled, oil was new and they gave me full tank of gas.) Got it home and of course and wanted to cut the grass. Verified the oil level. Adjusted Clip Director to full mulch. Removed bag. Wheels set to around 3.5" Engine started on first pull (hurray). Adjusted the Smart Drive (easy, used palm of hand on Smart Drive) and started to cut. Mower is smooth because of the ball bearing wheels so that was nice. First thing I noticed was large amount (alarming) of clippings coming out of rear discharge chute. Stopped mower and noticed the Clip Director does not fully seal. Not a lot of clippings in the chute (yet). Okay, kept mowing (yes it started again right away)the front lawn and back lawn. I noticed the clippings still pouring out of rear discharge. The clippings were bigger than I wanted and I could visibly see they were not mulched as well as I would like and they were visible on the grass. When completed and opened the rear door I was shocked at the amount of clippings in the chute. Basically it was clogged. Made it tough to move the handle of the Clip Director. Literally had to tear grass out of chute.

Called up the dealer and he said to bring it in and they would looked at it, which I did. So the next day after I brought it in they called me back and said they talked to Honda. Honda recommends the users open the Clip Director 2 notches to allow easier discharge of the clippings to prevent the clogging issue. To me that is an acknowledgement of an unresolved issue. I could not in good conscience keep this mower as it would be a sore spot with me for the life of the mower. Asked dealer if I could replace with similar Toro which he gladly did. The dealer did say they looked at the other new Hondas on the floor to see if they could just give me one with a better seal but he said they were all that way. Exchanged for 20382. Still had a Honda engine which I liked.

Brought mower home but had to wait a few days for the grass to grow, darn grass. (I did do a little experiment on starting the mower. I started it, waited about 30 seconds, and shut it down. When I tried to restart it the mower sputtered and quit. Waited about 30 seconds and it fired right up on first pull.) So cutting day came. I removed the locking plug and reinstalled it to see how it would be. Kind of fiddly but once in place I like that it can lock in. I did notice some the gaps but the dealer already warned this one will allow some clippings through also. First pull start, smooth, quiet engine. Personal Pace is quite nice but I liked the Honda system also so for me it was a wash. I could notice the weight difference of the two mowers (10 lbs. lighter for Toro) as the Toro bounced slightly more and is faster. So of course I did notice the clippings coming out of the rear but they were faaaaaaar fewer and the clippings were definitely smaller. Okay, not alarmed. I was about half way finished with front lawn when my shoe came untied and I had to stop mower. Tied shoe and mower started easily on first pull. Completed front and moved to the back. Clippings were still coming out back at the pretty small rate and the lawn showed zero signs of clumping. When I opened the rear discharge door there were hardly any clippings in the chute. They would have all fit in the palm of my hand.

So for me I am happy that I went with the Toro 20382. It mulches better IMHO and I can sleep better at night not having to come up with my own solutions to the clippings issue. If the Honda kept the plug instead of going to the Clip Director system I would have been happy with it. I am also happy I went to local shop to buy the mower. Same price as big box store with way better service.
I added pictures of backyard and clippings in Toro for reference. Front is basically same size as back.

Your yard looks good with the Toro! I will tell you that with my HRX217HYA, there is a bit of a gap and grass comes out of it, but I wouldn't say it pours out. For me all I have to do is scrape out the clippings in the back after I mow...it literally takes 5 seconds! And the clippings that come out of the back don't affect the great mulching in any way (for me). But I'm glad you're happy with the Toro....both are good mowers. :smile:

Glad you liked the toro more I loved my sr4

Quote:

Okay, kept mowing (yes it started again right away)the front lawn and back lawn. I noticed the clippings still pouring out of rear discharge. The clippings were bigger than I wanted and I could visibly see they were not mulched as well as I would like and they were visible on the grass. When completed and opened the rear door I was shocked at the amount of clippings in the chute. Basically it was clogged. Made it tough to move the handle of the Clip Director. Literally had to tear grass out of chute.


Ok, I'll bite. There is absolutely no way with the clip director set to full mulch you would have clippings "pouring out" of the discharge chute, and to have it basically clogged? Come on. On my VKA there is no gap. Zip, Nada, 0.

Wish you would have documented the gap with a picture. The only way I have a gap is if I partially bag, and go to move the lever to mulch. Sometimes you get grass build up that prevents the door closing. Easy to remove. And to not have to mess with a plug like I did on my Toro 20056 is a great time save. Plus I can partially bag/mulch if I want.

Glad the Toro meets your expectations!

Welcome to the forum.

Honda recommends the users open the Clip Director 2 notches to allow easier discharge of the clippings to prevent the clogging issue. To me that is an acknowledgement of an unresolved issue.


If Robert from Honda reads this, maybe he can comment. Nothing in my owners manual states to do this. Makes no sense.

Per the factory shop manual:

When the Clip Director is placed in the MULCH position, the shutter completely closes off the discharge chute and
recycles the grass clippings through the blades. The blades then recut the clippings until they fall to eh lawn as
valuable mulch.

GregGA said:

Quote:

Okay, kept mowing (yes it started again right away)the front lawn and back lawn. I noticed the clippings still pouring out of rear discharge. The clippings were bigger than I wanted and I could visibly see they were not mulched as well as I would like and they were visible on the grass. When completed and opened the rear door I was shocked at the amount of clippings in the chute. Basically it was clogged. Made it tough to move the handle of the Clip Director. Literally had to tear grass out of chute.


Ok, I'll bite. There is absolutely no way with the clip director set to full mulch you would have clippings "pouring out" of the discharge chute, and to have it basically clogged? Come on. On my VKA there is no gap. Zip, Nada, 0.

Wish you would have documented the gap with a picture. The only way I have a gap is if I partially bag, and go to move the lever to mulch. Sometimes you get grass build up that prevents the door closing. Easy to remove. And to not have to mess with a plug like I did on my Toro 20056 is a great time save. Plus I can partially bag/mulch if I want.

Glad the Toro meets your expectations!

Welcome to the forum.

Click to expand...

Basically doesn't equal fully clogged. If it was fully clogged I would have used the word fully.

JohnE said:

Basically doesn't equal fully clogged. If it was fully clogged I would have used the word fully.

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Thank you. Now it is crystal clear. :laughing:

GregGA said:

Thank you. Now it is crystal clear. :laughing:

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I'll assume you have the only clip director on planet earth that fully (not basically) closes. :laughing::laughing::laughing:

JohnE said:

I'll assume you have the only clip director on planet earth that fully (not basically) closes. :laughing::laughing::laughing:

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Look, maybe this all happened like you said. Heck, I had a problem with my HRX, which I wrote about here(ACS).

But to have a clip director, when in the closed position, dumb as much grass into the chute as you claim, on a new mower is just too hard to comprehend. And then to say the other HRXs'at the dealer had the same gap, and then that Honda recommends leaving the director two notches below full mulch, again is statistically hard to believe.

Honda and Toro make millions of these things, and they have quality control statistically down to a science. A shutter/deck gap on your mower, and all the others at the dealer, I just can't buy.

I "assume" ( and you know what that means) that you had the only HRX with a clip director/shutter problem.

I can't find any other cases on google.

Play the lottery lately?

I don't want to down play the quality of the HRX, because it is one of the best mowers currently made IMO, but there is a slight gap in my Clip Director, too. See this thread.....others complain about it, too. http://www.lawnmowerforum.com/honda-forum/10870-honda-needs-seal-their-mulch-plug-better.html

lawn mower fanatic said:

I don't want to down play the quality of the HRX, because it is one of the best mowers currently made IMO, but there is a slight gap in my Clip Director, too. See this thread.....others complain about it, too. http://www.lawnmowerforum.com/honda-forum/10870-honda-needs-seal-their-mulch-plug-better.html

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But does your mower chute "basically" clog up when mowing a small yard? Not a few clippings, but the big ol chute is full of clippings! I just can't believe it. I rest my case. Peace out:smile:

GregGA said:

But does your mower chute "basically" clog up when mowing a small yard? Not a few clippings, but the big ol chute is full of clippings! I just can't believe it. I rest my case. Peace out:smile:

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No it does not.

This is the underside of the HRX... I have not experienced any clumping.

Giblet said:

This is the underside of the HRX... I have not experienced any clumping.

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That's an interesting photo. Is that a double blade?
Bruce

Brucebotti said:

That's an interesting photo. Is that a double blade?
Bruce

Click to expand...

Yes it has Twin Blades.

Giblet said:

This is the underside of the HRX... I have not experienced any clumping.

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Please tell me that is BEFORE you used it:smile:

lawn mower fanatic said:

Yes it has Twin Blades.

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That is pretty amazing. Thanks for the video. Even at 63 I learn something new everyday....either that or I forgot it already...:laughing:

Bruce

GREAT post. Thank you for the detailed info. After my 30 year old Deere gives up, I was thinking about a Honda, however now I will take a serious look at the Toro's. Too much plastic on the Deere's, quality just not there anymore. They're trying to bank on the name. Needed a new tractor for the farm......bought a Kubota instead.