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New Honda HRX217VYA

#1

C

cbpeck

Hi guys,

I bought my first mower earlier this week, a Honda HRX217VYA ( http://powerequipment.honda.com/lawn-mowers/models/hrx217vya ). I paid $630 at Home Depot across the border in Oregon (no sales tax). I'm looking forward to getting it out of the box and into service. We don't have a big yard - about a quarter acre - but I wanted a quality mower that would give an excellent cut and provide reliable service for years to come. Only time will tell, but I'm optimistic that I made a good choice. Your forum was instrumental in my decision, so thank you!

Here's my intro: http://www.lawnmowerforum.com/new-members/31067-hello-richland-wa.html

Any recommendations for the new mower? Break in, maintenance, etc?

Again, thanks so much.


#2

lawn mower fanatic

lawn mower fanatic

So your mower has the new Select Drive? That is a new feature and I was curious as to what people think of it. Let us know once you get to use it.

select drive.jpg


#3

robert@honda

robert@honda

cbpeck said:
Any recommendations for the new mower? Break in, maintenance, etc?

Again, thanks so much.
Click to expand...

Be sure to fill-out and mail in the registration card (or register online at Click here to register your new Honda online) and mark the date-of-purchase on or after March 1; this will automatically add +1 year of factory warranty to your mower.

The first oil change should be done at either 30 days or 5 hours of use, whichever comes first. Use SAE 10W-30 oil. Subsequent oil changes are at 50 hours/6 months. More scheduled service items are listed in the Maintenance chapter of your owner's manual.

The single biggest service issue for lawn mowers is a clogged carburetor due to stale/decayed fuel. To avoid this problem, either treat the fuel in the tank with stabilizer to extend its life, or fully drain the fuel tank and carburetor. Draining is strongly recommended if you don't expect to use the mower for 45 or more days. Only fill the tank with fresh fuel. If available in your area, pay a little extra per gallon and get ethanol-free fuel.


#4

C

cbpeck

lawn mower fanatic said:
So your mower has the new Select Drive? That is a new feature and I was curious as to what people think of it. Let us know once you get to use it.

View attachment 25211
Click to expand...

Yes, it does have select drive. I spent a little while debating whether or not I wanted a new drive mechanism that had not been reviewed. Ultimately, it appears to be a relatively simple cable mechanism with little that could go wrong, and it is more ergonomic than the smart drive system that I really did not care for. I considered the model with the hydrostatic transmission that is so popular, but I think I might like this better, and I saw several reviews mentioning having to service the transmission. Cable throttles just seem simpler and more reliable to my non-engineering oriented brain.

I'll be sure to post my first opinions after I use it.


#5

C

cbpeck

robert@honda said:
Be sure to fill-out and mail in the registration card (or register online at Click here to register your new Honda online) and mark the date-of-purchase on or after March 1; this will automatically add +1 year of factory warranty to your mower.

The first oil change should be done at either 30 days or 5 hours of use, whichever comes first. Use SAE 10W-30 oil. Subsequent oil changes are at 50 hours/6 months. More scheduled service items are listed in the Maintenance chapter of your owner's manual.

The single biggest service issue for lawn mowers is a clogged carburetor due to stale/decayed fuel. To avoid this problem, either treat the fuel in the tank with stabilizer to extend its life, or fully drain the fuel tank and carburetor. Draining is strongly recommended if you don't expect to use the mower for 45 or more days. Only fill the tank with fresh fuel. If available in your area, pay a little extra per gallon and get ethanol-free fuel.
Click to expand...

Robert,

Thanks for the tips. I will definitely follow your recommendations for oil changes. Any benefit to full synthetic over conventional oil?

We do have a station in town that sells 90 octane ethanol free gas, and that's what I plan to use in the mower and Echo trimmer. It is significantly more expensive, but in small quantities the cost difference is negligible. I drive older cars ('00 Mercedes & '93 Toyota) and abhor ethanol, but it's hard to avoid these days.

Thanks again.


#6

C

charley95

cbpeck said:
Yes, it does have select drive. I spent a little while debating whether or not I wanted a new drive mechanism that had not been reviewed. Ultimately, it appears to be a relatively simple cable mechanism with little that could go wrong, and it is more ergonomic than the smart drive system that I really did not care for. I considered the model with the hydrostatic transmission that is so popular, but I think I might like this better, and I saw several reviews mentioning having to service the transmission. Cable throttles just seem simpler and more reliable to my non-engineering oriented brain.

I'll be sure to post my first opinions after I use it.
Click to expand...

I agree on your opinion about the Hydro. I bought the VKA last may without the hydro and love it, less mechanicals to fail.


#7

C

cbpeck

charley95 said:
I agree on your opinion about the Hydro. I bought the VKA last may without the hydro and love it, less mechanicals to fail.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the feedback. My VYA is the same is your VKA, but with a blade brake. I have three kiddos under the age of 5, so my lawn is riddled with matchbox cars, nerf darts, etc. We stay on the kids about picking up after themselves, but there's always something that gets left behind. That's why I opted for the blade brake.


#8

robert@honda

robert@honda

cbpeck said:
Robert,

Any benefit to full synthetic over conventional oil?
Click to expand...

There a LOTS of opinions about this, but here's my take:

1. It does not matter if you use synthetic or petroleum-based oil in your Honda mower.
2. What DOES matter is that you change it per the maintenance schedule. Don't buy into the hype you can run synthetic oil longer between changes.
3. Be sure to use SAE 10W-30. This works quite well in 99% of mowing environments.


#9

S

skipmarr

Would like to hear how the NEW Select Drive compares to the Hydrostatic. I currently have a Toro Super Recycler with Personal Pace - lots of hills - and am considering Honda. But what tranny to go with??


#10

lawn mower fanatic

lawn mower fanatic

skipmarr said:
Would like to hear how the NEW Select Drive compares to the Hydrostatic. I currently have a Toro Super Recycler with Personal Pace - lots of hills - and am considering Honda. But what tranny to go with??
Click to expand...

I haven't used the Select Drive or Smart Drive controls, but I just feel the Hydrostatic cruise control on the HYA is on a higher level. If you press on the drive bar the full way down you can go one speed, but if you let off of the bar a little you can change your speed. So in my opinion the HYA does the work of the Select Drive/Smart Drive, and more.


#11

S

skipmarr

Is that what you own? The Hydrostatic version. I hear they are bullet proof then I hear they break down and require a lot of service - the Achilles heal of the mower if you will. I have had Toro PP for 12 years and do not have experience with any of the drive options on the Honda. However the general consensus is the engine is better than the Toro, the deck is better, the wheels are better (larger and BB) and the mulching process is superior. Any comments positive or negative would be welcome readaing. As I mentioned I mulch 100% and have lots of hills - some over 30 degree slope - so the PP you really have to push when at the bottom going up. Thanks


#12

lawn mower fanatic

lawn mower fanatic

skipmarr said:
Is that what you own? The Hydrostatic version. I hear they are bullet proof then I hear they break down and require a lot of service - the Achilles heal of the mower if you will. I have had Toro PP for 12 years and do not have experience with any of the drive options on the Honda. However the general consensus is the engine is better than the Toro, the deck is better, the wheels are better (larger and BB) and the mulching process is superior. Any comments positive or negative would be welcome readaing. As I mentioned I mulch 100% and have lots of hills - some over 30 degree slope - so the PP you really have to push when at the bottom going up. Thanks
Click to expand...

Yes that's what I own. The HRX217HYA. If you want to mulch the Honda is for you. The Nexite deck allows me to mow at 7:30 in the morning when there is lots of dew on the grass. I can honestly say I have not had any downtime with this machine that was not my fault. I did break the handle, but that was because I used to haul around a 15 pound blower on the handle. Stupid me. The only negative I see is the Clip Director isn't a perfect seal so after every mow you should clean out the chute behind the plug. But I have not had any other problem at all. And I us it on 10-25 lawns a week, 8 months of the year. Here is a photo, not the best quality but I took it with my phone.

ForumRunner_20150403_154044.png


#13

S

skipmarr

Nice - I see you have 2 in the stable :) But what does anyone know about the new Select Drive? I am told by the dealer it is just as good as the Hydro. less expensive for Honda to produce, thus bringing down the cost over $100 on the mower. How long have you had yours and have you had any service issues with the transmission? Looks like you log some serious hours. Thanks


#14

lawn mower fanatic

lawn mower fanatic

skipmarr said:
Nice - I see you have 2 in the stable :) But what does anyone know about the new Select Drive? I am told by the dealer it is just as good as the Hydro. less expensive for Honda to produce, thus bringing down the cost over $100 on the mower. How long have you had yours and have you had any service issues with the transmission? Looks like you log some serious hours. Thanks
Click to expand...

I purchased mine in the summer of 2012 and have used it commercially since then. I have never had any issues with the transmission. I have had to oil the wheels because they started to squeak when I pushed it without the drive engaged, but that's it. It has treated me very well. But I do the same for it.


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