Next Gen Honda HRX217 Improvements?

[bblueser]

For the last five years, I have mowed my lawn with a Honda HRX217HXA, and a 217HYA. I am very pleased with the mowers, but nothing's perfect, so on the next generation HRX I'd like to see the following changes:
1 The current engine is very smooth, and relatively quiet, but I'd like to see a quieter, smoother one on the next gen.
2 Smoother, more consistent idle speed. This may only be possible with fuel injection, which probably isn't cost effective for consumer grade mowers.
3 Fewer recessed areas on the mowing deck that hold and allow grass to accumulate, requiring rinsing the deck each time to avoid buildup.
4 Upgrade the air cleaner by supplementing the paper filter with the oiled foam filter used on Honda's commercial grade mower. I did this upgrade on my mower, and it works much better at keeping dirt out of the carburetor. In fact, the oiled foam filter catches all the dirt, and the paper filter looks brand new after an entire season of mowing.

The HRX217HYA is a great mower, but there's always room for improvement. I would appreciate it if other owners could post their suggestions, and if anyone knows when the next gen may appear.

 

[evident]

For the last five years, I have mowed my lawn with a Honda HRX217HXA, and a 217HYA. I am very pleased with the mowers, but nothing's perfect, so on the next generation HRX I'd like to see the following changes:
1 The current engine is very smooth, and relatively quiet, but I'd like to see a quieter, smoother one on the next gen.
2 Smoother, more consistent idle speed. This may only be possible with fuel injection, which probably isn't cost effective for consumer grade mowers.
3 Fewer recessed areas on the mowing deck that hold and allow grass to accumulate, requiring rinsing the deck each time to avoid buildup.
4 Upgrade the air cleaner by supplementing the paper filter with the oiled foam filter used on Honda's commercial grade mower. I did this upgrade on my mower, and it works much better at keeping dirt out of the carburetor. In fact, the oiled foam filter catches all the dirt, and the paper filter looks brand new after an entire season of mowing.

The HRX217HYA is a great mower, but there's always room for improvement. I would appreciate it if other owners could post their suggestions, and if anyone knows when the next gen may appear.

4 Upgrade the air cleaner by supplementing the paper filter with the oiled foam filter used on Honda's commercial grade mower. I did this upgrade on my mower, and it works much better at keeping dirt out of the carburetor. In fact, the oiled foam filter catches all the dirt, and the paper filter looks brand new after an entire season of mowing.

Can you show pictures of what you did to supplement the paper filter?

 

[bblueser]

Robert, please post the following information:
1) Your previously posted instructions to upgrade the HRX217 air cleaner to Honda's commercial mower standard, which includes an oiled foam filter to supplement the paper filter.
2) Any Information you may have on the next generation HRX217, including year that it may be on the market, and any improvements or changes you suspect may be included (obviously, without divulging proprietary information).

 

[robert@honda]

Robert, please post the following information:
1) Your previously posted instructions to upgrade the HRX217 air cleaner to Honda's commercial mower standard, which includes an oiled foam filter to supplement the paper filter.
2) Any Information you may have on the next generation HRX217, including year that it may be on the market, and any improvements or changes you suspect may be included (obviously, without divulging proprietary information).

Here's the thread with the air cleaner upgrade parts:
[url]http://www.lawnmowerforum.com/honda-forum/20683-honda-oil-expensive-vs.html[/URL]

For the next-gen HRX, here's a summary:
Robert's Update on Next-Gen HRX

 

[bblueser]

Here's the thread with the air cleaner upgrade parts:
[url]http://www.lawnmowerforum.com/honda-forum/20683-honda-oil-expensive-vs.html[/URL]

For the next-gen HRX, here's a summary:
Robert's Update on Next-Gen HRX

Can you at least comment on the four suggestions for improvement in my original post? I suspect that engineering and design for the next gen is well underway, if not "completely in the can," i.e., already finished.

For how many years were previous generations sold, or is the current HRX217 the first gen of the model?

 

[robert@honda]

Can you at least comment on the four suggestions for improvement in my original post? I suspect that engineering and design for the next gen is well underway, if not "completely in the can," i.e., already finished.

For how many years were previous generations sold, or is the current HRX217 the first gen of the model?

At Honda, the SED (Sales-Engineering (manufacturing)-Design) team is responsible for running changes, major updates (K-number increments) or entire new model launch. No doubt the SED team is working on updates and improvements to the current HRX, and/or major or new model changes.

For your suggestions...

1. I'd agree a less noisy mower is high on most wish-lists. In Europe, for example, they have much more strict noise standards, so the HRX sold over there uses a wide-tip "elephant ear" blade with cross-drilled holes to reduce noise, and the engine is spec'd to run at a slower max. RPM. It is the spinning blade on a mower that REALLY makes the most noise, not the engine.

2. A throttle control almost isn't necessary, but Honda includes them on mowers with Roto-Stop, so the operator can reduce engine speed (noise) when emptying the bag, moving an obstacle, etc. Otherwise, the throttle needs to be kept in the FAST position for maximum cut quality. A small single-cylinder engine by design is going to be lumpy. The engineers could no doubt smooth it out with a balance shaft or other device, but the cost-up would be enormous. And the engineering manager would ask the sales team, "So if we make the engine smoother at idle, how many more hundred thousand mowers will you commit to sell?" Um, well, ahh...

Honda will eventually move to fuel-injection to meet emissions first, and I don't think it would do much to smooth out the engine. It would, however, dramatically reduce the number of "hard to start" problems customers have every year using old, stale gasoline and trying to run it through a carburetor.

3. Minimize the cracks, crevices, nooks and crannies where grass goes to die and rot...this is sorely needed on the HRX, but retooing a mower deck is eye-watering expensive. It would have to be a significant customer issue to justify a re-tool.

4. The single-element air filter does a perfectly fine job for most residential lawns and customers. The 2-stage system is better for daily, commercial use. Again, a big cost-up to change this on a product/environment where it has been shown to be not necessary. So, convince me, the Marketiing Guy sad..."How many more Honda mowers are we going to sell because of a 2-stage cleaner, and, how many lost sales will we have because the price of the mower has gone up too much?"

I must stress in no uncertain terms, the above text is my personal opinion and thoughts, and does NOT reflect any position or official statement by or from Honda.