Quality Pushmower

[fderob]

Hi Robert! I have a question which has nothing to do with the handlebars.
I just purchased the HRC216HXA. Love it!! However, I would like to replace the fixed front wheels with swivel wheels. I know the HRZ (guess the Z means Zero Turn) 216TDA has a kit installed on it to allow for swivel wheels. Could this kit be put on the HRC? It looks like the decks are similar. I checked with Honda Parts and I assume I would have to order the component parts. Also, the wheels on the HRC are 9 inches. I assume the HRZ front swivel yokes will handle the 9 inch wheels and the width of the HRC wheels? Please advise. If this could work it would make the HRC even sweeter to handle. Thanks.

Hi Robert! can you shed some light on my problem below?
I purchased the Easy mow front caster wheels which look like they line up perfectly with the factory front wheel holes (no drilling required).
It looked like an easy install but I am having trouble removing the following part in RED.
1. I removed the bolt from the wheel to allow the wheel to come off to expose the 2 other bolts for the rest of the mechanism, that was EASY.
2. I removed the 2 bolts holding the adjuster panel to the deck that was easy.
3. I removed the bolt with the washer that is holding the adjusting arm to the center shaft that was easy.
4. But when I tried to remove the adjuster panel, adjusting plate and the adjusting arm they come out to a certain point and I can not remove it from the shaft any longer. Is there something I am missing because the adjusting arm is not coming any further? The other parts seem to be OK they appear to be loose (adjusting panel and adjusting arm)? I tried gently working the adjusting arm with a screw driver to provide leverage to push it off the shaft but no luck. Now, there is what looks like a bushing that goes into the deck and the shaft (the front axle shaft) goes through the bushing. This holds the adjuster mechanism and the front scroll panel in place against the front guard and deck. And the one bolt of the adjusting arm that has the washer screws into the front axle shaft thereby tightening the adjusting plate to the adjuster panel. Is there a trick to removing the adjusting arm mechanism from the shaft?

 

[robert@honda]

Hi Robert! can you shed some light on my problem below?
I purchased the Easy mow front caster wheels which look like they line up perfectly with the factory front wheel holes (no drilling required).

"Easy mow front caster wheels?" Is this some kind of aftermarket kit? Did you buy the swivel wheels from Honda that fit the HRZ model?

But when I tried to remove the adjuster panel, adjusting plate and the adjusting arm they come out to a certain point and I can not remove it from the shaft any longer. Is there something I am missing because the adjusting arm is not coming any further? The other parts seem to be OK they appear to be loose (adjusting panel and adjusting arm)? I tried gently working the adjusting arm with a screw driver to provide leverage to push it off the shaft but no luck. Now, there is what looks like a bushing that goes into the deck and the shaft (the front axle shaft) goes through the bushing. This holds the adjuster mechanism and the front scroll panel in place against the front guard and deck. And the one bolt of the adjusting arm that has the washer screws into the front axle shaft thereby tightening the adjusting plate to the adjuster panel. Is there a trick to removing the adjusting arm mechanism from the shaft?

Unless seized, corroded, modified, or jammed-up, etc. somehow, all the parts of the HRC front wheels and adjuster parts should come right off. The bushings are probably the dust seals. All the parts are just fastened with regular hex bolts, nothing is "press fit" or should require any special tools to remove. Might try spraying / soaking the stubborn parts in a penetrating solution.

All that said, I don't recommend modifying your HRC to use any type of swivel wheel, period. There is a risk of compromising the structural integrity of the mower, and I'll doubt the swivel wheels will line up with the cutting heights of the rear wheels, which will likely result in an uneven cut or poor finish on the lawn. You'd be better (and safer) to find a used Honda HRZ with the swivel wheels, or another brand of mower with swivel wheels, and sell off the HRC. If you bought it new, your dealer would probably take it in on a trade for a swivel wheel model.