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Hello. The blades hit a solid brick and the central bolt broke releasing the two blades. Very scary. See picture. I cannot find where to purchase a new bolt (? and washer) to reattach these two blades. Yes, the remains of the bolt will first need extraction.

When I search websites for the bolt, it reads "two are required". But the bolt is single. Two friends scoped the Internet and looked at the manual, but no one can find a listing for this center bolt.

Happy to purchase an extra and also the two bolts which attach the blades together, although those two look fine.

Would enjoy seeing more than one link as would like the mower to work in fewer than four days from now.

I suspect that it did more than shear the bolt that holds the blades on. It likely bent the crankshaft, certainly damaged the blade. You need the series number to look up the correct part. K4, K5, K6, K7, K8 etc. Look up the full serial number. The K8 for example uses an upper and lower blade, and there are three bolts - which are two outer and then the center bolt. I would put a dial runout gauge on it and see if the crank wobbles without the blade.

Thank you. What you stated is slightly above my pay grade. I read somewhere that Honda purposefully makes the bolt the weakest part to prevent any other damage.

I have spare blades. Yes, this HRR2167VKA has upper and lower blades which is barely seen in the picture.

This seems to be the replacement bolt: https://a.co/d/3yDKh57 . Do you agree?

To be cost-effective, how about reattaching the blades with a Honda bolt, and see how the unit runs? If damage was done to more than sheering this central bolt, what would the user experience? Just vibration?

There's a groove on the shaft and on the blade assembly. Looks like it needs a key. Anyone have a link to it? Is there also a spring needed?

MowerMark said:

Hello. The blades hit a solid brick and the central bolt broke releasing the two blades. Very scary. See picture. I cannot find where to purchase a new bolt (? and washer) to reattach these two blades. Yes, the remains of the bolt will first need extraction.

When I search websites for the bolt, it reads "two are required". But the bolt is single. Two friends scoped the Internet and looked at the manual, but no one can find a listing for this center bolt.

Happy to purchase an extra and also the two bolts which attach the blades together, although those two look fine.

Would enjoy seeing more than one link as would like the mower to work in fewer than four days from now.

Click to expand...

Honda Part# 90109-VG3-000

BOLT, FLANGE (3/8-24X1")

90109-VG3-000

According to my research the mower Mod # translates into a HRR216K10VKA. Here is a link to Jacks' Small Engines website that should bring you to that model number. https://www.jackssmallengines.com/j...wn-mower-usa-vin-gjara-1000001/rotary-blade-1 It also has the key you are needing to replace too. Like sgkent stated, you need to look and verify the crankshaft is not bent and be careful extracting the rest of the bolt out of the crank.

MowerMark said:

There's a groove on the shaft and on the blade assembly. Looks like it needs a key. Anyone have a link to it? Is there also a spring needed?

Click to expand...

KEY, WOODRUFF (3/16X5/8)

90751-VG3-000

Item # 7 Bolt

BOLT, FLANGE (3/8-24X1")

90109-VG3-000

KEY, WOODRUFF (3/16X5/8)

90751-VG3-000

Worked on a lot of Honda mowers and have never seen that bolt broken.
As an aside I had to retire for medical reasons after having torn a mower apart for engine issues. Did not get it assembled as they were waiting on parts. Once parts came in I got a call asking about the crankshaft/key. They asked how can we get this woodruff key to work in the crankshaft, it is cut for a straight key? I answered "turn the crank 180". They did and said "OK i see"

Which way does this key face? Is the rounded part in the shaft or in the blade assembly?

(Looks like a toenail clipping!)

If you can still use you eyes it is self explaining when you look at the crankshaft. No need to hold your hand on this one.

so you sheared the bolt and the key. No way is that crankshaft not tweaked as a bend or twist. The key flat side usually goes into the crankshaft. Make sure the sparkplug wire is out when you work on it. Torque the bolt to specs. Then make note where one end of the blade is close to the edge of the mower housing, rotate it 180 degrees to be sure it is in the same spot. If the mower runs poorly or won't start, suspect the flywheel key may be sheared too. If it vibrates badly, then the crankshaft is warped. If that is the case, you may find another model with the same engine as a donor on FB Marketplace.

bentrim said:

https://www.hondapowersportsparts.com/oemparts/a/hpe/50f7361ff8700233e4c92f1d/rotary-blade-1

Item # 7 Bolt

BOLT, FLANGE (3/8-24X1")

90109-VG3-000

KEY, WOODRUFF (3/16X5/8)

90751-VG3-000

Worked on a lot of Honda mowers and have never seen that bolt broken.
As an aside I had to retire for medical reasons after having torn a mower apart for engine issues. Did not get it assembled as they were waiting on parts. Once parts came in I got a call asking about the crankshaft/key. They asked how can we get this woodruff key to work in the crankshaft, it is cut for a straight key? I answered "turn the crank 180". They did and said "OK i see"

Click to expand...

Thank you. The mower works fine despite not installing this toenail clipping (key).

Why is the mower working well without this key?

Without the Woodruff key (3/16X5/8) the OP is depending solely on fiction of the parts to keep the bolt from over tightening and shearing again.

So it is not to prevent slipping, but to stop over-tightening?

StarTech said:

Without the Woodruff key (3/16X5/8) the OP is depending solely on fiction of the parts to keep the bolt from over tightening and shearing again.

Click to expand...

Is there a diagram of how this key fits in?

MowerMark said:

So it is not to prevent slipping, but to stop over-tightening?

Click to expand...

Come on use your brain. It is the same thing. As things slip it will tighten the retaining bolt.

And all it takes is using your eyes provided you are not visually impaired to see how Woodruff key fits in the mating crankshaft slot.

StarTech said:

Come on use your brain. It is the same thing. As things slip it will tighten the retaining bolt.

And all it takes is using your eyes provided you are not visually impaired to see how Woodruff key fits in the mating crankshaft slot.

Click to expand...

I am visually impaired and not mechanically inclined.

am visually impaired and not mechanically inclined.

Click to expand...

Then feeling your way the rounded side goes into the crankshaft and the straight side goes toward the blade adapter.

And doing a lot jigsaw puzzles will improve your mechanical ability just like doing Sudoku puzzles.
am getting ready to step up from 9x9 to 16x16 puzzles which are hex-decimal version.

StarTech said:

Then feeling your way the rounded side goes into the crankshaft and the straight side goes toward the blade adapter.

And doing a lot jigsaw puzzles will improve your mechanical ability just like doing Sudoku puzzles.
am getting ready to step up from 9x9 to 16x16 puzzles which are hex-decimal version.

Click to expand...

But sgkent posted. "The key flat side usually goes into the crankshaft.". Which is correct?

MowerMark said:

But sgkent posted. "The key flat side usually goes into the crankshaft.". Which is correct?

Click to expand...

Is it a slot that is like a half moon, or one like a plain slot. That will make the difference where it goes,

c/o huyett.com

or

c/o ls1tech

sgkent said:

Is it a slot that is like a half moon, or one like a plain slot. That will make the difference where it goes,

c/o huyett.com

or

c/o ls1tech

Click to expand...

WOW! Nice pix! It's a long groove just like the big pix (lower). I didn't see a small slot depicted in the top diagram. So how does it go if there is the lower config?

It that case you normally use a long square key and not a Woodruff key; unless, the mating part has the half moon slot which machining it would a lot harder for the manufacture.

I called Honda tech support twice, and both agents were puzzled over this "key". They had two part numbers:

94901-16150

90751-ZG#-000

There was no long bar key. Seems I need to call a repair place.

The model you posted has different variants depending on year.

I did look at quite a few of the variants based on your original post. Some came with a hub that the key was cast into it. That hub was superseded to ones that had a slot. Some use the half moon key. I think you need to take photos of your serial number, and the actual hub that holds the blade to a local shop and let them figure out what will fit. If you post the full serial number / model number I will be glad to help you look, but for now there is nothing else I can do without it. Here is a page that has many of the full model numbers related to what you originally posted. https://www.hondalawnparts.com/honda-hrr-lawn-mower-parts they all begin with HRR216

Alternatively you can go to your local Ace Hardware with the blade hub and see if they have a key that fits.

If it IS a long slot, and I have not seen your photo showing it is so we are taking your word for it - you are own your own on that, keys could be something like these in an $18 kit from Amazon. If you have one too strong, and you hit something again, it could damage the crankshaft. The idea is that the key sheers instead of the crankshaft breaking:

The key is typically part of the blade adapter, but since it is a Honda, they can't make things easy. The bolt is not sacrificial; there was sufficient energy to overtighten and break the bolt after the key was sheared. Given that those have a weak 5/8 crankshaft and the weight of two blades, I can assure you that the crank is bent. I have junked more Honda lawn mowers with bent cranks or other problems, like cracked blocks, than I can remember. More than any other brand, by far. The remainder of the bolt is still inside the crankshaft in the photo. It is almost impossible to remove it. Not a good day for you or Honda.

kbowley said:

The key is typically part of the blade adapter, but since it is a Honda, they can't make things easy. The bolt is not sacrificial; there was sufficient energy to overtighten and break the bolt after the key was sheared. Given that those have a weak 5/8 crankshaft and the weight of two blades, I can assure you that the crank is bent. I have junked more Honda lawn mowers with bent cranks or other problems, like cracked blocks, than I can remember. More than any other brand, by far. The remainder of the bolt is still inside the crankshaft in the photo. It is almost impossible to remove it. Not a good day for you or Honda.

Click to expand...

Irrespective of any internal damage, it runs/sounds fine so far. If anything more than a key is needed, I'd give it away. I'm not mechanically-skilled.