These are fabulous mowers my Dad was a Honda dealer and my 1987 model is still in perfect working order. Buy once buy right!

My Daughter has the same honda Mower with the floppy wheels on it as well! I am going up to see her this weekend and will check out the wheel bearings! Thanks!

I have HR214 from 1988, so it has lasted 35 years with weekly use for 9 months a year. I think I've only changed the oil 2-3 times, and nothing else was replaced. This starts on 1 or 2 pulls every time. I can't recall too many times when it required 3 pulls to start. This is an incredibly built lawn mower. However, some parts are starting to show wear: 1. Second (fast) gear is engaging on and off, and it's more noticeable in cold weather. First (slow) gear works just fine. Found some videos on how to repair this. Will probably do it after the grass cutting season over winter break. 2. Plastic wheel hubs are cracking, and some small portions have broken off near the center bearing. If I can fix the gear issue over, then I know I can use this many more years, so I'll replace at least the 2 rear wheels that are in worst shape. 3. All wheels have slight free play, and I've used extra washer to reduce the movement. 4. The handle arm doesn't stay locked. I have to constantly tighten the hand screw before each use. The metal area where the bottom end of the handle locks into is bit worn. 5. I just have single blade, and it's bit bent from hitting wood branches, rocks, and other things over time. It's definitely due for sharpening. 6. These old model decks are much thicker than new models. Though external paint is coming off in some spots, there is not a single rust spots. 7. I've fixed a 1/2 dozen other non-starting or hard start start lawn mowers, mainly by just cleaning the carb, but this one never required such cleaning. This is beyond imaginable reliability. New Honda like this are $500-700, so my goal is to spend minimal money as possible and see if I can keep this going to 50 years. :-) I'm planning to do minor maintenance such as oil change, run seafoam carbon cleaner through engine, clean plug and reset gap (or replace it), clean air filter, and see if I can use baking soda+crazy glue trick to fix minor cracks in front wheels. Also, if I can figure out how, I'll replace trans oil.

The bearing should be put in the opposite direction and there are spring washers should go where the big flat washer are located.

My elderly neighbor just asked me to see if I can tune up his mower that's been sitting a few years. Its just like this