If I saw that Honda I would pick it up immediately! They usually are easy fixes and run forever.

I have a 25+ year old Honda self propelled and it has started on no more than 3 pulls since new. I change the oil every other year and have only changed the spark lug twice. Best mower ever.

The Honda linkages look complex but are actually very reliable as long as you keep them lubed. The problem is the throttle cable tends to stretch over time and it is an easy fix to adjust the cable or if it can no longer be adjusted you can trim the end of the cable and make a new hook and that also works instead of replacing it.

You struck gold, that is a thousand dollar mower! I’ve been using the HRX for 20 years, best mower on the market.

I am so impressed with your problem solving and communication. I worked as a automotive product engineer for over 38 years and had the honor of working with a few people with a similar level of excellence but not many. Much respect.

My Honda is over 15 years old. Amazing. Never broke. Every Honda engine is bullet proof.

I trash picked one like that and fixed it up and ran it for almost ten years then bought a new one.........when i put the old one in the trash it was still running .........good machines 👍👍👍👍

My mower was hard to start. I started with blowing out the throttle/choke area and sprayed it with WD40. Works perfect!!

For seven years, I've owned the same Honda in this video. It always starts on one pull. Small engines challenge me. However, I clean my mower after each use (cutting once a week during the season), I only buy 1/2 gal of fresh gas each month. I follow the owner's manual for seasonal oil/spark plug/air filter changes and lubing the cables. I sharpen my own blades. I use stabil to store the machine during winter. You picked up a great mower. Thanks for posting.

Agree on the throttling. Keep it simple. Nice job diagnosing the carb linkage. Amazing how simple some of these fixes are. 👊🏽

Thank you Sir, I appreciate you. I was given a 12 year old Honda mower. Wouldn’t start. After two weeks of spraying carb without taking it off and a new gasket finally got it running. She takes off her speed is unbelievable. I also have a 12 year old craftsman they both have years on them but still run.

I have a 1987 HR214 that was given to me in 1998 by a guy who no longer needed it. Still starts on 1-2 pulls every time, even after sitting months over the winter (granted with ethanol free gas). Self propel still works fine, and it's been beat to death in a very rough yard full of cypress roots, in a very hot climate Spark plug and oil change at least once a decade, and a new blade when the old one gets dog-eared. Amazing piece of machinery!

HG, thanks for this video. I have a 11 year old HRX 217 w/electric start, and it's recently been a pain to start. After recently replacing the air filter, and then watching you work with the choke mechanism on this mower, I think I know where the problem is. Thanks!

You found a free Honda HRX mower- that is amazing luck. Maybe buy a lottery ticket to see if that luck is still with you. I just picked up one of these new before they're not available anymore, it is a great mower.

This is the best video I’ve seen about choke adjustment for Honda mowers…and I’ve watched a pile of them. Looks like I need to lube and adjust my cable/linkage. Thank you!

That Honda mower is not cheap glad you got it running again and for free also

I used to work at a outdoor power equipment dealer. Honda in one of the brands we sold. Honda builds a excellent push mower.

Thank you for posting this. My Honda HRX217 mower is becoming hard to start. This shows me what linkages and cables to check and how to perform a startup "tune up." Great video and thanks again!

The prior owners really did a number on the Honda. I own a HRX and is the best mower I have ever owned!!

Awesome top tips...HRX 426 owner that has almost always had to squirt cold start from cold. Knew it was a choke issue, have now successfully fixed by WD40 and a small cable adjustment as shown in clip.

Thanks for the video, a customer’s mower has exactly the same issue with the throttle linkages and it’s been doing my head in. I don’t like the GCV engine, or working on them, all my gear is fitted with GXVs, completely different beast!

My next door neighbor used to have a honda just lile this one. Only it had the blade clutch, electric start and an auto choke. And it worked perfectly fine for him for many years. He gave it to his son not to long ago. I remember him telling me how the carborator was rebuilt and the guy telling him to shut the valve and let the carborator burn the fuel inside. He would always do that with the blade engaged when he was finished cutting. They are definitely great mowers!

I picked up a supermarket brand mower in Belgium 30 years ago. Has a Honda engine on it that still runs well. Currently in bits so I can weld up the rust holes in the deck.

I just bought a $1000 HRX hydrostatic with the blade clutch. Same set. My dad bought one in the mid 1980 still works as always. I bought one 20 years ago works perfectly. I just bought mine because they’re gonna stop making them. Never a cable issue on any of the mowers.

That's a great find, congrats. I like a throttle control and speed control. I have 2 Snapper Hi-Vac's. The older one (1987) is not self-propelled. It was a curbside classic in the mid 90's, when my father picked it for me. Hard starting was probably 1 of the reasons it was given away. It has a B&S Max engine. On this engine design, the very last bit of travel of the throttle cable pushes the linkage plate forward and DIRECTLY closes the choke plate. It can get sticky over the years, and on mine, the choke action would still sometimes stick until I replaced the throttle cable, a few years ago. A new cable just was more positive in the pushing action. I prefer that simpler direct flip of the choke plate over this design, but overall, I agree with you that I would rather choke or prime the engine myself, instead of an automatic choke. Now I hope that the self propel problem is fixed OK in the next episode.

Recently bought an HRX - HYA with blade clutch. I use a Velcro attachment strip made for extension cords around the handle bar. When the blade is engaged I use use the Velcro to secure it so I don't have to stop the blade as often and just concentrate on the self-propelled lever. The Honda is heavy compared to my old John Deere JX-75. However once one gets use to the hydrostatic drive speed adjustment it is easy to control, more power and the four cutting areas of the blade makes for a very fine cut mulch that is better as well. My 24 year old JX-75 is still going but the wheels (third set) are almost completely slick plus a third blade clutch and no more parts. I bought the Honda before the stupid EPA outlaws them. I will say the fine mulch job the Honda does saves water consumption for the lawn. The super fine clippings act to keep the ground moist from watering over an extended time thus the beneath grass sod doesn't require as much watering periods. Less water is evaporated during the summer months for sure. This lawn mower will probably be my last as I am 75 now. Hope that it last as long as the JX-75. One thing I always did with my JX-75 was use nothing but premium fuel and Mobil One oil. The high cost premium fuel has more detergents in the gasoline. This prevents carburetor problems along with fuel stabilizer added as well.

The Honda brand is the gold standard for reliability. I've owned 15 Honda's, including a mower just like this one. Easy fix. 😉

A little lube to the throttle mech goes a long way! One of the first things I check on a mower find, can’t afford the engine running away in case I start it up because I need a way to shut it down. As always, great video! Honda’s are fun, my 1st Honda mower carb rebuild involved removing and cleaning not only the main jet, but also taking out the carby emulsion tube (new discovery!; didn’t know there was a perforated tube in the center of carby body that was blocked and was accessible with a tiny flathead screwdriver!) as I was on the hunt for the cause of the constant engine intermittently surging. After that the machine came back to life and that annoying engine surge was cured! That was my neighbor’s unit I worked on as my 1st experience 😅

This early spring I dis-assembled my 1997 made Honda (I purchased in 1997). Cleaned all parts re-assembled, replaced shift cable, spark plug, air filter, changed oil, replaced all wheels and run some Lucas gas additive through it, sharpened the blade and it’s running like brand new. I will donate to Honda when I can’t mow anymore. To me, there is no other mower to own!

I like the adjustment that I can do myself like your mower. Thanks for the video.

As someone who used mowers with a Choke system in the past but haven't seen one with it since the mid 1990s. The last Mower that I have ever used with a Choke system was a mid 1990s Lawnboy. I wouldn't mind having a mower that had a throttle control and choke system again. also This particular Honda mower is awesome because you can set if you want to fully bag or mulch or have the best of both worlds. A very good concept by Honda.

I have the same mower, I got it new about 20 years ago. It is the best mower I have ever owned. I keep it clean and lubricated, I maintain it myself routinely, and it starts, runs, and mows like a charm. Hint: Never store a mower (or ANY yard machine) with ethanol fuel in the tank. Never. It is much better to use non-ethanol fuel, as you suggest in this video. I don't think this point can be emphasized enough. During the winter months, I store mine with TruFuel and always recommend that others use engineered fuel for the same purpose. Zero starting problems in the Spring. Good luck with changing the drive the belt. It is a major PITA, but if it solves the problem, it is well worth the effort. This is a great mower. I would always get a Honda if I needed another gas-fueled power mower. 👍👍

I have that exact mower & no issues just maintenance. Good to go

Putting those carbs back on is a challenge, even if you have 2 hands. Because of a small engine mishap, I only have 1.5. Recently I carefully reassembled one of these with the slide spring choke. I finally got it all to work and was test cutting some grass. I looked down at the mower deck and saw the gasket that goes between the block and plastic plate laying on the deck. The words I uttered are not suitable for your family friendly channel.

I was lucky enough to get a free Honda. 1988 vintage and still perfect. It is still like a brand new mower, and I would say is the best mower I have ever owned. The thing about those linkages is that you do need to keep them clean and lubricated. If you remember to do that then they are dead reliable despite being complex. However if you don't look after the machine eventually you will be in for a fiddly and time consuming job, (which thankfully can be made far easier by watching your excellent tutorials).

Got four Hondas now…zero problems in years! Got a 16 year old Honda generator that I use for rv…rarely use…always kicks off!

My Honda did the same thing…wheels would turn when not on the ground, but they did not push the mower along. I adjusted the drive cable and it worked fine for years. I think they put the adjustment there knowing the belt would wear in over time but not be completely unserviceable.

I’ve had my Honda mower for 15 years ! Best purchase I’ve made for my home

I got one for free runs great. I love that that when the bag is full just let go of lever and it stops the blade but engine keeps running. My snapper is still running over 30 years now. Have so many miles on my snapper the plastic wheels are bald.

I bought one of the very first mowers Honda made, many years ago. It cost $650 then, weighed a ton. That model had shaft drive, which worked well. Problems were, the deck would clog with grass, cables needed a lot of adjustment. BUT after 3 or 4 years the engine started smoking. Now i maintain every power equipment I own like my life depended on it, so i was a bit peeved. After removing the head and inspecting the valves, I noticed the valves were wobbling. Turns out the valves guides were toast. They looked like they were made of Brass. Went to the Honda dealer, to get repair and he looked at me like i was crazy, and said 'That impossible!' I've owned Lawn boys, a couple of Toros, MTDs, Scotts, and some I forgot. Never had a engine failure. As i like to say, 'Your mileage may vary". Good Luck!

There great mowers, easy to work on. Would buy one or pick up a side of the road model any day, snow blowers too. They don't come to very often for a reason.

I use studs to hold the carb on so I can work on them without the breather in the way. It keeps the gaskets in place for me. Then I can put the breater on and replace the studs with the bolts one at a time.

Modern mowers have too much crap on them. I'm perfectly happy with my 1967 Briggs Stratton 3hp that my dad bought new for $35. Its mowed the 1/4 acre of grass here every summer weekend for the past 56 years. No bag, no self propel mess, no fancy linkage, just a motor deck, four wheels and a handle. I converted it from points to an Atom module about 12 years ago and now all I do is sharpen the blade and change the oil every year. I have a similar Honda in the shed too, its about 12 years old now. The neighbor threw it away when it refused to start one spring. Turned out it needed a new spark plug. It has two problems, one is that the spark plug dies at will every year or so, and it eats the little kill switch that's part of the safety lever system. I got tired of buying new switches, and without the switch, it won't shut off, so I put a kill switch off an old dirt bike on it and removed the lever and brake altogether. The problem is the thing is a tank, even with the self propelled feature its more work to use than my old mower. It does start on the first pull every time and it is better on fuel than my 3hp BS engine but I like how light the old mower is so the Honda just sits.

I have 10 years old Honda gcv160.If in future it refuses to start on first pull I'l change the spark plug. So far no need, original works fine. Oil change every year, of course. A great, reliable machine. Assembled in France.

Had my first Honda mower, a 160 for 14 years until the deck rusted (took care of motor but nothing else). Bought a 190 with a plastic deck, expect it to last as long as I cut grass. Never had any problems with them running.

I have Troy-Built mower with a Honda Engine, Automatic choke, front wheel drive. The engine wouldn't start at the beginning of last year. Turns out it was water in the gas. Having similar problems at one point this year, very wet spring here. Put a couple of cap-fulls of Heet in the tank, and no more problems. I forget how long I've had this thing, but usually I take it out of the storage shed at the start of the season, a couple of pulls and it starts. It's supposed to be variable speed on the FWD, but I find it's mostly full speed ahead and stop. Main thing is it cuts and cuts and cuts. I also fire it up some times in the winter to get up leaves. Also, have learned that no ethanol gas in lawn equipment it the best way to fly. My car doesn't seem to care, but ethanol gas has ruined lawn mowers and string trimmers for me.

I thought I liked mowers with all the controls, but after I restored a Troy built mower with auto choke and no throttle, it is actually pleasant to simply pull the rope to start mowing. The one downside I saw is having to restart after opening gates or removing debris I find as I'm mowing. The Honda is easy to just disengage the blade to do those things.

Great video Older Hondas & Briggs and Stratton mowers where made to last at least 10 to 20 years or 30 years plus I purchased a newer mower with a plastic Carburetor So far I’m on my 3rd mower in 7 years Not built to last

I got a very expensive Honda mower with swivel wheels for free a few years back, I put the engine on a simple deck with no traction control. I had to get a flange adapter for the blade. It is my mower for cleaning the woods.

Here in UK Honda mowers are the professional's choice even though they are twice the price (or more) than the equivalent in other brands. My HR194 self propelled is now 38 years old and I have had it from new. It has been used and abused for all that time and is the go to mower for all the difficult jobs that the lawn tractor (yardman 30" w 14.5hp engine) can't cope with. The general abuse is such that I have had to add several steel patches to the aluminium deck due to holes being punched through it. The engine starts second pull after the winter lay-off and thereafter on the first pull. It uses no oil between annual services, which tends to remain reasonably clear as testament to its internal condition. Apart from a replacement ignition module, a carb gasket set and clutch lever spring that fatigued out, the only other expenses have been service items. Over the last couple of years I have looked at a replacement with another Honda but the machine running so well and the $1000 replacement cost persuaded me against it. I cannot consider using another brand.

The choke systems on most of my Honda mowers aren't really that bad since I learned from an early age how to operate Honda mowers, specifically the model HR214SX. My current mowers are a commercial HRC2163HXC (incredibly similar to the HRC216HRA in the U.S.) that I bought brand new a couple of years ago and I picked up a roughly 10 year old Honda HRX217HYC (the unit with a hydrostatic transmission and blade brake clutch) for an incredible price a few weeks ago. The HRX happens to have an auto choke on it and it seems to be working just fine. Both mowers from their respective dates of purchase have been well cared for as with my commercial unit I get the dealer to come and pick it up, do a tune up service and drop it back to me and the other one it was well cared for by the previous owner.

I'm typically a honda fan but I went with a Toro I like the rwd and the personal pace is great. Only issue has been the transmission locked up after 2 years of use and while it's only around $70 for a new complete transmission I just think they design things to die as soon as the warranty runs out nowadays.

I would love to see the belt replacement ideo when you have it done to deal with a low power self propelled problem. Thank you for your content.

Mowers in the 70's and 80's had a simple cable slide throttle/choke system and no complicated levers. That system worked great and was durable.

Glad I found your channel!

Funny! My Neighbor gave up on her Honda mower because the front wheel broke off, but it looks like some butchered the mounting area, so what I did replaced both front wheels to match up.Took the old wheels off one of my old mowers. Had to drill holes to set the whole assembly on the Honda, it work out. When I got the Honda originally it sat there in the back yard for a year until I needed a mower, after fixing wheels, it started on the first start, it blew my mind. Commonsense goes a long way.

I have a Honda push mower. Bought it in 1997 - still using it for those tight spots where the rider won’t fit. I think I’ve changed the oil 3 or 4 times. Starts on two pulls max every time.

My honda mower that purchaced 4 years ago has no manual choke and a much simplified thumb controller for the self propelled. So far..it has started on the first pull, everytime. It is double bladed which i think is unnecesary and I am not as much of a fan of the rear chute as i thought but i ussually mulch anyway. I really like the plastic body as it will never rust and stays cleaner under.

I just parted out my 30 year old honda power washer still started on third pull just down on power best small engine i ever owned

Less accessories is better than MORE. Great analysis! I saw bend that tab also! I own am HRR. I need to replace MY belt. Lookn forward tp your video. Its a heavy mower to push.😉I have to get belt soon. 👍 I think an excellent find! Guess u fpumd more than a belt.🤔

I really enjoy watching your videos

I've never been a big fan of Honda's mowers.....but they DO have their fans. If you can fix and sell it, good for business, good for you.

Top notch mowers when taken care of

Great video. One thing though; you need to use a detergent motor oil. I noticed the oil you added to the mower said "non detergent" (which is good for shop air compressors). Use 30 or 10w-30 weight. I have the same mower (2007 model) and it still has the original drive belt. One thing that prevents proper drive system operation is lack of lubrication of, and grass buildup in, the rear wheel drive gears and pawls and related parts. Its a very tedious operation to clean and grease them. Almost no one does this, even though its listed as required maintenance in the owner's manual. Once you get the axle apart, might as well go ahead and replace the drive belt. Why didn't Honda put grease nipples on the drive wheel housings like Toro? Who knows, but it would have saved a lot of headaches!

i feel like power more engines used on mtd machines have the best choke setup. they just use air from the flywheel to open the choke. it is nice to just be able to pull the cord and go. no messing around. definitely better than the setups found on briggs or honda.

I would have the same problem with my 2009 Honda HRX 217 with the GCV190 engine. My had the manual choke too. Especially when it would get colder outside close to the end of mowing season in IL. It would even get harder to start or just wouldn’t start because of the choke. So it every year I would need to fix it just to get the mower to start especially when I would fire it up for the first time of the year.

I would go with ome that had the adjustable throttle throttle. They allow you to give the motor a chance to warm up before before being wide open.

It’s better for the throttle to be self-adjusting. The engine is less likely to stall if you hit a thicker patch of grass.

I have a Honda gx160 on a fumigator that has been used commercially for 20 years who knows how many hours it has, it’s never been rebuilt and probably only had 15 oil changes. Still starts and runs great!

yeah to do belt its take off handle bars, rear end, rear axle drop, blades and cover. 1 hour job. last 1 i did last month was $200 ticket after that and oil and air filter change and sharpen both blades. $15,000 walker brand ztr.... change all 4 belts in 20 min with no tools.

I have not purchased a mover in over 10 years, my Honda has started first or second pull every year dot over 10 years. I have replaced the belt for sell propel but the problem was cable adjustment and that is the only thing I have done to it in over 10 years.

My newer Honda-powered Toro self-propelled motor claims to have an automatic choke. It also has no throttle. Once it starts it runs and cuts grass at constant engine speed. That's why the motor shuts off when you let go of the bar. The only issue I had with it this Spring was neglecting to shut off the fuel line last fall and not running the carb dry. The result was a lot of effort to get it to run and to run smoothly. Hopefully, after I use it it will clean up the carb, Sea Foam should help too.

Had the same honda mower for 25 years. still going strong.

I have the hrx and first was not happy not having control on throttle and choke but it starts with one one pull every time my issue is with the self propel I have the one with thumb controls pressing down makes it go the more you press the faster it goes but releasing the control it likes to stick and keep going

217 are a beast..best bagging mower arround...rear transmissions a nightmare to change..Honda no longer makes lawnmowers...I used these commercial for 20 years

I much prefer to be able to control the speed etc of the engine and be able to choke as much as I want. Thanks for the videos.

When I put the Kawasaki on the Snapper the Snapper control wouldn't work on the Kawasaki motor so I used the ones off the Deere and the throw was too short. All you had to do was finish moving the throttle/choke hookup on the motor about 1/8th of an inch with a digit and it'd start just fine. Now I have the 4-horse with the all climate choke that always starts 2nd pull AND the other LT 1000 is on the way and my pal at his saw shop said it started right up. 16 horse OHV and sitting 2 years. I have bushes to remove from the deck and maybe a new cable for the blade system and tires/tubes on the front and a battery and eventually an oil change but it'll be here and I'll start working on it next week. BLESSINGS!

I had a Craftsman self propelled mower with fixed throttle and primer bulb for choke and was hard to start. There weren’t any speed controls either. It moved when the lever was locked in place and stopped when released. I hated that mower. My next mower was a Honda harmony that someone gave me. It needed the carb cleaned and ran great. Every season the carb had to be blown out with compressed air and the rest of the season was a one pull wonder. I also throttled down before shutting it down if I was restarting again. For some reason it made a difference. I also shut off the gas valve before putting it away after each mow. No problems. The death of it was the plastic deck cracked and disintegrated from there.

I bought a new cheap Briggs several years ago , main jet plugged many times fuel tank had fine dirt in it and screen in tank did nothing cleaned tank and put small inline filter , flawless now but super dirty tank when brand new

3 years ago I also gave away my Honda. I was tired of it’s starting problems 😢

I've had my Honda HRX for over 12 years (and still starts on the first pull) and I've never had to mess with the choke system.

Outstanding Achievement-

We have a Honda mower in our family and it’s now 35 years old and still going strong.

As a certified Honda/Stihl/Husqvarna small engine mechanic, if it doesn't start then just talk to it nicely...these things are bloody reliable.

In 2016 I looked at the prices of a Honda push-mower and chose a Cub Cadet SC-100 push mower instead. I don't regret my decision. It's not that Honda's mowers are bad. They're good at what they do. But they're not for everyone's budget.

I use a harbor freight engine in an old deck. The throttle is a wire tie on the bracket. Apparently it's a knock off of that engine. It has a primer bulb. The governor throttles up when it hits high grass which at my house where lawnmowers come to die is often. I chip limbs by running over them. Predator engine is pretty bad ass. First thing I do is remove the engine brake.

Hey Home Garage, my trimmer is 12 years old, and the engine is not broken and still has life left in it, the problem is that when i start it i have to keep the throttle wide open slightly all the time, otherwise the engine will stall, and i looked at the carburetor (original) and their doesn't seem to be any screws to adjust the idle speed, so it has more fuel during that time, it's a JCB BC26 from 12 years ago, i don't want to give it up as it's light, doesn't vibrate badly, and still has really good power for it's age, and probably going to take it to a shop next week. It isn't a huge trimmer, but it's good enough for a teenager to use it, with safety stuff on of course. just need your advice, because i never plan on buying electric cars or equipment like lawn mowers trimmers and so on as engines do i better job at everything. Let me know, thank you, and learning a lot!

You did show putting the breather tube on the air filter assembly but I’m gathering you did, it’s nice for assistance mowing butsimple is better.😊

I've got a Husqvarna AWD mower with a Honda engine (looks like the same exact engine you have)... 10+ years old and starts on the first pull every time, even after winter storage. Clean it, drain the gas, change the oil, plug & filter, as well as sharpen the blade, before putting it away for the winter. A teaspoon of oil in the cylinder and pull the cord a couple times before you put the plug back in keeps the rings/cylinder walls happy. The guy across the street has to buy a new mower every 5 years because he does not of that. Take care of your gear and it should last years and years (mower, snowblower, generator, etc.).

I’ve had my hrs for 10 years starts on first pull runs like a top. Ethanol free gas always. Change oil yearly, spark plug, air-filter

These are the best mowers hands down

I find plenty of honda mowers each year. I fix and sell them. Some minor repairs, some major. Funny thing is the buyers frequently ask me "This honda never breaks, right?" or make a comment "they are like tanks and never break" as I laugh to myself.

I had exactly the same thing on the same engine 2 days ago. assessed the problem. I agree that the lube did the trick. BUT, when you lube external mower parts, 2 things happen. best case scenario is the lube doesn't last long. most likely though, the lube will attract dust particles, causing repeated fixing to be needed. soooo, after watching how the linkage interacted with itself, I decided that the lowest part of the linkage would be better served to avoid the little paddle shaped piece all together, so a 1/4" nudge of the screwdriver, I used a Phillips, but you could use a flat, torx, hex, or maybe even just a piece of metal, stray bolt, or if all else fails your finger (index preferably) will suffice. on a serious note (yes I did exactly what I said above) I have had more problems with the Honda choke systems over the years. I've started hoarding the slide style from pressure washers and converting when possible.

Great repair. 👍🙏👍🙏

Mine had a bad wax cylinder... replacing that fixed the choke. Mine has the cone transmission... I filled it with 90w gear oil and it leaps like a scalded dog! Replacing the belt was not fun IIRC... but mine's on its second decade now. I'll only buy Honda when I can.

Always clean and lube

I am having the same issue, I will try this

I definitely prefer a throttle Lever! So I can adjust engine speed depending in how much Power I Need. But I also like a primer more than a Choke. I think a choke is unnecessery complicated.

Yep, looked like a door lock mechanism to me. Bust out the spray lube / cleaner!

What cleaner do you use on the Nextel deck? I got some carb cleaner spray on mine.