Honda HRR216 Lawn Mower

by Rusty
(Louisville KY)


Blade Brake Clutch known as BBC for short. That's the reason I buy Honda mowers. Release the safety bail and the blade stops turning but the engine continues to run. That's the way a mower should be. Kids toys, lawn adornments, bag emptying and all the other things that require a temporary halt of mowing operations won't make me restart the mower to resume. It's running and ready to go soon as I pull back the bail handle. I've been using that feature since my first Honda in 1992 with my HR216SMA. After 17 years, it gave up the ghost so I've replaced it with a 2009 model HRR216.


Then there's the Honda warranty. 3 years standard. If you'd bought before May 31 of 2009, they added another year. 4 year warranty. That's good. I bought from my local Honda mower dealer for the same price as Home Depot but since I bought from the dealer, he will provide a loaner mower while mine's in the shop if it needs warranty work.

The Honda self-propulsion mechanism is truly functional. Other brands don't come close.

Cheapest self-propelled mower I could find was $320. This Honda HRR216 cost me $500. For the extra $200 I got: (1) Blade Brake Clutch, (2) self-propulsion that's reliable, (3) local dealer with parts on hand when I need them, (4) a 4 year warranty. It's worth the extra money to me.

Comments for Honda HRR216 Lawn Mower

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Nov 19, 2017
Rating
star 		Not happy
by: Tom Freier

It chops up my leaves better than my 30 year Craftsman, but my Craftsman was easier to use. Same drag on pulling it backwards which is a pain since I'm older now. I lubed the bushings but still a chore to drag around.
May 08, 2017
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Slow drive speed but keep RPM up
by: Jon

Does anyone know of a way to slow the drive speed of this Honda mower but keep the RPM up so that the grass will cut clean? My legs aren't what they used to be and I have to slow the engine down to keep up with the mower. But when I do that, the RPM drops way low. Anyway to decrease drive speed but keep engine RPM high? TIA
response directly to factor2013@hotmail.com appreciated.
Aug 23, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		3 month old HONDA Smartdrive
by: Anonymous

I've had this mower for 3 months and I have a modest yard. It takes maybe 1 1/4 hrs to mow front and back, including emptying bag and water breaks. I mow once a week, and sometimes a little past that. That being said, it's been used 10 -12 times max! A few weeks ago I noticed it was difficult to back up. Wheels kept locking and I thought I was doing something different. Operator error came to mind. But after 2 more mows I decided that was not the case and decided to google the issue. I'm so disappointed in Honda. This is simply uneacceptable that these bushings go bad after being hosed off, it's a design flaw, and I, like a previous post wish I still had my Craftsman mower. I can certainly return it to Home Depot and I probably will, but I will think twice before spending $450 on a Honda mower again. If only some one could put this engine on a better mower deck and set up.
Jul 19, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Same problem
by: Anonymous

Bought what I thought would be the best and last the longest. My Torro before this one worked until the deck rusted out (I didn't spray it off!) it lasted 10 years, no problems at all. I have had this mower for about 2 years now and it's been good but the wheels are now locked when going backward. I don't have time to spend taking this crap apart or to the shop. I have a very small yard and this better not keep happening.

I guess I'll go waste some of my precious time...
Jun 17, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Rear wheels won't reverse when the mower is pulled backward
by: R George

I purchased this mower in September of 2015. And Honda has failedt o addresst this problem. My mower hast the same problem with the rear wheels. The mower has been in the shop at a dealer for three weeks now. And after my contact with Honda their response was for me to take the mower to another dealer. I no longer have confidence in Honda Products.
May 07, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		NO REVERSE
by: Anonymous

Put the mower on its side and pull the plate off the transmission and you will find that the teeth off one of the gears break off and get jammed that's why you cannot pull backwards, I know i have one of these mower the trans cost $48.00 off Ebay
Apr 30, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Self propelled - NOT, and, you got it, it won't go back either
by: Anonymous

My HRR216's self propel function is not working. And it won't back up. I've seen bunches of comments on not backing up, but It's the devil to push without that self propel not working.
Mar 21, 2016
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		difficult to pull backwards possible cause
by: Anonymous

Same problem difficult to pull backwards. It appears to be a problem with the belt being just tight enough on the transmissions pulley to cause a breaking action. The transmission pulley turn when the mower is pulled backwards thus the sliding friction and since the pulley is grooved it pulls the belt deeper into to grove wedging the belt.
Apr 03, 2015
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		mower will not back up
by: Hatwood

Florida mower you are exactly correct! Took the bushings out, cleaned and greased them, it works perfectly now. I sure all my times hosing it off after I am done contributed to the problem.
Pretty simple, you will just need a set of snap ring pliers and basic hand tools. Took me about an hour.

Thanks for the good info
Oct 22, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstar 		PROBLEM SOLVED
by: Florida Mower

Can't believe all the misinformation on this!

My problem was the same ... And the solution was simple.

As long as both rear wheels ratchet .. The problem is farther in ... But NOT the transmission!

LUBE THE SHAFT BUSHINGS AT EACH REAR WHEEL.

They start to seize up, but will work forward becausr you are under power. Pulling back .. No go!

Lube once a season and they will be fine. It fixed my "can't pull backwards" problem.

EASY.
Sep 13, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		will not roll backwards and tanny not engaging.
by: Anonymous

Same here, my Honda walk behind mower transmission is trash, and after take it back to home depot for transmissions replacement. Yes you guess it, the transmission quit working again and won't roll or pull backwards. Now no warranty and can only push it fwd with lots of drag the motor on the other hand is working strong. Honda should not have ever made this mower a self propel, it is better off with out a transmission or rear wheels. I'm glade I kept my Ole Craftsman it a far better mower at 20 yrs old than this Honda was brand New.
Sep 11, 2014
Rating
star 		Won't backup
by: Anonymous

Wheels won't turn in reverse after 2 years. Defective crap.
Oct 06, 2013
Rating
star 		Mower can't be pulled backwards either
by: Anonymous

We purchased this mower in August of 2012. Problems started not long after that. Used it to the end of fall. I replaced the tranny oil myself, made adjustments, greased the gears in the rear rachet assembly.

this Spring we took it back to Home Depot where we bought it from. the mechanic there called Honda on the phone, made whatever adjustments there are to make and gave it back. Now it is all but useless.

I've never seen such a poor design from a reputable company.
Aug 06, 2013
Rating
star 		Can't pull backwards
by: Ric

I'm another one of those Honda owners whose mower will not roll backwards. It has been in 2 different authorized Honda repair shops since March of this year (5 months) and no one can determine the cause. The ratchet assemblies in the wheels have been cleaned and lubed, the belt and even the transmission have been replaced, but it has not been fixed. I bought this mower last year and only got 1 season of use out of it before the problem started. Now for my $400, I have a non-functioning parts mower and had to buy a new (not Honda) mower to use this summer. I won't even get into the starting issue due to the auto-choke not closing properly. Don't believe the hype about Honda's "legendary" reliability.
Jul 11, 2013
Rating
star 		can't pull backwards
by: Bob

My other Honda was great, had three speed trans. This new trans sucks. Smart Drive, yeah.
Jul 11, 2013
Rating
star 		Garbage
by: Anonymous

Just bought one of these, and I'm returning it a.s.a.p. Weak engine can't manage 3" tall grass without bogging/killing. Tiny bag fills too quickly, and spews the rest. Forget about sucking up your clippings when your done from the sidewalk-this only blows them around for more mess. Utter disappointment. Weak, weak engine! For $400 at HD, they can keep it!
Apr 15, 2012
Rating
star 		Mover won't back-up
by: Martin

Very disappointed... the mover wheels won't back-up. I can't find any way to repair it on the web. Only cleaning parts 2 to 7 do not work. The only solution I see is to replace the transmission.. .but I don't want to go there.
Apr 01, 2012
Rating
star 		Surprising diissapointing
by: Anonymous

I am a life long user of Honda cars and still swear by them. Did some research to buy a new lawn mower when my 13 year old Craftsman died. The Home depot guy told me Honda mowers are the very best. So bought one yesterday. Added oil, gas etc and started in just one pull. The mower was lightweight compared to my older craftsman one.
But after a few minutes I heard a pop sound and the mower just stopped and would not restart. The starter cord became very tight. So returned that junk back to Home Depot.

Very dissappointed with the Honda mower quality.
Sep 26, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		good lawn mower
by: Andrew

Overall, this is a good lawn mower. But Honda could transform this mower into the berst ever builded if the plastic wheels and brass transmission were replaced with light steel material, no matter if they have to increased the perice a little bit. Current materials make this lawn mower have trasmission problems
Jun 07, 2011
Rating
star 		trans problems
by: Anonymous

Same reverse trouble with the trans. It was that way right out of the box. Can't find a cure on the net other than purchase another transmission. No warranty from our loser dealer here.
May 30, 2011
Rating
star 		pulls back hard
by: Anonymous

i'm ready to dump the sucker
May 19, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstar 		Honda self propelled mowers
by: Gary Alford

You need to find a better mechanic, when serviced right these mowers are unbeatable, but they do take preventive maint. to work right.
May 06, 2011
Rating
starstarstar 		Tranny
by: Anonymous

I have the same tranny problem...I came to the net this morning to try and find root cause.
Apr 23, 2011
Rating
starstarstar 		trans problems
by: Anonymous

MY hrr216 IS Really hard to pull backwards
its been to the shop once to get the ratchets
serviced then back to get the trans replaced.
and to no avail. it skids the rear wheels on the garage floor...
Im at a loss, not willing to dump more money into it or pawn my problems on an innocent buyer..

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