Honda 21 HRX217HMA Need to replace deck. Honda lawn mower warranty

Honda 21″ HRX217HMA. Need to replace deck

OK, so I bought a Honda HRX off of Craigslist and it turns out to have a cracked deck. It’s my fault for not fully checking it out at time of purchase.

Instead of tracking the guy down that sold it to me and punching him in the face, then kicking him in the stomach, both repeatedly. I’ve decided to just search for a used deck or a non-working HRX217 and swap the decks.

And before someone says anything about a warranty. I already called Honda and they referred me to my nearest dealer and the dealer told me that it’s a 2007 and out of warranty, and even if it wasn’t out of warranty the warranty is only for the original owner that has to be registered. Then the dealer gave a price of 284 for a new deck the labor to install. then proceeded to try to sell me a NEW Honda mower comparable in price to the replacement of the deck for mine. “If you’re gonna spend nearly 700 on your old one, you might as well buy a new unit, let me show you this one we got over here. “

So, how hard is it to swap decks if I was to find one in good shape?

Breezmeister

Even a used NeXite decks cost at least 80, if one can be found, but then again almost as much to ship them. thus a bit prohibitive.

Either way I need to fix or replace the deck as a new mower to replace this one and all it’s features is not in the budget.

Aren’t those decks covered under a life time warranty ?

Masters Degree in Thinking Out Side Of The Box. Graduate of the MacGyver Institute of Ingenuity. The primary function of an Engineer is to make it difficult for the Fabricator and impossible for the Mechanic. RTFM What a concept

techman_hou

Umm, Limited Lifetime Warranty. “Lifetime” was one of the reasons I bought it over the standard metal deck mowers available. Naturally, I was thinking if it ever went bad it would be replaced. However, the NeXite Deck Warranty specifically Excludes Impact damage. I recently double checked the Honda website and owners manual. There is little explanation as to what is “Limited” other than that exclusion. Knowing it was dropped and a rock went through the housing, that pretty much seals the deal on the warranty option.

“The auger and paddle assemblies of snowthrowers, tiller tines of rototillers, mower blades and mower deck housings, are specifically not warranted against impact damage, including but not limited to, abrasive damage.”

In any case my Model # sticker is no longer on the mow deck could not find any record of the serial number (although I am sure I took a picture of it and saved to one of my computers at one point) or my purchase receipt. Although I did have a warranty repair to the mower soon after I purchased it at a local mower shop. The damage is bad enough now as a gaping hole ( 1″) that I doubt it would qualify unless it could be determined the plastic was dry rotted and causing the cracks. probably too much of a long shot.

BigFish

^^^^^^^^^^Yeah, they are the hot lick fer Honda parts. Bought from them several times. Fast shipping.

” Do I understand your question, man, is it hopeless and forlorn? “

Mownmachine144

OK, so I bought a Honda HRX off of Craigslist and it turns out to have a cracked deck. It’s my fault for not fully checking it out at time of purchase.

Remove engine from Honda HRX 217

Instead of tracking the guy down that sold it to me and punching him in the face, then kicking him in the stomach, both repeatedly. I’ve decided to just search for a used deck or a non-working HRX217 and swap the decks.

And before someone says anything about a warranty. I already called Honda and they referred me to my nearest dealer and the dealer told me that it’s a 2007 and out of warranty, and even if it wasn’t out of warranty the warranty is only for the original owner that has to be registered. Then the dealer gave a price of 284 for a new deck the labor to install. then proceeded to try to sell me a NEW Honda mower comparable in price to the replacement of the deck for mine. “If you’re gonna spend nearly 700 on your old one, you might as well buy a new unit, let me show you this one we got over here. “

So, how hard is it to swap decks if I was to find one in good shape?

BigFish

Oh heel no ! Honda would never use plastic. Its made of a ” specially formulated highly durable proprietary composite resin material ” ! Right?

” Do I understand your question, man, is it hopeless and forlorn? “

HRX owner

This may be an old thread, but here is some info for future google searchers.

If you own a Honda mower with a nexite deck (purchased after Nov. 1, 2006), the deck is covered by a lifetime warranty only to the original owner for private residential use. Honda will ask for proof of purchase.

Should you purchase the mower second hand. The lifetime warranty is now void. The deck is covered under the 5 year transferable warranty. You still may have issues trying to obtain warranty service as the dealer will most likely tell you that the deck has no warranty when purchased second hand. This will require contacting Honda and having customer service intervene.

At the time of this post, the cost to replace a nexite deck is 860 parts and labor. Parts alone are 267.

oqueoque

I would like to deeply thank the Pharmaceutical companies of the world. Largely due to them the life expectancy in the USA is now 77.3 years, while 200 years ago it was just 35 years.

brian.joe.kelley

This thread is so apropos at the moment. I discovered a hole punched through my Nexite deck between the front wheels. Mine is 2013 HRX217VKA3 versamow.

Let me tell you, I faught with Honda for the month of April on a Nexite deck “LIFETIIME” warranty claim. I am the original owner. They stuck it up my aaaaasssssss. They are supercilious,smug, capricious, cheap cunnts and will say NO no matter what with a smile. They will run a sham investigation and say in the end exactly what they wanted to say up front at hour 0, but knew they had to make things look good. So they’ll burn a month of your time, hope and false encouragement. They will in all cases call it “outside influences”. Let me say it again. They are cuuuuunnnnts. I had to buy a new deck Monday. At least that was a decent price 191 tax. No freight, no handling. I bought it from the dealer who was evaluating, doing the diagnostic for the warranty. I’ve done a fair amount of business with them, and they were caught between me and Honda.

The gentleman above who quoted the exclusion clause from the warranty, the one about mower deck impacts. is right on the money. I believe this material degenerates with age just like Honda’s older material Xenoy is reputed to have done. That’s a defect, not your fault.

There’s a Group, “Honda Lawn Mowers Fan Club”. I felt so defrauded and burned by Honda, I started Group “Honda Lawn Mowers Anti-Fan Club.”

sidemouse

Yup, warranties and insurance. Great to have, until you actually need them.

That’s sad even Honda has gone this route but I don’t buy for the warranty, they’re all worthless in my book, insurance is something I pay for when the law requires it for the same reason.

brian.joe.kelley

I have never had a power equipment product experience such as this.

Now, to be balanced, I will say the Honda has many appealing qualities: runs well, good power, low emissions, ok noise (not that I really care, I am honestly more an old-school Gravely, Bobcat, Ariens- American muscle whatever it takes to get the job done type and can wear muffs anyways), good cut etc. But frankly, in the end, everything else does that and LASTS. You buy these Hondas, drinking the purple “KoolAid”, believing the ubiquitous emotional hype and “unimpeachable reputation for quality and reliability” that in actuality is probably long-past reality, now a mirage of Honda’s halcyon days when they DID build things true, bulletproof and remarkable in order to steal market share.

And I have never seen a deck break a hole, anywhere with any piece of gear ever in my life. How do Honda sycophants and phonies argue the logic of that and say, what?- “that everything else but the broken deck makes it the superior machine that will be your last- oh stop in, now will you, they’re wonderful”?

Usually, they seem to say something like, “well it hasn’t happened to me, or I’ve never heard of it. ” (Fill in the innuendo blank): “hmmm maybe it’s your fault or maybe says something about you in general.” I say it “hasn’t happened to you. until it does.” I know when a product is in the final epitaph. I’ve had a lot of experience and 100% pure positive with many (Redmax, Husqvarana, Echo, Simplicity, STIHL, Jonsered,etc). Until Honda comes along. Look, they’re a good machine for a while. Almost perfect, for a while. And then, nowadays, they seem to be engineered brilliantly to be throwaway after that “while.” Question is, is that “while” good enough? I wouldn’t be surprised for most current Honda sycophants that the answer is a resounding “Yes. It is good enough.” It’s just stunning the allegiance-hold Honda has on people. They’re getting too greedy and arrogant is what this one Honda experience of mine means to me.

Honda lawn mower warranty

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Product Description

The HRX2174HYA is one of Honda’s best self propelled residential mowers. A powerful and reliable 190cc engine has a Hydrostatic Cruise Control transmission. The Versamow system regulates the amount of grass discharged and allows you to switch between modes with no tools or extra parts. Honda backs this mower with a 5 years residential warranty.

• Hyrdostatic Cruise Control allows infinite speed-control with comfortable level between 0 to 4 MPH
• Backup recoil starter is available
• Roto-Stop allows you to disengage blades and move away from mower without stopping engine
• Smart Drive variable speed system
• Versamow system allows you to change modes easily (Mulch, Bag, Discharge, Shred)
• Microcut blades feature four cutting surfaces
• The strong 21″ deck is made of impact resistant NeXite with Lifetime warranty
• 50 State legal 190cc Honda Engine has proven reliability
• Automatic choke system makes starting a breeze
• Ball bearing wheels
• Handle is easily adjustable with 3 positions available

Specifications

No specifications available for this product

The Best Honda Lawn Mower – Tested and Reviewed

As you move up to the commercial models you gain more features and pay more money.

There are 2 entry level, 4 homeowner, 5 prosumer and 3 commercial Honda lawn mower models to choose from.

Before recommending the best Honda lawn mower let’s talk about Honda mowers in general – are they the best brand?

Quick Look: 2 Best Honda Lawn Mowers For Most People

Why Buy A Honda Lawn Mower

Lawn mower rental companies and lawn care professionals depend on Honda lawn mowers to make their money.

Because they are the most reliable and durable:

• A Honda can be trusted to start right away – even if you haven’t changed the oil in years
• A Honda will continue to mow your lawn with a high quality cut – even if you lend it to your neighbors and they treat it like dirt
• A Honda lawn mower is easy to service and repair – even if you’re not a mechanic.

This is why rental companies only buy Honda’s…

…Because the renters don’t care about what they are renting and beat it up day-in-day-out. The rental company doesn’t make money if the mower breaks down. They need the mower with the least breakdowns – Honda.

Landscape professionals can’t afford to have lawn mower downtime because they are depending on it to feed their family. When they purchase a push mower, they purchase Honda – every time.

Honda has proven over the years they know how to make the best lawn mower and so it’s up to you if you want to spend extra to buy it for life.

Did you know?

Honda is the 26th strongest brand in the world. People buy Honda products based on earned trust. We loved our Honda in the past and so choose Honda for the future. (By the way #1 is Apple.)

Today – in this article – we’ll take a look at:

• The best Honda mower at each price point: entry level, homeowner, prosumer and commercial
• Honda lawn mower features that matter
• Where the best place to buy one is: online, local mower shop or big box store.

The Best Honda Lawn Mower in Each Category

As you move up in price Honda mower features and benefits are added.

• The entry level ‘HRS’ series Honda lawn mowers have a GCV160 engine and no grass bagging option – only mulch and side discharge.
• When you move up to the homeowner ‘HRN’ mowers the engine is upgraded to a GCV170 and you get grass bagging.
• Moving up to prosumer ‘HRX’ mowers you get the GCV200 engine, leaf shredding, NeXite deck, more cutting height options and a longer warranty.
• Once you get to the commercial ‘HRC’ mowers you get the GXV engine, hydrostatic drive and everything else mentioned above.

Entry Level – HRS Series – GCV160 Engine, Mulch/Discharge Only

There are 2 Honda mowers in the entry level category: The PKA (push) and VKA (velocity/self propelled) models.

We recommended the self propelled model (VKA) because it is more convenient and only 30 more.

Our Pick: Honda HRS216-VKA Self Propelled

The best entry level Honda lawn mower is the HRS216-VKA.

It is the most affordable Honda and best suited to new homeowners who don’t want to bag their grass clippings.

The Honda HRS216-VKA is side discharge and mulch only. If you want to bag your brag you will need to jump up the HRN series lawnmower below.

Honda offers 2 models of ‘HRS’ entry level mowers. The difference between them is push vs. self propelled.

We recommend the self propelled. It is an obvious choice for only 30 more. Self propelled allows you to mow quicker and with less effort.

The HRS216-VKA has everything you expect in a Honda mower (except bagging) and is an obvious choice if you are looking for a first mower.

Homeowner – HRN Series – GCV170 Engine, Bagging

There are 4 mowers in the homeowner category: PKA (push), VKA (self propelled), VLA (electric start), VYA (Roto stop blade safety system).

We recommend the VKA because it is the best value for money. It is over 100 cheaper than the electric start and Roto stop blade safety system mowers and only 20 more than the push-only model.

Our Pick: Honda HRN216-VKA Self Propelled

The best Honda mower for most homeowners is the HRN216-VKA you see pictured above in our garage.

It is a mower we have owned for 10 years and currently have 3 in the shed.

It is only 100 more than the ‘HRS’ side discharge mower and has the bagging option as well as the upgraded GCV170 engine and is self propelled.

In addition, you are getting the upgraded twin blade system and extra cutting heights from 1″ – 4″.

If you want an affordable workhouse for your lawn then this is a great option to look at.

Prosumer – HRX Series – GCV200 Engine, Leaf Shredding, NeXite Deck, Cutting Heights, Longer Warranty

There are 5 models within the prosumer HRX series.

Our pick – the HYA – is the 2nd most expensive within the prosumer category.

We believe the added cost is worth it long term.

Our Pick: Honda HRX217-HYA

All things considered the Honda HRX217-HYA is the best lawnmower on the market – even considering the price tag. It is that good.

If you want to invest in the most reliable and durable lawn mower then this is your best bet.

So what makes it worth the extra 500 over the HRN?

• GCV200 engine. The HRX has a larger 200cc engine for more power and torque to get you through tough/wet/long grass.
• Hydrostatic drive system. The self propelled mechanism on this mower is hydraulic instead of belt/pulley. This makes it much more versatile with infinite speed control and more precision.
• Roto-Stop blade safety. You can now easily stop the blades to grab and move a ball or toy without having to shutoff the mower engine.
• NeXite never rust deck. A never rust, never dent deck that is lighter and has a lifetime warranty is a huge upgrade.
• 5 year warranty. The HRS and HRN mower models have a 3 year warranty. The HRXs have 5 years under warranty.
• Larger grass bag. 30% more grass catching volume.
• Larger, better wheels. 1″ more diameter in the HRX wheels for better control and they also have ball bearings for a smoother experience.
• Easier storage with folding handle. Easily store your mower under your work bench with the quick release handle.
• Mow lower (0.75″). You can mow down to 0.75″ (19mm) with the HRX. This is great for a nearly golf green lawn look.

All you have to decide is if all those extra features and benefits are worth the extra money.

Both are Honda and both will last 15 years with proper care and maintenance.

Commercial – HRC Series – GXV Engine

These are overkill for homeowners costing another 500 over HRX and 900 over HRN mower models.

Our Pick: Honda HRC216-HDA

The big upgrade on the commercial Honda mowers is the GXV commercial engine.

The GXV engine has a cast iron cylinder sleeve instead of aluminium. This allows daily professional use without greatly reducing the life of the engine.

The GX engine also has low oil protection to turn the engine off before any damage from low oil. Many components on the GC Honda engine will be plastic where on the GX they are steel for longer life and greater durability.

If you own a lawn care or landscape business and need a walk-behind mower then this is a great option.

If you have the money and want the best of the best for around your home then this is for you.

Honda Lawn Mower Features That Matter

Honda lawn mowers have a Honda small engine connected via vertical shaft to the mower blade. Turn the engine on and it spins the blade at a certain RPM. The blade is sharp and chops/cuts the grass as you move forward over your lawn.

ARE HONDA LAWN MOWERS STILL WORTH BUYING IN 2023?

Lawn mowers are pretty simple machines.

Here are the features to choose from to help decide if you want the entry level, prosumer or commercial model of Honda mower.

Engine Design, Type and Size

Honda designs their small engines to be reliable, durable and most important – repairable.

• From the top of the engine you have easy access to remove and replace the engine crankshaft
• The carburetor is easy to access and remove as it is attached via 2 stud bolts on the side of the engine
• The engine itself is designed to have less number of parts than previous models to make stocking replacement parts easier and less complicated.

What types and sizes of small engine do we see on Honda lawn mowers?

• GCV – All Honda mowers have vertical shaft engines.
• GXV – The ‘x’ stands for commercial grade Honda engine. The ‘HRC’ mowers have this engine type.
• 160, 170, 200 – These are the cc (cubic centimetres) of the engine or the volume of the combustion chamber. Bigger combustion chamber equals more power at the mower blade.
• OHV vs. OHC – Overhead valve vs. overhead cam. The gist: For a portable machine like a lawn mower the more power you need the more compact you need the engine. OHV engines are more compact for the power you get so the larger more premium mowers use a OHV style to keep the engine size down without sacrificing power. The GCV160 with the OHC is the same size as the GCV200 with the OHV despite being less powerful.

Let’s look at some more specs of each engine.

• GCV160. Peak 4.4 HP. Torque: 6.9 lb-ft (9.4 Nm) @ 2500 RPM. 0.93 liter fuel tank. 4-stroke OHC.
• GCV170. Peak 4.8 HP. Torque: 8.2 lb-ft (11.1 Nm) @ 2500 RPM. 1 liter fuel tank. 4-stroke OHV.
• GCV200. Peak 5.6 HP. Torque: 9.4 lb-ft (12.7 Nm) @ 2500 RPM. 1 liter fuel tank. 4-stroke OHV.

Mulch/Bag/Side Discharge/Leaf Shred

Most of you will want the option to bag your grass clippings. That means you need to get the prosumer or commercial mower. The entry level Honda mowers only side discharge and mulch the grass – no bagging. Commercial Honda mower have the added leaf shred feature.

• Entry level ‘HRS’ models. 2-in-1 Mulch/Side discharge of grass.
• Prosumer HRN models. 3-in-1 Mulch/Side discharge/Bagging of grass.
• Commercial HRX models. 4-in-1 Mulch/Side discharge/Bagging/Leaf shred of grass and leaves.

Transmission Control

Most Honda mowers are self propelled. Of the 11 models on offer, 2 are push only. At the entry level getting self propelled costs an extra 50.

• Push. You have to push the mower forward through thick grass and up hills.
• Self Propelled. The mower has an adjustable drive system (pulley and belt or gear components) you can engage to propel the mower forward and you walk behind it.
• Hydrostatic. A hydraulic system is used to propel the mower forward with infinite speed control and no external moving components.

Warranty

• 3 Years. Entry level HRS and prosumer HRN Honda mowers have a 3 year warranty. 3 months if you use in a commercial/rental setting.
• 5 Years. Only the commercial HRX mowers have a 5 year warranty on the mower and engine. A lifetime warranty on the deck material. Warranty goes to 3 months if used in commercial/rental setting.

Starter

Most people expect their mower to have a recoil pull starter and so this feature is down the bottom.

Some of the Honda mowers do have an electric starter for convenience.

• Recoil. Pull string starter like you’re used to.
• Electric Starter. On board battery helps you start the mower like a car. Some people dislike this because now you have to worry about replacing the battery down the line.

Deck Material

With proper care the 16 gauge steel deck Honda mowers use will last a lifetime. However, if you leave moist grass clippings stuck to the underside all winter long while in storage it will rust over time. The NeXite deck material will never rust.

• Steel. HRS and HRN mowers. Standard on most gas mowers. Tried and tested. Clean your mower decks before storing over winter and they will last a lifetime.
• NeXite. Comes standard on HRX mowers. Honda patented material will never rust. Lifetime warranty.

How Much Do Honda Lawn Mowers Cost and Where Should You Buy?

Cost

Here are the ranges of the manufacturer suggested retail (MSRPs) of the different Honda series lawn mowers:

Honda distributors sell Honda mowers in bulk to dealers, big box stores and e-commerce mower websites for a set amount per unit. The sellers decide how much above or below MSRP they want to sell based on how much profit they need to generate. Online mower stores can often offer lower because they have less overhead (no storefront).

Where To Buy a Honda Mower

The best Honda mower deals are usually online at speciality tool and mower e-commerce stores.

But sometimes it is more convenient for you to buy at your local big box store or small local mower dealer.

Returning it and claiming warranty will certainly be less hassle if you buy from your local mower dealer as they are authorized to do the repair and make the warranty claim for you.

Big Box Stores

• The Home Depot. There are 1,993 Home Depot locations in the USA. You should have no problem finding one close by to take a look at their Honda lawn mower selection. Home Depot has a great return policy should you need it.
• Lowe’s. There are 1,738 Lowe’s locations in the USA. Lowe’s has a selection of Honda mowers to choose from.

Local Mower Dealers

There are 1,000s of Honda dealers across the USA. Most towns over 5,000 people will have at least 1 local Honda dealer.

This is a great option to buy your Honda mower because they will act as your warranty holder and repair shop.

They will also be able to offer comprehensive buying help if you can’t decide which Honda is best for you.

Online

There are 100s of online e-commerce mower stores to choose from.

Warranty and Repair Considerations

If you buy online or from a big box store you will likely need to go to your local Honda dealer for warranty and repairs. They have all the parts and experts to do the repair and it will all be approved under the Honda warranty.

FAQs

What is the best oil to put in a Honda mower?

Honda takes normal engine oil depending on your local climate.

Synthetic oil is better than traditional oil but also more expensive.

What is the best type of gas to use in a Honda mower?

Your Honda user manual will tell you what type of unleaded gasoline to use in your mower. Honda advises not to use gasoline with more than 10% ethanol.

What brands use Honda small engines in their lawn mowers?

Many lawn mower brands choose to buy Honda engines for use in their push and riding mowers.

Toro, Swisher, Bad Boy Mowers, Snapper and Ferris all choose Honda.

• Best Global Brands. Rankingthebrands.com.
• Honda GCV200. Engines.Honda.com.
• Honda GCV160/190. Engines.Honda.com.
• Move Up with Honda Chart. PowerEquipment.Honda.com.
• OHV vs. OHC Engines: What is The Difference and Which is Better? LethalPerformance.com.
• Dealer Locator. PowerEquipment.Honda.com.

About your guide: Jamey Kramar is a certified Lawn Care Manager (NALP) and a Mechanical Engineer by trade. He has been writing about outdoor power equipment for 11 years and has been quoted in NYTimes, Popular Mechanics, HowStuffWorks, iFixit, Realtor.com, and more. He spends his spare time disassembling things and also building an off-grid cabin at his 200-acre property.

Toro vs Honda Mower – The one I prefer

I might as well tell you upfront, I’ve owned a Honda for years, and it’s fair to say it’s worked flawlessly. I know Toro builds great mowers and so I expect it will challenge my biased view.

Toro vs Honda, which is best? The Honda is the best mower, strong, reliable, durable, and has a long warranty, nobody regrets buying a Honda.

Hi, I’m John, qualified mower mechanic, and unqualified head groundskeeper. I repair and test lots of mowers, I know what I want in a mower, and I know what makes a good mower. If you need a great mower on hills checks out this post “Best mower on hills”.

Toro 20334

Blue – Toro is a company that loves to innovate. The features they’re most proud of are the color code blue. The Toro Recycler (22″) 20334 is a self-propelled rear-wheel drive and features some of Toro’s smartest innovations.

• Electric Start
• Personal Pace self propel system
• 3 in 1 Bag on Demand grass handling
• Briggs Stratton Just Check and Add
• Washout Port
• Recycler Deck

Toro has been making mowers since 1919 and has a solid reputation.

The Toro 20334 – It seems much more imposing than the Honda and looks like a really solid build. Toro has been making mowers since 1919. They’re global leaders in the innovation of turf maintenance equipment. And you won’t be surprised to learn that the Toro is bursting with features.

Some of the pictures on this page link to Amazon.com where you can check the price and delivery of products. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Handling

Personal Pace – Sounds complex, but it’s not. Basically the more you push on the handlebars, the faster the mower goes, quite clever really. When I tried it I wasn’t sure I’d like it, I thought pushing on the handlebars would compromise control, but I quickly warmed to it.

The really Smart thing about the personal pace – it adjusts to each individual’s stride. I frequently hear customers say they can’t find the sweet spot when it comes to speed, the Personal pace solves the problem.

I have steep hills and rough ground in areas of my lawn, the Toro had no problems. The top speed is almost five miles per hour. Toro is fitted with eight-inch wheels and good-looking tire threads. It felt solid and you felt in control.

The rear-wheel-drive is the best choice for hilly rough terrain as the center of gravity is closer to the rear axle. As a mechanic I really liked the greasing points on the rear axle, it’s a nice touch.

Bail Lever

The Toro has a bail lever and when pulled molds into a recess in the textured handlebars, you barely notice you’re holding it. This bail lever is used to start and stop the engine, simply pull the bail lever and press the big blue electric start button, that’s it, it’s running. No choke or throttle levers to manage. To kill the engine, simply let go of the lever.

This mower comes with a battery charger, which is plugged in at the top of the handlebars, beside the start button. The charger will rarely need to be used as the battery charges from the engine.

Self Drive

Self Drive – Personal Pace drive is simple and before long you’ll be an expert. The bail lever pulls neatly into the handlebar recess.

Handle Bars

Handle Bars – The length of the handlebars while adjustable took a little longer to come to grips with, I found them a little cumbersome in tight spaces.

When reversing the mower, for the first time it felt like 89 lbs. So if you have a lot of shrubs or trees to negotiate, the Toro may not be the best choice for you.

Cut

Toro Recycler has a 22 inch 3 in 1 Deck, it bags, mulches, side discharges, and conversion require no tools, just the flip of a lever. The mulching quality is good no clumping or trails when the grass is dry, when damp it’s not as good. The bag on-demand lever is simple, the bag could be a little bigger though.

3 in 1 Blade – The blade is designed to collect, mulch, and side discharge, it’s a sort of a hybrid blade.

Deck

Adjusting the deck height is done at each wheel, which for some might be labor-intensive, especially if you need to change the deck height regularly.

The deck adjusts in half-inch increments from the lowest setting of one inch to a high of four, more than enough range for most greens. Toro has fitted a deck wash-out port, on most mowers, it’s a bit hit and miss, no substitute for turning it up and cleaning it with a wire brush.

When I used it, I found it did a reasonable job. It’s easy to use, just connect your garden hose and run the blade, but be warned it leaves a mess on the ground.

Adjusters

Wheels – Both Toro and Honda wheels must be individually adjusted.

Safety

The deck is made from 14 gauge pressed steel. The plastics guards, grass bag are of good quality and are well up to the task of protecting the user from flying debris.

As you know stepping away from the mower and releasing the bail lever, shuts down the engine. This protects the user from accidentally getting close to the business end of the mower.

Some mowers are fitted with a feature called spin stop, which basically keeps the blade stationary while the engines running. This means you can still self-drive, which is very useful if like me you need to move uphill across a graveled yard from one lawn to another. Sadly the spin stop isn’t fitted to this mower but it is available on other Toro models.

Engine

Toro has fitted the 163 cc Briggs Stratton 675 EXi OHV engine. It’s a new engine and complies with CA (CARB). Overhead valve (OHV) engines are more efficient, cleaner, and quieter too.

The auto choke system is perfect for those that find choke levers or priming bulbs a bit hit and miss. This engine is known as a ready start – No choke or throttle levers to fiddle around with here.

When tested from cold, two pulls max and it started every time. When cutting I found the engine had plenty of power, it’s a fixed throttle, set at 3100 rpm. The fuel cap is tethered, oil dipstick and air filter are easy to use.

Briggs Engine – Briggs makes great engines, not as smooth as the Honda unit but very dependable.

It produces 7.25 ft. lbs. of torque from its 163 cc, and is the lightest in its class. BS offers a starting promise – Starts in 2 attempts – or we’ll fix it for free.

The electric start is a lovely feature, it’s simple and you don’t have choke or throttle levers to concern yourself with.

Toro Maintenance Tips

A little care goes a long way, show your love by checking the oil at every refuel, clean the air filter every 50 hours. Remember e85 gas is bad for small engines and will void your Toro warranty. Put a gas stabilizer in your mower before winterizing. Check out “How to winterize your mower”.

Keeping your blade sharp is good for your lawn and your mower, light sharpening can be done with the blade on the mower, however, if it requires heavy filing – you’ll need to remove it and balance after sharpening.

This is a mower you could easily DIY service, especially as BS claims the oil never needs to be changed. BS call it – Just check and add. Personally, I’d just change the oil to be on the safe side.

This is a four-stroke engine and Briggs and Stratton engines like 10W30 oil. I like to change the oil on a new mower engine after just 5 hours of use, and then every fifty hours of operation or once before the new season starts.

Check and clean the air filter every twenty-five hours. Replace the spark plug once per season or every one hundred hours.

If you need to turn your mower over, turn off the fuel at the fuel tap and always with the carburetor side up. Check out “Lawn mower maintenance”.

Guarantee

Toro offers a 3-Year Guaranteed to start warranty (GTS), and a two-year manufacturer’s warranty.

Toro Briggs

Briggs offers a 3-year guarantee to start and Toro offers a 2-year defect guarantee. Briggs won’t cover stale gas in the carburetor, so use a gas stabilizer over the winter months.

Good Bad

I liked the Toro Recycler but I didn’t love it. The best bit for me is the Personal Pace, I got comfortable with it pretty quickly – I never felt like it was going too fast or slow. It does a good job mulching and collecting, the controls are simple and clear. The individual adjusters work just fine, I wish they’d use a single adjuster, I change the cut height often.

The Briggs engine is plenty strong and didn’t feel lacking, but the mower felt a little heavy backing up. The choke less easy start system does its job well, and if you use a gas stabilizer, it’ll be as reliable as corduroy trousers.

Toro build innovative products and this Recycler won’t disappoint on that front, it’s best for yards up to 3/4 acre and without too many obstacles. Design and build quality are not up to the Honda standard, but I think it deserves consideration, it’s not a Honda, but then it isn’t Honda money either.

Honda HRX217VLA

Catchy! Honda has a name for quality design and build.

Features on the mower include – Roto stop, 4 in 1 grass handling, variable speed control, twin blade micro-cut, Nexite deck, and electric start.

The Honda is intelligent, thoughtful, and built to last. Honda thinks so too, they offer a 5-year warranty and a deck lifetime guarantee.

Honda HRX217VLA – Looks sleek and ultra-modern. Honda has a name for quality design and build. They have been making mowers since 1953, leaders in the development of low-emission, fuel-efficient, eco-friendly 4-stroke engines.

Although the Deck is made from a lightweight strong polymer material, the mower weighs in at 90lbs, that’s 5lbs heavier than the Toro. Honda has packed a lot into this machine.

Handling

Honda’s Select Drive self propel – I really wanted to like this Select Drive system. When I used it, I found the dial a little fiddly, and not very responsive, I liked it more after using it for a while. The molded handle is a nice touch and feels comfortable in the hands.

Drive – The Toro drive system for me was more user-friendly. With a top speed of four miles per hour, it really does travel beautifully. Reversing, felt a little heavy.

Both mowers are closely matched in weight, the Honda just 1 lb. heavier. I had no issue with hills, rough terrain, or obstacles around my garden.

The nine-inch wheels have extra deep rubber thread and ball bearings in the axles, certainly noticed its smoothness – just glides along.

Handle Bars

The length of the handlebars while adjustable took a little longer to come to grips with, I found them a little cumbersome in tight spaces. When reversing the mower, for the first time it felt like 89 lbs. So if you have a lot of shrubs or trees to negotiate, the Toro may not be the best choice for you.

Easy Folding

Fold – Honda has quick-release tool-less folding handlebars.

Deck

The 21″ NeXite deck is lightweight, dent-resistant, rust-resistant, durable, and cleverly engineered to increase grass flow back to the blades for smaller clippings. The grass won’t stick to it as easily as a metal deck and it’s easier to clean. The best bit, it’s covered by a lifetime warranty.

The NeXite deck is made from polymer and shares its DNA with football helmets, it’s tough stuff. The pictures don’t do it justice, you see plastic and you think how strong can it be. In Honda’s promo material they drive a car over it. The guards are made from tough durable rubber which does their job very well and the bag is as you expect – top-shelf.

Lifetime Warranty – Deck is tough stuff, won’t dent, crack or corrode.

Deck Height

Adjusting the deck height like the Toro is done at each wheel. The seven-position levers are easy to move and well defined. Adjustments from three-quarters of an inch all the way up to four inches. As with the Toro, if you do a lot of height changes, it could get old pretty quickly.

Adjusters – Levers feel solid, but do get stiff if neglected, a quick spray of wd40 does the job.

Twin Blade Cut

Honda employs the twin blade micro-cut set up to great effect. The stacked, offset pair of blades have four cutting surfaces. Each blade of grass gets cut twice on the first pass, the leading blade cuts higher up and the offset trailing blade makes a second cut. The blades recirculate the clippings and repeat the process, leaving a very fine mulch.

Twin Cut – The best blades in the business.

Roto-Stop

This is a fantastic feature, especially as this is a manual start engine. Roto stop for those that don’t know, simply means you can have the engine running without having the blade spin. I found this useful when I wanted to self-propel across a graveled area.

But its most useful feature is when you need to step away from the mower, say to empty the bag, releasing the bail lever stops the blade but the engine is still running. The Honda engine is not hard to start, but starting it over and over is such a waste of your energy.

Clip Director

4-in-1 Versamow System with Clip Director. This system mulches, bags, discharges, and leaf shreds. The technology is exclusive to Honda and requires no tools or attachments.

The Clip Director, a lever at the rear of the engine has ten possible combinations, this allows you to choose how many clippings you want to collect and how much to mulch. To collect leaves, set the lever two positions back from the full mulch position. You won’t miss raking leaves.

Bagging

When bagging, it really stuffed it to capacity thanks to the four cutting surfaces of the twin blade. Finer clippings equal less work and a cleaner cut lawn.

Bag or Mulch – The clip director is very effective, you can even set the ratio of bagging to mulching, great at leaf shredding or collecting – no more raking.

Engine

The engine fitted is the 190 GCV, it’s a 4 stroke overhead cam set up with an electric start, Nice! Overhead cam engines are more efficient and powerful. The engine produces 5.1HP (3.8 kW) @3600 rpm and 8.3 lb-ft (11.3 Nm) @ 2500 rpm. It’s super smooth, just purrs when idling.

I’m a big fan, I know they care by the way they designed the engine. Little details like the fuel tap, and the little slot in the air filter housing, to restrain the plug wire when removed – do you feel the love?

When tested, it never missed a beat, the auto choke feature makes starting a breeze. The extra power of the 190 GCV is nice, but it will use more gas than the Briggs unit fitted to the Toro.

Smooth Powerful

Engine – I’m a big fan of the GCV engines, they are nicely designed and built.

Maintenance Tips

Love to DIY? This is the mower for you, with a large accessible dipstick, easy-clean air filter, accessible plug, and on/off fuel tap. From a mechanics point of view – Nice!

To dip the oil on a Honda, remove the dipstick clean it but don’t screw it back in to check. This is a four-stroke engine and Honda engines like 10W30 oil, change once per season or every fifty hours of operation. When the engine is new I like to change it after the first 5 hours of operation.

Check and clean the air filter every twenty-five hours. Replace the spark plug once per season or every one hundred hours.

If you need to turn your mower over, turn off the fuel at the fuel tap and always with the carburetor side up. Sharpen blades once per season or more often if dull, tighten blade bolt to 43 ft. lb. (59Nm). Check out “Lawn mower maintenance”.

Warranty

Warranty – Comes with a manufacturer 5-year warranty, You’ll hardly need it.

The Good and Bad

This is the best of the best, I work on lots of Honda GCV 160 and 190s. They’re close to bulletproof, they just keep going. It’s rare that I have a Honda in my shop that needs anything more than routine maintenance.

They aren’t immune to dirty gas or carburetor gumming, but we can’t blame the mower for a lack of winterizing. Also, I’ve replaced a few crankshafts – all caused by operator error.

The crankshafts tend to bend when the blade hits a curb or tree stump. This won’t happen on mowers with the Roto-stop function. Yes, they are expensive but if you’re playing the long game it’s most definitely the smartest choice. I love lots about the Honda, speaking as a mechanic and a customer.

Would I buy one? Yes, I’ve owned one for years, and I’m very attached to it.

About the Reviewer

Hi, I’m John, I run my own repair workshop and I service a lot of lawn care equipment of all kinds – two strokes, four-stroke, gas, diesel and electric. I see a wide variety of makes and models, young and old. I think by now I’ve met them all – good and bad.

I like kit that last and kit you can get parts for easily is an important consideration before investing in equipment. I use my knowledge and experience to only review equipment that will go the distance, I promise I won’t waste your time or money reviewing a cheap throwaway kit.

Throughout this site you’ll find links to products, I do earn a small commission if you make a purchase through these links, but it doesn’t cost you an extra cent.

Check out the Amazon link below for lawnmowers conveniently delivered to your door.

Hey, I’m John, and I’m a Red Seal Qualified Service Technician with over twenty-five years experience.

I’ve worked on all types of mechanical equipment, from cars to grass machinery, and this site is where I share fluff-free hacks, tips, and insider know-how.