Honda HRR Lawnmower. Drivetrain
In keeping with the Honda no-compromise philosophy, the HRR lawnmower line features an advanced 4-cycle power system, the Honda GCV160, which provides a quiet, low-emission and reliable source to power both the cutting blade and the drive wheels. The overhead cam (OHC) GCV160 is one of Honda’s most technologically advanced engines. It incorporates the company’s latest design and manufacturing features.
| Engine Type | Air-cooled 4-stroke OHC single cylinder |
| Maximum Torque | 8.4 lb ft (11 Nm. 1.1 kg.m) / 2500 rpm |
| Ignition System | Transistorized magneto |
| Starting System | Recoil |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 1.16 U.S. qts. (1.1 liter) |
| Air Cleaner | Dry (paper filter) |
| Oil Capacity | 0.58 U.S. qts. (0.55 liters) |
| Lubrication System | Forced Splash |
| Fuel Consumption | 1.4 U.S. qts. per hour (1.3 liter) |
| Dimensions (LxWxH) | 14.4 x 13.0 x 14.2 in (367 x 331 x 360 mm) |
| Dry Weight (dry) | 23.1 lbs (10.5 kg) |
To maintain the exceptional reliability expected of Honda’s engines, the GCV-160’s internal components have been strengthened though the use of a stronger piston pin than the model it replaced, as well as a larger connecting rod, larger rod journal, and redesigned oil control ring.
Environmental Leadership
At the neighborhood level, the GCV160 engine provides HRR owners (and their neighbors) with a quiet yet powerful and lightweight source of power for a variety of demanding mowing applications. In particular, the quiet operation offered by the GCV160’s built-in timing belt results in greatly improved sound quality. Honda engineering also has reduced valve train and gear noise for a better quality engine sound that is distinctly easier on the ears.
For the person walking behind the mower, low-emissions mean more than just preserving the environment in general. The GCV160‘s innovative combination of a compact combustion chamber, overhead cam configuration and uniblock construction significantly reduces fuel and oil consumption as compared to conventional side-valve engines. Honda‘s DuaLube System achieves full engine lubrication by combining governor slinger paddles and an oil bearing timing belt. This simple construction reduces many potential maintenance needs, making Honda’s GCV160 one of the most efficient cost-effective engines available. The result is a quieter, easier starting engine that delivers a more pleasant experience for consumers.
One of the great frustrations in lawn mowing can come from simply trying to get the mower to start. Honda’s GCV160 minimizes this annoyance through high-quality manufacturing and by special features designed to improve starting reliability. The GCV160 incorporates, for example, a horizontal cross-flow intake port that smoothes the flow of fuel into the combustion chamber. This feature, combined with Honda’s automatic mechanical decompression, eliminates many of the causes of summer starting problems.
Breakdowns provide another source of frustration and expense. Honda minimizes the cost and aggravation of owning a lawnmower through advanced design technology and through the legendary quality of its manufacturing process. The GCV160’s unique combination of the world’s first internal timing belt and uniblock construction creates a lighter and more compact package than anything else in its class. This combination also minimizes the number of moving parts. sources of potential breakdowns. and makes the engine more reliable and easier to operate.
Honda is the world’s largest producer of engines, selling nearly 20 million annually across its product lines in 2004. The GCV160 engine powering the HRR will be produced at Honda Power Equipment manufacturing, Inc., in Swepsonville, North Carolina, using domestic and globally-sourced parts.
Transmission and Drivetrain
The new HRR lawnmower series includes two models. the HRR216K3VXA and the HRR216K3TDA. The HRR216K3VXA offers the Honda’s newest technological innovation, the Smart Drive Variable Speed Transmission. Smart Drive allows the user to easily control the mower speed by simply resting his/her hands on the handlebars. The VXA model is truly self-propelled and pulls itself forward easily with a maximum speed of 3.8 mph.
The HRR216K3TDA is powered by a 3-speed self propelled transmission.
The GCV160 engine offers Honda’s patented Roto-Stop Blade Brake Clutch that allows for the engagement of the blades without stopping the motor. A key benefit of this system is to allow emptying of the grassbag without having to stop and restart the engine. This feature, available on the VXA model only, is useful for safely transporting the mower using drivewheels over driveways, beds or rocky surfaces.
Honda GCV160 Engine Oil Capacity
This guide will tell you all you need to know about your Honda GCV160 engine oil capacity, plus we give you some extra tips.
Honda’s GCV160 is a great engine option for everything from lawnmowers to pressure washers, offering the compact power of a small engine without the hassle of mixing fuel and oil. Honda recommends.58 quarts or.55 liters of oil for the GCV160’s air-cooled 4-stroke overhead cam engine.
Understanding how and how much oil to put in a lawnmower, power washer, or other small household equipment motor can be a tricky task—especially when many lawnmowers actually have you add the oil to the fuel. Fortunately, the Honda GCV160’s four-stroke OHC engine works just like your car’s engine with oil and fuel separate, but figuring out how much oil to put in the reservoir can still be confusing.
Whether you’ve lost your owner’s manual, or maybe you picked up your new lawnmower at a garage sale and no manual was included,
savings, has all the information you need to make your Honda GCV160 oil change a breeze. And stick around to find out how to save on your
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Honda recommends 58 quarts or.55 liters of oil for the GCV160’s air-cooled 4-stroke overhead cam engine.
Just putting the right amount of oil in your engine isn’t enough—you need to make sure it’s the right type of oil, too. The Honda GCV160’s owner’s manual recommends you use SAE 10W-30 4-stroke automotive detergent oil in your engine.
“Detergent oil” just means it contains additives to keep your engine running cleaner, but these numbers can be pretty confusing if you don’t know what they mean. The numbers in an oil grade refer to its viscosity and weight. The lower a fluid’s viscosity, the easier it flows—similarly, the lower a motor oil’s weight, the easier it flows.
Since viscosity is affected by temperature, your engine oil’s weight will change depending on how hot or cold it is. Your goal is to use an oil that’s heavy enough to keep things well-lubricated at high temperatures, but light enough to continue flowing when it’s cold. So, the 10W-30 oil you use for your Honda engine flows like a 10-weight oil at freezing temperatures (10W means 10 winter) and a 30-weight oil once the engine is heated up.
Now we need to determine whether to use synthetic or conventional, petroleum-based oil. Honda actually developed, tested, and certified their GVC160 engine to use petroleum-based oil, so that’s what you should stick with.
Honda gcv160 lawn mower how to start
Hey guys I have a 7 year old Honda GCV160 lawn mower engine (on my HRX217 Honda mower) that I can’t get to start.
Wife was mowing today and says it started blowing brown/black smoke then died. Would not restart.
Oil is clean and does not smell fouled. Spark plug and air filter were new 2 mows ago. Fuel is good as far as I know (not old).
Carb was replaced mid-last year (after 6 years) with an OEM Honda replacement and has run fine since.
I could not get a spark when testing so I pulled the coil and bench tested it. Showed high primary resistance. 1.8 ohms. Spec is less than 1. so I replaced the coil. (Stole the coil from my pressure washer which uses the same engine so I know it’s a good/working coil).
Also tested the cut off switch, all good.
Still won’t start. I figured the coil was the culprit but still no start after swapping it out.
Anyone familiar w/ these engines have any suggestions for me? Thanks in advance.
P Cars: 1997 Spec Boxster. SPB #94 / 2022 Macan GTS / 2018 Panamera Turbo ST.- Other cars: 2019 Golf R 6MT / 2015 S60 P / 2021 F-250 HCTTP Diesel / Haulmark Race Trailer Gone: 2020 GT4, 2004 GT3, 2003 Carrera, 1982 911SC, 2005 Lotus Elise and lots of other non-Porsches PCA National DE Instructor #202106053
You may try removing the main carb jet and making sure it is not clogged.
Does it try to start and then just shut down. or are you not getting anything at all.
Another possibility is the kill switch (if it has one) that is deactivated when you hold down the bar next to the handle.
You may try removing the main carb jet and making sure it is not clogged.
Does it try to start and then just shut down. or are you not getting anything at all.
Another possibility is the kill switch (if it has one) that is deactivated when you hold down the bar next to the handle.
Getting nothing at all. I tested the kill switch and it’s good. Will check out the carb and test compression too.
P Cars: 1997 Spec Boxster. SPB #94 / 2022 Macan GTS / 2018 Panamera Turbo ST.- Other cars: 2019 Golf R 6MT / 2015 S60 P / 2021 F-250 HCTTP Diesel / Haulmark Race Trailer Gone: 2020 GT4, 2004 GT3, 2003 Carrera, 1982 911SC, 2005 Lotus Elise and lots of other non-Porsches PCA National DE Instructor #202106053
If you have no spark, you can disconnect the kill wire from the coil to determine whether it is the coil,l or the control. Did you properly gap the replacement coil when you installed it?
As far as diagnosing fuel issues. Easiest is to spay a small amount of carb cleaner (NOT ETHER) and see if it will run on a spray can. The symptoms you described before it died sounds like fuel contaminated with diesel. Spark plug could be fouled if this is the case.
Edit; Does yours shut off by letting go of the handle or do you shut it off with the throttle. if it is via the handle. Verify the control cable from the handlebars to the shut off is not stretched. if so it will not pull the control all the way back and it will kill the spark
I have also seen exhaust rocker arm failures. you still get a compression reading but won’t run. although you state that you have no spark. so I would keep my troubleshooting to the ign. system.
my mower was great at collecting a bit of water in the gas just enough not to start so a gas dump in to a glass jar became a prestart drill
btw wetting the air filter with gas will work in place of carb cleaner
a rented pressure washer [Honda] had so much carbon on the plug that it would not run/start until cleaned off
If you have no spark, you can disconnect the kill wire from the coil to determine whether it is the coil,l or the control. Did you properly gap the replacement coil when you installed it?
As far as diagnosing fuel issues. Easiest is to spay a small amount of carb cleaner (NOT ETHER) and see if it will run on a spray can. The symptoms you described before it died sounds like fuel contaminated with diesel. Spark plug could be fouled if this is the case.
Edit; Does yours shut off by letting go of the handle or do you shut it off with the throttle. if it is via the handle. Verify the control cable from the handlebars to the shut off is not stretched. if so it will not pull the control all the way back and it will kill the spark
I have also seen exhaust rocker arm failures. you still get a compression reading but won’t run. although you state that you have no spark. so I would keep my troubleshooting to the ign. system.
Thanks for the tips. The plug was fouled, I cleaned it off w/ brake cleaner. I also tested w/ another sparkplug. I will drain the fuel and get fresh stuff but this was the 3rd tank from this fuel can I had run w/ no issues so I doubt it was contaminated.
Mine is the type that does not have the safety bar. it has the blade clutch instead. I did test the kill switch and it works fine.
I’ll recheck the spark and look into the fuel next.
P Cars: 1997 Spec Boxster. SPB #94 / 2022 Macan GTS / 2018 Panamera Turbo ST.- Other cars: 2019 Golf R 6MT / 2015 S60 P / 2021 F-250 HCTTP Diesel / Haulmark Race Trailer Gone: 2020 GT4, 2004 GT3, 2003 Carrera, 1982 911SC, 2005 Lotus Elise and lots of other non-Porsches PCA National DE Instructor #202106053
Features
Self-charging electric start
Choose your speed: Adjustable Smart Drive
Easily adjust the mower’s speed to your stride by rotating the control. 5 position adjustable control for comfort. Variable speed from 0 to 4 mph.
3 in 1 system with Clip Director : Mulch, bag, and discharge with no tools needed.
Slide the Clip Director to switch from mulching to bagging or discharge with just one touch. No need for a mulch plug or other attachments.
Honda MicroCut Twin Blades: superior mulching and bagging
Honda’s exclusive twin blade MicroCut System uses four cutting surfaces that result in ultra fine clippings for superior mulching and more clippings per bag. The end result? A perfect cut, less time emptying the bag, and less work for you.
Reliable, easy starting Honda GCV160 engine
Easy-starting, fuel efficient, and powerful, Honda’s premium residential GCV160 engines are legendary for providing years of reliable service. All Honda lawn mower engines are certified to meet 50-state EPA and CARB emission levels.
Honda Auto Choke System. easy starting
No engine choke required! Just turn the key and go!
Easy Fold Quick Release handle for easy height adjustment and storage
Easily adjust the handle to 2 comfortable mowing positions, or fold over for storage.
6 position height adjustment (1 1/8″. 4″)
Convenient height adjustment levers to set mowing height for lawn conditions.
21″ heavy duty mowing deck
Large 8″ wheels with rear ball bearings
Better maneuverability, smoother drive, and increased durability.
Large easy off 1.9 bushel grass bag
Our large capacity grass bags are balanced so they are easy to empty, saving you time and effort.
Flywheel brake safety system
Quickly stops the engine when you let go of the flywheel brake lever.
Manual fuel shut-off valve
The fuel valve can be shut off for transport, storage, or to performance maintenance.
Comfortable foam grip handles
Engage the Throttle
Move the throttle control lever to the “fast” position to engage the throttle. The throttle controls the speed of the engine, allowing you to adjust it based on the thickness of the grass you are mowing.
Hold the starter grip and pull the starter rope until the engine starts. If the engine does not start after a few pulls, wait a few minutes and try again. Make sure that you have a firm grip on the starter grip and that you are pulling the rope all the way out.
Adjust the Choke
If the engine is cold, move the choke lever to the “closed” position. The choke helps the engine start more easily by providing extra fuel to the carburetor. Once the engine starts, move the choke lever to the “open” position.
Allow the engine to warm up for a few minutes before engaging the blades and mowing the lawn. This will ensure that the engine is operating at the optimal temperature and that the oil is circulating properly.
Mowing the Lawn
To engage the blades on your Honda GCV160 lawn mower, pull the blade control lever toward you while holding down the operator presence control lever. Slowly release the blade control lever to start mowing the lawn. Adjust the speed of the lawn mower by moving the throttle control lever. When mowing, it’s best to cut no more than one-third of the grass blades’ height at a time to avoid damaging the lawn.
To shut down the engine on your Honda GCV160 lawn mower, move the throttle control lever to the “slow” position and let the engine idle for a few minutes. This allows the engine to cool down and reduce the risk of damage. Turn off the engine by turning the key to the “off” position.
Maintenance Tips
To keep your Honda GCV160 lawn mower in top condition, it is important to perform regular maintenance. Here are some tips to help you maintain your lawn mower:
Additional Tips for Maintaining Your Honda GCV160 Lawn Mower
Here are some additional tips to help you keep your Honda GCV160 lawn mower running smoothly:
- Keep the mower blades sharp: A dull blade can cause uneven cuts and damage to your lawn. Sharpen the blade regularly, or replace it if it is damaged.
- Keep the air filter clean: The air filter is essential to the proper functioning of your lawn mower. A dirty air filter can reduce engine performance and increase fuel consumption. Clean or replace the air filter regularly.
- Check the spark plug: The spark plug is crucial for the proper ignition of your lawn mower’s engine. Check it regularly and replace it if it is damaged or worn.
- Check the fuel filter: The fuel filter helps to prevent debris from entering the engine. Check it regularly and replace it if it is clogged or damaged.
- Check the drive belt: The drive belt is responsible for transferring power from the engine to the mower’s blades. Check it regularly and replace it if it is worn or damaged.
Description
The ST53H is a premium petrol lawnmower from Sherpa. The 53cm steel cutting deck is fitted with the high spec Honda GCV160 engine. Simple and easy to start, in fact to start this mower all you need to do it pull back the engine lever, and pull the starter rope. There is no need to prime the fuel system or adjust the choke like on other engines. It also happens to be one of the quietest engines fitted to a mower in its category.
The 4-in-1 function allows you cut to your conditions. Choose between collecting the cuttings, mulching your grass, or discharging it out either the side or rear of the machine.
No need to push – simply push in the drive lever and off you go. The mowers self drive feature takes the strain out of mowing by doing the pushing for you.
The large rear wheel design means the mower rolls over any small dips or lumps in the lawn giving a smoother looking finish. It is at home in long grass and bumpy conditions, and is also suitable for more formal lawns too.
The pressed steel deck is powder coated to give a more durable outer layer. This matte finish gives the machine a tough rugged look. Keeping it clean is easy to with the integrated wash down point. Simply connect your hose to the port, with the water running start the engine and loose grass will be washed from under the deck.
- 53cm Cutting Width
- Self Propelled
- 4-in-1; Collect, Rear Discharge, Side Discharge, Mulching
- Deck Wash Point: Standard Hose Connector
- Easy Starting Honda Engine
- EV Foam padded handles with comfort grips on controls levers
- Folding Handles
- Grass Bag Full Indicator