Honda Rotary Mowers Transmission Difference Inquiry
Regarding Honda rotary push mowers. does anyone have experience with the hydrostatic drive transmission vs select drive? I am trying to discern the benefit of one over the other, since it’s still all belt driven, versus axle driven as on the commercial model.
I have a Honda HRR216 that I’m tired of repairing. It’s five years old. The drive doesn’t work. The wheels are worn bald. It dies while running and now I can’t get it to start. So, I’m eyeing the HRX series, although I’m open to other brands as well.
OutdoorEnvy
Well the select drive of the HRR and the HRX217VKA are both belt drives for the self propel system. The HRX217HYA is a shaft drive system. The shaft drive basically doesn’t have a belt to wear out, so it will last longer and hold up better over constant use. That’s why it’s in the commercial series. The Honda belt drives though are really good. I had an HRR216SDA that the belt lasted 15 years and then I replaced it myself for a cost of 12.
As for your HRR it’s probably either the belt is bad or came off the track, the cable could be loose or broken as well. As for the running problems you can do the normal carb cleaning and double check you don’t have any debris in the gas lines and tank. That sounds fuel related assuming your choke is operating normally. There’s plenty of YouTube vids showing how to do these things so I would give the DIY a go before dropping a lot of money.
Movingshrub
Well the select drive of the HRR and the HRX217VKA are both belt drives for the self propel system. The HRX217HYA is a shaft drive system. The shaft drive basically doesn’t have a belt to wear out, so it will last longer and hold up better over constant use. That’s why it’s in the commercial series. The Honda belt drives though are really good. I had an HRR216SDA that the belt lasted 15 years and then I replaced it myself for a cost of 12.
As for your HRR it’s probably either the belt is bad or came off the track, the cable could be loose or broken as well. As for the running problems you can do the normal carb cleaning and double check you don’t have any debris in the gas lines and tank. That sounds fuel related assuming your choke is operating normally. There’s plenty of YouTube vids showing how to do these things so I would give the DIY a go before dropping a lot of money.
There are three different versions of the Honda drive system.
I currently own the HRRVYA which has the Smart drive and roto-stop blade brake system. I didn’t particularly like the paddle style of engagement, but it worked. I’m trying to understand how the Smart drive, the select drive, and the hydrostatic are different. I thought all three of the transmissions were belt driven, and that the only shaft driven version was on the HRC. the commercial model which starts at about 1100.
Regarding the HRR, I’m generally pretty repair savy. I feel comfortable doing timing belt and head gasket repairs on an automobile. I had an issue before where the HRR was running rich and would carbon foul the spark plug. I replaced the spark plug, the air filter, the carb, the choke, the thermowax piece, and all the applicable paper gaskets. It worked okay afterwards but still wasn’t quite right. I’ve been running 89 octane non-ethanol fuel (I use 89 for my STIHL stuff so I just get all the same octane) with stabil included. I’ve taken off the carb, sprayed with carb cleaner, and sprayed out with air. Best case, I’ve got some dirt stuck in the carb that I manage to get out, and then adjust the belt to get the transmission working again.
If the engine was running well, I’d be happy to go about resolving the drive train issue. However, at this point, it doesn’t start, the wheels are worn smooth, and the self propel doesn’t work. Is there a point where you just decide F it and move on?
Honda HRN216VKA Lawn Mower
Smart Drive Self Propel. Intuitive, variable speed control while mowing. Five adjustable positions for user comfort. Variable speed from 0 to 4 mph.
Superior Mulching and Bagging. The HRN mowers offer superior cut quality whether you’re mulching or bagging, even in tough mowing conditions.
3 in 1 system with Clip Director? Simply slide the Clip Director for mulching, bagging, or discharging versatility. No attachments required.
Honda GCV170 Engine. Reliable, easy starting power to tackle the toughest mowing conditions.
Honda Auto Choke? System. easy starting. No engine choke required! Just start the mower 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.
Improved Maneuverability. 2-Way Ratchet System improves maneuverability and reduces effort to turn in a tight radius, drastically reducing pull-back force
Dual-Lever Height Adjustment System. User-friendly levers conveniently adjust to 7 cutting heights (1″ to 4″)
Heavy-Duty 21? Steel Deck. Innovative Honda design optimizes air flow for superior mulching and bagging
Easy Maintenance. Smart Engine Layout offers a large fuel tank spout, easy oil changes, and easy access to spark plug and air filter.
8″ High Traction Wheels. Excellent traction in a variety of mowing conditions.
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.
HRN216VKA. The fuel valve can be shut off for transport, storage, or to performance maintenance.
3 year residential warranty. You can rest easy, knowing your lawn mower is covered from top to bottom for 3 full years.
90 day commercial warranty
HRN216VKA Specifications
Deck Material. Steel, 16 ga
Mowing height range. 1″-4″
Mowing height adjustments. 7
Drive Control. Variable Postion Smart Drive
Transmission. Variable Speed Fixed Gear Belt Clutch
Ground speed. 0 to 4.0 mph
Choke System. Automatic
Handle Height Positions. 2
Ball Bearing Wheels. Sintered metal bushing. Rear only
Standard Functions. 3 in 1: Mulch, Bag, Discharge
Bag capacity (bushels). 1.9
Blade(s). Twin blades (MicroCut System
Blade Control. Flywheel brake
Side/Rear Discharge. Rear standard
Operating weight. 82 lb
Residential warranty. 3 years
Commercial warranty. 90 days
Honda HRS Mowers: What Are the Differences?
You’ll be the talk of the neighborhood when you upgrade to a new Honda mower. The Honda HRS mower lineup delivers lightweight manufacturing, versatile functions, and durable craftsmanship to help you keep your lawn looking great. You can learn more about this mower in the following Honda HRS review page, prepared by the team at Century Power Equipment. After reading, take a look at our online inventory to see the current selection at our dealership in Stillwater, MN. If you have additional questions, don’t hesitate to reach out online or at (651) 439-2035.
Features
The Honda HRS series of mowers was constructed to work hard and last for years to come. While there are a number of differences between the HRS mowers, they also have several similarities. Featured shared by the HRS216VKA and HRS216PKA include:
HRS216VKA
Equipped with Smart Drive variable speed control, the HRS216VKA allows you to adjust your speed easily while keeping your hands rested on the handlebars. The ergonomic design keeps operators comfortable, and this intuitive system makes controlling the speed as simple as ever. Features equipped on this Honda mower include:
HRR and HRS Mowers: Honda Quality and Innovation for the Home Owner
Most consumer lawn equipment is driven by price, but that doesn’t mean you have to buy something big to get a quality lawn mower. Honda’s HRR and HRS mowers are small walk-behinds built with the company’s trademark reliability and clever design, making them a great choice if your lawn is less than an acre.
Engine
All HRR and HRS mowers are powered by a GCV160 engine. It uses what Honda calls “uniblock” construction, forming the head, block and upper half of the crankcase from a single piece of metal. The head uses a crossflow design with an overhead cam made out of resin. The valvetrain and crankshaft connect using a unique internal timing belt that is designed to last the lifetime of the motor. Together, these features make this engine extremely light with less vibration, less noise and fewer points of failure than competing residential powerplants. Honda didn’t just innovate with this engine, they put a lot of thought into making it easy to use. An automatic decompression system makes it easy to turn over when starting, while an automatic choke controls air flow as the engine warms up. A manual fuel shutoff valve prevents spilling and carburetor flooding during transit. It also makes it easy to empty the fuel system when storing, preventing issues with corrosion and gumming. A long filler neck acts as both the drain and fill point for oil. To drain, just tilt the mower over a drain pan.
These mowers use Honda’s Twin Blade MicroCut System. Instead of a single blade with a high, medium or low leading edge, this design uses a pair of blades stacked on top of each other with different edge profiles. With each pass, blades of grass are cut twice, resulting in smaller clippings from the start. When mulching, this dual action cut breaks down grass faster, making it more effective than other designs, even when cutting wet grass. Smaller pieces also compact more, so emptying is less frequent when bagging.
All HRR and HRS mowers come with a 21-inch cutting deck with 6 cutting heights ranging from 1 1/8 to 4 inches.
HRR mowers use a 3-in-1 cutting system controlled by Honda’s Clip Director. This system operates a door at the back of the deck, letting the mower switch between mulching, bagging and rear discharge by turning a single lever. No tools are required to switch between modes, and there’s no chute or mulch plug that needs to be installed on the side of the deck. The included bag holds 1.9 bushels.
Smart Drive
Self-propelled models come with Smart Drive, a compact hydrostatic drive system. Like the hydrostatic systems found in riding mowers, it allows infinite speed adjustment on the fly. This makes it easy to slow down for hills and obstacles, then speed up when you’re mowing straight on level ground. This drive system is operated by levers that can be set to one of 5 positions. Mower speed is adjusted by pushing down on the thumb pads. This allows multiple hand positions, reducing fatigue.
The folding Quick Release handle has two operating positions and is locked into place with large knobs, requiring no tools to change position. The rear wheels on both push and Smart Drive models are mounted on ball bearings for lower effort when pushing and smoother movement.
Models
HRS These basic mowers are designed for side discharge and mulching. The HRS216PKA is a no-frills mower weighing just 64 lbs, making it easy to push and turn, while the HRS216VKA comes with the Smart Drive self-propulsion system.
HRR These models are designed for bagging as well as mulching and discharge, and every model has a system to stop the blade when stepping away from the mower, making it safer to work around. The HRS216PKA is a push mower with a flywheel brake that stops the engine shaft and blade when the bail is released, while the HRS216VKA comes with the Smart Drive system. The HRS216VYA uses Honda’s Roto-Stop system. It has a PTO like a riding mower, letting the blade disengage from the drive shaft. When the bail is released, the blade stops without shutting off the engine. This saves time and effort when stopping to pick up branches and other obstacles.
Honda Smart drive mower
List price: 899,01 €. 25% Ciampelli Price: 674,26 €
Honda HRS 536 VK (SK) Lawn Mower Honda GCV 160 Smart Drive
A 53cm wide, robust petrol mower with Variable Smart Drive
Lawn Mower Honda HRS 536 VK GCV 160 engine
Honda HRN Walk-Behind Self-Propelled Lawn Mower with Twin Blade System and Smart Drive— 166cc Honda GCV170 Engine, 21in.
The innovative Honda HRN Walk-Behind Self-Propelled Lawn Mower with Twin Blade System and Smart Drive offers outstanding and dependable power, torque and performance with a 3-in-1 system that allows you to mulch, bag or discharge. A powerful Honda GCV170 4-stroke engine leads the way with rugged durability, easy operation, improved serviceability and advanced power. The adjustable Smart Drive system allows you to vary your speed quickly and easily with just a press of the handlebar control. The convenient auto choke system provides quick and easy starting. EPA and CARB compliant. 3-year limited consumer warranty.
| Item# | 88530 |
| Brand | Honda Power Equipment |
| Manufacturer’s Warranty | 3 YR consumer/90day commercial |
| Ship Weight | 74.75 lbs |
| Start Type | Recoil w/auto choke |
| Engine Displacement | 166 |
| Cutting Width (in.) | 21 |
| Engine | Honda GCV170 |
| Deck Material | Steel/resin |
| Discharge | Mulch, bag, rear discharge |
| Cutting Height (in.) | 1–4 |
| Cutting Type | Mulch, bag, rear discharge |
| Cutting Speed | Variable speed, self-propelled |
| Max. Cutting Speed (MPH) | 4 |
| Blade Type | MicroCut twin blade |
| Bagger Volume (bushels) | 1.9 |
| Fuel Tank Capacity (qt.) | 0.95 |
| Front Tire Size (in.) | 8 |
| Rear Tire Size (in.) | 8 |
| Dimensions L x W x H (in.) | 61 x 22 5/8 x 40 7/8 |
| Engine Type | 4-stroke |