Lawn Mower Won’t Start? Try This Inexpensive Fix
Have you ever dealt with a hard-starting lawn mower? If your Honda lawn mower won’t start after spending the winter in storage (or any other mower brand, for that matter), it could be due to several issues. It’s often due to damage caused by the ethanol in pump gasoline. Before you pull your hair out and waste time taking it to the repair shop, do some simple troubleshooting:
- Is there fuel in the tank?
- Are the choke and gas on?
- Does it have enough oil? Also, change the oil at least once a season.
- Is the air filter dirty?
- Is the bail lever operational?
- Is the wire connected to the spark plug?
If you check off these items, one more simple and inexpensive trick can get a hard-starting lawn mower running like new again, and it can prevent a big headache. This trick not only works for a Honda lawn mower that won’t start but also for other brands, plus generators, leaf blowers, and snow blowers – pretty much any type of gas-powered two and four-cycle outdoor power equipment.
A solid piece of outdoor power equipment (OPE) is an investment. A Honda lawn mower can cost over 450,000, depending on the model. The same applies to any quality brand. Therefore, it’s reasonable to expect it to perform and last.
Few things are as annoying with yard work as when your OPE won’t start. If you’ve owned a piece of portable gas-powered outdoor equipment for any length, you’ve likely experienced this agonizing moment of futility at some point.
A gummed-up carburetor is a common reason a Honda lawn mower won’t start. As previously mentioned, pump gas is often the culprit for hard-starting equipment. Why is that?
Most people power their equipment with pump gas, assuming that it will work fine in their hedge trimmer or generator if it’s good enough for their vehicle. In reality, pump gas is one of the worst things you could put in your OPE unless you like the idea of spending wads of money on repairs or, worse yet, replacing your equipment.
Why Pump Gas is Bad for Outdoor Power Equipment
As noted, what you put in the gas tank can be a big reason your Honda lawn mower, string trimmer, or hedge trimmer won’t start. Hard-starting equipment is more typical after it’s been in storage during the off-season. Refineries design pump gas for cars and trucks, which are bigger and have sophisticated computer systems that monitor the air/fuel mixture.
The engine on a piece of small equipment runs between 10K-14K RPMs. It operates like a small racing engine. Manufacturers finely tune these engines with very close tolerances. Additionally, the smaller parts of a 2-cycle or 4-cycle engine are susceptible to the tiniest amounts of gum and corrosion, which leads to hard starts and damages the engine.
Furthermore, they blend pump gas with ethanol, which is an oxygenate. That’s great for cars but not for small engines. For instance, when pump gas sits idle in the tank, the ethanol absorbs water and soon separates from the gas. They call this process phase separation.
In addition, water promotes corrosion, which eats away the vital components in your expensive equipment as it sits for months in storage. Another critical point is that pump gas degrades fast and forms gums faster. Adding a fuel stabilizer helps, but stabilizers won’t undo the damage already caused by using ethanol-blended gasoline.
Honda Model Number and Serial Number Locations
Model numbers and serial numbers can mean the difference between getting the right part and the wring one. For most Honda equipment, the base model number is on the starter cover, the engine cowling or another prominent location on the frame. The serial numbers are a little more difficult to find. Honda equipment generally has a serial number for the frame, and one for the engine.
In addition to the regular model designation, there are variations in model number such as K0, K1, K2, etc. These represent design changes made in the product line from time to time. The changes may be cosmetic or mechanical, but are not enough to warrant a completely new model designation. Many parts change from one version to the other, so it is usually necessary to determine which version you have. Serial numbers are the most reliable way of doing this. This page is not complete for all models and probably never will be, but it covers some of the most common questions.
Honda Engine Serial Number Location
When working on Honda engines, only one serial number is required, but other information may be necessary, such as carburetor or type number. For serial number location diagrams, please refer to our Honda engine parts section. We have diagrams for nearly all models of Honda general purpose engines.
On Honda lawnmowers, the model numbers and serial numbers are usually located on the back of the deck between the handles. For some models, there are two number locations near where each side of the handle meets the deck, one giving the model designation, and one the serial number.
HR215 Lawnmowers | HR215 Frame Serial 6000001 to 6199999 | HR215K1 Frame Serial 6200001 and up
HRM215 Engine Serial 6000001 and upFrame Serial 6000001 to 6092326
HRM215K1 Engine Serial 6000001 and upFrame Serial 6092327 to 6300000
HRM215K2 Engine Serial 6000001 and upFrame Serial 6300001 to 6400000
HRM215K3 Engine Serial 7000001 and upFrame Serial 6400001 to 6500000
HRM215K3 Engine Serial 7000001 and upFrame Serial 6500001 and up
HRB215 Engine Serial 6000001 and upFrame Serial 6000001 to 6043959
HRB215K1 Engine Serial 6000001 and upFrame Serial 6043960 to 6200000
HRB215K2 Engine Serial 6000001 and upFrame Serial 6200001 to 6300000
HRB215K3 Engine Serial 7000001 and upFrame Serial 6300001 to 6400000
HRB215K3 Engine Serial 7000001 and upFrame Serial 6400001 and up
Honda Walk-Behind Lawn Mowers model contains a “K” that wasn’t stamped on the model and serial number tag.
Honda Riders Tractors
On Honda riders and tractors, the serial numbers are usually located on the side of the frame. Decks, catchers, and blowers also have their own model and serial numbers.
| HT3810 Engine Serial 1200001 and up, Frame Serial 5000034 to 5099999HT3810K1 Engine Serial 1200001 and up, Frame Serial 5100001 to 5199999HT3810K2 Engine Serial 1200001 and up, Frame Serial 5200001 and up | HT3813 Engine Serial 1100001 and up, Frame Serial 5000001 to 5099999HT3813K1 Engine Serial 1100001 and up, Frame Serial 5100001 and up |
| H4514HSA Engine Serial 1100001 and up, Frame Serial 1000001 to 3999999H4514HSAC Engine Serial 1100001 and up, Frame serial 4000001 and up | H4518HSA Engine Serial 1000001 and up, Frame Serial 1000001 to 3999999H4518HSAC Engine Serial 1000001 and up, Frame serial 4000001 and up |
Honda Tillers
Honda tillers generally have the frame serial number either on the handle, or near where it connects to the main chassis.
| F210K0 Engine Serial 2000001 and upFrame Serial 2000001 to 2099999 | F210K1 Engine Serial 2000001 and upFrame Serial 2100001 to 2199999 | F210K2 Engine Serial 2000001 and upFrame Serial 2200001 and up |
| FR500 Engine Serial FR 1388543 and upFrame Serial 1000001 to 1099999 | FR500K1 Engine Serial FDIT 6000001 and upFrame Serial 1100001 and up | FR700 Engine Serial 1000001 and upFrame Serial 1000001 to 1099999 | FR700K1 Engine Serial 1000001 and upFrame Serial 1100001 and up |
Honda Riding Lawnmower Review 2023 – Compilation
Are you thinking about buying a Honda Riding Tractor Mower over the few days or weeks? Which one should you choose? To learn more about our recommendations, then check out our Honda Riding Mower review which outlines what we believe is the best Honda ride on mower in the UK today for the amount of money you need to spend. Our Honda riding mower review will outline all the key technical information you need to know along with the main features and functions that you can enjoy.
In addition, we will outline the mains pros and con which we came across that you can check out further down on this page along with a short selection of FAQ’s that hopefully can answer some of the queries that you may have.
Tractor Mower Review Overview:
Q1. Is the grass dump collection electrically powered? A. Yes, this mower provides and electric grass dump system Q2. Does it also have a bumper at the back? A. Yes, there are bumpers at the front and also the back Q3. What is the lowest cutting mow height? A. The lowest mow cutting height is 3cm Q4. What type of engine is used? A. It comes with a 4-stroke OHC V-twin Honda GCV530 engine with 530cc and 17 HP Q5. Can it mow in reverse? A. Yes, as long as you press a safety button on the dashboard first Q6. Is there a wash port for cleaning the deck? A. Yes, a hose cleaning nozzle is included in the wash port for deck cleaning Q7. Does it provide mulching capabilities? A. Yes, there is a Versamow selective mulching option included which can be used if you don’t wish to use the grass collection unit. Q8. How long does a commercial warranty last for? A. It depends on your supplier but generally 12 months is available when used commercially. Q9. How much fuel can it hold? A. This tractor mower has a fuel tank capacity of 8.4 litres Q10. What size lawns is it recommended for? A. This Honda ride on mower is recommended for areas up to 8k square metres.
Honda The Power of Dreams
Following the development of Honda’s 1953 Type H engine, the company steadily expanded its line of general-purpose engines by launching the Type T and VN models. The field of complete products saw considerable activity also, with market expansion significantly aided by the F150 tiller (released in 1959) and E40 generator (1964), along with several pumps and outboard marine engines.
The high-quality, high-performance HR21 walk-behind lawn mower, developed in order to expand Honda’s power product market worldwide.
Honda began the full-scale exportation of tiller products to France in 1963 as part of an aggressive strategy to cultivate the market for power products overseas. Yet, despite the recognition of their high quality and superior durability, Honda power products lacked the cost advantage they needed to compete in a price-driven market. As a result, Honda could not yet expand its power product operations globally.
The ME engine (G150/200) introduced in 1977 represented Honda’s effort to develop a new family of powerplants that could maintain the high quality associated with Honda products yet be affordable enough to compete in the global market. Named ME (Million Engine) as an expression of the company’s high sales expectations, the product was given a challenging mission: to help sell one million units and build the foundation on which Honda could establish Power Products as a third major operation.
Worldwide annual sales of power products were around 20 million units during the 1970s, with the so-called “green” market (lawn mowers) accounting for 8.5 million units. Therefore, to any industry player lawn mowers represented a very appealing and potentially profitable market.
Honda’s power-products operations during that period were limited to sales of complete machines in Japan and France. over, the company had few sales bases in the U.S. Therefore, to increase the sales of its power products from less than 300,000 units to over one million, Honda would have to establish a worldwide sales network covering these untapped regions. Accordingly, as the principal category with which to build this vast network, Honda chose the commandingly large market of lawn mowers.
The First Step: Know the Grass
It was the summer of 1975, and Takeo Ogano had recently completed a key phase of an R-research project in which he was developing a new technology for the ME engine. It was then that he was ordered to create a lawn mower. This was a baffling request to Ogano, since Honda. a manufacturer in a country with very little grass to mow. should wish to enter a market filled with dedicated, expert makers of lawn mowers. Despite his confusion, however, Ogano began working on the project. He decided to go back to the basics, that of course being research. His objective was to understand the lawn mower and define what Honda should look for in such a machine.
Ogano was convinced that he would invariably hit a wall if he focused exclusively on the engineering of hardware. He knew he would not come up with a workable product concept without answers to several questions. These he would obtain by understanding the key elements required of a lawn mower.
Ogano began by studying the grass itself, learning about its histories and geographical distributions around the world. over, he studied the engineering aspects of lawn mowers based on models and catalogues from other companies. Still, he was unable to identify the quality he sought; the quality that would connect the machine and the user and thus create product appeal. It was then that Ogano was instructed by Honda RD Director Kiichi Momota to visit the markets, where he could experience local environments and understand the tool’s real-world applications. He immediately left for the U.S. and Europe, hoping to verify with his own eyes the things he could not see on paper. It was February 1976.
Samples of grass were brought back from various countries (The photographs depict samples taken in France.)
Pulling out Grass to Collect Samples around the World
Ogano toured most of the countries that represented a significant lawn mower market, including England, Germany, France, Switzerland, and the U.S., studying the local manufacturers and retailers as well as maintenance practices. He also visited local trade shows to collect information regarding existing models.
A drawing used to identify product requirements for a new lawn mower
At each location, Ogano studied the average number of hours the owners would use their machines, factoring that against the average lawn area, user profile and specific style of use. over, he became absorbed in the study of plant characteristics, using samples from each particular region. In suburban Paris and Los Angeles, he pulled up grass in the gardens and cottages of customers introduced by local retailers. and sometimes even grass growing by the roadside. Through these efforts he was able to identify the requirements for Honda’s new lawn mower, incorporating his data and broad new perspective.
Extensive study was implemented in order to learn about grass, including its history and worldwide geographical distributions.
Ogano immersed himself in research immediately upon his return from the worldwide study tour, building a prototype and conducting several performance tests. Ogano flew to Europe again in June 1977 to see whether his prototype machine would prove functional in the actual market, and to observe how it was received by local users. The series of local-adaptability verifications he conducted in various locations helped Ogano gain much of the knowledge he would need to complete the product.
In Europe, other manufacturers’ models were studied in order to gather critical information.
Honda Brand Expectations: A Renewal of Commitment
What most impressed Ogano during his travels through Europe and the U.S. was the strong recognition of the Honda brand. Whenever he and the local office staff entered a retail store, they would be welcomed by the store personnel, who were excited about having visitors from Honda. He was even introduced to lawn mower users by personnel at Honda motorcycle specialty stores, which had nothing to do with lawn mower sales.
These experiences left Ogano thoroughly convinced that he would never do anything to tarnish Honda’s brilliant image among the consuming public; an image that was built through years of success in motorcycles and cars. He was determined to develop a lawn mower that could serve faithfully for ten, or even twenty years.
Unlike motorcycles and automobiles, which are sold at specialty stores and dealerships, lawn mowers are commonly sold in the U.S. and Europe in the gardening departments of general hardware stores, where products from several manufacturers are displayed. Many of these stores give priority to price, providing no after-sales service.
However, in order to give lawn mower users the level of satisfaction they would receive from a Honda motorcycle or automobile, it was desirable that the machines be sold at specialty stores with sufficient resources to provide quality after-sales service. Ogano therefore believed that Honda could maintain the high-quality image of its power products only by building and selling lawn mowers through a network of specialty stores capable of providing an equal measure of service. These would be the kinds of stores selling products that were not simply inexpensive but durable enough to withstand the rigors of extended use. From this idea, Ogano gradually came to a powerful realization.
The Makeshift Backyard: Encounters with Challenging Problems
Ogano, knowing that Honda had never before developed a lawn mower, began to feel pressure from within the company and outside. Among the influences were several flawed propositions and critical Комментарии и мнения владельцев concerning the possible drawbacks. Therefore, Ogano had to work on his drawing in order to prove that each of these difficult problems had been resolved. For example, in response to a group of people who said the machine should have a seat so that the user could mow more comfortably, he attached an office chair to a prototype machine and demonstrated how its lack of stability would compromise safety. It was, after all, a lawn mower equipped with large blades.
As a solution to the limited capacity of the bag attachment, which would of course quickly fill with mowed grass, Ogano was instructed to add a function allowing the machine to store more grass by burning or drying the cut grass using heat from the muffler. To prove that idea wrong, he explained that grass is more than 90 percent water and presented the results of a calculation showing the amount of energy required simply to evaporate the water.
One particular opinion held that progress in biotechnology would soon create lawns having very limited growth, making lawn mowers obsolete. To counter the opinion, Ogano planted a lawn in a small space in his backyard in order to observe its growth. As the seasons progressed, the grass began to grow rapidly. As he mowed his lawn, he experienced a sense of satisfaction. a pleasantly refreshing feeling. that he was communing with nature. He was convinced the need for lawn mowers would never diminish as long as people continued to experience the joys they could not get from maintenance-free biolawns. Through the experience he not only found a convincing counter-argument but gained considerable confidence in the product he was developing.
A user testing the prototype in his own yard
“To address various opinions and demonstrate the validity of our product development,” Ogano recalled, “I made many field trips and studied relevant subjects so that I could convince them with total confidence. These efforts eventually led to the final result.”
It was nearly the end of 1975, some time after Ogano had begun studying the machine’s design, that he was told by Mr. Honda, then the company president, that resin should be used for the housing. Ogano rejected such an idea. “In order to start a lawn mower,” he explained, “the owner will often place his foot on the housing to prevent the machine from being lifted as he cranks the motor. That’s why using resin for the housing would be dangerous. If it were dented due to pressure, it might contact the blades beneath. So, even though it would be cheaper, resin shouldn’t be used for reasons of safety. I just can’t accept that suggestion.”
Improvements were added to the prototype through repeated local-adaptability verifications conducted in several countries. (The photograph shows a test conducted in France.)
Sixteen years later, in 1991, the U.S. corporation GE Plastics developed a resin having a level of strength equivalent to aluminum. With that, Honda became first in the lawn mower industry to employ resin in the manufacture of parts.
“When that happened,” Ogano recalled, “I was impressed once again by the visionary thinking of Mr. Honda”
The basic structure’s overall design thus having been completed, Ogano turned to the various functions his machine would need in order to outperform the competition. He was convinced that his new lawn mower would succeed in the market if it offered solutions to the problems that manufacturers in America and Europe had failed to address. Therefore, Ogano chose to design the lawnmower as a high-class machine having several key features:
[1] Quiet operation, allowing the user to mow without disturbing the neighbors [2] Safety embodying the concept of active safety [3] Easy operation so that even a woman could easily handle it
The process of trial and error was used to test various ideas and ensure that Ogano’s goals would be met. For instance, a structure having the muffler tucked under the deck was examined in order to reduce engine noise. That idea was discarded, though, when it was found that trapped heat would kill the grass directly beneath the mower if the machine was allowed to run in a stationary position. Additionally, many hours were spent designing a mechanism to protect the user’s legs against debris thrown up by the rotating blades. In order to guide the cut grass more smoothly into the bag, ways to improve the machine’s vacuum efficiency were examined.
Safety was a primary concern, of course, so the machine was furnished with the world’s first BBC (Blade Brake Clutch) mechanism. The system would automatically stop the blade rotation within three seconds if the user released his or her hands from the handlebar, meaning that the Honda’s lawn mower could offer a degree of safety that no other manufacturer had even considered possible. In fact, the BBC mechanism played a role in the U.S. Government’s enactment of a relevant CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) regulatory safety standard. This technology gave Honda a dramatic lead over its competitors in the area of safety.
Honda Vs. Briggs And Stratton Lawn Mower Which One Should You Choose
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Anyone who has ever used a lawnmower, generator, pressure washer, or other gasoline-powered yard equipment has likely encountered one or both of these motors since Briggs Stratton and Honda are the market leaders in small engines in the United States and many other countries. The manufacturers provide engines for some of the most impressive lawn mowers available. Which one, however, really stands out as the superior option?
Honda engines are well-known for their dependability and durability, while Briggs Stratton engines are famed for their power and high performance. While their ratings seem comparable at first glance, a closer examination reveals significant variations in durability, bagging, and handling that will matter to specific consumers.
Given that these two well-established companies offer various models at a variety of price points, it would be reasonable to compare their finest lawn mowers in the same price range. As a result, we chose to pit the Honda HRN Lawn Mower against the Husqvarna HU725AWDHQ Lawn Mower with Briggs Stratton Engine. Continue reading as we show the ultimate face-off between Honda and Briggs Stratton engines.
Honda Lawn Mowers
Honda produces about 500 thousand lawnmowers each year and sells them in Australia, China, and other nations and the two biggest markets in the world: North America and Europe.
Honda manufactures tiny engines at five sites worldwide. Their annual manufacturing capacity exceeds 7 million units. Engines destined for the United States market are mainly sourced in the United States, Japan, and Thailand.
Honda’s reputation for high-quality engines extends to its lawnmower range. The Honda HRN 166-cc is the finest gas lawn mower on the market because of its potent engine, quick self-propulsion, and large-capacity discharge bag. The lawnmower works well, cutting your grass evenly and smoothly.
Honda manufactures gas-powered lawn mowers with innovative drive systems, mulching capabilities, and steel and plastic decks. On the other hand, Honda mowers are among the most costly on the market and are available only via dealers and Home Depot.
Honda Power Equipment products are manufactured and developed at 11 Honda manufacturing sites worldwide, including Honda Power Equipment Mfg., Inc. in Swepsonville, North Carolina.
| Pros | Cons |
| Their mower picks up cut grass very well. | Expensive |
| It has a reasonably low noise level. | Heavy and difficult to move |
| It is elementary to use, and it cuts well. | |
| Plenty of adjustable height levels. |
Briggs Stratton Lawn Mowers
Briggs Stratton Company, headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (USA), has been manufacturing engines for over a century. Their engines are powerful, dependable, simple to run and maintain, and have a long life. These are just a few of the reasons why eight out of ten garden equipment manufacturers depend on Briggs Stratton engines to power their garden tractors and mowers.
Their air intake systems are unmatched, including a sophisticated cooling and filtration system that enables the engine to run at a cooler temperature, possibly prolonging its life.
Briggs Stratton Corporation has been constant throughout the years in providing superior engines by introducing new technologies. Additionally, the business is a market leader in the sector and has everything necessary to enhance the user experience with its engines.
Apart from their excellent reputation, Briggs Stratton engines are distinguished by their constant incorporation of new technology. These options can help you get the most out of your lawnmower engine by extending its life. The anti-vibration system is an example of creative technology that Briggs Stratton incorporates into their engines.
Additionally, you must realize that Briggs Stratton’s lawnmower engines need regular maintenance. Thus, if you want your lawnmower to endure for years, you must use it carefully.
| Pros | Cons |
| Instant starting technology | Heavy thus a bit difficult to move |
| High performance that makes cutting of grass easier | |
| Powerful engine | |
| Less expensive than other brands |
Honda vs. Briggs and Stratton Lawn Mower: which one is best for you
There are many factors to consider while buying a lawnmower. And, as previously said, although there are many differences between these two lawnmowers, I will FOCUS on the Honda HRN Lawn Mower and the Husqvarna HU725AWDHQ Lawn Mower to help you in making your selection.
Quality
Honda and Briggs Stratton Engines are well-known for their superior engine manufacturing. Briggs Stratton, on the other hand, is more renowned for the quality of its engines. Everything on the tractor is in perfect working order to provide unrivaled power and performance. Additionally, they are known for producing the industry’s most durable tractors and accessories. This is why their are higher than those of their rivals.
Power Rating
There is no way to describe machines with engines without bringing up the subject of power. The engine’s strength and capability must be unmatched. When compared to Honda, the Briggs Stratton Engine falls short in this category.
The Honda is equipped with more advanced technology, which results in larger engines. They can even mow muddy slopes! They are that powerful.
Cutting Performance
The Honda and Husqvarna machines performed similarly—and admirably—when it came to mulching and side-discharge cutting. Both engines could mulch long grass blades into fine clippings, and the Husqvarna worked just as well as the Honda despite having just one cutting blade.
Each model received a Very Good rating in the side-discharge mode, although it’s worth noting that the Honda HRN leaves clippings in your path rather than discharging them to the side; keep this in mind if you’re not a fan of walking through a trail of recently cut grass.
We discovered the most significant difference between the two push mowers when it came to bagging. While both machines filled their bags to the brim, the Honda contained much more clippings—25 pounds compared to the Husqvarna’s 20.
Features and Handling
Since push mowers do not have motorized wheels, they are often more challenging to operate than self-propelled versions. Additionally, push mowers have fewer functions. Due to the higher expense of self-propelled versions, many manufacturers reserve premium features like an electric start or a blade-brake clutch for those models and leave them off push mowers.
The Husqvarna does offer several handy features, and in our Florida mowing test site, we found it somewhat simpler to push, pull, and turn. Because the Honda proved a bit more challenging to handle, we awarded the Husqvarna the advantage here.
Reliability and Warranty
Honda is the clear winner when it comes to gas push mowers—it is the least prone to breakdowns of the nine leading brands surveyed. Husqvarna is more in the medium. Honda also offers a three-year engine guarantee on its push mowers, while Husqvarna provides a two-year warranty.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which engine is better Kohler or Kawasaki?
Kawasaki mower engines produce more horsepower and have a greater top speed than Kohler engines. That’s why if you must choose between Kohler and Kawasaki engines, Kawasaki will be better for commercial applications.
Who makes the most efficient small engines for mowers?
Honda is still the best for producing the most reliable small engines.
Are Honda engines better than Briggs Stratton mower engines?
Honda commercial and consumer-grade engines are not better than Briggs Stratton commercial models.
Where do Kawasaki engines come from?
They are assembled from the USA-based factory of Kawasaki.
What caused Briggs and Stratton to decide on discontinuing?
Financial difficulties the corporation has faced as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Greeting! I am Anthony Harry, a skilled scribe with a FOCUS on the art of lawn mowing and the beauty of all things green. My objective is to impart my knowledge and enthusiasm for lawn care to others, enabling them to attain their ideal lawns.