I am a long time lurker and have just joined, and registered, in my quest to obtain info relating to my Honda HRU215...been having issues with starting. Owned it for over 20 years, really had no problems over that time but recently moved house, and the movers were not kind to my old girl. I think it is minor prob with governor linkages and adjustment, but am convinced it does need a new carby. Motor is a GXV140 and I am awaiting a replacement carby from China.
In the meantime I bought myself an HRU216S that no longer is self-propelled, but in my rush to get something else so I could mow my lawns, I wasn't really looking at the fine detail of the new mower. Satisfied myself that it started and ran, no problem with low speed idle [something my 215 did suffer from]. The 216S has a GXV160 motor and was a 3 speed self drive whereas my 215 is only a 2 speed.
But obviously someone has swapped out the upper handle as the unit has no facility for the self drive; the cable is there, floating is free air, looks usable. The speed selector handle is stuck fast - unable to move it at all; is that symptomatic of a specific issue? The 'propeller shaft' from the motor to the gearbox is working [can see it rotating as the mower's running] but really am hoping to find out what sort of spare used parts are available, and costs involved, should I decide to try to fix the self drive.
Am hoping for advice with what should be my inspection process; is there a specific order, or item that is a common problem with the 3 speed units? Almost forgot; I did remove the rear drive wheels and found the both had the 'drive pawls and spring' missing from the retainers, but I have no idea whether they were removed due to a problem with the self drive. The throttle cable is way too long, so doesn't work smoothly at all - have already ordered a proper replacement from ebay. Would really like to get the 3 speed fixed, but being a Pensioner funds are limited.
Attaching a couple of pictures to show the mower...also, in the last picture showing the oil level check tube area, there is a 'tang' showing which I have circled in green...can anyone tell me the purpose of the 'tang' - should it be connected to anything?
Looking forward to some guidance so that I have the required info with which to make the decision whether to fix the self drive or leave it as it is...
Sorry ibace, the 3 speed gearbox is junk, best thing is to pull the motor off it and fit the motor to a lighter base, because the self propelled Hondas are just too heavy to push without the drive. The 215 2 speed box was a more robust unit and a better mower.
still wondering if there's anyone who'd hazard a guess as to the reason/s why the gear selector is unable to be moved...and the purpose of that 'arm' that is circled in the last picture...
If at the transaxle the shifter maybe corroded in place. Transaxle breakdown are on the PDF pages 44-46 on the link. It should fairly well be the same even though the IPL is for the K2 and M2. However it is wise to find the matching IPL for the S version.
There is a reason that 50% of these mowers for sale have a buggered drive. The motor I have here does not have the tang you refer to but it has nothing to do with the drive. You can get a new transmission for a couple of hundred dollars, wheel clutches for about $20 from memory, then you need to find the gearshift lever assembly, probably cost $100 if you bought a new one and then you have at least half a day to remove and replace the gearbox on a machine that is very heavy to get up onto a bench to work on it. I refuse to do them any more This one is cheap but be aware they are fragile and require careful operation https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Gearbox...RU216-3-Speed-Transmission/201879881241?
And just looking at the second photo, the lock nut is missing off the gear selector adjuster, this is only a minor observation, obviously removed because the tranny failed. The drive actuating bar on the handelbar has also been removed. This can all be repaired/replaced but it will be costly, just getting the parts and if you can do the work yourself. If not cost prohibitive for a drive that may not last long. From memory a mate of mine was quoted $600 to replace the box on his by a small local to him mower shop after I refused to replace it again
Ok so my Postie who mows lawns after finishing his rounds brought me his 3 speed Honda which he said to me was a 2 speed (I didn't look closely at it till this morning) so I assumed it was an HRU215 but it has a 3 speed controller so I'm saying an HRU216. The problem he says it is too slow so most of the time he doesn't use the SP just pushes it. I don't know how fast these should go in 3rd gear, I would expect it would be reasonably fast. I'm thinking it has probably lost 3rd gear and that is why it is running too slow. He wanted me to up the revs to get more speed but I'm not happy with that idea. Any thoughts but I'm presuming the tranny is on the way out and third gear has failed? I told him to start hunting for a Ariens but he didn't seem too interested, just wanted me to try and make it travel faster. The rest of the mower is in excellent condition but totally useless because without the SP they are just a tank to push
I'm very glad I've seen your many posts on the pro's and con's of the HRU216's SP unit - I was certain that being that every lawn contractor used them that they'd be super robust and the right mower for our property. But having read what you say about them I can see that while for lots of dead straight runs they might work well - for bends and turns etc they'd be terrible and likely die early. Happy to have avoided them, though the GXV160 engine is very good.
Hi N1KK0, The commercial Honda motor is the best there is, bar none but the reality is 2 major faults with these self propelled, transmission is weak and the other thing that really bugs me is the rear flap door, designed by some school kid (sorry kids) they just cheaped out on it so much and they are a mongrel to repair because it takes a couple of hours to remove it and strengthen it up. Everyone I come across has the same problem. How such a company like Honda allowed that to go into production on a top price machine is hard to fathom
2 The crank drive pulley could be increased in size ,possibly adapt an alternator pulley or decrease the size of the pulley on the gearbox but in doing this the V belt will most likely need changing to a more appropriate size. (little bit of a hassle though)
3 The wheel diameter of the back wheels can be increased by using liquid nails to glue a larger tread rubber to the outside of the existing wheels the front wheels would need to be swapped for larger wheels to even out the mower ground height. ( just don't have the mower so high that the blades are too high when the Height adjustment is on the lowest setting)
4 Depending on what rear wheels the mower has at the moment you may be able to fit larger standard Honda wheels as I have a couple of self propelled Honda mowers and the wheels on both mowers are different diameters.
5 Replace the 3 speed gearbox .
6 Make sure the drive belt isn't excessively stretched or worn and slipping all the time.
Hi Max, not a lot can be done because they are shaft drive and I can't be bothered anymore changing the gearboxes in these things, it is a pig of a job and not worth the effort and nobody wants to pay $600 to replace the box. They take several hours to change because every thing gets rusted up and a shop has to charge for the time it takes. Much better proposition is to fit the motor on another lighter base and just use a a push mower
Ahh that's right shaft drive ,hadn't looked at my old Honda self drives for a couple of years now.
Yes sounds like they are not worth fixing especially if the transmission is weak to start with.
Yep they are heavy I remember leaving a couple on the car roof rack for a few days until I could be bothered lifting them off , better using a lighter base.
Hi Max, any further thoughts on bigger wheels for these mowers. Only thing I can think of is bolting a bigger wheel to one of the existing ones. I think it needs something like wheels off a Victa 24 but it will be a bitch of an amount of work. At least bolting them on the outside means the bigger wheels should clear the body
The 3 speed is operated by a cable, check that it is not seized up or out of adjustment. I generally found 3rd gear too fast, its certainly a fast walking speed.
as far as wheels go yes it would be full custom as the drive dogs are a special setup in the back wheels
Hi nath, when he brought it here it was only selecting 1 and 2 . I was able to check that by engaging the gear and pulling it backwards to engage each gear I adjusted the cable and was able to get the 3 gears but even in third I could walk behind it easily and my leggs are buggered. When Craig came to pick it up all he could say was it seems a bit faster. I will wait and see what he thinks next time he delivers the mail. He was saying that an hour and a half job is taking him two and a half if he uses the self propelled
Well unless something is slipping somewhere the engine rpm could be too low? they are a completely positive drive. I always remember 3rd being quick,
5km/h I just found on the Honda website. easiest way to check then and I remember doing this, is to measure out 5m or so on the ground and time it. should be 1.4 m/s, which would be 7 seconds for 5m
Hi nath, I think you have nailed the problem, the speed would be fine for me but as a contractor I can see the look on his face and knowing how he operates that 5 m in 7 seconds is about half the speed he walks. Looks like we will have to start looking for an Ariens with a blown motor
I've had a few mowers over the years that people had fitted bigger tyres over the original tyres ,that increased the diameter , about 1/2 an inch of rubber would do to test the mower ,you could use tie wire to hold some rubber to the outside of the original wheel to work out if you have the right size to increase the drive speed that you are looking for ,then machine some tyres from old wheels to glue to the Honda wheels ,I've would have wheels here you can use for tyres if you can't find any.
Hi Max, I'm not sure but my impression is Craig is looking for something like a 50% increase. This is so he can fly over the grass if it isn't long but if it is he is happy to use first gear if needed. I will wait and see what he is thinking next time he brings the mail. These days I can never work out what day he comes past
Yes I don't think bigger wheels will help then if it's got to travel twice as fast maybe a torque multiplier put backwards on the drive shaft , at 5 to 1 ratio it would increase the speed dramatically ,5 times as fast in first gear ,but not really practical or worth the effort .
Hi Max, I remember talking to the bloke who mows my lawns a few years ago when he bought a new Honda. He was saying at the time the self propelled are too slow, prone to gearbox failures and too heavy to push when the gearbox fails
